DJing First Proper Gig - Any tips

[shan]

Hey People

My mate and I are doing our first proper gig this sat in a club (about 400 people) and he uses a laptop I will be using my own CDJ's..... Really looking forward to it but nervous at the same time.... any tips?

[panoulix]

Re: First Proper Gig - Any tips

being nervous is normal, however you'll get used to it after the first 10mins.

A good tip is to go to the club MUCH earlier than the the hour the doors open for public.
This way and since it is your first gig, you'll get used to the space you're gonna gig and you will not feel that stressed, as you can make as many sound system tests as you like, to ensure everything is proper to run in perfection...

Good luck

[shan]

Re: First Proper Gig - Any tips

cool thanks. we are bringing our own equipment as in we use Denon cdj's and a laptop with abelton live and external mixer also.. Is it generally accepted to bring your own gear like this... just curious

[bobjuice]

Re: First Proper Gig - Any tips

Like Panoulix says you will be nervous, getting there in plenty of time is a great tip. Get set up, get comfortable. Your nerves could turn into stress rather than a buzz if you find you're late or you're missing some leads or any shit like that so the better you prepare, the less likely you are to stress yourself. Get in early and stick a few tunes on, let yourself relax into it and you probably won't even notice the place fill up.

I know it's a boring one but make sure your cds are well organised and well marked. You may think you have a lethal set of tunes but if you can't find them when you need them then you haven't really got them at all. It's also another way of not stressing and just making things that little bit easier for yourself till you get settled in.

Go easy on the drink. Adrenaline will tempt you to drink twice as fast as you normally do and for a while will allow you to. You may then go outside the venue for a smoke or have a break from playing and find that you are suddenly drunk.

If you make a mistake or fuck up the mix it's important not to let it affect you, don't beat yourself up about it or the whole set will fall apart. Accept that even the greats make the odd mistake and this is your first gig so you are allowed one or two. What may sound like something horrendous to you may well go unnoticed out on the floor so don't dwell, keep playing.

Above all else, relax and enjoy yourself. Nothing is more important than that.

Good luck and remember to record it mate.

[shan]

Re: First Proper Gig - Any tips

cheers fellas. yeah got their good and early and setup and didnt have any problems or fuck ups.. looks like Ill be on every 2 weeks now so chuffed. thanks for the tips

[DIDI]

Re: First Proper Gig - Any tips

Congratulations

[Maff]

Re: First Proper Gig - Any tips

I've got my night on the 26th may in ambleside i'm doing a charity night as that was the only way the police would let me do it i've got Steve Parry doing a 3hr set really looking forward to it the club only holds 180 ppls

[Alert]

Re: First Proper Gig - Any tips

Do some shadow boxing to the theme from "Rocky" before your set.