From A DJ's Perspective

[unsignedhype.org]

Artists and deejays have the ultimate love/hate relationship despite the face that each one's existence often depends on the other. DJ Carmine, host of Nashville's "The Late Nite Show" discusses the most annoying things artists do from a DJs perspective, his part inbridging the gap between the game's most adversarial players.

unsignedhype.org: Why artists shouldn't approach dj in the club and expect their song to be played on the spot?

DJ Carmine: If a DJ is not doing an event that's catered towards artists, then the artists should definitely not approach the dj trying to get their song played. A lot of us have our sets planned out or at least the vibe planned out. If we don't know your song, how would we know where to put it in our mixes? I am the type that hand-picks every song that I play as I know that it will/should entertain the crowd based off me hearing the song before. I have never heard your song before, so I don't know if it will entertain my crowd or clear my dance floor, which puts me at risk of being asked to never come back there to dj. I'm not losing my job for you. Lastly, I am WORKING. I cannot stop working to try to have an on the spot meeting with you. Ask for a card and contact the dj via email or fb to even see if they are willing to give you a shot or are they even in the position to play your stuff. If a dj plays at dance clubs and you make trap rap, then most likely, he is not in a position to even play your music.

unsignedhype.org: What is the role of the dj on commericial radio and what, if any power he/she has over what is aired?

DJ Carmine: The role of many djs on commercial radio stations is simply to play what is sent to them from the program directors. And what the program directors get is from their bosses. Mostly, these entities work with major record labels. However, if you have a hit song that is big in the local area, then you have a bigger chance of getting your song into rotation. But you really have to be big locally and regionally. I'm talking you have to have it to where the average person in the local market is requesting your song more than they are the mainstream acts. There has to be a REAL and substantial demand for your music(or even just you as an artist) to even begin to get some spins on a commercial station. Unfortunately, there are thousands of other artists in your area and all of you are competing with artists who have a budget of millions of dollars.

unsignedhype.org: Mixtapes? Necessary or Not?

DJ Carmine: Mixtapes may be necessary to a certain extent, but it is not to substitute for an LP or EP.

unsignedhype.org: Realistically, how should an artist approach a dj (radio, club, street)?

DJ Carmine: Be professional and polite. Just because you are a rapper doesn't mean you aren't in the music BUSINESS. No matter how your performance is, you still need to have a professional approach. Nobody likes to be spammed. Keep in mind the hierarchy. Don't just think you can go to the most popular club and radio djs and that's how you are gonna get your stuff played. There are street djs who they announce that they are specifically looking for local talent and some of them will play your stuff no matter what. If your stuff picks up substantial fan buzz, then start approaching some of the club djs, but only if you have a dance club song. Introduce yourself to them professionally. Maybe you can invite them to a performance of yours. If they decline, then move on to the next dj. But you have to convince the dj that your song can help their sets, and you have to not be overbearing. Also, the buzz is important. If I have heard of you, I might be more interested in checking you out even if I don't know you personally.

unsignedhype.org: How can an artist stand out and really get a djs attention and what is a total turnoff?

DJ Carmine: How can one stand out? Be original. Don't think that you can make the same stuff as Lil Wayne or Gucci Mane because that's what people like. Actually have some real passion and hard work in this, and not just being extra emotional. Even after you have some good content, make sure your work is quality. You can't turn in an essay on handwritten notebook paper. Presentation is key. Have your songs properly mixed and mastered by a professional, if you want other professionals to play you and help get your music out there. Have a good performance as well. Keep working on your performance. As an up and coming artist, you have to have a better stage performance than mainstream artists. The reason most of the mainstream artists even got to where they are now is because they had good music and an even better stage performance. A turnoff is crying, whining, and complaining all the time. Nobody in any business gets any progress like that, and that includes artists and musicians. And stop doing the whole "local beef" thing. It looks childish, and no professionals will want to deal with that.

Ultimately, realize that there are many types of djs. Example, a wedding dj will be of no help for getting your new song out there. A club dj, maybe, but not so much. A street dj or someone who does open mic type stuff will be helpful. There are djs who even have whole mixtapes dedicated to local artists, make sure you make a good connection with them first. Do your research and treat this like a professional business, and others will do the same.

Visit DJ Carmine at www.thedjcarmine.com; and www.djcarmineonline.com
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on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/DJCarmine87; and on Twitter @TheDJCarmine