This week’s story is for every college-aged, aspiring DJ who’s trying to balance it all. That sh*t is tough. ESPECIALLY when you’re still in school. Homework? Booking gigs? Making new mixes? Producing? Where do you start…
We sat down with Francis Mercier, one of the world’s fastest-growing DJs and the Founder of Deep Root Records, to unpack it all. From growing up in Haiti, to launching his DJ career while studying at Brown University, to collaborating with artists like Blondish and Hugel and playing the Yuma tent at Coachella - Mercier shared how he did it.
TBH, we went into the conversation thinking he must have had a pretty linear path. But it turns out he took a wildly unique and strategic approach to building a name for himself. He basically “skipped the line” by throwing his own events.
At first we were like, “wait, you just threw your own events instead of trying to get booked for others!?” But once he broke down his strategy, we knew we had to write a blog post about it to share his story with you.
Francis’ journey began when he was a kid in Haiti. At the time, he didn’t have access to Spotify (AKA he didn’t have access to every song ever at his fingertips). Instead, he only had a handful of records. The bright side of not growing up with streaming music? He listened to every track VERY deeply, which sparked his interest in becoming a DJ.
Fast forward a bit, he made his way to college in Rhode Island. He spent almost every weekend commuting down to New York to put himself in the center of the house music scene. Talk about commitment.
Of course, he was eager to play at major venues in the city. But the barriers were steep. So, he decided to bet on himself and host his own parties instead of waiting in line to get booked at the venues he dreamed of. And it paid off - it set himself years ahead.
How’d he do it?
He started by securing contracts at several rooftops and clubs like Cellar Bar and Sky Room. Promoters, security, and staff followed. He basically produced the whole event.
The most brilliant part is that his events provided him with a platform to invite other talented artists and perform alongside them; artists who he would typically never be on a stage with. Talk about cutting out the middleman.
So, what can you, a budding college-aged DJ, learn from Francis’ experience?
It’s simple: start hosting your own events. Of course, we’re here to help with every step of the way, but here are a few high-level strategies you can follow to get started. And when you’re done, be sure to watch the full 28-minute interview with Francis (linked at the bottom of the article). Here’s a sneak preview though:
Okay now for the tips:
Start by researching local venues that could be a good fit for your events. Francis didn’t just walk into a nightclub and ask to host, though. He took the time to frequent the venues, build rapport, get close to the owners and managers, and then he made the ask.
Consider aspects such as size, location, and vibe. Don't forget to negotiate the terms of your contract to ensure it's beneficial for both parties. We wrote a blog post a few weeks ago about how to secure great venues and long-term partnerships that might be helpful if you’re looking to take a deeper dive.
If you’d like to connect with a handful of the venues in the POSH network, book a time with us here to speak with our resources team about getting in touch with the perfect spot.
It might sound weird, but trust us: everyone loves helping college kids. Play that to your advantage.
If you’re looking for sponsors, venues, or special guests, don’t be shy about saying that you’re a student and looking to start building your event-hosting career. People are always much more excited and generous when they know that they’re helping college students who are eager to learn, grow, and build their network.
Picking the right DJs to play alongside is crucial. Of course, you want to fill the stage with your dream DJs, but if you don’t build a fluid lineup that flows naturally throughout the night, you may not be invited back to host again.
In case you missed it, we asked the founders of We Belong Here Music Festival a few weeks back how they build their lineups. Through scaling from hosting 200-person club events with local DJs, to executing a 10,000-person music festival featuring world-renowned acts like Kaskade and Purple Disco Machine, they’ve learned everything about finding the perfect DJ. Check out the guide here.
Again, if you need help finding the right DJ for your upcoming event, hit us up here and we’ll help you find the right talent from our network of over 2,500 DJs around the country.
To make the most of your performance, make sure to record your sets and share them on platforms like Mixcloud, SoundCloud, or YouTube, and all over your socials. This not only showcases your skills but also serves as a promotional tool for future events.
Bonus points if you can get some clips and testimonials from the venue owners and sponsors talking about how awesome the event was. Take note of your results (number of attendees, revenue generated for the venue, etc.) This makes it MUCH easier to start doubling or tripling your event size and frequency moving forward.
Overall, throwing your own events is a bold step, but it's one that can provide a significant boost to your DJ career. We’re talking serious waves. By leveraging these tips and resources, you'll be well on your way to hosting successful events and making a name for yourself in the music industry just like Francis Mercier did.
Interested in hearing our exclusive, full interview with Francis Mercier? Check it out here:
