I’ve been a bedroom DJ for about a year now. I’ve gotten to a point where I’m building a respectable music collection, I’ve been DJing at house parties, and I’m getting into recording my mixes.
As soon as University starts, I’m going to try to get some sets at Venues.
I’m confused as to how to progress as a DJ. Not promotion-wise but rather in skill.
I’m comfortable with beatmatching, mixing tracks together, using and layer effects and EQs (although not as much as I perhaps should be).
Start watching other people dj. A good tip is to watch people like steve aoki, laidback luke on the djsounds shows on youtube where it gives you an overhead view on what they are doing. Watch that and practice the techniques they perform.
Whenever you think you’re “good enough”, try getting a little better. The next step as a DJ, if you want to talk about it logically, is to start playing at a club, bar, etc. Doing this for years isnt uncommon in the industry, just pay your dues, and if youre good enough, someone will notice.
Producing is definitely a plus, playing out your own tracks is a great feeling.
Commercial music and House. I’d prefer to play more Dutch House than Commercial but it seems the easiest way to get a steady gig at a club in University is through Commercial sets.
i think one of the biggest things about being a good and competent DJ is to have no problem playing music that people have never heard before…i am sure you have digged (is that even a word?) deep for some cuts from small indie labels that not alot of people have heard before but are still bomb tracks in their own right…right?
i mean…any one can download (torrent for you pirates) the current hits of any genre and mix them together…correct?..
So now you need to work on your taste. Even if you do spin commerical top 40 house you can still break new music. Check the hype charts. Listen to Kiss FM in the city of angels. You can even be sneaky and play some not so commercial house with the commercial house if you are doing it right.
where can I see Steve Aoki’s skills? Because I have yet to hear or see them. I GOOGLED “DJsounds steve aoki” and found him jumping around on stage, kissing Pioneer ass, and kissing SXSW ass. Maybe that IS how you become a successful superstar DJ ???
Ive been in my bedroom mixing tracks since december, i want to get out and dj to a live crowd. I don’t mind doing a free house party for people to have fun, thats the main reason i want to dj is to watch people have fun. But how do i set a house party up? I have no connections i moved to a new city and want to get a house party going from 10pm to 7am. No idea how to get one started.
These are what i grew up on, attending a warehouse rave until 6am then moving to a house party the whole next day.
I want to start out like that.
Like someone else stated, I believe it’s really important to learn a DAW and start remixing. “Put your name on it.” When other DJ’s start playing your tunes it’s promo and street cred. Ableton is a bit of a pain at first, but there is a ton of Youtube videos to guide you through. “No pain, no gain.”
There’s always room to grow. Whatever route you pick, producing, expanding track selection (there is an infinite amount of digging to be done), or advancing your dj skills (that can always be done). You just need to concentrate your energy into it.