DJing Non-Swing Venues as a Paying Gig
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DJing Non-Swing Venues as a Paying Gig
Anyone ever done this?
I'm very much considering going to a few select clubs as a swing/jazz DJ for listeners, as opposed to dancers. By clubs, I mean bistros, cafes, small but upscale clubs that either have no space for a band or traditionally hire bad ones.
So, I am looking to see if this has been done or if it is doomed to failure. I don't want to do it as a professional, just in a professional capacity.
Kalman
I'm very much considering going to a few select clubs as a swing/jazz DJ for listeners, as opposed to dancers. By clubs, I mean bistros, cafes, small but upscale clubs that either have no space for a band or traditionally hire bad ones.
So, I am looking to see if this has been done or if it is doomed to failure. I don't want to do it as a professional, just in a professional capacity.
Kalman
Last edited by mousethief on Fri Nov 21, 2003 8:24 am, edited 1 time in total.
- wheresmygravy
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Re: Jazz Jazz Jazz - Local Bands Suck
YEAH what he said! uh, What did you say??mousethief wrote:I'm seriously thinking of hammering down the doors to some lounges and *clubs* around here, because the local blue-hair bands are god-awful.
Anyone ever done this?
Kalman
![Question :?:](./images/smilies/icon_question.gif)
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All right - Kalman on drugs not good.
I put this here because DJ Skillz was about the closest fit on the board. I am considering approaching local clubs, bistros, what-have-you as a professional DJ specializing in wide-ranging, swinging jazz.
I know a few people have done some other DJ scenes but I wasn't sure if anyone had gone this route. It might be doomed to failure but I think it's worth a shot and might actually drum up new dancers.
Why I put this in Skillz...
It doesn't directly involve choices of Swing nor *different* music;
It doesn't involve Tech, Boards or whatnot;
It does involve presentation, skill, haggling, taking requests.
Kalman
I put this here because DJ Skillz was about the closest fit on the board. I am considering approaching local clubs, bistros, what-have-you as a professional DJ specializing in wide-ranging, swinging jazz.
I know a few people have done some other DJ scenes but I wasn't sure if anyone had gone this route. It might be doomed to failure but I think it's worth a shot and might actually drum up new dancers.
Why I put this in Skillz...
It doesn't directly involve choices of Swing nor *different* music;
It doesn't involve Tech, Boards or whatnot;
It does involve presentation, skill, haggling, taking requests.
Kalman
I haven't done it per se, but it sounds cool. I have had a chance to get some gigs DJing listening music for local swing/jazz bands that play outside of the swing scene, though I have never really taken up any of the offers.
What I'm wondering is whether or not you have been approached, or if you are thinking of approaching these venues. If you are going to approach them, I would think up some good replies to their objections. I would think the biggest objection would be, "Why would we hire a DJ when we can just buy a few CDs and put them on shuffle."
What I'm wondering is whether or not you have been approached, or if you are thinking of approaching these venues. If you are going to approach them, I would think up some good replies to their objections. I would think the biggest objection would be, "Why would we hire a DJ when we can just buy a few CDs and put them on shuffle."
-Jeremy
It's easy to sit there and say you'd like to have more money. And I guess that's what I like about it. It's easy. Just sitting there, rocking back and forth, wanting that money.
It's easy to sit there and say you'd like to have more money. And I guess that's what I like about it. It's easy. Just sitting there, rocking back and forth, wanting that money.
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Objections are my stock and trade - I'm in sales (the second dirty science). I have not done it yet - I wanted to test the waters a bit.
There are some local bands that I could trade on, playing music around their sets, as you mentioned above. My main concern is to begin building up a following of drinkers, dancers and the like who would come to the events (and spend money).
Kalman
There are some local bands that I could trade on, playing music around their sets, as you mentioned above. My main concern is to begin building up a following of drinkers, dancers and the like who would come to the events (and spend money).
Kalman
I would imagine that the music at most bistros, cafes, and so forth is designed to be background music so that people can be social. At most coffeehouses/restaurants that I've been to with a live DJ, the music serves as ambience instead of being the focus, as at a bar/club. In that sense, you'd find it hard to go up against a CD changer on shuffle, as Jeremy said. But who knows, you might find a coffeehouse owner who loves jazz and wants someone with a bigger collection than him to play for people...probably for free, but hey why not.
I was at a vegan restaurant in LA and they were playing, like, Benny Goodman, Ella, all sorts of monster swing. I love it when that stuff happens randomly.
I was at a vegan restaurant in LA and they were playing, like, Benny Goodman, Ella, all sorts of monster swing. I love it when that stuff happens randomly.
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Sunday night at Charlies, where we often go after swing dancing, plays big band music; I think the waitress loves the music; she does a good job at catering to a large group of lindy-hoppers also.julius wrote:I was at a vegan restaurant in LA and they were playing, like, Benny Goodman, Ella, all sorts of monster swing. I love it when that stuff happens randomly.
and Kalman - go for it! My one experience with a jazz club in Dallas was at Sambuca - it was in Deep Elum, not sure if it's still around, but if they have live music still maybe you could DJ for the dinner crowd before the band goes on.
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- lindyholic
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It kind of helps when they seem to be going for a 20's theme. I love it too, every time I go, when I'm paying attention, they play a new song that I hadn't heard yet and that I like, and I think all they do is put in compilation cds or something. Though the food isn't great, I go there for the music.djstarr wrote:
and Kalman - go for it! My one experience with a jazz club in Dallas was at Sambuca - it was in Deep Elum, not sure if it's still around, but if they have live music still maybe you could DJ for the dinner crowd before the band goes on.
Harrison
www.lindyhopper.ca, Canada's Swing Site.
Well, in restuarants, they prolly just go to Pottery Barn and buy a compliation, and play it over and over and call that background music. The music is not toe-tapping because people want you to have an enjoyable meal, but on the other hand, not to put them to sleep. To the jazz-ignorant, you have to pick something not necessary mainstream, but no show offs of 12mins instrumental solos either.
Locally, there are people from Tango Djed at coffee houses and hope to have a crowd that would be interested. While the place have no room to dance, people enjoyed the atmosphere it created.
Personally, I haven't tried it, so you don't have to listen to me at all.![Wink :wink:](./images/smilies/icon_wink.gif)
Locally, there are people from Tango Djed at coffee houses and hope to have a crowd that would be interested. While the place have no room to dance, people enjoyed the atmosphere it created.
Personally, I haven't tried it, so you don't have to listen to me at all.
![Wink :wink:](./images/smilies/icon_wink.gif)