Becoming a DJ. A great disc jockey (DJ) can entertain a room with his or her extensive knowledge of music and is someone who wants to share their passion for music with the world. Use this step-by-step guide to get started and develop your DJ career.
Part 1 of 5: Gathering Equipment
-
Start with the basics. A
basic DJ setup includes two turntables (or two CD players), headphones,
and a 2-channel or more mixer. Later on, you can invest in speakers, a
monitor, a MIDI controller, an audio interface, a mic, and various
plug-ins. If you can, experiment with different set-ups before you
invest. It's a lot of money to spend on a system you don't like.
- Technology is getting more and more amazing -- instead of playing
vinyl records (unless you prefer that method), consider a mixing
software package, like Serato Scratch or Traktor. These are great
programs that can read any format of music and select songs through a
computer program interface. Pioneer and Numark also offer various
products you may want to eventually look into.
- You know what else you need? Music. And you don't want crappy,
third-rate versions of 'em either. To be a legit DJ, you'll at least
eventually have to pay for the music you get. For now, work with what
you have -- but know that it will be an expense later on in the game.
-
Augment your performance with software.
These programs will enable you to access a library of MP3s on your hard
drive to compliment your vinyl and CD selections. More often than not,
these programs provide live looping and scratching capability, delays
and reverbs, real-time control and video and karaoke options.
- Ableton is a program that allows you to connect mixing controllers
via USB cable and operates more like the classic DJ in your head does.
It's good for beginners and the budget-conscious.
-
Be economical. Don't
invest in top-dollar equipment right away. Most of your money should be
spent on turntables and a mixer. Forget the other stuff for now. And
spend wisely -- buy your decks used and your mixer new.
- If you're serious about being a DJ, odds are you're aware of a few
in your area. Hit them up for advice or for a tutorial on their system!
If they're half as passionate as you are, they'll love to give you a
minute of their time, explaining their ways.
-
Don't forget your home studio.
Most DJs record demos, playlists and original music at home. Make sure
the equipment you bring to the club compliments the equipment you use at
home. For example, if you're a hip-hop DJ, you'll probably want to
invest in a scratch/battle mixer at home to simulate a competition
environment.
- This will be especially useful if you ever plan on producing. We'll
get to the value of that in a bit, but know that it should be an avenue
of your career later on down the line.
-
Know what you need for gigs.
If you plan to play for a venue that already has a DJ setup, you might
only need a laptop with music mixing software. If you plan to play in
private venues, you'll probably need to provide your own equipment.
Scope out what you need and what you don't for your particular job.
- Some music mixing software may be hard to learn. You can find great
tutorials online for most types. Otherwise, DJ schools can teach you
about the cutting-edge stuff out there -- but know that you can do it
yourself.
Part 2 of 5: Working the Music
-
Learn to mix beats. Beat
mixing involves maintaining a constant beat while moving from one song
to another, and can be done with varying degrees of complexity. Some DJs
pre-record mixes at home, while others mix beats live. Either way, the
goal is keeping the music constant so that dancers can keep going
without a pause.
- It'll be easiest to start with songs that have similar beats. As you
get down the crossfade between songs that have similar sounds (and
keys), start experimenting with songs that are slightly different,
matching the beats, looping, and evolving.
-
Know the BPM of your songs.
The beats per minute (BPM) of a song will determine how smoothly or
easily you can mix it with another song. You can calculate BPM by
counting the beats yourself and using a stopwatch. (Some mixers will
have a BPM counter on the board.)
- You can use a pitch warp to match the beats (though it's best to
choose two songs that are only a few BPM off). However, use it on the
song that doesn't have vocals yet -- speeding it up or slowing it down
changes the key and messes with everything.
-
Learn the intros and outros.
Most dance songs will have an intro in which the music is going but the
vocals are not at the beginning of the song and a corresponding outro
at the end. Mixing usually means blending one song's intro with the
outro of another. Knowing when an outro starts and an intro begins is
critical to live beat mixing.
- Cue up the second song. Have your second song ready to go as your
first one is winding down. Use one hand on the turntable or CD player's
pitch to adjust speed (if your BPMs don't match) and put the other on
the crossfader, so that the first song's volume decreases as the second
song's volume increases.
-
Learn how to scratch.
The decks can be used to find your place in a song when they're queued
up or they can be use as pseudo-records to get your scratch on. There
are baby scratches and scribble scratches and drags and scratches that
work at different pitch levels.[2] Get 'em all down before you head out there!
- Certain songs and certain places in certain songs are prime for
scratching -- others are terrible for it. Knowing when to scratch is
like comedic timing -- you'll know it when it's right and when it's just
wrong.
-
Keep it simple at first.
When you're starting out, make mixing easier by sticking to two songs
that are within 3 BPMs of each other. You should also use two songs that
are in the same key. Your software should be able to tell you this.
When you nail that down, start experimenting with looping and then move
on to your toggle function and adding effects.
- Also be sure to experiment with the different methods on your mixer.
For most effects, there's more than one way to do them. You'll find
what you prefer (generally one method is a very do-it-yourself way and
the other is more automated).
-
Learn about all genres of music.
Often you may know of a couple hit songs in a few genres, but that is
not enough. You need to be a music expert. Hit up your friends and
consult the charts. Here's a list of genres to explore:
- House
- Trance
- Techno
- Electro
- Dark Alternative
- Progressive
- Breakbeat
- Hardcore
- Downtempo
- Dubstep
- Drum and Bass
- Jungle
- Hip-Hop
Part 3 of 5: Learning the Craft
-
1
Think long-term. What's going to start off as an expensive hobby can turn into a career with enough time.
This is not a small feat you are about to embark upon. To be a DJ is to
devote years to working magic on others' music. You may be able to
start in an hour, but you won't get truly good for a long, long time.
- This is also not a Wednesday afternoon hobby. If you want to develop
any level of skill, you'll need to work at it. Counting to 4 may be an
integral part of DJing, but reading crowds and knowing what music
surprisngly goes great with what music is a skill that has to be honed.
-
Decide whether you want to be a crowd-pleaser or a music specialist.
Certain gigs will require that you make a few compromises -- a college
bar may want to hear Katy Perry when you're just trying to forget Last
Friday Night. Being a specialist may give you more cred with the DJs,
but it may make your gigs fewer and far between.
- Crowd pleasing means playing songs that would, most likely, hit the
taste of the biggest number of people in any given crowd. This style of
DJing is best suited to private events, such as weddings or small
parties.
- A music specialist sticks to a particular genre of music, regardless
of what the crowd demands. Usually, these DJs play nightclubs who have
specific genre standards or they have an established following based on a
certain type of music.
-
Observe. Find a DJ whose
style you admire and observe him or her as much as possible. Pay
attention to how songs are constructed and how the crowd is managed.
After you've watched them a few times, approach the DJ after the show
and ask for a few tips. Most DJs will be happy to help guide you if they
know you're serious.
- Gain inspiration from the DJs that hit it big. Sometimes it can help
to look up to professionals such as Tiesto, Avicii, Knife Party,
Sebastian Ingrosso, Deadmau5, and Skrillex.
-
Be a multi-genre DJ. You
can still be a specialist if you have multiple genres under your belt
-- you're just a specialist with logic. Most DJs are great at one genre
of music -- being great at more than one sets you up to be the cream of
the crop.
- This also offers you more opportunities for future gigs. Instead of
only having one or two clubs in the area that'll have you, you can do
those, a few other clubs, and the occasional wedding or hoppin' bar
mitzvah.
- For each genre you do, you'll have to know the classics, the deep
cuts (the B sides that should've been A sides), and the current stuff.
Having a healthy mix in your repertoire will keep the party going.
-
Keep up with current music trends.
In order to be viable in today's fast-paced world, you'll need to be on
top of all the charts -- and where it seems like the trends are going.
You have to be on top of today and leaning toward tomorrow.
- You should be constantly writing yourself notes, finding out what
that song you just heard was, and keeping a list of ideas for later when
you're sitting down and doing your thing. Always keep your phone or a
pen handy -- inspiration calls when it damn well pleases. And so does
your best friend when he wants you to hear this new track he's working
on.
Part 4 of 5: Developing a Following
-
Get recurring hours.
Just like a pilot needs to build up flight time to get cred, you'll need
to build up play time. The best way to do this in a serious fashion is
to get recurring hours through an established company -- not just those
one-off gigs.
- Find companies that supply DJs to weddings and the like. You won't be freelancing, but you'll be getting your foot in the door.
- Sign up to work at a local college or community radio station.
- Some venues need between-band DJs. Let that be you!
-
Know the crowd you'll be dealing with. Having an idea of who your crowd is before
the event begins is critical to successful DJing. If you're playing a
wedding, for instance, be prepared to play more slow songs than usual
and try to get a grasp on the bride's musical tastes beforehand. If
you're playing a nightclub, get familiar with what the club owner
prefers and what his or her regulars like. The regulars keep the club
afloat and, by extension, pay your fee; learn how to keep them happy.
- Be careful with requests. If you're playing a nightclub that caters
to a hip-hop crowd and you have a tourist or someone unfamiliar with the
scene requesting a song that doesn't fit with the genre, consider
carefully before you play it. Remember, your aim is to keep the core of
the audience happy and coming back.
- If at all possible, visit the venue beforehand. Getting a feel for
the regular crowd before you go can help take the pressure off a new
gig.
-
Market yourself. You should be making press kits,
handing out business cards, emailing constantly, and always, always
expanding your network. This is not a 9/5 job, no, it's a 24/7 job.
- Keep a busy schedule. As you're gaining a fan base, play as many
shows as necessary to get your name out there. Book yourself on a tight
schedule at first to keep your interest alive and your creativity fresh.
Basically at the beginning: take whatever gigs you can.
-
Develop an Internet presence.
If you don't have the time or money to build your own website, start an
account for your DJing career on Twitter or Facebook. Promote your
shows, and make time to connect with your fans and personally respond to
their messages. The more you're a real person to these people, the
better.
- Make playlists. Build playlists on iTunes or Spotify and share them
with your fans. This allows them to sample your musical tastes, and lets
you introduce people to new music you want to incorporate into your
shows. This won't defeat the purpose of them coming to see you -- it'll
simply whet their appetites.
-
Find your own gigs.
Depending on how you want to advance your career, you could start
playing small, private events for a low fee, or take a slow, weeknight
shift at a club or bar. Ask a friend who's hosting a party if you can
DJ. Be aware that if you're inexperienced, you won't make much money at
first and you'll probably have to keep a second job. But you'd do this
for free if you had to, right?
- When you first start off, people may book you on the stipulation
that you bring X number of people. This is crap. You are not the
promoter and you are not your friends. However...sometimes you gotta
take what you can get. Know that these guys are only the ones you're
working with now; avoid them in the future.
-
Become a producer. The
next step up from being a DJ is producing your own music. You can still
work with others' tunes, but you're mashing it all up, remixing it,
re-editing it and making it better. DJ Earworm got YouTube famous doing
just that. You can rake in the cash a lot faster when you start producing your own stuff.
- And once that happens, you can hit up record labels. Even if you
don't end up being a top-billing artist, you can work with other artists
and behind the scenes doing what you love.
Part 5 of 5: Making It Your Career
-
Build your charisma. As a
DJ, you are responsible for entertaining a large group of people all by
yourself. The music you play is important, but you also need to pay
attention to how you act on stage. Don't just stand there hunched over
your decks. That's boring. Try to be someone who attracts attention in a
good way. Also, learn when to step back and let the group dynamic take
over.
-
Always read the crowd.
Use the music to manage the event, driving it forward. Divide different
styles of songs into different sections. Play slower, quieter songs at
the beginning of the party. Slowly slip into a jazzier groove, and pull
out the heavier songs at the end. Above all, read the crowd and notice
what they're responding to.
- Don't play mostly fast songs at a wedding. This will take away from the romantic atmosphere.
- Don't play mostly slow songs at a gathering of kids. They will get bored fast.
-
Be professional. Show up
to your events on-time and fully prepared. Give each gig your best
effort. Have fun with the crowd, but keep your interactions professional
and respectful - you never know who's watching.
- Straight up, the DJ world is full of scumbags. You want to be that
good apple that isn't a part of the bunch. If you're not professional,
there are a zillion other guys and gals out there chomping at the bit to
take your spot.
-
Handle the BS with care.
Working in clubs and the like isn't always a pretty picture. Remember
that 95% of the time the majority of the people listening to your music
will either be some level of drunk, high, or both. They may give you a hard time on occasion. This has got to go in your ear and out the other.
- In addition to rowdy or unappreciative crowds, you'll be dealing
with shady promoters and technical disasters. Use your savvy people
skills to navigate through these issues and let them make you all the
better for it.
-
Have fun. Imagine going
to a show (or maybe you already have been witness to this) and seeing a
DJ that's busy pushing buttons like he'd rather be hauling rocks. It's
terrible. Watching a DJ that doesn't even like his own music is
practically worse than a three-piece deaf polka band. So make it clear
that you're enjoying yourself -- the crowd will follow suit.
- You're totally allowed to go a bit crazy. The more you feel it, the
more your inclinations will be spot on. The more spot on you are, the
more the crowd wants you back.
-
Live the dream of working for yourself.
After all that hard work of taking crap gigs and working with a crap
company and modifying on less-than-stellar equipment, it's time to up
the ante. When the money is coming in at more than a trickle, upgrade
your equipment. The industry standard is the Technics 1200, but you can
even upgrade from there. You're looking at a few thousand dollars in the long-run, but you'll make it back and then some.
- Start figuring out your rates. How much are you worth? You don't
want to be a DJ diva about it, but you don't want to sell yourself
short. Account for distance traveled, if you're bringing your own
equipment, and the general realities of the gig (some are quite clearly
better than others). And don't forget: are they feeding you?
Tips
- Develop your own sound. Create unique mixes and become a master of a
particular genre. Explore different tools and sounds and incorporate
them into your mixes.
- Try adding effects while mixing the songs. It may help because the effect can help blend the songs.
- Have a friend in the crowd help you set the volume. You want it to
be loud enough for people to hear the beat, but not so loud that they
can't hear their partners talk.
- Develop a good balance of banter and playing. Your crowd will want you to talk to them a little bit, but not too much.
- Try arranging the song titles of the popular songs into a continuous
narrative. For example: "Lady in Red" drove a "Little Red Corvette"
down to "Funkytown.'
Warnings
- Don't make a habit of doing free or cheap gigs. You don't want to be
typecast as a "cheap DJ." Clients should be hiring you because you are
good, not because you are cheap.
- The most important thing is to choose the appropriate gigs in the
first place. This will lead to a happier crowd and a happier DJ!
- Never put another DJ down. The DJ community is tight. If you get a negative reputation, you'll regret it.
- Stack your DJ equipment high so partygoers don't spill anything on it.
Start with the basics. A basic DJ setup includes two turntables (or two CD players), headphones, and a 2-channel or more mixer. Later on, you can invest in speakers, a monitor, a MIDI controller, an audio interface, a mic, and various plug-ins. If you can, experiment with different set-ups before you invest. It's a lot of money to spend on a system you don't like.
Augment your performance with software. These programs will enable you to access a library of MP3s on your hard drive to compliment your vinyl and CD selections. More often than not, these programs provide live looping and scratching capability, delays and reverbs, real-time control and video and karaoke options.
Be economical. Don't invest in top-dollar equipment right away. Most of your money should be spent on turntables and a mixer. Forget the other stuff for now. And spend wisely -- buy your decks used and your mixer new.
Don't forget your home studio. Most DJs record demos, playlists and original music at home. Make sure the equipment you bring to the club compliments the equipment you use at home. For example, if you're a hip-hop DJ, you'll probably want to invest in a scratch/battle mixer at home to simulate a competition environment.
Know what you need for gigs. If you plan to play for a venue that already has a DJ setup, you might only need a laptop with music mixing software. If you plan to play in private venues, you'll probably need to provide your own equipment. Scope out what you need and what you don't for your particular job.
Learn to mix beats. Beat mixing involves maintaining a constant beat while moving from one song to another, and can be done with varying degrees of complexity. Some DJs pre-record mixes at home, while others mix beats live. Either way, the goal is keeping the music constant so that dancers can keep going without a pause.
Learn about all genres of music. Often you may know of a couple hit songs in a few genres, but that is not enough. You need to be a music expert. Hit up your friends and consult the charts. Here's a list of genres to explore:
Decide whether you want to be a crowd-pleaser or a music specialist. Certain gigs will require that you make a few compromises -- a college bar may want to hear Katy Perry when you're just trying to forget Last Friday Night. Being a specialist may give you more cred with the DJs, but it may make your gigs fewer and far between.
Observe. Find a DJ whose style you admire and observe him or her as much as possible. Pay attention to how songs are constructed and how the crowd is managed. After you've watched them a few times, approach the DJ after the show and ask for a few tips. Most DJs will be happy to help guide you if they know you're serious.
Know the crowd you'll be dealing with. Having an idea of who your crowd is before the event begins is critical to successful DJing. If you're playing a wedding, for instance, be prepared to play more slow songs than usual and try to get a grasp on the bride's musical tastes beforehand. If you're playing a nightclub, get familiar with what the club owner prefers and what his or her regulars like. The regulars keep the club afloat and, by extension, pay your fee; learn how to keep them happy.
Market yourself. You should be making press kits, handing out business cards, emailing constantly, and always, always expanding your network. This is not a 9/5 job, no, it's a 24/7 job.
Develop an Internet presence. If you don't have the time or money to build your own website, start an account for your DJing career on Twitter or Facebook. Promote your shows, and make time to connect with your fans and personally respond to their messages. The more you're a real person to these people, the better.
Find your own gigs. Depending on how you want to advance your career, you could start playing small, private events for a low fee, or take a slow, weeknight shift at a club or bar. Ask a friend who's hosting a party if you can DJ. Be aware that if you're inexperienced, you won't make much money at first and you'll probably have to keep a second job. But you'd do this for free if you had to, right?
Build your charisma. As a DJ, you are responsible for entertaining a large group of people all by yourself. The music you play is important, but you also need to pay attention to how you act on stage. Don't just stand there hunched over your decks. That's boring. Try to be someone who attracts attention in a good way. Also, learn when to step back and let the group dynamic take over.
Always read the crowd. Use the music to manage the event, driving it forward. Divide different styles of songs into different sections. Play slower, quieter songs at the beginning of the party. Slowly slip into a jazzier groove, and pull out the heavier songs at the end. Above all, read the crowd and notice what they're responding to.
Be professional. Show up to your events on-time and fully prepared. Give each gig your best effort. Have fun with the crowd, but keep your interactions professional and respectful - you never know who's watching.
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