Although music was played over the airwaves for decades prior, the DJ was a personality figure who appealed to teenagers. The 1950s was the first decade where the value of marketing to teenagers came to light. As a result, those who played popular songs on the radio not only had to play the top songs, they had to also have personalities that the teens admired so that they would listen in to their broadcast.
The DJ has been an institution in the radio industry over the past 50 years, although the role has changed dramatically, especially over the past 20 years. In the 1980s, new technology made it possible for people to become a DJ for a wedding as well as other events. Hiring a DJ to play music at a wedding over amplifiers was considerably cheaper than hiring a live band. As a result, there was a whole new venue opened up for those who had considerable knowledge of music and the money to purchase the equipment.
House music was also born in the 1980s. This consisted of mixing various different types of music, usually from recordings, and making them into a unique sound of their own. This can be done in a variety of different ways, although a good DJ who plays in a club will use vinyl records to create their own sound.
Vinyl records and turntables, once considered a relic of the past after the advent of the CD and CD players, made a comeback in clubs.
Putting it simply, a DJ is someone with a considerable knowledge of music, a large collection of music and who knows how to play the music in a way that others will want to listen to the music. Someone can be a DJ on the radio, a DJ in a club or a DJ playing for weddings and parties. Although you should go to school for broadcasting if you want to get on the radio, you do not have to have any type of degree to start your own business as a DJ who plays at weddings and other events. You do need a following in order to become a DJ for a popular club.
The most important attribute a DJ has is a vast knowledge of music and what people want to hear. The second most important attribute of a DJ is their personality. Both of these factors combined can make someone into a very popular and well paid DJ. These attributes are not learned in a classroom, but they can be acquired through studying music as well as the art of entertaining others.
Knowing Your Music
The most successful of all of those in the DJ business have a great appreciation for music. They are well aware of all the genres and although may prefer one over another, realize that all music is basically a combination of several different types of music. Musicians today all got their inspiration from musicians from the past. Who got their inspiration from musicians of the past. And so on.
Most people think that the club DJ only spins vinyl using club mixes. However, they have to get the music for these mixes in some way. Many of them will use a combination of pumped in sound through synthesizers as well as vinyl records that they spin in a certain way that alters the sound. By doing this, they are creating a specific sound. This is similar to playing a musical instrument. However, as anyone who has ever attempted to play a musical instrument knows, not all the sounds that come from the instrument are good.
Some of them are bound to be real clinkers if the person who is playing the instrument does not practice and does not have an ear for music.
Some people are born with a natural ‘ear for music.’ They can pick up tunes in their head and then play them over again on various instruments. They can even compose music in their heads as well. In some cases, these musicians are trained in order to obtain this knowledge of music. In other cases, there is no training involved. Sir Paul McCartney, who is arguably the most successful composer of the 20th Century, has no formal musical training and cannot even write or read music.
You do not have to be naturally gifted in order to obtain success as a DJ, but you do have to know music.
You have to have an ear for which sounds work well with others, especially if you are considering a career in this field. Even if you are just looking for a job as a DJ who hosts weddings and parties, you need to know the right songs to play as well as when to play them. The DJ at any wedding is usually like the emcee of the wedding. They get the ball rolling when it comes to dancing, getting the crowd on their feet, settling them down and then getting them to leave when the night is over.
If you want to be a radio DJ, on the other hand, you will have a catalog of music at your disposal. You still need to know the right songs to play, however most of those who work in radio work for a certain station that plays a certain genre of music. When it comes to being a radio DJ, personality is the all important attribute.
Chances are your audience have heard the songs you are playing over and over again, and can easily purchase them. Those who tune into your show will want to hear you, as well as any information that you can provide to them about the type of music that they are listening to.
The best way to get an ear for music is to study music and listen to it. Learn what type of music blends well with another type of music and practice creating your own sound. The most successful club DJ s in the industry have their own unique sound that brings people in to listen to them.
If possible, take a music class. Learn how to play a musical instrument. You can also take a history of music class to learn more about the different genres of music that are out there and how they came into existence. The more you learn about music, the better you will be at becoming a DJ.
The Right Equipment
Before you can hope to become a DJ, you need to invest in the right equipment. You are going to want to make sure that your sound is well heard. You can invest in equipment that costs thousands of dollars, or get started with a turntable and some downloaded music that you put on your computer. You should also have an amplifier that will be able to turn up the volume.
One important thing to remember about music equipment is that you get what you pay for. If you hope to become successful as a DJ, you are going to want to continue to invest in better equipment so that you can improve the quality of your sound. The better the amplifier, the better the sound. You need to have a very clear sound in order to get the people dancing.
Computers have made it easier to not only acquire music but also to play it to others. However, the stereo sound that emits from most computers is not good enough quality to play for others in a club. You should invest in equipment that will enable you to get started so that the sound that you play is not only audible, but clear as well.
A microphone is also essential if you are going to be a DJ. You are going to be more than just a record spinner, you are going to be a personality. This means that you have to speak over the microphone when you are playing your music. Some of those in the industry will use the mike in a creative way to further amplify the sound. You can get a beginners kit if you want to be a DJ for about one thousand dollars. This will give you all of the equipment that you need to set up in a club and be able to spin vinyl as well as mix in your own music.
A turntable is the most crucial piece of equipment for the club DJ. This will enable you to play vinyl as well as mix your own music to the sound of the vinyl record. You can maneuver the vinyl record in a way that you cannot a CD to give you even a more unique sound.
Of course, the most important equipment that you can have as a DJ is a large catalog of music. You can get music from various sources, including online downloads. You should have your music organized in such a way that you know where everything is and that you can play the right music at the right time. The more music you have, the more successful you will be when it comes to being a DJ.
When you are looking for vinyl, you can look for used records as well as new. New vinyl albums, which used to be at one time the gold standard when it came to what people used to listen to music, have shot up in price in recent years. Since the CD became the gold standard of music listening in the 1990s, vinyl albums went by the wayside. There was a resurgence in vinyl in the early part of the 21st century and now many musicians are honored when their music comes out “in vinyl.” A vinyl record is a 33 rpm record that plays on a turntable with the use of a needle. At one time, this was one of the few ways that people were able to listen to music that they purchased.
There is no reason for any DJ to be without music today. Because it is so easy to download from the internet, and just about any song is available, you can build quite a collection of music when you are becoming a DJ. Getting the music is not as important as organizing it in such a way that you know exactly how to get to it and when. You can do this via your computer. Most of the DJ s today will use their computer laptops as a way to organize their music so that they can get to a certain song within a matter of seconds. Having your music organized by computer is similar to how music is organized in a radio station.
The more organized you are when it comes to your music, the better you will be at being a DJ.
Once you have the right equipment for your venture as a DJ, a vast knowledge of music as well as the music itself, then you are ready to begin your work as a DJ.
In addition to your zest for music, you also have to have a zest for people. When you are playing music for people, whether you are at a club or at an event, you have to like the people. This is not a career for a shrinking violet. It is a career for someone who is gregarious and who truly enjoys entertaining the crowd.
Part of being a DJ is being a personality. Someone who is an artist with the music but who also knows how to get people in the mood to have fun. Again, the DJ is the emcee of any event, so you have to not be afraid to get your voice out there.
The most important part of developing your DJ personality is to develop your own personality. Not the personality of someone else. You are going to want to be yourself, but also make the most of what sets you apart from others. There is something that sets everyone apart from everyone else. No two people are exactly alike. Use the thing that is different about you, that makes you unique, and capitalize on it in order to give yourself your DJ personality.
Go into any club where there is a DJ and check them out. Instead of just checking out the people in the club or the music, check out the behavior of the DJ. See what about them makes the crowd like them. In most cases, you will see that they all pretty much behave in the same way. They all have their list of songs that they play, all use the same phrases, the same slang and are all very much alike.
Greatness is achieved by individuality. Think of what you could do differently that would make the crowd not only stand up and take notice to your music, but also to you. Look at how the different DJ s in the club dress. The type of jewelry and hats that they wear. Can you think of anything that would make you stand out that you can do differently?
Getting Your First Gig
Chances are that your first gig as a DJ will be something small and maybe even family related. The best chance you have of getting a gig is through a family member or by hosting a wedding or some other party.
While you wait to for your big chance to become a DJ at a club, you may have to make ends meet by doing DJ work at a variety of different functions. Weddings are a big deal and you probably will start with something smaller than that.
It is important that you take your DJ responsibilities seriously no matter what type of gig you get. You will get work by word of mouth as a DJ. This is true even if you work in a club. If you have a good reputation, one of showing up on time, making people happy, playing the right music and doing your job, you will get good references. If you have a poor reputation, word will get around. No matter how talented you think you are, no matter how good of a performer you think you are, you have to give the people what they want or else you are not going to get any more work. It is as simple as that.
Make sure that you test all of your equipment before your first gig. You should have a pretty good idea of what people want when you do this gig as well as any special requests for songs. You should ask whoever is hiring you for the gig if there are any songs that they want performed at the event or any games. Make sure that you have the music and that you do a test run. Most of the time, events where someone hires a DJ is a once in a lifetime event. For you this is just a job, but for some people, they plan this event for months and in some cases, even years. In many cases, it is a once in a lifetime event.
If you are looking for a paying DJ job at a new club, the best way to do so is to talk to the owner and then produce a demo tape. You can offer to work one night in the club as a test. You should never offer to work for free, however. Oddly enough, people who offer to work for free are not taken as seriously in any kind of business as those who demand payment. By producing a demo tape and talking to the club owner, you may be able to get a job.
Always be professional. Always test your equipment before you even get started. Make sure that you study the club before you even start so that you know what type of music that they play and what the people like.
Remember that scene from “The Blues Brothers?” Where the blues band walked into a Country and Western bar to play the blues? It was funny in that film, but will not be funny if you do this in a real club.
Make sure that you know what they like and give the people what they like.
This does not mean that you have to be a carbon copy of every other DJ in that club. You gradually want to start to bring your own mix and your own personality to the club. For your first gig, you may even want to play one of your own mixes. See how the crowd reacts.
Being a DJ in a club or even as a wedding DJ means practice. Do not expect to set the world on fire the first night you perform. Your goal should to be to build up a gradual group of followers who come to the club and who like what you spin. Sooner or later, you will be asked to get those Saturday night gigs.
Hope this gave you some ideas. Talk to you tomorrow :-)
Terry
