If you're an up-and-coming DJ, getting your very first gig can be very exciting and daunting, right? Um, of course! Now what, eh? First, you have to make sure you have a multitude of songs to accommodate the venue you're DJ'ing for (you never know if they'll want you to switch up from one genre to another), so you'll always want to be prepared for whatever's thrown your way. Nothing's worst than being asked to change the direction of your music, and you're not able to accommodate the request. It's very embarrassing (trust me, I know from experience, haha). It's always best to ask the club owner for a few song suggestions upfront so that you'll have a clear understanding of what they're wanting. Properly executing your music and being able to switch up at a moment's notice is key to a perfect set. Trust me.
However
I highly recommend checking out the club/venue a week or so in advance to get a feel of the crowd and what the club expects from its DJs. Your first impression is EVERYTHING, and it should be your BEST impression. After you've done your research and put together your first-set playlist/mix, the next step is quality equipment. Do you have a controller? Does the venue provide speakers, etc.? If not, these are things that you'll need to factor into your DJ fee. Don't overlook these things.
Lastly, does the club expect you to help with promoting your set? If so, charge extra (read that again!). Don't be afraid to request an additional fee for your service/s. There's a lot of work that goes into DJ'ing, and let's face it - being a DJ isn't cheap and can be very costly for the DJ. There's equipment cost, transportation cost, music cost, software cost (like Virtual DJ, Serato, etc.), so don't let them take advantage of you because you're new.
I've also learned that if a club is more interested in the crowd over the quality of their DJs, then you should probably find a different venue. Don't waste your time on a club that cares more about the crowd then YOU. And if they're not promoting you heavily because you're new, MOVE ON. That's not the place you want to work at, trust me. Your time and effort should always be valued. A reliable and upstanding venue will promote all of their DJ's the same, regardless of how long they've been DJ'ing. If you're noticing you've been getting the short end of the stick, again MOVE ON. It's their reputation on the line, not yours.
All in all, there's nothing wrong with helping a venue promote your set. The more partygoers, the better. Right? It may be a little overwhelming at first, but it'll be rewarding once you've gotten into the groove of things. There are some amazing clubs out there, and the only thing missing is YOU.
Cheers! Here's to an awesome set!
DJ Fyne Az Wyne (good to the very last drop)
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