Shakermaker Promotions
18-10-2010, 10:21 AM
Hi all,
On the back of SJS Discos thread about an interview today, I thought I'd post this thread as it bought back some memories of my early days of DJing.
It was around 1989 and I had already been DJing in a club in town for around 6 months. It was an Alternative Night and the first that had ever appeared in the town. It was a monday night from 9pm - 2am and was very popular. I ended up doing it for around 3 and 1/2 years.
Anyway, whilst I was doing that night, I noticed that another club near to where I did my day job were advertising in the local paper for DJ's. As the club was on an industrial estate and literally 30 seconds from where I worked, I popped in on my lunch break to see what the score was. I spoke to the Manager who told me that 'auditions' were being held at the end of the week. He gave me all the details and at the end of the week, after work I went along.
I was taken to this room where there were around 15 guys of all ages, sat down waiting. As I got there and took my seat, a guy came out having just finished his 'audition' and he was a little bloke who was full of himself..."Give up now lads" he said..."The job is mine!" and he left. Everyone looked at eachother but didn't say a word.
Anyway, after about 90 minutes my time came and it was quite scary to be honest. The Manager, Assistant Manager and Owner of the club were sat behind a desk and I had to sit infront of them and tell them about myself and what I did etc...I gathered that all of the other DJ's had played the kind of music that was around at the time...That wasn't my idea. I told them that I was at another club already doing Alternative and they seemed very interested. I got up behind the decks and played 3 tracks (can't remember what they were) and did a bit of talking on the mic. Then I had to go and sit at the desk again and answer some questions and was told that I would be notified if I was successful.
I felt really weird walking out of that venue because I hated the thought of trying to impress people when they could have easily gone out and seen people like me at work. I didn't like auditioning and still hate the thought of it.
Anyway....I was contacted and got the job over everyone else. I had to come up with a name for the night and was really surprised when they told me that they were taking a real gamble by giving me a saturday night! They were amazed on the first night when there were more people outside trying to get in than the club could handle (it was 500 capacity). It was absolutely mad.
I did the night to a packed club for around 3 years but then the club decided to move the night to a thursday which more than halved the numbers (despite them doing 50p a pint deals all night). They decided that it was my fault so auditioned again for a new DJ and gave me the elbow. Lots of people stuck with me and decided to boycott the club until I was re-instated but the club wouldn't have it at the time. The new DJ started ( I was barred now) and ended up playing to ever falling numbers. The club then decided to ask me back and I told them where to go as I had been offered another night by a club in Reading (The After Dark) which I took on instead.
Just thought I'd share that.
Has anyone else had to audition for residencies?
What do you think of it?
Cheers
G
On the back of SJS Discos thread about an interview today, I thought I'd post this thread as it bought back some memories of my early days of DJing.
It was around 1989 and I had already been DJing in a club in town for around 6 months. It was an Alternative Night and the first that had ever appeared in the town. It was a monday night from 9pm - 2am and was very popular. I ended up doing it for around 3 and 1/2 years.
Anyway, whilst I was doing that night, I noticed that another club near to where I did my day job were advertising in the local paper for DJ's. As the club was on an industrial estate and literally 30 seconds from where I worked, I popped in on my lunch break to see what the score was. I spoke to the Manager who told me that 'auditions' were being held at the end of the week. He gave me all the details and at the end of the week, after work I went along.
I was taken to this room where there were around 15 guys of all ages, sat down waiting. As I got there and took my seat, a guy came out having just finished his 'audition' and he was a little bloke who was full of himself..."Give up now lads" he said..."The job is mine!" and he left. Everyone looked at eachother but didn't say a word.
Anyway, after about 90 minutes my time came and it was quite scary to be honest. The Manager, Assistant Manager and Owner of the club were sat behind a desk and I had to sit infront of them and tell them about myself and what I did etc...I gathered that all of the other DJ's had played the kind of music that was around at the time...That wasn't my idea. I told them that I was at another club already doing Alternative and they seemed very interested. I got up behind the decks and played 3 tracks (can't remember what they were) and did a bit of talking on the mic. Then I had to go and sit at the desk again and answer some questions and was told that I would be notified if I was successful.
I felt really weird walking out of that venue because I hated the thought of trying to impress people when they could have easily gone out and seen people like me at work. I didn't like auditioning and still hate the thought of it.
Anyway....I was contacted and got the job over everyone else. I had to come up with a name for the night and was really surprised when they told me that they were taking a real gamble by giving me a saturday night! They were amazed on the first night when there were more people outside trying to get in than the club could handle (it was 500 capacity). It was absolutely mad.
I did the night to a packed club for around 3 years but then the club decided to move the night to a thursday which more than halved the numbers (despite them doing 50p a pint deals all night). They decided that it was my fault so auditioned again for a new DJ and gave me the elbow. Lots of people stuck with me and decided to boycott the club until I was re-instated but the club wouldn't have it at the time. The new DJ started ( I was barred now) and ended up playing to ever falling numbers. The club then decided to ask me back and I told them where to go as I had been offered another night by a club in Reading (The After Dark) which I took on instead.
Just thought I'd share that.
Has anyone else had to audition for residencies?
What do you think of it?
Cheers
G