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how does a dj get signed with a label?
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Nygma
IsraTrance Full Member
Started Topics :
63
Posts :
948
Posted : Oct 10, 2005 04:34
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this question is especially directed to dj's who've signed up with a more-or-less known labels. What's your story from beginning scratch till the moment of your first gig as label dj? Where you disovered meanwhile playing on a party, or was it a hard way up?
Nowadays i go on parties to hear label dj's, because they promote the music of their label. Usually these guys do know what they are doing and how the groove the floor. they deserve the trust and support of a label. but sometimes i have to witness real poor performance by "pro-dj's" ... the least i expect is correct beat matching!!
i'm interested to hear some stories.
For non-dj's and normal mortals: are you convinced by the mixing style and skills by signed dj's you've heard on parties? got any experience to share?
  www.frakasoundrecords.com
fraka is a state of mind |
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Zombi
IsraTrance Senior Member
Started Topics :
375
Posts :
5032
Posted : Oct 10, 2005 10:18
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when i started to mix at bedroom and later when i got few first gigs i went directly to only local label that dealed with music that been close to style i played (prog trance - domo rec) and as i was weak dj i offered my free help in anything label need (party arranging, distribution, stalls-shops, etc) after a while i got my first residence and my style changed to much more progressive forward thinking music, more "open" style.. this was allready prety far from label ideology but since seems i showed serious attidute guys decided to go with it and opened sub label which i was menager of.. after a while labels were separated and now vp rec is independence and im looking for label djs hehe .. but meanwhile all guys that i talked with mainly asking me where i can offer them gigs and alike, even before they played once as label dj.
Believe your soul ! |
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raider
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
22
Posts :
491
Posted : Oct 10, 2005 10:33
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Can only speak for myself.
I was asked a couple of days after a gig I was DJ'ing at in Denmark feat. label-owner Absolum (3D Vision Records), if I was interested in representing the label and looking out for new artists. This automatically made me a label-DJ, which is a huge honour for a guy like me and I'm very proud of it. Before that, I was a label-DJ at a less-serious label (AlphaLab Records), which was my first assigned label. I've been DJ'ing at gigs for about 2 years now - as bedroom-DJ; a year using only vinyl.
But I do think that being a label-DJ doesn't automatically make you a good DJ. I've heard a dozen of label-DJs that's not up for the task, and I firmly believe many DJs gets signed because they have releases on the label, and not because they're good dedicated DJs. But don't get me wrong, there are good label-DJs. DJ Lucas from TIP World to mention an example.
That aside, if you're an artist and you think you're up for the 3D Vision-sound, do write me a mail (djraider@gmail.com) and I'll take a listen to your track(s).
LABEL-DJ @ 3D VISION RECORDINGS | www.myspace.com/djraider | www.myspace.com/3dvisionrecordings |
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Krell
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
33
Posts :
1114
Posted : Oct 10, 2005 20:22
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Both Jester & Virus Tekk records posted topics here on isratrance that they were looking for label djs / djs to represent their labels.
I decided to contact both of them, and I was "signed" after presenting them both with demo/promo DJ sets and telling them a bit about what I have been doing in the psy scene to date.
For me, a label is what the name implies - A brand of quality & Style. If you listen to an artist from a certain label, you expect a certain degree of quality & style.
After I got signed, I decided to try and help out as best I could - So, I have been more interested in offering whatever skills I have, besides DJing, that can be of any help to the labels.
For me, its important to be able to spin all the genres I want to as a label dj. The labels Im signed to make that possible.
I think, its a natural step to get more involved with labels as a DJ, especially if you are not doing production yourself, but really only DJ like me.
Best Wishes
Krell
Label DJ>
www.jesterrecords.ca |
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volvox box
Inactive User
Started Topics :
13
Posts :
410
Posted : Oct 11, 2005 01:04
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I know some friends who did an ass licking. |
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Troll@CrackWhoreModels
IsraTrance Analyst Member
Started Topics :
558
Posts :
2135
Posted : Oct 11, 2005 04:23
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What makes 100%?
What does it mean to give MORE that 100%?
Ever wonder about those people who say they are giving more than 100%?
We have all been to those meetings where someone wants you to give over 100%.
How about achieving 103%?
What makes up 100% in life?
Here's a little mathematical formula that might help you answer these
Questions:
If:
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Is represented as:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26.
Then:
H-A-R-D-W-O-R-K
8+1+18+4+23+15+18+11 = 98%
and,
K-N-O-W-L-E-D-G-E
11+14+15+23+12+5+4+7+5 = 96%
But,
A-T-T-I-T-U-D-E
1+20+20+9+20+21+4+5 = 100%
And,
B-U-L-L-S-H-I-T
2+21+12+12+19+8+9+20 = 103%
AND, look how far ass kissing will take you.
A-S-S-K-I-S-S-I-N-G
1+19+19+11+9+19+19+9+14+7 = 127%
So, one can then conclude with mathematical certainty
that while Hard Work and Knowledge will get you close,
and Attitude will get you there, Bullshit and Ass Kissing
will put you over the top
www.myspace.com/trollatcrackwhoremodels
www.myspace.com/crackwhoremodels
www.myspace.com/cwmdeco |
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a3k
IsraTrance Team
Started Topics :
269
Posts :
7826
Posted : Oct 11, 2005 18:28
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EYB
Noized
Started Topics :
111
Posts :
2849
Posted : Oct 11, 2005 19:48
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Quote:
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On 2005-10-11 04:23, Troll@CrackWhoreModels wrote:
What makes 100%?
What does it mean to give MORE that 100%?
Ever wonder about those people who say they are giving more than 100%?
We have all been to those meetings where someone wants you to give over 100%.
How about achieving 103%?
What makes up 100% in life?
Here's a little mathematical formula that might help you answer these
Questions:
If:
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Is represented as:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26.
Then:
H-A-R-D-W-O-R-K
8+1+18+4+23+15+18+11 = 98%
and,
K-N-O-W-L-E-D-G-E
11+14+15+23+12+5+4+7+5 = 96%
But,
A-T-T-I-T-U-D-E
1+20+20+9+20+21+4+5 = 100%
And,
B-U-L-L-S-H-I-T
2+21+12+12+19+8+9+20 = 103%
AND, look how far ass kissing will take you.
A-S-S-K-I-S-S-I-N-G
1+19+19+11+9+19+19+9+14+7 = 127%
So, one can then conclude with mathematical certainty
that while Hard Work and Knowledge will get you close,
and Attitude will get you there, Bullshit and Ass Kissing
will put you over the top
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Very 
Signature |
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Braindrop
Braindrop
Started Topics :
140
Posts :
1730
Posted : Oct 11, 2005 21:16
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so..the whole thing goes like...u gotta approach the label....and if they lik ur style they'll keep u
BOOM!
www.braindrop.in |
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T-Ground / llazi
Started Topics :
3
Posts :
9
Posted : Oct 15, 2005 13:14
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Well, I think you've allready got the concept now.
The most important thing is representing the labels concept and promoting/advertising it's releases through your sets and party's.
The nest important thing it's the tracks you play, they must be of course within the labels concept or the best case would be you playing the labels signed tracks.
The last one is the dj mixin skill, which is quite important for your performance, but in my opinion less important then the other points,
which brings us to my case, got the first 2 but not the 3 (i'm honest . But that was more then enough to get me signed under the Planet B.E.N. records which was looking for new dj's representing their label..
www.tiranaunderground.com
The one and only Albanian Electronic Party Crew |
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Krell
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
33
Posts :
1114
Posted : Oct 15, 2005 13:39
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@T-Ground / llazi
I think, it all also depends a lot on the label. I have total freedom to play whatever I want to, since both labels have confidence in me that I will spin quality no matter what.
What music I spin, depends on the lineup and the nature of the event.
Also, in my case, I believe both mixing skills + trackselection were very important since I had to deliver demos documenting those abilities.
So basicly, different labels sign DJs for different reasons. In the end, its about the values within the label...
If a label has a focus on Djing or musical diversity, those things will be important for them to see in a DJ who is supposed to represent the label.
If promotion, marketing and networking is important to the label - They will look for that. (those things came last with me, and I suggested them myself, after getting signed).
Best Wishes
Krell
Label DJ>
www.jesterrecords.ca |
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orange
Fat Data
Started Topics :
154
Posts :
3918
Posted : Oct 15, 2005 19:53
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Quote:
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On 2005-10-11 19:48, EYB wrote:
Quote:
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On 2005-10-11 04:23, Troll@CrackWhoreModels wrote:
What makes 100%?
What does it mean to give MORE that 100%?
Ever wonder about those people who say they are giving more than 100%?
We have all been to those meetings where someone wants you to give over 100%.
How about achieving 103%?
What makes up 100% in life?
Here's a little mathematical formula that might help you answer these
Questions:
If:
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Is represented as:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26.
Then:
H-A-R-D-W-O-R-K
8+1+18+4+23+15+18+11 = 98%
and,
K-N-O-W-L-E-D-G-E
11+14+15+23+12+5+4+7+5 = 96%
But,
A-T-T-I-T-U-D-E
1+20+20+9+20+21+4+5 = 100%
And,
B-U-L-L-S-H-I-T
2+21+12+12+19+8+9+20 = 103%
AND, look how far ass kissing will take you.
A-S-S-K-I-S-S-I-N-G
1+19+19+11+9+19+19+9+14+7 = 127%
So, one can then conclude with mathematical certainty
that while Hard Work and Knowledge will get you close,
and Attitude will get you there, Bullshit and Ass Kissing
will put you over the top
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Very
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moohahahhaa!!! 
well said
orange
http://www.landmark-recordings.com/
http://soundcloud.com/kymamusic |
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DWH
Started Topics :
2
Posts :
52
Posted : Oct 16, 2005 11:45
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Quote:
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On 2005-10-11 04:23, Troll@CrackWhoreModels wrote:
So, one can then conclude with mathematical certainty
that while Hard Work and Knowledge will get you close,
and Attitude will get you there, Bullshit and Ass Kissing
will put you over the top
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Mathematics never lies, so it has to be true. |
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Basilisk
IsraTrance Full Member
Started Topics :
168
Posts :
2984
Posted : Feb 8, 2006 19:20
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Is it just me or is this trend heating up?
The new top ten system on Isratrance even requires that a DJ be "signed" to submit their list:
http://forum.isratrance.com/viewtopic.php/topic/73858/forum/8
Are we moving into a situation where no one respects the independant DJs any more? Is it going to be assumed that anyone without an affiliation isn't any good or simply can't get one?
Right now I'm remaining independant because there is no label out there with any close to the diversity of sound that I play out... it wouldn't make sense if I were "signed" to a progressive label for those gigs where I play 150bpm psycore, and vice versa. Is an affiliation restrictive, or are most DJs specialists in a particular sound? I'm also concerned with the scene turning into a house of mirrors, where everyone has a stake in this or that, and the focus on quality music becomes lost in a seething tide of marketing strategies. I think I could grow to enjoy my position as a skilled independant DJ and outspoken activist. I suppose it's why I'm asking some of these questions your thoughts?
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Krell
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
33
Posts :
1114
Posted : Feb 8, 2006 20:15
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Quote:
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On 2006-02-08 19:20, basilisk wrote:
Is it just me or is this trend heating up?
The new top ten system on Isratrance even requires that a DJ be "signed" to submit their list:
http://forum.isratrance.com/viewtopic.php/topic/73858/forum/8
Are we moving into a situation where no one respects the independant DJs any more? Is it going to be assumed that anyone without an affiliation isn't any good or simply can't get one?
Right now I'm remaining independant because there is no label out there with any close to the diversity of sound that I play out... it wouldn't make sense if I were "signed" to a progressive label for those gigs where I play 150bpm psycore, and vice versa. Is an affiliation restrictive, or are most DJs specialists in a particular sound? I'm also concerned with the scene turning into a house of mirrors, where everyone has a stake in this or that, and the focus on quality music becomes lost in a seething tide of marketing strategies. I think I could grow to enjoy my position as a skilled independant DJ and outspoken activist. I suppose it's why I'm asking some of these questions your thoughts?
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Being signed to a label in no way makes you a better DJ - Thats for sure.
And, when letting that label dictate what you spin, instead of your heart, then it will have the opposite effect.
Im guessing labels are different, some let their DJs play whatever they want, some dont. What it boils down to is the demands/restrictions (good or bad) they impose on their label djs.
Im affraid you are very right in your argument, however, I can also say for sure that unless you are signed to a HUGE and WELL KNOWN label the affiliation doesnt carry that much weight out there in the real world.
After all, there are plenty of labels outthere.
So, you need to focus on your own name foremost in regards to promotion.
If you are to get bookings just from being a label DJ, you need that label to be something pretty big unless you are getting booked for a crappy party by a crappy organizer.
Best Wishes
Krell
Label DJ>
www.jesterrecords.ca |
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