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Club Vets: Need some advice...
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Club Vets: Need some advice...

dj cubicle 5:32 PM - 3 March, 2007
After AMF let me spin last night, I ended up at a bar that, historically, has been a pretty hot spot. I rolled in at 1am and the DJ was playing Mya - Ghetto Superstar to an empty dance floor. My friends told me it had been like that all night and the DJ wasn't doing anything more than letting one song end and starting another one.

I want this spot. What I need help with is advice on how to go about it. What I've got so far is similar to the underpants gnomes business plan from South Park.

Phase 1. Scope out Friday nights at this place for the next two weeks and see if the vibe is just as bad.

Phase 2. ???

Phase 3. Profit!

To be honest, I'm not sure if the person DJing last night was a hired DJ or someone who works there and won the "you get to play music" shift. Any and all advice on who to approach (how do I find out?) and how to approach the topic of the suckiness of their DJ would be appreciated. This will be my first foray into getting a gig on my own so I want to make sure I'm prepared for the entire process.

NOTE: Yes, I understand this is the ugly side of the business that nobody likes to talk about. I also understand that many of you have probably been on both sides of the coin which is why I'm here.
That Guy 1 6:05 PM - 3 March, 2007
Quote:
What I've got so far is similar to the underpants gnomes business plan from South Park.


BAAA-HAA!! ROFL!!

It probably wouldn't be wrong if you approached the owner without mentioning the other DJ.

There probably is a reason the wack DJ is there. Is he afriend/relative? Is he not charging much?

Quote:
at 1am and the DJ was playing Mya - Ghetto Superstar


HUH??
DJ Evil One 6:10 PM - 3 March, 2007
talk to the owner man...any dj who isn't holding it down deserves at the very least a little competition.
dj fluffylumpkins 7:52 PM - 3 March, 2007
before you jump into trying to get this gig find out if there are underlying reasons why it is crappy on fridays?
Have there been voilence issues there in the past which kept people away?
Drug issues and associated police raids?
does the management view dj's as barstaff and pay them accordingly?
Do they want tht club to fail so they can sell it/buy it or something just as dodgy?
As is mentioned the dj could be a friend or rele, so the "hey dude your dj sucks balls, gee us a job" approach might be not the best.

My advise is to spend a few weeks visiting the club every night it is open and get there early, this way you can get to know and chat with security/bar staff and really find out what is going on there. Also you could mention that you have worked at XXXX prevoiusly for however long, you have people who would travel to see you etc, and soon you would meet the manager, who might offer you one night to see how you perform.

But once a club/night has a rep for being weak it is very hard indeed to recover without a refit/ expensive promotions etc, and it might be hard for you if you get the gig. I do not know what your experience is in that market, but i have found in markets the owners and managers all know each others and possibly the best way to get a plum gig is to start as a backup at one of the lesser known places, that way you can find the style that works in that market, and if you screw up it is only noticed by a few. If you start at the top in a market and you screw up , everyone will know and you would be blamed for killing the venue on that night. This would make it hard to get another job in the market.

sorry if i am going over stuff you know but the dj's in the best clubs in your market have all worked thier way up, no one i know had it handed to them. Even if daddys cc paid for thier gold plated 1200's, mixer etc , his money can not buy soul.

cheers
brett rock 8:01 PM - 3 March, 2007
do you have a press kit?

biography, mix cd's, accolades. a professional promo package of yourself is always a good thing to have. it lets them see that you have the ability to help them bring people in.
dj cubicle 11:03 PM - 3 March, 2007
Quote:


sorry if i am going over stuff you know but the dj's in the best clubs in your market have all worked thier way up, no one i know had it handed to them. Even if daddys cc paid for thier gold plated 1200's, mixer etc , his money can not buy soul.

cheers


hah, the first thing i thought about this place was that so much more of daddy's money could be buying drinks if these people were dancing. LOL

Quote:


biography, mix cd's, accolades. a professional promo package of yourself is always a good thing to have. it lets them see that you have the ability to help them bring people in.



Finalizing the mix cd tomorrow. Drove to my mom's to get away from the rat race so I could focus on what I wanted to put on it. Thanks for the help guys!
That Guy 1 1:15 AM - 4 March, 2007
Quote:
but i have found in markets the owners and managers all know each others and possibly the best way to get a plum gig is to start as a backup at one of the lesser known places, that way you can find the style that works in that market, and if you screw up it is only noticed by a few. If you start at the top in a market and you screw up , everyone will know and you would be blamed for killing the venue on that night. This would make it hard to get another job in the market.


Man, that's really good knowledge.