Being a great DJ is mostly about curation of awesome music. It’s as simple as that, really. You need to listen to new music constantly. You need to update your collection constantly. You need to be a bit of a librarian who knows the contents of their crate. No better way to learn DJing curation. Here are a few ideas for filtering the rubbish from your collection and building an awesome set.
The feels
At least once a year, sort your whole collection into two piles: tracks that still make you feel something, and the rest. If a track doesn’t make you feel something, it should be in line for removal. Not necessarily every track needs to be removed from the pile. There’s room for oldies and tracks that you know your friends and crowd enjoy more than you. But definitely cull your collection based on feel as often as possible.
Seasonal selection
Fresh material usually makes up the bulk of most DJs’ sets, so you should always be on the lookout for the new stuff that suits your style. But remember that acquiring certain tunes means letting others go. You don’t actually want a collection of 10 million songs. Onboard the new stuff in summer and offload the old stuff in winter. Feels natural.
Switching
No DJ should give their collection away, but swapping tunes with friends is a great way to build connections that matter and last. Maybe one of your ‘meh’ tunes will spark some joy in a buddy. Call up a mate, go through each other’s collections and do a trade of some of your tunes. Sharing music is a timeless way to bond. You’ll probably end up throwing a party together.
Curating a great DJ collection is a skill worth hanging on to. DJing isn’t all only about getting loose and curating the vibe at a party. Your connection with your collection is what matters. Get more pro tips from TLM in the DJ Careers course by DJ Courses Online.