It's all about connections...

You better get some kneepads.....

rotfl

create a myspace. make mixes. no one will even consider talking to you unless you have a business car with said myspace page on it.

hand them out all over, hand out promo mixes outside of clubs if you want. if you are good you will get booked for sure.

unfortunately is not that easy, make a name for yourself. It is most likely there is already a DJ at the bar/club you want to spin at he is not going to want to let that go, unless its a new place.

My advice is to just start meeting DJs and get cool with them. If you are any good, they will begin to give you work. It will take some time tho. Nothing will happen over night. When it does happen, BE READY.

must be nice, i dont know any djs who pass gigs on

Yes it is nice. But it's mostly with people I've know for a while.

the only DJs ive ever known (even friends) who will pass gigs on to me are ones who dont own their own equipment and need to use mine

Hang out at a bar that plays the type of music you spin. You'll need to go more than once.
Go with some friends, buy a couple drinks, mingle a lil.
Eventually you'll find out the status of the resident DJ (If he's good, sucks, looking for a replacement, etc.)
If the crowd is tired of hearing this guy, you'll eventually run into a regular who might know the owner/manager. With a lil luck that person might know about you and your skills.
Have him/her introduce.
The worst he could say is no.
Leave a Business Card.
Frequent the place, the owner will take notice and appreciate, eventually you'll catch a break when the DJ needs a night off or simply stops spinning at the place.

Good Luck

^^Childish Behavior...thanks to the rest of the fellas you posted good advice.

and somehow your suprised, you must be new, welcome to the boards lol

hey homie, The cream always rises to the top, with time !!!

I get offers and have the opportunity to get double booked all the time... I pass them on to DJ friends all the time... Or If I got something to do, I will let a friend open at my residency or something. It works out for both of us.

I got my current gig by doing nothing more than hanging out at the bar and befriending the manger/owner. Then one night at about 10pm I get a panic text from the manager saying that their DJ called in sick ealier in the day and they needed someone asap. I took the gig, did a good job, and the manager then gave me any opening he had for the next month. I now spin at the venue three nights a week and am the entertainment manager for the venue. Thats just from hanging out at the venue 3-4 nights a week.

This gig is in my college town and I am planning on moving back to NY at the end of the semester. Right now I am working on developing a website and myspace as well as a business card that stands out. In my opinion, a bar/club manager will decide if you are worth bringing in for a sample set by spending 20 seconds looking at your website, so make it stand out. Also, handing out mixes is key. Give CD's and press kits to promoters/managers and send montly mixes to your friends on facebook.

There is a local spot that we're renting out for a frat party next month. I've done my event there for the past 3 years, but they don't have a regular club night. It's all Middle Eastern music, and a belly dancing show on Fridays and Saturdays. I was telling my boys that we should try to get one of the free nights to do a weekly gig. I could dj, and they can work the door and help promote.

I just got an invite from our rival frat, and those guys are promoting a Thursday night at the end of this month. They are charging $10 to get in, but I don't think it's going to work for them. This is a small restaurant/bar with a capacity of about 150.

So far they've got some people interested in going, but not after they find out how much it costs. So I'm thinking that when it flops, I'll go in and try to do a night with $5 entrance, or $3 on the guest list kinda thing. I'll just need someone I trust working the door, and I'll spin.

i am telling you. these days.... business card, my space , 1000 promo cd's , and if you truly are pretty decent... you will get a gig.

people get booked off of way less.

Myspace is dead. Promoters killed it

I'm actually meeting with the owner today about the event we have next month. I'm going to ask him about his terms for doing a night there.

Thats the best thing you can do. Have a night that you control. Bring in some DJ's to open for you or split the night with them and have them help you promote. Since you are in a frat you should have a nice base to promote too. Offer group rates and VIP stuff to large groups and target greek houses. Take the hit by having a big guest list to get people into the club.

Work out a deal with the club, something like you get the door, they get the bar but you pay for the entertainment (opening DJ's). Use that door money to pay other promoters.

Good luck man. Feel free to PM me if you have any questions. I started a Saturday night party last year and am starting a Monday in 2 weeks.

I like this post. There are some practical tips here. Thanks all!

+1
I don't really see paper flyers anymore..

@Mr $. thanks for the info... I'll see how it goes, and I'll hit you up if I need advice or have any questions.

I do it all the time. I hand over gigs all the time, specially mobiles. I don't like mobiles.

Anyhow, like Steve said. OC is hard market to get into and it's all about NETWORKING not skills. :( Very sad, but true. Also, don't expect to make tons of money in OC. Pretty much 1 out of 5 people that walk into a club are DJ's! lol

One thing that worked for me was to throw my own parties. That got me gigs quick!!! Back in 2000, I also dated a top female promoter. That worked too, but damn, we put up with too much drama. The scene is drama!!! Too much shit talking!!! lol

To this date, I can't think of a single gig I got from making a demo CD or an online mix. They all been through networking or from promoters who have heard of me.