The grass isn't always greener.

for years I've heard Australia from at least 5-6 people but have never been

Oz is a BIG jump from the US. You think getting a gig is tough? Try getting work visas etc to even stay long enough to make a true living.

Stopped reading right there...

Agreed. Very small brained comment. Unless you've been to every city in every state in the U.S.

Other countries are different bruh. Like someone said above the grass isnt always greener just different. What makes the US so bad to spin in?

Judging from your podcast mixtapes, Im not to sure about Europe being the right place for you...

I'm from Holland and lived in Tokyo for 2 years. At the moment I am back home, but I am moving back to JP end of the year if all goes well. DJ-wise, I totally loved JP; after some networking, I landed gig after gig, usually getting to play what I want and making some decent money. I like playing 'real' hiphop, soul, funk etc.

Tokyo is so big there's a decent music scene for all genres. Plus, most venues got good setups, an SL box at the venue and killer sound systems. Osaka is dope too.

Europe is huge on house music and CDJs. Most venues over here don't even have turntables anymore and I can't land a gig to save my life over here. I'm with WarpNote on this; I don't think Europe is the right place for you.

If you have a bachelors degree, you can find a (part time) job as an English teacher pretty easily and a VISA with that, and get your DJing on at night. You got skills for days, and with a little networking you can land gigs in no time. I can def help out in that department.

But then again, the US is huge and the cultural differences between some parts make it feel like different countries. Maybe just relocating within the US could work for you. But living in a different country for a while is always a good thing for any person's life experience.

I have to agree with everyones view on Europe being ex military Ive lived in a few different countries. Dubai is awesome for DJs. Dubai is very impressed with turntablism and pop culture as whole whole. Germany actually has a very big hiphop scene but its run by military DJs for the most part.
Quatar is another awesome country just networking and having madd skills there will get you going.

Your biggest challenge is going to be finding a place to live and getting someone to sponsor your work visa. Without a sponsor you get no visa unless you enroll in some type of international emergence program and those are mostly for college kids.

+1

Truth.. Real talk.


Jealous. I've always wanted to go to Japan & check it out over there.

1) Fed up with scene...understandable

2) Hate this country...really? I thank you in advance for leaving. Better than being a hypocrite and staying like so many others.

3) No Kids nor will you...Shooting blanks?? I wouldn't have one in a country I hate either.

4) Polish?...Well that explains it :-p

5) Everything is better in Canada...No one dares to fuck with a country who riding on our back (literally)

6) Fed up with wack promoters and owners?...Yea, that only happens in the U.S.

7) Opinions or suggestions based on either experience or knowledge?...Make your moves based on the fact that you're young and have that freedom. Realize that you might have to make some changes with yourself as well. Not just the scene. [/ZEN Moment]

I wouldn't reccomend the caribbean unless you going to a big island..... We have the most amount of DJs per square mile. Everyone with a laptop.... even some nurses that work in the hospitals have Virtual DJ.

I would give my right arm to DJ in Tokyo (but then I would be severely restricted DJ wise lol). Seems like they are a lot more open minded over there and let the DJ take them on a journey instead of requesting the usual bollocks thats in the charts. Out of curiosity, how did it come about, you going to Tokyo?

How many different areas of the U.S. have you lived or DJ'ed in? People in general are vastly different from state to state, you may find that you don't hate things so much in another state or geographic area of the country. I'd try moving to another market first and see if it's any better, but good luck if you go international!

Oh you got a lot of top 40-esque wackness in Tokyo too. But there's so much good stuff out there, only you kinda need to be there for a while or have a guide to find the cool spots. The cool thing is that there's still chicks at a boombap hiphop event haha. The skill level of DJs in the TYO is crazy most of the time, still a lot of vinyl purists too. Yeah it's fun over there.

I got an MA in Japanese language and culture, worked for some Japanese multinationals in Holland, but in 2009 I started my own business in Tokyo. It was hard, but after grinding hard for about a year, the company was doing pretty well. Then the earthquake hit and I lost most of my biz accounts, it plunged my personal income and when I wanted to extend my VISA they said I didn't make enough money so I had to leave. I am now working on some new stuff and if all goes well I'll go back end of the year.

Thats crazy Hassle, I've wanted to head out to NL to dj & visit for the HC scene. I used to be stationed in Okinawa and youre right about the music and clubs in JP. Good luck on heading back to JP with your business./

Yo JesC. I was stationed in Okinawa back in the early to mid-90s. I frequented a lot of the clubs in Naha and around Kadena AFB. As a matter of fact I rented out my gear to a couple of the smaller clubs and made a decent amount of yen. Japanese youth loved hip-hop when I was there. Especially b-boy culture. I would love to go back and visit.

Japan is dope! I got to spin at some clubs in Kobe/Osaka on my last trip. I go back about once a year.

You guys mentioning different states is crazy! Just amdifferent county within a state changes everything, i live in oc ny bordering ulster and rockland both extreme opposites, you do t even have to look at other states. Hell some bordering towns are crazy different.

ay
Visa denied
yep

Yeah, sho u right!!! Wait what??

what do you play?

Have you tried Mars?

Apparently they don't want us there...

static.lolyard.com

ay
American Express
yep

I went down to Naha a couple of times, I was out there 2003 - 2005. Gate 2 bars were dope too. I used to hit up Fugiramas for the punk rock bands & a basement bar on the same block that played nothing but Classic Metal. Fun times. I did see serato for the 1st time when I was a t a Naha club I was in awe. I plan to retired in Okinawa and open a bar and live the rest of my day out in Oki.

Hahahaha Sweet. I hope that dream come true for you man. That's some wholesome living. I was very healthy and happy over there so I don't blame you. Pece!

USA greatest country

I think that depends on what you play. And where in the U.S.A your playing it I guess. Even state to state the taste of what ppl are into can change dramatically.

I hear Asia (Japan/China/Taiwan) is pretty awesome, not sure how I'd feel about living there permanently though.

i heard Kazakstan was the greatest country in the world...i could be wrong tho.

opan format is huge in indonesia , other genres too huge festival 2 or 3 times/month, underground scene is strong here , superclubs are everywhere, but it gets tricky for a foreigner (non Top 100Djs)

if you are way too cocky in conducting yourself,local DJ's tend to beat you the hell up,the mindset here is , if your a foreigner that cant conduct yourself well , even your embasy or the police cant stop you from getting a beatdown

seen it way too many times,seen some dude head got bashed in with his own macbook pro

indonesian is not to keen on arguing and prefer fist , but if you conduct yourself well we are more than open and friendly to you , just ask anybody here that has played in Indo , like Niros

That's how it should be over here too lol

You should know that Mars only need women...

Echa coming in with some tough love, haha. Echa knows what he's talking about, like most countries, arguing gets annoying. Indo is awesome to play, actually most of asia is, but you have to keep the western attitude at home. I would say some other countries, but than you guys are gonna start trying to get gigs there and ruin it for me. :)

How is DJ Domination still walking then?

best in asia bro

+111111111111111111111

what exactly do you have to do to get beat up with your own laptop??

I live in Spain, DJ'd in Tokyo for 4 years.. Gigs in Tokyo are great when you get a following and meet the right people.. Just like the US there are wack ass top 40 shit but all in all you can def find your niche.. The thing about Japan is you got to get connected with the right people.. There are a lot of solid DJ's out there so many of them undercut or do 50 buck cameos for an hour.. So you can find yourself spinning 1 hour here and then go somewhere else for another and so on..

^^^ I would love to spin in Japan, has a crazy party vibe from what I hear!

Japan is DOPE! I got to spin there last April, and I plan on going back in Feb. (already bought my plane ticket)

really want to get out to japan soon...

I spun in England and Japan. England was cool vibe for EDM, House and old skool R&B, Rap, Soul. Japan was dope for HipHop (old & new) believe it or not. Of course this was back in the 90s.

^^^ Yeah I hear the Dancehall Scene is outta control out there!

So I'm gonna be in Osaka Japan from the Nov 7th - 12th and was wondering if anyone had connection or contacts for me to play. I would love the opportunity and since I'm already gonna be out there would appreciate any help. I've been djing for the last 30 years, but I only play EDM (Haven't played hip hop in 20 years). I recently played in Italy, Ireland and am heading to France and back to Ireland in the next couple months.

If you can help I would love to network and try and help if you're ever in the San Francisco scene. Hit me up on my website www.jazz-e.com

Thanks and lets help each other.
I have connections in the SF bay area for both hip hop and EDM scene so don't be shy

well this one dude (swedish dude i think) played with a bunch of other local DJ,its not his time slot yet , but he boldly went up the booth,pull out the playing dj's headphone (local),plug his gear and says i wanna play now ,well the rest is a trip to the nearest emergency room

he deserved it. im a proponent of physical violence, but clearly you cant do that in the states.

Well, in Norway we call these "partyswedes", and thats not a compliment, LOL
After the Swedish economy went downwards, they came to Norway for the Oil money. ;-)


If you cant tell Im being ironic, well I am...
Swedes and Norwegians live in perfect harmony....

More one the matter ;D
translate.google.com

Watchwww.youtube.com

Con struc has not posted since Aug. 4, ya'll don't think he gone left the country?

Hes in a contry where serato forums are blocked

He works at Bezzle's office now?

Bezzle.... Bezzle

ay
I want to see that.
yep

Dont bother with the UK,its a shithole as far as DJing goes.

Watchwww.youtube.com

^^^^ Also this one.....

Watchwww.youtube.com

they fukin loved it

Lmao at 10:30. Home boy is all like move out of the way chump let me show you how it's done, like a BOSS...

If you don't like politics of how clubs are run in the US, you are not gonna be happy with how they are in a foreign country. I have been living and working (as a DJ) In Asia for over 7 years. If you're are just a DJ and are not well known internationally or produce your own music, it will be hard to get into anywhere without a large network. Which since its a new country, you will not have. It will take you time to build connections with club promoters/managers/owners. Which will then refer back to politics. Its the same shit everywhere.

China, Japan, Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong/Macau, S. Korea are all extremely hard to get into. They have seen many western DJs come though and don't understand the local markets. If it was 10 years ago ok, that's different. But in today's age, western DJs in Asia is nothing special anymore. Even other countries in Asia that have some sort of scene such as Cambodia (very limited), Vietnam, and Malaysia it's still extremely competitive and limited spots. So most work will go to the guys with the network since they can pull a few extra people (friends) than some new kid off the plane. You also have major issues with visas, residency, work permits etc. Plus loads of country have "culture" police which will check all your gear, laptops, and USBs for music and the legality of how you purchased everything and was the proper tax paid on everything. This can happen at airport customs or while you're in the middle of your set in the club. Vietnam, China, HK, and Singapore are a few places that I've either personally experienced this or heard from someone that it has happened. Just another thing to consider when bringing all your music with you.

You are young so now is the time to travel. If you plan to do this as your full-time career in another country you are daydreaming. Honestly. But go somewhere as an English teacher or some other sort of work that you can do and then start networking and getting into clubs. You might have to start playing for free or half of what the local market currently offers, just to get a foot in the door. From there it's up to you. Don't expect to go anywhere and just jump into the scene and grab gigs quickly.

@echa1945mf - I've done a few shows in Indo and had nothing but a great experience. As you said could go for any country though. Be respectful and level headed. You still in Indo?

@rich

yeap still indo, im local , recently moved from bali to Jakarta , the capital