The fight against misconceptions in DJing is real. Ask any professional DJ who’s ever had someone ask them why they charge so much, or demand that they play only vinyl because of the sound quality. As a DJ, you’ll wanna be prepared for this type of attitude. We got your back. Here are a couple of the main misconceptions held by both DJs themselves and their audiences.
MP3s are inferior
In terms of sound quality, MP3s are slightly inferior to lossless files like WAV and FLAC. That much is true. But the idea that you need to play lossless files in order to be considered a good DJ is rubbish. The quality of the sound rig you’re playing on might give away the fact that a file is an MP3, but most rigs won’t. Many MP3 rips are terrible and have that squeaky aliasing sound in the treble, but in all other respects, a 320kbps export of a file is practically identical to a WAV. If anyone ever calls you out on playing MP3s, enjoy watching them fail a blind comparison challenge. Humans just aren’t that good at telling the difference, and that’s why MP3s are as popular as they are.
Your musical taste is superior
Your taste isn’t superior to anyone’s in any way. It’s simply what you enjoy. So saying that your choice in music is better than anyone else’s is like saying that they shouldn’t enjoy green beans because brown beans are better. There has never been a DJ who managed to capture 100% of the crowd. Like you, people have their own tastes. The more professional you aim to be as a DJ, the less you’ll play the music you love and the more you’ll cater to the tastes of the crowd. Being a good DJ means being willing to learn and develop your taste to suit the crowds you aim to please. Aim to find that sweet spot, where both you and the audience can enjoy the music fully. Your taste isn’t superior to anyone’s in any way. It’s simply what you enjoy.
DJing is easy and automated
Uh…no. Admittedly, many big events do require very little of the DJ. But for the most part, DJing requires a lot more than technical knowledge and a musical collection. DJing is about people. It’s about dealing kindly with drunk people, negotiating song requests, carrying expensive gear through dodgy streets. It’s about being diligent enough to prepare, to think out possible eventualities. It’s about remembering to pack an extra RCA cable, because the birthday girl’s sister is going to ask you if she can play something off her phone. So if you’re looking for a bit of music, pick a Spotify playlist. Booking a DJ, on the other hand, gets you experienced judgment calls, crowd control and a hype monster who’ll give you a great night out.
Misconceptions are everywhere. As a DJ, you’ll want to make sure your clients know the difference between a Spotify playlist and a human being with years of experience. They’re not paying for music, they’re paying for good judgment. They’re paying for someone who knows that unless you duct tape a cable to the floor, someone will trip over it and bring the PA tops crashing to the floor. That’s why you gotta learn the industry standard DJing practices. Take your journey to the next level.