So, you’re a dj or a live act, you’ve worked on your set for month, tested it on your friends and family at private parties and you’re ready to conquer the world. Good.
Now, you want to find gigs. This post is for you. This is in fact some quotes i’ve personnally experienced…
You run your facebook page like a pro, your blog is cool, and you’re a twitter junky. OK. But now, it is time to switch your computer off and start going out and meet real people.
- DO NETWORK – this is the MAIN thing. You have to know the people in your own city who run the nights you’d love to play at. You always have more chances to be noticed if they know you in person and if they see you often at their parties. A lot can happen like this. And this is the same with promoters from other cities. Try to get in touch with them online, to get noticed. Then go met them in real. It is a good way to spend both holidays and do networking. Don’t forget WE ARE REAL PEOPLE.
- GIVE AWAY DEMOS – Once you’ve introduced yourself to these promoters (it can also be bar owner in direct btw…) burn few CDs and give them away. First, cos a cd is REAL. These promoters won’t always have time or curioisity to go visit your myspace or soundcloud page. A cd will last. Everybody, and promoters too, love to recieve presents! Make your cd looks good, sounds good and don’t forget to put your contact details on both the cover and the cd. A good looking cd will always have more chance to be noticed than a simple cd-r in a plastic bag ;)
- BE DIFFERENT – This may sound stupid, but today, everybody wants to be a dj. With the equipment getting cheaper & cheaper, there is more competition than ever. Ok, you are a talented dj, you know how to synchronize your tunes, etc, but why would your cd make this promoter want to book you ? why are your sets unique ? Is your music the only thing people want ?
- BE PASSIONNATED – Never forget that people go out for ENTERTAINMENT. They want to have fun/ be surprised / be jostled. They don’t want to see a dj checking his email on stage. They want to see people who live their music.
- TAKE RISKS - why other people would take risks on booking you if you don’t ? sometimes, the best way to have gigs is to do some yourself. Start small, promote it as far as you can. Go distribute flyers in bars, shops, parties. This is also a KEY point to do network with both professionnals & potential fans. Do yourself some stickers! As i said earlier, people love presents. A stickers is a wicked promotionnal tool, you can stick them all around and you’ll always meet people who like to cover their fridge with stickers. This definitly deserve spending a bit of your own money ;)
- BRING YOUR CROWD – Promoters will book you not only cos you are good, but also cos you’ll bring your crowd to their parties. GET YOUR FRIENDS INVOLVED. Promote these gigs online, send texts, emails, do contest, make them want to come. Later, this process will happen naturally, they’ll come by themselves. But pay attention to your supporters and make them follow you and talk about it.
So here are all the things i’ve noticed and i wanted to share with you…. but maybe i’ve missed some others… So feel free to share your point of view or experience below!
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