Few questions about DJ'ing.

So I was interested in becoming a dj - just playing music I already have on my computer - not talking or anything.

I already have a server where I can host my music and I just had a few questions. (if anyone has a noob guide to DJing it'd be perfect)

1) Are most clubs willing to hire a DJ that only plays music (no talking or scratching).

2) On avergae how much does a DJ make per hr.

3) Besides the server costs, does anything else cost $$?

Any help is appreciated. Thanks!

Hi LK, welcome to the addiction known as Djing hehe.

As far as clubs and no talking on air goes, in my expierence they prefer djs who interact with the crowd. I would ask the club when you approach them or when they come to you and it is probably something you want to let them know upfront.

As far as how much a Dj makes per hour, I am clueless on this, im with a station that charges X amount of dollars per hour and then the dj keeps what ever tips they earn. Tips depend on how good of a Dj you are, crowd size, music, alot of things.

Other then server costs, you could register your station with a royalty company like loudcity.com to make it legit and pay royalties. It is hard sometimes to predict what royalty costs would be each month.

Hope this helps

~Stormy

Thanks for the info. I have a dedicated server with SSH access and I have no idea on how to install the software. Do you (or anybody else) happen to know how to do this? Tried searching, but no luck.

Hey LK,

thanks for connecting with me inworld. I'd be happy to help you get set up.. I also have a notecard for you to set yourself up. I'll be free Monday 12/11 if you're around, we'll get you goin.

To initially start... download winamp at winamp.com
then download the shoutcast dsp plugin at shoutcast.com

if you're on mac, download nicecast

there's more advanced programs, but what I listed above is the basic program that will broadcast sound from your computer outward.

1) Are most clubs willing to hire a DJ that only plays music (no talking or scratching).
Most DJs in SL are not using DJ equipment, they are playlisting with a program. A small handful use equipment... so no club is expecting scratching.
Most clubs do however want the DJ to talk. Personally, when i started DJing in SL, I didn't want to talk either, I just wanted to play music. But I found out quickly that talking is definitely beneficial and really really needed for a SL DJ. You don't have to talk much, you don't have to name every song you play... the bare minimum is a welcome message to the crowd when you start, a few 'hope everyone is having a good time', a few thanks to the host and staff, and a thanks i had a good time DJing. It's also good to ask for tips once or twice. I think you'll find as you begin DJing in SL, you'll want to talk on the mic.

2) On avergae how much does a DJ make per hr.
...some club owners don't pay. some do. Any time you DJ you can make tips though.
I'd recommend getting your feet wet first and not immediately asking for money. I think the best time to start charging for your services is when you're comfortable DJing, when your DJ schedule is starting to get filled to the point where the free shows are getting bumped away by the paying ones, ... and also once you start getting requested to DJ.
Basically, charge when you're tailoring to the client... If you have to play what the owner wants, and have to commit to a set weekly, then you may want to consider charging.
average pay + tips is around $500L - $3000L

3) Besides the server costs, does anything else cost $$? Nothing else that is a necessity. But suplimental costs may be advertising, inworld equipment, forming a fan group, and other small odds and ends.