Getting into promoting

...not in any serious way. Just been contacted by an Eastern European who wants to start up a club in the local town and wants help. He can arrange the djs, but knows nothing about insurance, security, exemptions etc. I can talk to a local publican about getting one night a week on second floor in his place. Is there any galringly obvious thing one should know about, any tips for getting people in, and standard problems that always arise etc. etc.

djfattony2000

The venue should include insurance etc in their fee. If your charging in, make sure you have someone you really trust collecting money!! Or if your not charging in keep an eye on the bar recipts through out the night if your getting a % of the bar. Bar owners can shaft you at the end of the night.

Executive Steve

it's a great way to lose some money!

here;s a few posts i made in a thread on dogsonacid a while back relating to the same thing...

never book two dj's who are good mates on the same night - make sure you always book dj's who hang out with different crowds of people so they bring different crowds of people...

have a mate at the door with a clipboard to count the people coming in.

have a guy who makes sure the bouncers don't turn away people for no apparent reason [i once heard the bouncer at a gig i was playing at - not one of my own thankfully - telling a bunch of girls "aah no yis don't want to go in here there's drum and bass on tonight" ] knowing how many people turn up is an essential part of the art of not getting ****ed out of your money.

other than that, putting on nights is a lot like having a job except you won't make money out of it. if you break even nd get a few great nights out / gigs / women out of it you'll be doing well.

also... vary the music, switch it up, keep it chill for the first hour or two if the place isn't too full - noone wants to walk into an empty club and see three people sulking in the corner to the sound of limewax at earsplitting volume.

another nice trick::: book a hip hop or a breaks dj to open the proceedings.

also, try and have CLEAR DIVISION OF LABOUR and maintain CONSTANT COMMUNICATION

have ONE guy who is the final authority on the soundsystem on the night and whose word is LAW

make sure the work is spread out and that EVERYONE does their share of flyering...

drinks sponsorship is a good way to go, most drinks distributors will have a local area rep who has the authority to sort out drinks promotions etc... a bit of legwork and sweet talking goes a long way...

also, for the guestlist etc - don't be afraid to be harsh... give the dj's a plus one but that's IT... or you'll end up with a snowballing situation... next week the club is rammed and you still owe the venue money...

and don't plug the mic in until the place is packed

tman

and don't plug the mic in until the place is packed

or ever...
there's nothing like a **** mc to ruin otherwise good music:mad:

Executive Steve

well, i posted that on a drum and bass board, you wouldn't have one at a deep house night

tman

I was referring to my limited experience of D&B nights/live recordings... can't think of one set where the MC was actually an additive tbh

[cm]tyranny

[cm]tyranny wrote:

here;s a few posts i made in a thread on dogsonacid a while back relating to the same thing...

Excellent, thanks.

jonny68

One good tip is to have DJ's who play different styles on the nite that was everyone is happy, for example you could have someone play an old skool set, someone play an electro house set, maybe a Drum & Bass set and Techno one as well, they are the best nites when you have a mixture of music.;)

Thanks for all the tips.

Getting venue free, they will provide a doorman too, gonna just have a private party for 100/150 or so and collect a fiver or tenner from each to cover exemption and give a few shekels to the djs for their efforts.

If there is an incident, say someone gets a glass in the face, I presume standard pub insurance covers it and the organisers of the private party are indemnified?

Next headache is soundsystem and lights...

Seanie M

Where are you thinking of hosting this, Conor74?

Seanie M

Seanie M wrote:

Where are you thinking of hosting this, Conor74?

Just up the street, the pub across from Super Valu. Ah you MUST know it...;)

In a town in South Kerry...

Seanie M

Deleted User wrote:

Just up the street, the pub across from Super Valu. Ah you MUST know it...;)

In a town in South Kerry...

Ah, a bit far from me! I would have liked to see what you can 'promote', and maybe have even offered my services!

Seanie M

Seanie M wrote:

I would have liked to see what you can 'promote'

Oh we confidently predict a disaster, and anything less than that would be a success!

My co-promoter is a Serb, and we have about 50 Czechs and Slovaks turning up anyway - fellows who really like their dance. Throw in the same number of the more open minded locals and that's a beginning.

garthv

tman wrote:

I was referring to my limited experience of D&B nights/live recordings... can't think of one set where the MC was actually an additive tbh

Pendulum usually have decent MC's

Executive Steve

i mc'd for them in the music centre two years ago, so i hope you're counting me in the "usually" part!