Vinyl DJing is the stick shift of partying. It’s a skill you’ll probably be OK without, and also one that gives you an edge when DJing with software. Coming to grips with ‘analog DJing’ is not only an impressive way to stake your claim, it’s a whole lot of fun once you get past the hurdles. Let’s march onwards to a professional career in DJing with three challenges to learning how to DJ on vinyl.
Heavy
Before Serato, but there was a time that actual crates were the way to get vinyl from one place to another. Carrying (and flying) them around is always going to be the main challenge to a career in DJing, but having the temerity to show up with a limited collection of only the best tunes is what grabs the attention of the DJ purists. Be warned: 50 vinyl records weighs around 165lb (75kg).
Expensive
Vinyls are a costly hobby, which is probably the main reason so few DJs are able to spin them. A single collector’s 12” cost around $20 on average. That’s around 2-4 songs, often remixes and B-sides of a single. And because the industry is driven by exclusivity, not too many ‘hit collection’ compilations are pressed. Having a dope vinyl collection is certainly gonna set you back.
Fragile
One mean scratch and your record is done. Couple minutes in the sun and it could end up sounding like it’s being run through a pitch LFO. Nobody likes the idea of taking their prize items into a dark noisy public space, where so much can go wrong. Again, part of the allure. Show up with a winning track on vinyl, however, and you’ve got a shot at impressing those that matter most.
Vinyl isn’t for everyone, and that’s cool. But it is a sort of statement. Spending the cash, carrying the crates and protecting them like your children is a good way to demonstrate your commitment to the art. And with digital detox movements getting more popular, it’s the vinyl DJs who still rule the underground. Get more into DJing today with a course by DJ Courses Online and take your skills to the next level.
John Bartmann is an audio producer and DJ.