DJ Stone Crazy

That’s right, get off the internet and find a gig!

I usually get other DJs criticizing me for just using a laptop. Then I do what I learned from this site. “You’re a DJ?” I would ask. “Yea,” they would answer. “Where’s your gig? I might come check you out,” I would answer. And you know what? They wouldn’t have a gig. Or I would receive criticism from dudes who have gigs once a month versus my having them three to four times a week.

D-Jam, post: 34046, member: 3 wrote: Well…I’m sure all those headliners were fully paid regardless. I don’t think Farina or Shadow ended up not getting compensated. I’m sure their agents have it in the contract in case, let’s say, a power outage hit the club.

In this case, they pulled the headliner willingly, but they still have to pay for his time. I also don’t see things changing where promoters will decide to sign contracts that remove their right to remove a DJ.

I have to put my promoter hat on here. If I have a club with 10 booths and a moderate-sized dance floor, I have to think numbers. Remember all I wrote about in the guide to throwing/promoting events. You have to treat it like a business. If my 10 booths are full of high rollers who will EACH spend $4000-$12,000 in the night versus a full dance floor that might only bring a total of $6000…I’m sorry, the high rollers will win the fight every time.

Even the barstaff will agree because those high-rollers will give them hundreds in tips compared to the dollars from the crowd. This is why you saw so many clubs shrink or remove their dance floors and put in more booths. They honestly want the best revenue stream…not to please music nerds.

In all honesty, and I said it earlier, I wish then these glam spots would come to reality and stop believing they can be both high-rolling glam/fashion hot spot…and musically innovative spot. We all can see now this won’t happen. The high rollers are more than likely out to lay their barbie dolls, and the barbie dolls only care about showing off that they are in a booth with a sugar daddy.

So now I’m sure some of you DJs will get angry how it seems good music is being pushed out for money. This is when and why you all have to take it on yourselves to build a scene. This is when I’ll see some guys come together to throw events, or take over promoting a night They might throw raves, or do a night where they tell the high-rollers they won’t pull the headliner…and thus risk the revenue loss. They might go look for a venue that has no booth service.

In any case, we can complain…but the real answer is all the complainers who want change will have to go out and build a scene. You could evolve into some 3000-person space that’s packed. No booths, no bottles. Just people dancing to a beat. High rollers will show up and lament how there’s no VIP section, but the masses of people will be your strength.

On a smaller scale, this is why I cater to the ones who tip the most and buy the most expensive drinks. This is when I’m hired to just play any genre. Let it be know, cheap drinkers and non-tippers can be annoying. They can be bossy and request music all night. I rather cater to the crowd who requests the “classics” instead of catering to hipsters who don’t tip.

This what this reminds me of: How many of you had a gig double-booked with someone’s party or other kind of celebration? Or during a gig, a huge group shows up? You already had your mind set on what you’re booked for. (For me it was 80s music.) Now, the group wants you to change your music. Both spots that did me like that is now either suffering financial difficulties or is closed. I predict the same fate for clubs who kick big name DJs off the deck.