Top Djs

I can definately see your point, but where do you draw the line? If your a DJ who hasn’t been on the scene for very long and is still trying to get your name heard, if you get offered an opportunity to play a set and start asking the owner or promoter for cash wouldn’t that come across as a bit cheeky?

I can understand if they have asked you personally because they clearly want to hire you for your talent etc, but i would feel pretty rude if i had been given the chance to DJ in a club i’ve never been to before and immediately start rubbing my fingers together as soon as i get my foot in the door!

I can definately see both sides of the argument though and if i ever did make it big then i probably would expect something back in return. But i think at this stage it should be about learning new skills and gaining experience’s and just having fun! I would start taking it alot more seriously if i had the chance to play with the big boys for sure!

Why is it cheecky? You are providing a service. You can always say “guys I know I am young and you do not know me, but I want to prove to you that I am a good DJ, so I will offer you to DJ for a fee of only XXX bucks this first night. I will cut a loss but it is a promotion. If you like it we renegotiate on the next gig.”

Price XXX is simply the usual amount you asked in your town what DJs get cut by say 20%. It is still a bargain compared to if they would have to hire a town DJ for that set and still it is not for free and they know your price will not stay that low. Be truthful and professional about it.
Yes, there are also some (they are businessman after all) that will talk to you, like they expect you to do it for free. Then you need to be cool about it and simply decline, even if it means not playing in said club. I have declined dozens such offers when I started out, only to headline the club a year later AND getting full pay. Those that took the offer, still DJ for free and do not even have money to buy new tracks or gear… Never forget you are in a business here and the managers and owners are businessman too, if they see something for free they will jump the wagon, but it does not mean it is good.

Read any superstar DJ bio & you’ll see that nowadays producing is how you get your big break. Being a DJ playing other people’s music is similar to being in cover band …you can only go so far and gain a certain level of popularity typically at a local level.

I think you might start to see more & more producers that learn to DJ after the fact as a necessity because they gain enough popularity from productions that a demand for live performance is created.