3 mistakes beginner DJs make

Want to be a better DJ instantly? There are a million things you can implement right away that will help you escape the ‘beginner’ category. To those who have been DJing for a while, these common rookie errors are obvious. Follow these career tips by DJ Courses Online.

Peaking too early

As fun as it is to have a slot, it’s critical to realize that as a beginner DJ, you’re there to warm up for the main act. Don’t try to be the headline act before you’ve paid your dues. It’s a process, and you earn it. Besides, the 9pm slot is a pretty sober crowd. Hitting them hard too early usually doesn’t work. The temptation is real. The restraint in not going full-on is worthy of respect. 

Excessive FX and ‘action’

It’s OK to just hang back and wait for the track to end. It’s normal to feel ‘like you should be doing something.’ DJing is mostly about looking busy, vibing and waiting for the track to play out. Surfers only catch a wave once every 10 minutes or so. They’re still surfing. Don’t overdo yourself, and obviously don’t be seen checking your phone. Just be cool, and you’ll start to look less like a beginner.

Vocal clashing

Two people singing different stuff at once? Yikes. Bit of a no thanks. Rather than having the outro chorus of Track A play over the intro of Track B, make sure one of the tracks is playing an instrumental part at a time. The results are less dissonant and make you look like less of a beginner. 

It’s not hard to get better as a DJ. You just need to find DJ course material that works for you, pay attention to it and then practice as much as you can. You need to love music in general, and your tracks in specific. You also need to like people, because you’ll be a magnet for them.

DJ gear is getting more expensive

Noticed a rising trend in DJ equipment prices recently? So have we. The supply chain for many manufactured goods has been disrupted by the pandemic. Many components - including the semiconductors required in everything that computes - are rising in price. Here are 3 things DJs should be thinking about right now. 

Costs are rising

Component costs are going up. Labor costs are going up. Tariffs on trade are going up. The price of copper, which is used in pretty much every type of electrical product, has nearly doubled in the last year. To be fair, it’s not a new all-time high. The price has been this high before. But compounded with other factors, we’re in for extra expenses when it comes to buying DJ gear. 

Transport is changing

There’s currently a line of ships waiting to dock at both Long Island and Los Angeles ports. Ocean shipping has been overbooked and delayed for months. It appears that global logistics in shipping are reaching a bottleneck as DJ equipment fails to make its way from seller to buyer quickly.

Semiconductor shortage

This is pretty huge, and it’s likely to make computers and phones more expensive than they have been for the foreseeable future. Apple is still firmly in control of their high-end semiconductors. But the lower-cost silicon-based products that we use at our DJ gigs and streams are going to be less readily available. 

Fortunately, live events seem to be slowly and cautiously (or not so cautiously) opening up again. And that means more actual gigs. So what’s your comeback plan? Managed to get your 2022 set together yet? Get back in the game by picking the right DJ course material to get yourself in the zone.

The underground DJ capital city

You know the history, right? How EDM only really started up in the USA in the 2000s, about 20 years after it kicked off in Europe? More specifically, in Berlin. You see, DJs and artists have always gravitated towards areas of controversy (in this case the Berlin Wall). It’s where we get our kicks and use our talents to make social changes. So what went down in those 20 years? 

Make no mistake - dance music was well underway in the USA in the 80s. But it was the Detroit ‘warehouse’ sound which got the crowds moving. The industrial spaces of Detroit’s city limits became the venues for parties, much in the same way that the decaying inner city of East Berlin did. It was just a different sound, but the aesthetic was the same. We prefer to dance in the dark. 

The electronic music happening in Europe in the 1980s and 90s was the bedrock of the shared EDM culture we enjoy today. Extended mixes, big risers and reverb washes all owe something to the Berlin scene. Festivals such as Winterworld, Love Parade and MayDay gained popularity. During this time, DJs such as Paul van Dyk, Zedd and Robin Schulz flew the flag high and popularized the music globally. 

To this day, Berlin is basically the capital of club-music culture. The city is a magnet for producers and DJs from all over the world. The nightlife of the techno scene is unparalleled. Clubs on every corner, events for days and labels coming out the wazoo. And a thriving economy around new dance music. 

For anyone looking to become a professional DJ, location is half of the game. It’s easier to gain traction now than ever by using livestreaming to grow your audience. But if you have a chance to get to Berlin and pursue a career in DJing, take it. Your other secret weapon? This DJ Careers course. Grab that knowledge which gives you the edge!

DJing in real life vs live streaming

Like most entertainment jobs, DJing has taken a major knock in the last 18 months. When was your last set? Do you still own your gear, or have you offloaded it onto someone else? Now that all DJs have completely forgotten what it’s like to DJ in public, let’s recap on some of the differences between DJing sets in front of people and doing it via Twitch, Mixcloud Live or other similar services. 

Energy

The biggest difference between DJing in real life and live streaming your set is being able to feel the energy of the room. You still get a buzz from seeing your Twitch stream get busy, but we all know it’s not the same. Rooms of people are less predictable, less controllable and more committed to what you’re doing. They can’t just turn you off. This makes you more responsible, and the pressure feels greater. But so does the payoff - a great time! 

Technical matters

Solving technical problems is one of your best friends in the DJ techniques toolbox. Cables, volume levels, power issues. In real life, these typically differ from gig to gig. You’re not always sure what equipment the venue has, or how much table height and surface space you’ve been given. There may be other DJs or interruptions like speeches. But once you’re set up on Twitch (or wherever you stream), it’s easier to save settings and predict the outcomes.

Followers

One great thing that live streaming has done for DJing is given them identities. In a real life event, you’re usually part of the background. Most of the guests don’t know your name and couldn’t really tell their friends about you even if they wanted to. With live streaming, however, all your data and links are splashed out in front of them. You get to control and divert attention much more effectively, even if it’s through a screen. Those are the people who come to your in-person gigs when they ultimately can.

It’s a bit weird even comparing live streams and real life gigs. As if our digital selves are anything more than a simulation of our real selves. But now that we’re able to connect with people everywhere all the time, there’s no reason not to begin employing both to our advantage. Get the industry advice from pro DJs by checking out the courses offered by DJ Courses Online.

3 ways to bore your crowd

There are times when, as a DJ, you find yourself checking the time on your phone while you get through a set. Typically, it happens during functions like weddings, where you’re required to play the same old hits. You gotta at least pretend to be interested, though. Unless you really want to bore your crowd (like this guy). Oh, you wanna know how to bore your crowd?

Delaying the drop for too long

We all know the feeling of having left the drop too late. The instant regret after triggering the final 16-bar loop of a build one time too many. You can feel the energy in the room drop. That’s called delaying the drop for too long. Most experienced and professional DJs are selective with the start and drop points of a track. We don’t always play it from start to finish. Practice thinking and ‘hearing ahead’ to make those types of decisions.

Selecting the wrong energy level

There’s music which bores people because it’s too low-energy. But then there’s the type of fatigue that comes from blasting bangers to an empty floor. Adapt, improvise, overcome! First trick to DJing: find the energy of the room! If people at the bar are just tapping their feet for 2 hours, they’re probably waiting for the right energy level before they join the floor.

Being bored yourself

Assume the crowd knows when you’re bored. Until you’re a professional with a reputation for slaying the night, the crowd is going to copy how you’re behaving. No need to make a big show out of it, but you’d better be moving around. And you know what? Even if you’re not in the vibe, sometimes you can trick yourself into having a good time by going along with the expectations people have of DJs. Fake a groove and it might catch you.

Don’t worry about playing uncool stuff every so often if you’re just doing it to earn that dollar. But when it’s your turn to play the music you love, you’ll want the crowd to feel your energy. Wanna find out more about how to vibe like a pro? Hit up the DJ Courses Online course material and think about signing up for access.

DJ like a boss

Spinning a few records in your bedroom on the weekend is fun. But maybe you’re at the point where you’d like to take it further. Here’s where the professional DJing advice from DJ Courses Online comes in. Follow these steps and move forward with your DJing. 

Get out into public

Truth is, you can only get so far practising in your spare room. You have to get out. Learning how to mix a set, hold a track and stoke a crowd comes from being in front of other people. Crowds are honest, and if you’re not killing it, they’ll move on. This type of feedback can hurt (we know!). But it’s also you best friend as a gauge of your selection and mixing skills. 

Know thy music

Track selection is a skill. Software seems to be perpetually catching up, but there’s something legit about a person learning the tastes of a crowd hungry for fresh stuff. But you need to know your music. Have a reason that you play the tracks you do other than ‘it’s at the top of the chart’. Know the stories of the artists. Know the metadata. Learn more about what’s in your library, and the vibe will come alive for you, and the crowd by extension.

Don’t be bored

Is the music you play boring you? Are you doing it just to get the gig? That’s cool, if your aim is to do the jukebox thing for money. That’s how you pay your bills. But if you’re throwing your own party or have a chance to share your own taste, make sure that stuff sets you on fire! Half of your role as a winning DJ is just being excited! Do a cull of any tracks that aren’t doing it for you, and keep hunting for those that do. 

Taking your DJ hobby to the next level might require a change of thinking. You gotta start doing it for you, and be brave enough to share that with others. Growing as an artist will always make you feel vulnerable. You put yourself on the line at every gig. But you’re not alone. You’ve always got the friendly course instructors at DJ Courses Online. Sign up for a course today.

The big secret to DJing

Technique and song selection are the two pillars of DJing. Technique can easily be improved on (as all members of DJ Courses Online know). You simply follow the tutorial and practice your mixing skills over time. But what about song selection? How do you improve your nose for a good track? Here’s the trick. 

The problem

When you’re doing your next set, there might come a moment when you really wanna play that hot new track. But you also know that the 7-minute edit won’t work. It’s too long, and you haven’t set your hot cues yet. Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to select a shorter version of a track? 

The secret

The big secret to DJing like a pro is having access to DJ edits. What is a DJ edit? When a producer releases a new track, they often include different versions of the track. Usually, there’s a shorter version for radio, There might be an acapella-only version. There are also VIP edits, clean edits, mashups. There are options for different circumstances.

The club

Professional DJs tend to get their music not only from the Beatport charts (yeah, we see you poking around the Top 20!). They tend to hang out in DJ pools, which are limited-access track libraries for unreleased tracks, white labels and commercially unavailable tunes. That’s where you get DJ edits. There are versions for all situations. 

So now you know the secret to levelling up. If you aren’t part of a DJ pool like Digital DJ Pool or iDJPool, get access to one. You might be fluid on the decks already. But you don’t wanna be setting hot cues for the choruses of all your tracks forever. You’ll hit a ceiling at some point. Get into a DJ pool and enter the next chapter of DJing today.

How long should you hold a track when mixing?

How do pro DJs seem to do what they do with so little effort? How do they know when to keep a loop going and when to drop the next track? How do they make it look so easy?! Anyone who’s DJed before knows that there’s a skill to it. Feel out the room and make the call. Here’s how.

Know your role

Pace yourself according to where you are in the lineup and how long your allocated set time is. Opening the floor? One set of rules. Headlining? Closing? Different approach. Maybe you’ve only got a 20-minute DJ set. Maybe you’re on for 8 hours. Over time, you’ll want to prepare different versions of your set to play these different games. Your 20-minute power set is gonna go down well when you need to hit a home run. And your extended set allows for more loop time and vibe building. 

Energy changes

Here’s a good general rule for DJs and moodscapers: quick changes in the tracklist result in a more lively atmosphere, while slow changes result in a more subtle and long-term build-up. You can use both to your advantage, but know what you’re trying to do. The speed of your transitions should match the vibe you’re going for. So brush up on looping on-the-fly with the Advanced DJ Techniques II Course lesson video 9.

Adapt, improvise, overcome

Too many DJs panic when they make the wrong selection. So you switched genres and the crowd disappeared. So what? Now it’s time to double down and make sure you hit that new genre with everything you’ve got. Next step? Hit them up with a crowd-pleaser in the new genre. Then watch how many people didn’t realize they came here to dance to the style you selected! People aren’t here to judge, they’re here to laugh along with the changes. Smile through it all.

Keep your loops in multiples of 8 (so 8 bars, 16 bars, etc.) Most dance music is written to be looped in these divisions. Find the sweet spot between and drop that sounds too early and a loop that goes on too long. Read the crowd, and if there isn’t one yet, keep your transitions slow and build, build, build that energy! The Ableton Live DJ course lesson 3 is a delight for DJs who want to get more creative with their transitions.

3 common mixing mistakes

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?

Live stream your DJ set

Maybe it’s the fact that the plague seems to be in decline. Maybe it’s the fact that Roland just released a smartphone mixer that allows you to livestream from anywhere. Whatever the case, we’re all itching to get out and play. Here are a few ideas for live streaming your set and showing ‘em how you’re living your best life. 

Technical stuff

Live streaming is still a little complex. Solutions are appearing, but you still have to learn how to connect everything. And you probably still need a laptop to capture that bass. Also, you’ll need a mini-tripod to hold your phone and a couple of specific cables. And an external soundcard. Yeah, it’s still a bit of a hack, but the results are worth it.

Get out

Videos of DJs playing sets in outdoor spaces always do well. Especially after 90% of us have spent the last 2 years caged up like animals. We all want to be where you are. You’ll need to think about places with a great view but which also have a power supply for your gear. And preferably spots where you’re not gonna get mugged! Greenery, open air, sea views, gardens and parks are all gold. 

Video specs

Live streaming is a bit of a power play for DJs who release music online. In videography, background blur makes the shot easier on the eye. If you don’t have a camera with an adjustable depth of field, try to find a spot which has a lot of distance behind where you’ll be standing. Either an outdoor space or an indoor space like a warehouse or somewhere with windows and a view. You can use Zoom filters to create artificial background blur, but it can look a bit weird, especially in low light.

It’s a great feeling knowing that you’re reaching people. Remember, though, that having an online presence means showing up regularly, even when it appears that the follower numbers are a little light. Ignore them. Look for the people that matter, and reward them with interaction in the comments during your set. Social media is one half of it. The other one is knowing how to DJ like a pro.

3 things software DJs can expect

Most music calamities at DJ events are as a result of a software issue. Programs are the bottlenecks through which a lot of (analog) audio usually passes. Unlike fixing a faulty cable, our inability to easily pop the hood of a computer program usually causes more trouble than hardware. Let’s understand a little more about how Serato and Traktor DJs solve their software problems on the fly. 

File not recognized

One common problem when DJing is when your software or decks fail to recognize a file. The dreaded ‘file not recognized’ issue can come as a surprise, particularly when you’re playing on a set of decks that belongs to the club. Or something on the older side. While it is a bummer being denied your banger, you can usually just skip to the next track. Best solution? Do your research into which decks are buggy, and know your downloads. Here’s a nice brief overview of how different file types tend to behave.

Laptop updates

It’s incredible how laptops seem to time their software updates right as you’re about to play a gig. If you’ve ever been unfortunate enough to see a ‘please wait while XXXX updates’ message, you’ll know what we mean. It’s enough to give a DJ a stroke. Laptop DJs: disable automatic updates on your event machine. You’re welcome. Here’s a DJ that pranks the crowd with a Windows error message song.

The oldest fix in the book

When all else fails, restart your laptop. Obviously not the most awesome thing to happen mid-set. That’s why you should always have an emergency mix loaded up on your phone, plugged into the desk via an aux cable. In the time it takes for you to diagnose the problem and restart your main machine, you can hit play on your phone and if you’re lucky, the crowd will be none the wiser. You should come prepared to every gig with an emergency switch-and-reboot setup. It fixes most software problems and also beats 7 minutes of silence.

Ah, software. The solution to (and cause of) all of life’s inconveniences. Software is eating the world, but that doesn’t mean you have to be a victim of it. In fact, learning how to use your gear better is the only way you’re gonna get on top of it. Learn from YouTubers, or learn from professional DJs. Either way, have a banging set!

3 tips for DJing with USBs

You spend the afternoon at your mate’s place getting some new tunes on a flash drive. You take it home, plug it into Traktor and some of the files aren’t reading. Sometimes it’s the files, but often it’s the USB stick, because there are a whole bunch of ghost files that came with the music. Sound familiar? Check out a few career tips from pro DJs on which flash drive to use for your set. 

USB type

The USB should be built for durability. Make sure it’s not that brittle plastic type, or something too fancy or novel. A Garfield keyring flash drive simply isn’t made for professional DJ equipment, and especially not equipment running proprietary software. Avoid the generic ones. You know, the ones that you get given at trade shows. 

USB specs

Capacity isn’t that important. Most of us have collections under 32GB in length, which works out to about 220 hours of MP3s. If you want to futureproof a year or two, get a 64GB for your music collection. More importantly, get a USB 3.0 drive. Pioneer gear, for example, only uses USB 3.0 at this point in time. 

File type

You can format your drive as NTFS or FAT32, which are the Windows and MAC file systems respectively. Here’s an in-depth rundown on FAT and NTFS files systems, including their strengths and weaknesses. And the winner for DJs is FAT32. It’s compatible with a wider range of systems. And while the maximum file size is still 4GB, that shouldn’t make a difference unless each of the tracks in your library is 80 hours in length. 

Bonus tip! whatever USB drive you store your stuff on, get 2 copies and always keep their contents identical. Always take a backup USB! 

Yeah, stuff like file formatting and USB specs isn’t the most glamorous side of being a touring DJ. But learning to be a technician is something that all the pros have to go through. That’s why the gear is called ‘Pioneer’ and ‘Technics’, right?! Level up your skills with acclaimed DJ course video lessons from the pros.

How DJing vinyl is different to USB or CD

Spin vinyl much? You’re a rare commodity, and your planet salutes you. Seriously though, vinyl DJing is the rare, expensive and inconvenient art form that unites the purists, pushes the limitations and embraces the past. For those who seek to walk the vinyl road with records or courses like Serato DJ, here are a few quick tips on what to expect from our round, waxy friends.

Needles misbehave

Needles have a way of jumping around. A buildup of dust on your needle can cause the whole tone arm to migrate across the plate mid-song. Scratches have a way of teleporting the needle to a different moment in the song. People have a tendency to bump the table. Do what you can to minimize it. This dude even uses squash balls as shock absorbers for his vinyl setup!

We like analog hiss

When CDs were first commercially available in the 1980s, they were praised for their clarity and precise reproduction of the recording. As the era of cassette tapes and vinyl was coming to an end, people were all amazed to hear new music with such crystal-clear accuracy. Now it’s 2021, and vinyl has been making a comeback for 15 years straight. It’s actually a reaction to the clinical fidelity of digital files. Why? Because we actually like the warmth and hiss of music on vinyl. 

Embrace the mistakes

You know the way old school hip hop scratching sounds? It originated when dancers would bump the table, causing the song to make that scratch or reverse sound (and probably also cause the crowd to go “Aaaaaw c’MON!” or applaud sarcastically). The scratching became a normal part of the music, and DJs started getting creative with it. Point is that scratches, hiss and spin outs are all normal parts of the vinyl experience. Embrace them!

Being a professional Serato DJ or vinyl DJ is different to most careers. The criteria for a good ‘product’ (ie DJ set) are lower. People generally go to parties and follow DJs around because they’re just into a vibe. As a working DJ, it doesn’t really matter too much if you’re on digital or vinyl. Just make sure the vibe you’re putting out isn’t too self-important and people will love your energy.

Common DJ hardware problems

DJing does require a certain level of technical ability. Of course at the end of the day, it’s all about the music and knowing how to deliver good times. But having a technical side will certainly remove some of the frustration when real-life debugging is required. Here are a few things to watch out for. 

Headphones

If you need one mini-jack headphone adapter, buy three. Always have a couple in your bag. They tend to vanish. Having to ask the DJ before you if you can borrow (or buy) theirs is a little embarrassing. Another common problem is faulty cabling, which crackles or causes one of the sides to fail. Most of the value of a pair of headphones is the cans themselves, so you can replace cabling with a soldering iron. Finally, if your headphones aren’t working check if they’re plugged in! Don’t worry, it’s a common mistake. 

Club equipment

Nightclubs are like train stations. Loads of traffic. People in clubs also tend to put their drinks on any surface available. Speakers, DJ booths, equipment tables. Next to the DSP. If you gave them a chance, they’d rest their beer on the mixing desk. People steal mixer and crossfader knobs. Things get messed up quickly, and moisture gets in everywhere. Faulty club equipment is the source of many woes. As a professional DJ, there’s not much you can do other than being prepared to play on equipment that’s a little ghetto sometimes.

No Sound

No sound? Problem. But one you’ve diagnosed and fixed before, even under pressure. Remember to follow the signal flow, starting with the memory on your computer and ending with the front of house speakers. It’s probably software. Usually is. Check the volume, but also check the EQ. Sometimes it’s filtering out all the frequencies, even if the volume is up. If it goes dead in the middle of your set, here’s a pro tip: frown at one of the venue employees. The crowd will follow your gaze and assume it’s their fault!

You’ve got this. Ain’t a problem you can’t fix. The secret with hardware and technical issues is to remain calm and breathe. Extra oxygen means clearer thinking. Also remove anyone from the scene who is panicking or isn’t helping you think it through. Remember your Jedi training. And remember your DJ course material.

Doing a smooth DJ changeover

In pilot training, most accidents happen on takeoff and landing. Same with DJing. Once you’ve got control of the gear and your set has started, you’ve actually got loads of time to think ahead and solve problems. Changeover time is where the bad stuff most often happens. Here are a few things to consider when taking over from the previous DJ.

Pre-route everything

The more stuff you bring, the greater the chances of signal being interrupted. You need to get your setup routing down to a fine art. Setting up stuff like drum machines and samplers requires more focus when it’s time to change over. As much as possible, pre-plug everything in before taking your master output(s) into the mixer. If possible, get your own mini-mixer, route everything through there and then literally just hand the current DJ a set of master outputs. Beats hunting for a PFL switch on a mixer you’ve never seen before.

Live instruments

Your set might include a microphone which you use for talking or even playing percussion or an instrument. Awesome! Going ‘live’ is a great way for you to make your set stand out and for you to put on a bit of a show. But be warned: microphones equal feedback and inevitably pick up some of the room noise. It’s obviously much cleaner to just play your whole set ‘in the box’. If you get a break in the music, do listen out for a low hum. The mic might be causing some resonance. Best bet: kill it when it’s not being used.

Redlining and gain

Many club mixers have abusive upbringings. Do not redline. It’s amateur. It makes the speakers distort. That might sound great to people who listen to music on speakers that distort, but for everyone else it’s gonna sound like a night of sheer hell. Volume and gain are not the same thing. You are normally able to achieve the same loudness by lowering the gain and boosting the volume. Your software might be causing the problem, but it’s usually the club mixer. The file quality also plays a part here. It could be an overcompressed MP3 rip.

Once you’ve got the set going, you’ll be good. All that work you did in becoming an advanced DJ pays off. And if you’re on before the other DJ, be kind. You’re probably pumped after your set, so pay that goodness forward by helping them find their stuff, offer to plug it in and most of all - be cool.

Slay your nerves before a DJ gig

Nervous about getting back to DJing in real life? You have good reason to be. It’s probably been over a year since your last set. Twitch kinda counts. But it also sorta doesn’t. You know what we mean. DJ Courses Online has your back with a couple of techniques for calming yourself before a set. 

Breathe

Breathe from your diaphragm. Try to avoid moving your chest. Taking even 5 of these deep breaths is gonna calm you down. Fact. Anxiety is a chemical reaction going on in your brain. Breathing introduces more oxygen into your brain, which disrupts this buildup. But you don’t need science to know this. Just breathe. 

Plan your fallback

Worried you’re gonna hit the wrong hotkey? It’s cool, people aren’t in the room to judge. And if they are, their opinion isn’t worth your time. This is about keeping the vibe going, even if you have the jitters. So plan for the moment you make a mistake by having three fallback songs ready to go in case of emergency. That should buy you the time you need to get back on the horse.

Feel good before your set

Don’t buy into the hype around what a DJ should look and act like. Be professional enough to arrive at your event in a clear state of mind and well-rested.  Weird advice to give to the people who start parties, right? But you do want to be somewhat approachable and not all grumped out before your set begins. If you’re connecting with people on a genuine level - regardless of anyone’s state of mind - you’ve done your job.

Everyone is still a little worried about the future, and that’s OK. It’s up in the air, but there’s the promise of a return to some type of normality on the horizon. Anxiety is a part of life, but it doesn’t have to get in the way of your career as an artist. Check out some of the online DJ courses here and get back in the game!

New features in Traktor 3.5

Whatever gear you play - old or new - DJ Courses Online hooks you up with solid tutorials that both show and tell how to get the most out of it. Check out one of the online DJ courses today.

We’ve known it was coming for a bit, but today the updated Traktor Pro 3.5 has been released. The fresh version of Traktor Pro boasts two new features that are likely to be well-received: the new streaming library features for Traktor (via Beatport and Beatsource LINK) and advanced HID integration with Pioneer DJ’s flagship CDJ-3000 players.

Better CDJ-3000 integration

More than one DJ (like, everyone) has been complaining about the half-cocked HID integrations you generally get with computer-based DJ software. Traktor has addressed this in the update, stating that users… 

“...can also control most of TRAKTOR’s performance functions directly from the CDJs. New extra-large displays on the CDJ-3000s make TRAKTOR’s waveforms crisper and more immersive. Cover artwork on the central jog display and larger bowser fonts make navigating large libraries easier. The new integration makes DJing on external decks feel more like playing within the TRAKTOR software itself.”

Streaming libraries

Streaming libraries are finally available in Traktor Pro. Users of Beatport LINK and Beatsource LINK will be able to download and browse top releases and playlists inside of Traktor Pro 3. In the words of NI: 

“...the new Beatport and Beatsource LINK access allows DJs to search the entire Beatport and Beatsource catalogues for their favourite artists, labels, or curated playlists. These search results can be sorted by release date or genre, allowing DJs to continuously explore new music.

This means that users are also able to access both Beatport and Beatsource LINK functions, including streaming playback of full-length tracks from either catalog within Traktor Pro 3.

The jogwheel keeps turning, with DJing becoming ever more connected, tactile and geared towards the fun. Get into the DJ Courses Online course catalog and level up your skills.

Why throw your own party?

It’s not unlikely that the local bar or club for DJs has closed down. Perhaps you’re out of options in your town and are looking for a place to play. One way around the lack of venues is to throw your own party. Check out a few reasons why DJs might want to start making things happen for themselves.

You can ‘book’ yourself

Yeah, there’s never as much money when you start out doing your own venture. But it’s still a booking and you’re still entitled to some takings. So whether the payout is great or not, it feels good to be in charge of creating the atmosphere you think your people need. In a post-Covid world, DJs will have to rely more on themselves and access to good DJ course material.

You learn your value

If there’s one phrase that summarizes what a whole generation of internet DJs needs to hear, it’s this: you’re worth as much as you bring to the bar. People go out to have a good time, not to find their new favorite DJ or even hear new music. Those things are bonus surprises. By throwing your own party, you’ll have a clearer idea of what you’re worth - both in monetary value and in learning if you have what it takes to be a professional DJ. 

You claim your space

There’s a room for a party in every town. There’s no good in thinking your corner of the world is ‘too small for a DJ night.’ We’re all about to be surprised at the spike we’re gonna see in the entertainment industries. When venues begin their slow emergence from hibernation, at least 5% of the population is going to go balls-to-the-wall party mad. Be ready. Claim the space by making your event THE event.

The future is indeed bright for DJs, especially those who have been honing their DJ skills on Twitch for the last year. So if the laws in your area currently permit it, get your party night together. Just don’t forget to play a few schmaltzy bangers at the end of the night to leave the people all fuzzy. Also, don’t forget to check out some of the course material by DJ Courses Online.

DJ gear that never worked out

When it comes to gear, DJs can be notoriously difficult to please. It’s not enough that the controller works perfectly. It should also feel good in your hands and hopefully make you look like a feature in the room. But the road to a popular DJ controller is paved with duds, bombs, booby traps and just plain old poor design. Here are a few that never took off. 

The Guitar Fighter

DJ Amp Live is probably best known for the legal issues around his Radiohead In Rainbows remix (he won the case, sort of). But then there’s the Guitar Fighter, a DJ controller that was never released commercially but turned a few heads along the way. It’s basically the child of a Guitar Hero controller and an MPC. Check it out. 

The Pacemaker

There have been a couple of attempts to make standalone DJ controllers. The Pacemaker was one of them. Back in 2006, the iPod-like device was brought out. The Pacemaker would let you toggle two tracks with just one hand, using circular touch pads and ribbon strips. After delays, the expensive ($700) device was released - just in time to be made obsolete by the smartphone explosion. It’s now an app. Check it out. 

Otto

Otto was a wonderfully simple circular beat slicer device. The touchable device controlled its own dedicated software and worked by cutting and rearranging a single sample into little pieces. Otto was a one-trick-pony which used the dot matrix style of coloured lights to play back the sample. Tactile, simple and unfortunately also now defunct. Check it out. 

Whatever gear you play - old or new - DJ Courses Online hooks you you up with solid tutorials that both show and tell how to get the most out of it. Check out one of the online DJ courses today.

How to throw your own party (right)

Throwing your own party is a bit like farming. Unlike getting bookings, it’s about the medium- to long-term. You sort of have to be committed to making it work for at least 6 months before it starts to pay off, particularly in a Covophobic world. It is a completely different game to getting bookings, so here are a few ways to do it right.

The music

The music is where 90% of the word-of-mouth happens. All it takes is for someone to say the words ‘jackin house’ to get jackin house fans excited. Even if you’re not totally into the music, deliver the tunes people want to hear. Everything else is really just the icing. There’s a bunch of practical DJ industry advice for DJ Courses Online members. 

The venue

Start small. It’s better to have 30 people in a 50-person venue than 100 in a 500-person venue. Professional DJing is really just about playing records that make people dance together. Dancing is a vertical expression of a horizontal desire. To some extent, you’re playing matchmaker. And those people need to feel like they’re being crammed together in a space. Scale up to a bigger venue only when your regular event genuinely packs out.

The promotion

Most of the people who come to your party will be personal friends and people you know. The toughest thing about selling tickets to your friends is how to do it without turning them into dollar signs. If you’re just starting out, you do have to actually like most of the people and be genuinely pleased to see them arrive. Use social media, but don’t rely on it too much. It’s more about repeat exposure across different sources of information. A text message, then a post, then a poster, then a mention in conversation - that’s good promotion.

The best piece of advice for throwing a DJ night is to just talk to people about it. Mention that you’re keeping your ears open for opportunities. Everyone will say it’s a great idea, but take their opinions with a pinch of salt. It’s much easier to say ‘sure’ than to buy a ticket. Reach out to more experienced DJs about starting your night and see what they think. And finally, pay a bit of money to level up with a course. Take a tour of the DJ training courses offered here and get your party started!