DJ Booking

DJ booking on Gigmor is fast, easy and free. It’s also one of the most efficient ways to market a business or to create a memorable party. If you run your own venue, you already know the ins and outs of this specific type of talent booking. However, if this is your first go at DJ booking it can be a confusing and time consuming process. Here are a few tips to make the experience a little easier, more fun and more creative on your part.

Create a post

If you Google “DJ booking” you’ll get thousands of results for individual DJ websites. Clicking through each one of these links, one by one, is probably the worst ways to get started. When you create a post on Gigmor you can specify exactly what genres of music you want played, how long the set should be and what your budget is. Reviewing applications is easy and you can book the right DJ with a single click. For more info on how to create a post or signup for a talent seeker account, check out our last blog post.

Listen to full mixes

Let’s say you’ve created your post and are now receiving applications from DJs in your area. How do you decide who to book? Most DJs will have at least one “DJ mix” in their music library. The mix will give you an idea of not only what kind of music they play but also how good they are at mixing songs together.

Beatmatching, or transitioning from one song to the next without any interruption to the drum beat, can be automated, so don’t be fooled by a technically competent mix. Instead, pay attention to the ‘energy’ of the whole mix. Is there a dynamic quality to the mix that would make the crowd excited at some points and more relaxed at others. Think about what kind of mood you want to set in your space and judge accordingly. 

Requests

You may or may not want your DJ to be able to take requests. Make sure you ask beforehand. If a DJ is applying to play at a private party or event, chances are they are absolutely fine with taking requests from the crowd and are most likely expecting it. Don’t take it for granted though. Some DJ’s are not prepared for requests and have taken great care in deciding what music to play. Just put in your post that you want to be able to make requests during their set, and you’ll be good to go!

Thanks for reading and let us know if you have any DJ booking tips of your own at info@gigmor.com!

How To Book Bands: Vol.1

Welcome to the first of a series of posts dedicated to helping you get the most out of your Gigmor account. We’re going to start by looking at how to book bands with your talent seeker account. Booking talent on Gigmor is easy and you have a couple of options when it comes to discovering and booking talent. You can either browse the members page and message artists that you’re interested in or you can create a gig post and receive applications from interested artists. This post will guide you through creating your first gig post.

Create a Talent Seeker account

First, you need to login to your talent seeker account. If you haven’t created a profile yet just head to the signup page and be sure to click the button that says “I’m Seeking Talent.”

Create a post

Once you are logged into your Talent Seeker account, click “Add a Post” in the upper right corner of the page or on the lower right corner of your profile card (shown below):

Next you’ll want to select what type of post you want to make. If you’re trying to book an artist for your venue or party, select “Gig.”

On the next page, you’ll enter all of the details of your gig – date, time, venue, pay etc. It’s a good idea to put the venue name, date and time in the title because it will make it easier for artists to find your gig.

Make sure you complete all of the required fields.

Once you’ve completed all the required fields, click on the “Preview post” button at the bottom of the page.

On the preview page, review all of your gig details to make sure the info you entered is correct. Finally, click on “Publish Post” and your gig post will go live!

You did it! You just created your first post on Gigmor and you are well on your way to booking a band. Next, we’ll talk about receiving artist applications and how to evaluate whether an artist is right for your gig or not.

From the archive: Host a Gig in Your Own Space

the mint la

A Homegrown Venue: The Mint LA

Los Angeles. The name itself screams success. City of Angels. City of angelic singers is more like it. LA is one of the greatest hubs in the world for newfound talent. It’s not a surprise that the city is home to some very historic venues that have hosted some of the best names in music. Let’s take a closet look at one of those venues. It’s been in operation since 1937, known for its low ceilings but high esteem: The Mint LA

the mint

History & Ambiance

Not only is this spot frequented by the greats, but it also boasts a marvelous social atmosphere. A tapas-style menu that features Asian, American and Southwestern-inspired cuisine offers a tasty experience. Couple this with the ambiance and they have themselves quite a mood. The red velvet curtains, disco ball, wooden walls and cushy booths take customers back to the decade when The Mint was opened. It’s easy to let oneself be transported back to a time when prohibition ended and people were letting loose to new and exciting sounds. Watch a video of Darren Criss covering Katy Perry’s “Teenage Dream” there. Let this candid smartphone video convey a sense of what the experience is like.

The venue might house some famous artifacts – Johnny Cash paintings, glass display cases full of souvenirs, and old vinyl on the ceiling – but the place itself radiates a historic feeling. Perhaps the most special thing about the place is its history. Every time an artist sets foot on that stage, they are standing where many before them made history. Performers carry with them the weight of LA’s music history as they perform, and the significance of the venue resonates with each note. The Mint is special because it is quintessentially “LA” – its character stems from its city; it has grown with the city and the city has grown with it. Both have experienced the city’s music scene since the 1930s, and they’ve been through a lot together.

(Above) Band Nice Enough People performing.

Today at The Mint LA

Owner Todd Christiansen feels connected to the venue in his heart and by virtue of his location.

“Established in 1937, The Mint is one of the oldest clubs in LA.  We are there for the long term, do not change our character to fit the moment,” Christiansen said. “If you like good music, tasty food and drink, excellence in sound quality in a smaller, intimate setting then The Mint is your place. To our patrons, my hope is that they feel they can leave their troubles behind, come to the club, take in some great song, food and beverage, lose themselves in the moment a bit and leave with a smile on their face.”

Look at their page on Gigmor to get a better sense of their booking schedule, and try to drop by! If not for the music, stop in for a quick bite and a social, musical experience unique to this special LA locale.