Learning the Business

 

Work with a professional company before you go out and run real events. This could be an established DJ who needs a helping hand. You might be crew or roadie for a band. This experience will help you learn skills you might not have even thought about. You’ll feel more comfortable doing your own gigs after you’ve had experience working with others on their shows.


 

 

Plan how you want to use your microphone. Most events require both a DJ and a microphone controller. Eventually you’ll want to learn to control the microphone on your own, but when starting out you can bring an assistant who will help with such tasks as microphone duty. 

 

 

 

 

Decide whether you want to be a musician/DJ. Most DJs spin popular music written and performed by other people. Some, however, perform their own—primarily electronic—music such as house or EDM.

• Some DJs spin popular favorites and others’ music. These are the DJs you hear most often. They play pop music, such as top-40 hits, classic oldies, requests, and easily danceable songs. The music should be geared toward eclectic tastes so that there will be something for everybody. These DJs play at dances, weddings, other private events, and some public venues like bars and small clubs. Since they play a lot of special events, they tend to use the mic a lot for announcements and other MC duties.
• Other DJs are musicians who create new music themselves. They might sample or excerpt other musicians’ tracks, but they make them into remixes or mashups. They also add their own beats, accompaniments, riffs, and even melodies. These DJs might play larger venues or events where music is the focus. They probably wouldn’t play a retirement party, for example, where the retirement is the focus—not the music—and the guests have varied musical tastes. Here you’d stick to pop standards.

 

Find regular in-house or volunteer gigs. If you can secure regular gigs at a local nightclub, college bar, or country club, you can gain valuable work experience, meet new people, and start to find work in independent gigs.

• Becoming the in-house DJ tends to be difficult, particularly without close connections to a venue owner or manager, but you can try to set up at least some regular weekly or monthly shows.
• Some of these first gigs could be low-budget or volunteer work. Maybe a local high school would appreciate your DJing a dance for free, for example.

 

  Profile potential customers. You’ll attract more of them if you’re attentive to their specific needs. No two customers are alike. So be sure to ask about their musical preferences, their guests, and any musical "don’ts." This way you can develop a specific and individualized package for each client.



 
 

Understand how weddings are different. Weddings are great sources of revenue for DJs and offer excellent mic and playlist experience. However, it’s important to understand how they differ from other gigs.

• Weddings are more expensive because they require more pre-planning and the development of an "experience." Work weddings with a veteran DJ before taking one of your own and possibly ruining a special day.
• Sit down with your clients before agreeing to do a wedding. Provide them a questionnaire to make sure key points are communicated so that all participating parties will be happy.
• There will be special instructions. Expect a lot of suggestions from the bride and groom. Carefully write down names, pronunciations, and other specific details you intend to announce.