DJs are at the top of the music world and are now considered the gateway to an unforgettable party-life experience.
In this guide I will outline a 10-step process to help you learn what it takes to become a pro DJ up to the level where you are good enough to perform at parties, nightclubs, concerts and even festivals.
There are plenty of opportunities and benefits of becoming a DJ once you decide to become one.
For example, places in Las Vegas like Hakkasan, Omnia, Wet Republic, Marquee Nightclub, XS, Intrigue, KAOS Nightclub, Encore Beach Club and almost every major strip hotel has a resident DJ.
You will find the presence of popular DJs like Calvin Harris, Martin Garrix, Diplo, Hardwell, Armin van Buuren, Marshmello, R3hab, and even nightlife veterans like Tiesto.
Learn How To Be A Professional DJ with Ross Palmer’s DJ Course
Step 1: Understanding Types of DJs
Most DJs can either be categorized as a Club DJ, Mobile DJ, Radio DJ, Turntablist DJ, or a Music Producer DJ, although a lot of them participate in more than one role.
1. The Club DJ
A Club DJ plays songs at a nightclub or bar. These are the ones who also go on to perform at concerts and festivals. Clubs usually have a large sound system and a DJ booth where you can focus solely on your mixing. Each club caters to different needs based on the audience.
The Club DJ must know how to maintain a balance between an active dance floor, and a full bar as you let people get drinks.
2. The Turntablist DJ
A turntablist DJ uses sound effects, mixes and samples to create an impressive mix.
They are also referred to as scratch DJs as they display impressive tricks, and clever transitions with delicate hand/wrist motions.
3. The Mobile DJ
Mobile DJs produce the soundtrack for weddings, corporate parties, school dances and other private events.
You must have really good memory, coordination, and speaking skills to know how to direct crowds. You need be polite, on point, & move on to the next scheduled event in a timely manner.
4. The Radio DJ
The radio DJ works at a radio station as a host, mixer or part of the programming staff as they broadcast music through the radio waves.
- Learn How To Become A Radio DJ
5. The Producer DJ
DJs most of the time play pre-recorded music. But nowadays there is a recent trend where DJs play original music they have created or where music producers play music they have created and take on the role of DJ.
This is what you would refer to as a hybrid DJ. They may help someone else record an album or song, produce for themselves, or remix other artists’ tracks and mix it.
Step 2: Why Do You Want To Become A DJ?
Next step is to figure out why you want to become a DJ. Is it for the culture? For the love of music? Is it playing as a resident at superclubs or festivals? Want to play at weddings or birthday parties? Want to build an audience for an online radio show?
Others choose to become DJs because you get paid for what you love doing. You work for yourself and therefore get to be your own boss. Some do it because they get to be famous and get a lot of free stuff including free drinks and exclusive offers.
Whichever idea makes you happy, make sure your in it for the long run as it still requires a lot of effort on your part.
Step 3: Which DJ Software Should I Use?
DJ software applications enable you to mix using not just two but four or more decks. This offers you plenty of creative options, so that you can add real interest and take your mixes to the next level.
The commonly used and industry standard include:
If you are more of the tech-nerd and would like to experiment, there are many options for your to try out. They include, Ableton Live, Virtual DJ Pro, Mixxx, Mixvibes CROSS DJ, and Magix Digital DJ.
- Learn How To Become A DJ With Traktor
Step 4: Learning The Basic DJ Skills
Some of the basic skills to consider when learning how to become a DJ include: Beatmatching, Phrasing, Gain Control and EQing.
Beatmatching – It’s getting two tracks playing at the same tempo and phase. This gives you the ability to beat-mix on anything especially for Turntables where you do this manually.
It helps to develop and tune your ears so that you know what to listen for. The practice of manual beatmatching results in a much more trained ear, and a more confident DJ.
Phrasing – usually refers to aligning the 4 or 8 bars of two tracks simultaneously. This allows you to seamlessly mix the two tracks and make them start/end at just the right time.
Gain Control – This refers to adjusting points in your audio chain where you can change the level of volume of your sound. This can be the gain/trim knobs, volume faders, the crossfader and the master volume fader.
Just remember to keep your channel faders out of the reds!
EQing – usually refers to boosting or cutting frequencies so that multiple audio tracks blend nicely.
Step 5: Buying The Right DJ Equipment
If you want to be taken seriously and get paid big money, you have to have the right DJ equipment and not just a laptop.
There are many types of DJ setups to choose from:
1. DJ Controller Setup (Recommended)
The modern all-in-one DJ controller allows you just enough control over DJ software, allowing you to mix music effectively. If you have a starter budget, then this is the best option.
Check out some popular DJ Controllers by Pioneer DJ
2. CDJ Setup
CDJs are popular in nightclubs and festivals. They were designed to play music from compact discs, although modern CDJs (and XDJs) play digital music stored on USB drives.
They are the industry standard when it comes to performing at large events.
Check out some popular CDJs by Pioneer DJ
3. Vinyl Setup
Mixing vinyl records is fun and rewarding. It also gives you the ability to scratch and add some flair to your DJing when you need it most.
Check out some popular Vinyl DJ Setups
4. Timecode and HID Setups (Popular)
This mainly involves connecting your DJ Setup to your laptop. Nowadays, you will mostly see this popular setup with most DJs.
HID connectivity allows you to use your CDJs “as controllers” on your laptop as you use your favorite DJing software.
Timecode (DVS – Digital Vinyl System) setup allows you to manipulate music on a laptop using Turntables as an interface, thus preserving the hands-on control and feel of DJing with vinyl.
This allows vinyl DJs to keep their workflow, and take advantage of modern DJing features.
- Learn How To Scratch
Step 6: Recording Your First Mix
Getting started in recording your first mix is the hardest part, until you’ve gotten enough confidence in creating a great mix.
Take the time to record and analyze your mix. It can be a 30-min mix or an hour long. It will mostly be a matter of trial and error up until the point you can hold an audience long enough to be entertained by your DJ mix.
- Learn How To DJ And Record Your First Mix
Step 7: Share Your DJ Mix on Social Media
This next step will help you gauge how good your mixes are.
This is the best time to share your DJ mixes online and build a following. If you feel the mix is good enough you can start by sharing them on popular platforms such as MixCloud.
Sharing your music online is a good way of receiving honest feedback and build a loyal fanbase. Once you upload your music on platforms such as MixCloud, the next step is to head out onto Facebook or Instagram and link back to your DJ mixes.
If you are serious about your DJ career you can even go ahead and create your own website where you can upload all your DJ mixes. Having your own webiste allows you to have full control over your music and gives fans an opportunity to easily find you.
Step 8: Practice Your DJ Skills
Practice always makes perfect!
This means hours and hours of practice until your hands ‘bleed’. The first time you play in front of an audience or a client, you have to make them feel some type of way when they listen to you.
There is no room for error. If you want to be hired and perform at events you need to prove to others that you are worth your salt.
Step 9: Getting Your First DJ Gigs
Basically, when it comes music and the social world of nightclubs, festivals and events it all comes down to who you know.
It’s been said a million times, and I will say it again.
The more people you know the easier it is for you to secure multiple gigs. People within the music and events industry all play a major role in whether you will get your first gig or not.
This can be the owner of the club, a resident DJ, a club manager or even a local artist.
Sometimes it’s impossible to believe the countless times DJs have gotten gigs just by knowing “a friend of a friend who happens to know the manager or owner of a club”.
If you want to be a Radio DJ, its good to make friends with a radio host. If you want to be a wedding DJ, its good to have a good relations with a wedding planner.
Either way, if you want to become a DJ, your social skills have to be on point. Make friends and once you get the opportunity collaborate and find ways you can help bring value to the table.
And it doesn’t hurt if you play your first gigs for free, all these adds up to your experience. Once you prove reliable then the opportunity for future payments will be more likely.
Even if it means starting out on the floor of a dirty warehouse or a dusty old-looking joint with few revellers. The idea is once you have proved that you can hold it down on that level you can begin to scale up.
Step 10: Be Consistent And Release More DJ Mixes
Well done on reaching this far! If you are committed to the grind you will be filling venues and securing gigs in advance with no time!
You have to be consistent if you want to become a pro DJ and be respected within the music community.
Always improve on your skills and never give up. If you are focused enough, you’ll be surprised by the amount of progress you make.
Conclusion
Steve Aoki took up DJ sets some thirteen years back, and landed his first club residence in Vegas in 2010. These days, he averages 250 shows a year, to millions across the world, and equates spinning at his level to landing an acceptance to Harvard. “Once you’re in it,” he says, “and you’re taking your classes, all you care about is acing them. But the hard part was getting in, and you forget about that part of it.”
5 Popular DJ courses online
- How To Become A DJ With Traktor
- Be A Professional DJ with Ross Palmer’s DJ Course
- Learn How To DJ Fast – Everything You Need To Know
- How To Make A Seamless DJ Mix in Ableton
- How To Become A Radio DJ
Becoming a DJ is a is quite rewarding and fun if you’re passionate and if done right it will make you happy and successful.