What does it take to become a DJ?
Becoming a DJ might seem simple from the outside, but it is quite a complicated process, especially if you want to be good at it. DJ-ing is a form of art, and just like any act of creation, it requires a lot of training and a lot of creativity, which takes years to develop and refine.
I took it upon myself, like always, to learn more about the topic of becoming a DJ. In this article, I try to break down this mystery cleanly and straightforwardly so I can inspire you to put yourself out there, and surprise the world with your music sense and with your songs.
The first thing to do is to take a moment and ask yourself why you want to become one. Most people want to get into this art because they want to become famous. While it is a valid point of view, it’s not one that is going to fuel your creativity and excitement in the long run.
If your answer is because you love mixing sounds and creating new beats, then you should pat yourself on the shoulder – because you’ve just passed the first step towards becoming an accomplished DJ. The next thing you have to do is invest in mixing hardware and software like Garageband, a DJ controller and even in a quality microphone.
You don’t have to overspend, especially since the market is filled with budget-friendly options. But if you’re dead serious about pursuing this path, then go all in. The next trick is to experiment. I would recommend that you try to create your own sounds without any lessons beforehand, as they tend to tone down that uniqueness everyone has.
Another thing you can do is to look up mixing lessons after you’ve gathered more information about your style and after you’ve decided upon of what kind of music you want to bring into the world. Great sources of professional mixing classes are websites like Skillshare and Youtube.
And the last step is to make your voice heard. After you’ve created enough songs and remixed enough tracks, start sending them to your friends. Additionally, you can post them on social media outlets like Facebook and Instagram, where people can access them whenever they want to, and where they can leave feedback – which sounds scary, but it’s advantageous from many points of view.
You can also go to club owners and ask them if they are willing to play your tunes during parties, so you can gather momentum and get people interested in your stuff. This is the most critical part because a great chunk of DJ-ing is interacting with your public. It is a well-known fact that if there isn’t anyone to hear your music, it’s like you’ve never created it in the first place.
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