Becoming a DJ is a hugely exciting career path and one that many people desire to have. The question is – do you have what it takes to become a DJ? It’s much more complex than putting together a medley of tunes and it takes a lot of hard work and determination to get your name heard on the scene. Today, we will be telling you all you need to know about becoming a great DJ from finding your sound down to choosing a catchy name.
Find Your Genre and Build Your Collection
If you know you want to become a DJ, the chances are you already know what genre of music you want to focus on. If you don’t, now is the time to start. Some of the most popular DJ music genres include house, dubstep and trap, to name a few. Once you’ve chosen your genre of music then you can start to build on your music collection. Firstly, you will want to determine whether you are spinning vinyl or going digital.
If you choose vinyl, then you won’t be short on places to grow your collection and you can even find some great bargains in your local record shops. Digital DJ’s may find it easier to grow their collection at a faster rate as the sheer volume of records available online are off the scale. With sites like SoundCloud and Beatport, you can download multiple tracks within a matter of minutes.
Learn Basic DJ Skills
So, you’ve got your music collection sorted but now it’s time to brush up on your DJ skills. Luckily, you don’t need to pay someone hundreds of dollars to teach you the basics and most of the time you can teach yourself without the need of a mentor. Thanks to the internet, there are plenty of resources online which can help you brush up on your skills. Basic skills include beatmatching, phrasing, gain control and EQing.
Of course, there is a lot more to learn but doing your research and looking into in-depth DJ programs can be a good place to start.
Come Up with a Memorable DJ Name
Every DJ needs a memorable name. An effective name will help you build and maintain a following for your gigs. You want a name that isn’t too difficult to remember and one that packs a punch and stays in people’s minds. Take a look at this article from PIRATE which gives you some inspiration for coming up with DJ name ideas. They give you some first-hand advice from professional DJs who have made their mark on the industry.
It’s important to not overlook the importance of a good DJ name. After all, this is how people are going to remember you. A good basis to start from is by thinking of a name that reflects your personality. Try to think of a name that is catchy and fun and something that rolls off the tongue. Stay away from any profanity. It doesn’t make you look cool and it can damage your reputation.
Choose What Type of DJ You Want to Be
So, by now you should have decided if you are going to be a vinyl or digital DJ. Now, it’s time to dig deeper. What type of DJ do you want to be? There are five main types of DJ ranging from a club DJ to a radio DJ. If you want to incorporate your personality into your DJ set, then you may consider radio. Typically, in this role you would make announcements alongside songs and spark conversation amongst listeners. However, you may decide that isn’t for you. Club DJ’s have an aim to keep people moving on the dancefloor. They might choose to work in a solo club or be more mobile and move around.
Before you can continue to start your DJ career it is vital that you define what type of DJ you want to be as this will help your career moving forward.
Determine Your Goals
Setting goals is crucial if you want to develop your DJ career. It is important to start your goals small. Anyone can have the goal of becoming a world-famous DJ, but it takes a lot of hard work and determination to get there. Define your short-term goals and your long-term goals and use these to inspire you to become better at your craft. Reaching your goals is a huge achievement and it can give you the reassurance you need to stay motivated and continue to develop further as a DJ.
Setting goals is the first step, but then you actually have to put in the hard work to achieve them. Be proactive in your work and if you are struggling to reach your goal ask yourself why. Plan what it is you need to do to help you achieve it.
Gain A Knowledge of Different Software Tools
All Dj’s need to have some technical know-how. There will be an abundance of high-quality software programs that you need to make yourself familiar with. Depending on the equipment you use there will be some software tools that are better than others. Take a look at some top five DJ software for digital DJs for some inspiration. You may know your name, sound and what type of DJ you want to be but if you can’t use the right software tools to make your DJ sets come to life then you won’t be able to progress in your career.
It is always a good idea to connect with other DJs in your industry. Making the right connections can allow you to gain valuable knowledge on what tools you need to be using to enhance your sets in order to make them the best they can be. You can gain sound advice which can help you with your setup in the future. With the help of these useful tips above you will be well on your way to DJ success.
