Moving from mobile to bar/club

[Dave98013]

Looking for some ideas and suggestions to move from mobile to bar/club work.

I live in Lincoln and for the past 7 years i have done private work weddings 18th 21st the normal stuff. Last year I found event UK and have signed up to their gig list but so far I have only done 2 gigs both a big success.

I am only 24 and have played to some large crowds and different type of music so i am confident i can deliver.

Any ideas or suggestions very much welcome.

Thank you

[Dynamic Entertainment]

Unfortunately in the club scene its ultimately who you know, not what you know.

Try and get in with an existing club/dj...just providing cover for them when required...thats always a good foot in the door...but dont make it obvious that your after their gig ;) ... as word will soon spread amongst them that your out to poach their work and then youll stop getting asked to cover.

Also, approach promotors and see about doing the warm up sets...a promotors night may get you noticed by the venues management team, and its always good experience anyway.

[DeckstarDeluxe]

Very cut throat industry the bar/club scene and its all about who you know as Steve said.

Every week pretty much every venue in the town area will be getting people saying they can DJ better and for cheaper etc... So you need to make yourself stand out from this crowd either through your skill (which is pretty hard to do if you don't already play in the town) or you find yourself in the right place at the right time.

Personally for me, I have no desire to do anymore than I currently do which is one a month.

[MBK]

Its hard to get into the clubs, wages is at an all time low with DJ’s undercutting each other. Clubs are in decline with Luminar (one of the largest chains) going into administration.

In my experience as a Club DJ (from 1984 – 2001) I saw my wage rise and fall with the drop starting in 1999, by 2000 I was earning as much as I did in 1985 so I decided to call it a day.
If you want to work in Ibiza you need to offer yourself to the bars and clubs for free to get in, taking part in the mix off competitions. I have a friend that has made a name in Ibiza working regularly during the season in many bars and clubs but don’t expect to make a fortune from it with wages of between €25 – 50 (Euros) per evening. (In 1985 I was earning £40 per night in Magaluf as resident in Tokyo Joes)

You need to be top of your game to survive offer something that the other don’t. In reality it’s very hard to get your foot in to a club. In the old days we used to send in demo tapes, but with today’s technology most promoters / club owners want to see you mix etc in a live situation or perform a small set in front of them as far too many club DJ’s (IMO that I have seen in clubs) use Auto Mix (Even a big name DJ has allegedly been videoed using it during a set in a large club).

I wish you every success with the quest.

[mattred]

but with today’s technology most promoters / club owners want to see you mix etc in a live situation or perform a small set in front of them as far too many club DJ’s (IMO that I have seen in clubs) use Auto Mix (Even a big name DJ has allegedly been videoed using it during a set in a large club).


Thats why Im still a big fan (and user) of serato scratch live. It cant auto mix, to mix you the dj have to do it. They have introduced beat sync in itch and also there is the bridge with ableton live but I like the idea of just 2 x cdj or 2 x turntable and my serato box

As for advice I think what has been covered above is about right. I work 3 nights a week in different venues and its all about who you know. I can only think of 2 clubs in the last 10 years I got the job from emailing my cv and a website link. most the time you dont even get a response. Even if you talk to the owner in person they will say they will call you with a start date but never do!!

someone has to put in a good word for you. I had a venue who a friend got me the job (I had enquired about work the year before but never got a response) and the owner said "wow wish we had you for the last year" I almost said well i did contact you!!

the truth is there is work out there just you need to be good enough and the right DJ. A local bar that I work in were desperate for someone to take on Saturday nights but every DJ wasnt right. They were all good at mixing etc but didnt play the right mix. Not too cheesy, not to hard.

decide what sort of venue you want to work in. No point going to the young urban place which mainly plays rnb, hip hop, funky, ukg etc if your better at a mix of house and club classics and visa versa. I dont work anywhere where i play 70s 80s because thats not my scene. I may drop a classic at times but i dont play a set of that era.

talk to the guys in the dj shops local to you as they may have contacts from doing installs. lots of Mobile companies also have a dj agency side and put djs in to clubs. contact them. They may only have a few mobile bits but then when they have a club slot your name is top of the list!!

[Dave98013]

Thanks every one for the grate responses. Have given me a lot do think about.

What do you think should be my next step?

[WWDJ]

Thanks every one for the grate responses. Have given me a lot do think about.

What do you think should be my next step?

Learn how to spell 'great' :D

... oh and what everyone said above. It's not what you know, it's who you know. How else can a 40+ year old like me get the occasional gig in a packed bar/club in Oxford slamming out the D&B / Dubstep. It shouldn't make sense but I know a few people and they know I can do a good enough job. I'm not the best DJ, but I play mostly commercial scene, little bit of retro and few tunes to test the crowd.

Good luck!