> Alternatively, you can spend 10 years in your bedroom learning how to be a really good music producer and hope some popular DJ signs your single and then gradually build a following and then maybe in five more years you might make what a junior sysadmin makes.

Or you could become a junior sysadmin right from the start and treat music production as a hobby with no intention of turning it into a career. Although, I have a feeling many young people wouldn't listen to advice like that.

> Or you could become a junior sysadmin right from the start and treat music production as a hobby with no intention of turning it into a career.

I know a couple of people who did just that. ;-)

I was slightly shocked how much money they invested in synthesizers and other equipment, but it was clear they did this for the fun without any intention to make a living from it. And other people have expensive hobbies, too.

Incidentally, most of them were actually sysadmins or programmers. ;-)

Yep, did just that: http://i.imgur.com/FYT3mKy.png

> I was slightly shocked how much money they invested in synthesizers and other equipment, but it was clear they did this for the fun without any intention to make a living from it. And other people have expensive hobbies, too.

I have a friend who fixes up old cars (old Chevys, etc... from '50s - '60s)

My rule of thumb is to spend less than he is each year :P

Meh, it's worked for me: http://i.imgur.com/FYT3mKy.png

(DevOps actually, but you're in the ballpark ;) )

It's common knowledge IMHO that you generally need to market yourself to get gigs. There's often lack of understanding of how to become a good marketer though.

Simply getting a checklist of things to do isn't enough. Understanding the science behind influencing others goes a lot further than sticking to a checklist without the understanding of why those things are on the list to begin with.

I'd even argue that spamming social media doesn't even work anymore. Use the time to build relationships and do favors for others, and many will help you out in turn.

I studied Music Technology at university where I picked up DJing and did fairly well (for a student) out of it (I.e. regular paid gigs, invited to play one off events).

It's a really, really tough industry. The only way to get a gig is become friends with another DJ, promoter or venue owner who's naturally adverse to inviting someone they barely know to come and play their night. The alternative is to throw your own night, but that's a whole different world of stress.

However, the moment when you play a track to a crowd of a few hundred people where you don't know how they will react is one I cherish, and even more so when the room lights up and they all lose it. It made me feel ecstatic.

Now I'm a happy software developer for a big bank who writes dance music on the side, but I'd give anything to have that experience again.

I'm right there with you. I don't care how good you are at programming, you are never going to have people jumping down and screaming about it. I miss those days so much.

> The way you get gigs is to be popular. You need to go clubbing every weekend. You need to go to after parties. You need to promote on social media. You need to throw your own parties and book other DJ's so they'll book you at theirs.

This is spot on advice for anyone who seriously wants to make DJing (or live music in general) their career. Anything less than the above, at fulltime commitment, and at best you'll have a nice side gig residency at a local club (for free drinks / entry for your girlfriend and maybe a couple mates).

Don't read parent's post as bitter or negative, but a realistic view of the level of commitment in specific areas required to DJ professionally.

Its no different to us picking apart articles that give an overview of web development, for over simplifying the process of launching a successful web app. He's basically saying sure, you _can_ learn to code as a hobby, maybe even execute your idea with a level of quality on par or better than competitors, but to actually take off, you need to do all the marketing, support, maintenance and other pieces.

> I was a rave DJ in the early 2000s and opened for some of the most popular DJ's in the world at sold out clubs

I don't think this was exaggeration or bragging, and I believe it without any real scepticism. I've got friends who've done similar for our more obscure music scenes, largely due to living local to a major city, and regular offers to play for free on off nights at clubs we frequently go to anyway. (promising to bring a social group of a dozen can literally double the crowd size of the first half of a Wednesday night)

(that, and his name is probably a reference to this sexy bit of kit: http://www.juno.co.uk/products/rane-empath-rotary-10-dj-mixe... good taste, man!)

The problem with gigs being tied to popularity is as soon as you take your foot off the gas, you're overshadowed by all the new acts fighting for your spot. A lot of acts fall off the map just taking the time away to produce their next release, and struggle to re-enter the scene, I think that's the biggest negative.

> you might make what a junior sysadmin makes.

seriously ... don't you do djing because of the chicks?

I'd like to add company celebrations to the ways to make a living.