How to score the "first gig"

[~DJ_IZ]

Hopefully all of the experienced DJs out there can give some advice. I'm coming from the industrial/EBM genre (I think other genre DJs read these posts??), but any advice is welcome.

As the subject says, how does a DJ with no previous club experience get that first gig? I personally have 2 1/2 years of experience DJing on the radio, but that's nothing compared to a club setting. I don't have experience reading a crowd, tight beatmatching on the fly (I'm pretty good if I can plan a set out), etc. I'm sure it's best to start out by getting a guest spot one night and doing the opening set(s). But how do I even get there? Is it sending out tons of mix tapes/CDs? Lurking at every club night until they let me at the console? Phone calls to club managers until they relent?

Please let me know how you scored YOUR first club job, and any other Wisconsin DJs out there, how about giving me a chance :o)

[~cbobt]

My first gig was a through a friend of a friend. Without my friend I wouldn't have mee the other one who was promoting for a small student club. He didn't even have to listen to a mix tape because he trusted my mates good opinion. Bassically i think this is the fundamental way of getting exposure, by networking, meeting people that are already Djing. Try to meet promoters and make sure thay know about you. But what ever you do don't give up!!









DanceDjsOnline
http://dancedjsonline.com

[~Joevirus]

My first club gig was in Fort Worth, My band opened up for Spahn Ranch & Mentallo, and the owner of the club liked us. He wanted us to play weekly, but that wasn't easy, so I told him about my radio show, and how I could DJ there weekly, playing industrial/deathrock, and bring out the show's following. I lasted from June to December there, and by the time we shut down, I was on the Nominating Commitee for the FT. Worth Weekly's Music Awards, Interviewed in The Dallas Observer about the local Goth scene, interviewed in FT. Worth Weekly, and known for pulling in 300+ people to a club in Ft. Worth on Wednesday Night (unheard of).
So when the club shut down, my name was already out there, and I got two callas to work.
The first call was from Unfilter'd in Deep Ellum. They wanted me to spin/book/promote an electro/industrial/new wave night every Wednesday.
The second call was the Lizard Lounge/The ChURcH. They wanted me to spin/promote electro/new wave in their Video Bar on Thursdays.

I said yes to both. that was the 1st of Jan '98. When the ChURcH's four year resident DJ Karl Fought wanted to retire, he suggested I take his place, and the owners of the club agreed. I've been the resident ever since.