How to Get to the "Next Level" (Read before asking)

[Sambo]

Soo... in order to get big, you should learn to beatmatch? I haven't understood you well

No no, getting big and being a working DJ are two different things. Look if you go to a gig and your laptop takes a shit and dies, which sometimes it does, you're going to have to use whatever they have there, or go home without pay. More often than not, they will have two CDJs and a mixer.

[LoveBeat]

No no, getting big and being a working DJ are two different things. Look if you go to a gig and your laptop takes a shit and dies, which sometimes it does, you're going to have to use whatever they have there, or go home without pay. More often than not, they will have two CDJs and a mixer.

Oh, I understand! The beatmatching thing has never been a question to me, because i'm too young to be hired to DJ in bars or clubs, but def wanna learn to do it! (btw congrats for the 500 posts! )

[Sambo]

Oh, I understand! The beatmatching thing has never been a question to me, because i'm too young to be hired to DJ in bars or clubs, but def wanna learn to do it! (btw congrats for the 500 posts! )

Cheers man I didn't even notice haha. Yeah I started light jockin' in a club and I that's where I learnt to use CDJs, surprisingly I never tried learning to beatmatch because I always used other DJs' DVS systems which more often than not tell you exact BPMs and other visual cues. However I found that not long after, I could beatmatch on anything. It just came to me. It took me three goes A>B mixing on vinyl to get it down, because vinyl has a more skilled approach to altering the tempo, as opposed to the robotic CDJ and laptop systems. But, I also now manually beatmatch on my S4, again it's just natural, and any decent controller will allow you to learn to beatmatch, you just gotta do the "blindfold" test so to speak for about an hour a night and you should have it down within two weeks.

[haze324]

Metal

While I think your post provides some good info the complete beginner asking this question, I think your post should be stated in the proper context. These guide works for "small bars in your area"....and quite possibly in other bars in other cities. BUT --- I wouldn't state these words of advice as gospel. I can assure while helpful, not much of this applies to "Big" Clubs where I live. Perhaps at some smaller bars, but def. the minority.

+1 on Sambo's post.

[djtmoks]

I also started out at college parties playing off of youtube. If we wanted to get the party going and the hosts didnt have good music I would just take over. I would keep opening up songs in new tabs and kind of create a playlist with it. People didnt care if i had a wicked setup. I just played the songs that got people dancing. Those parties were some of the best ive ever been to. What really got me hooked on DJ'ing was that feeling when you drop the perfect song and the whole party goes wild. After a while people would come up to me at other parties and ask me to jump on youtube to get the party going. Youtube wasnt much to play on but thats where it all began. After a little while of this I decided to get a traktor audio 2 interface and a stanton midi controller. After i caught a severe case of RGAS and it hasnt slowed down yet.

[djmetalgear]

Metal

While I think your post provides some good info the complete beginner asking this question, I think your post should be stated in the proper context. These guide works for "small bars in your area"....and quite possibly in other bars in other cities. BUT --- I wouldn't state these words of advice as gospel. I can assure while helpful, not much of this applies to "Big" Clubs where I live. Perhaps at some smaller bars, but def. the minority.

+1 on Sambo's post.

I'm pretty sure I made it clear that this is for bedroom DJs looking to make the jump from bedroom to working/bar/small club... this isn't for lavish clubs and scenes that you may be used to in Miami. So... idk if you actually read the post, but I thought I made it pretty clear.

[haze324]

I read the post man. Don't jump so quick to get defensive...

....like I said, it's good info for the complete beginner. You also have to realize, the complete beginner may not know any better and think this is the end all be all rules to succeed.

[djmetalgear]

I read the post man. Don't jump so quick to get defensive...

....like I said, it's good info for the complete beginner. You also have to realize, the complete beginner may not know any better and think this is the end all be all rules to succeed.

sorry. early morning post so i guess i was cranky and i didnt want to come off as rude.

but yes, this is not GOSPEL... so dont consider it.. but also realize where YOU are like i said... Miami > 99% of the DJ market.

[jdownesbaird]

sorry. early morning post so i guess i was cranky and i didnt want to come off as rude.

but yes, this is not GOSPEL... so dont consider it.. but also realize where YOU are like i said... Miami > 99% of the DJ market.

I thought you made it very clear that this was just your personal experience. In fact, in the very first paragraph you say, "Not every one has and will go this route" and you ask for others to share their personal experiences. Not sure why anyone would suggest that you were even hinting that this was gospel. Seems a little unfair, especially since you made the effort to post your own journey in hopes of helping others. All anyone call tell is their own story.

[nem0nic]

To reach that upper level, your mind, body, and soul must be one. It takes sacrifice. It takes hard work. It's a way of life.