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Would you play a gig for free

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  • August 26, 2012 at 6:03 pm #1011069
    Steelo
    Participant

    There is absolutely nothing wrong with playing for free if its to get your foot in the door. In many area’s its the norm to get more sets, a tryout of sorts. Anyone who complains about that is just jealous that you you are playing and they are not. Continuing to play for free at the same venue is not good though. And you have to know when your have had enough experience that you don’t have to play for free to get a set.

    August 27, 2012 at 9:18 pm #1011096
    madman
    Participant

    In the case you describe there’s nothig wrong with it: it’s for charity. When I was gonna have my first gig besides DJíng at small house parties of friends I immediately started to get offered money while the manager had never heard me before so I actually never got the chance to DJ for free at a gig but I’d be willing to do so if it were for charity like in your case.

    August 28, 2012 at 12:19 am #1011100
    D-Jam
    Participant

    I’ll play for free if I know it’ll be a good party and a fun set.

    That means a packed room, receptive crowd, no having to play mainstream crap, and no having to take requests. Just me sharing my musical tastes the way I think club/rave DJing should be.

    In the case of the Army Ball…I’d call that a charitable donation. Write it off on your taxes.

    August 28, 2012 at 11:37 am #1011108
    DJ Yaka
    Participant

    First of all, I think what you are doing for charity is spot on, hats off to ya !!!

    As for doing gigs for free….. It defiantly depends on the situation. When I first started out, I was working in a bar, and covered the resident DJ when he was on holiday etc…. I got paid my normal bog standard bar wage, but I was happy as it was a vital learning experience. I also put on my own club night to advertise my self (which i did for free).

    However, now that I have a residency, I don’t think I would do a gig for free. Simply down to the fact that my music and my equipment doesn’t pay for it self.

    However, I have done charity gigs myself and I wouldn’t charge for them….as long as it’s for a good cause….. Just like the one you’re doing 🙂

    August 31, 2012 at 2:06 am #27414
    shr3dder
    Member

    D-Jam, post: 27400, member: 3 wrote: I’ll play for free if I know it’ll be a good party and a fun set.

    That means a packed room, receptive crowd, no having to play mainstream crap, and no having to take requests. Just me sharing my musical tastes the way I think club/rave DJing should be.

    That’s my theory for doing shit for free. If it feels like work, I want cash.

    I’ve played for charity a few times as well, last weekend in fact my fee went to cancer research for daffodil day, and it happens every year, I mean the club pays me 51 weeks a year, I can spare 1 weekend for a good cause (Just make sure you’re money goes where it should, promoters can be dodgy f*cks)

    November 27, 2012 at 10:45 am #32658
    Milos Djordjevic
    Participant

    I’ve done charity gigs for free that went to a good cause, great way to network and its my way of helping out with what I can. The only do some parties for free such as my own or impromptu ones where I know the Dj and they ask me a for a bathroom break or whatnot. In the end its always love > money

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