Dizzle

I’m pretty sure Phil has a post about tricks promoters play to take advantage of new Djs…this reads almost exactly like an example he gave

Are the promoters getting paid? What are the average turnouts on the weekend? Does the venue charge cover?

It sounds like the EDM scene is still developing in your town. I suggest starting your own night with of few of the other “free-Jays” at the EDM club. Talk to the bar owner, or possibly a bar owner at another place explain your worth and how you and DJs x y & z can pull a decent crowd. Work out a profit sharing deal.

That’s how I started out in Bangkok, me and a couple mates started a monthly party at an hostel. The location isn’t the best, but it has a decent system and a few regulars. We worked out with the owner that we would get 20% of the bar profits. At first we didn’t make much money, maybe taxi fare. Now, we book big name local djs in our scene to make guest appearances.

I had a promoter try to recruit me for a set at his event. It was at a venue that I also host a regular party at so I was familiar with how the owner splits 20% of the bar profit with the Djs. The promoter claimed that he could only afford to pay him and his friend, since they had to buy lots of drinks for the 6 other djs they had booked for the night! I put him on blast on his event page. Mentioned how I’m not in it for the money, but it’s unfair for only a few of the people putting in work to get paid. Even if it ends up being only $5 each, everyone should share in the profits in some way. It’s ok to give a couple freebies at first to help grow the scene, but don’t let the promoters exploit your work! Talk to the other Djs who aren’t getting paid, it might be time to organize! haha

DJ Urband, post: 17571, member: 1528 wrote: I appreciate you checking me out. ill return the favor by listening to your mashups.

Cool thanks man! There’s a new one up too, check it out

I feel like this argument is the old school hating on the evolution of their art. People are usually wary of change.
But, the greatest performers adapt. I live in Bangkok and when Jazzy Jeff and Kentaro came out here they used DVS…Kentaro even had a midi controller for loops and cues! He is arguably one of the greatest turntablists out there and even he has embraced the evolution of the technology. Most of my friends / colleagues playing out there on the scene have embraced the digital evolution, be it by switching to DVS to save their backs or going the whole way and switching to a controller. @Todd Oddity is right… the average person in the club doesn’t care what you’re playing on…most of the proper clubs out there have an elevated booth so the crowd can’t see your decks anyway!

IMO the CDJ crowd are trying to release some of their pent up frustration on the midi controller crowd because the vinyl crowd gave them a hard time when they first came onto the scene.
Yes, making the learning curve a little less steep has allowed some Djs to enter the scene who really just sound horrible… but it has also allowed many people with great ears for good music and excellent programming (music selection) ability to play out and make a name for themselves.

All I know is that none of the clubs booking me have ever complained about me using a controller instead of their CDjs or vinyls…. No matter where I go to play I can show up, plug my kit into their mixer or soundboard and go. I never have to worry about showing up with my Serato box to find that their technics are in a rubbish state or their mixer is missing faders or knobs. I also never have to worry that my Cd is scratched or that the CDJs at the club don’t support usb…

Paying homage to you roots is important. I definitely learned to beat match an mix on DVS…but I definitely prefer the added creativity and portability of my controller.

Can’t wait for Vestax to release that 380…it looks like my next upgrade!