Becoming a DJ
What is the first step to become a successful dj if you already have music qualifications?
Step one: Become a DJ.
Step two: Success.
Get people to come see you repeatedly.
Dude you’re Hardwell… #1 DJ in the world. Stop trolling us.
In the US…there are just over 1,000,000 kids playing football at the high school level.
There are just under 90,000 people playing football in college.
In any given year, about 150 people are drafted from college to play football in the NFL.
So, for every high school kid with dreams of running onto the field as a pro…it’s not quite the “one in a million”…but it’s close enough for planning purposes.
I mention that because…
In any given year, 1,000,000 people buy new DJ hardware.
100,000 people get their first “big break” with a residency or semi-regular gig.
150 people tour and perform as a DJ at festivals and to stadiums.
OK…so I just made up all the DJ numbers. But the larger point is this: there are a LOT of people who would like to DJ…and getting the gig is as much about “right place, right time, ready to go” as it is about anything else (including “ability”).
What do you consider “success” when it comes to being a DJ?
Income? Then become a mobile DJ and do weddings. Seriously.
Gigs? Hustle and promote yourself. Build a fan base. Work social media daily. Put out mixes. Network, network, network.
Fame? That’s easy…you just…um… ??? (I got nothing.)
step 1: get bacon
step 2: cook bacon
step 3: ???
step 4: success
Could you please define musical qualifications?
If it’s what I think it is, there are “superstar” DJs with none of those. You don’t have to know how to create a good chord progression to be a DJ. You do have to know your music, know how to transition from song A to song B and make it sound good, know how to build up a musical set and take it down again, know when and when not to toy with the listeners emotions and how to do so.
Once you know those things, you have to get a gig.
here is how you do it 
Cool first post 
The first step, and possibly the most important factor overall, is to feel excited, moved, inspired or engaged in a strong way by some music. As I see it, everything else stems from there. Even if someone headlines stadiums around the world for massive paychecks, I’m not sure I would call them a “successful” DJ if they don’t tick that box for themselves.
I don’t think music qualifications make much of a difference.
Persistence my friend
Just keep on pushing…
Fuck!!!, you beat me to it lmao.
Step 3: be a DJ
when in doubt hire Marten Vorwerk
Nice to see that you’re ahead of the game man. Once you’ve got those qualifications, you’re golden. I guess the obvious next step would be to submit them to the institute.
to be a dj.. one must first be a dj…
Lmao, that’s rich.
This quote kind-of struck me. So - if you’re ALWAYS “ready to go”/willing to be ready-to-go.. Does that mean eventually, everybody has a decent chance? (assuming they can actually DJ)
Yeah you’re likely to get a gig for being at parties and making the right connections rather than “being drafted for skill” as they would in sports
edit/ Unless you produce quality music that people desire then you can go that route… If you’re good enough…