First steps to DJing

1. Educate yourself on the industry through reputable sources.
2. Develop a budget for equipment and songs and begin your purchases.
3. Get involved in training.
4. Search the web for set list and mix ideas for different events.
5. Launch your business and begin marketing through your friends and family.

Thoughts on being a DJ

The most important thing for a DJ is to keep learning. Staying current with songs, mixes, set lists and equipment is necessary to providing excellent entertainment. As a new DJ, don’t be afraid to “get your feet wet.” Making mistakes is an important part of the learning process! People achieve success by failing often and learning from their experiences. Successful DJs get out and practice in real situations, at real parties, and don’t give up when they make a mistake.

I began my journey over 10 years ago with a well-known DJ company in NJ as a wedding saxophone player. In my first year I made sure not to go too close to the DJ booth. It was slightly intimidating to see all those buttons, sliders, lights, and big cases of CDs.

However, my growing curiosity eventually led me closer to the DJ booth to get a better look at the equipment. I saw that he was running a Denon Dual deck CD player connected to a Denon controller. The Denon CD player was connected to a Mackie 4 channel mixer, which ran to a pair of Mackie Speakers.

At this point, I had no experience DJing at all but I could see that equipment functioned relatively simply. The DJ would take a CD, put it in the CD drawer, find a track, and push “play” on the controller. To adjust the volume or EQ, the DJ would use the mixer.

Well, long before I bought my equipment and started my own DJ company, the DJ asked me to help him out (the first of many times) because he needed to leave the booth for a few minutes. He set a song for me and asked me to push play. I was scared out of my mind just to push play. Unnecessary crazy thoughts ran through my mind like “what if the song doesn’t play?”, “what if the song skips?”, “What if the song is too soft, or too loud?”, “What if he loaded the wrong song?”, “What if I play the song too soon or too late?”, etc.

I was so worried about making a mistake. These feelings of fear are normal and are a part of the learning process. As you use and become more comfortable using your DJ equipment, you will find that your worries will begin to go away. Also keep in mind that making a mistake is ok! Mistakes are a part of the learning process. Keep learning, don’t be afraid to make a mistake, and when you have a chance to do something you might be afraid of, just do it.

Mixes That Work Current Dance Club Mix: Volume 1

Please Don’t Stop The Music – Rihanna
Low – Flo Rida
Beautiful – Akon
Calabra – 2008 (Feat. Natasja)
Closer – NeYo
Damaged – Danity Kane
Dangerous – Kardinall Offishall
Disturbia – Rihanna
Forever – Chris Brown
Just Dance – Lady Gaga
The Way I Are – Timberland
Whine Up — Kat Deluna

.….Stay tuned for Volume 2 and 3 with great mixes including songs by Kesha, Usher, Katy Perry, David Guetta and More.…

Make Sure to look to the top of our website and Sign up for our FREE Newsletter to get your hands on 2 incredible Set-Lists including:

• 1951–2010 Greatest Songs Of ALL TIME
• The Top 100 Party Songs.

DJ Sets To Look Forward To:

• Club/Dance Party Set-Lists
• Wedding Set-Lists
• Sweet 16 Set-Lists
• Class Reunion Set-Lists
• Party Favorite Set-List
• Kids Party Set-Lists
  AND SO MUCH MORE!

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Not only can good DJs earn thousands of dollars a week part-time, but as the demand for DJs increases, opportunities are rising for DJs to leave their “day jobs” and go full-time. The keys to success in the DJ industry today are acquiring the necessary skills, developing a reputation, and making as many connections as possible.  You can get a good head start if you really want to learn how to dj at www.howtodjpro.com

Many DJs limit themselves to just one or two types of events. Don’t be afraid to reach outside of your experience. Talking to everyone and making yourself available for a variety of gigs will build your skills and versatility as well as increasing your income. Whether it’s a wedding, a Bar/Bat Mitzvah, corporate event, family reunion or school dance, embrace each opportunity. Every gig means more word-of-mouth marketing for you.

Anyone can hit play on a piece of equipment, but a successful DJ knows his or her audience and tailors the music to the crowd. If you have never DJed an event, connect with an experienced DJ that you know or join an online community like www.MixesThatWork.com and How To DJ Pro  to gain live access to the help you need when you need it. Invest in a DJ mixing program for smooth transitions from one song to the next. Check out the resource section of this article for more secrets to getting the edge on the DJ industry.

A major aspect of the excellent DJs job is to know the format of every event. Connect with the client, party planner, or maitre’d if the event is at a banquet hall in order to confirm the party style and sequence of activities. Never assume that one event will be identical to another. Always communicate. Open communication boosts your professional image as well as ensuring a smooth, well-prepared event.

Becoming a DJ is not difficult, but it is incredibly exciting and rewarding, both personally and financially. With professional guidance and personal motivation, you can rise above other industry entertainers with years of experience. In this industry, it isn’t how many years you’ve performed, it’s what you know.

Knowledge is power, and the power of knowledge leads to success. Most successful people in any industry have found themselves in the right place at the right time because they took the time to acquire valuable knowledge about their fields. At this very moment you are taking one of the steps necessary to ensure your success as a professional DJ.

Learn How to DJ and become a great DJ. Learn everything you can and excel beyond the crowd of run-of-the-mill DJs. Have fun, make money, and get excited about providing excellent entertainment!