THE FLIPSIDE - DJ STAGE APPLICATION

THE FLIPSIDE: DJ STAGE

Flip the record. Bend the genre. Move Baltimore.

The Flipside is Artscape’s dedicated DJ stage—a celebration of the DJs, selectors, turntablists, and sonic storytellers who define, remix, and expand the sound of Baltimore.

We’re building a lineup that is diverse, genre-bending, and unmistakably Baltimore. We want DJs who move between sounds, take risks, introduce audiences to something unexpected, and still know when to reach for the records that make the whole city move.

From Baltimore Club, house, hip-hop, R&B, soul, funk, go-go, disco, electronic, Afrobeat, dancehall, global sounds, open-format, vinyl and beyond, The Flipside is where genres collide.

And we mean beyond. If you mix country and trap, show us. If you can take us from gospel to house, go-go to disco, Baltimore Club to rock, or blend sounds we haven’t even thought to put together—we want to hear it.

We welcome the Baltimore staples that raised us, the sounds shaping the city right now, and the unexpected combinations pushing DJ culture forward.

This isn’t background music. The DJ is the performance.

Whether you’re a crate digger, club DJ, turntablist, genre-bender, party rocker, or selector whose sound refuses to fit neatly into a box, bring us the set that sounds like you.

Baltimore-based DJs are strongly encouraged to apply.

APPLICATION DETAILS & REQUIREMENTS
Before beginning your application, please be prepared to provide the following:

DJ/Artist Name and Contact Information

Artist Bio — Tell us who you are, what you spin, and what shapes your sound.

Genres & Musical Styles — Tell us where you live musically—and where you like to break the rules.

Proposed Flipside Set — Describe the energy, concept, sound, or musical journey you would bring to Artscape.

Performance Experience — Share relevant club, festival, radio, community, event, or live DJ experience.

Performance Samples — Applicants must provide links to mixes and/or live performance samples. SoundCloud, Mixcloud, YouTube, video, or other accessible streaming links are accepted. We want to hear you DJ.

Technical Setup — Identify your preferred setup, including CDJs, controllers, mixers, turntables, vinyl, laptops, software, interfaces, microphones, or specialty equipment.

Vinyl Requirements — If you spin vinyl, tell us. Include any specific turntable, mixer, cartridge, or setup requirements.

Promotional Photos — Submit 1–3 high-resolution promotional or live-performance photos. Please do not submit flyers, screenshots, watermarked images, or heavily designed graphics as your primary artist photo.

Social Media and Website Links, if applicable.

PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS

Applicants should also understand the following before applying:

Applicants must be 18 years of age or older at the time of the festival.

Selected DJs must be available to perform during their assigned Artscape 2027 date and time.

Set times and performance lengths will be determined by Artscape/Create Baltimore.

DJs must arrive by the designated call/check-in time and be performance-ready.

Artists must accurately disclose their technical needs during the application process.

Specialty DJ equipment is not guaranteed unless confirmed by the Artscape production team.

DJs bringing personal equipment are responsible for ensuring it is performance-ready and compatible with the confirmed festival setup.

Artscape is an outdoor festival. Programming may be delayed, relocated, shortened, or canceled due to weather, safety, or operational conditions.

Selected DJs will be required to complete all contracting and administrative materials by established deadlines, including applicable tax, insurance, payment, technical, and promotional documentation.

Applicants must have permission to submit and authorize festival use of all promotional photographs and materials provided.

All performers are expected to maintain professional conduct and follow Artscape production, safety, sound, and festival policies.

Submitting an application does not guarantee selection.

WHAT WE WANT TO HEAR

Your samples matter.

Don’t just tell us you can move between genres—show us.

If you play Baltimore Club, let us hear it. If you dig for rare soul records, send the mix. If your set moves from house to gospel to hip-hop without losing the dance floor, we want to experience that journey.

And if you somehow figured out how to make country and trap live in the same set; Definitely show us.

ARTSCAPE 2027
THE FLIPSIDE DJ STAGE
APPLICATION TERMS & CONDITIONS

By submitting an application for The Flipside DJ Stage at Artscape 2027, the applicant acknowledges and agrees to the following:

1. APPLICATION & SELECTION
Submission of an application does not guarantee selection or participation in Artscape.

All applications will be reviewed by Artscape/Create Baltimore. Selection decisions will be based on programming needs, artistic quality, performance experience, submitted materials, technical feasibility, available performance slots, and the overall curatorial direction of The Flipside.

Artscape/Create Baltimore reserves the right to accept or decline applications at its discretion.

2. ACCURATE INFORMATION
Applicants are responsible for providing complete and accurate information throughout the application.

If selected, the artist must promptly communicate any significant changes to personnel, performance format, technical requirements, or other information originally submitted with the application.

3. PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE
Selected DJs will receive an assigned performance date, time, set length, and location.

Performance schedules are determined by Artscape/Create Baltimore and may be adjusted as necessary due to festival operations, production requirements, weather, safety concerns, emergencies, or other circumstances.

Artists must arrive at the designated check-in or performance location by the arrival time provided by the festival.

4. TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS & EQUIPMENT
Applicants must accurately identify their preferred DJ setup and technical requirements, including any needs related to:

CDJs or media players
DJ controllers
Mixers
Turntables and vinyl
Laptops and software
Audio interfaces
Microphones
Monitors
Power
Specialty equipment or connections
Final equipment availability will be confirmed with selected artists.

Applicants should not assume that specialty equipment will be provided unless specifically confirmed in writing by Artscape/Create Baltimore or its designated production team.

Artists are responsible for any personal or specialty equipment they agree to provide.

5. WEATHER & FESTIVAL CONDITIONS
Artscape is an outdoor festival. Performances may be affected by weather or other conditions beyond the festival's control.

Artscape/Create Baltimore reserves the right to delay, relocate, shorten, suspend, or cancel a performance when necessary because of weather, public safety, emergency conditions, production concerns, governmental directives, or other circumstances affecting festival operations.

Artists must comply with all safety instructions issued by Artscape staff, festival production personnel, security, emergency personnel, or authorized representatives.

6. PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT
Selected artists are expected to conduct themselves professionally and respectfully when interacting with festival staff, production teams, other artists, vendors, partners, volunteers, and members of the public.

Harassment, discrimination, threatening behavior, violence, intentional damage to property, or conduct that creates an unsafe environment may result in removal from the festival.

7. PERFORMANCE CONTENT
Artscape is a public festival serving audiences of different ages and backgrounds.

Artists should accurately represent the nature of their proposed performance during the application process.

Artscape/Create Baltimore may establish reasonable content, safety, volume, or operational requirements appropriate for a public festival environment.

8. SOUND & VOLUME
Artists must comply with all sound-level requirements established by Artscape, the production team, venue/location requirements, and applicable regulations.

Festival production staff retain final authority over sound levels during performances.

9. CONTRACTING & REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION
Selection through the application process does not constitute a performance contract.

Selected artists may be required to complete additional documentation before their participation is finalized, including a performance agreement, W-9, Certificate of Insurance (COI), payment documentation, technical information, and other materials required by Artscape/Create Baltimore.

Failure to submit required materials by established deadlines may result in cancellation of the artist's participation.

10. COMPENSATION
Compensation, if applicable, will be communicated directly to selected artists and confirmed through the official performance agreement.

Applicants should not consider their participation or compensation finalized until all required agreements have been fully executed.

Payment will be processed according to the terms established in the final performance agreement.

11. PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS & MEDIA
Applicants must have the right to submit all photographs, biographies, logos, recordings, and other promotional materials included with their application.

If selected, the artist grants Artscape/Create Baltimore permission to use submitted promotional materials for purposes related to promoting, documenting, and communicating about Artscape and the artist's participation in the festival.

Artists may also be photographed, filmed, or recorded during Artscape for festival documentation, archival, press, and promotional purposes, subject to the terms of any final artist agreement.

12. CHANGES OR CANCELLATION BY ARTIST
If a selected artist becomes unable to participate, the artist must notify Artscape/Create Baltimore as soon as possible.

Performance slots may not be transferred, reassigned, or substituted to another DJ or performer without prior approval from Artscape/Create Baltimore.

13. FESTIVAL POLICIES
Selected artists must comply with applicable Artscape/Create Baltimore policies, festival procedures, safety requirements, credentialing procedures, load-in/load-out instructions, and reasonable directions from authorized festival personnel.

14. FINAL APPROVAL
Artscape/Create Baltimore reserves the right to make reasonable adjustments to programming, scheduling, locations, technical arrangements, and festival operations when necessary for the successful and safe presentation of Artscape.

REQUIRED ACKNOWLEDGMENT (Submission of Application confirms)

 I have read and understand The Flipside DJ Stage Application Terms & Conditions. I understand that submitting an application does not guarantee selection, and that selection does not constitute a final performance agreement. If selected, I agree to comply with Artscape/Create Baltimore's contracting, production, safety, scheduling, and participation requirements.