Answers:
Hi Ellie,
Learning to DJ on your own is fine! DJing has a massive online community, and everyone is usually very willing to help, giving you choices about hardware for your budget, getting starting advice – through to more advanced discussions.
www.djforums.com is imo, the best place to discuss dj related stuff, but you’re welcome to contact me if you wanna talk about djing, just send me a message if so :)
Hope that helps a bit!
- Ollie
Hi Ellie,
Ollie here has goven you some good advice. However I would like to add a few points that I believe will get you on the right track.
1st and foremost ask yourself why you want to learn the DJ artform. For me its an exploration of music genres and the elements of what makes people want to dance and stay dancing (Dancing is not always the main focus in some cases is simply chilling out). And of course the performance skill of beat matching, phrased mixing and knowing your equipment.
2nd What are your genres of interest
pick a few and invest in some music
you would like play to people. Dance music with straight four to the floor beats such as house
techno and some trance among others
provide you with a set of tunes with not much beat variation between tracks
making it easier to learn how to hear the beats match.
3rd dont skimp on headphones.
get some decent ones, Sennheisser, pioneer technics. My preference is Sennheisser HD25 which are used by most of the touring DJs I have seen perform.
4th really listen to the tunes you want to mix intently and learn them inside out, this will help finding elements of 2 tracks that blend well together.
The above points have certainly helped me over the years.
The mixing setup you chose can vary in many ways. from 2 x turntables or 2 Variable speed CD players to using a computer with a dj control surface. I have seen many a good set played totally from computer although it lacks some of the energy you see from mixing with vinyl. At the end of the day beat mixing is a skill yo buld upon and skill will vary with the gear you use.
I persanlly mix vinyl 1st and foremost
(though records are expensive)
CD players because its convenient and if you have really good CD players
(e.g. CDJ1000) its excellent.
Computer is very versatile, software such as Traktor DJ and Ableton Live
provide amazing functionality, add a midi control surface and you have very tactile usable system.
There is much more to tell and you will find differing opinions about different formats (cd vinyl mp3) and equipment.
I think you will need to find someone to show you some pointers and its a bit daunting when you 1st begin, dont be put off, you will get better with practice. I have taught a few people to beat mix and helped them find their way far quicker than I did myself.
I also found expressing an informed interest to DJs you may see playing.
Go and talk to people dont be shy
most people are pretty cool if you show an informed interest.
I hope this gives you some idea.
please feel free to contact with further questions.
Cheers
Stevie
I used to go to pennstate and DJ there at Player’s and LuLu’s(Used to be Love) Big easy and can introduce you to four or five different DJ’s in town on Blue and White weekend if you want( I live in DC Now)...It’s definately worth doing and If you are serious about it I know the manager of a DJ company in state college that trains people in this and has them play out…
That would be awesome if you have the time and wouldn’t mind (I know how crazy that weekend can be :P).
If you get the chance, my email is nephari@gmail.com (or aim is “ellie is covert”).
Ellie,
What type of music do to Spin(play)? Electronic or Hip hop? Also what do you want to get out of it? I give you my story and you can probably expect something similar if you decide to become a DJ. In the Summer of 2001 I bought my first set of turn tables, I had been in the electronic music scene and clubbing since about ‘99. I had a brief background in guitar so I had a little bit of music background. I spent about a grand on a setup, you can spend alot less now a days, bought about 80 records in ebay lots and was off to the races. the first year will be rough and you’ll want to quit but just enjoy the music you play and it won’t matter. I got a job with Local Motion DJ’s in March of ‘02 and started spinning at player’s within 7 months. That company is a fast track to learn how to DJ. You’ll go to a gig every weekend or every other weekend and start to really get a feel for how a night runs. it is extremely different running the crowd then being the crowd. My old roommate Alex Nepa is the manager of Local Motion Now. Back in ‘02-’04 they didn’t pay anything to DJ I had to have a second job. However they now have raised thier wages tremendously. The job itself is a blast(when the night goes well) and hell(when it doesn’t). It’s a very interesting job because You’ll have to gain confidence and a thick skin while still being able to relate to your crowd. I recommend the book “last night the DJ Saved my Life” it’s a history of the industry and experiences on what to expect. That is the Resident/Mobile DJ….. If you want to be a bedroom DJ meaning you only play for yourself that’s cool too not as rewarding but not as harsh, either way it’s worth while…. a little pricey but worth while….
—Bryan Colligan
DJ Bkind
