DJing involves a combination of technical skills. You have to know how all sorts of cables and programs work. But even when you’ve got that stuff down, you still need to learn the best DJing techniques. Or at least how NOT to DJ. Let’s check out a few common errors that new DJs make.
Playing full tracks start to finish
Most DJs start out playing the full song. But the DJs that slay the dancefloor are the ones that know where to set their hot cues. Sometimes, a DJ might only play the most banging 45 seconds of a song! In other cases, only certain stems from a track. The point is that only playing full tracks from start to finish result in a lifeless DJ set. Get creative by setting your hot cues to interesting points in the song. Or drop in at the chorus and see what happens.
Mixing tracks too quickly
If you’re starting the lineup and the room is still quiet, start slow. Performing music is a type of climax control. It’s not quite satisfying when the end comes too quickly. Often, the DJ’s excitement can override the early crowd’s desire for a slow warmup. Mixing into your next track too quickly is a sign that a DJ is misreading a room or perhaps unaware of their position in the lineup.
Big BPM leaps
Since the first CDJs, CPM detection has allowed DJs to really codify their sets into sections. BPM is the master. Many DJs are defined by the BPM they play (220BPM, anyone?). So whether you’re warming up a floor or in the thick of it, don’t make sudden changes to BPM. If you make sudden changes of more than +-5BPM between tracks, you’ll probably confuse your crowd! If you need to make subtle changes, do them during breaks, not choruses or main drops.
Have you found yourself making any of these basic mistakes? It’s cool, they’re not carved in stone. And you’ve probably encountered them already. Like playing an instrument, practicing your DJing is key. And practice is always more fun with a friend. Have you checked out the catalog of DJ Courses Online video DJ courses recently?