Over To You: Will My Radio Mix Show Help Me Get A Club Gig?

Digital DJ Tips reader Mike writes: “Hi Phil! Recently I got the position of being the party mix DJ for a radio station. This means that I make a one-hour mix every week and they broadcast it on Saturday nights. I got this ‘job’ (let’s call it this way although I don’t receive payment for it) by sending a mix to them; they liked it, and they asked me if I want to continue.

“The question is: If I continue to make mixtapes for the radio station, will it improve my chances of getting a DJ residency at a disco? Will disco managers care at all about this, and will this be a big advantage or an insignificant one? After all, as you often say, it’s much more exciting to play music live to people and see them dancing and having fun than to just make mixtapes.”

Digital DJ Tips says:

There’s a chance for sure, but I wouldn’t think it’s a particularly big one – managers want you to bring crowds, so unless you can get on the microphone and announce that you’re playing at that venue over the air (or at least get your name mentioned lots) it won’t probably won’t sway the manager too much. But having said that, saying you’re a radio DJ will at least prove you’re technically competent.

Also, you should try and get the radio station to pay you something – your work is worth something to them, so they should be giving you some of that. At least then the radio station job would be worthwhile on its own merits, and not just as a stepping stone.

I’m going to throw this one open to our readers, though, as I’m sure we have DJs who have done or do similar things, or who can tell us about other DJs in this position.

So, over to you! Has a radio mix show helped you to get gigs? Do you know DJs with mix shows who use them to advertise their “real life” events? Please share your thoughts and experiences in the comments.