With the recent explosion of electronic dance music or DMS for short has come a huge increase in the popularity of disk jockey’s. Many young people are trying to pursue their dreams musically by learning how to spin records and use computers to make music, not by actually learning an instrument. A successful deejay can make an increbile living and odds are your teenager might want to give it a try or have friends who do. If you child is thinking about trying to deejay here is some tips for the first timers.
Choosing a Style
Some DJs specialize in a particular genre like techno or hip-hop. The specialist can more easily develop a unique style within the genre, but specializing limits the opportunities to be heard. Many people may hear the DJ at a club or house party, but competition is usually fierce for these high-profile gigs.
A better option for the beginner is to learn a variety of styles that appeal to a wider audience. Developing skills in accommodating diverse tastes creates more chances to work weddings, dances and other smaller private events. There’s no reason not to continue to home genre-specific skills in the interim. Until the DJ has built up a reputation as a professional, working a variety of gigs will build credibility and provide opportunities to earn a living.
The Right Equipment
Some venues like clubs already have DJ equipment installed. If that is the case the DJ only needs to bring his music and laptop with favorite software. For the beginner, the basic equipment needed is two turntables, headphones, mixer and a pair of speakers. Turntables are available in vinyl, digital or CD models. For the new DJ, purchasing DJ equipment packages that already contain all the basics is often the simplest route.
As skills develop, the DJ can add a good quality laptop, mixing programs and special effects software. Building a library of tunes is also important. There are numerous programs available to assist the DJ in perfecting their sound. Online research and consulting with staff at a music store that carries DJ equipment are good ways to gain insight into equipment.
Practice Makes Perfect
Learning to smoothly mix beats takes practice. Since the goal is to keep the crowd moving and enjoying themselves, the skilled DJ should seamlessly transition from one tune to another. That takes a thorough understanding of song structure and rhythm. Once this skill is mastered, the DJ can move on to adding special effects and toying with the sound.
Be Professional
Becoming a professional DJ requires professional behavior. Showing up late to bookings or forgetting needed equipment or accessories can kill a DJ’s reputation. As business increases, it is critical to be organized so double bookings don’t occur.
The successful DJ is an entertainer and a psychologist. Learning to read crowd reaction is an important component of the job, and so is putting on a show. DJs who interact with the crowd rather than standing hunched over the turntables all night are much more likely to book repeat gigs. By providing quality sounds and an entertaining persona, it’s possible to earn a living as a DJ.
Contributed by Amanda
I think personality is really important for being a dj as well. People usually want someone who is energetic and fun and can get the crowd excited. My husband is a live sound engineer and works a lot with djs!