Hey guys,

I'm fairly new to DJing. I've been practicing and after I get some speakers, i think i'm finally ready to get out there as a mobile DJ in the Southern California area. However, I have a bit of concern as a mobile electronic DJ. Atleast from what I've seen (which isn't much), it seems like the general public wants to hear rap, hip hop, R&B, etc. - all the mainstream stuff, and that's not what I do (I mostly DJ trance & psy-trance). Is there much demand for electronic DJs? Besides the clubs of course. I'm not quite at that level yet.

Thanks,
Nick =)

This message has been edited. Last edited by: nick8278,

Just gotta find the crowd - they're out there.

let me get this straight....

you are saying that you are not at the level of a club dj but you want to do mobile, because you think that mobile jocks need less skill?

now, mobile psy-trance dj??? i am yet to see someone who will request trance for a corporate event, wedding or barmitzvah.

i think you need to go back to the bedroom and practice more. then find some people who play the same type of music and hang out with them at their parties or club nights that their throw. people networking is one of the most important skills for a dj to have. if you know people you will get gigs. easy as that. going mobile because you are not-at-the-club-dj-level is not a solution in your case, or any other case, for that matter.

quote:

Originally posted by solefald:
let me get this straight....

you are saying that you are not at the level of a club dj but you want to do mobile, because you think that mobile jocks need less skill?

now, mobile psy-trance dj??? i am yet to see someone who will request trance for a corporate event, wedding or barmitzvah.

i think you need to go back to the bedroom and practice more. then find some people who play the same type of music and hang out with them at their parties or club nights that their throw. people networking is one of the most important skills for a dj to have. if you know people you will get gigs. easy as that. going mobile because you are not-at-the-club-dj-level is not a solution in your case, or any other case, for that matter.

No no, i wasn't implying that mobile DJs have less skill than club DJs. Sorry to have offended anyone. I had no intentions of doing such a thing. What I meant was, from my perspective, i see many DJs going mobile before they take that step of DJing for a club and I see myself following this path as well.

I am also completely aware that clients for corporate events, weddings, and barmitzvahs will almost never request trance. Granted, i didn't have these in mind when i originally posted. I was leaning more towards the party scene. Despite this however, i still see myself having trouble getting gigs. Is this a safe assumption?

Perhaps, i do need to get back to the bedroom and practice more; possibly even incorporating more mainstream genres. Thanks for the networking tip as well. I agree, people skills are a must in this industry. Thank you, Pulse, as well.

sorry if i came across a little too harsh, that was not my intention.
and no, you did not offend anyone. i only play clubs, anyway

There really is not market for a mobile trance DJ. Clubs/Lounges is all you got aside from parties.

As solefald said...networking is the most important...meet promoters and DJ and they will get you in...thats how I did it. But be ready to back it up with some skills...so if you need to keep practicing, than do so...but begin networking either way.

Also...if you enjoy spninning trance don't conform to spinning top 40 or hip hop if you don't like it,just to do mobile (unless you want to do mobile). Djing is an expression and you need to love not only doing it but love what you play.

Thanks Izen. I'll definitely get on that networking. As for the whole top 40's and hip hop situation, don't worry. I wouldn't spin it if i didn't enjoy it, with the few exceptions of client requests of course.

i think the "don't spin it if you don't like it" it's, sometimes, a bit of attitude problem...

... take my example: i always played house, tribal and minimal... for 3 years.. when i moved from portugal to ireland i came across a completely different culture... where i live now, hiphop/r&b/charty-sht is so so so big... people seem to love it and don't care about any other style... you can't drop a huge tribal tune cos they'll leave the dancefloor- even if it makes so much sense to play it at that moment...

... so nor only i had to build my case from scratch but i also had to adapt my mixing style/skills to the new genres (let's face it- it's just different)...

... 1 year later i enjoy playing r&b/hiphop as i think they're the most challenging genres to mix (straight talking- let's not go into harmonic mixing and stuff)... but i'll always love tribal...

bottom line is, be prepared- if you want to spin don't let go opportunities to do any other gig just because you don't like the genre- you'll need to know other djs and people that can get you into the business;

i want to be playing electro/trance/tribal kind of stuff... just building my way up... i know a few good djs now... i played in some clubs... have my residency... knowing more people... knowing more managers... braking my way to the clubs i want...

there is no point being in a dj box and say to the dj: "yeah, you're playing alright but i don't like this kind of music- i'm more like psy-trance" - because if he's spinning house or something far from psy-trance, he won't let you touch the decks... and if someone is going to give your name for a gig they won't do it unless they saw you mix a couple tracks in a crowdy/noisy environment- mixing tracks in your bedroom when your headphones have the sound at 1/4 and your main volume is not even half way up so you won't disturb the neighbors is not the same thing...

i've absolutely no idea how the crowd is there- what types of music they're into... but, seriously, don't hate on gigs until you find the perfect one... it might be too late...



p.s. - good luck on your quest- there is no feeling like the one when you're walking towards the dj-box... !

Defiant is on the ball with that answer, im in exactly the same type of place. I listen to deep house at home and on my ipod, but when i get to the club its all mostly commercial RnB, dance and the odd decent pop tune. I actually get a big buzz off playing anything that sets the dancefloor crazy and that's what your there to do. It's actually a nice challenge to mix up tunes you wouldnt normally hear go together and being adaptable makes you a better DJ (and will get you far more gigs).

It's only the lucky few who get to play their taste and personal genre to a crowd into exactly the same stuff.

Hum, I kind of know what you are talkin about , i am in the underground scene of my city where you can play electronic with no questioning, like pulse said that people is out there but be sure thats what you like , because personally i like both , buuut electronic wont get you good money or any money unless you have lots of contacts,orr you are very very very very very very good.
i got some more stuff to say to you if you like to

Its massive where i am in mid-wales, UK. We get booked to put on Hard Dance nights monthly at many clubs.. They go crazy for it!! Breaks, House.. all very big. massive reaction for it over commercial ****.