| -- End Ad Box ---> | | | | free uploads, free downloads, free this and free that. |
| Being a DJ may seem like an easy career path for | | | | Submit to them all, and get your own site up and |
| many people. The fact of the matter is there is an | | | | running. You would be surprised how easy it is. If |
| endless stream of would be DJ’s who are just | | | | you’ve read this far I’m guessing you |
| as into the music scene as you and me. The only | | | | don’t mind reading to learn, so get reading. |
| way to get ahead in this game is to be hard working, | | | | Contrary to popular belief, building a web site |
| self-promoting and flexibility is an essential! | | | | isn’t hard. It doesn’t have to be flashy, |
| Any music is good! | | | | just a few pictures of you, maybe gig pictures. You |
| Under no circumstances must you turn down any | | | | could have information about your preferred music |
| opportunity to play any music to a crowd. This is | | | | genre. Getting people to visit the site is the hard part. |
| very important for a couple of reasons. Lots of | | | | But if you have submitted all your mixes/music to |
| beginners will refuse point blank to play a different | | | | the free sites then you should have links referring |
| genre to the type of music they are used to. This is | | | | visitors to your site. This might sound like a method |
| a big mistake. Playing any type of music to any | | | | likely to fail. Earlier this year (2005) The Arctic |
| crowd is a huge confidence builder. You may mess up | | | | Monkeys had a number 1 single in the UK using this |
| now and again but, hey, everyone makes mistakes. | | | | method of promotion
.As well as offline gigs of |
| At least you will be gaining experience and learning, | | | | course! |
| even if it is to a pub full of drunks on a Friday night. | | | | Money matters. |
| The point being, every little bit of experience is good | | | | DJs are surprisingly well paid. Because you are |
| experience, the more confidence you can build, the | | | | working for yourself, the fact of the matter is you |
| less likely you are to make mistakes. | | | | wont always be busy. The trick is to be sensible. |
| Flexibility. | | | | Save a little money to cover the times when there is |
| Remember my comments in the first paragraph? | | | | no work on, this way it wont seem so bad when |
|
flexibility is a must!
This isn’t a | | | | there is nothing coming in. Treat it as a normal |
| reference to your aerobic skills. I am of course talking | | | | career; you want to develop yourself as well as your |
| about your musical abilities. Sticking to one type of | | | | prospects. Eventually you could own an agency or |
| genre is all very well for the Tiestos of this world but | | | | something. Set yourself goals to keep yourself |
| in the early days of your DJ career you may not be | | | | motivated. And always keep things legal. |
| able to pick and choose. Play whatever you think will | | | | As a DJ you are classed as being self-employed. As |
| pay the bills until you become established; everybody | | | | with anybody who is self employed your tax is your |
| has to earn a living. | | | | responsibility. You will get stung if you don’t |
| Learn to use different equipment. There is new music | | | | sort it out. Again, a little reading maybe needed if you |
| technology becoming available all the time, learn to | | | | are going to sort your own tax out. A quick search in |
| use it, hire it in if you can’t afford to buy it as | | | | any search engine will reveal lots and lots and lots of |
| long as you can have a go. It’s extremely | | | | sites regarding tax issues so I’m not going to |
| important that you stay up to date with the latest | | | | go into it here. An easier approach is to hire an |
| technology or you will get left behind. | | | | accountant if you can afford it. They are surprisingly |
| Promoting your music. | | | | cheap and if you shop around a bargain can usually |
| It will take hard work and lots of determination. | | | | be found. |
| Self-promotion is one of the biggest stumbling blocks | | | | Reality of the modern DJ. |
| for most bedroom DJs’. This is just as | | | | The harsh reality is that 90% will never make it to |
| important, if not more so, than the music itself. It | | | | the level they dream of. Weather you are a producer |
| doesn’t matter how well you play your music, | | | | or DJ it takes a lot of hard work and determination |
| if you cant promote yourself, you may as well smash | | | | to succeed in this industry and many people just |
| your decks up now! Self-promotion is easier than | | | | aren’t up to it. |
| ever. There is a whole host of web sites offering | | | | |