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Are you a good DJ?

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  • August 15, 2014 at 5:01 pm #2048728
    DJ Vintage
    Moderator

    I recognize a lot of things, but that is because -as a mobile DJ- a significant part of your job IS being an event manager, at least where the PA and entertainment part of the event is concerned.

    I don’t consider myself a very good technical DJ either and in part because of laziness I know what I can get away with. Using the mic is not a problem and ofter provides a great “get out of jail free card”. And after 37+ years at it (part of which as a full pro), it’s almost a given that you can make a good party night out of it. I have started noticing that I need to focus on my DJ-ing more. The risk of falling back totally on routine and experience is big. And while a night might be good, I am not always sure I can answer the question “was it the best possible night” with a heartfelt yes.

    My advice (as much to myself as to others “suffering” from the same) would be to move focus to improving your DJ skills, you’ve got the rest down pat anyway. It should help you stay out of the rut and it would most definitely improve the customer experience I bet.

    Hope that helps some.

    August 16, 2014 at 8:48 am #2048747
    Randall Colelli
    Participant

    ^great reply. With other skills, I have always found that getting a solid base–basically everything mentioned in the OP as far as DJing goes–is vital. Once that’s done, though, it really depends on where your heart lies. Do you want to learn more skills? Do you want to DJ full-time and perhaps get into production?

    There are many rungs on the proverbial ladder, and though I think the OP has the most important parts of being a professional outlined, but the technical practice of DJing in and of itself is truly an artform that really can’t be mastered on all fronts IMO, but can be mastered in certain ways that make you better with those details than others, and better than your former self with practice and dedication.

    Of course, this is coming from the perspective of someone who does contracting work a lot, and though I don’t create my own materials, I take lots of materials and put them together to make an awesome product for someone to enjoy. I excel at painting and tile work, where I can do those things as well or better than some other people who wear 20 hats in the contracting world, though my deck building and roofing skills are probably lower than average than many others’.

    I think the technical facets that make up DJing can be looked at the same way, really. It just depends on if you want to focus on your strengths and improve them–you got the business end locked down, so you don’t have much to lose relying on that stuff to take autopilot as you develop your skills if you so choose. Mix better, practice 3-4 decks instead of 2, add samples, experiment and find what makes you grin, then improve upon those skills and bring your work to the next level at your gigs.

    August 18, 2014 at 8:32 am #2048806
    Terry_42
    Keymaster

    Just by thinking about this you are already a better DJ than 90% of the mass that call themselves DJ.

    Do I see DJs that are hugely better than me?
    Sure.
    Do I see DJs who are really bad (and much worse than me)?
    Loads more. There are literally thousands of so called DJs out there that use their controller just as something to cue songs and another bunch who think creating an iTunes playlist and hit play is the trick.

    It is always good to critique yourself and sometimes it motivates one to get better.
    I used to say the above myself (I am not a good DJ) for many years, because I did not practice enough (in my opinion), I knew there are many transitions out there I can get away with, even if they are not done exact etc. etc. etc.
    But then there is a point where you can just say: Yeah, but there are so many worse guys and after 20+ years you have so much more experience… just admit it… you are the best anyway hrhr 😉

    August 18, 2014 at 9:42 am #2048829
    deathy
    Participant

    Honestly, I’m not sure I care if I ever get any good – if I can get people to dance, then that’s enough for me.

    August 20, 2014 at 8:41 am #2049488
    AuralCandy.Net
    Participant

    There is much more to being a good DJ than just mixing, at least if one wants to build some kind of career out of it. Being dependable, professional and good at communicating are things that people value and are the factors that decide whether or not they want to book you again. Nobody wants to work with egoistic jerks or undependable tossers, no matter how brilliant they are on the decks.

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