DJ'ing in New York City

[henrikdk]

I'm seriously considering moving to NYC for 6 months, and work as DJ.

But before deciding I need to know some more information about DJing in NYC.

I've been a Club DJ in the second biggest city of Denmark (Scandinavia, Europe) for 10 years now. I get paid from $5-600/night (5-6 hours). That's before taxes (which is 40% in DK). This salary is in the top of the scale when you're not famous. At my residencies the music profile varies which means I play music of:

House, R'N'B/Hip Hop/Old School, Top20, Rare Grooves, Breaks, Re-edits, Bootlegs... Which pretty much makes me a mainstream DJ, eventhough I would say I'm strongest in House music which is my great passion.

First of all all, I've heard that it's very difficult to get a Green Card, especially if I'm not related to an employer throughout the entire stay.

This makes me dependent on payment without tax authorities' knowledge or "under the table".

When this is said, I would like to know:

- Is it normal in NYC to get paid "under the table"?

- What's the level of a DJ salary in NYC?

- What are the chances of finding DJ gigs in NYC?

- This is the first forum in which I ask these questions.

If this is the wrong place to post this, which should go to?

With some help from users in this forum or other places, I could imagine that I would correspond with some contacts and maybe send mixed CDs/DJ sets, in order to get gigs, or hopefully residencies in NYC.

I hope you can help, and I will look forward to read your replies.

/Henrik

[xxboxx]

- Is it normal in NYC to get paid "under the table"?

- What's the level of a DJ salary in NYC?

- What are the chances of finding DJ gigs in NYC?

- This is the first forum in which I ask these questions.

If this is the wrong place to post this, which should go to?

1) Yes, its actually 90% more common than "being on the books".

2) 200 a night for your average bar/lounge

3) Slim to none at a decent club (at least "steady" residencies)

[velvetrope]

I'm seriously considering moving to NYC for 6 months, and work as DJ.

But before deciding I need to know some more information about DJing in NYC.

I've been a Club DJ in the second biggest city of Denmark (Scandinavia, Europe) for 10 years now. I get paid from $5-600/night (5-6 hours). That's before taxes (which is 40% in DK). This salary is in the top of the scale when you're not famous. At my residencies the music profile varies which means I play music of:

House, R'N'B/Hip Hop/Old School, Top20, Rare Grooves, Breaks, Re-edits, Bootlegs... Which pretty much makes me a mainstream DJ, eventhough I would say I'm strongest in House music which is my great passion.

First of all all, I've heard that it's very difficult to get a Green Card, especially if I'm not related to an employer throughout the entire stay.

This makes me dependent on payment without tax authorities' knowledge or "under the table".

When this is said, I would like to know:

- Is it normal in NYC to get paid "under the table"?

- What's the level of a DJ salary in NYC?

- What are the chances of finding DJ gigs in NYC?

- This is the first forum in which I ask these questions.

If this is the wrong place to post this, which should go to?

With some help from users in this forum or other places, I could imagine that I would correspond with some contacts and maybe send mixed CDs/DJ sets, in order to get gigs, or hopefully residencies in NYC.

I hope you can help, and I will look forward to read your replies.

/Henrik

bro if you really want to dj in the US, new york is not a place to start out with. i would say NYC is probally the hardest city to get a gig unless you know about 500 people that will come out and support you each night. try philly, boston or down in the southern states somewhere, lol good luck

Z

[growinupjersey]

The nyc club scene is a dirty and ruthless business.

[£ddie]

First of all all, I've heard that it's very difficult to get a Green Card, especially if I'm not related to an employer throughout the entire stay.

This makes me dependent on payment without tax authorities' knowledge or "under the table".

The city like someone mentioned is not really the best place to make a name for oneself, because of the sheer number of DJs in New York and the competition. You'll be relegated to playing small places and not getting paid much unless you happen to be good enough that someone catches notice, or you hook up with the right people. If you have a web site with mixes, that may be one way to promote yourself. Promoting yourself in New York City if no one has never heard of you is not the easiest thing to do (certainly not impossible, but difficult nonetheless). Bottom line is you'll have to do serious hustling with absolutely no guarantee of success.

Practically speaking, just appreciate that because of the U.S. immigration laws, if you are found working here illegally, you could receive a long term or permanent ban from entering the states again. The U.S. does a shitty job of tracking illegal workers, but I have seen it on more than one occasion, especially now with America's xenophobic attitude against foreigners. The new bill passed by the House would also make illegal immigration a felony (assuming it's passed by Congress and signed into law by Bush), which attaches criminal penalties to being here illegally, in addition to deportation.

Why don't you look to do more gigs in Europe outside of Denmark? Because of EU laws, it's so much easier. Getting exposure in places like London, Barcelona, Madrid, Holland etc. could (if you're good enough) increase your profile.

Good luck.

[henrikdk]

My considerations of why I want to move to NYC for 6 months is, I have a friend who's moving there also, and it would be a great experince together. If we're going I would apply for extended tourist visa, and not illegally immigrate, but I would have to work illegally though.

In Denmark clubs are usually open thursdays, fridays and saturdays. But in NYC I'm sure clubs have open 7 days a week, which makes it easier to make it a living, eventhough the salary is modest.

Regarding salary I've heard, that it's common in NYC, that DJs only play sets of 1-2 hours, because a typical club night has multiple DJs as line up for an evening. In Denmark ther's often only 1 DJ, who plays 5-6 hours. This of course justifies the lower salaries, if this is true!?

My motive for going to NYC and make a living is not to "break through" and become a star DJ. The city already has many famous DJs that you can't compete with. And I certainly don't expect residencies at Crobar, Cielo, Avalon or Pacha

I was more hoping that there were several smaller Clubs with opportunities for me to hooke up with. The most important thing is, to be able to make a living out of DJ'ing.

I'm quite surprised to hear of the roughness and competition, mostly because when I vistited NYC (may 2005) I felt the mentality was very openminded, helpfull and networking-minded in general. But it doesn't sound like it goes for DJ business.

One more thing. I'm also curious of how the skill level is amongst DJs, when you're not necessarily playing in big (famous) clubs.

I have an experience from when I was in NYC. I was at Avalon, downstairs main floor Tall Paul was playing, upstairs (the R'N'B/Hip Hop room), this DJ was playing, I admit that he played some great tracks which is the most important, but he didn't mix them creatively together, mostly just cutting. When I went to the DJ booth I noticed, that he wasn't using the turntables (They were off and the cover down). He had a lot of burned CDs. I would think that, in a big club like Avalon, the "RNB/Hip Hop" DJ would use at least some vinyl, and with that amount of burned CDs, I thought maybe he is a noob - eventhough the choice of music was good, and he held a great party, that of course justifies he's residency there. I just think of newly started DJs when I see "no vinyls" and lots of burned CDs.

That's also partly why I assumed that there's possibly (smaller) clubs for me to hooke up with.

A website with streaming mixes is a great idea to promote oneself. But connections/networking is also necessary, which is why I turned to this Forum.

Doesn't this change the perspective? A bit?

[silverbull]

i agree 100% that if your a dj you should own some vinyl and also seek out classics and bring some to a gig. Good luck with your aspirations it is very hard especillay in a city where there are tons of great djs who arent even playing this city as often as they should but make a killing over seas.

[maxpetersky]

Henrik, your chances of becoming a New York house music legend have nothing at all to do with your skills. Look at our Pacha club: whenever local DJs are spinning, they are either playing to a completely empty floor or a club half-full of drugged up Asians who don't speak English. Even though the music's always very good.

If you really want to make it here, you need to address the biggest problem house music in NYC faces today: that there are very few girls at house parties. If you can manage to pack a club full of hot girls - you'll be famous. That's how JP and Boris made it

So I suggest you lease one of those new super-jumbo 380 series Airbuses, pack it full of Dutch women (make sure everyone is tall, slim, blonde, 34C or bigger with cute butts) and fly right over. And I hope they give you residency @ Spirit, 'cuz it's a fucking shame that the best big room club with a kick ass sound system like they have goes to such a waste. Besides - that would show Made Events - there are never girls at their parties

[ghhhhhost]

i was at Lawler with ur mom last sunday

[soj]

beibng a DJ is NYC that is "mainstream" is not as tough if you are strictly house. NYC has 1000000 lounges and small clubs. If you play mainstream, there are a lot more opportunities.

[henrikdk]

beibng a DJ is NYC that is "mainstream" is not as tough if you are strictly house. NYC has 1000000 lounges and small clubs. If you play mainstream, there are a lot more opportunities.

Yeeeeeaaaahhhh!!! Finally an optimistic point of view.

I was beginning to get worried.

If I go, I am determined to make my living as DJ during the 6 months.

Of course I would have to settle with mainstream gigs, if the competition is so hard for house gigs.

Please say some more...

[bella53081]

wow good luck with coming over to new york.....i myself knew a few djs trying to make it in new york, and its tough. they djed in a small lounge that had just opened and i was promoting for them, and they did alright but its true, you really need to know sooooo many people to bring out or its really hard. these guys i knew even paid a pr agency to promote for them....but u know, the place was just reopening after being closed for a while, so it also depends on the reputation of the place and always ur location. the place i was promoting was across the street from le souk, which has a pretty good following during the week....so a lot of people were over there instead of at our place.....needless to say, they are not djing there anymore.....and still looking.....

if you can get into a gig with a solid following at an established place that is really good. like someone said, if u are mainstream there are a lot more opportunities. it really is all in who u know and the promoters you can hook up with...and if u can dj during the week too that is going to open up ur chances too....

re the comment someone made about the women, that is really interesting. i guess it's true! ? i never thought about it, but i guess the biggest djs do bring in hot girls....but then again there are hot girls that like to see local djs too so its a toss up.....im going to try to notice this next time im out.

good luck and hope to see u djing out here in new york when u come