Becoming a DJ

LiamD

Howyaz

I know this question has probly been asked before and will probly make me look like a complete noob, but how do you go about becoming a DJ?I love dance music, especially harder stuff and some trance and i really want to get into DJing.I have no decks, no vinyl collection and the only music I have is what I'd personally be listening to.I'm not too sure how to use decks either.

I really want to be able to start making my own mixes and then becoming a DJ for parties and discos.Hopefully I will eventually be on a pirate radio station specialising in dance music.Right now though I'm quite clueless on whats needed, where to start or where to go after I've started.

Can anyone offer advice or tell me where to start and what to do?

Thanks in advance,
Liam.

Helix

meh

if you wanna dj buy decks, a mixer, and records

but only do it if you are REALLY REALLY prepared to spend every single cent you have on the hobby, and never make a penny back

if not, its not for you

tman

aye. sounds like you've got a fairly ****ty attitude towards it.
djing should always be viewed as a hobby, not a way to make cash.

get yourself a set of direct drive decks (if you're really serious about this, get a loan and buy a set of 1210s) and a decent mixer (djm600 seems to be the industry standard)

then start scouting out some wax. (bangingtunes.com would be a good place to start seeing as you're into the harder stuff)

behanj

Get Direct-Drive Turntables.
very important, the other option is Belt-Drive and although it's alot cheaper you'll really be at nothing and end up going to Direct-Drive eventually.
Some say that the only turntable worth even considering is Technics. This is a decision you'll have to make yourself, there are lots of brands, Numark & Vestax have quite a good name too. Technics are often hard to get and pricier than the others.
My mixer experience is fairly limited, I use a bog-standard, two channel jobby that works fine for me, again it depends on what you want to do, picking a mixer is a big part getting started, I think you should go for a cheap, sturdy one, that gives you the feel for what is required and then worry about upgrading to a bells and whistles model after.
You'll need headphones too, again it's worth investing in a decent pair, and don't laugh, but get ones that cover your ears. Sennheiser make quality pairs.
Stylus (needles), cables, slipmats, etc.... your local friendly record/dj shopee can help you there.
You can get special DJ-in-a-box kits that include everything, usually cheaper option, but remember the old cliché - "You get what you pay for"
There are a few sites on the web that might be helpful - type in "so you wanna be a dj" in google and read the articles and related material there.
If you live in Dublin head down to Abbey Discs and have a look at what's going on there, the staff are helpful too so don't be shy. HMV Grafton Street and Tower Records stock Vinyl also, there's loads more shops
Check out www.htfr.com/www.htfr.co.uk (hard to find records), they've a good selection, they're reliable and it's all in a handy website. Plus you can get videos/books, etc... that'll help you get started.
I hope this helps, it's a hard thing to get started in as a lot of people aren't the most forthcoming but you'll meet a few sound heads that'll help you along the way.
Remember this though, it takes a lot of practise to get even decent at beat-matching, and that's only the start.
Best of luck, my only other word of advice is - Forget Trance, go HipHop!

eoin5

dont mind hip-hop, go trance :P

You might want to make your own tunes at some stage no? I recommend fruityloops: http://www.fruityloops.com/

Helix

nah fruity is pants

get reason for starting out

weak infant

Good sites to buy stuff from:
www.thomann.de
www.musik-schmidt.de

Music info:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/onemusic/index.shtml?hp_lhn

The way I see it, the only way you are gonna make any money out of it is by playing chart music at pub discos, which you probably don't want to do? There's a book called "how to dj (properly)" that's worth having a look at. Make friends with somebody who's into it see what it's like before you go blow a large amount of money on decks.

Seanie M

Well Liam,

even though you are clueless, it doesn't make you unique! Most DJ's that you probably know have not ventured far from the bedroom, and thats a good place to start. Like the lads above said, save up and get the gear first. You can always plug the output from your mixer into your hi-fi and practice on the decks that way, without the need for (expensive) loud amps.

Regarding the previous replies above - why is it always 1210's? Liam, think about cd decks instead. No offense, but I don't thinkk in the forseeable future you will be a superstar DJ or anything. The bast way to make yourself known, is to buy the music, and equipment to play it on, that everybody wants. Not everybody likes dance music - it is becoming thin, and repetitive. If its disco's and parties that you would like to do, then cd's are the way to go. You have much more music at your finger tips on cd than on vinyl, its a fact.

I started 8 years ago. What helped me was that I asked a DJ at a gig, what I can do to do what he's doing. Now, he's still doing it, and I am too. It mostly started out by doing warm-ups in the clubs accessible to me where he played, and getting to do weddings and birthdays - basicaly the kind of gigs he didn't want to do! To date, I do about 3 nights a week at least, have travelled around Leinster doing all sorts of work, played in many well know venues, and have even been on radio for 2 years (CKR FM - but it lost its license now). In time, this can happen to you too!

That is a good way to get into it - you get your confidence, play in front of lots of people, learn to respect more types of music instead of concentrating on a specific kind that YOU like, and improve your PR skills at gigs and with people. You have to think of yourself as an entertainer, not just a DJ. You don't like Abba? So what! If its the brides favourite song, then you play it for her and make her feel 1 in a million by requesting it to her. THATS entertainment! Thats a good DJ.

If you have DJ buddies, try hanging out more with them.

And unless you are special in that you have what it takes, a good personality, not some lousy accent where your 'th's are 'd's etc, and have the power to move mountains, you won't make it into big gigs, radio, and well known venues.

Been there, done that... go the whole hog, and do it properly!



Seanie.

Bri

Have to say Seanie M's advice on sticking with CDs sounds like a good one for yourself. 1210s are well and good (actually they're great IMO!) but vinyl is the most expensive area you could get into because you can't exactly starting pressing bootleg copies yourself from the stuff you download off the web, at least I doubt you have the cash to buy that machine aswell!

CDs are easy as you can buy a huge stack of blanks, a caselogic bag and off you go. Before you go buying some great pioneer decks think about if your gonna buy what YOU like to listen to or what your audience will. Until you start making some decent gigs you're audience may well have what you see as stupid pop taste. Just bear in mind that fact, as getting into DJing with a view to starting a career, as well as keeping yourself happy = most of your cash gone on buying everything new as well as your own tastes.

3 other things:
If you want vinyl; then go Direct Drive - as said above. If that means waiting, then wait.
Mind your stuff whenever you play - never trust anybody!
Be nice to those your playing for; i.e. Don't take requests and then ignore 'em.

Good luck!

Edit:
Just to also say that once cash is involved, make sure it's all worked out in advance. Notoriously bad business for being ripped off in. DJs (non-superstar) even trademark their names to avoid scams.
Remember that if your gonna hire PA equipment, you won't have alota cash left over to spend on yourself and/or music...so consider when the right time to buy your own gear is.

the_syco

Check with the radio stations. One of them (spin103.8, I think) does a DJ school every once in a while.

LiamD

Thanks a million guys thats helped a lot.From what yaz have said I don't think I'm ready to start Djing/mixing just yet.I'm only 16 and there's only so much time and money I have to put into it right now.Still thought this doesn't mean I'm giving up.Now that I know what I have to do to get started I'm gonna try and achieve that ASAP.I think you guys are right, I should probably start off with CD Decks first and then see where I'm going.

Re. gigs and stuff - if/when I do DJ I plan to play what the crowd wants and have typical disco music and chart.My passion will always be for dance though and that's the type of stuff I'd be mixing at home in my bedroom.I wouldn't have any huge expectations to become known for it or make a lot of money.If I did that would be great, but the gigs I would do would just e to pay the bills and get new equiptment/music.

Thanks,
Liam

Jivin Turkey

I dont know where everyone thought the lad wanted to just do it for the money???

I would recommend if you want to be a "dance" dj, get technics. Industry standard. Records are cooler than cds anyway.

jimi_t

Before you spend anything get yoursefl a trial copy of Atomix' "Virtual DJ 2". As soon as you get it, apply the "Pioneer" skin and you'll basically have a pair of CDJ-1000s and a top level mixer to mess around with. It'll let you get familiar with the industry standard CD based equipment and record your own mixes until you feel you're ready to splurge on hardware.

tman

Jivin Turkey wrote:

I dont know where everyone thought the lad wanted to just do it for the money???

personally, i got it from the following line;

LiamD wrote:

I really want to be able to start making my own mixes and then becoming a DJ for parties and discos.

smacks of doing it for the cash tbh

behanj

.....I was on a work night out, got lashed at some disco bar place, the DJ was playing charty and the usual 70's floorfillers, I was an obnoxious twat (still am) and started abusing him about his taste, etc.... He said "When you go out tonight, take a look at the jeep parked in the front, I bought that just djing this crap"
I don't know what I mean by all that, but it certainly made me think
Fair play to you if you go the CD route, but before investing even in that ask yourself what you want to do, if it's the turntables at a party and keeping it real then go for it, but it's probably more comercially viable to use cds, and cheaper, and loads of choice.
You can download virtual dj software on the web which might give you an idea of what the basics are all about.
Box it off

ro_chez

Personally, I think ya can't beat the hands-on feel you get with vinyl, or the warm sound, or when you find a record you've been searching for, for ages in the arse end of some pokey little record shop, and I think if you are passionate about the music you play and the artists who produce those tracks, you should buy their records rather than ripping them off by d/l'ing them to play in your sets, and it's more fun.

Also, if you're going to be playing dance music in some form, you'll have more choice with vinyl rather than cd.

Word of warning though, in some cases vinyl addiction has been likened to that of heroin or crack addiction, so beware:D

Helix

plus its always nice to actually PAY for your music, and support the producers who break their balls day in day out to make quality music for djs to play

Jivin Turkey

tman wrote:

personally, i got it from the following line;

smacks of doing it for the cash tbh

Since when do lads get paid for doing parties? And Im sure what he meant by doing "discos" was gigging. And lets be honest at 16 its going to be a long time before he sees any green from gigging.

Bri

ro_chez wrote:

Personally, I think ya can't beat the hands-on feel you get with vinyl, or the warm sound, or when you find a record you've been searching for, for ages in the arse end of some pokey little record shop, and I think if you are passionate about the music you play and the artists who produce those tracks, you should buy their records rather than ripping them off by d/l'ing them to play in your sets, and it's more fun.

Also, if you're going to be playing dance music in some form, you'll have more choice with vinyl rather than cd.

Word of warning though, in some cases vinyl addiction has been likened to that of heroin or crack addiction, so beware:D

Couldn't agree more...I'm a vinyl fan myself. I simply wanted to give him some realistic advice, as plunging into 12" buying is a big step...and if he wants to play to more than himself in the mirror he may have to go the pragmatic/illegal route!

Seanie M

Vinyl is good to use, though I don't think it matters what is 'industry standard'. Just because some of the biggest jocks in the world use vinyl, doesn't make it a standard. Just that most of the music they play is on vinyl.

However, most of those same jocks that use vinyl, mix with cd's at the same time, so there is no exclusivity about the media to use.

I use both, and have found that you must get to grips with cd's first to cover a broader range of music to make it as a jock. All that dance stuff, some of it downright awful, does have a very limited target audience. Discos and parties will need cd music, the techno you love wll be on vinyl ANYWAY.

Seanie.

rabbitinlights

I bought a pair of Numark Direct drive decks (TT200) and i love them, I would defo recomend vinyl and then maybe a 3rd CD deck? Vinyl would teach you more to start with, Cueing up, slowing down, then when your used to it use a 3rd CD deck to make more music available to you....

bush

Stupid thread, eh how do i become a dj, ****in hell

djhooley

a good idea is to get two of the same record or cd and try mixin those first. maybe some funky house wich is usually around the same speed:130 bpm. try and get some tracks which havent a lot goin on at the end or the start. just basic 4/4 beats. makes life a lot easier. try havin a go on a mates set of decks to see if its for you before splashin a load of money.

LiamD

Again, Thanks guys for all of your tips.It's given me a good idea of what I need to do to start off and then we'll see from there...

Re. the money - I don't want to be a DJ because I think I'm going to make a load of money from it.From what I've heard and what people on this board are saying too a lot of Djs don't get much money from DJing and it's more of a hobby than a proffesion.I'd imagine it would take a lot of time and experience to be good enough to get a resident spot somewhere or get a good enough rep to make money off it.Me, I just want to do it because I'm interested in it, I love music and I like sharing that with others.

Seanie M

Sound philosophy Liam, worked for me!

LiamD wrote:

Howyaz

I know this question has probly been asked before and will probly make me look like a complete noob, but how do you go about becoming a DJ?I love dance music, especially harder stuff and some trance and i really want to get into DJing.I have no decks, no vinyl collection and the only music I have is what I'd personally be listening to.I'm not too sure how to use decks either.

I really want to be able to start making my own mixes and then becoming a DJ for parties and discos.Hopefully I will eventually be on a pirate radio station specialising in dance music.Right now though I'm quite clueless on whats needed, where to start or where to go after I've started.

Can anyone offer advice or tell me where to start and what to do?

Thanks in advance,
Liam.

keep it real liam decks are the biss i started off with nothing but i have a good collecting now cool tunes good set kicking it . no jobs but still love it .
work on records and your rolling thats all u need . dont let anything stop u

Kingsize

ive done a fair bit of djin & made a bit of cash( not enuff to buy a jeep admittedly but im not that kinda guy)
i use cds mostly now cos ive broke my heart & broke my back carrying vinyl around.
Personally i love the vinyl & learned about djing using vinyl & 1210s but it does get a bit wrecked , also when you are starting off you need as may tunes as you can get,vinyl quality varies & albums wont sound as good as 12" singles or cds especially on a big sound system.
even if you treat your vinyl "like a lady" it can get wrecked through no fault of your own . a badly scratched record will not ever work again whereas you can always backup your cds.
I have a set of cd decks but i dont even spin vinyl at home at the moment.
if you want to get ahead of the posse get a laptop & audio interface & load it with tunes_ then you can also eventuallyy get your own productions on the go or make your own remixes of other peoples stuff.
read "how to dj(properly)" by bill brewster & frank broughton.its full of little nuggets of wisdom.
if you are going to "play out" be warned that the general public are somewhat unforgiving & downright annoying at times.you need to be able to let the flak drop off you & you need to be able to tell people to piss off & make em think your thyre best mate while you do it!!
also remember that some peoples ideas of waht genre is what will differ from yours (e.g. Youre playing "rappers delight" & someone asks you to play some "hip hop"!!!??)
also you'll here these quite a bit
1: play somethin we all know
2: play somethin we can dance to
3: Play "

---

" & everyone will get up & dance
4:would you play this tune cos were leavin in 5 minutes
ALSO(most important) good luck & have fun !

Dave Cummins

Varied posts on this one, and to be honest I think it is a fair topic and something on many peoples minds out there but they would be too scared to stick up a post on it. So fair play to you.

Anyway, my advice, to add my bit, is the following:

Think along the lines of practicality. Forget about playing out for the moment, big rooms, big sound systems blah blah blah, its a long way off (but not miles off if you stick with it). My advice is to have a look at www.recess.co.uk This site is essentially custom built for those trying to learn. It tells you all you need to know to get started so I will not rehash anything of what is said on that site in this post. Just have a read, before you do anything. Its totally free, no DJ coaching books required, its all in that site.

After reading that, if you are into it, have the bug, whatever you want to call it, then get yourself a set of CDJ 100's, not the 1000s as some people might suggest. The 100s areinstant start, bog standard but as practical as fvck. Get yourself a 2 channel decent mixer. I recommend the DJM 300.

The reason I recommend CD's as a couple of people before me have stated is becuase, music is more accessible, they are lighter, you have access to a far wider range than what your local record shop has, you are also not milled out of it on postage costs becuase HEAVY vinyl aint being sent to you, you will not make a mess of records (when you are learning you tend to do that). With CD's you avoid the belt drive/direct drive trap, stylus costs, slipmatts, the pricey nature of vinyl itself, CDJ's are space saving, ideal for parties in your mates gaff, blah blah blah. No doubt you will have purists giving you a hard time saying you are not a DJ until you use vinyl. Personally I think that a load of ****e given what you can do lately on a set of CDJ 1000's by far surpasses anything you can do on a pair of Technics. Dont get me wrong, I use both and love vinyl but with CDJ1000's DJing has been taken to a completely different level. Anyway, that is a completely different debate.

Forget about all that stuff, practice day in day out on your CD's, build your collection up downloading tracks, preferably from digital download shops becuase 1, your paying for your music and the artist is getting something out of it, and two, the quality is better, usually 320 or higher kBPS. Make yourself up a few CDs with unmixed tunes on them and then just get stuck in using the guidlines given on that site I mentioned above. If you enjoy doing what you do then start mixing using vinyl too. And build from there.

The reason I dont suggest vinyl is becuase its just darned expensive when starting off and especially given your age and cash flow. All that fancy stuff can follow, as can 1210's (1200 Euro a pair), a DJM600 (1000 Euro), CDJ1000MkII's (2200 per pair) blah blah blah. Dont worry about what is industry standard for the moment. You need to decide if it is the hobby for you. If it is not, then at least your investment will not have been much, and given you will have Pioneer gear, you can pass that on very easily to another person starting off like you were if you think it aint the hobby for you.

Oh and another thing. Dont even think about making money, just dont even think about it. If you go the party/wedding/21st DJ route, then you have a much better chance of doing that. I dunno, I myself am not, and have never done that type of thing, its just my music taste, I cant see the bride and groom liking Luke Chables new tunes on Baroque for example, but then again.

Name of the game for you really is cost, just keep them down.

Dave