Getting out there and getting heard!

[dMix]

Had a search & couldn't find anything related to this. I had a read of the soundcloud achievements thread & that was sorta helpful with the sharing to groups etc.

But how did you guys 'make' it so to speak? How did you get your stuff out there and listened to by important people who are gonna give you opportunities to play out? Guess this is a double question really, how to get maximum exposure, and how to get heard by the right people.

Cheers

[Manu]

You're in Brighton, shouldn't be too hard if you're good enough. Last time I went there to buy some records, I did notice that drum and bass was pretty big in the area and it was confirmed by the store clerk. I was specifically after a prodigy's dnb remix but apparently they all sold like hot cakes within hours in every single freaking shop (a bit livid after 2 hours of driving).

Go meet people (clubs, bars venues etc) and drop some CD demos. Preferably tagged so you just don't drop them a free mix they could play in the place for free and not call you back. Soundcloud and all that lot is only a communication platform, but it doesn't mean club owners and managers are going to go there and listen to your stuff just because you're good and all.

Now if you fancy online exposure and scoring some figures, two things: make some decent (read: banging and flawless) mixes and network the shit out of it to build an audience. The best memory I have so far is getting in touch, then meeting and friending members of one of my favourite bands after they listened to an album I made. Very chuffed since this was a one in a million thing to happen to me. There's nothing more effective than meeting people in real life, because friends have friends who also have friends. If you play your cards right, you eventually end up meeting someone who will give you a shot.

[dMix]

Thanks for the response! Guess i need to get out there, meet people and start handing out some CD's then

That's pretty cool about meeting the guy from the band. How did you get in touch in the first place? Also, when you say network the shit out of it; how so?

[Era 7]

connections, connections aaaaaaaaaaaand connections. that's really the easiest way. preferably people that organize the events or other DJs that can give you a hookup. take your chances. if you are good you will be remembered and people will come back at you. to stay in touch with people who listen to your stuff a online presence always helps.

[Buddy McKarthur]

Before I begin I just want to say I have yet to play a live gig because I'm too young to get into any night clubs or raves, and would look like a joke playing any events like all those kid DJs on YouTube. But anyways, I agree with Era 7 on this, it's all about connections. However I'm gonna take it a step farther and say it's all about creating those connections for yourself. If you wanna play at a certain club, go to the club, talk to people, hand out your demo, try to talk to a manager or owner and see about getting a gig meet people that go there often, just make yourself familiar with the atmosphere and people and then see what kind of gigs you can get. For house parties or smaller things like that, you could just place an add in a news paper or on a bus stop bench
In terms of getting rave gigs, same with night clubs: go to raves, meet people, try to talk to promoters about getting a block to play at an upcoming rave, hand out demos etc.
Then, of course, you can turn to the internet to get your mixes well known: make your own SoundCloud page, build a decent YouTube channel, put your mixes on Tumblr to be re-blogged...
Good luck bro! If you have any more questions just shoot me a message and I will do my best to answer

[Manu]

That's pretty cool about meeting the guy from the band. How did you get in touch in the first place? Also, when you say network the shit out of it; how so?

facebook, I posted a bit of appreciation. They posted this bit of music that I always liked, so I commented on how I first heard it and how it made me discover the band. For reference, this is the actual thing:



That song (except different version: Painful - morphium mix) is also in the Transporter 2 soundtrack when Jason Statham has a fight with his big rubber stick (you can clearly see it's made out of rubber in some shots )

I bought V-Rally 2 one day, came back home and put it in the playstation with some sound on etc, very excited. The music kicked in and my jaw really dropped. I went out and bought the album the next day. Anyways, the guy went on my website and listened to my stuff. I made a remix album of Nine Inch Nails' The Slip, turned out he' s a huge NIN fan. We sort of hooked up from that point...

Network the s out of it means get registered everywhere that has potential to reach people, and get your own website if possible. And when you hand out CDs, hand out tons. For instance all of my friends have my CDs and regularly request copies for other people. It's a bit like going fishing, you throw something out there and from time to time you get a bite. The funny bit is the feedback you get, every single person has a very personal favourite moment on one of the albums and also something they liked least. It's quite handy so to find out what works and what doesn't.

[Grifff]

In Liverpool the majority of clubs play either commercial house/top40 or deep house. Now, there are two events that cater more to my sort of music: Circus is mostly a house event, but does have the odd techno DJ; and mUmU which also plays techno, but has some deep house DJs occasionally. The downside is that these events are only on once a month, sometimes even less than that. The have renowned DJs there, e.g. at the next Circus it's Sasha, Maceo Plex and Seth Troxler, as well as the resident DJs who have been there for years. Since I started DJing 4 years ago there has only been one competition (that I am aware of) to get the chance to DJ at Circus. I did enter it, however in my inexperience at DJing and entering competitions I did not win.

How do I get recognition in a city such as this?

[djlukewathey]

Hi Grifff

im in manchester and i know the techno scene is pretty big here so you could mayby get something in this neck of the woods, My brother has done a few techno gigs also in manchester,

[benjamin_l]

Soundcloud and all that lot is only a communication platform, but it doesn't mean club owners and managers are going to go there and listen to your stuff just because you're good and all.

What would you say is the benefit of an online following/online exposure then? We see quite many singers being discovered thanks to Youtube, but could that work for DJs?

[BuddyUK]

Put on your own night, hire a venue, promote it etc. Their is no guarantee that it wont fail or you'll get any money back, but all these other nights started that way, from small acorns etc.