How to get gigs

Make friends and connection with group of people with the same interest as you are, get to know the club/manager of the venues, start doing gigs in small bday parties or private parties.

Just dont start doing it for free tough …

I contacted “local” booking agencies, one signed me in, and I’ve beed doing mobile gigs since with great success. Also go to clubs, meet other DJs, since they’re the ones that do all that stuff.

I have the same problem. I have been bedroom DJing for almost 2 years now but just lack the social skills to get gigs. I know many DJs as I go to loads of their parties (if not personally at least enough to have chatted a few times on Facebook and they sure know me as I go to loads of parties and always let them know when/if I have enjoyed their music), but I am always treated as a guest or another guy dancing. Every time I have tried to show interest in playing or talking to them, they are either not interested or do not answer my messages (I think I was too eager a few times). If they answer it is always something like “talk to the right people at the right time and keep trying!” Isn’t that what I am doing with them? What can I do to fix this half-a$$ relationship and get myself some gigs? I just want to play for a crowd and make them dance. I feel like I have this gift that I want to share with people and do not even want money for it at this stage… I am really frustrated… Would love to hear comments. Thanks 🙂

Thanks for the reply pravr. I never bug DJs while they are playing even if I may have a semi-friendship going as I see that as very disrespectful. It is always when they are chilling at the bar or something but I guess I should have the guts to approach them face to face rather than bugging them on Facebook. Actually today a miracle might have happened and it seems like I got the o.k from one of the guys to play at a venue I really dig so lets see if it happens or not, but it is nice to know that I am not the only one who keeps trying and trying. After all your 2-3 year wait is very long too so it gives me some hope. Thanks 🙂

Tuomari – How much does it cost you to work with your booking agency up there? Do you pay a recurring fee, or a percentage?

In other words, they take care of all the legal bullshit, invoicing and so on. I just go there and play.

I’m maybe a bit late on this topic, but what I can tell you is unfortunately, we are in 2014, not in the 70′ anymore.

I mean, now DJ’s are CONSIDERED, they are SUPERSTARS. Before, they just were the guy in the dark playing records that customers wanted to hear. DJ for Disc Jockey. A human jukebox.

From my point you should consider yourself as a company, with everything that it involves and comes with it. Nowadays there is way too many DJ’s everywhere, competition is really hard. That’s why you have to be different, market yourself, work hard (i mean really hard) every day of the week, even 20 hours a day if necessary. Find the right friends in the industry, get social, even if you need to pretend you’re important.

Choose your logo, your music style, your equipment, even your clothes with attention, network and network again. NEVER make an opinion on someone according to the way he/she looks or his/her job. Take all the numbers, facebooks, tweeters and so on. Because maybe one day, this guy you found so funny in a club, who was unemployed and gave you his contact is now someone incredibly important and can help you.

I could write pages and pages about that. But I think the articles on this website and a lot of other experienced DJs will do a better job than me.

Finally: never let it go.

Cheers,

Seth Shannon