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dj equipment - soundcards, CD recording & CD writing
DJ self-promotion - promotional cassette tapes & CDs
Well, as promised, we welcome back DJ-man for another bit of insight on the craft and artistry of DJing. And, this month, I understand that he will be dealing with a topic that has value not just for DJ's, but for everyone trying to succeed in music or business. Take it away DJ-man.
Thanks man. And yes - I have something to say that will interest a much wider audience than usual. That's right. I am going to share some of my secrets on how to succeed in DJing and for that matter in any gig you want to pursue. Whatever you do - self-promotion is for you!
Now I am not talking about the crass, money-grubbing kind of in your face type of promotion. I am talking about in your ear (think whispering) that image of yourself that you want people to have.
First the free stuff. What kind of things can you do to get your name out there. The more people know your name, the more your skills as a DJ are worth. Simple right?
Ok. So you have your DJ equipment (from AudioLinks.com of course) and you're cool with the slam. Now get yourself some tracks. There are lots of places for that on the web and much of it is priced right. Nowadays, downloads are a few clicks away for Digital DJ's; and vinyl has never been priced better for us old-fashioned (but ooooh so with it) scratch and spin guys!
Once you own enough tracks (say 5-6 hours), you can mix a night of heavy sound without wearing out the grooves. Now, it's time you thought about getting some work - steady as you can.
The first step in free self-promotion is to make a teaser - a sample CD or tape that you can pass around.
It's the way of the world. Sometimes you have to give a little taste to make them come back for more.
Recording a sample mix tape or CD:
First let's talk about cassette tapes. Mixing a tape is as easy as hooking up your stereo to the Record Output (sometimes called the Line Out) on your mixer and pressing the Record Button. The problem with a sample cassette tape mix is that a lot of people are into the digital mode of CD's. So, while that is a little more complicated, it's a good idea to go with both.
CDs require a slightly different setup: a computer with a soundcard (or sound card - I personally use Soundblaster Live!) and a CD-writer.
Your soundcard should have some recording software. You will need to hook up your mixer to the line in (sometimes called Record Input) on the soundcard using an RCA Connector (red and white plugs) to mini jack (small headphone style plug).
To record the CD, boot-up the recording software and press Record (ok - sometimes REC). The sound file on your hard drive will be large, so ensure you have about a spare gigabyte to record a one hour sample mix. Once you have your .wav file, burn it to a CD using the 'burn audio disk' option in your CD writer software.
In general, CDs (I personally recommend Taiyo Yuden) are more professional than cassette tapes. While they may cost you more to make the master, they also have a cost advantage on large quantity bulk duplication. They even can be personalized with Artwork for a little extra. (Hint to AudioMan: I can do a gig on duplication for an upcoming Newsletter!) Remember the idea is to give these samples out to lots of club owners - they're like your business card. Plan on making at least a few hundred.
If you have the time and don't sleep too late in the afternoon - drop some cassette tapes and CD's off at the local radio station. Maybe you'll get a weekly show.
Next Month (if I am invited back) I'll give some more helpful hints on self-promotion and maybe duplication.
Thanks Deej - that was a great. And what a great lesson in active self-promotion - what's this about next month?
Getting Started as a DJ
Your First Mix
Mixing Techniques
Back To Top
Promotional Copies
Hearing Protection
Back To Product Reviews
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