David wants to become an Avicii tribute act, as there are already several such DJ tributes for other artists in his home town of Dublin, Ireland. Do you have any advice for him?
Digital DJ Tips reader David from Dublin writes: “I have been DJing for around two years. I DJ at the odd party and teen disco but haven’t made the breakthrough into the nightclubs that some other DJs my age have. I am 17 and there are loads of DJs my age doing whatever they can to get a set in my local clubs.
“I had the idea of becoming a tribute DJ for Avicii. In Dublin there are some tribute DJs for the big names like Deadmau5, SHM and Daft Punk.
“My name is David so I thought I could use something like Davicii. I also love the melodic style of house associated with Avicii so I feel I would be a good tribute DJ if I had the opportunity.
“My only problem is that I don’t know where to begin. I was thinking of making a Facebook Page but I will probably get teased a lot on the page which is not good if a promoter comes across the page and just sees people slagging me off. Do you have any advice on how I could kickstart this tribute DJ career I have planned? I would really appreciate it. Thanks a million!”
Digital DJ Tips says:
I love our postbag because really, I just can’t predict what is going to drop into it. You’re right! Turns out there are plenty of tribute DJs doing the rounds. And why not? For a cheesy, fun night out, someone who plays closely in a style a DJ is associated with (and does a decent job) may be just the ticket – at least in some countries and cities.
Turns out there are plenty of tribute DJs doing the rounds…
I’ve got to ask – do you look anything like him? I can see how a Deadmau5 tribute could get away with it by wearing the mask, but I imagine looking at least slightly like the person you’re imitating is necessary?
On the Facebook thing and as a general point, it is possible to delete posts that are inappropriate from your Facebook Page, and also to ban repeat offenders, so that won’t be a problem for you.
I’ve got to be honest though – I have exactly zero experience of the tribute DJ scene; how to break into it, who’s making it work, what the pitfalls are, how to approach pretending to be someone else. So I’m going to throw this one open to the readers.
So readers, over to you. Are there tribute DJs where you live? What are they doing to get gigs, and how good are they? Are you a tribute DJ, and if so, how do you make it work? Any thoughts, experiences, advice or tips for David (or should that be Davicii…) warmly received below.
Now go to:
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Tags: avicii, tribute DJs
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Alright David.
Im your age, same experience and from Dublin as well.
In my oppinion, being an Avicii-tribute DJ might pay off in Dublin, because the Scene for music other than Avicii (& co) is pretty much non-existing.
What I would do if I was you, is to get out and ask your friends if they would go out to see someone like “Davicii”.
Also, I assume that you have played somewhere like the “Wez”, so you should be used to play out some Mainstream; Avicii style.
I think it’s a decent concept and might get you some bookings, so go ahead!
Create a few mixtapes, upload them, burn CDs and carry them to a few clubs (that’s what I’m gonna do when I’m finished typing).
Hope I could help you.
[ link ]“Davicii” You could start by reading and viewing avicii’s DJing videos and interviews. That should give you an idea of who he actually is and how he works. hopefully you learn something from that.
ps. Think you should be “Davicii” for as short a period as possible…if Avicii fades, so will you!. Dj’s emulate other Dj’s all the time. One thing is to copy an actual skill that will stay with you no matter what – a scratch or how to make a song like you favorite artist, for example – another thing is to take on a personality that may not last…specially if the artist grows tiresome and annoying to the masses.
Use your “Davicii” phase to grow your skills, to learn everything you can about Djing and most importantly to develop your own personality and sound.
hope this helps. good luck
[ link ]If you’re doing the tribute thing then you have to make a commitment to yourself to improve your own original mixing style away from the tribute act. The Rolling Stones and The Beatles started out as cover bands and to suggest it’s not the way to go is too narrow in my opinion.
[ link ]You can still definitely use elements that Avicii does (I spin a lot of his tracks and I love his work) but make sure to incorporate variety into your programming and your sets.
The trouble with Tribute DJs is that they limit their focus to only one real sound: I mean, come on, you can only listen to one style of house music for so long.
Create your own DJ identity, play with other styles and genres to keep your sets fresh, interesting, and surprising. Personally, I’m heavily influenced by Kaskade, Dada Life, and Avicii but I don’t let their work dominate what I play. I’m constantly on the lookout for new tracks that connect to that overarching sound but that offer unique, refreshing vibes (like switching between beat-driven house to trance, electro to melody-driven house, etc.)
[ link ]Hello! For me no matter what age you are and what you are doing in life, as long as you are IN LOVE with what you do, it will show in your work. It will show the ENERGY you put out there.
I love to dance, I love upbeat music. That is the reason I am just now getting into DJing thing. So that I can mix and match music that I love to dance to. It is FUN! I have a son who is 18 yrs old. He thinks it is pretty cool that his mother is learning about DJing at the prime age of 42 and I LOVE IT!!
It’s true with experience and your own unique “spice” that you throw into the mix(so to speak) will be your own unique thumbprint. IT IS YOU. Well at least that is how I have lived my life and continue to do so. Whether I am surfing, rock climbing, dancing….or whatever…as long as I am HAVING FUN and IN LOVE with what I am doing because I am doing it for the LOVE and JOY of it….then everything else is secondary.
Be YOU!
Thanks
[ link ]ROCKY
Succes can only be achieved by hard work and determination. I understand you are young and as a young person you might feel that your life is going too fast, maybe you have a friend who’s already djing in a club but trust me if you want to buildl a carrer and be succesful you must pay the price and built your own reputation on your own. Maybe you should try to use all that energy and start learning to produce your own mashups, your own music but most important your own sound. Then you will have the gratification of seeing your name or alias in a event based on your own style. If you like this as serious as you posted you must walk the path theres not short cut to succes.
[ link ]I really do not know how to put this in a polite way the sheer fact(just my opinion) I hate avicii and anything remotely resembling him. And I have to agree even if i hate the dude you can’t be biting his style. I know you’re young and I started out DJing at the age of 13 but come on man a tribute DJ that’s the equivalent of a cover band. DJing is about being original and true to yourself. You do that my friend you’ll get more respect than any phony cover/tribute DJ. My suggestion and this seems to be the general consensus with everyone is to NOT do it. Make your own style and make it unique. Pick 5 of your favorite DJ’s/ Producers ( cause we all know sometimes producers suck at DJing and vice versa) So you pick about 5 whether it be a producer you like or a DJ you like. Find Live Sets from them. YouTube works wonders. Listen to them see how they do things learn and learn some more. Take what you learned from your top 5 and and start from there. If you like the way DJ A mixes electro house into a vocal house track listen to that transition 2349234 times get the songs try it out. From there man you can take what you learned from your top 5 and make it your own style. Now that’s someone who will stand out my friend.
[ link ]Wow…this is a first for me. I didn’t know people do this. it’s like cover bands.
[ link ]If you are a DJ, a tribute DJ, a manager or a plummer….the only way to get success is trough: networking…get access to the right people in the right place. grtz
[ link ]Networking (which I hate) is definitely important. i also didnt know there is such a thing as tribute djs. it seems a bit, i dont know…less effective. because… say most tribute bands copy a classic well established legendary band which has gone or goes on for decades. i dont think a dj’s popularity has as much lifespan. so what happens when avicii is a thing of the past? it’s a different kind of sound. i really don’t know. im quite surprised actually… but just my thoughts.
I would first get a part time job in a bar/club or different gigs/portable. then get experience because the simulator is always different than flying the actual plane, then maybe try and create my own sound starting with remixes, then mashups then something unique. but as far as im concerned it’s all theory cuz i’ve only achieved step one…but love it.
[ link ]I think this all boils down to being the kind of thing you might be able to make a bit of money off for a little bit but in the future will probably stop people taking you seriously. Bad idea, really.
[ link ]I am genuinely confused by this. I fing DJing an extremely individual thing, why on Earth would you copy someone else’s style to the tee?
[ link ]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJABJQoJjvM
Bit like buck daft??
[ link ]Hahahaha, this is to funny, two guys with helmets!!! Daft it is…
[ link ]Cover Bands will always be around and will always be popular…even those that only cover one specific artist. But a “Cover DJ!!??” I just can’t wrap my head around that concept!
I say why be a second-rate Avicii when you can be a FIRST-RATE DAVID?? If you’re so hot on Avicii then study him, learn a few of his tricks, and play a bunch of his music. Otherwise, become your own man and an artist in your OWN right.
Then again, that’s my personal opinion and it means absolutely nothing. Do what makes you happy because it’s YOUR LIFE .
Best of luck to you in whatever direction you decide to head in!
[ link ]Also had never really heard of the concept until I came across this a few weeks ago…
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=255706927842998&set=a.171902089556816.44090.126266764120349&type=3
Others here have made the comparisons to cover bands, and I guess when you think about it it kind of makes sense. As dj’s have moved from being off to the side playing other’s music, to centre stage bangin’ out their own tracks, why wouldn’t they get cover acts forming, just like any other band or artist.
Throw that in with the fact in a smaller community, if the scene isn’t particularly developed it is unlikely the real deal will be performing anytime soon, so there could actually be a market…
As for actual advice, I’m drawing a bit of a blank… The only thing I can think of is to make sure you develop this cover act and your own individual brand in tandem, so that you don’t get pigeon-holed should Avicii fall off the charts. Have a tribute act, sure, but also try to keep booking your own shows under your own name too.
[ link ]This is quite popular practice in Ireland where there is a small scene so the big names don’t come to visit all that often. Universities in Ireland have one week a year called RAG week where the students raise and give money to charity and obviously party while they do it, Every university puts their rag week at different times so allot of DJ tribute acts play that circuit. I mean Daft Punk is never going to come and play at a tiny student union but Daft Funk will.
So far I have heard of Afrojack, Daft Punk, S.H.M. Deadmau5 and Guetta tribute acts in Ireland but it isn’t a road I would want to tread as you can pigeonhole yourself. I have seen Daft Funk at a small festival and to be fair I thought they were very good and it’s not exactly like Daft Punk even play all that often anymore.
I would suggest that if you do have the looks and skills to copy what a live Avicii set entails than use that as a stepping stone to get your own gigs as soon as possible as you don’t just want to be known for one thing. The scene in Ireland is small and clicky. Outside of Dublin it is almost none existent apart from occasional nights in Galway Limerick Westport and Cork. Although everyone I have some across in the scene is welcoming and helpful there aren’t many gigs apart from commercial pubs and clubs playing to the top 40 crowd.
What I would personally do instead of copying Avicii because to be fair how many times are people going to go see the same tribute act before they get bored is try to promote my own night. If you think you got what it takes, make your own gigs. If you have any DJ friends in the same shoes as you get together and start your own night. Pick some small pubs in Dublin and pitch your night to them, Get all your friends down to it. Get a friend in art college to make you some posters. Pick a small cool venue where you can get a young crowd and the drink is cheap. This is perfect timing because College is starting again. Try for a weeknight to get the students in. One method that has worked is to start a facebook page to promote the type of music you like in Dublin and Ireland, get 1000+ fans and then you will have a platform to promote your own night from and you can show your page to venues when you are looking for somewhere to host your night. It’s hard work but you might find it more rewarding in the end.
[ link ]I really dont get this at all. I realize that you’re young, and and want immediate success but basing your success on the coat-tails of another persons hard work just comes off as desparate and pathetic. Popularity is great, but why and the hell would you want to be known for imitating someone else? The fact that you already know that people will do nothing but tease you on your fb page tells me you already know this. Guys like that get famous because of their ability to get themselves ahead of the pack. My advise is to work on becoming more unique, do something different, and better than anyone else. That will gain you the popularity you so desire.
[ link ]Wow, never heard of tribute dj’s. Isn’t it a little bit strange to play other artists music pretending that you’re somebody else?
Now we’re talking about it I do know the phenomenon, I know a guy who wants to sounds like Deadmou5 with mask and all. But you can not sound like him because you aren’t. In the beginning it was funny but after a few times his sets became a little dull and predictable.
What if Avicii suddenly decides to play German schlagermusic or Swedish folk? (no pun intended). What is Davicii going to do then?
I think that you should work on your own sonic fingerprint and technical skills. Ofcourse there is nothing wrong with learning from others, for example Avicii.
Try to get as good as Avicii or even better!!!
[ link ]