how can I better apply myself in learning how to dj?
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DJ Hombre.
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March 13, 2012 at 9:57 am #16670
Pär Hessler
ParticipantIMO the best way to learn is to practice.
Practice more on your gear try to improve your mixes.
Try mixing without autosync….And the absolute best way to learn IMHO is to play out for an ordience.
Try to not spend so much time on the internet, finding new music or other things but more time
on your gear……
One more tip is to carefully read your user manual of your gear and your software
there might be functions you do not know that you have…….March 13, 2012 at 11:25 am #1003256Fluxdeep
MemberHi 🙂
I totally understand your point, since I also feel the same now and then. DJ Hessler is dead right by saying “play out for an audience”. Only then will you manage to spot your weaknesses and above all, to learn what are the right questions to ask (yourself). This is something that is always on my mind: “what are the right questions to make?”
Dj’ing is not a science, it’s a craft; therefore, there is not a formula, only experience. Lots of trial, and ten times more the amount of error. Just accept it, there is nothing wrong with it. If there is any formula for instant great DJ’ing out there, i would love love love to get it for myself also 🙂
My last gig (Friday) was a lesson by itself: i was just awful, my mixing was a joke; didn’t loop, didn’t sample, didn’t mashup, nothing. At the end of it, I had more people coming to me and saying that they love it then i had before. Damn i was so confused, i was felling pissed as hell with myself at the end of it and then that happened. That alone was a lesson (but i am still confused with that). You don’t learn this kind of lesson in any blog or video or whatever.
So to keep it short, the “better and faster way to apply myself to learn the right techniques and skills to become a better dj” is this simple: don’t loose the passion that you have for music, play out as often as you can, no matter where, accept failure as a part of the process, but allow yourself time to learn and gain experience. Make all errors possible, just try not to repeat them 🙂
March 14, 2012 at 3:29 am #16705Rattfink
MemberHit up the house parties!
Hessler and Fluxdeep are spot on. The best way to sharpen your skills as a DJ is to go out and DJ for crowds. When I was starting out I pestered anybody I knew that may have need for a dj. I did as many house parties as I possibly could and learned a lot while doing them!One of the first things I learned (Fluxdeep touched on this as well) was that the little mistakes and slip ups that absolutely devastate you in fact don’t have a huge effect on the crowd. They wanna dance, party, drink, and generally have a good time. Also, playing out for crowds at house parties teaches you how to deal with requests, play to audiences, and tailor your selections to take the party to the next level. These are invaluable lessons that cannot be learned on the internet.
So my advice is: pack up your gear, find a buddy that’s got a good house/basement/garage/backyard, and get him to throw a party with you playing. You’ll be nervous as shit, but you’ll have a blast and learn a lot about being a DJ in the process.
March 15, 2012 at 11:34 am #1003283Phil Morse
KeymasterI can only reinforce: DJing is done in public, not in your room. You wouldn’t expect to get better at football in your back yard would you? Same thing. Get a gig. Any gig. Keep going back, do it week in, week out.
March 17, 2012 at 4:31 am #16916Reason808
ParticipantI’d say get away from the internet and hit the decks! Just lose yourself in the music. — and there’s no better way to do that than mixing.
I love how DJing turns music listening from a passive behavior to an active one. You can groove with it, really listen to its qualities and phrasing, and hear things come to life as it blends with other songs you love. The whole process of mashing things up is exciting.
Best of all, you can find all this excitement right in your bedroom. Here I will disagree (but only slightly) with others about getting a real gig. I think searching or waiting for a ‘real’ gig could turn into a great excuse not to mix – especially for begginers. If you really lose yourself in your bedroom mixes and develop your mixing chops that passion will come through on your mixes and your search for gigs.
However, I have to admit I’m being a bit of a hypocrite, as I’m sidetracked by the internet, too. Its easier to hit the QWERTY keys in a coffeeshop than hit the Cue Buttons on your DJ setup. That’s what I’m doing right now. :-/ I still haven’t posted any mixes from my new Traktor setup yet. I’m trying to avoid the DDT forums, and mix in my spare time outside my busy work schedule, but its hard.
Damn you Phil!!! How dare you make such a good DJ forum that I’m distracted from mixing on Tracktor!!! ;-P
March 18, 2012 at 1:44 pm #1003304VinnyBlanc
ParticipantI agree. I think I made more progress last week in my first 3 hour gig than I have the 6 months prior recording and posting mixes to soundcloud from my house.
March 18, 2012 at 8:17 pm #16965James Downes
Memberreason808, post: 17000, member: 831 wrote: I’d say get away from the internet and hit the decks! Just lose yourself in the music. — and there’s no better way to do that than mixing.
I love how DJing turns music listening from a passive behavior to an active one. You can groove with it, really listen to its qualities and phrasing, and hear things come to life as it blends with other songs you love. The whole process of mashing things up is exciting.
Best of all, you can find all this excitement right in your bedroom. Here I will disagree (but only slightly) with others about getting a real gig. I think searching or waiting for a ‘real’ gig could turn into a great excuse not to mix – especially for begginers. If you really lose yourself in your bedroom mixes and develop your mixing chops that passion will come through on your mixes and your search for gigs.
However, I have to admit I’m being a bit of a hypocrite, as I’m sidetracked by the internet, too. Its easier to hit the QWERTY keys in a coffeeshop than hit the Cue Buttons on your DJ setup. That’s what I’m doing right now. :-/ I still haven’t posted any mixes from my new Traktor setup yet. I’m trying to avoid the DDT forums, and mix in my spare time outside my busy work schedule, but its hard.
Damn you Phil!!! How dare you make such a good DJ forum that I’m distracted from mixing on Tracktor!!! ;-P
aaaawww now i gota get up and mix … yea this total internet and mix when needed is not good … internet when needed mix more … woop here i goooo
March 29, 2012 at 5:34 pm #1003409Dj EarGazm
MemberI agree with Phil. I only got better getting gigs. House parties are great because no one is there because yoru djing, they are there because well it’s a house party. I did 4 house parties in 2 weeks and by the time I was done I had compliments from friends asking if I’ve been doing it for a while.
A live set can really help you improve quick. When you’re at home you don’t get the practice of reading a crowd. Reading a crowd can help you fine tune the “little” mistakes you can make when practicing
March 30, 2012 at 3:56 am #17607Dominic Souza-Larimore
Participantthanks for the all the helpful tips. ive been practicing dj’ing alot more rather than getting caught up in all the other distractions. ive even imitated what i would play if i were doing a live set for some of the bars/clubs out here. needless to say, the first few mixes were pretty horid lol. the scene out in honolulu is all top 40 with a splash of house, progressive, and dub. so ive been having a hard time mixing the pop top 40 stuff. but the mixes started to improve over time and im getting more confident to throw myself out there into the live scene.
but i know alot of my basic skills are not up to par yet to play live or be able to get me a gig. also the house party scene is all but non existent out here too. its a small island with an old population, every house party gets shutdown within the first hour. so house partys are kinda out of the question.
but i know some promoters in the club scene out here so I may be able to get me some starter gigs right off the bat. cant wait 🙂
March 31, 2012 at 9:10 pm #1003443DjMonstar
MemberRecord your sets (Traktor has an internal recorder) and listen to them. You will start to pick up on what needs work and remember it in your next practice session.
March 31, 2012 at 11:53 pm #1003449Member^ top tip
April 2, 2012 at 7:31 pm #17816Arthur Kokanov
ParticipantThis makes me want to go out and MIX! Ugh I’m so pumped because of this sucks that I am at work!
April 2, 2012 at 8:06 pm #1003476Memberdo a set in ur head =] ?
April 2, 2012 at 8:47 pm #17824Participantyea right… If i do that il end up doing the jesus pose and head banging in the middle of the office ;D
April 2, 2012 at 8:56 pm #1003478Memberits all goooood … let it out
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