There’s more than one way to rise. The DJs who manage to do so combine common sense, luck and risk-taking to further their DJ careers. But there’s no rule book that says you need to look, act or even sound a certain way. Make the right moves. Check out a few ways that DJs get to where they’re trying to go.
Have the best or latest gear
You know that guy who gets the gig mainly because he’s got the gear? The better off your audience is, the more impressed they are with measurable criteria like the shelf price of your sound system. This is why you often hear people number-dropping the rig’s value in order to justify how much they paid. If generating this type of value-based inquiry is an option for you, then by all means take it. It will allow you to rub shoulders with some elite folks, all the while having the best toys in the business. But do bear in mind that it won’t make you a better DJ. Only playing out will accomplish that.
Play the best new stuff
Having the dopest new stuff is standard operating procedure for most DJs. To pick up the fan and client numbers early, you’ll need to be spinning the tunes that are on everyone’s minds. Your track selection should always include a commercial set, with your most recent tracks never being more than about 4 weeks old. Subscribe to promo label lists and hit the charts daily.This is a great way to get the attention of the room and distinguish yourself from the potted plant in the corner. But bear in mind that commercial hype is really only an entry point. In the long run, you’ll want to build your own audience, either by selecting tracks closer to your own tastes or by producing your own.
Be active on social
There are doers, and then there are talkers. Social media is full of talkers, but really pretty thin on actual doers. Being super active on social media is the most common advice for independent artists trying to make a name for themselves. But quantity does not equal quality. Make sure that if social media is your game, you represent yourself more as a brand than as an individual. You need to give people what they want, not photos of your cat lying next to the mixer. Better idea? Be super quiet on most social media, but make sure whatever you post is super hot. Be above the noise by spending more time producing useful, quality work than posting on Instagram. Be elusive and then only release good stuff.
Making a living as a DJ can be a difficult path. You have to be serious and fun at the same time. You need to find a balance between conforming to a stereotype and creating your own image and offering. Get with the DJ program by checking out some of the DJ courses on DJCoursesOnline today.
John Bartmann is a music producer and DJ