At the end of the day, we’re all playing music. We’ve sourced it, curated it and own the equipment to play it back, preferably at a loud volume. But there’s really not much more to it on the audio front than that. While we aim to stand out of the crowd on the strength of advanced DJ techniques alone, we have to rely on stage setup to look as good as we sound. Let’s check out a few stage hacks to take hobby DJs to the next level.
Get a black DJ desk cloth
There’s nothing that screams ‘amateur’ more than being able to see a DJ’s feet. Unless they’re wearing dope shoes. The point: always remember to pack a black cloth and use it to cover the surface of the table surface. Having wires dangling around the front of the desk is also not a great look (unless you’re going for a punk aesthetic). Make sure your large black cloth is tucked into your gear every time. Use a satin-like fabric if you can find one. It’s sexy and shimmers a little more than matt black cotton. Hem the edges if you have loose threads. Hang it all the way to the floor.
Use an ironing board as a DJ desk
Following on from our article about the right DJ desk height, you can honestly use an ironing board for some lighter setups. It’s easy to carry, adjustable and can be hidden by (you guessed it) your trusty black cloth. Ironing boards aren’t rectangular, so use a separate plywood board on top to give yourself a little extra space while also hiding the fact that, you know, you’re playing on an ironing board. And please, don’t overload it with weight and then kick the thing while you’re jamming. As many domesticated DJs have learned, they tend to collapse.
Get an adjustable phone camera grip
Over the years, DJ Courses Online has provided a whole bunch of livestream and video tips and tricks. But at the top of the list is this: get a Gorillapod grip for your smartphone. It’s the lightest thing ever. It can be set up in 15 seconds. A video of you DJing is the greatest thing you can achieve on any given night besides the fun and music itself. Adjustable grips can be mounted on the desk, sideways on a speaker stand or on any surrounding item.
Commercial DJs generally have everything set up for them. Great! But if you’re at the level of a hobby DJ, you’ll probably be used to using what you have. And then carrying it all yourself! Don’t complain, you could have been born a drummer. Either way, make the stage setup process part of your act. Use these stage hacks to get more return on your evening’s efforts. Show the people you care about putting on a bit of a show. DJ Courses Online has a DJ Career Tips course you might want to check out.