Learning the Craft

 

 

Think long-term. What's going to start off as an expensive hobby can turn into a career in some 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 surprisingly 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 Headhunterz, 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 because inspiration calls when it pleases. And so does your best friend when he wants you to hear this new track he's working on.