Entra:     

Forum: General Discussion

Topic: How are you getting your gigs? - Page: 1

Questa parte dell'argomento è obsoleta e potrebbe contenere informazioni obsolete o errate

I have to ask this question, because I get asked this question more times than I like to answer, because of my longevity in this industry! Now what may work for me, may not work for you! So how are you marketing yourself? What makes you standout besides your skills, because you can be the best DJ this side of town, but that means nothing if you can't land a gig to save your life! So what is your approach? This may help anybody from the up and coming DJ to finally get some gigs to the most experienced DJ in helping him or her get more gigs! So lets talk about it!

See for me, I do a lot of networking especially with other DJ's, promoters and event planners, I do trade shows such as Bridal expos, Street fairs even Flee Markets because you'll be surprised at paying $25- $100 for a booth to pump up a crowd will get you some seriously strong leads! Every Gig I do, I get video testimonies from people attending the event, plus references from the people I am hired by for my services.

I learned to not only invest in my skills and my equipment or anything that can get me an advantage of landing more gigs, but understanding the power of sales and marketing.

I hear a lot of DJ's complaining about not getting enough gigs or not being paid what they are worth, but when I look at how they go about their business, I feel some need to just straight up be BEDROOM DJ'S and nothing more. There are many like me who has made a great living in this industry, whereas the majority has struggled to make ends meet and some even with a 2nd job or 3rd Job.

So again I ask HOW ARE YOU GETTING YOUR GIGS???
 
Inviato Mon 07 Mar 11 @ 5:57 pm
Many of my gigs are from people who heard me play at the party or event they attended. I also get gigs because they liked my demo cd's. I have tons of business cards and i make alot of demos cd's to give away free. I have a facebook DJ page and i also have my mixes on soundcloud so anyone can listen to it.
 
Caliente123 wrote :
Many of my gigs are from people who heard me play at the party or event they attended. I also get gigs because they liked my demo cd's. I have tons of business cards and i make alot of demos cd's to give away free. I have a facebook DJ page and i also have my mixes on soundcloud so anyone can listen to it.


I heard a few of your sets fam, Tight on the mix!
 
Thanks Coach K. When i play at a Gig, I try my best because anyone can be a potential customer.
 
No doubt! My Moms, told me something similar, just minutes before I did my first lounge in Jamaica Queens back in 91 because the crowd was an older crowd and not only did her advice pay off, it made me realize, I could play more than just hip hop!

Keep rocking fam!
 
 
farhanashraf wrote :
http://www.djforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=233072


Good stuff!
 
I am constantly working and networking. I have 2 facebook pages (one DJ and one business), twitter account, podcast page and a website. These are my "constant" marketing materials. My "variable" marketing materials are the venues I play, the people I run into daily, and my client bases ability to spread word of mouth advertising.

I always carry business cards with me as this IS the most critical part of a marketing arsenal. I have had instances where people that have hired me had never heard me play before. I simply left a lasting impression on them when I met them and they passed my card off to a friend stating "You need a DJ? I met this great guy..." So treat everybody you meet with respect and be friendly. I helped a guy having car trouble in a snow storm one evening on my way home from the club and he ended up hiring me for his wedding a year later. So business cards are critical.

When I do weddings I will send the couples that hired me a card on their one year anniversary. This is an amazing marketing tool as a card and stamp is five bucks, and it keeps you in the back of their mind. The wife will be telling her friends (who may be in the wedding market themselves) and the husband will be at work telling his co-workers as it's a thoughtful gesture. This will generate a lot of leads and it's cheap.

That's a few of my tricks and tips. If I get the opportunity I will write a blog about it (another great marketing technique btw).

Best of luck,
AC
 
Yeah Business cards are a MUST! Also, you said it best, you just never know, so don't hold ya nose up to anyone!
 
I do my gigs as support act for a coverband, thats how i promote myself. I also have a blog and facebook page.
My main genre whit the band is rock and metal but i also do dance and house music.

My special thing is when i do dance and house sets i almost only play covers of old hits from the 80's
 
A good DJ get's booked.

Remember everyones a DJ now, if some of them arent getting booked then that's because their not good enough and someone better got booked in their place. They will DJ in their bedroom untill they get bored and then give up!

I see a lot of gadget's and tackness on these forums, people messin about and going in small time and not treating it with enough professionalism especially when it comes to wires, cables and stands & trussing. No flightacases etc etc the list goes on!
 
Well for the most part my events are free. If I have to travel far I have the Church take up a love offering for my expenses which is usually a little more than I asked. I am strictly a Christian DJ, I don't make any money off Church Events. Most of my money comes off of wedding, receptions, bday parties etc. Though I don't play anywhere where they serve alchohol etc. I am a retired State Trooper, after 13 years I had to retire years ago due to a shooting incident three years agoe. I graduate with my Bachelors in Society this December and getting my Master in Pastoral Studies. As far as Churches I do a ton of youth conferences and by the middle of the summer should have a Chrtistian Club ready to go.
 
- Jensen_sbp, Do us a favor and post a link of your blog, so we can see the power of the blog. My wife does one for her business and works pretty well for her, yet I'm not the blogging type, but I am sure there are fellow DJ's who certainly can benefit from a writing a blog.

- Charlie Wilson, I agree with you to a point, but I have to say some DJ's have more business savvy than other DJ's and while a there are a lot of great DJ's who are getting gigs cause of skill, there are many who have the skill, but lack the business sense or are getting the wrong people to listen to their sets. It's kind of like singers, we know there are singers better than a lot of singers who are rich and famous, but they lack something that cause them to not get that same billing than the quote unquote superstar.

Now this isn't to say your points are valid because I agree with you on a majority, especially on the Bedroom DJ's, but I just let them have fun trying to be like me, because I've paid my dues to make this a career that has done more than put food on the table and a roof over my head, so the wannabes don't even bother me anymore.

- DJ Crazy Eights, I commend you brother, because you know this is not your source, but God is your source! Especially what you're doing with the youth and let me know the club is open, I'd be glad to come do a guess spot for a fellow man of God if I'm ever in your area! BIG UPS PASTOR!
 
Might sound stupid but I found that having fixed prices is the best thing, people don't want to feel as if you just plucked a figure out of the air depending on how you were felling at the time of the enquiry. A nice set of fixed prices is what you need for all your services/time-frames, it doesn't matter if your not the cheapest.
 
Valid point Charlie Wilson, I have set prices, but I make them negotiable depending on circumstances, I just remind people I'm not boo boo the fool, lol!

Another thing I didn't think about earlier that is helpful is taking the time to learn how to write a quote and show people why you're worth that price and why you're the DJ for the job, because you're not going to charge a person $50 bucks to DJ a party with over a 1000 people. So know you're going to be in a bidding war with other DJ's vying for that business, it just comes with the territory. You may have more skill than the other DJ, but if his/her business savvy peeks yours, then guess who's getting the business?
 
Link to my blog
http://djtiagron.blogspot.com/

Its in swedish, but i can tell you short about it. I write down my sets in this blog, tell where i gig the next time, new gigs that are booked and some other music and gear related stuff

I also have fixed price if the driving is not too far. Otherwise i will charge extra for driving.
 
Jensen_sbp wrote :
Link to my blog
http://djtiagron.blogspot.com/

Its in swedish, but i can tell you short about it. I write down my sets in this blog, tell where i gig the next time, new gigs that are booked and some other music and gear related stuff

I also have fixed price if the driving is not too far. Otherwise i will charge extra for driving.


That's cool about it being in swedish, the fact of the matter is it works for you and I know there are sites where you can convert any language to translate what is being said.
 
Big Props to you Coach! This is an excellent discussion topic.

As many users have already chimed in, you can be the best in the world but if you lack business savvy and marketing skills you're not going to get booked very much. When I started, the market wasn't as flooded as it is today and I was one of very few DJs in my area. Word of mouth spread, I networked and made new contacts, and over night I was making a decent living. Today I still have steady work, but must work harder to land the next gig as there are plenty of guys under cutting me with pirated music and software. But that's another story.

Be friendly to everyone you meet, carry business cards and use social networking and the internet to your advantage.

What do you think about compiling a list of marketing techniques Coach?
 
Charlie Wilson wrote :
A good DJ get's booked.




Oh snap. That is some kind of Vulcan mind meld shit. Deep, intergalactic, cosmic wisdom. The truth is it is just the opposite. It is really that simple. It has been word of mouth for me since day one. Yes, I have over 100,000 business cards out there. I never give out just one card. My motto is, "It doesn't do me any good if I keep them", so you will get 3 to 5 cards. Some people ask for more. I work very hard, and look to get at least 5 gigs out of every gig I do. If you do not want to pay me what I'm worth, I can't work for you. I have paid my dues. I have set prices, but always give more than I promise. I do not try to work every weekend any more, so I pick and choose my gigs. As Charlie said, it is not just the music that makes you good. Appearance, work ethic, Integrity, professionalism, and experience all play a major role in getting steady work for 40 plus years. Do what works for you. Frank Sinatra did not do hip hop.
 
superaceman wrote :
Big Props to you Coach! This is an excellent discussion topic.

As many users have already chimed in, you can be the best in the world but if you lack business savvy and marketing skills you're not going to get booked very much. When I started, the market wasn't as flooded as it is today and I was one of very few DJs in my area. Word of mouth spread, I networked and made new contacts, and over night I was making a decent living. Today I still have steady work, but must work harder to land the next gig as there are plenty of guys under cutting me with pirated music and software. But that's another story.

Be friendly to everyone you meet, carry business cards and use social networking and the internet to your advantage.

What do you think about compiling a list of marketing techniques Coach?


Appreciate that Fam,

I think compiling a list of marketing techniques is a great idea, I hope more DJ's would share their ideas as well. I seen quite a few things in this discussion I would use myself as well and I am sure pretty much anybody who has added or just looked over it, found something that would work for them as well.

I only wish we had forums like this when I first started, I'm sure it would have helped a whole lot. For I know we all had our fair share of issues of trying to get gigs, let alone paying gigs.

I'll give this another day or two and see what we have and work from there for now, but anybody can add.
 
56%