From Producer to Dj...

[the crackhouse]

I've never heard since the end of the 90's of any electronic music producer who made it without having a Dj show/presence.

What do you think is necessary to enter the Dj touring system?
- Skills?
- A good record selection?
- A fan club who will forgive your trainwrecks?
- Some kind of agent?


And do you think going "live" with your tracks, remixes and re-edits is a better thing than Deejaying?

Thanks

Idance

[dennis f]

Here it goes..i've had this conversation to many times to recount so i'll try to make this short, simple and blatant.


Nowadays...Your records are your business cards. Simple. Forget about getting rich off of them. They are a means to an end. They get you to where you want to be. Make sh*t records? Well then...you don't get sh*t. I don't care how many years in the game you've had. Years in the game don't make you an honorary member of the get paid club. Sorry. I don't care whether you came up with (insert big name dj/producer or club here)back in the days. I don't care if you've done 80 releases if 78 of them were crap... in all honesty you think someone gives a flying f*ck? Now that this clear and concise. From quality records comes inquiries. Inquiries of all types. If you've been smart you've been hitting the decks somewhat. Why? Because we are back to the days of the band going on tour after making a record. Dj'ing or performing live is the 2000's new generation of doing this. The same way a band needed a good manager, booking agent and publicist is the same way you're going to have to do it nowadays. So you have a list of four things to do.

1. Make quality records that grab attention. Mediocrity is what it is..ok.
2. Management/Booking Agent. You need someone to handle day to day business and booking. You can't wear 12 hats and operate efficiently. Worry about sharing profits? Think of it this way...if this person brings you in a higher fee and 40% more biz then this is 40% more biz you didn't have if you didn't hire them!!! Plus you get peace of mind as they run interference for you and that alone is worth thousands.
3. start Dj'ing or set up a live performance. Either way you're in the entertainment business so you better think up which you prefer if you want to make performance money.
4. Don't hate on another person's business. Instead try to figure out why their model works and what you have to do to make yours operate similarly.

In the end dj'ing or doing a live performance (ala ableton live) is in my view an electronic dance music producer's version of touring with the band. Since we ARE the band in many ways, this is just how it's panned out. Your job is to exploit this opportunity the same way a record company exploits a recording artist. The same principle and methods tend to apply.

again YMMV

DF