While learning how to DJ is not too challenging, it does take some time and effort to master it. Plus, in order to become successful in this industry, you will also have to own the right equipment. However, if you would like to share your passion for music with others while providing a great atmosphere for fun, becoming a DJ could definitely be the right choice for you. This article contains some helpful advice from the pros to get you started.
Set Some Goals
First of all, you will need to determine whether you would like to DJ for fun, fame, or make a living from it. If you only want to mix some music to enjoy it with some friends or so, you won’t need to get the top-notch equipment, and some basic skills will be sufficient to have. As a professional DJ, you will have to deal with competition and customers who will demand quality work from you. To treat DJing as a paying profession, you will probably have to improve your mixing skills and invest in a durable setup.
Buy DJ Software and Hardware
Even to master the basics of DJing, you will need to own one of the main software platforms designed to mix music. To start with, you can download a free app for home use. These usually come with a great support community to help you compare your skills. If you want to take it a step further, you get another software for more professional use. And of course, to share your music, you will need to buy adequate hardware too. While the DJ controller setup is the most popular one among beginners, you can also opt for Vinyl, Timecode, or other hardware.
Learn Some Basic Techniques
Beatmatching, phrasing, gaining control, and equalizing are some of the basic skills you will need to learn to begin your journey as a DJ. If you ever played mixing music on your computer, you might possess some of these skills, but you will still need to develop them further. The team behind DJingPro.com can give you a little more insight into what it takes to achieve this. With their relatively great experience, they can share with you helpful tips to improve your DJing techniques. They can also advise you on how to get the best out of your equipment, so you can move on to the next step.
Make Your Own Mixes
To start making your own tracks, you will need to build your own library of tunes. Fortunately, you can find lots of free songs and sound effects online and use them to practice and mix to your liking. Just download everything on your laptop, open up your free software, and you are ready to make some new music. Feel free to experiment with instrumental and vocal parts, tempos, and much more. As long as you are having fun and the music sounds good at the end, there is literally nothing you can’t do.
Share Your Soundtracks
When you are satisfied with how your mixes sound, you can share them on various social media platforms. Even if you only did it for fun, there is no harm from your friends and followers listening to the soundtracks you made. And, if you are thinking about becoming a pro live DJ, all the more reason to share your soundtracks online. In fact, it’s recommended to do this on a video platform, where people can see how you work. This will allow you to begin building up your fan base and find potential customers for future gigs.
Find Your First Gigs
Even if you shared your work online before, it might be hard to find your first gig, but if you ask around in your social circle, you will find someone who is in need of your services for sure. You may not receive much payment or recognition first, but you will need to start somewhere. This way, you will be able to gain some much-needed live experience and build trust with your followers. As you improve your technique and learn what your audience likes, the opportunities will soon multiply.
If this is your first time looking into this topic, you might find the process of becoming a DJ a little bit overwhelming. As you can see, there is a lot more to this craft than having some talent with mixing music. Although, if you have a passion for it, the rest will depend on your determination. Do lots of research and be prepared to sharpen your skills or even learn new ones along the way. Remember, music constantly evolves, which means your technique will have to grow with it as well.