I’m gonna start this thread off with a mild disclaimer: Obviously any good dj doesn’t feel they’re “done” learning how to mix properly, nor is there a big old exit sign telling you to get off in 2 miles at the exit to “Club scene central.” Just as there are people who tailored their music for years before ever getting the chance to play a show, there’s people who got plunged into mixing live and had to learn very quickly how, and not always successfully.
What I want to know, is when did you start thinking yourself “I think it’s time I put myself out there more.” This is aimed at the peeps who’ve moved from being just a bedroom dj, to either doing a radioshow, gigs, weekly’s, something of the sort. Was there a clicking moment? Did you still feel totally unprepared before your first “big show?” Do you think you waited too little or too long? Are you uncomfortable with the amount of times I used quotations in this post?
I wanna see how some DJTTers decided to hop into the circuit, although I don’t have a similar story to share myself quite yet. >_>
my personal experience was learning to beatmatch in the bedroom, after that, i just played out anywhere i could, alot of house party’s at first, i got comfortable playing to groups of people. After that, i took the gigs and oppurunities as they came and learned along the way, there was no real ‘clicking’ point, as i became more experienced, as i got more confidence, and with confidence and experience, i got better. Its still like that today, trying new things and growing as a dj, never ends, at least i hope
Never had that clicking moment, I grew confident enough and even had to face a choice between giving it up or giving up the GF (family in law bullshit pressure). I made that choice and I’m still not looking back, still love doing gigs.
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Did you still feel totally unprepared before your first “big show?”[/quote]
Nope. Had a niggle with a CD player that would only pitch upwards from 0, dealt with it.
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Do you think you waited too little or too long?[/quote]
been doing it all my life, so was more than a lot being done early. I had my first genuine decks at 2 years old and plastic decks toys even before that.
what?
No, I just did it one step at a time. Running the college chillout room on a daily basis for years, doing mixtapes, working with other DJs, clubs radios, etc. Buying gear, buying more gear, upgrading, doing gigs to finance it, etc. It goes round.
I just started Djing last year and still don’t feel 100% comfortable in my abilities. I was told I had to DJ a party a week from getting my first mixtrack pro and have been doing house parties about every other week since. I feel like learning through doing smaller parties was a very positive way to learn in my experience because I had to learn to rock a party fast. Lots of DJs have way more technical skills and knowledge of the history then I do but at the end of the day I feel like what matters most is who can rock a party. Since then my skills have dramatically increased and I have started to reach out to local DJs so I can learn more about the scene in my area but If I hadn’t Jumped into parties I might still be locked in my room.
I say screw a time limit and just jump into the ring. Doing this I have opened up some nice opportunities for myself. Shortly I will have a night at a club near campus (only edm focused night around my college for college students) and also am opening for Caspa when he comes to my town in Feb.
Never be 100% comfortable and always try to go bigger… that’s basically how I try to approach DJing. Now if I only could say the same thing about the music I produce lol
When I first got my residency at a club at the age of 18. I still don’t think I am the best DJ out there. I still mess up and some of my mixes are still whack. But I am confident that I can make people dance. I know how to read the crowd and my music selection is pretty good. I don’t get nervous anymore in front of a crowd, I think that helps with my confidence.
I got thrown in to Djing when i 15, ended up playing on everything from gemini rack mount CDJ crap to vinyl, then moved to traktor.
Now, at 22, i feel my abilities still lack, so im going to CDJs and gonna start throwing myself at every possible club night, open deck night and random gig i can find.
I think you never forget how to mix, but you definitely need to keep your skills polished.
So yeah, i’m never really comfortable, unless it’s one of my own nights therefore i know exactly what im doing music wise.
My first time playing in front of people was actually in a band setting playing the guitar, so when I began to DJ, it seemed only natural that I eventually move out and start playing in front of people. Being a DJ and a band member aren’t that different, except with more people. You work hard both by yourself and as a band to get better, and when you feel ready, you begin to look around for places to play. You also tend to start at the crappier venues (house parties and open mics, respectively) and then move on up from there. For me, I knew from the moment I started that I wanted to play out with my decks. I pretty much learned how to beatmatch, and then I was off to the races at the vast amount of keggers this college has to offer
EDIT: On a side note, when the f**k did I become a Tech Wizard???
Im always learning, its nuts… the more i learn the more i realize that i know next to nothing… but that just inspires me to learn even more so im not complaining
The rabbit hole goes SERIOUSLY f***ing deep… especially now i reside in m4l / max msp land where the possibilities are unfathomable - best step i ever made i reckon, have never looked back.
Got my first decks and a mixer when I was 14, and didn’t really feel comfortable to play out until I was 17 if not 18 even, but that’s also learning on a pair of POS tables so my learning curve is a bit different than more peoples today. = p
For production. Took me about two years before I posted anything to the net and it was still shit. Most of my new stuff isn’t that good, but good enough.
For DJing, took about 1 year before I played anything, even then it was okay at best. People at the party enjoyed it, I enjoyed myself. All in all it was a good experience and boosted my confidence. But I don’t post my mixes because they’re limited and just about all the transitions are littered with FXs.
Wow, this thread got an awesome response, I’m loving the diversity in backgrounds here. Also the advice is always welcome as well, thank you to those who have offered it. I’m actually just checking up on this at 2 in the morning where I am, so I’ll have to stop back in tomorrow and edit this post to offer some meaningful discussion on my part.
I only became comfortable with my abilities while I was running a “DJ Workshop” during a week night at the club I had a residency at. It was watching some of the “students” go from complete train wreck to decent DJ’s that made me realise I was doing something right! And this was about 6 years after I started DJ’ing and about 5 years after I started playing out.
The fact is that we are always learning, and thanks to people who pioneer and push the boundaries with different facets of this art form (mixing/sampling/turntablism/controllerism) we will always have more and more to catch up with!
EDIT: I still get nervous before every gig. Keeps me on my toes.
I believe EVERYONE should feel comfortable when they learn to beatmatch properly, not to mess with the sync-button users but I think if you don’t know how to manually beatmatch you are not a DJ, of course you could use the sync sometime, or when you’re beggining, but if you always use it, I don’t consider you a DJ. I got my first controller 3 months ago, a Mixtrack Pro, made some mixes, good start, bought the S4, maybe some great mixes and learned pretty much the basics, and now as a backup setup I bought a Behringer BCD3000, and I grew to love it, so I mostly play with it now. I use this one because when I’m just fooling around, I use VDJ it is just a simple great fun software to use, everyone can learn from it, Traktor and Serato are more proffesional. Turns out, I mix more comfortably with VDJ than Traktor. I learned to beatmatch while using VDJ, so I love this software now. NOW I dont doubt myself, I’m very comfortable with what I do now.
I agree. That is the most basic skill a DJ should have. It is one skill that is/should be learned from the beginning and carried on throughout your career.
Entertainer in my book. Musician should be able to write/read lyrics and music and play at least one instrument. Otherwise you are JUST an entertainer and/or singer. Much respect for what Sir McCartney has done though.
