live DJing performances

Overview

Do 5 paid performances spinning vinyl at events.

Background

Excluduing a gap of several years when my kids were younger, I’ve been spinning vinyl records as a DJ since 1999. The gear I use are Technics SL-1200 turntables (my “decks”), and over the years I have owned, and later sold off, my decks twice. The first time to come up with money towards a down payment on my first house, and the second time selling them off because I had moved to an area where it seemed like there were no similar events happening where I’d be able to play out anymore (and I needed the money). This second time had a longer gap afterwards – nearly a decade.

During the pandemic, I decided to get back into it and picked up a pair of Technics SL-1200 MK6 turntables, the last version to still use analog circuitry. I’ve been practicing pretty regularly since then, and have played at numerous events in the region – 12 times in 2022 and 7 times in 2023 (including a few additional unplanned gigs that did not have flyers created).

The Work

The goal for this year is to get 5 paid gigs. I’m defining a “paid gig” as one where I am given some amount of money as compensation for performing. The exact amount doesn’t matter for now. Ideally these are gigs that have flyers, are promoted, etc, but that is not a strict requirement.

I chose “5” somewhat arbitrarily because the progress gauge on this site uses 5 increments to complete, but it also seems like a reasonable number to aim for.

Each set that I play involves a lot of planning, consideration about style, venue, audience, etc. Because I am format-limited to using records (physical media), I have to pack a crate (an Odyssey Krom LP60 case that I’ve had since 1999), with records that I’ll be playing that evening. There’s a whole process to this, but it’s very intentional and I put a lot of time and effort into it.

I will try to get recordings of the sets, or at least setlists of the tracks played, as well as rundowns of how the performances went.

Performances

These were all compensated in some way.

Overview

Background

The Work

Performances

Updates