Im a DJ...need your advice BHW

Hey guys..First off i would like to start by saying that i dont make threads often i usually just post or thank users for generous content. Ive been reading and researching for quite some time and i can honestly say that this is one of the best forums i have ever been a part of and im extremely proud of it. Everyone here is extremely generous and there is a lot of knowledge being passed around for the newbies. I cann just say thank you for that and now i need some direct advice from all of you.

Im a DJ (mainly producing not much live DJing). I love music and I make new beats all the time. Ive come to the point where i want to really make a name for myself. Im looking to go beyond things like youtube and soundcloud. I want to combine the available knowledge of seo, IM, traffic etc and combine it with my talent. I think its time that people really begin to recognize what i have to offer. My main purpose of making this thread is essentially to get an idea of the steps i should follow to build a name calling. I have a website so that +1 already.

How should i start?
Are there particular sites/methods/backlinks (for my site) that would help me?
And when i do plan to monetize how should i do it?

Please help me out guys. All responses are welcome and I will appreciate any advice i obtain. Thanks again.

- marc (jaydub)

Start from the top, find out what keywords you want to own, make your site SEO friendly and then start backlinking to it (black and white).

If you have any music related specific question you can PM me, I was in the online music business industry. (including music monetization)

Whats your location?

jaydub11595 said:

Hey guys..First off i would like to start by saying that i dont make threads often i usually just post or thank users for generous content. Ive been reading and researching for quite some time and i can honestly say that this is one of the best forums i have ever been a part of and im extremely proud of it. Everyone here is extremely generous and there is a lot of knowledge being passed around for the newbies. I cann just say thank you for that and now i need some direct advice from all of you.

Im a DJ (mainly producing not much live DJing). I love music and I make new beats all the time. Ive come to the point where i want to really make a name for myself. Im looking to go beyond things like youtube and soundcloud. I want to combine the available knowledge of seo, IM, traffic etc and combine it with my talent. I think its time that people really begin to recognize what i have to offer. My main purpose of making this thread is essentially to get an idea of the steps i should follow to build a name calling. I have a website so that +1 already.

How should i start?
Are there particular sites/methods/backlinks (for my site) that would help me?
And when i do plan to monetize how should i do it?

Please help me out guys. All responses are welcome and I will appreciate any advice i obtain. Thanks again.

- marc (jaydub)

Click to expand...

You say you thank people yet your account sais otherwise

On topic : If you have a website start performing SEO as you would any other site. Choose your keywords and start campaigning to rank your site in google.

I'd probably be focusing on local terms (State/Town/City DJ/producer etc)

I'm a DJ myself although the opposite to you. I do more live DJ work in clubs and raves than producing though.

Personally I like social media more for getting work as it is so much more targeted to the kind of active young people that are likely to want my services. So set yourself up a fb/twitter page and start getting likes/followers.

What sort of music do you DJ?

Dj .. can u Remix any of the songs i ask to u..

U can make some offer Like i have made . U can say Available to make Remix based on User Request.

GIve some Free sample of Ur Dj

The dj world is like a big cake and everyone wants a slice, but there is not always enough to go round!

Everyone knows or wants to be a dj now a days. I started spinning vinyl myself 12 years ago, got a box full of classic vinyl. I'm kind of lucky as I know people in the industry, I never tookl my dj skills anywhere other than a few pirate radio stations at most.

What my point is I see what these dj's have to do to get there, so much hard work. But I think it's easier to produce and get in.

My advice if your good at it keep it up! Try and get your stuff out there make a track and send it to every Dj and producer you can find.

I hope you make it, I wish I had lol.

SEO's not going to help you.
No one with any money to spend searches for (State/Town/City DJ/producer etc)
You need to market yourself and your music first by getting people to hear it.
You should really start with a managed social media marketing campaign.
Get your name and your music out there and on peoples lips.
Viral facebook pages, Youtube, linkedin etc.
Or be a ghetto boy and get some mixtapes out there.

Your key to success lies in Social Networking.

DJ'ing is all about getting out there and being Social.

Club/Outgoers like their twitter and their facebook updates from their favourite dj's and clubs.

Cheers MixMaster!

If you have been reading here, you know the power of social media. For your genre, do not overlook foursquare, especially if you can focus local. There's nothing like having 100 drunks with cell phones just waiting to crash your bar in a "meet up" to impress every small spot you play..

If your demographic is on the producing end, do not overlook the mix and music enthusiasts on MySpace. Look for the ones that are doing well WITHOUT big pocket financing of a label or sub label, abd see how they lay their guerrilla marketing campaigns out. Subscribe to their lists, study them, and never overlook the chance to JV or coop.


Like on BHW, never underestimate the value of sharing, drop some beats and sample them out to freesound.org as Creative Commons. Then target video creators to carry your samples with a valid CC attribute (prominently as possible of course).

Some of these ideas take some work, but with the right amount of time and/or outsourcing, it could push to to a viral status just like FB and other viral starters.

Do you have a logo or other owned graphics for your works. Go to CafePress and sell yo shit! Nothing like getting paid to promote yourself just like Nike and the Big Boys do.

Some of these ideas take time,effort,etc.. but very little upfront cost, if any. Maybe some outsourcing cash so you can focus on the tunes, but thats about it.

I wanna thank everyone for responses...I primarily do house/techno music and im focusing mostly on that niche...anyone have keyword advice?

jaydub11595 said:

I wanna thank everyone for responses...I primarily do house/techno music and im focusing mostly on that niche...anyone have keyword advice?

Click to expand...

You should not listen to our keyword advice, rather listen and anticipate on what people are looking for, try Google's Keyword Tool

make mixtapes. get known. charge for slots. the end

contact music studios who create beats and do freelancing for them.
sell ur beats to this studio and they will give you some % or what ever
deal you made with them.

YT FB Fan page create audience/fan base.
release 1 album with around 12 remixes and make it free.
when you think you got good audiences and when they
can't get enough of your remixes release a new album and this time sell it.

any knowledge from BHW will not help you with your real life career as DJ except desigining fanpages and YT channel.

You have to get offline connections and reputation.

Play live, often.
Try joining other people with your interests. Get an investor, in order to have money for this stuff.

kind regards,
SICK

vishalgmistry said:

contact music PRODUCERS who create beats and LET THEM TAKE CREDIT FOR YOUR WORK.
sell a piece of YOUR PUBLISHING to this MULTI PLATINUM and VERY WELL KNOWN PRODUCER and they will give you some % or what ever
deal you made with them.

Click to expand...

Just thought I'd correct that for ya....

Anyway, OP, you GOTTA network man. If you wanna play in the big leagues, your gonna eventually have to play ball with people who are where you want to be. Thats one option....

OR....

You can build from the ground up. BUT, please keep in mind that this may take longer then your anticipating (which is to become a well known trance/dance producer, ie David guetta. Contrary to popular belief, the internet is NOT the golden calf for musicians and producers (me being one myself). Reason why?

Their are ALOT.....ALOT of people doing what your about to do......

Some of them SUCk....

Some of them are mediocre.......

And some of them ARE REALLY GOOD!!

And somehow, someway, you have to get other regular people to shift through ALL OF THOSE MUSIC PEOPLE and get to your music.....

I believe you can do this, I know what that passion feels like, TRUST ME. But just know, just because you've found BHW doesn't mean you will have the edge you think you will. You have to work you ASS off, and that still doesn't guarantee you'll get anywhere.

Anyway, as everyone says, Youtube it, facebook it, myspace it, twitter it, and soundcloud it to your hearts desire. But just know, COMPETITION IS A BITCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ALSO, my best advise is to become to SHIT in whatever town you are in!! If your in LA, NY, or ATL, or NASHVILLE, that might be easier said then done, as again, COMPETITION IS A BITCH!! (esp. in LA).

But is your in, say, kansas city or a smaller metro area, you have a MUCH better chance of making noise. Just a suggestion.

Anyway, Good luck bro!! I'm on the same journey as you!

In addition to what everyone said above, make sure you put together an impressive online press kit / electronic press kit. And then every time you put out a new track or an album, send an announcement along with the press kit to all your local newspapers and as many websites as you can.

The problem is just what was said above, there's millions of other house/techno producers and wannabe producers online, filling the online music hosting sites with junk. How are you going to rise above that? With better publicity!

Put out press releases about yourself, every time you do anything even remotely interesting, either putting out a track or an album, or you had a new idea for another album hey now you've got an album in development, you can PR it!

Think of yourself as a complete brand and market accordingly.