Bar & Club Dance Club interview?

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DJ Capitan

New DJ
Aug 27, 2010
16
0
54
Iowa
www.wix.com
I just had an interview at a night club. Not sure if it’s for me.

1. I will need to use all of their equipment.

2. I can't use any of my music.

3. They use PCDJ not sure but it looks like Virtual DJ (Which is what I am used too) or it is a cheaper version/spin off.

4. They don't play any remixes.

5. They play 100% request. So you might just play request all night.

6. They don't want a mc, just play music, but you can introduce birthdays or other party groups.

It just seems like they could just have a Jukebox up by the dance floor to play music for free, just punch in what you want to hear. I don't see the job in it for the DJ. They have taken all of the experience away from the DJ.

IMO if a DJ is getting a bunch of request than he isn't doing his job to play what the crowd wants!

Is it just the DJ's fault for playing request all the time, it kind of opens the door to the regulars, knowing he will play what you ask him.

I would like a little bit more freedom;

-work in some remixes to give the club a better flavor
-use my software maybe on their system
-hold request to a min.

Any thoughts? Advice, I have only DJ at a club once. I didn't get very many request, most I just ignored. The dance floor was packed and I think I did a good job.


DJ Capitan
 
Well,

I could deal with it if:

The pay was good.
Songs only got played once.
They updated as fast as they needed to be updated ( I try and play the new hits before they are played on the radio)

I do Friday nights hit at miss at a local bar the getts 200+ people. I play no request, people don't know good music. If I played all request people would just ask for ghetto music all night. I play mainly current top 40 and mix in top 40 hits from 1990 and newer.
 
DJ Cam said:
Well,

I could deal with it if:

The pay was good.
Songs only got played once.
They updated as fast as they needed to be updated ( I try and play the new hits before they are played on the radio)

I do Friday nights hit at miss at a local bar the getts 200+ people. I play no request, people don't know good music. If I played all request people would just ask for ghetto music all night. I play mainly current top 40 and mix in top 40 hits from 1990 and newer.
Click to expand...

What is good pay? $20 hr

I talked with the DJ, he said the hardest part of the job is working in the requests. I would be replacing a DJ that has been DJing there 12 years. I think the owner just wants a twin.
 
If the pay is good take it and slowly introduce your style.
 
I can see the clubs point of view on some things.

-They have an IT guy that scans all the music so its up to date, good, and legal, all equipment is handled by him.

More control for the club owner.
 
$20 an hour is terrible. Friday nights went I worked in a place that had a house system. I was paid $40 an hour the place wasn't very big either.

I have friends that work in moderate size places using all of the clubs equipment that make $100 an hour or more.

$80 for 4 hours wouldn't cover my bar tab most nights.

I'm comfortable in clubs and bars but I charge the same if I bring my equipment or not.
 
DJ Cam said:
$20 an hour is terrible. Friday nights went I worked in a place that had a house system. I was paid $40 an hour the place wasn't very big either.

I have friends that work in moderate size places using all of the clubs equipment that make $100 an hour or more.

$80 for 4 hours wouldn't cover my bar tab most nights.

I'm comfortable in clubs and bars but I charge the same if I bring my equipment or not.
Click to expand...

Always negotiate for a free bar tab! :triwink:After the first 4 free drinks, I will pay. I will also pay if I am buying a drink for someone else.:trismug:
 
How do you "demo" what you do, if what you do is strictly limited to whatever requests are barked at you, on a system you're not (yet) familiar with, using a music library that's not yours, at a venue where you're allowed almost no creativity?
 
Steve Sharp said:
How do you "demo" what you do, if what you do is strictly limited to whatever requests are barked at you, on a system you're not (yet) familiar with, using a music library that's not yours, at a venue where you're allowed almost no creativity?
Click to expand...

My thoughts also. I downloaded PCDJ to my laptop last night to play with it and make sure it is easy to use. Turns out it is the same design as Virtual DJ, so I am ok using the software. As for the request and such I will just have to use my experience and only play what fits into my set. I am going to bring a 5 hour set list and hope they have at least 75% of what I have on it. I can always look up the saved playlist from last weekend that the DJ played and que from that. Owner told me to play 3 genre songs rock, country, dance, oldies, but the current DJ said to me no country after 9pm, and all dance music after 11pm, no rock. He said keep the dance floor full. Not that you can't dance to Rock.

I will work in my creativity when the owner is gone. I was told by the current DJ that the owner knows nothing about what is played.

The owner wants to hear my mc voice also. When I was there last weekend for 4 hours the current DJ said nothing to the crowd....lol
 
DJ Capitan said:
My thoughts also. I downloaded PCDJ to my laptop last night to play with it and make sure it is easy to use. Turns out it is the same design as Virtual DJ, so I am ok using the software. As for the request and such I will just have to use my experience and only play what fits into my set. I am going to bring a 5 hour set list and hope they have at least 75% of what I have on it. I can always look up the saved playlist from last weekend that the DJ played and que from that. Owner told me to play 3 genre songs rock, country, dance, oldies, but the current DJ said to me no country after 9pm, and all dance music after 11pm, no rock. He said keep the dance floor full. Not that you can't dance to Rock.

I will work in my creativity when the owner is gone. I was told by the current DJ that the owner knows nothing about what is played.

The owner wants to hear my mc voice also. When I was there last weekend for 4 hours the current DJ said nothing to the crowd....lol
Click to expand...

What will put you in big favor with the Owner, Bartender and Waitstaff is reminding people to take care of their waitstaff and bartenders by tipping them well. Announce drink specials. Pump up the people. Just don't overdo the MC stuff, let the music do its job.

It requires more skills to keep a dance floor full at a Club versus a Wedding. At a Club people pay to go there and also buy drinks so they want satisfaction. At a Wedding, it is a courtesy thing and you have a captive audience.
 
Omg, imma be, she sexy!!!!

Omg, imma be, she sexy!!!!
________________________________________
omg What a fricking blast I had. Friday night & Saturday. So awesome to see the dance floor full (20'X30' floor), and me filling it. I loved it when the crowd screamed when they liked a song I played. What power we as DJ's have! I got some compliments and tips....Now what to do before this weekend? ummmm.

reflex back. change up some tunes. Don't play everything the same time this weekend?

I have heard through the grape vine that the club DJ plays the same music! LOL and prolly at the same time. Which is true. I panned through the history playlist and sure enough the same songs are in there? LOL He plays line dance songs at 9pm and at 11pm - from 11:30 on its free to play whatever.

ummm How to get out of a same song slump? Make at least (3) different set list for each night?

I unloaded about midnight and played fast BMPm's till close, I thought I was going to kill my floor friends? LOL

Mic work for the night:

4 birthday MC, Bachelorette party MC, lost an ID MC

Any thoughts on MC to pump up the crowd? Owner really doesn't like much MC stuff. So not sure how to tackle this one.

No drinks specials! No last call announcement! Free bar tab!


DJ Capitan
 
DJ Capitan said:
Omg, imma be, she sexy!!!!
________________________________________
omg What a fricking blast I had. Friday night & Saturday. So awesome to see the dance floor full (20'X30' floor), and me filling it. I loved it when the crowd screamed when they liked a song I played. What power we as DJ's have! I got some compliments and tips....Now what to do before this weekend? ummmm.

reflex back. change up some tunes. Don't play everything the same time this weekend?

I have heard through the grape vine that the club DJ plays the same music! LOL and prolly at the same time. Which is true. I panned through the history playlist and sure enough the same songs are in there? LOL He plays line dance songs at 9pm and at 11pm - from 11:30 on its free to play whatever.

ummm How to get out of a same song slump? Make at least (3) different set list for each night?

I unloaded about midnight and played fast BMPm's till close, I thought I was going to kill my floor friends? LOL

Mic work for the night:

4 birthday MC, Bachelorette party MC, lost an ID MC

Any thoughts on MC to pump up the crowd? Owner really doesn't like much MC stuff. So not sure how to tackle this one.

No drinks specials! No last call announcement! Free bar tab!


DJ Capitan
Click to expand...

Make some dedications throughtout the night such as "This one goes out to all the Lovers in the House" or This one goes out to all the (Insert current Star Sign here) Capricorns in the House".

"All those born in Iowa make some noise!!!!!!" This may go over well as it tends to stir things up!
 
My big issue is that you must only play the music they have on file! That sounds crazy to me. How would i know where to find the music to be played. I would need to know where what music is where and exactly what music is on there. Me not having an idea of where the music is and exactly what songs are on there would to me be setting me up to fail. If they rufused to let me bring my HD then i would simply tell them they need to find anothert DJ period. End of story.
 
You like money? Take theirs and run with it. At the bare minimum you get your name out there. Have business cards in your wallet. DO NOT advertise yourself on the club owner's dollar. Be discreet.....word gets out...when you leave there you may be able to have made up a following/fan base for what you do.

I don't do clubs anymore myself, the younger guys can have it. All club owners would slit yer throat in a NY minute. they find someone for less that they believe will work out, you are gone, however this may not be the case in your situation if the guy you replaced had been there 12 years.

Be straight with the club owner, even if he's not straight with you. Watch for opportunities and you jump first when a good one comes along. Don't settle for less than you earn or deserve. YOU are representing YOU. No one else can do that.

I'm glad you felt what it is like to have a dance floor move with you. This is a better high than the best drug.

Best,

Paul
 
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