(no subject)
So I get up on Saturday, check my e-mail and I have a message from someone on MySpace. Dutifully I check it, finding this quite interesting message:
Oct 18, 2008 12:32 PM
so i have completed my demo and i was wondering if you mught be able to pass it around since im not at every rave or know a lot of the people higher up
I sat there for a moment, contemplating how to respond. I was slightly shocked at the direct nature, pretty much just asking me to promote him as a DJ. After taking a moment to reflect, I wrote him the following message:
I just got your note asking me to pass out your demo for you. I promise you that if you read this entire message, and don't stop reading because it upsets you, you will see the honest truth about what it takes to get booked.
I would say that doing that work is really your job. You can't really ask someone else to do your leg work for you.
If you want to be a DJ, then you have to put in your time and hard work. I have been playing out for about ten years now, and for me to get where I am, I HAD to attend nearly every event. I HAD to get to know all the promoters myself.
How did I do that? I approached every promoter and introduced myself in a courteous and professional manner. I took the time to help out with events, whether promoting, setting up, cleaning up, picking up and driving headliners around, or any other way I could. I got to know as many local DJ's as I could, asking them for feedback on my mixes, and learning as much as I could from them.
I NEVER asked anyone to do my work for me. If you want to be a DJ and get gigs, YOU have to be the one that the promoter sees. Be able to define yourself. What genre do you play? What special skills do you bring to the table that sets you apart from the 100's of other DJ's around?
I produce my own tracks, work on music every night, practice DJ'ing as much as I can, I do a Live PA, I MC, I've toured all over. NONE of this ever came from someone else hitting the streets on my behalf. I am proud to say that I got to where I am by working my ASS off.
If you aren't willing to promote yourself, nothing that I or anyone else could do will get you anywhere. I don't intend this to come across as harsh or upset, rather I hope to show you that there is nothing that I can do for you that you can't do even more for yourself.
You say that you can't be at every rave? How could you be ready to play any show at any time with short notice? That's how you get started, by being able to take those last minute spots that open up. Ask yourself if you are willing to invest every spare moment devoted to this.
If you need help learning HOW to do these things, how to promote yourself, how to approach promoters, by all means hit me up. But asking me to do your legwork isn't the way to go about it. Ask yourself these questions, and send your answers to me if you would like me to show you how things are done.
Am I willing to put in the legwork, and promote myself?
Can I honestly say I have comparable skills to any other DJ's I see play out.
Am I willing to dedicate myself to doing this?
To my pleasant suprise, I got a note back a few hours later stating that he understood my point, and that he was willing to put in that effort himself. My hope is that he will see that it isn't easy being a DJ, and that it's up to HIM to put in the work to be successful. I think I'll hit him up for a copy of the demo to offer some constuctive feedback. It's the least I can do.
Oct 18, 2008 12:32 PM
so i have completed my demo and i was wondering if you mught be able to pass it around since im not at every rave or know a lot of the people higher up
I sat there for a moment, contemplating how to respond. I was slightly shocked at the direct nature, pretty much just asking me to promote him as a DJ. After taking a moment to reflect, I wrote him the following message:
I just got your note asking me to pass out your demo for you. I promise you that if you read this entire message, and don't stop reading because it upsets you, you will see the honest truth about what it takes to get booked.
I would say that doing that work is really your job. You can't really ask someone else to do your leg work for you.
If you want to be a DJ, then you have to put in your time and hard work. I have been playing out for about ten years now, and for me to get where I am, I HAD to attend nearly every event. I HAD to get to know all the promoters myself.
How did I do that? I approached every promoter and introduced myself in a courteous and professional manner. I took the time to help out with events, whether promoting, setting up, cleaning up, picking up and driving headliners around, or any other way I could. I got to know as many local DJ's as I could, asking them for feedback on my mixes, and learning as much as I could from them.
I NEVER asked anyone to do my work for me. If you want to be a DJ and get gigs, YOU have to be the one that the promoter sees. Be able to define yourself. What genre do you play? What special skills do you bring to the table that sets you apart from the 100's of other DJ's around?
I produce my own tracks, work on music every night, practice DJ'ing as much as I can, I do a Live PA, I MC, I've toured all over. NONE of this ever came from someone else hitting the streets on my behalf. I am proud to say that I got to where I am by working my ASS off.
If you aren't willing to promote yourself, nothing that I or anyone else could do will get you anywhere. I don't intend this to come across as harsh or upset, rather I hope to show you that there is nothing that I can do for you that you can't do even more for yourself.
You say that you can't be at every rave? How could you be ready to play any show at any time with short notice? That's how you get started, by being able to take those last minute spots that open up. Ask yourself if you are willing to invest every spare moment devoted to this.
If you need help learning HOW to do these things, how to promote yourself, how to approach promoters, by all means hit me up. But asking me to do your legwork isn't the way to go about it. Ask yourself these questions, and send your answers to me if you would like me to show you how things are done.
Am I willing to put in the legwork, and promote myself?
Can I honestly say I have comparable skills to any other DJ's I see play out.
Am I willing to dedicate myself to doing this?
To my pleasant suprise, I got a note back a few hours later stating that he understood my point, and that he was willing to put in that effort himself. My hope is that he will see that it isn't easy being a DJ, and that it's up to HIM to put in the work to be successful. I think I'll hit him up for a copy of the demo to offer some constuctive feedback. It's the least I can do.