Jump str8 in or lessons?
Hey guys, i was wondering how did everyone start djing? Did you guys take lessons 1st? or buy equip and jump right in?
Am wondering what to do myself. The lessons arent cheap!
lessons are for hipsters.
if youre not sure youll take to djing as a hobby, play with a friends gear, go to guitar center before you buy your own.
no one can “teach” you how to dj. yes they can teach you the basics of song structure/key/beatmaching/phrasing. but these are all things you can learn off youtube and through practice.
save your money and buy better gear. 
get lessons from youtube, dont pay for them, not really worth it at all.
^hah
As far as the OP goes…
I didn’t take lessons but I found friends willing to let me break their vinyl, or who would come over and explain in very small words how to use EQ, or would take the time to listen to my terrible mix CDs. 
If you have the large amount of money needed for a DJ tutor or something just send it to me and I’ll draft up a guide to “how to press play and move a fader” for you… including a list of topics found by using the search function on this message board.
^^smart man. preying on the noobs. 
Also think about your motivation for becoming a DJ, do you really love the music/ making people dance or the idea of being a DJ as if you answer is the latter then save time and money and dont bother with lessons or jumping in.
If it’s the former then you just need to practice practice practice, whether that’s buying your own stuff, jumping in at the deep end, grabbing the bull by the horns and all the other metaphors you can muster or having a go with a friends etc then do it.
would it include how to filter the bass? or would i need to pay more for it? trolololol
Oh, that’s easy. Just turn your speakers down.
BOOM!
lawls
Selft tought. Man all those frustrating hours of beatmatching with crappy turntables, recording everything on tape. But those hours still pay off till today.
http://www.dubspot.com/djproducer/#djproducer-extensive-program
DJ Level 1: Rookie Sessions | Essentials I
Core Level of DJ (4 sessions in 2 or 4 weeks)
Become comfortable with the equipment and basic technique of DJing, and create your first 2 song mix.
Learn:
- How a DJ setup works: basic overview of turntable/CDJ, mixer, and headphones.
- The proper technique to scratch and play a vinyl record
- An introduction to digital DJing (Serato & Traktor both taught)
- How to count beats
- “Dropping on the 1”
- Beatmatching with “pushing & pulling” and “the halfway method”
- How to perform a basic mix/blend of two songs
Final Assignment: Perform your 1st live 2 song mix for the class.
Note: This track is also available as a 2-day 6-hour weekend workshop.
Course price: $395
DJ Level 2: Phrase Mixing | Essentials II
Core Level of DJ (4 sessions in 2 or 4 weeks)
Enhance your understanding of song structure and beatmatching to craft seamless mixes that are not just in sync but in phrase.
Learn:
How to count bars
Common song structure in various genres
More advanced beatmatching techniques – “the professional method”
Phrase mixing and the conversation between two songs
Cue point use in Serato/Traktor
Intermediate features of the Pioneer CDJ
Final Assignment: Perform a 3 song “phrase mix.”
Course price: $395
DJ Level 3: Beyond The Blend | Intermediate Skills
Core Level of DJ (4 sessions in 2 or 4 weeks)
Develop an arsenal of distinct mixing techniques, both traditional and digital, and gain experience improvising and performing in realistic group settings.
Learn:
Intermediate mixing techniques, such as the “drop cut,” “stop & drop,” “power down,” and “backspin”
Looping & layering in Serato/Traktor
Advanced features of the Pioneer CDJ
How to perform comfortably in improvisational group jam sessions
Basic guidelines to EQing
Final Assignment: Perform a 10 minute phrase mix that includes new mixing techniques.
Course price: $395
DJ Level 4: Preparation | DJ Psychology
Advanced Level of DJ (4 sessions in 2 or 4 weeks)
Train your mind to think like a DJ by analyzing, organizing, and presenting music in terms of energy, sonic character, and crowd/venue considerations.
Learn:
Methods of music organization
How to build 3 song mini sets with definite arc and flow
Tips for “reading a room,” i.e. what to play when
Intermediate EQing
Intermediate features and use of Traktor Scratch Pro with the Kontrol X1 MIDI controller
How to record a mix
Final Assignment: Record a 10 song mix in class to be shared with the group.
Course price: $395
DJ Level 5: Classroom to the Club | Advanced Techniques I
Advanced Level of DJ (4 sessions in 2 or 4 weeks)
Take an in-depth look at advanced mixing techniques as well as business/marketing strategies that will help you establish yourself as a professional DJ.
Learn:
Advanced EQing and layering
New performance effects such as filters, delays, reverbs, and more
A variety of artist development strategies, i.e. how to “build your brand”
An introduction to the business of working with promoters, club owners, managers, and booking agents
Advanced dancefloor psychology and programming
Final Assignment: Play at a real club night (organized by Dubspot) that you also help promote!
Course price: $395
DJ Level 6: Club to the World | Advanced Techniques II
Advanced Level of DJ (4 sessions in 2 or 4 weeks)
Introduce the “wow factor” to your sets by building routines and incorporating performance tools such as MIDI controllers, advanced FX, sampling, wordplay, and harmonic mixing.
Learn:
Midi mapping & basic controllerism
Principles of harmonic mixing
Advanced FX combinations
How to examine what makes an impactful “routine”
Methods of incorporating samples and acappellas
Techniques to transition from “wow-ing” to making people dance
Final Assignment: Perform a 10 minute set that begins with an impactful routine and incorporates at least one of the above concepts.
Course price: $395
BONUS BOSS LEVEL:
DJ Level 1000: World Domination Sessions by Tekki JesC, Karlos Santos, Photojojo and JesterNZDJ
Essentials Bitches!!
Supreme Level of DJ
1 session, For Life
Step 1: Become comfortable with your gear, comfortable like with your girlfriend, only more intimate and with heart. There’s no faking it here.
Step 2: Master the art and technique of Dominating by creating your first Epic Mix that Crushes everything it touches…without thought or hesitation.
Then, You Must Learn the DJTT Controller Corps Chant:
This is my Controller. There are many like it but this one is mine.
My Controller is my best friend. It is my life.
I must Master it as I must Master my life.
Without me, my Controller is useless.
Without my Controller I am useless.
I must Crush Samples with my Controller, true.
I must Scratch, Sample and BitCrush straighter than my enemy, who is trying to Crush me.
I must Dominate him before he Dominates me. I will.
Before Ean Golden I swear this creed: my Controller and myself are defenders of those Epic Nights, we are the masters of our enemy, we are the saviors of DJ’s Worldwide. So be it, until there is no enemy, but peace on the Dance floor. Amen.
Drill Sergeants Tekki, JesC, Karlos Santos, Photojojo and JesterNZDJ…
"If you ladies leave my island, if you survive recruit training… you will be a weapon, you will be a minister of death, praying for DJ War and Dance Floor Destruction. But until that day you are pukes! You’re the lowest form of life on Earth. You are not even Top 40 Dj’s! You are nothing but unorganized grabasstic pieces of Drunken Frat Boys!
Because I am hard, you will not like me. But the more you hate me, the more you will learn: I am hard, but I am fair! There is no racial bigotry here! I do not look down on others; here you are all equally worthless! And my orders are to weed out all non-hackers who do not pack the DJTechTools gear to serve in my beloved Corps! Do you maggots understand that?
-
How a DJ setup works: ARE YOU PAYING ATTENTION!!!
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What is your major malfunction, numbnuts?! HERE WE GO!
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The Basic overview is to Master the Controller, Turntable/CDJ, Mixer, and Headphones.
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You must also Respect the History, Tradition, Legacy and Foundation created by the Legendary Technics 1200’s, of which we build Controllerism upon. You Got That?? OK!!!
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Tonight… you pukes will sleep with your Controllers and Mixers!
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You will give your Controller a girl’s name! Because this is the only Controller you people are going to get!
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Your days of finger-fading little old Numark DM1002X through her laggy and unresponsive faders are over!
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You’re married to this piece, this weapon of Plastic and Rubberized Pots! And you will be faithful!
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The deadliest weapon in the world is a Controller DJ, his Soundcard and his Controller.
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It is your killer instinct which must be harnessed if you expect to survive during your sets.
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Your Controller is only a tool. It is a hard heart that kills the Dance Floor.
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If your killer instincts are not clean and strong you will hesitate at the moment of truth. You will not KILL the Dance Floor.
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You will become dead Controller DJ’s only to suffer an eternity of TOP 40 and wedding disasters.
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And then you will be in a world of shit. Because Controller DJ’s are not allowed to die without permission!!!
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Do you maggots understand???
Soon it will be Christmas! There will be a magic show at zero-nine-thirty!
Ean Golden will tell you about how the free world will conquer Top 40 with the aid of the S4 and a few Contoller DJ’s! Ean Golden has a Kung-Fu Grip for Controller DJ’s because we kill every Dance Floor we see!
He plays His games, we play ours! To show our appreciation for so much power, we keep the DJTT Store packed with fresh Top 40 souls seeking salvation! Ean Golden was here before the DJTT Controller Corps! So you can give your heart to Ean and the S4, but your ass belongs to the Controllerism! Do you ladies understand?
After Graduation from the DJTT Controller Corps, you people are no longer maggots. On that day you will be Controllerists!!
You’re part of a Brotherhood.
From now on, until the day you die, wherever you are, every Controller DJ is your Brother. Most of you will play out at Weddings to pay the rent. Some of you will not come back.
But always remember this: Controller Dj’s KILL THE DANCE FLOOR, that’s what we’re here for! And DJTT Controller Corps lives forever. That means you LIVE FOREVER!
Every set will be yours, EPIC sets ruled by the Kung-Fu Grip!! These are great days you’re living, bros. You’re are jolly green giants, walking the Earth with S4’s. Those people you waste every night are the finest human beings you will ever know.
And before you ladies leave my island, you will all be able to do the same thing!
So what are you waiting for?? MOVE, MOVE, MOVE!!!
Course price: Priceless -
Achievement Unlocked
Thanks go to b3nz0n8 for that, it’s the second time it’s been reposted
I would have quoted him but with the quote tags it exceeds the character limit!
lol. i was literally just watching that last night.
“YOU LOOK LIKE YOU COULD SUCK A GOLF BALL THROUGH A GARDEN HOSE!”
<3 R. Lee. Ermy (& B3nz0n8 )
Bullshit. It looks to me like the best part of you ran down the crack of your mama’s ass and ended up as a brown stain on the mattress.
fullenglishpint, that was… epic claps hahaha
Loved that post as well, Nice one ‘fullenglishpint’ you made my day!!:E
I can’t take the credit lol, it was forged by b3nz0n8.
I took lessons from this place
If God would have wanted you over this obstacle He’d have miracled your ass by now
Funny shit, and truthfully every drill now just acts like R Lee Ermey. You hear all of the catchphrases during basic. It was really hard not to laugh sometimes.
There is a whole lot of credibility in teaching yourself. BUT - it is BY FAR the most labour intensive, inefficient and long winded way of doing it.
If you can afford lessons, then I’d say go for it. Find a good DJ with LOTS of experience.
Otherwise, save the money for gear.
If you are being taught, the learning will be focused, and to the point. If you teach yourself, you’ll most likely learn much more, but it’ll take a whole lot longer. Teaching yourself can be fun - and when you stumble upon something that starts to make everything click, the sense of achievement is awesome. Teaching yourself is VERY rewarding.
P.S - The Buffalo Ill School of DJ’ing is now open for business! 