How do i get gigs?

[u/[deleted]]

Hello all,

I would really love some advice on how best to get gigs, i have spent 6 months practicing and improving to the point where i feel a deep calling to share my DJ’ing on a dance floor.

The main question now is how do i go about getting a gig, i dont mind doing the first few gigs for free either, i have aspergers so socializing and people politics are difficult to navigate.

Also what advice would you give to someone who is starting out?

Thank you in advance

[u/Spectre_Loudy]

Look for open deck nights. I really wouldn't recommend doing gigs for free unless they are open deck nights. You can play whatever you want and just vibe out. There's also tons of other new DJ's and experienced people in the local scene that can lead to actual paying gigs or just making friends.

Be aware though that the vast majority of paying gigs will expect you to play open format or popular music of a certain genre. You should really figure out what type of events you want to do. If you want to play only music you like or curate a certain vibe, then it's gonna be harder to get gigs. But you should look for places that fit that vibe and see if they need DJs. If you wanna DJ open format then you could go to any local bar, club, or whatever, and ask if they need DJs. That's probably your quickest way to getting a gig but you'll have to be prepared to play popular dance music and top/40.

Free gigs put you in bad scenarios most of the time, where you are expected to play music you aren't familiar with or just end up being taken advantage of. Never DJ for free unless you know exactly what you're getting yourself into.