DJing ... serious business?

[Funkedub]

How seriously should being a DJ be taken ?

seriously ?

[Bracko]

not very.

unless its your business, then it's serious.

[djsimonmann]

If you don't take it serious and just play around etc, it can be loads of fun... but you prob won't become a household name..

People I know who try and make a name for themselves, take it very seriously... Each and every weekend is spent visiting your fav clubs, networking, handing out demos and generally being seen.. And that is also while gigs are being played and music is being bought and made etc...

I think to make any dent in any scene, making your own music AND djing is the key. Or have a radio show and showcase other peoples music, scratch peoples backs and they'll scratch yours.. Basically, to become a full time dj, it;'s almost a full time job..

I know back when I was really serious about being a dj, I spent the majority of my time working on things that would forward my profile...

But, having it as a hobbie to me is much more fun and that's what I'm in it for...

In saying all that, I'm sure that established djs have heaps of fun.. but they would have worked their arse off to get there... (most of the time)

[Nick Vidal]

yup its not all fun and games!

a friend of mine who now has a bit of name for himself used to get up at 5am on a saturday and/or sunday morning to go to kick ons and after parties to network and hand out demos!

[twistedbydesign]

depends on how seriously you take life itself doesn't it?

[DJ D one]

If it brings food on the table, roof over your head, I guess your life depends on it.
If you are not serious about your job, then you know the rest of the story.

D1

[Bekay]

If I don't have gigs I'm forced to eat free slop from the hari-krishna's in newtown.

[Skerik]

i was in newtown the other nite - how many thai places are on king st?

40 + ?

so i had mexican...

dj'ing serious business? I reckon it's only as serious as you make it

[Tredman]

its as serious as you want it to be i believe there needs to be a mix between the two

[Dj Hempenhymer]

http://www.forumspile.com/O_RLY-Quite.jpg

[Neo_]

geebus...

[Pro Tool]

Ask these guys (http://www.inthemix.com.au/forum/forumdisplay.php?forumid=35)

Quite serious apparently :lol:

[Disauda]

A Colostomy bag....now thats serious....

[Donnie Darko]

http://www.chartattack.com/pics/2005/06/f-tiesto.jpg

DJing - Serious Buisness

[soi-disant]

serious as cancer

[newjack]

i take music seriously and used to take working or wanting to work very... but these days as somebody mentioned,, the hobby part of it, no pressure to keep up to date with chart music iam having more fun than ever...

Djing should be about the Journey not the destination... Otherwise you run out of steam no matter who you are

[kurtisthomas]

yeah i don't think it is like as serious as you want to take it. i don't think ur dj'n ability ever reflects how good u are and how many gigs u get.
Like i started last year as a 17yr old moby disc boy and as soon as i turned 18 i tried to start getting into dj'n at clubs. But it just didnt happen. Like i made some killer mixes, i just couldnt secure good gigs and its only now that im getting gigs at Moulin and Candys.
I suggest if u wanna get serious start off networking with promoters and dj heaps at ur local uni.

[thamainfactor]

i'd like to base my comment on what you've said kurtisthomas. if you are looking for gigs in clubs, be unique and play your own style of music. for example, i'm assuming you play house? stick to one particular part of house music that rarely gets played, you are more likely to get gigs. the people who give you the gigs are tired of hearing the same songs in every set. so what i'm saying is be a rebel and play something different and don't be a sheep. i'm a hip hop dj and im sticking to real hip hop (mostly music from late 80's to mid 90's). that shit doesn't get played anymore and know of heaps of people who still want to hear it. put it this way, if you want more gigs, play different shit from everyone else, your'e more likely to get chosen to play.. just my opinion.

[newjack]

that is exactley what my new East Coast Dj Crew is about, difference,, stuff that is not getting played and also not focusing on certain venue's.. Each Dj will have there own strength.. If we get booked to play purist house then the dj's who dedicate themselves to that will take the gig..I don't think going out and buying music you don't like to get certain club work is the right thing to do.. SO iam expanding and making new friendships,

Also,, if you expect to jump into a club after djing for 12mths you got to be joking..There is so many dj's out there who are friends of friends of people who run certain shows etc...

U need to learn how to sell YOUR PRODUCT to the Entertainment manager.. last thing you want to do and ive even done it is,, run around throwing Dj Demo's at other dj's to prove you can do it too or expect them to get your work..Its almost everyman for hisself...So iam putting together a Crew of likeminded people who may want a longer term commitment..

First of all... u need a ABN number.. When i applied for it, i had to put down a name,, didnt take me long, i took a good look at my surroundings,, South Qld Goldcoast and came up with East Coast Dance Music,, ECDM,, paid someone to create labels logo's,, done alot of background work and i was working even know i hadnt advanced in talent.. Not to say i didnt know what i was doing.. These days ive had 3 years off, now iam back into music and loving it.. Before i really had to get work,, why,, i put so much effort into it and i saw all these other dj's getting work and if i didnt i felt like i was doing something wrong... i used to think technical skillz really didnt matter alot, after reading about Larry Levan, but that was then,, it does matter and if you really havnt expirienced clubbing or listening to dj sets,, you don't understand the level and committment that other Dj's have been putting in also...But balance everything.. Djing aint everything and not getting work is not the end of the world.. once you get to that place and way of thinking you will be pressing ahead. you can sit back and relax to concentrate on your collection.. thats what counts... don't have to buy every new track out there cause yo uthink, if i don't get this new track i will let the rest of my collection down or that other dj will have an edge on me...


Being different really has something to do with your personality.. With downloading these days its very hard to compete with others..But u still can,, theres loads of music out there in second hand stores that will never make it on the net


anyhow,, words for thought


Pete

[kurtisthomas]

i'd like to base my comment on what you've said kurtisthomas. if you are looking for gigs in clubs, be unique and play your own style of music. for example, i'm assuming you play house? stick to one particular part of house music that rarely gets played, you are more likely to get gigs. the people who give you the gigs are tired of hearing the same songs in every set. so what i'm saying is be a rebel and play something different and don't be a sheep. i'm a hip hop dj and im sticking to real hip hop (mostly music from late 80's to mid 90's). that shit doesn't get played anymore and know of heaps of people who still want to hear it. put it this way, if you want more gigs, play different shit from everyone else, your'e more likely to get chosen to play.. just my opinion.

this can be right and wrong... I totally agree that u've gotta be individual in ur mixes and demos and all of that. and if u can get gigs playing at ur favorite club playing ur style, then hats off.
But ive found that ive gotta be flexible. I've loved electro for years, its all i ever record, its all i ever listen too and i only go to clubs where im gonna hear it. And Moulin Rouge is the only club i go to now, and its really the only club i wanna play at, and ive finally got my first gig there next sunday, but its an opening set, so im gonna have to play minimal tech. But hopefully i'll be able to work my way to the top and play electro at prime time..
Do u see where im going with this?

[dancergurl23]

I saw DJ AM at the Borgata in Atlantic City! he was awesome!!!