DJ Marketing 101

I’ve been asked to write about how to find key contacts in the “scene.” This is subjective to your region and style of music that you’re looking to spin. It may be easier in some areas than in others. However, I assume that most DJs know and support their local scene. An aspiring DJ should be doing this already or their chances of landing gigs will be considerably low.

Research

If one is not sure who’s who and what’s what, a little research may be called for. Most promoters are using the web, e-mail blasts, and social networking like FaceBook. If you already know where the parties are, start asking around as to who is throwing or hosting the event. Get on the mailing lists and pay attention to the venues, DJs, hosts and promoters on all marketing material.

Venues

You’re going to have to know where to find the music you wish to play. If you know, or know of, other DJs in your area that play the style of music you play, then start following their schedules and the venues they play in regularly. Look for consistency in promoters, venues as well as the other DJs they play with. These DJs can lead you to new contacts as well.

E-Mail

Look for e-mail address and websites listed. The suffix of an e-mail (after the @) can give you useful information. For example, my e-mail address is david@davidsabat.com. Therefore davidsabat.com is my website address. However, those using a yahoo, hotmail or gmail addresses will be useless.

Flyers

Inspect event promotion flyers for who is throwing or presenting the event. It may list a person’s name, company or website. Study the logos on these flyers to see who is involved and look them up on the web. Find the promoter’s and venue’s websites and get on their mailing lists. Some DJs will have their own mailing lists as well.

DJs

Many DJs are accessible and approachable. Simply ask them who is responsible for booking them that certain venues. They can give you a promoter’s name or a venue contact. Keep in mind that some promoters are also DJs themselves.

Becoming “in the know”

Once you’ve found a few events that meet your DJ taste and have added yourself to a few mailing lists, you will soon be inundated with more promotion that you ever wanted. You will now be fully integrated into the scene. DJs, promoters and other regulars will get to know you and reach out to you via e-mail or social networking by inviting you to events all the time. Before you know it, you’ll become an expert on what’s going on every night of the week in your scene.  

Show commitment

Just because you find the right contacts doesn’t guarantee that you’ll be hired. You have to get to know them without seeming pushy or desperate. The first time you meet them its ok to introduce yourself and let them know you’re a DJ and hand them a promo CD. Let them know you are interested in DJing for them in the near future and would be happy to help promote the night. Meanwhile, invite friends to their parties and show up regularly with them. Show the contact person that you have a network of people that will support you. Always say hello but again…don’t be pushy. They will notice that you are a regular and that you bring people all the time. If you see their event on FaceBook (or other social networking site), promote it for them by reposting it. Hopefully they will see this. Doing this consistently will definitely make them take notice. I call this “the price of networking.” I will write another blog on this topic soon.

No guarantee

Knowing all the hot spots and meeting contacts offers no promise of a gig. You have to be consistent and stay positive. Continue to give promo CDs (to fans as well) as you make them but expect nothing in return. Be cool…sometimes these things just take time. If you never get booked, in the process of being out a lot and giving out promo CDs you may have built a reputation for good mixes and friendliness. It may be time to just throw your own event. But that is another blog all together.