Over the last decade DJ equipment sales have seen a steady increase year on year as more hopeful amateurs look to enter the industry and generate and income off their performances. Most recently, statistics highlight an estimated 6.6% uptake in the market moving forward. This continued growth could be put down to the fact that individuals have spent more of their free time practicing the art and will continue to invest in their new found interests.
But as the economy returns to normality, is taking the next step in pursuing a career in DJing a viable option and what are the key steps in becoming a DJ nowadays?
Knowing the different types of DJ
The first thing to understand is that there are a variety of DJ types who operate within the industry as a whole. While all of these will utilise DJ gear in some way, their approach can be hugely different.
The initial distinction is normally separating a DJ from a producer. The first being a person who simply plays live music while the latter is an artist who both creates their own music as well as plays it live.
Within these two areas, you could categorise further into the realms of Radio, Wedding, Club, Mobile and Technical DJs where a slightly different skillet is required for each area. Knowing which area to focus on early will allow aspiring DJs to perfect their art and tailor their approach to the hugely different audiences.
Getting set up
Next on the list is understanding the basics behind a DJ performance, what tech is required and how to utilise it. Depending on the type of DJ a person wants to specialise in, there will be differences in the tech they require. For example, those looking to perform with vinyl will require specialised turntable decks as well as a physical collection of records at their disposal.
Others might prefer to go down the route of club music where CD operated mixers are a better, more robust choice. A final example might be to produce music alongside performance which will require an entirely additional setup for music production.
In any case, the equipment list should comprise of some sort of turntable, mixer, speakers, headphones and an accompanying software to bring all digital components together.
Getting to grips with the basics.
There’s no fast to becoming a professional DJ and the only way to solidify the skill is through practice and hard work.
A good place to start to learning the basics is to focus on building a dedicated music library of tracks that reflect your musical direction and focus. This can be a general list or focused specifically on one genre, but the key is to understand each track and how it might fit into a set list.
Next is to understand the equipment you have and how to manipulate music into one seamless set. This is where Beatmatching comes into play and an understanding of BPM or beats per minute. the better someone perfects this skill, the more synchronised a set list will change from one track to another.
Phrasing is another key area to focus on getting right early as this refers to mixing tracks at the right moment. Understanding time signatures and beats per bar is crucial here.
Finally, depending on the use of vinyl or physical turn tables, scratching can be a great addition to a DJs skill set. However, the trick is not just knowing how to do this but also when not to as well as which songs benefit from this.
As with all of these examples, practice makes perfect.
Networking yourself as an DJ
A final area to keep in mind is how to find and present yourself to an audience. The internet will always be one of the best weapons in a DJs arsenal when expanding their fan base primarily through social platforms and applications that promote music.
Social media, in particular, has come a very long way in recent years and has been a saving grace to many established DJs during the lockdowns caused by the pandemic as they have bee able to live stream their sets to online audiences from the comfort of their homes.
Creating a brand around a performance can also help audiences easily identify an emerging talent.
The live music industry is a competitive landscape and it can take a long time for DJs to rise to the ranks of Ibiza mansions and jet set lives. However, with hard work and consistent practice as well as marketing above the rest of the competition, many DJs are able to generate an income from the industry.
