Grow My DJ Business

Send us Fan Mail On this week’s episode of Grow My DJ Business, Cream & Purari discuss: Cream's gigs in Washington DC and the city trending toward more house music. How to infuse your personal DJ style into any venue.  Do you play for you or play for the venue? Why? Cream's transition to DJing on USBs and how it effects his sets. The intersection of Afro house and hip hop is creating...

Send us Fan Mail Balancing work and family life can be challenging, but setting boundaries is important. Building relationships in the industry is crucial for career growth. Patience and realistic expectations are key to achieving success as a DJ. Finding unique ways to stand out from the crowd can lead to more opportunities. Incorporating live elements into performances can create a memorable exp...

Send us Fan Mail This week on the Grow My DJ Business Podcast, Cream & Gary discuss:  Having a clear identity as a DJ and establishing a specific genre or style is crucial for success. Parties that cater to a specific genre or style are currently more successful than open format rooms. DJs should showcase their identity on social media and in their mixes to attract the right audience. Playing...

Send us Fan Mail Rates in the DJ industry can be a sensitive topic, but it's important to have open conversations and be willing to negotiate. Even established DJs sometimes accept lower-paying gigs for exposure or to build relationships. Creating an EPK with a one-sheet, logos, promo images, promo videos, visuals, a W9 form, and a rider can help DJs present themselves professionally and stan...

Send us Fan Mail 00:00: Determining Your Worth: Understanding DJ Rates 18:54: Avoiding Undercutting: Finding Your Place in the Market 29:28: Weekday vs. Weekend Gigs: Adjusting Your Rates 37:09: Holiday Gigs and Big Event Nights: Maximizing Your Pay 39:06: Setting Rates and Negotiating with Venues 42:32: The Pitfalls of Undercutting and Fair Pricing 49:01: The Role of the Top DJ in the Market 55:0...

Send us Fan Mail Reading the room is a crucial skill for DJs of all experience levels. Observing demographics, attire, and nonverbal cues can help DJs understand the crowd. Knowing the venue, time, and expectations is essential for effective reading of the room. Transitioning between genres and testing the audience's response is a key strategy. Creating moments through tactics like echo-outs,...

Send us Fan Mail Negotiate fair terms with venues that restrict you from playing at other locations. Maintain a balance between playing in seasonal markets and your home market. Create a buzz and build a name for yourself to attract the best venues. Don't get caught up in the obsession with going viral in the music industry.  Remixing viral songs has become a popular trend in the music indust...

Send us Fan Mail Taking on private events can lead to valuable connections and future bookings for a DJ business. Rooftop parties in New York City provide opportunities for DJs to network and showcase their skills. Booking DJs based solely on their ability to bring in a crowd can result in inexperienced DJs being hired, leading to subpar performances. Curating DJ lineups based on skill and profess...

Send us Fan Mail This week on the Grow My DJ Business Podcast, Cream & Gary discuss:  The importance of maintaining high energy and being a team player in a slow night. The process of finding one's mic voice, developing mic phrases, and managing mic levels. The significance of using the mic as a weapon and improving mic skills for DJs facing similar situations. Microphone use should be st...

Send us Fan Mail 📈 JOIN The Grow My DJ Business Discord This week on Grow My DJ Business Podcast, Cream & Gary talk about : Understanding your skill level and compare yourself to other DJs in your market before making a push for higher-level gigs. Being in demand and turning down gigs can be a sign that it's time to raise your rates and start playing at higher-tier venues. Branding, mark...

Send us Fan Mail JOIN The Grow My DJ Business Discord 00:00: Introduction and New Project 07:28: Launching a New DJ Business 14:44: Understanding Your Goals 25:32: Showing Value to Venues 33:53: Challenges and Strategies in the Nightlife Industry 41:13: The Drake and Kendrick Beef: A Battle of Opinions 46:54: The Impact of Social Media on Battles and the Hip-Hop Industry 53:27: Upcoming Events and...

Send us Fan Mail This week on The Get Down , Cream & Gary talk about: Despite the rain, Miami Music Week parties continued and provided ample networking opportunities. Networking with local industry professionals and making connections with artists and DJs is crucial. A variety of music styles were played during the week, including Speedhouse, Techno, and Drum and Bass. Follow-up with contacts...

Send us Fan Mail This week on The Get Down Podcast, Cream & Gary discuss: Positive Weekend in the Nightlife Industry Challenges in the Nightlife Industry Getting the Most out of Miami Music Week Networking and Making Connections Importance of Mentorship Building Relationships and Finding Mentors The Importance of Networking Expanding Your Network Giving Back and Helping Others Announcement: La...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Get Down, Cream & Gary talk about: DJs are increasingly taking on the role of entertainment directors or bookers to navigate the crowded DJ market and find the right fit for venues. Collaboration and networking within the DJ community have become more prevalent, leading to more opportunities and growth for DJs. Beginner DJs should be prepared to start wi...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Get Down, Cream & Gary Duscuss: The importance of DJ skills has decreased in the current DJ landscape, with venue owners and bookers prioritizing factors such as ticket sales and bottle service. The rise of house DJs and the popularity of EDM have shifted the focus away from technical skills and towards other aspects of DJing. While technical skills are...

Send us Fan Mail On this episode of The Get Down, Cream & Gary sit down with 4am's (4 Artist Managements) CEO & Managing Partner, Madison Back. We get into several topics concerning the nightlife industry & highlight what Madison & 4am have done to put these initiatives in motion. Some of the topics discussed are:  Empowering DJs and Transforming Passion Shifting the Narrative...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Get Down Cream & Gary discuss: Why Cream LOVES Philly and how to rock an open format party. How to show value to a venue without getting taken advantage of.  The journey in navigating trying to be an artist while also maintaining your DJ career.  Universal Music licensing contract with Tik Tok expires. How does it affect Artists? If you could open a nigh...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Get Down Cream & Gary talk about: Cream's travel gigs to Detroit & how to adjust on the fly. Approaching sub-markets differently. Just because two cities are next to each other doesn't mean the sound will be similar. Are travel gigs getting less regional? Are we getting away with more top 40 & have less focus on locally specific artists...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Get Down Cream & Gary talk about: Some of their favorites for the year! Best of DJs, Producers, DJ Sets, Genres, Performances & More… Looking ahead to what this year will bring for the DJ culture.  Support the show 📈 JOIN The Grow My DJ Business Discord 🧠 Enroll in a Purari Production Academy Course 🎶 Subscribe to Digital Music Pool for $9.99 🎧 C...

Send us Fan Mail On this weeks episode of The Get Down Podcast, Cream & Gary talk about their DJ journeys, reflect on how they met & why Get Down DJ Group was created. This episode is reminiscent of episode 1 with some backstory on the evolution of the company, the podcast & Get Down University!  Support the show 📈 JOIN The Grow My DJ Business Discord 🧠 Enroll in a Purari Production...

Send us Fan Mail On this episode of The Get Down, Cream & Gary talk about: Holiday Season & How To Navigate a Very Hectic Schedule. Santa Cons, Holiday Parties, Corporate Events. What Can We Do To Not Burn Out? Sober DJing & How Can We Handle Our Job Without It Becoming a Crutch Is There Too Much Pressure To "Make It" as a DJ? Most of us Won’t “Make It” Anyway. Can & Shou...

Send us Fan Mail On this episode of The Get Down Cream and Gary discuss: State of nightlife nationally and how to stay booked during slow season. How to leverage booking cancellations and improve your relationships with owners and bookers. Tech Talk About New Serato Software, Stems & When You Should Update Your Hard Drive & DJ Software RSVP to our Open Decks event in Hoboken, NJ Listen to...

Send us Fan Mail On this episode of The Get Down Cream and Gary discuss: Playing a set when ownership or decision makers are in the room. What should you be doing to ensure a great performance & make your set stand out. Dealing with requests in a manner that is positive for the venue, patron & your DJ career. The significance in promoting your content the right way. What's working rig...

Send us Fan Mail On this episode of the Get Down Podcast our guest is Chris Kinsel, managing partner of Downtown Social, New York City. Chris has been a bartender, manager and now owner in nightlife and brings a unique perspective to the show. What really stands out about Chris is the second to none hospitality provided to not only customers, but entertainers, and why that is such an important asp...

Send us Fan Mail On this weeks episode of The Get Down, Cream & GaryW sit down with up & coming DJ/Producer, Jake Shore. The guys discuss: Jake Shore's journey from teacher to touring DJ & Producer. What makes Jake Shore's brand and how his style, interests & persona translate into his music. How Jake approaches his social media content and some strategies for listeners....