DJing is an exciting and fulfilling music career, but like any profession in the music industry, it’s a challenge to get started. We’ve put together some helpful tips for getting your DJ career started from other professionals for those just starting their journey!
Set Goals for Yourself
Before you begin your DJing career, you should first lay out some basic but attainable goals. Why are you DJing, and what do you hope to get out of it in the next year, 5 years, or 10 years?
Do you want to become a full-time DJ living off your earnings from bookings, or do you want to do side-gigs to supplement your income and have some fun? Once you’re honest with yourself about what you want out of DJing and what you hope to achieve, the path is much clearer.
Once you’ve set your goals, you can better develop a budget for your first DJ equipment and how often you can set aside time to work on tracks and mixes.
Focus on the Music
Whether you want to make it your full-time career or as a side-gig, you’re not going to succeed and get booked as a DJ if you don’t focus on the music and take it seriously. Some people think DJing is fun to do occasionally.
That may be fine as a hobby, but you’ll have to invest a lot of time and energy into creating music as a profession. If you don’t have an intense passion for the music that forces you to work hard, that’ll show in your mixes and tracks, and people won’t be interested in listening to you.
Mix Again and Again and Again
You don’t have to develop a flawless, cutting-edge mix every time you sit down to create. Consider just free-styling and making a 30-minute track with nothing but a mixer and some turntables.
Don’t pressure yourself to be perfect every time—allow yourself some freedom to try new things. Record rough but solid mixes, show them to friends and peers, and solicit feedback.
Always Be Professional
Even if you’re not looking to become a full-time DJ and only want to do it on the weekends occasionally, it’s essential always to be professional. Professionalism extends to club owners, bookers, other DJs, and, of course, fans.
Get there early and ensure your equipment and setup are correct if you’ve got a show. If you’re known as a reliable booking and professional, you’re much more likely to earn future bookings. If you have a terrible experience with a show, don’t post about it on social media—that’s an easy way to make a poor reputation in the business and burn bridges.
Don’t Be Afraid To Ask for Help
No one has made it to the top without help from the others. That advice isn’t exclusive to DJing but to anyone trying to make it in a career.
Don’t let pride or intimidation get in the way of asking fellow DJs or other professionals in the business for advice and help when you need it!
We hope our tips for getting your DJ career started help you become a better musician! In the end, it’s not much different than any other career: set your goals, focus on the craft, and don’t be afraid to ask for help!
