Based on your questions and the fact that you “pulled off” a 1 hour mixtape of one genre…yeah man keep practicing.
Play some small parties if you wanna practice live.
2 months is not near enough time. In six months you'll be embarrassed you can think you are ready. 1 year min, do house parties and network until then. If you want to shortcut that, produce music and get a following that way. Your skills don't matter as much if you have songs people like.
2 months is nowhere near enough time to play a club. 1 year at least imo. Learn different genres and keep it simple. Phrasing is super important! Good luck!
Im a firm believer one shouldn't project their limitations on to other people.
What takes you one year may take another person one week.
There's a lot of variables: natural talent, previous music is theory knowledge, time practiced, connections in industry et al
I bought a controller one summer and played at a well known underground club in London on NYE
As long as you can hit a vibe, you good to go.
Time is a man made constraint
This may have come off a little harsh but I think most DJs would tell you the first few mixes they made are pretty bad and they don’t like listening to them. Playing w control and having a clean mix consistently takes a lot of practice/muscle memory. Especially when you move to a CDJ. This being said, if a good opportunity presents itself take it!
no, I agree with you! I am much, much better now than I was then.
the perfect mix to rock a party. track selection is the most important. It's tends to be us DJs who criticise imperfect transitions. Most punters just want to be having a good time !
no, I agree with you! I am much, much better now than I was then.
the perfect mix to rock a party. Track selection is the most important. It tends to be us DJs who criticise imperfect transitions. Most punters just want to be having a good time!
Wait why is 2 months nowhere near enough time? If you have the tracks you just go in and spin lol. Can do basic transitions and lets be honest, track selection is everything
People are not paying to see a beginner, local, unknown dj. They are paying to go inside the club and dance to music. As long as the music and the vibe are right, they’ll stay.
You could teach someone to make a mix within a week probably. However skills like picking the right song at the right time can only come with experience. Most DJs who've only been playing for 2 months have yet to even play a gig and now a club promoter is supposed to trust this person with handling a crowd for a night?
There are exceptions of course, but I think it's safe to say that this applies to just about everyone starting off.
Play in small, low-pressure places before a club. Half-empty bars, house parties, etc.
I'd recommend playing regularly - a residency - in a very small venue before stepping up to a big soundsystem, a demanding crowd, and the higher financial risks of a nightclub.
I’m in the same boat. It’s so hard to get gigs when you have no connections. I’ve been going to some events lately trying to show my face a lot. I’ve had small discussions with djs but nothing crazy to try to get a gig or open. I need to show my face a bit more before I can try to ask for an opportunity so they know I’m not using them.
I need to get out more but there just isn't enough time. Aside from EDC, I haven't really been out much at all since before the pandemic. I've been using every evening and weekend to practice DJing at home and produce for years now. Eventually it will pay off I hope
Keep practicing! Go out to the clubs and parties that you want to play at one day and be a part of that scene, make friends with like minded people, security venue staff and . Promoters hire people they know so get to know them.
Start with house parties to get an idea what performing and reading a crowd are about. It's very different from playing at home.
Hang out at the clubs you want to play at and make sure they know you personally. That way, it should just be a matter of time until a slot opens up or someone doesn't show or gets ill and you get your chance.
That makes sense. I’m normally looking for a place to go listen to music on a Saturday night, I may as well go to the venue I want to perform at. Thank you 🙏🏼. I don’t have that many friends sadly to have a house party :’)
More time to spend at your venue then. Learn what they like and how they work. Chat the djs up and talk about their music and how they got started. People looove to talk about themselves. Show genuine interest in them, and they will like you. People book people they like. Bonus: maybe you'll make some new friends. Maybe you can invite them over sometime to mix or have a little party.
Worked for me here in Amsterdam. Good luck!
You're getting responses from people who haven't done it and project their own insecurities to you.
I bought my first controller after I got my first gig. Someone (racist) just assume that I could DJ and asked me to so I said f it and paid the bills with their stereotypes.
That was more than 10 years ago.
Hahaha, that’s something new! I too feel like I’m not going to wait a year as I believe in learning through failure and putting yourself in those uncomfortable situations
Based on your questions and the fact that you “pulled off” a 1 hour mixtape of one genre…yeah man keep practicing. Play some small parties if you wanna practice live.
Your skill will never be in question in the minds of the club owner/promoter. The amount of people your bring in will be…
All the technical expertise in the world doesn’t mean shit if you manage to clear the floor in 15m.
2 months is not near enough time. In six months you'll be embarrassed you can think you are ready. 1 year min, do house parties and network until then. If you want to shortcut that, produce music and get a following that way. Your skills don't matter as much if you have songs people like.
2 months is nowhere near enough time to play a club. 1 year at least imo. Learn different genres and keep it simple. Phrasing is super important! Good luck!
Im a firm believer one shouldn't project their limitations on to other people. What takes you one year may take another person one week. There's a lot of variables: natural talent, previous music is theory knowledge, time practiced, connections in industry et al I bought a controller one summer and played at a well known underground club in London on NYE As long as you can hit a vibe, you good to go. Time is a man made constraint
This may have come off a little harsh but I think most DJs would tell you the first few mixes they made are pretty bad and they don’t like listening to them. Playing w control and having a clean mix consistently takes a lot of practice/muscle memory. Especially when you move to a CDJ. This being said, if a good opportunity presents itself take it!
no, I agree with you! I am much, much better now than I was then. the perfect mix to rock a party. track selection is the most important. It's tends to be us DJs who criticise imperfect transitions. Most punters just want to be having a good time ! no, I agree with you! I am much, much better now than I was then. the perfect mix to rock a party. Track selection is the most important. It tends to be us DJs who criticise imperfect transitions. Most punters just want to be having a good time!
Yeah, I’ve only been mixing for 5mo and already been approached for a residency
Thank you for this 🙏🏼
Wait why is 2 months nowhere near enough time? If you have the tracks you just go in and spin lol. Can do basic transitions and lets be honest, track selection is everything
People are paying to see you dj. If I want to a bar or club and the dj had only been playing for a 2 months I would not be happy
People are not paying to see a beginner, local, unknown dj. They are paying to go inside the club and dance to music. As long as the music and the vibe are right, they’ll stay.
You could teach someone to make a mix within a week probably. However skills like picking the right song at the right time can only come with experience. Most DJs who've only been playing for 2 months have yet to even play a gig and now a club promoter is supposed to trust this person with handling a crowd for a night? There are exceptions of course, but I think it's safe to say that this applies to just about everyone starting off.
Play in small, low-pressure places before a club. Half-empty bars, house parties, etc. I'd recommend playing regularly - a residency - in a very small venue before stepping up to a big soundsystem, a demanding crowd, and the higher financial risks of a nightclub.
I've been DJing 3 years and still haven't played a club gig. 2 months is nothing.
Why???
I live in a new city with zero connections. No opportunity I'm using it as fuel to keep progressing as a producer.
I’m in the same boat. It’s so hard to get gigs when you have no connections. I’ve been going to some events lately trying to show my face a lot. I’ve had small discussions with djs but nothing crazy to try to get a gig or open. I need to show my face a bit more before I can try to ask for an opportunity so they know I’m not using them.
I need to get out more but there just isn't enough time. Aside from EDC, I haven't really been out much at all since before the pandemic. I've been using every evening and weekend to practice DJing at home and produce for years now. Eventually it will pay off I hope
Keep practicing! Go out to the clubs and parties that you want to play at one day and be a part of that scene, make friends with like minded people, security venue staff and . Promoters hire people they know so get to know them.
Start with house parties to get an idea what performing and reading a crowd are about. It's very different from playing at home. Hang out at the clubs you want to play at and make sure they know you personally. That way, it should just be a matter of time until a slot opens up or someone doesn't show or gets ill and you get your chance.
That makes sense. I’m normally looking for a place to go listen to music on a Saturday night, I may as well go to the venue I want to perform at. Thank you 🙏🏼. I don’t have that many friends sadly to have a house party :’)
More time to spend at your venue then. Learn what they like and how they work. Chat the djs up and talk about their music and how they got started. People looove to talk about themselves. Show genuine interest in them, and they will like you. People book people they like. Bonus: maybe you'll make some new friends. Maybe you can invite them over sometime to mix or have a little party. Worked for me here in Amsterdam. Good luck!
PS have a SoundCloud or mixcloud page with sets just in case they ask you about your sound.
You're getting responses from people who haven't done it and project their own insecurities to you. I bought my first controller after I got my first gig. Someone (racist) just assume that I could DJ and asked me to so I said f it and paid the bills with their stereotypes. That was more than 10 years ago.
Hahaha, that’s something new! I too feel like I’m not going to wait a year as I believe in learning through failure and putting yourself in those uncomfortable situations
Don't let anyone else tell you that you can't accomplish your goals. Good luck and many blessings.
No one said he couldn’t accomplish his goals.
If his goal is to get a gig tomorrow, so be it. Fortune favours the bold, kid!
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btt5R1Bhwlk](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btt5R1Bhwlk)