how to pass a dj audition
At Live Music Management we hold regular DJ auditions in various locales around the UK. These are for our party DJs but also for wedding DJs and mobile discos. We like to see everyone and build up a relationship with the act before we give them a booking. We are constantly on the look out for new talent for night clubs , parties and events and there is rarely a day that passes without someone calling the Live Music Management to see if we have any work for a DJ.
The format for our DJ auditions tends to always be the same. We ask people to turn up and meet with one of our reps and then to perform a twenty minute DJ audition. It’s the same format that we have been running for the best part of fifteen years and we know that with this style of audition it is rare that we miss on real talent and it is easy to wheedle out the DJs who will clearly not meet with the standards of Live Music Management.
The DJ auditions usually take place in one of our High Street venues like Walkabout or Bar Risa. Very often they will be run at a time when the venue is closed or quiet. It can be quite an intimidating atmosphere , even for an experienced jock.
Often we are asked in advance how to pass a DJ audition. Many of the DJs auditioning for us have not had to go through this experience with new clients in the past. We had one night club DJ arrogantly tell us that he never did auditions. When he decided to attend the audition it was clear that he was not very experienced and had been bluffing about his abilities.
These are our top tips on How to pass a DJ audition.
1. Be friendly , be dressed appropriate for the venue , be punctual.
2. Check your levels before starting your set. Often DJs will start playing music based on the previous DJs levels which may have been way out. Make sure the mic is not distorting. Make sure the music sounds right. Wander around the venue . Check the volume is okay. Check that the sound is fine.
3. Don’t worry too much about repeating a track someone else has played. Play your twenty minutes as if you are the star of the show and it’s the heat of the night with a packed dance floor.
4. If it’s appropriate to the venue and your style then use the mic (almost all the nights LMM book require mic work ) use it to stamp your authority on the room. Don’t talk over every song. Use the mic as if the venue is busy. Incorporate the name of the venue into your speech.
5. Throw in a little set piece mash up or clever mix but don’t worry about cramming every trick in the book into twenty minutes. Maybe five minutes of tricks would be perfect.
6. Be confident!
If you would like details of how to audition for Live Music Management then email your details to info@lmmuk.com with phone numbers and dates when you are available in the week (ie If you have Saturdays currently available then we will be more interested than if you are just available on Mondays) and don’t forget to send your phone number. We are particularly looking for quality London wedding DJs
