Three ways to use your phone to DJ

It’s a carrier pigeon! It’s a computer! It’s a game console! Ladies and gentlemen, it’s the amazing smartphone! And it puts the power of a thousand suns in the pocket of every DJ, large or small. So here’s how you could stand out of the crowd and use your phone to boost your presence as an upcoming hotshot DJ. Take it beyond a hobby and sign up for a DJ course online.

Extra source of music

It’s a good idea to have a backup when DJing. You only need to crash and burn once to realize it. So keep that emergency 60-minute mix on your phone. Plug the phone into any spare mixer channel before you start. Most mixers have an aux input. That way, if your laptop crashes (or worse, decides to update) as you take the stage, you can keep the music going. 

Standalone DJ app

DJ apps are cute little alternatives to a pair of decks. They’re good for house parties or music takeovers when the party is feeling a little dull. And the best part? You’ve always got the chance to show off your collection. Just one thing before using your phone to DJ: make sure you’ve completely disabled notification sounds and incoming calls. Preferably switch to flight mode. Having WhatsApp interrupt your set is pretty cringe. 

Ident sampler 

You can use your phone as a little sampler to play back DJ idents, one-shots or even run loops synced up to your set. Idents are short branded shoutouts of your DJ name. They work. If you have any doubt, just ask anyone if they’ve ever heard of DJ Khaled. Because there’s no mixing involved (just instant triggering), make sure the phone’s volume level is matched to the beats otherwise you might blow the heads off the crowd!

Phones rule, and it’s likely only a matter of time before there’s more class-compliance in how they interact with decks and mixers (right now, they’re treated by DJ setups as nothing more than storage devices, which doesn’t really harness their power). But until we have Android or iOS software running on Pioneer mixers, keep going strong on your journey by learning to DJ from the pros.

Understanding DJ subculture

It feels a bit weird reading about dance music and DJ subculture. After all, the point of the whole scene is to get away from stuff that sounds academic, right? The reason we DJ is to get away from school and hilariously theoretical articles like this. But every so often, you gotta admit it’s useful having a broad reminder of how the DJ and dance music culture all works. Here’s an overview of what defines an arts scene.

The music scene

A scene is defined by the music it listens to. Fashion, too. In a music scene, people feel free to express the side of them that they aren’t able to during the normal business of life obligations. A scene is an outlet, an escape. It’s where we choose to meet and represent ourselves as we want to, and not as we have to. Being part of a scene is an act of contribution. By choosing to dress a certain way, you’re not just flexing, you’re actually contributing something! By learning to DJ and showing your music taste to the others, you’re serving a community.

Action and reaction 

Art is always a reaction to something. In the case of dance music, it’s a reaction to society’s demand for us to sit down and concentrate like factory workers. When dancing, the physically passive state is replaced by body movement, and the cognitive focus is replaced by the freedom to be fun and impulsive. Not everything about the party scene is healthy, but dancing is. It activates all sorts of chemicals that are good for you, which is why the link between dancing and health is being studied.

Earning through community

At some point, most non-professional hobby DJs pause to consider the possibility of making money by throwing parties. This is not as easy as some would make it sound. It’s not a direction for the faint of heart. Like most careers in the arts, it relies entirely on your participation in the scene. In order to get bookings, you need to be someone who gets on well with others and acts like a professional, not an out-of-control party hog or a hopeful newcomer. 

That means doing the uphill work of learning to DJ. Seriously? Professional DJs practice. They practice their mixes at home. They take time out to experiment with different styles. By the time they start earning, they’ve paid their dues. You can shortcut that process by learning directly from the pros. Check out the full selection of DJ courses on offer today and take your passion for the scene to the next level.

DJ-friendly jobs that don’t require a following

It’s sometimes pretty painful trying to get booked. It seems as though the only thing the promoters care about is one number: your Insta following. Not even your Soundcloud numbers matter so much, and it’s a music streaming platform! But not every DJ-related job in the industry requires you to be the one on stage. Check out these jobs where you get mad props just for knowing how to DJ. 

Events booker

Many DJs (if not all of them) are also events bookers. That means they’re either creating a catalog of entertainment acts for local events or they’re earning an affiliate commission for being involved in a successful booking. If you’re a DJ, you can often insert yourself into the bill at a wedding or party where you’ve been hired to book a band. It starts with you being helpful and connected to the scene. The opportunities to build a name for yourself as a standalone act will flow from there. 

Press officer

Maybe you’re good with words and video editing. You might be well suited for a position as a press or public relations officer. As a DJ, you’re able to empathize with other DJs and musicians. This just means you’re the official communicator on behalf of the DJ you represent. You craft their image through social media and branding. You (often) make them appear more important than the public would otherwise think they are. It involves a lot of outreach, but as a DJ you’re not afraid of getting your hands a little dirty! And you get to attend all the parties while you build your own name as a DJ. 

Content creator

You’d be surprised how many DJ-related jobs there are out there. Not all of them require the swagger of a well-paid superstar (you don’t really want that, anyway). Some of them call for expertise in music production, while others are pushing the boundaries and require knowledge of video editing, writing and coursework creation. It's a less stable income, but you’re a DJ. You’re used to it. And besides, everyone’s a freelancer now. 

Keep your mind open to the possibilities. There is always going to be an onslaught of media showing people who are apparently more successful than you are. It’s not about making a dent in history. It’s about pursuing your own passion, and weaving it into your everyday life. Make that start with one of the excellent courses by DJ Courses Online today.

The career DJ playbook

Let’s say you’ve never touched DJ equipment in your life. Now you’re ready to start your journey towards cultivating a crowd of fans that shows up whenever you play. What’s the quickest and most painless way to get there? Follow these three steps to make your way forward as a career DJ.

Year 1: know your aims

Start honest. If you’re aiming to make cash, you’ll need to play the hits. So acquire the 1000 greatest wedding songs. Organize them into a dance set ranging from 110BPM - 150BPM. Practice mixing every day. Know the titles and tracks of the biggest hits. Acquire everything you need, down to the RCA adapters for your spare cables. Definitely sign up for an affordable DJ training course and watch tons of YouTube tutorials. 

Year 2: know your audience

Move to the biggest nearby city. Listen to what’s playing on the radio. Yep, radio is still king, especially in developing countries. Know what people are demanding. Keep practicing. Make friends in the scene and play lots of house parties through hi-fi speakers. Make sure people don’t put their drinks on the DJ table. Don’t ask to get paid yet. Take loads of photos and videos showing people having a good time while you’re DJing.

Year 3: know your worth

Finally, time to start professional DJing! Approach clubs in town that host DJ nights. Show them all the fun you’ve been curating. Get a gig. Play the newest hits. You’ll be invited back. Get a residency. Get all your agreements in writing. Play the occasional gig for free, but never play for nothing. Know your worth by demanding something in return, even if it’s only something like free drinks for 4 friends.

The career DJ knows something that most amateurs don’t: that it’s not about them. Competition is fierce, and anyone who is able to pay will demand that you have professional standards, good taste and are a pleasure to work with. Don’t believe the hype. DJing is mostly about plugging in cables and pretending to have a good time so that strangers can meet each other. So get cracking and whether or not you make it, you’ll have a good time!

DJing older music

Maybe you’re in DJing for the extra money. Maybe for the street cred and the fans. So if you’re aiming to make a name as someone who has taste, you’ll need to find the gems - or even better, produce them yourself. And what’s the one place that upcoming DJs always forget to look for the bangers? The past! Let’s check out a few tips for DJing older music. 

Why look back in time?

It’s 2022. The 1970s were 50 years ago. There was way less recorded music back then, but most of it did have to pass through some kind of tastemaker to ever see the light of day. The result? A higher quality-to-rubbish ratio. In other words, it’s easier to find good undiscovered music by going through the Motown back catalog than by searching online for ‘stuff that sounds like Motown’. The goal is to find those gems.

Retro is cool

The past is always in fashion, if you know when to look. Usually it takes a generation for culture to start recycling. In the 2010s, synthwave and synth-pop were in fashion. And true enough, a lot of 90s stuff is trending now. Go with it. Find those 90s hits and remixes that you think are dope and play them at your next party. DJing isn’t always just about playing the hits. Sometimes you have to show people your own taste and style. Start with a list of 90s dance music artists.

Old people party too

Of course, avoid playing ‘Don’t Stop Believing’ at a beach bar just because you spot someone in a leather jacket. But do acknowledge that not everyone who parties is under 30, even if you are. It’s definitely worth having some of yesterday’s hits in your crate, or at least some uplifting remixes of them. DJing is about showing people a good time. The older you get, the less you care about new stuff. Where appropriate, show the oldies a good time too! (Oh yeah, and they generally have more money, too.)

There’s still a ton of good undiscovered music from the pre-Internet days. And you’ll be surprised at the recording and production quality too. The way music is mixed has changed, and the party crowd always wants something new. Especially when it’s old. Get on track with the Advanced DJ Techniques and Tips III course

The one thing most DJs get wrong

DJing to a pumped up crowd is obviously super-fun. To get there, you have to know how to do more than just the fun stuff. Learning different styles of music is a stumbling block for most DJs. Have a favorite style, but at least know how to spin the rest. They’re trusting you to play what they like, even if they’ve never heard it before. Here’s more.

It starts at home

House is the home base for most DJs. It’s where you first start out. The groove is solid, the genre is popular and there’s nothing tricky about most house music. Once you’ve got beatmatching down, you’re on your way. But it’s also an easy place to get stuck. Getting stuck in a formulaic predictable style is one place that most DJs go wrong. Remember, the goal is to get better at DJing at eventually stand out! 

Get unstuck

Pick a type of dance music that you think is the absolute worst. Whatever that is for you. Then, grab three tracks from that style and import them into your software. Practice mixing them, even though it feels like you’re wasting your time. You’re not. Versatility is a key part of being a professional DJ. But yeah, you might want to take a shower after. 

Stay in the loop

There’s always some new track charting that’s a little different to the others. Find these outliers and add them to your set. It might have a weird vocal sample, new-sounding instrumentation or a strange choice of mastering. Collecting tracks that show this type of distinctiveness are what show your taste. Use them to practice formulating your own unique style.

Anyone can DJ. It’s true. It’s not hard. So what sets a good DJ apart? Experience. Taste. Attitude. Make these the pillars that you build your house on. People want to have a good time, and you’re there to give it to them. Level up your DJ game with one of the DJ Courses Online courses today.

3 ways in which DJs get exploited

Yikes! But yeah. Sometimes, being a DJ can be like dodging the dodgy dealers. Event organizers are under huge pressure and take huge financial risks. Sometimes, the events are disastrous. Then, they try to save money by squeezing their way out of all the handshake deals they’ve made. In this post, we’ll check out three things to watch out for when signing up to DJ.

Being asked to play for free

The topic of playing for free is a tricky one. It’s easy to say “no, you should never play for free”. But there are circumstances in which you actually should DJ without payment. But you should never play for nothing. Always get something out of the deal, even if asking for it means you risk losing the gig. And besides that, you only learn when you DJ in front of actual crowds. A good deal can sometimes be a good deal, even if there’s no payment involved. Only a Sith deals in absolutes. 

Being asked to pay to play

This, on the other hand, is utter rubbish. Avoid any kind of pay-to-play deals. They resemble multi-level-marketing (pyramid) schemes, where money comes from inside the event company rather than outside. Never, ever pay to DJ. And make sure you report or spread the word about those who offer you “an exciting opportunity for exposure.” That’s not the path towards being a respected professional DJ (but this is).

The deal changes after the gig

You’ve made an arrangement with an event organizer. You show up and play  the gig. Suddenly afterwards, you’re not getting paid the full amount. Or you owe something for a technical issue that wasn’t your fault. The promoter says you didn’t bring in the crowds. These types of post-gig disagreements are very common. The best thing you can do is prepare for the disputes beforehand. Always find out something about the reputation of the person hiring you. And if they’re legit, they won’t mind signing a written document, will they?

Most of the stuff we put out on DJ Courses Online is meant to build you up and encourage you to be the best DJ you can. We want you to win! So don’t be too alarmed by this post. It’s not meant to scare you off. It’s meant to warn you about the occasional nasty realities of the industry. But you got this. Get stuff in writing if you’re not sure. Always stay positive and focus on the fans.

Should you ever DJ for free?

What a monster topic! On the one hand, you don’t ever want to undervalue yourself. On the other, how else do you learn than by playing to actual crowds? Of course, in an ideal situation, you won’t have to decide, because someone will offer to pay you. But in reality, you’ll often be the one even raising the topic of payment. Let’s unpack this often controversial topic from different points of view. 

Yes, you should sometimes DJ for free

Marshmello’s coming to town, and he wants you to open for him. The catch? There’s no paycheck. As unlikely as this situation is, there are cases in which you ‘play the game’ by doing free support slots. These can be for friends or for visiting headliners. They can be shows where awesome quality video is being filmed, or it’s some kind of talent showcase. Free gigs can be charity or full-on favors for people you like. Yes, like it or not, you will end up doing shows for free while you’re learning to become a more professional DJ. 

No, you shouldn’t ever DJ without payment

Others say that to DJ for free is to devalue your own skills. But it also devalues the whole game for others. When you undercut your local DJ by playing for free, you teach the event organizer that in your town, they can get something for nothing. If someone’s throwing an event where alcohol is being sold or sponsored, the organizers should pay anyone who is contributing value to the event. There are no exceptions. The risk should be on those who profit, not the employees of those who profit.

What’s the answer?

The reality is that beginner DJs don’t pull crowds, and should consider some events worth doing for free. If you’re in charge of the party, you often don’t have a choice! But never DJ for nothing. In your negotiations, you need to include something that benefits you (other than a good time and a feeling of importance). In exchange for playing without payment, you should at least be given access to a folder of premium event video footage that you can use on your socials, a few drinks and a meal, comps for a few friends and a decent writeup in the event description. Get all of this in an email to avoid later disputes.

There’s an old saying: Never pay for something when you can get it for free. Most of the people above you in the profession will think like this. It’s your job to prove your value. And when you’re ready, you will. Until then, you need all the help you can help becoming a pro DJ. Now’s the time to head over to the DJ Courses Online course material and choose the one that best suits you.

3 places to share your DJ mixes

You wanna get noticed? Start with a great DJ mix. Something that raises the eyebrows of those who hear it. Something that gets the room moving. Then, share it. Back in the day, that meant getting a cassette or record pressed. Now, it’s just a matter of picking a platform and hitting a few buttons. Here’s how to grow your DJ presence online by sharing your mixes.

Soundcloud

Soundcloud has been on a bumpy ride in the past decade. The world’s most popular audio sharing platform has hung on by the fingernails, fighting copyright strikes and competition to remain a place where DJs can share their mixes with fans. In March 2021, Soundcloud announced the first-ever fan-powered royalties system. This enables listeners of your music to support the artists you spin directly.

Mixcloud

Mixcloud has always been pushing the DJ game forward. The platform has supported fair practices for Twitch streamers by doing blanket deals with rights-holders. This allows Twitch streamers to use tracks on Mixcloud without copyright takedowns. Mixcloud has gone even further, allowing streamers to bypass OBS and go live straight from their browser. If you’re a DJ, you should be putting your mixes on Mixcloud.

Direct

Of course, not everyone is trying to be public with their new releases. You can also submit them directly to other DJs, tastemakers and bloggers who want exclusive, previously unreleased stuff. A good old-fashioned direct link is the way to go here. Google Drive, Dropbox and MediaFire are ways to share a full length WAV mix. 

Sharing your stuff makes sense, right? As a professional DJ, you do need good photos and live videos. But even if you don’t have that stuff yet, a good solid DJ mix will set you apart from the others. Make your tastes known to the world. And while you’re here, check out the DJ Courses Online curriculum. 

3 mistakes DJs make when video recording their set

Having a well-shot 3-camera video of your DJ set feels awesome. Makes you feel like you’re doing a Boiler Room set or something. It’s worth putting in a little extra effort to get a good one. Avoid these common mistakes and level up your DJ skills with DJ Courses Online today.

Poor lighting

This is such a tough problem to get around. Most venues don’t have lighting which optimizes the DJ. And besides that, DJs generally don’t enjoy having lights in their faces. But you gotta play the game. A subtle ring light should show just enough of what you’re doing with your face and hands. And it beats the grainy lighting of most webcams. 

Redlining the master

The levels in your DJ software might be good, but how about the levels on your recording computer? You might be redlining, or even too soft. An in-the-box stereo recording isn’t really good enough. Look at the Boiler Room DJ set videos. All of them have crowd sounds. 

Bad framing

In photography, the size of your shot and what’s in it is known as composition. To get good composition, you have to position the camera so that your head is fully in the frame (not cut off) and there’s nothing blocking the camera. Ignore the crappy backing music and check out these 9 tips for better framing.

Getting a good live video requires that you think like a photographer. Get on YouTube and check out some basic photography tuts. Get on DJ Courses Online and sharpen your DJ skills. Yeah, another hat for you to wear. But making a name is the game we’re playing, right?

Video recording your DJ set

Now that most DJs have had a couple of years to practice streaming their sets from home, it’s time to get back in the live events game. Nothing screams “hire this pro DJ” than someone getting a whole room going. And to communicate those moments, you’ll need video recordings of your DJ set. Here’s how.

Good picture

There are a range of affordable webcams on the market that you can position around your gear and connect directly to a secondary laptop. Three cameras should do the trick. Get good angles which show what you’re doing with your hands, face and don’t forget to get one on the crowd. This videographer shows us a few tricks to filming DJ sets.

Good sound

It’s a good idea not to try using your DJ software to record while DJing. There’s a dedicated feature for recording sets in most software. But without any room sounds, the whole video looks fake. You’ll need a couple of “whooo!” moments in your audio to show people that you didn’t just edit the soundtrack afterwards.

Good performance

You come alive at gigs. Show people. Have a good time, and play to the camera (but not too much!). When you’re rolling, do put on a little bit of a show by fist-bumping, singing along and generally vibing right. That’s the stuff that booking agents are looking for. 

Getting those three things is trickier than it sounds, and a lot can go wrong. Minimize your risk by carrying that extra bag of equipment. Yes, it’s a pain, but once you see your first 3-camera shoot edited together, you’ll be hooked. DJ Courses Online is the place to get all sorts of practical music industry DJ tips. Consider signing up for a DJ course today!

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?