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Veteran DJs: What did you wish you knew…

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  • December 2, 2012 at 2:28 pm #33006
    Terry_42
    Keymaster

    Basically that this whole DJing thing is like running a marathon: You have to take your time for each step to complete, you have to invest enough energy without wasting everything from the start and then not having enough for the finish line. You have to be true to yourself from the start. You should know from your training what you can do and what time to expect, there will be no miracle that pushes you the last mile if your body gives in…
    Do not let all of that drag you down, keep motivated, because every single step can be fun and the reward when running through the finish line is awesome, no matter if you place 1st or 389th… because you did it.

    December 3, 2012 at 1:49 am #33017
    aaron altar
    Participant

    It’s about the music you buy, not the equipment you buy. Not really something I’ve had a problem with but something new djs need to understand. It’s easy to think that if you buy the latest greatest mixer (or controller) it will make you a better dj. It won’t. Focus on the basics and buy the best music you can.

    December 3, 2012 at 3:38 am #33022
    TheReturn
    Member

    Work out what makes you different or unique and use that to promote yourself and network. And learn to recognise opportunities and act on them as quickly as possible.

    I started DJing vinyl around 2005. I started playing buying and collecting funk, but quickly found that I enjoyed listening to and playing out boogie and disco much much more and subsequently started to build up a good collection of that stuff.

    By about 2008 when I started to get more competent, ‘nu-disco’ and edits were on the rise. I wasn’t quite sure about how to promote myself and didn’t use my knowledge to my advantage.

    I should have been out there using my musical knowledge to make connections with many of my city’s up-and-comers who were also beginning to play those genres out and about. Now in 2012, some of these guys are fairly big in the scene. Meanwhile, I really haven’t made the impact that I would have liked.

    I’ve got a decent network these days, but believe that if I had acted earlier, I would have cemented myself in the scene, I would be in a much better position than I am in now.

    December 3, 2012 at 7:50 pm #33058
    Reason808
    Participant

    I think it took a lot of work to get a good sense of flow. First it was between the music itself, just getting my beatmixing and phrasing down. But the hard part was realizing that mixing skills were only the beginning. The real work was facing a crowd and figuring out how to get them to flow along with me. That can be a tough transition from bedroom to public. I never fell into this trap, but many DJs get into an “US vs. Them” attitude with their audience.

    December 3, 2012 at 8:14 pm #33073
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    Yes, as other said, crowd control, you can’t learn that in the bedroom or even with online streaming.

    December 3, 2012 at 8:53 pm #33076
    D-Jam
    Participant

    What I wish I knew back in 1992:

    1. I should be more patient to build a library of music and learn how to really read a crowd.
    2. That popularity is a necessary evil in this industry, and rather than spend so much time in my bedroom, I should have also been out deeper in the scene so it knows me as much as I know it.
    3. A simple demo tape will mean nothing unless you’re already known…but a full press kit and possibly someone acting as your “talent agent” will take you places…even if you’re a nobody.
    4. If I really want to succeed in DJing the way I want to, then I should have been pushing to learn to produce music while I had the free time as a college student, as opposed to a busy adult.
    5. I should not criticize the general scene no matter how crappy/corrupt/shallow/stupid it gets. You only make enemies and thus no one will want to make you part of their scene.
    6. I should be willing and able to drive long distances to play short sets at events that might just boost me into the next level…rather than seeking more local spots everyone is competing for.
    7. I should not hate the crowds who want to badger you to play mainstream music. Either please them and work, or reject them and be a starving artist…but then be prepared to work even harder and longer to succeed in the underground.

    I think if I was given the chance to go back to 1992 and to tell myself anything other than those seven points…I’d tell myself to not get discouraged or feel cynical when you see the scene becomes more political. To simply keep on with going to school, build a normal career, and DJ by your own rules…even if it’s just in the bedroom.
    To love DJing even if you hate the scene…and not get to the point where you end up hating it all.
    I don’t hate DJing btw…but at one point I did when I finally “got it” that all the push to be good means nothing compared to “how many heads you can bring out”. Thankfully I stopped, breathed, and found what I loved about DJing…and thus I never get cynical anymore.

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