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a DJ "demo" CD ...
A club wants me to put together a demo CD before they give me the DJ'ing job.
But I'm reading all this talk here about mixed versus non-mixed music - when I've DJ'ed in the past, I've always mixed, beat-matched, that sorta thing. But now I'm seeing that the dancers like it when the song ends and the next one begins.
So ... what should this demo be like? Just one song after another? Life an old mixed tape we used to make in the 80's??? Or should I slide the tracks together or what? And they want to know about my voice - should I put some "okay please welcome to the stage, sugar&spice ..." banter on it or what? It all seems rather odd ... and you people here seem to know what I'm talking about ... what do you think?
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Re: a DJ "demo" CD ...
In your post you haven't stated whether you have worked in a Gentlemen's Club before but gathering from the way you mix and beat-mix your music I would think not. If that is the case the first thing I would do is go to your local strip club and see how the DJ's work and what sort of catch phases they use and how they introduce the girls.
I spent at least 10 years in pubs/clubs before moving into the stripping industry and the first thing I figured out is that you do a lot of talking. So if you come from this line of work you will notice a lot of different ways of DJing.
I must admit I'm not an expert in applying for these types of jobs as it just fell in my lap so to speak. But in your demo I would do your homework first and find out what style of music the club prefers and how it is run DJ wise. From this you should have some basis for your demo.
You also haven't stated what the club would prefer when it comes to content of the demo. Some clubs may just want mostly talking with a bit of music in between, others may want you to put together say a half an hour segment which features music and talking. It is also good to add in certain things the club advertises like drink specials, meals, features so you personalise the demo and aim it just at that club.
Good luck!
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Re: a DJ "demo" CD ...
Thanks for your response ...
And you were right - I've never worked in a stripper club before - I'm mostly a dance DJ. I have, luckily, had the chance to work a mic quite a bit, so that's not foreign territory for me. However, I did stop by the club and see how things work .... and yeah, there's LOTS of talkin' going on, ain't there? So I should put banter ON the demo CD? So just make up some names, welcome "whoever" to the stage, blah blah blah, that sorta thing? And you think 30 minutes would be long enough? Interesting ...
Again ... thanks!!!
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Re: a DJ "demo" CD ...
Not to sound too cocky what I would do [and I don't know if it will work for you] is to, yes include banter but make the names those that work there so if one of the dancer's name is Taylor, in your banter you might say
'Guys, be loud, proud and generous as we welcome out onto the stage the very beautiful TAYLOR'. or something like that.
This is where you need to go into another club and get some ideas from other DJ's. Also as to how many different stages you have in the club you are applying the job will determine how much talking you have to do and how you announce them. There is also nothing wrong with stealing ideas from the other DJ's in the club. I did it and I know most other DJ's do it.
As for the length of your promo, I'd say no more than 30 mins and let them know that you are available anytime to come in and do it live to prove that you can cut it. Sound confident but never too cocky
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Re: a DJ "demo" CD ...
I'm taking alllllllllllll your advice ... so 30 minutes, huh? I guess it's more about "my voice" then my DJ'ing skills, huh? I'm in the midst of doing all this .... what fun ... looks like I got the job ... as long as I put together a decent demo ... I'll keep you informed. AND THANKS. ;)
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Re: a DJ "demo" CD ...
No your DJ skills will mean a hell of a lot because if you have a good voice but can't put it together with everything else you will be screwed.
My own story may help you. As I said earlier my DJ career started in the pubs/clubs, but the lighting was near to nothing. I also spent many years on radio, so when I moved up to the Crazy Horse from 1 1/2 years DJing in strip pubs I was told my voice was very clear and powerful.
BUT it was also the first time I started using a proper lighting rig which is a 24 channel deck. I was a little kid with a new toy but had no-one to really teach me. One time my boss came up to me and told me my lights were crap and I needed to work on it. Luckily for me we had a Canadian Feature about to start, Ali Capone and she brought with her, her partner Leigh who I struck up a good friendship with. Keeping it short he taught me a lot of tricks and after they left my boss told me my lights had improved 200 %.
I recently did the lights for Miss Nude South Australia and received rave reviews from management and owner, and next week will be DJing/lighting tech for the Miss Nude Australia. Then I hope to come to America as well as Canada next year to learn more.
So what I'm trying to say from all this is that you have to have a package for them to want to hire you. The voice, DJ/lighting skills and also the willing to learn new things as well as repair things. This is why I'm the head DJ at my club because it is my responsibility to be able to do all these things.
As I say to customers who say they would do anything to have my job, 'It's a dirty job but somebody has to do it'