If you’re an aspiring DJ then you’re probably aware of the cold, hard truth. It’s tough to get gigs when you first get going. Without a name for yourself, it’s you who’s going to have to do the talking and approach venue owners. It’s you who has to show your passion and attract an audience.

Sometimes the club scene doesn’t make it any easier. More and more venues seem to only be interested in locking in top commercial talent or DJs who play a very particular set of tunes to a mainstream audience. The party is always pumping in the underground, but what about when you want to transition from the house party scene to the world of paid work?

There’s more to it than DJing at clubs, private parties and weddings. There are plenty of alternative venues where up-and-coming DJs can find an audience, gain practice and promote their material. DJ Premier honed his skills as the campus DJ at the university that he attended, Prairie View, and has now worked with the most legendary artists of all time.

Out of the Club and into the…

It is possible to get where you want to go, but the route is not always simple and direct. Often you have to find gigs in the most unlikely of places. Here are ideas for alternative venues for your DJ set.

Art Galleries â€“ Art galleries are excellent spaces for upcoming DJs to showcase their talent to a like-minded audience. Pick a gallery with art that somehow matches up well with your genre. In any case, art exhibitions and special events usually call for background music rather than an in-your-face live show. Later on they may turn into parties, in which case you can turn it up a notch. Even large museums may have nightlife events. Never say never.

Retail Stores â€“ This is a surprisingly common DJ gig. Retail stores regularly hire DJs for their events and product promotions. I’m not talking about rockin’ Walmart (though, why rule it out?). Niche stores with street cred are a good place to consider, such as clothing and sneaker brands, record stores and comic book stores. Talk to the managers and store owners about upcoming events.

Hotels and Casinos – Casinos and hotels are excellent places to find paid DJ work and test out your set in front of a fairly large (but not always engaged) audience. Both usually have live music on the weekends for guests and patrons. If you’re booked for a live show, then you can bring the culture of your genre with you in terms of dress and attitude, but if you are playing on an ordinary night, you will have to adhere to the etiquette of the establishment, especially in casinos. This often means a smart casual dress code for entry.

Fundraisers â€“ Charity events and fundraisers are also an excellent place for competent and upcoming DJs to showcase their talent. Again, audiences can be quite large, but this time you should expect that you will be performing for free. As such, you should agree with the cause. The positive media attention and opportunity for networking and promotion is a bonus. The same goes for city functions and community events, although, depending on the type of event, you may find paid work.

Sports Pitches â€“ Major league teams and sports promoters usually have their own DJ they work with to get them through lulls and gaps in the sports shows. Smaller non-league teams may not yet have a DJ, and if you offer they may jump at the chance. Speak to the arena owners or team bosses to see if there are any opportunities. Get creative! It’s not just football stadiums that need DJs. You could go for anything from marathons to rock climbing competitions.

Busking â€“ Sometimes there’s just no better venue than the street. Artists like DubFX have made their name by busking and building an online audience. This is also a way that you can bring that pure live element—and make a connection with your audience—without restraints from the venue or type of music. It takes a special performance to pull a crowd when busking, so make use of show-stopping techniques such as scratching or live rapping.

Promotion and Practice

As mentioned, DJ sets at these alternative venues may not always be paid. They do provide great opportunities to get practice playing in front of a live audience, test out tunes and refine your set.

They are also ideal for self-promotion. You should be networking, handing out cards, securing gigs and building an audience. See if you can sell albums and merchandise after the shows. Most importantly, turn attendees at these events into dedicated fans!

New single from Payday Records! It’s the 3rd of 4 singles produced by DJ Premier for Payday. This one is featured by Conway, Westside Gunn & Benny The Butcher. Video clip coming soon! Here some extra background information:

See full video notes at TheDJHookup.com

One day after Technics announces its ferociously anticipated, but ultimately conservative Technics SL-1200 MK7, Reloop dramatically ups the ante with with RP-8000 MK2.  

While Technics took a nine-year nap on DJs, Reloop has been powering the new guard of world champions – DJ Brace, Vekked, Kris Karns (fka DJ Vajra), Fong Fong & IFTW.

The RP-8000 MK2 may be their single most impressive contribution to the DJ community to date. Check here how The DJ Hook Up stacks up against the new SL-1200 MK7.

A big part of being a financially intelligent DJ and getting the equipment you need is being able to sell your used DJ gear at a good price, quickly. The internet has evolved and there are more options than eBay & Craigslist.

In this guide, The DJ Hookup go deep on various channels available, what you need to know about each and how to offload your gear at the best price possible.

Check the full guide here!

DDJ-1000 review

Booking a celebrity DJ is a great way to raise the profile of your club night – whether it’s already a huge event or you’re just getting started. Big name DJs can help to draw in the crowds in a way that less recognisable names might not – and luckily there are plenty on the books at booking agents MN2S.

Boy George

One of the biggest names in the music industry, Boy George is available to book for DJ sets around the UK and beyond. First made famous by his turn in Culture Club, he was one of the biggest names in the New Romantic movement and has been a successful solo artist ever since. As famous for his gay rights advocacy as he is for his music, he’d be a great choice for an LGBT+ club night.

Samantha Ronson

Sister of producer Mark Ronson, Sam is exceptionally talented in her own right and has a deep understanding of the music industry because of her immersion in it. She’s a brilliant crowd-pleaser with experience DJing at the VMAs and Super Bowl, so a big crowd shouldn’t faze her!

Fazer

During his time with N-Dubz, Fazer was involved in writing and producing three platinum albums and eight top 40 singles, as well as playing some enormous venues around the UK. The trio have now gone their separate ways to pursue different avenues, and Fazer is available to book as an in demand celebrity DJ.

Celebrity DJ booking agencies in London

If you’re looking for a celebrity DJ to book, get in touch with a booking agent at MN2S, where you’ll find Boy George, Lindsay Lohan and Gizzi Erskine amongst many others. By adding a touch of glamour to your event, you’ll make it a hot ticket, and keep people coming back time after time.

There’s a saying that heroes never die, they just get sampled. The art of sampling is a cornerstone of hip-hop culture, and it’s also become a vital part of keeping the legacy of older artists alive. When a sample is done right, it can spark fresh interest in a classic or obscure song and bring new attention to deserving influential artists.

They say that game recognizes game, and that’s definitely the case when it comes to the most talented producers. These are people with record-collections that will make your eyes bug out. They have a unique ability to introduce listeners to brand-new sounds and make you hear classics in a unique way you never thought possible. Nowhere is this more evident than with the catalog of Jimi Hendrix.

The rock icon has been sampled in some of hip-hop’s most recognizable songs including classic tracks like The Pharcyde’s “Passin’ Me By” and A Tribe Called Quest’s “Scenario.” Hendrix is one of those artists with such a rich catalog of music (despite his tragically short career) that his samples appear everywhere from the old school to the new school. Rick Ross can be found sampling Hendrix’s blistering hit “Fire” for the song “The World is Ours” with Pharrell and Meek Mill. For another terrific example, look no further than the master himself, DJ Premier. Premier has flipped tons of samples during his career with Gang Starr, but one that stands out in particular for me is the way he puts Hendrix’s “Stone Free” on its ear in the remix for “The Militia II.” It’s such a simple riff, but Premier renders it nearly unrecognizable as it becomes the backbone of the driving track.

It shouldn’t come as a surprise that Hendrix has such an influence on hip-hop, despite the disparity in genre. As a matter of fact, one of his old producers said that if he was alive today Hendrix might have gotten into rap. Given his willingness to push boundaries and constantly experiment with what’s possible in music, it makes sense that he would continue to be on the cutting edge of industry. Hendrix was an innovator that tested the limits of what’s possible not only with a guitar, but also with production and technology.

That’s why it’s more than just fresh music that’s helping to keep Hendrix at the front of the public consciousness. We still see his legend all over the internet in everything from tribute pages to streaming albums and now there’s video games, too. An online slot game made with the musician’s likeness and music as part of a collection of multiple big name rock band branded slots is a fun way for fans to kick it with the rock god while playing some casual games. These games have proven to be an effective method for older artists to get their names—and their music—in front of fans. They also help to keep influencing new generations beyond their established discographies.

Jimi Hendrix remains one of the most iconic recording artists that ever lived and he managed to accomplish more in a little less than ten years than most musicians do in their entire lives. The affect of his music can still be felt through his classic albums and the producers who continue mining his catalog for some of the best beats in hip-hop.