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Photos courtesy DJ Ladyhouse

You are a female DJ. You are independent and booking your own gigs. How do you handle it so that you are assured of a legitimate booking, especially across international borders? If you are one of the fortunate artists to have a manager and/or booking agent, then you already have someone sorting out the logistics and details of your gigs for you. It can involve a lot of work, writing up contracts, riders, negotiating fees and making travel arrangements, and that’s not including the long distance calls. The most important things to keep in mind are: establishing a professional repore, references, safety, and contracts.

Karlyn Neel, aka DJ LadyHouse of San Francisco, Californa, recently toured in Lima, Peru. She secured the booking and made all arrangements herself for a 12-day stay.

S: How did you and the promoter make initial contact?

L: The promoter contacted me from my website

S: What were some of the questions that you asked as criteria so you could establish a basis of trust?

L: The websites of the promoter and the club, previous djs booked…A resident dj also contacted me who was born in Peru and grew up in America. John Early from San Francisco had also recently played there so I felt comfortable that a dj from my own city had recently gone there before me.

S: What factors weighed in deciding your fees?

L: Capacity of venue, if event had sponsorship, if I was headlining, how long I would be in Peru. It varies gig by gig.

S: What resources did you use to write your contract and rider?

L: I use one of the contracts on SisterSF (the long contract) and have adopted it to be my own along with a dj rider I have written after studying others.

S: All told, how much time did you spend negotiating your gigs?

L: Probably one to two hours at least.

S: What precautions did you take before your trip?

L: Informed everyone (parents, roommate, friends) where I was playing, staying. Got information where and how to reach the American Consulate.

S: When you arrived, how did they welcome you and escort you to your hotel?

L: When I arrived, I had a chauffer to pick me up at my gate at the airport and take me first to the promoter’s office and then to the hotel.

S: What was the crowd and scene like in Lima?

L: From what I saw, the crowd in Lima was much younger than my own city (San Francisco) and younger than Cuzco, the other city I visited in Peru.

S: Playing in a completely fresh scene, how did that affect your track selection and programming? Did you find your style influenced by the crowd, other DJs, etc?

L: I brought records that were me (and my style). I play a sound that is very pumping/jackin’ Chicago house meets funky San Francisco house that is very tech inspired. All the resident djs in Peru play Cds only and play very progressive with an electro tip. A lot of builds and releases. So it was a bit challenging to fuse in with that sound but due to the energy I bring behind the decks, I was able to keep the crowd. I was glad to bring a different sound to Peru and hopefully educate the people about different music and different sounds.
In terms of my programming, I had to totally change things up because I usually take my set from a lower BPM/lower energy level and build. In Peru, I had to go from a progressive sound so I started off very tech & tribally and took it to many different sounds.
I would say I was influenced a bit by the music. Before my trip, I had been listening to a lot of records online that had an electro sound but distinguished by dirty synths and pumping basslines. I don’t like electro when it is too slow and druggy nor when it is hard house, and it seems like everyone is playing one of those two styles today. So after hearing more of that sound in Peru, I’ve incorporated some of that sound into my set trying to find records that are very different than the typical electro infusion you find today.

S: How did the DJ set up and sound system compare to other clubs you’ve played at?

L: Pretty comparable. The only thing I noticed is that they don’t maintain the turntables as much since most residents don’t use them. I had problems with the tone arms in the peak hour of the night all which could have been prevented with a proper sound check. I’ll definitely be bringing more CDs next time.

S: What genres/styles of music were most popular there?

L: Progressive house and hard house with lots of electro sounds

S: How late do the clubs run? Is there an after-hours or day party scene?

The clubs run until 6am. I did not go to any after hours or day parties but played at a beach club (club on beach with open ceiling).

S: Since you were there for 12 days, how many were spent DJ’ing vs. sightseeing? Did you have someone to show you around everyday, or did you go off on your own at times?

L: I was very fortunate that I got to take 4 days to go see Machu Picchu in Peru. I played the first Wednesday and was supposed to play the following Friday, however, the headlining dj for Friday that same week, lost his passport, so I performed both Fridays. I spent the weekend on an island at the beach home of the promoter and his family. The families have owned the homes on the island for generations, so I really got to experience the closeness of Peruvian families. After the weekend, I flew to Cuzco from Lima so I could see the Inca cities and ruins. It was an amazing experience. I am so thankful I got to see the sites I did. And music brought me there!

The promoter took very good care of me in Peru and that I got to experience his country. (Thank you Jaime!) I was on my own on my side trip to Cuzco.

S: Describe some of the sights you saw, and any adventures you experienced.

L: I would say my most special days were my gig at Medi Beach Club playing for thousands with the night sky in Peru. That was an amazing experience. And then the whole day to my trip to Machu Picchu. The train ride through the country from Cuzco to Machu Picchu along the Apurimac, one of the largest rivers in the world was amazing. The Andes Mountains were like something you see in Jurrasic Park. I spent the day exploring the city on top of the mountain and even made friends with a baby llama. It is something I will never forget.

S: What is on the horizon for you?

L: Many things simultaneously as always. I want to continue to evolve my sound as a dj and to create new innovative sounds as a producer. I am putting the final touches on turning Femme Djs into a booking agency.

S: Red or Pink?

L: Pink

S: Sneakers or Stilettos?

L: Stilettos

S: Please fill in the next 2 sentences:

S: I never thought I would. . .

L: . . . make beats

S: I’m at my best when I . . .

L: . . . have great energy

S: What advice do you wish you had when starting out?

L: me.

S: Any advice you would like to give to the ladies starting a DJ career?

L: I actually get many emails and messages quite frequently from ladies asking for advice. I always try to give back to my community and I know how hard it can be starting out in this business. I always assure them that the frustration they will go through (the learning, the politics, the failures), we all go through it, and to forge through those hard times. And how far you go in this business & the respect you earn is all based upon how bad you want it, how hard you work and what’s in your heart.