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, since 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 their own music is practically worse than a three-piece polka band with earplugs. So make it clear that you're enjoying yourself and 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?