Hello all,
So I was just wondering, how does booking work? I’m a little young to just walk into a club (it’s 21+ in the US) and ask to DJ. I know typically there is a booking agent, but must that be provided by the label?
\ some of the labels provide you with booking agents but most of them dont.
as far as i know.
you gotta get out there and get bookings mate - they are not gonna be handed to you on a plate… send out demos etc etc, why not even pick up the phone and speak to some promoters in your area. You never know they may respond well, use your as a excuse to phone
i’m actually working on a how-2-get-dj-gigs-guide.
look for it soon.
I wouldnt bother about trying to get bookings, the only bookings youl get are like the 9pm-10pm slot when theres 3 people in the club.
Your better off focusing on producing, making a hit and then the bookings will soon follow.
Just look at Fedde le Grand, he was gonna quit everything then one day sat in his kitchen he got a bassline in his head, next thing was put your hands up for detroit and a nice aeroplane to take him all around the world just to DJ…
a lot of djs start by running their own nights or dj’ing at mates that are doing the same thing, it’s a long process, especially since that before you have a name for yourself unless you are lucky enough to be playing in front of a dedicated crowd into underground music, you will probably have to play some tracks for the crowd to get things moving
We are currently going down the production route to get bookings. We reckon that once there are some big releases out more people will book us.
We already have some interest overseas in usa to be residents for a big event and have just taken on a booking agent (All this before a release has gone out)
Defiantly push the productions. Promotors love to book people who make their own tunes now as it adds that edge to the sets.
Being young is a hold back for sure especially in usa with the age being 21+ rather than 18 its another few years. Imagine how big your productions could be by the time your old enough though 
even do you make your own tunes, still is hard to get bookings. u got to put yourself out there. nowadays u got to be everything.
@Japwow Being old gives us some benefits too son :P.
[quote]alinenunez (24/03/2011)[hr]even do you make your own tunes, still is hard to get bookings. u got to put yourself out there. nowadays u got to be everything.
@Japwow Being old gives us some benefits too son :P.[/quote]
I’m not old … or your son lol (as i’m a girl) but yes i was just referring to the question
Being older makes us wiser because we have been through all of this already
We spend most of our day promoting our tracks etc and networking with people but it has defiantly helped us having tracks that are coming out on big labels as the bigger names pay attention and we all know promotors are whores when it comes to big named labels and big named anything
still working on the guide… hopefully by monday I will have it done.
Don’t bother with a booking agent unless you have had stuff released and are looking to get high profile/high paid gigs.
The best way to get a break and get gigs is to network as much as possible, go to as many clubs as possible and meet promoters, hand out your mix CD’s, enter mix comps…basically just pimp yourself out. Also jump on all the clubbing forums for your country/area and post links to mixes/big yourself up.
This worked for me, i ended up winning i-DJ magazine readers mix comp 4 times, which then in turn got me a residency at a local night back in Leeds, then a residency at Tribal Sessions & Redlight at Sankeys Soap in Manchester which is one of the UK’s best clubs, and also at Gatecrasher. Plus i got booked for radio shows etc etc. When people can see your passion, and obviously your ability, you will start getting gigs. It also helps if you have a lot of friends who are willing to support you and come to your gigs!
@mozzatron
The problem is in the US it’s quite hard to find a club that will let under 21s in. If they do, it’s less of a club and more of a concert (with a producer rather than a DJ as the performer).
I have had some stuff released, and it’s doing OK (I hear Retro Cool’s hovering around the Beatport Electro House Top 100, fingers crossed!), but that’s my only selling point 
I’m not looking to be a club DJ, that’s sort of the problem… I want to perform my own stuff, sort of concert-rave style… I suppose i have to be much bigger 
I know some USA dj’s who have to play raves as they are underage. But the problem is they often get shut down by the cops so that can be a hassle but some of them go without a problem.
Radios a good thing though. Internet radio gets you out there to people while you wait for clubs.
Booking agents if you find the right one are brilliant. It’s all down to if they are going to listen to the plan of where you want to be. It does however help if you have tracks due for release on big labels (that’s why i took on a booking agent because i know whats coming)
Sorry to reignite an old thread, but I’ve recently gotten an offer from a booking agent. The only thing that’s scaring me a little bit is the duration of the contract… It says 5 years at 30%, are they royally screwing me here? I can’t really tell.
[quote]Flaxo (13/04/2011)[hr]Sorry to reignite an old thread, but I’ve recently gotten an offer from a booking agent. The only thing that’s scaring me a little bit is the duration of the contract… It says 5 years at 30%, are they royally screwing me here? I can’t really tell.[/quote]
30% seems like a lot to me, but I don’t know about DJ agents. I can tell you in book publishing the agents take 15%.
But 100% of nothing isn’t as good as 70% of something.
I think if it was me if I were to get into this I would want some option to get out of the contract if the agent doesn’t perform to a resonable level, 5 years is a long time to be stuck with an agent that is doing nothing but take 30% from you.
Also theres alot of **** talkers out there. everyone and there sister is a booking aagent these days and you know how many bookings these bull****ters that promise to take u overseas etc will get you? ZERO.
[quote]Flaxo (13/04/2011)[hr]Sorry to reignite an old thread, but I’ve recently gotten an offer from a booking agent. The only thing that’s scaring me a little bit is the duration of the contract… It says 5 years at 30%, are they royally screwing me here? I can’t really tell.[/quote]
Yah dude. that is highway robbery. Your getting screwed bigtime there.
Even the BIGGEST agencies only take like 20%. So unless its AMONLY hitting you up…
5 years is a long *** time as well man. I wouldnt do it…
nope!
haggle!
I know that 2 big UK agencies that provide DJs for mainstream bars/clubs charge 10% on top of DJ fee, paid by the venue.
I know it’s not quite the same but still…