As you become more known for your DJing ability, you start getting more inquiries. Sometimes it’s a proper proposal, but most often it’s a one-line Instagram message asking what you charge. DJing as a career is all about making more of these inquiries happen, but often you’ll be asked to do gigs that are way out of your comfort zone. Let’s take a look at how to approach that.
Keep talking
The important thing with inquiries for new types of events is to keep your potential clients on the hook by communicating clearly. Their expectations come first, your preferences come second. You might be being asked to simply bring a pair of speakers and push play. Or you could be expected to do a full-scale show. Make sure both parties are clear on the expectations. Blow them away with how open and honest you are.
Music selection
Finding music to suit a niche scene can take time. Some typical niche requests might be music for a Christmas party, a gay party, for culturally themed events (Mexican and Irish are big) or tracks that are categorized by something other than genre, like Bond movie themes. Nobody has it all, and the algorithms streaming the tunes can’t be trusted to deliver good stuff automatically just yet. So make sure the client gives you a list, and give yourself time to find the tunes. If you can pull it off, they’ll call you up next year.
Charge realistically
The more niche the event, the higher the fee. If you aren’t very familiar or don’t like playing the type of music you’re asked for, you should be charging more. Way more time is spent sitting in front of a computer preparing the event than actually playing. So have an estimated time and include it as a line item in your quote (eg ‘preparation 3 hours’). Always aim higher than you feel it’s worth, and be prepared to justify the expense. If you have a problem doing that, just remember all the travel time, gear packing and fake smiling you have to do. They might be getting in touch with you because it’s too much work for the others. Learning to DJ professionally means being realistic.
Anyone who has gotten anywhere in DJing has learned to do events outside of their comfort zone. It’s the business side of a fun career. If you’re serious, you need to play more unusual events with don’t necessarily suit you as a person. It’s OK. Might even be fun. Do what it takes to make it happen. Go pro with one of the DJ courses offered by DJ Courses Online.
John Bartmann is a music producer and DJ