Getting the first gig...

[Thatoneguy1224]

I have made some tracks and many mixes for a few years now and i believe that i have reached a level of satisfaction with my self and in my skill to go out and present it. But the biggest problem is i have no idea where or how to do this? When i got my First DAW i understood that everything i would need or want can be done with the tools at hand (unless you want to make something crazy) but thats the thing, it was all there! It was a canvas, but going out to get shows is not that at all.

I live in Los Angeles CA
My question for this is how do i go out into clubs and venues and attempt to get some bookings? How does this work? What do i need?

[KavemanM]

You need to have connections and to get connections you need to meet people.
The best way I have met people was adding other Dj's and producers that lived in my city on facebook and through that I found out about different club nights going on in my city, which is a good start to potentially people to meet people that could some where down the road get you a gig.
also adding producers and Djs on Facebook is a good way to start talking to like minded people with similar interest, and through those connections you create on facebook it could lead to actual gigs at Club nights happening in your city .

[Lye_Form]

I have made some tracks and many mixes for a few years now and i believe that i have reached a level of satisfaction with my self and in my skill to go out and present it. But the biggest problem is i have no idea where or how to do this? When i got my First DAW i understood that everything i would need or want can be done with the tools at hand (unless you want to make something crazy) but thats the thing, it was all there! It was a canvas, but going out to get shows is not that at all.

I live in Los Angeles CA
My question for this is how do i go out into clubs and venues and attempt to get some bookings? How does this work? What do i need?

Find promoters that put on nights that fit your music.

Get in contact with them - send a mix.

Attend these nights with a mix cd in your back pocket - hand out to promoters.

Do radio shows as much as possible (gives you the opportunity to direct people to your archived mixes online)

or just put on your own night.

Also play as many house partys as possible before playing a club - playing in front of people takes a bit of getting used to.

[Thatoneguy1224]

I have made some tracks and many mixes for a few years now and i believe that i have reached a level of satisfaction with my self and in my skill to go out and present it. But the biggest problem is i have no idea where or how to do this? When i got my First DAW i understood that everything i would need or want can be done with the tools at hand (unless you want to make something crazy) but thats the thing, it was all there! It was a canvas, but going out to get shows is not that at all.

I live in Los Angeles CA
My question for this is how do i go out into clubs and venues and attempt to get some bookings? How does this work? What do i need?

Find promoters that put on nights that fit your music.

Get in contact with them - send a mix.

Attend these nights with a mix cd in your back pocket - hand out to promoters.

Do radio shows as much as possible (gives you the opportunity to direct people to your archived mixes online)

or just put on your own night.

Also play as many house partys as possible before playing a club - playing in front of people takes a bit of getting used to.

Ok so find promoters... that sounds so easy like "go out side and find a bird" but ok so what your saying is let them know who i am and give them a CD of a mix that fits their taste and mine. As for anything about doing my own shows, i got no money so i got no PA speakers so anything else i should know?

[topmo3]

i for one would have hard time if i was trying to book gigs for myself alone. i play in a DJ collective and basically the other guys get the gigs for us. i just play. i live in a pretty small town in rural finland so i'd imagine it's a bit different in LA (considering the laws of supply and demand and the high standards the clubs and promoters surely have there). still i'd love to help you so here's few pointers

- networking: find out who are the young crews possibly just starting out playing the same kind of sound as you are. you'll have a much better shot at playing if you know other DJ's that already have gigs or the promoters/club owners and what not so they can book you
- come up with a club concept for a bar. yes, the clubs are usually packed during the weekends but usually bars also look for something to draw the clientele during the weeks so propose a club night for some bar. a club concept can be as simpel as a night where you'll be spinning dubstep
- forget about mix cds no-one listens to them, in this day and age this happens online you gotta have a mixcloud account for example and you just give em a link to your latest mix.

[Staley]

I am much more inclined to listen to a mix if someone hands me a physical copy such as a CD. That's how I got my first gig.

[koncide]

Also play as many house partys as possible before playing a club - playing in front of people takes a bit of getting used to.

This ^^

Trust me, playing in front of people, with the added pressures, is MUCH more different to mixing in the comforts of your own home. You definitely want a bit of practice adjusting to that environment.

Once you get a feel for it though, I find playing out insanely addictive.

[MrMush]

Im right there with you my friend.. im tryin to get back into it myself.
Ive learned its all about trial and error.
Look all over the place.. bars.. clubs.. anything possible to get your stuff heard by ears. I so much dont go for promoters but other musicians and producers. I know maybe one promoter but nothin has gone through. So like u im buildin up my artinerary.. my army of fellow associates.. and my talents. And PA's and information etc come in waves. Sometimes positive reaction. Mostly negative consistancy. But its somethin to boost to your next step