Start composing your own music—here's how
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Want to become a DJ? Here’s how!
Photo by: Cesar de Miranda
Who doesn't dream of DJing once a week on the stage of the hippest clubs in the world? Even if this does not apply to every DJ, of course, the big stages at very special events are a real dream for many. But what makes a good DJ, and how can you even become one? What are the requirements for you and your work? This is exactly what we will explore in this article and show you how you can become a successful DJ. This makes it easy for you to express your passion for music.
Why not everyone is ideally suited as a DJ
To anticipate it. Musical passion alone does not make you a good DJ. For this reason, when asked what makes a good DJ, you should come up with the strongest and most unique answer possible. Very few musicians plan their career as a DJ beforehand. In many cases, they stumble into this area by accident, but they definitely don't want to leave it so quickly. Passion and strength for your genre therefore plays a crucial role.
Good relationships are also a very important step on the way to becoming a successful DJ. While smaller performances with friends or at family birthdays are good practice, they rarely lead to a breakthrough. Therefore, you have to be able to inspire other people to be a DJ and go beyond the small, private appearances. This is exactly what makes the difference between the small family celebrations and the big stages.
Motivation and ambition as important prerequisites
A crucial step is therefore the right attitude, without which your success will be severely limited. Self-confidence and motivation become the most important qualities to embody the lifestyle of a DJ and to create an impressive atmosphere. Your audience usually recognizes very quickly whether you can really embody your music as a DJ, or whether it is just a few button presses on the mixing desk for you. If you want to be a successful DJ, you should keep these aspects in mind. This is the only way to keep your passion for music.
The right preparation as a modern DJ
As soon as your inner attitude has been clarified, optimal and strong preparation is also important for the external effect. How would you like to perform as a DJ? Which style would give you recognition value in the long run? Since you as a DJ are an artist, you should attach particular importance to the type and structure of your performance. With the following preparations, you ensure that you are recognized as a DJ and that you make a good impression.
Appropriate name
What name do you want your fans to know you by later? A good DJ always has a meaningful name that the audience can remember well after each performance. This also gives you many advantages for future bookings and helps you to be found more quickly. You can also align your marketing accordingly.
Orientation and style
What genre do you cover? As a DJ, you should focus on your favorite areas in order to make your music consistently appealing. Since the passion for your music as a DJ is the top priority, you should clarify such questions in advance. If you have already created your own music as a musician, this can be directly taken into account in your considerations.
Test runs and samples
Before you dedicate yourself to your first real performances, practice is essential. This is the only way to gain the necessary flexibility to upgrade your music and create the vital connection to a strong set. You can also test the associated equipment for your performances in this regard in order to make the new performances unforgettable.
Self marketing
The right marketing plays an important role in your work as a DJ. How do new fans find you? Where can you book a performance? Both social media and your own website can be helpful. They offer you the opportunity to make a good impression in advance of the booking and to increase the chances of scoring said booking.
The right equipment for convincing beats
In order for you to be successfully booked as a DJ, the equipment should also make a good impression. However, it is not only the price or the manufacturer of the respective technology that is important. In order to find the right equipment, you should first decide what you want to mix as a DJ. Will it be two turntables with one mixer? Or do you, as a DJ, need more unusual technology to meet the requirements of your target audience at all times?
When it comes to modern performances in the club, the Pioneer CDJ-2000 devices have become a very important standard. One of its biggest advantages is that the content can be accessed both via CD and USB stick. Many DJs also make a conscious decision to use a DJ controller, which, however, has to be brought back to every gig. This is not always that easy.
Can I be a good DJ without a lot of technology?
While some clubs and locations have their own technology, certain equipment is usually crucial for you as a DJ. Without the necessary technology, it will therefore be difficult to impress large customers in particular and make a living from working as a DJ. Of course, it does not have to be the best equipment to start with. Even as a DJ, you grow with your bookings and thus have the opportunity to improve your craft. A DJ who is good with his technology is significantly better than a DJ who has high quality technology but is not familiar with it.
How to get well-paid jobs as a DJ
Probably the biggest question of many aspiring DJs is how to get the first gig. This is exactly where many artists have the biggest problem, since not every DJ gets beyond private performances in the family environment over time. Contacts are therefore crucial in order to master the path into business and to generate new bookings. If possible, try to network at other parties and in clubs in order to put yourself in the limelight as a DJ in the long term.
Many events also offer newcomers the opportunity to play their own program for an hour. Even if you usually don't get any money for this performance, this can often be a constructive performance in front of a larger audience. If the quality of the performance is convincing, you can look forward to new performances in the future and gain many new prospects.
Marketing and networking as central tasks
As already mentioned, good contacts in the industry are a real opportunity for you to be successful. However, you should also be discoverable on the internet and other sources to better showcase your music. For example, appeal with a modern website or find out about your chances of booking at live events. The more you can network with other DJs, the faster you will gain in reach and experience. This is how you use networking and marketing to generate good bookings for your work as a DJ.
Tips for your very first DJ gig
To ensure that you remain successful even after your performances have been marketed, you should pay attention to a few important basics right from the first DJ assignment. This is crucial to keep working on new achievements and to advance your creativity. The following tips will help you make a good impression as a DJ and get booked for new parties:
- Make sure your mix has a distinctive character.
- Build a good relationship with the audience at every performance.
- Make yourself a brand as a DJ and make sure that nobody forgets you.
- Be active via social media, publish audio samples, and enter your appointments.
- Stay available and benefit from many new options with good organization.
Hard work is guaranteed to pay off for you on the road to a breakthrough. Many well-known DJs have taken a long time to make it onto the big club stages of the world. The starting point is often the enormous passion for music, which alone is far from enough. For you as a DJ, dealing with setbacks is just as much a part of it as working with new success.
Becoming a DJ—difficult, but not impossible!
If you also want to become a DJ, many aspects play a role. So you should be able to show a strong mix that goes down well with your equipment at every club. At the same time, contacts play a very important role in effectively promoting one's own skills. If you can meet these requirements, then becoming a DJ is definitely worth trying. Feel free to exchange views on this topic here at mukken with other members and use our ads. If you're wondering why so many EDM producers use Ableton Live software, find out more here.
Originally published on July 14, 2022, updated on July 14, 2022
Main topic: Belting - a singing technique with two medal sides
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