Friday, January 6, 2012

How to be a DJ when everyone is a DJ

Today DJ's are up against a somewhat never ending line of obstacles that have made it hard to remain a real DJ and keep your sanity. With the influx of new DJ's thanks to new and cheaper technology it seems anyone with a laptop is capable of adding the DJ moniker to their name by arming themselves a controller for a couple hundred bucks then they blanket the town looking for a gig. So the big question is how can you still be a DJ when everyone else seems think they are one? I could easily make this four pages long but lets keep it simple.

1. Research - Know what is trending in music and what is going on in your town, it's good to know what is hot on the charts but you do not want to be a clone of every other DJ in town make your set unique. Anyone can look at the charts and play what is hot if you do this you are a playlister not a DJ you have to be able to mix it up and know what will work. Read your crowd.

2. Knowledge - Know your equipment regardless of how much it costs you have to be able to get the most out of it. It's pointless to use a controller with 40 buttons and only use 4 of them. There will always be someone with better and newer equipment the key is knowing how to use it and get the absolute most out of it.

3. Performance - Be able to give a crowd something to talk about. Just as back in the day before the internet was around word of mouth was the best for way of promotion and it still is. Get your crowd involved in your set, encourage them to sing along ,dance and just go crazy. Regardless of what genre you are playing if they can dance to it you can get them to go to another level.

If you follow these 3 things that means you have the passion to be a DJ. Passion is the one thing many DJ's lack there are way too many DJ's that are doing it for the money and the fame and those will always fall by the wayside because without passion they have no desire to maintain what it takes to be a DJ.

These things are what separates you from other DJ's if you agree with this then you are already a peg above the others, if you think this is just bullshit then you need to do us a favor either learn to take your game to the next level or get out of the way. Abide or divide in these lessons, the choice is yours and that is the Gospel

5 comments:

  1. @DJTravv says "chuuch"
    Passion is key.
    Reading the crowd is probably the most essential thing you can do as a DJ..
    And if you belong to a record pool it is OKAY to listen to most, if not all, of the songs. Maximize your crate selection. It's nothing like being first to drop a hot new record.

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  2. Fantastic words!! I will pass this on pretty much daily!

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  3. I have those all but I'm too lazy. :D
    Just kidding! I would recommend Dj beginners to read this informative article.

    Thanks

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