Here’s something you don’t hear a lot of people asking but is certainly on their mind: how can I get motivated to start DJing and stay inspired until I’m successful?

Getting Motivated to Learn to DJ

The ‘secret’ to motivation really isn’t a secret, at all. The main point I’d like to convey is that it’s really all about getting into the right mindset so you can focus on the essentials that will push you further than what a lot of people fail at.

Here are a few ways to get motivated to learn to DJ:

Set a Goal – Get definitive with your goal of learning to DJ; tell yourself exactly how many weeks or months you’re going to push yourself for learning mixing and getting a promo mix out there. Set something like 6 months (something reasonable) and then mark down how much you’ll be working toward learning to DJ within that time frame. Having a definitive goal will push you hard toward completing what you want instead of lazily working toward something that could stretch years.

Get Hyped – Get hyped about starting DJing; look at a couple of videos of your favorite DJ’s playing a crowd our head off to a club or music festival so you can not only get in a good time but see how fun DJing can be – all of this can help get you hyped up and charged to start DJing.

Do Something, Everyday – Don’t take days off when it comes to practicing your DJing. Do something every day that will get you closer to understanding what it takes to be a DJ or put in some time to practice your mixing or putting together mixes. Motivation is a lot about momentum; the more you can put toward doing something the better you’re off at keeping up with it.

Get pumped about DJing, ya know? Take a look at how fun DJing can be and where it will take you if you become successful; imagine traveling the world, playing music and going to clubs as your job. Keep thinking this all the time so you’re always in the good mindset of getting it done.

Get Inspired to Learn to DJ

Being motivated works well for keeping up with DJing and getting beyond the basics but those just starting out may find it slightly difficult to feel inspired because, after all, DJing takes a lot of work and time. So, I’d like to share a few things that will get you inspired to DJ …

Watch DJ Videos – Take a look through Youtube and find videos of DJ footage; these videos can do wonders when you’re feeling a little stressed about DJing because you’ll not only get the music you love but see the kind of lifestyle you could have.

Read DJ Stuff – Browse around blogs, like this one, or pick up a book about the DJ life. Sure, you’re reading a book and not really DJing but it can bring on great inspiration when you read about the wild times a DJ had while partying and traveling around.

Have a Talk – Talk with DJ’s around your area on Facebook or Twitter. Ask them questions about DJing and the lifestyle they live; their words can spring up a lot of inspiration for you to get started as well. Keep up to date with what’s going on in the DJ world by asking those that are also interested; do it every day and you can pick up a lot of inspiration from the people around you.

Inspiration really comes from getting off your ass and telling yourself that you’re going to get started. I can’t say for sure that you’re going to ever get around to DJing but there are a lot of ways that can lead you to doing so. The real point I’m trying to make, with this post, is to simply get started above anything else – pick up gear – get the basics down – rule the dance floor.

This post is a part history, part insight into what the hell DJing is, anyway.

What Started it All

The phonograph had been around for quite some time and vinyl has been widely used as the medium o choice for DJ’s around the world but for the most part – DJ’s were just there to play records and didn’t really do much else than hitting play.

It took until Kool Herc and the Technics 1200’s to really turn DJing into what it would become today; this was the eaaaaarly days when Herc was on the decks but he laid down the foundation for what others would improve upon such as mixing and scratching to give DJ’s the skills they need to do what they do.

And then came Disco

DJing was starting to come up at parties but it wasn’t until Disco that it became a staple; clubs needed people to play music and they couldn’t easily cram those big 30 strong groups of Disco bands into the area so DJing was the perfect solution.

Partially fueled by drugs, music and alcohol, people were staying out all night at the discotheques which started the early stages of ‘club culture’. But, as history goes, Disco was killed off after Rock music put the nail in the proverbial coffin – however, DJing didn’t die …

Let there be House

The 1980’s caught up with us and all of a sudden we had people that wanted to do nothing but go out clubbing. At the same time, groups in Chicago and Detroit were experimenting with music which would eventually form into House and Techno music – perfect genres to fuel the club scene and at the forefront was the DJ’s that brought it to the partiers.

Aceeeiiiiiid

90’s. Acid. Rave. You get the idea. The 1990’s were a time that music started to pick up big time especially in the rave scene. Not to mention, Ecstasy became a big hit with party goers and the Summer of Love was in full effect. DJ’s started to make it big all across the world because Electronic Music was finally starting to pick up the steam it needed to be caught by radio play.

F’ the Millennium

… as the KLF would have said. The millennium hit and all of a sudden nearly everyone had access to the web which spread music like wildfire with the help of P2P networks like Napster and eventually websites like Youtube and all the social networks that began springing up like crazy.

Here we are today, in the 2010’s and electronic music is back on the radio but horrifically disguised as pop music but that’s another story. For the true lovers of dance music, it’s still mainly underground depending on your genre. DJ’s are starting to be really huge superstars (which is sometimes annoying) but otherwise, we’re in a really amazing time for getting noticed.

Here’s where you fit in

in the mix, yo

DJing has been evolving for decades now. You can pick up a set of midi turntables and equipment for less than $300 and be practicing within a few hours compared to having to save thousands for turntables like back in the day.

You can now promote yourself online. Create your own tracks with music programs. Build a following and even release music on your own record label you’ve kicked up by using websites.

You’re at the forefront of it all but it still comes down to one thing: reading the crowd and good music.

It’s shit to think that you’re a good DJ just because you can beatmatch two songs – just saying. What really matters is your music selection and being able to get it to a crowd based on their emotional response (think Bruce Lee yo).

There are a ton of DJ’s that can certainly use their gear but they do nothing for the crowds. The crowd means everything. So, DJing has started to blur; you’re no longer just playing tracks – you’re also making music, promoting yourself, creating a following, launching record labels, creating your own posters, recording videos and much more – you’re sort of renaissance artist of some kind – kind of doing everything. But remember that it’s the music that matters and reading the crowd, just to reiterate.

Anyway …

Learn how to DJ :: Get good DJ training :: Pick up your Gear :: Practice

So, how does one become a Youtube DJ? This article will share a few tips on how to get started from recording your mixes to getting your Youtube videos promoted to the point that they help land you DJ gigs – sound good? Let’s get started …

Part 1: Get the video gear

There are two good options for you when making Youtube DJ videos and that is:

• Recording yourself mixing using a video camera

• Recording your mix using a piece of software and then editing a video

I’d recommend you go with the first because you’d be able to show your mixing skills off and people will be able to recognize who you are rather than just your name but I know there are many of you that are a little camera shy so recording your mix, editing it and uploading it works too.

For cameras, I’d recommend the Flip Mino or Kodak ZI-8 because each of these is high definition cameras that will certainly get the job done. They let you easily hook up the camera to the computer and some of them, like the Flip, come with editing software. You can pick up either of these for under $150 which is a good investment when you consider you can make your Youtube DJ videos AND take it to parties and festivals later on.

Once you’ve got these, you just need some video editing software which is generally installed on computers like Windows Movie Make or iMovie on Mac; otherwise, check out Adobe Audition or Sony Vegas which will easily handle your video editing.

Part 2: Get to mixing

awwwww yeah

What’s a Youtube video on DJing if you’re not actually mixing, duh. The next part of doing Youtube DJing is to … make a mix. Since you only have about 10 minutes (until you get more time from Youtube), you’re kind of limited which means that each song and effect you put into your mix needs to be really mind blowing to catch people’s attention.

Do what you would normally do when creating a DJ mix. Choose a great selection of songs or even theme your Youtube DJ videos by playing certain genres of music, music based on released dates (such as the new song mix format) or some classic tune mixes.

Bring the best that you can so the Youtube video helps with promotion. If you need additional help, check out this other post on how to build a better DJ mix to bring out the best in your abilities.

Remember, you only have a limited amount of time so bring the ruckus.

Part 3: Get the video on Youtube

Once the video is created, edited and looking good, you’ll need to get it onto Youtube. If you don’t have a Youtube account than you can sign up at http://www.youtube.com/create_account; fill in the information that matters and setup your account, easy enough.

Quick note: When you’re editing your videos, be sure to add your Youtube channel name and contact information so if people embed the video on other websites, people still have a way to easily figure out who’s mixing and how to get in touch.

Okay, get your video up on Youtube and do a bit of work to make sure that it’s looking good such as adding a title that perfectly describes the video, choose something like “10 Minute Dubstep Youtube Mix” or something akin to that. Fill in the description with the tracks that you’ve used because people always ask for the songs. Add in your website link or Twitter name or some kind of contact method so people can get a hold of you which is perfect in the event that someone wants to book you for a show if they really liked the video.

Also, get people to subscribe to your channel and build up a Youtube following by just flat out telling people in the description.

Part 4: Promoting your Youtube mixes

Alriiiiight, now you need to get your DJ video found on Youtube. Well, that’s easy because if you optimized the video it will show up in search engines but besides doing that, you can begin sharing it on Facebook, forums, Twitter and other social networks you’re on.

If you have a website, you can embed your video onto your website. You could also send your video out to people on your email newsletter if you have one. Do what you would normally do when sharing video. Submit it to sites that you’re always on (maybe Reddit?) and just be conscious that you have a video (or a dozen) out there that people could be interested in.

Check out other people’s channels and leave a link to your video if they’re also doing mixes in your type of music – network yo!

Part 5: Getting gigs and earning a few bucks

Finally, sit back and keep pushing you video out wherever you can go; build up that view count and subscribers to your channel. It might be completely random but you may land a few gigs based on your videos. If you have a website offering DJ services, you could have your video to show off your skills for when people are thinking about hiring you – think of it like a sales video of some sort.

If your video starts to take off than Youtube will let you monetize it through Adsense and video ads. Depending on what you want, you can agree to the terms and have it there to make a bit of money if people click on your ads. You could make a nice bit of money off to the side for your mixes, cool enough.

Don’t rely on your Youtube DJ videos to land you gigs though; you still need to be actively promoting your DJing by going to parties, handing out DJ business cards, setting up a website and more.

Bonus: Youtube Video Resources

In case you’re still a little bit confused about online video and Youtube in general, for DJing, here are a few resources that will help you get started and up to speed:

• ReelSEO – This is a website that talks a lot about video production and how to promote Youtube videos online; there’s a lot of good tutorials but you have to dig around a bit because there’s a lot of news on there too.

• Youtube and Video Marketing: One Hour a Day – A book on how to get started with video marketing; don’t let the name scare you, it’s just the practice of creating videos to promote yourself which is basically what you’re doing with your Youtube DJ videos.

• Video Sharing Websites – A list of other video sharing websites that you could list your videos on if you want to extend your reach besides Youtube.

Those should get you started with promoting your Youtube DJ videos and understanding it a bit more.

Conclusion

So, hopefully you’ve found this guide helpful. Youtube is huge, you know that and you’ve probably seen quite a few DJ’s showing off their skills on the video site – get started too! You can really make a name or yourself if you do mixes on Youtube so why not tap into it for your promotion – it’s smart, that’s what.

Today, getting started with Digital DJing is a fraction of the cost compared to vinyl and CD’s; with a couple hundred bucks you can get your gear and find all the information you need online to get started.

This post attempts to collect all those resources into one place so you can learn how to be a Digital DJ.

The Basic Digital DJ Equipment

For vinyl and CD DJ’s, you would have been looking at piecing together your gear from the turntables to mixer to headphones to cables. Digital DJ gear, on the other hand, lets you get away from having to mix and match by giving you everything you need in one place. Midi equipment and built in software has cut the price of DJ equipment down to the bare minimum. You used to save your summer job wages but today, you can get started off a single paycheck.

Here is some of the digital DJ equipment that’s notable for getting started:

• Numark Mixtrack Pro – The Mixtrack Pro comes with everything you need to get started with Digital DJing. The controller is well built, bundled with Virtual DJ and can be used with any of the other software listed later in this post. Right now, the Mixtrack Pro is one of the better options for Digital DJing, in my opinion.

• Hercules DJ Console RMX – Not far behind the previous, the RMX is another great midi controller that comes bundled with all the features you need to get started from the jog wheels to mixer to effects and more; this also gets a copy of Virtual DJ with it and can be used with the other software as well.

• Vestax VCI-100 (or 300) – The Vestax unit is the major player for digital DJ equipment. This controller is extremely well built and is quickly becoming one of the essential pieces for those that are taking up the digital format. You can find a massive amount of tweaks and mods for this thing which makes it one of the more versatile pieces of digital DJ equipment.

There’s a lot of great gear that minifies the DJ equipment all together. You can get equipment now that’s nothing more than a few buttons. You’re literally DJing straight off your laptop. Although there has been much debate on whether this push toward full midi equipment is real DJing we have to remember that it’s the people on the dance floor that matter the most; if they’re having a great time than let’s put aside the type of equipment you use and stay focused on mixing some really great tunes.

I’ve previously put together a couple gear guides which can be found below:

• Top 5 Digital DJ Controllers under $300
• Top 5 DJ Headphones under $150
• The Beginner DJ Equipment Guide

Now that you know the basics of Digital DJ equipment, it’s time to move on to some of the tips and tricks to this style of DJing …

Digital DJ Tips and Tricks

In this section, I wanted to provide a few tips and tricks for Digital DJ’s. Many of these roll over from the different styles of DJing but I feel they need to be reiterated because they are so important no matter what gear you’re playing on. Here are a few off the top of my head …

• Don’t rely on the BPM counter – Don’t rely on the built in BPM counter in your digital gear because you’ll get trapped into an endless cycle of referencing it every time that you’re mixing. There will be times when you won’t be able to use the BPM counter in which that point you’re really screwed. Learn how to count beats using your ears and you’ll be a much better DJ.

• Learn your DJ Software – Learn the in’s and out’s of your DJ software, spend time figuring out the UI and all of the little features included in the package because if you understand how to effectively use the software you’ll understand how it can best be used for your digital DJing.

• The music is still the most important element – DJing isn’t about just the gear, it’s about being able to read the dance floor and deliver great tunes to your audience. Focus on finding great tunes and how they can mix together rather than spending all your time trying to figure out some new effect or tweak for your software and gear. Focus on the music and you’ll always win.

Digital DJing isn’t all that different from the different styles of DJing but it does have its own approach and culture. Instead of mixing with vinyl you’re going to be using MP3’s but, in the end, you’re still using a jog wheel in place of a platter. You’re still going to be using the mixer and effects. In a lot of ways, you’re simply replacing the analog with the digital; if you can get good at one style of DJing you can pick up the other with ease (but it will take time).

In the next section, I’m going to share a few different digital tools and software for DJ’s …

Tools and Software for Digital DJ’s

The gear is only one part of the equation; the software is the other half. A digital DJ without software isn’t going to get very far especially if they’re using midi equipment. You can find some pieces of equipment that have built in screens and software but for the most part you’re going to be hooking up to your computer. Below, I’ve collected the most popular and best overall Digital DJ programs for you to take a look at when starting.

• Virtual DJ – Virtual DJ is a bit basic and gets a bit of flack within the DJ community but it’s a great piece of equipment that gets the job done. This DJ software seems to be bundled with nearly every piece of digital equipment these days and is excellent for getting the basics down.

• Traktor Scratch Duo – Traktor Scratch Duo is a midi crossover where you can use older equipment like vinyl and CD’s with time coded vinyl and CD’s in conjunction with the DJ software. Traktor has a TON of features and is widely used in the DJ community.

• Serato Scratch Live – Serato made a huge splash with the ability to use time coded vinyl and CD’s with your DJ software. Now, Serato is making its own push in the market and is still one of the favorites for digital DJ’s and other old school DJ’s.

• Abelton – Ableton may not be a direct piece of DJ software but you can use this midi software to create mash ups and live mixes. The software is really easy to use and lets you tweak just about every setting to make some really great tunes.

The programs like Traktor, Ableton and Serato are covered in a previous post called the top 3 computer DJ programs. You can find many of these programs out there for purchase; I highly recommend you going straight to the source because there’s a lot of quality information provided by the companies. You can also find a lot of people regularly talking about tweaking, updating and getting the most out of these programs on a lot of DJ forums and websites (listed below).

For the most part, your first entry into Digital DJing is probably going to be with Virtual DJ. I used this program for a little while because it came bundled with a few pieces of midi gear that I purchased a while back. In time, I upgraded to Traktor Scratch Duo and haven’t looked back since.

Resources for becoming a Digital DJ

In this section, I’d like to share some of the best resources for becoming a Digital DJ. The items in this section are a hodge podge of websites, books, online videos and courses that are free and paid. This section alone is pretty much all you need to get started …

• Ellaskin’s Youtube Channel. Ellaskin has nearly 3,000 videos covering every aspect of DJing from the very basics to product reviews. Ellaskin does a great job at teaching a variety of DJ styles like mixing with vinyl to using digital DJ equipment. If you really have a lot of time and want to get started with DJing than this is the channel you need to be watching.

• DigitalDJTips.com – DigitalDJTips.com is a massive resource for finding all kinds of tips and tricks when it comes to learning how to start Digital DJing. There are tons of product reviews, tutorials, reader Q&A’s, guides and more.

• DJForums – The biggest DJ forums on the net, DJForums.com is probably the best place to run into other budding DJ’s on the web. There are thousands of threads that you can dig through to find all kinds of tips and tricks related to digital DJ’s.

• How to DJ Fast Video Series – The How to DJ Fast video series is a great starting point for anyone that wants to become a DJ. There’s hours of video that goes from the very basics of DJ equipment to even landing your own gigs. Much of the gear detailed in this video is digital so this is perfect for you.

• The Laptop DJ Handbook – This is one book of a (planned) laptop DJ series that covers most of the basics when it comes to DJing with a laptop.

• Dance Music Manual – I picked up the first edition of this book and I must say it was a great read. This book goes through the various genres of electronic music, gear and some back story to it all. If you’re a big fan of electronic music than this would make a perfect book for your collection; I definitely recommend it.

• DJTechTools – DJTechTools is one of the best resources for Digital DJing and gear. There are hundreds of extremely informational articles about every element of DJing. Dig through the archives for a few hours and you’ll have more than enough information to understand it all.

In reality, all of these resources will certainly help you get started but DJing really comes down to putting in the time to practice. You can read and chat about learning all you want but it’s until you just dive right in that it really starts to count. I suggest you try to find time to practice every single day, much like you would with homework or some kind of job. Even an hour a day is better than nothing. Use these resources as tools to help you get started but remember that it’s up to you in order to become the DJ.

Conclusion

I know this post has a lot of information that seems overwhelming but I wanted to make it a great starting off point for those that want to become a Digital DJ. If you have a couple hundred bucks and free time on your hands than you can easily get started. Invest in a proper set of equipment, learn all that you can about DJing through some of the great resources listed and practice every day. In a short while, you’re going to be rockin’ the dance floor.

Digital DJing has seen a dramatic rise over the years. You can now get started, with DJing, for a fraction of the price one would pay just a decade ago.

Access to music has never been easier. New Digital DJ gear is being released on an almost monthly basis. It’s the age of the Digital DJ.

Not sure where you want to start? Here are four good reasons why Digital DJing may be for you:

#1: Gear and Music is Less Expensive

Digital DJ gear and digital music is extremely inexpensive. You can get started, with DJing, for nearly a third of the price if you choose to use digital gear over vinyl or CD decks. Likewise, your music format will also come at a steep discount.

Proper vinyl turntables, mixer and the rest of the setup will generally run you almost $1000 – $2000 but digital gear can be as low as $100 (although you should opt for a little higher end gear). Digital music often runs for less than $1 a track rather than dropping nearly $10 – $20 for vinyl releases.

Overall, digital DJing will be less of a hit on your wallet. When starting out it can be hard to get up and running because of so much overhead. Digital gear is the way to go if you’re itching to get started and don’t want to drop a small car payment.

#2: You’re Future-Proofing Yourself

Digital is going to be around forever. Vinyl and CD has already seen its slow crawl to becoming obsolete; when’s the last time you played a vinyl record? Likewise, CDs are falling out of favor especially when you can pick up the same album online for half the price and instant download.

Digital DJ gear and music lets you future proof yourself. You know that in ten years your gear will still be going because we’re most likely not going to make a dramatic jump in music formats and if we do than DJ programs will make up for the lack of hardware support.

Likewise, your gear can always have additional add-ons rather than full upgrades. A software update may be all that you need to stay competitive, in gear, rather than going out to buy an entire new DJ setup.

#3: It’s Easier to Lug Everything Around

It’s one thing to have access to your vinyl and CD collection in your bedroom; it’s another when you have to lug it around from club to club. Vinyl and CD’s can be heavy, get damaged while moving and require a lot of effort to upkeep them to maintain quality.

Digital music, on the other hand, lets you take your collection around the world on the size of your keychain if you really wanted to. You no longer need to lug the heavy DJ bag; you can take your digital controller, setup and be ready to go without digging through crates the entire time.

MP3’s are also very easy to organize. You no longer need to sort your records and CD’s which makes for many less headaches when you can’t seem to find the perfect track. Just do a quick search and the song is ready for you.

#4: You have Greater Flexibility

Lastly, you have greater flexibility in every aspect of your DJing. You will be able to quickly mix, find tracks, travel, organize, record sets, transition between clubs, host internet shows and much more if you go with digital DJ gear.

Overall, you gain a higher level of flexibility if you go the digital route. Less upkeep means that you have more time to practice your mixing. How can you beat that?

As you can see, Digital DJing gives may new comers a greater amount of flexibility in all areas of the profession and hobby. Digital gear is here to stay; vinyl and CD is beginning to take a slow but eventual phase out (although it will always have its place). If you’re just getting started than consider these four major reasons why Digital DJing may be for you – then get mixing!

Sure you have; that’s why you’re here on BeginnerDJ. I’m sure you’ve had a lot of thoughts about DJing which may have stemmed from going to a few parties, maybe a festival or just listening to your favorite mixes.

You know that feeling: after you hear a really stompin’ set you tell yourself that it’s time to start DJing. You want to play the music in front the crowd, travel, do what you love and have a time of your life.

But, did you know there are other little benefits that could further give you a reason to start DJing? Check these out and see if this finally gives you a nice kick in the rear to start…

#1: For the love of the music

The first thing that should come to your mind is the fact that you’ll be able to play your favorite music to the crowd. Seriously, how many people can say that they can get paid and travel the world by listening to music? You can.

If you’re not DJing than you’re probably listening to music all day already so why not make the jump and make a career out of it? Once you learn the basics of DJing you’re well upon your way on being able to do what you love.

#2: Travel the world

Been out of the country? If you haven’t been bit by the travel bug than you may not fully understand why people strive to travel as passionately as they do. The main reason why travel is so hard is because of the expenses but what if you can overcome that hurdle? Well, if you become a DJ you will be paid to travel, see the world and play at clubs from all over!

Just think: all those places that you want to see can be done if you got started. Of course, you’ll need to work your butt off to get to that point but it’s a big goal that’s certainly worth striving for.

#3: Meet incredible people

Think of all those awesome people you’ve met at parties. Now take those same experiences but multiply it by a thousand because now you’re going to start running into all of your favorite DJ’s, promoters and the hardcore party people.

You’ll be backstage, VIP areas, anywhere on the dance floor. The club world and festivals are yours; you’ll be able to run into some of the most interesting people from around the world!

#4: Get into events for free

You’ll be able to start getting into events once you’ve made a name for yourself. You’re sort of like a celebrity in the club world; if people know you’re going to be at a club, even if you’re just partying, they will turn up and that’s what promoters want so they have no problem with letting you in for free.

Awesome perks, eh?

#5: Make some decent cash

DJ’s can make quite a bit of cash. Some of the biggest names can command up to $100,000 for a single gig although it may be a little out of your league at this time (but it’s still worth trying for).

Once you get notice you will begin to set your own rates. You could play a single festival and have no need to work for the rest of the year (although it will be hard especially if you love what you’re doing).

#6: Design your own lifestyle

Since you’re not required to show up and clock into work you will be able to set your own goals, do what you want and design your own lifestyle. Think of all the time you’ll now have and that you’re self sufficient.

Don’t want to drive in traffic? No problem; your gig is later in the night. Want to just listen to music all day? Awesome, you’re finding new tracks. Want to just party? You’re getting some great connections for the later night.

#7: Always have something exciting to do

The DJ lifestyle will never be boring. Sure, you may have a residency that may not be the best but the regular clubbers that come in will always make for a good time. There will always be something exciting to do once you make friends with other DJ’s, meet all the interesting people, create the connections and having the ability to travel.

So, there were several different reasons why you should become a DJ. There are surely other reasons that are going through your mind so just keep thinking of all the benefits and go for it!

This guide will be broken into the “essential” topics and information you must learn in order to get started with DJing. Remember, this is a crash-course guide which means that you will certainly learn the basics of how to become a DJ but it’s up to you to take action and put this information into full effect (along with seeking additional information to learn the small nuances of it all).

Let’s begin, shall we?

Phase 1: Choosing the Right Gear

The most essential of all choices you will make when you are learning how to become a DJ will always be your gear because your equipment will be everything that you work from. Mixing, scratching, collecting music, you name it and your gear dictates virtually every aspect of where you’ll be going as a DJ.

When starting, you’re going to have three main choices for your type of DJ gear:

• Vinyl
• CD
• Digital

The lines are blurring between each of these formats as midi controllers and software lets you bridge each together so it’s much less about your type of gear as it is more about personal preferences and your style of play.

So, with your choice out of the way there are a few items you will need regardless:

• A pair of turntables
• A mixer
• A nice pair of headphones
• Some speakers (generally monitors for listening to your mix)

Vinyl you will need to pull together multiple pieces as CD and Digital has made the push to generally include all of them in one package or facilitate it through software programs.

You can expect to pay anywhere from $100 to $2000 for your setup; digital DJing is much cheaper to start out with overall and I actually encourage going with a controller first because if you find that DJing isn’t for you than you didn’t just blow a ton of money, ya know?

Phase 2: What Music will you Mix?

Next up is going to be the music that you plan to mix. I can’t make the decision for you because most DJ’s are generally going to start out with their favorite (mine’s Psytrance). You’ll probably play your favorite because you already know a wealth of artists in the genre which lets you get up and running no problem. Additionally, you probably already have a great collection of tunes that you may end up playing so you’re already off on a good foot.

Some DJ’s do go a little more “business” side and will eventually play music which is going to land them their gigs; this is fine if you’re going to make a straight business out of it otherwise just go with what’s going to be fun for you.

You can find music all over the web; you probably already know where to get all the tracks you plan to play but incase you need a little guidance than I suggest you check out another BDJ article on how to find new music.

Once you’ve got your music you’re ready to start playing or at least practicing…

Phase 3: Practice, Practice and uh … Practice!

I could probably write thousands of words just talking about how to get started with DJing but it’ll always come down to one thing: beatmatching.

Beatmatching will be the core skill you’ll need to learn as a DJ because this is what’s going to get two songs to match up and sound like one long one; it’s the basis of your DJ mix. Learning beatmatching will take you the longest but it’s absolutely essential when you’re starting. Don’t cheat and just use autosync on your gear (if you have it) because you’re only going to hurt yourself in the long run.

The best advice I could give you is to simply practice as much as possible. Check out another BDJ article on how to beatmatch and then put it right into practice. Spend hours at your decks trying your best to get the tracks synced up. Once you get the hang of beatmatching than keep at it and see how long you can go by adding in new tracks.

As you get comfortable with your gear and skills you can begin to check out others like scratching, harmonic mixing and maybe even through in some effects. Keep at it at this point.

Phase 4: Getting your Name out There

So now you’re up and running with your gear, you’re getting a little comfortable with playing and you may have event sent your buddies a few demos of your mix. Nice. You’re doing it. But what you need to do now is start getting your name out there.

Luckily, we’re in the age of the web so you won’t be doing some massive flyer distribution and sending out mix tapes to producers. Today, it’s much more about getting yourself setup, online, and letting people come to you.

There are plenty of ways to promote yourself as a DJ but what I believe is the best is through websites like Mixcloud, Soundcloud, Youtube, Facebook and forums.

You’ll want to record the best possible mix that you can. Put as much effort into your mix as you would a serious job because this is going to be what people judge you upon. Bring out all the tricks but don’t make it too gimmicky. Show off your skills but more importantly: make sure you show your music selection because this is what will get people dancing on the floor.

Start asking around your local club district if there are any nights with open decks. Buddy up with fellow DJ’s and talk to the promoters. Hang around the clubs and attend the festivals. Get on the radar of people and eventually you’re going to get noticed.

Phase 5: Landing your First Gig

Okay, so you’re getting awesome at your gear, you’re really starting to dig the whole DJ thing and you’re seeing it as something you could totally do for a living. Great. Now you’re going to need to land that all important first gig.

Much like how you were doing with promoting yourself before and landing fans; you’re going to basically do the same for landing that gig.

Remember when I said you should mingle with fellow DJ’s and event organizers? Well, after you have a good friendship with them let ‘em know that you mix and see if they’d be willing to put you on a slot for one of their shows.

You could also take an alternative route by doing a few smaller gigs such as weddings, parties, school events and more. Your first gig is probably going to suck but that’s because you’re fresh to it. You’re going to be reading people and watching how they react to you; this is a time to learn about how you present yourself in front of the crowd.

Finally, get your friends out there too. Event organizers want people filling their venue so if you can pull in a large group of people that are ready to buy drinks than you’re going to have a pretty good shot at landing your first gig.

Phase 6: Doing it Again and Again

This part is a little self explanatory but just keep doing what you’re doing over and over again. Find out what works for you and make it a good habit to do it every day.

Regularly practice, promote yourself, talk with DJs, find new music, try out new tricks and effects, attend festivals and parties. Absorb the DJ life; you’ve earned it. Keep at it and you’re going to be burning up the floor.

Conclusion

If you’ve made it this far that you’re more than on your way to becoming a DJ. It’s going to take a lot of work, a bit of an investment in gear, a lot of practice, promoting yourself and sometimes going out of your comfort zone but if this is something that you truly want to do than it’s going to be a wild ride in the process.

You can totally do this. Bring something new to the dance floor. Be unique. Get out there, land some gigs, take DJing to the next level!

For those that have stayed, you will learn a variety of items from choosing the right DJ gear to start with all the way to landing your first gig. Are you ready?

Purchasing your beginning DJ gear

The DJ gear you wish to purchase when learning how to DJ is very important because of two things:

• Gear will eventually be used when you reach professional levels
• Gear that you start with should be high quality to avoid hampering your learning

The reason why you’d want to start with higher end gear is that many of the cheaper packages you find for DJing don’t provide the solid equipment that you’re going to be using when mixing on a professional level; the equipment may break, begin to warp or frustrate you during the initial learning curve.

So then what is the best gear to get started with DJing?

It’s a hard question to answer because it really depends on your budget. The more you save, the better gear you can start off with. An entire overview of what gear you’d need when learning how to become a DJ can be found in the Essential DJ Equipment guide or on the right sidebar.

If you don’t have time to select gear at this moment and want to get started; I’d recommend a midi controller by Hercules which is only around $100, allows you to hook it up to your computer and begin mixing your MP3′s within a few minutes – it’s well worth the investment at this point in time. Likewise, I’ve created a secondary site (work in progress) about DJ Equipment for Beginners which will take you through these DJ gear basics as well.

Once you have your gear selected, it’s time to move onto learning the basics of DJing.

Learning the basics of DJing

The next (and mos crucial step) of learning how to become a DJ are the basic skills you’ll be using throughout your entire career (or hobby days). These basics include techniques such as beatmatching, mixing, cuing your tracks, selecting the right music and more.

There are more than a few tutorials here on BeginnerDJ that will help you get started with learning the basics; choose from some of the following posts and then come back over to continue with learning how to DJ:

• What Type Of Music Should I DJ?
• How to Beat Match
• The Beat Matching Quick Guide
• The 10 Best Beat Matching Videos On The Net

Although most of these posts will cover all of the basics, there are still many different techniques that you’ll learn only after practicing over time; these techniques are more personal flares that you’ll be using in your mixing so that’s why it’s a bit beyond just a blog post.

Practice makes perfect (don’t skip this)

With your DJ gear all setup and the basics of DJing down pat, your next task when learning how to become a DJ is to practice, practice, practice. No seriously. The biggest hurdle that you’re going to face when DJing is getting the feel of it all and that only comes with many, many hours of practicing.

At this point, most people will give up on DJing but DON’T! You’ve already come this far, why give up now? Once you have the basics mastered, you can really begin to expand beyond them and start doing full mixes and promote yourself as a DJ.

Another important quality to remember is that you have to believe in yourself (as cheesy as that sounds). Many people get caught up with wanting to practice just a liiiiitle bit more before they create a mix; although I did say you should constantly be practicing, you should also know when to just jump right in and give it your all.

We all learn as we go and, frankly, the best the best way to do it.

Promoting yourself like a pro

You’re at such a lucky time right now; those that are learning how to become a DJ pretty much have it made in terms of promoting themselves. Through the use of the internet, you can spread your mixes, image and name all over the world for free! There’s no better time to get out promoting yourself than right now; so many people aren’t taking advantage of this platform and it really just comes down to joining social networks, uploading your mixes, creating a website or just having others share for you.

I’ve wrote a few guides previously on how you can use the internet to promote yourself as a DJ:

• How to Create a DJ Promo Mix
• How To Promote Your DJ Mix On Youtube
• How To Promote Yourself As A DJ
• 10 Minutes To Shine: The Youtube TenMinMix

Quite literally, for $20, you can setup your own blog and begin sharing your mixes with others. With a permanent domain, your mixes will always be there for people. Additionally, at a later point, you can begin promoting the parties that you’ll be playing at which will, in turn, help get you heard – it’s like a perpetual promotion machine!

You probably have all the skills you need to promote yourself online right now because you’re most likely already part of social networks; now you just need to shift focus from talking about movies and stuff into your latest mix and getting people to give you feedback – simple, right?!

Landing the gig of a lifetime

And now comes the all important part that’s going to set you out from the rest of the hobbyist that are learning how to become a DJ – it’s your time to shine: it’s your time to land a gig.

Landing a gig is a bit difficult when you’re first starting off but, like anything, it all comes down to the connections you make. Remember when I said you should start a blog? (Like, 3 sentences ago), yeah, that’s one of the best ways you can land your first gig.

When you start to build a following online and talk with others around your area, you can begin to approach party promoters and club owners for a gig. If you have your promo mix all ready and mastered, it’s just handing over the file/cd and hoping for the best.

Promoters want to know that you can bring in a crowd because they’re trying to make a bit of money from ticket sales or drinks. A DJ that doesn’t have a crowd is bad for their business which means it’s less likely that you’ll land the gig. If you have a great following online already that are willing to come out and promote you during your mixing than you have additional swagger to bring to the promoter’s table. See what I’m saying?

Over time, like many artists, you’ll need to do your due’s. You’ll have to run the local circuit and work your way up; it all takes time and this is the point where you absolutely can’t give up if you want to go all the way. Keep at it and eventually you’ll hit that point where you’ll start landing the gigs you want – it’s the tipping point baby!

Once you build a name for yourself; gigs will come easier and easier and the old dream of becoming a DJ is now a reality.

Conclusion and Final Thoughts

In conclusion, if you really want to know how to DJ than you need to take the time to do as much research as possible about the hobby and career. BeginnerDJ is a great resource for many budding DJ’s but you’ll also find a lot of great information out there on the web or through video series like How to DJ Fast.

It all comes down persistence; much like anything. If you set your mind to becoming a DJ and stick with it by practicing every day than you’ll eventually get there. You’ll find your love of the music to increase as you get to play in front of crowds. You’ll love that you’ll be living the party life and being paid for it. You’ll love that you literally get to listen to music all day – who wouldn’t want that, am I right?

So just do it; take the plunge. If you’ve been setting off this hobby for some time than now’s the best time to start – if you do, I wish you the best of luck on your question to become a DJ.

These packages are all-in-one setups that aim to get you started with DJing as quickly as possible; but are they worth it for beginners?

What is an all-in-one DJ package?

A DJ All-in-One package generally comes with a few basic items:

• 2 x Turntables
• 1 x Mixer
• 1 x Headphones

Some do come with a few extra hookups but the general idea is that you’re getting the bare minimum to get started with DJing – quite perfect for beginners actually.

These DJ packages generally run anywhere from $200 – $500 dollars which puts them in the lower quality gear bracket although that’s not to say that you’re getting complete crap – it just means that you’ll most likely be replacing it in the future once you start to land professional gigs (since you’ll need more robust gear).

A few of these DJ packages include:

• Numark CD DJ In A Box Complete DJ System
• Numark iBATTLEPACK
• ION iCD02KSP Digital DJ Station Package

The pro’s and con’s of DJ packages

You’ve probably picked up that I’m a bit 50/50 on the idea of DJ packages; here’s a bit why:

• PRO: They’re generally cheap – DJ packages aren’t all that expensive and can be picked up with a paycheck; they’re not going to break the bank.

• CON: They’re cheap because of cheap gear – The gear isn’t all that high in quality and can easily break; just don’t drop them – pretty basic care.

• PRO: You get everything you need – Everything is included with the package to start DJing in an afternoon; you can pull it out of the box, hook up and go.

• CON: You could do better – You can mix and match your own gear from various sources online and offline; this lets you pick up gear that may last longer.

There’s not much to say other than you get a lot for a relatively inexpensive price. DJ packages are really great when you’re just a beginner and don’t want to invest a TON into your equipment (especially if you’re just playing in your bedroom).

On the other hand, you could do better by mixing and matching your gear from items you find elsewhere online (think of it like building your own computer).

How to make the best of DJ packages

Their relatively cheap price tag, DJ packages are a really easy entry point when you begin DJing; it’s actually hard to resist and you may spend hours looking over all those that are offered. Although they do have a few problems and aren’t always recommended, you CAN make the best of them by doing a few of the following:

• Don’t expect the best – Some DJ packages are actually quite nice (if you spend the money) but if you go with the cheaper sets than don’t expect the most out of them – go into the purchase with the thought that you’re getting the bare minimum to get started.

• Give them away – Chances are, once you get going with DJing, you’re probably going to be hooked; this generally leads to you buying bigger and better gear. Instead of tossing out the old DJ package, consider handing it off to a friend or someone that has expressed interest in starting to DJ.

• Resell them online – DJ packages (if you keep them in great shape) can be resold online for around the same price as you’ve bought them. If you get the basics down using these inexpesive pieces of gear than you could always pass them off to others and get most of your money back (which can go toward new gear).

• Use them to teach – Once you upgrade (if you do), you can always use the extra equipment to teach others how to DJ. Consider setting up a small workshop where you can teach others for a small fee or just as a fun activity for those within your neighborhood.

In all, you get what you pay for and when you go into the deal knowing that you can always resell them or share them with others than you’re putting yourself in a great mindset.

Final Thoughts

Overall, I don’t entirely recommend DJ packages for most beginners because it’s best to get started with gear that you KNOW will last you. However, because DJing can be a big investment, packages can be great for those that are on a budget and have been itching to get started. It’s totally up to you.

Every DJ needs a starting point and that often begins with choosing your first set of equipment. You’re already comfortable with the thought of DJing and you know your tracks, now you’re eager to get right into the mix.

But hold up for a second because if you jump in too quickly, you could end up spending a ton of money on worthless gear.

What is the best DJ equipment?

To begin, I want to empasize there is no best DJ gear, it’s all in your mind.

Allow me to explain: Much like a car, you are show dozens of options. They are always flashy and the salesman leads you to believe you need all of them but in the back of your mind you know something is up.

This is how DJ equipment works. A business is a business, large companies and retailers need to make their bottom line which means they’ll push DJ equipment on you which you don’t really need.

My best advice is to ask a friend or visit your local DJ shop, they usually don’t intend to sway your decision or push you to buy any DJ equipment you don’t need (usually).

Okay so are you ready to jump in and figure out what basic DJ equipment you will need?

At this point you nod and say yes.

A Short History Of DJ Equipment

Back in the old days, DJs were really limited. I mean…really limited. Modern DJs don’t know how well off they are compared to some of the originators but do consider that technology has to change, we all benefit from it.

Early DJ equipment comprised of basic turntables and don’t even think about a mixer because that would take a while to show up. DJs of yesteryear literally would just mix records back to back until Francis Grasso begins the craze that is slip-cueing (which later becomes beatmatching).

Not to bore you entirely about the history, I suggest you go take a look at The History Of DJing I wrote on BoyInABand.com.

So fast forward to today where we have a vast variety of choices when it comes to our DJ equipment.

I know, it’s a bit of a mind boggling experience when you first set out to buy your first DJ setup but stick with me here cause Muxx’ll fix you up.

Basic DJ Equipment: What You’ll Need

Every DJ setup comprises of just a few key elements:

• 2 turntables
• 1 mixer
• 1 pair of headphones
• 2 speakers to listen

Your most important element are your two turntables (and a microphone!). These are what play your music and can be many different formats.

Today, the most common turntable varieties are:

• Vinyl
• CD
• Digital

All 3 of these types have begun to blend with advances in technology. The MP3 you downloaded (ha, I caught you!) can be burned to a CD to play on a pair of CD decks. Likewise, you could just load them into a program and mix them with a digital controller. There is even time-coded vinyl which gives you that vinyl feel but digital music format.

For a beginner DJ, I suggest you scope out sites like:

• Amazon
• MusiciansFriend
• PlanetDJ

These websites have great deals on all kinds of DJ equipment, just be sure to shop around because where one will list a turntable at $500, another may have it at $400.

As far as my opinion goes, the 3 sets of turntables you should keep an eye out for are:

• Technics 1210′s (for vinyl DJs)
• CDJ-800′s or 1000′s (for CD DJs)
• Vestax VCI-300 (for digital DJs)

Expensive? Yes. But like many hobbies or careers, you need to invest in a proper set of turntables so you don’t burn through cheapo sets.

These 3 types of turntables are tried and true but remember that these are my personal opinions, make sure you ask your friends or other DJs before you make a purchase.

Okay, so let’s move onto the mixer.

The mixer is what bridges the sound from both turntables and allows you to hook up your headphones, control the sound and route it to your speakers.

In short, it’s what holds everything together.

The mixer allows you to control the sound however you see fit.

You can craft the music to sound completely different, add cool effects, create a better mix and remix any song you want.

A mixer doesn’t have to be your most expensive piece of basic DJ equipment but you should invest in one that will last you.

I would suggest:

• Pioneer DJM-800 (expensive!)
• Numark DXM09 (affordable)
• Behringer DX626 (basic)

Just make sure the mixer allows you to hook up your equipment, control the sound and has a slider (now that’s basic!).

Next up is my favorite topic of discussion: headphones!

Headphones are like some kind of sacred ritual, you know those movies where some old guy hands a kid the family weapon or something along those lines? That’s what finding a great pair of headphones is like.

Headphones really depend on your own personal preference, you just need to make sure they fit you, give you great sound and are sturdy enough.

I suggest you read through “how to choose a great pair of DJ headphones“, it’s a bit long winded but should get you right up to speed on picking out a great pair.

Lastly, we need to run through speakers.

Speakers make the sound, durr. There are lengthy articles all over the net that will be more than happy to explain to you the full workings of every electrical part of a speaker but we’re running through this quick.

For now, you could use your computer speakers. You may need a cable adapter to hook it up to your mixer but they’re really cheap, you can find them at any store (hint: try Radioshack – they could probably use some business anyway).

If you want to step up and buy a better pair, I suggest grabbing a set by M-Audio, they’re cheap and sound great.

And, if you wanna drop some big money, go check out some DJ/PA speakers but try to stick to brands you know and trust like JBL.

All-In-One Packages: A Quick Look

All in one DJ packages are about as basic as you can get. These “DJ in a box” sets give you turntables, a mixer, headphones and that’s about it – basic.

The main appeal many people have with these are their costs, they’re cheap as hell. For a little over $300, you can begin DJing without that expensive overhead.

If you take a look at this beginner DJ equipment setup by Numark, you can see it gives you what you need. The only problem is these pieces of equipment are a bit cheap and may break easily which is why I suggested the quality equipment above.

Don’t let this deter you however, these packages are fairly decent overall if you don’t want to invest a ton of money up front or you’re not entirely sure if you want to progress pass the bedroom.

Wrap It Up Already! I Thought You Said This Was Short!

Okay okay, sorry for dragging on a bit but I hope you enjoyed this quick run through of the basic DJ equipment you’d need to learn how to DJ.

Take some time to decided if you’re really passionate about DJing, if you didn’t hesitate to say YES! I say go for it and start picking up some gear.

Hope this helped ya.