gbadegesin
For those of us hoping to get a DJ residency one day, i wondered if those of you who have/had residencies could share your knowledge on how you landed it.
By luck or hustling?
For those hoping to get into it, what are your plans? or rather, how do you intend to approach it?
By luck or hustling?
For those hoping to get into it, what are your plans? or rather, how do you intend to approach it?
Posté Tue 04 Sep 12 @ 7:53 am
wildcountryclub
worked in a 2 different college radio stations then a couple country radio stations first, then after moving to this area in 97 started working part time at current club in 98 and then after resident made stupid mistakes because of drugs & alcohol became full-time resident, and have been here ever since.
guess you could say little luck and very little hustle. didnt take much of the hustle part other than making sure i was in the right place at the right time.
guess you could say little luck and very little hustle. didnt take much of the hustle part other than making sure i was in the right place at the right time.
Posté Tue 04 Sep 12 @ 8:17 am
MattClarke
I got my first residency (back in 1992 lol) by knowing the owner of a bar that had DJ's and asking him if I coul do a night. If I recall I think I did a Wednesday night simply for beer money and as I was a regular there all my mates came down to take the piss lol. Eventually I got better and got picked up by an agency who put me about venue to venue.
These days I work for an agency who supply the major pub chains but tbh most of my work comes from knowing the venue managers, other DJ's, etc and hearing about residencies whent hey come up
These days I work for an agency who supply the major pub chains but tbh most of my work comes from knowing the venue managers, other DJ's, etc and hearing about residencies whent hey come up
Posté Tue 04 Sep 12 @ 8:36 am
Tear Em 'Up
I haven't had a residency for years but, when I did, I kept talking to the bar owner. Eventually, he had me cover for the resident. Two nights later, the resident was fired, and I was hired. I stuck there for five years, until I left on my terms...
Posté Tue 04 Sep 12 @ 9:42 am
xcakid
gbadegesin wrote :
For those of us hoping to get a DJ residency one day, i wondered if those of you who have/had residencies could share your knowledge on how you landed it.
By luck or hustling?
By luck or hustling?
1) By knowing people: my current monthly residency, I met the owner of the bar at the kung fu school I teach at. His kid was taking kung fu. We got to talking and found out he owned a bar. I jokingly said he should let me play one night. He took me up on it and have been playing there monthly and whenever a band cancels on him for 2yrs now.
2) Going out to clubs and bars. One, to see if it is a spot I want to play at. Two to find out who has the power to hire and meet that person. Once I have done that, I send them a demo CD. I then follow up with another visit to the bar or club. I briefly mention the CD I sent and my interest in playing there, aside from that, I really don't mention DJing. I have gotten quite a few quest spots going this route and a residency at a large club which I left last May due management changes that I did not agree with. That club closed last month ("told you so")
3) my lastest tactic is networking via FB to try and find out who the person is at a specific bar. contacting them via FB and seeing if they are open to looking at another DJ to put into rotation. So far I have gotten one guest spot and currently talking with a bar about a residency position, if all lines up should be back to another weekly residency by months end.
Bottomline, you have to get out there in order to get a residency. Plenty of DJs out there. You have to market yourself and show them you are worth the $300-500 a night you charge. Specially if there is a DJ behind you willing to do it for a bar tab or $50. GM's, Owners and Promoters will have to be comfortable that you can handle the night and not lose business. You need to be active in the scene, which is the hardest part for me since I work a day job. I can only devote weekends to going out. And visiting bars during peak times is not a good time to meet GMs, Owners and/or promoters.
Posté Tue 04 Sep 12 @ 10:14 am
gbadegesin
Excellent thread and inside knowledge guys. Keep em coming.
It's also very interesting to hear the different tactics people use, some i would have never ordinarily thought of.
It's also very interesting to hear the different tactics people use, some i would have never ordinarily thought of.
Posté Wed 05 Sep 12 @ 2:45 am
A Man and His Music
I got a call in 87 about a Gentlemen's club, from a record store owner. I said no out right. The clubs I knew of, were sleazy dumps. He said, you don't have to bring equipment, again I said no. He said they have 1200s, I said no shit? If they had 1200s, they could not be that bad. When I go in, the Cuban manager, gave me a surprise smile, and said he would introduce me to the owner. The Italian owner gave me the "I didn't know you were black surprise look". This was an all white upscale club. What do I know. He asked me if I knew rock, and I lied and said yes. I knew about Rod Stewart, David Bowie, Rolling Stones. I did not know about AC/DC, Judas Priest, Kronkus and the other heavy hitters. I got Monday day shift, and watched MTV all night, every night. To cut to the chase, I got Mon-Fri days in less than 9 months, and stayed at the club for 23 years. The trick was I put the dancers out front and kept my ego in check. I worked harder than any other DJ, and it paid of.
Fast forward. Be careful who you piss off. My fifth year in, a young manager was hired at the club. He came in the booth and "suggested" that I play something different. I told he to get the puck out of my booth. He told the owner, who told him to manage the dancers and bartenders, and leave me alone. We became friendly after awhile, and he left in six months. He went on to manage some of the hottest clubs, including Satin Dolls, which you may know as the Bada Bing from the Sopranos. Two years ago, I hear that he is opening up his own club, 5 mins from my house. Now, all I can think about is how I threw him out of my booth. This club is gonna be the shit, from the way the construction is going. I stalk him, finding out what kind of car he drives. I get up the nerve to go in when I see his car in the lot. I just tell him I want a shift, and would do a shift for free, as a audition. He says he remembers me, and that is not necessary, and gives me a tour of the place. He takes my card, and says he will give me a call. He is still the GM for 3 other clubs, and has a lot of DJs working under him. I continue to stalk him, because the club is suppose to open in two months. Every Time I see his car, I drop in. Cut to the chase. I have three shifts in this club, and gave up another in one of his other clubs. It is a lot different from the old days. You do not have to play what the dancers want anymore, because they don't dance. I am an all video DJ some it helps that I bring something extra to the table. Some other DJs play a few videos, but they look like crap.
As I have gotten older, I have had to change my tactics. In the last five years, I have gotten every club I have gone to, except one. That was because of my age. They got rid of another guy that was twenty years younger than I. They have three clubs in this state, and I know that their long time DJ is over 40, but I will not mention his name. I stalk the person I have to talk to. I need them to remember my name. So I show up for an appetizer, always saying hello. Never bad mouth the other DJ, just mention what you do different.
Fast forward. Be careful who you piss off. My fifth year in, a young manager was hired at the club. He came in the booth and "suggested" that I play something different. I told he to get the puck out of my booth. He told the owner, who told him to manage the dancers and bartenders, and leave me alone. We became friendly after awhile, and he left in six months. He went on to manage some of the hottest clubs, including Satin Dolls, which you may know as the Bada Bing from the Sopranos. Two years ago, I hear that he is opening up his own club, 5 mins from my house. Now, all I can think about is how I threw him out of my booth. This club is gonna be the shit, from the way the construction is going. I stalk him, finding out what kind of car he drives. I get up the nerve to go in when I see his car in the lot. I just tell him I want a shift, and would do a shift for free, as a audition. He says he remembers me, and that is not necessary, and gives me a tour of the place. He takes my card, and says he will give me a call. He is still the GM for 3 other clubs, and has a lot of DJs working under him. I continue to stalk him, because the club is suppose to open in two months. Every Time I see his car, I drop in. Cut to the chase. I have three shifts in this club, and gave up another in one of his other clubs. It is a lot different from the old days. You do not have to play what the dancers want anymore, because they don't dance. I am an all video DJ some it helps that I bring something extra to the table. Some other DJs play a few videos, but they look like crap.
As I have gotten older, I have had to change my tactics. In the last five years, I have gotten every club I have gone to, except one. That was because of my age. They got rid of another guy that was twenty years younger than I. They have three clubs in this state, and I know that their long time DJ is over 40, but I will not mention his name. I stalk the person I have to talk to. I need them to remember my name. So I show up for an appetizer, always saying hello. Never bad mouth the other DJ, just mention what you do different.
Posté Wed 05 Sep 12 @ 3:05 pm