I personally have stumbled upon Digital DJing only a couple
months back, and only very recently settled on Traktor Pro. I spent years
learning the basics behind electronic / electro music (synths and drum
machines) but could never settle on what to do. DJing so far as I can see
has settled this debate.
But now i am at the point that all wanna-be DJs are at, the Bedroom…I
have yet to make a even slightly important breakthrough. I am 16 years old,
and have no idea how to get myself into the “game” (if there even is a
general “game”). How did you start out? how did you get your self into the
Club scene?
Obviously couse of my age, my equipment is limited to a Axiom 61 which has been beaten up more than anything else i own, a X-Session Pro and finally a Audio 2 DJ. But i just don’t like the idea of being cooped
up in my room with the dire dream to play a club. I do have experience playing at friend’s house parties…but that is
nothing compared to real life experience.
P.S. I just recently got signed to do a Charity event…but found out no-one is going to go…
To sum up…What pointers can you give a young, new Digital DJ. And where
do I go from here? (And sorry for the wall of text)
i think in terms of hardware you are all set to do some wicked stuff. now it comes mainly down to spending the time to beef up your skills and then taking the plunge at every opportunity to DJ. since you are young I assume that there are plenty of party opportunities to take up on with little pressure to having to earn money to pay for rent and food.
get noticed. myspace, twitter, soundcloud aren’t gadgetry, they are essential. you have to get into the community, sharing tapes/tracks with others and search the contact to other djs.
it’s always good to have a profile which people can look at, especially when it comes to finding a gig.
if that point is checked, get out there and give club owners promo stuff. they love promo stuff, everybody loves promo stuff! you said that you spent years with synths and drum machines. then produce something and send it around the globe. blogs will help you to get your name out there or maybe even get you a release on some label.
you are very young, which is very good, (i sometimes feel a little old with my 18 years when looking at sonicc for example who is getting major spins from big name djs with his 18 years, heh) so try to make the best out of it.
Get into productions. That is your key to really making it today. It’s not the 90s anymore and now a days you have to have good productions to help u get noticed, especially since you are under age and u can’t hang out in clubs etc.
Good luck to you! At such a young age if you can master production at a young age you can really get ahead in this business.
that’s the key phrase for me, you’ve got plenty of time to make an impact, don’t rush yourself to breakthrough as soon as possible, or put too much pressure on yourself. some of the biggest names didn’t become truly big til late in their 20’s/early 30’s.
i’d honestly look at doing house parties for now, and look to make an impact when you’re closer to ‘clubbing age’ (mean that in the nicest possible way - but age will be very much against you right now - sucks, i know). keep an eye out for local and online competitions, you never know what opportunities they can create?
take your time to put something together with your kit that truly rocks, i started mixing at 15 (now 24) and back then (fuck me i sound/feel old saying that) only had 2 decks and mixer (and things were cheaper and we didn’t live in fear of ‘happy slaps’ and our games consoles had wires on the control pads), so standing out was, in a way imho, harder to do as it was very limited and everyone mixed in about the same way.
with the unlimited methods and styles of mixing that can be created with todays tech you have the tools to blow everyone away and shine above the rest.
i know in a way that also makes it sound harder as everyone has access to the same/similar kit, but there are so many people that use it and sound shit - too many effects, bad looping, shoddy eq work, bland mixing and the worst offence; just not trying to do more than play one track after the other.
just keep plugging away at it and don’t lose sight of your goal.
)