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How do you become a DJ?

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Obsessedwski
Posts: 2261 - Karma: 71
I'm looking into summer jobs right now/contemplating what I'd like to do as a career after school, and I've wanted to become a DJ for a while now; not like I fully plan on becoming a DJ but as an option in the back of my mind. I love music, and I'm not half bad at mixing either. I've done a bunch of school events like dances and fashion shows, and I've done really well at all of them, so I think I'm off to a good start.

Right now I'm mixing on a laptop with Virtual DJ, and don't have money to get myself a mixer or turntables, but I might in the future if I decide I want to get serious about it.

So what I'm trying to say is, how do I really get into being a DJ? There is a DJ school in Vancouver, but I've looked it up and it costs like $500 for 3 sessions and I don't have that kind of money.

Would asking an established DJ to mentor me or something be a better option? Do you think they'll be willing to teach me stuff, or will they be like "Go to DJ school and leave me alone"?
Jun 13 2009 2:18AM
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twix_182
Posts: 9248 - Karma: 27
i don't dj but i'd assume that if u just taught urself u'd probably get a lot more out of it than if u took lesons for it. It would be nice like mentor help if u needed though. so id ask a dj u know or something if they can show u a few things and then other than that get to know ur equipment and such
Jun 13 2009 10:05AM
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crazyfuck
Posts: 5968 - Karma: -7
Hunter, don't do the DJ school or anything like that. virtually no top DJs have gone to anything like this.

try to pick up a Numark CDJ Mix 1, 2, or 3... only a couple hundred bucks, they work well, and it gives you the basic, hands-on skills.

also, search for stuff on YouTube and anywhere else you can find. videos tend to teach you a lot.

i DJ for fun and am going to school for Audio Production at the Art Institute of Las Vegas... if you have questions, hit me up.
Jun 13 2009 11:15AM
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crazyfuck
Posts: 5968 - Karma: -7
wait, you're not Hunter. you just stole his icon.
Jun 13 2009 11:27AM
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Yeezus
Posts: 3350 - Karma: 469
make some mixes ect. and then go to some clubs and ask if u could promo and if u get good at it you might have ur job
Jun 13 2009 11:58AM
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crazyfuck
Posts: 5968 - Karma: -7
clubs will laugh at you if you can't use the equipment. furthermore, you typically have to audition.
Jun 13 2009 12:00PM
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Yeezus
Posts: 3350 - Karma: 469
u know wat i mean. like you know wat your doin. ur at the club wit all ur stuff. ur not like one of those ppl who on garageband has been making some mixes.
Jun 13 2009 12:19PM
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crazyfuck
Posts: 5968 - Karma: -7
first off, Garageband actually isn't so bad for making stuff.

second, he already said he doesn't have any equipment, just software.
Jun 13 2009 12:35PM
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dave44
Posts: 11052 - Karma: 113
nuh uh, HunterSBP stole Obesessedwski's icon. i believe obsessedwski made it
Jun 13 2009 12:41PM
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Obsessedwski
Posts: 2261 - Karma: 71
YES Thank you.

So many people think I stole his icon its getting really annoying.

Well I do know what I'm doing, but I do realize laptop DJ-ing with software is completely different from using actual tables and CDJ's and such, so I want to expand more on that area. I think I'll look for a mentor for now, because I can't just go to a club and ask if I can DJ; I'm only 16.

By the way here's a mix I've made if anyones interested: http://www.zshare.net/audio/6133265355fe769e/
I designed it to be a closing set for a school dance so that's why the energy goes up and up the whole time.
Jun 13 2009 6:30PM
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MAnderson
Posts: 181 - Karma: 11
im listening to this right now and its sick! really stoked on it that i even put it in my itunes. +k and good luck. i dont know much about djs but i think you got some talent
Jun 13 2009 7:10PM
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Danger.
Posts: 3476 - Karma: 58
Unfortunately you're not going to expand in the hands-on DJ'ing area without dropping serious cash. The standard Technic 1200s cost 500 a table, not including a mixer or records/Serato. The only other way you could DJ really is by purchasing Ableton Live, which a lot of house and mash-up DJs use.
Jun 13 2009 7:29PM
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Obsessedwski
Posts: 2261 - Karma: 71
Thanks man, that means a lot.

I guess I'm gonna have to start saving up, I think I'll buy a mixer first because I can use it with my laptop, then go onto buying turntables?
Jun 13 2009 7:51PM
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ReedSkis~
Posts: 2122 - Karma: 98
wow that was sick
you should definitely pursue this cuz you have skills
Jun 13 2009 7:54PM
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Static
Posts: 8553 - Karma: 4,088
Dog Jockey
Click for larger image
Jun 13 2009 8:34PM
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Obsessedwski
Posts: 2261 - Karma: 71
um....okay
I have no idea how I'm supposed to respond to that, but fair enough
Jun 13 2009 8:40PM
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zagfan5
Posts: 2608 - Karma: 144
thats a rad mix man.

you def got rhythm
Jun 13 2009 8:42PM
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prontocuts.com
Posts: 5244 - Karma: 42
Alright, alright, alright I have to go through every post I disagree with and write on them.

Background, I am a semi-pro DJ. By saying that I mean I DJ at the Puma store every other weekend, and I get paid for the gigs I do, when I chose to spin out. By saying when I chose, I mean I produce now. Making songs is alot more rewarding then playing someone elses. some of my songs have been featured in clubs and in festivals. I also spin on a podcast that gets over 25,000 listens a show. So im not trying to be cocky, but I'd like to say I do know some of my stuff.

My setup, for producing and djing consists of
Two technics MK5s
Rane ttm56
2 CDJ200s
Serato live
KRK rp6s -production really, great for spinning at home though
B52 matrix 1000 -awesome
Moog little phatty stage 2 - for producing
Ableton live- for producing
Pioneer efx 500
Ive also owned alot more stuff, ecler NUO5, Pioneer djm400(loved it), etc, Ill post a pic of my setup when im done

1- DJing is not a career. Don't even consider it ever becoming a career. Most of the gigs I have done have never payed. And for petes sake, if your going to be a DJ for money, please dont. We already have 3434304030430 DJs in it for money. They are called wedding/mobile DJs and they are 90% of the time tools.

2- DJ school is a joke. Beatmatching is easy to learn

3- Clubs RARELY ever have try outs or auditions, unless its some weird ass club, ive never heard of auditions

4- Clubs RARELY listen to demos. Actually, its 99% positive they wont listen to your mix. I got my first club gig because a promoter heard of me and contacted me.

5- Garageband is bad, what you be talking bout boy

6- There is no age to be a DJ, ive been in 21+ clubs when i was 17

7- Technics 1200s dont cost $500 a table, u mad. I got my MK5s for 349 NEW a piece. You can almost always find used pairs for 400 + some crappy mixer thrown in

8- You cant use a mixer with a laptop, unless its some super fancy ass mixer, like a ttm 57, or you have an audio interface. A good one is going to be 400 - 500.

9- Just ask me any more questions

Click for larger image


Jun 13 2009 10:57PM
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chapz
Posts: 10182 - Karma: 66
ive been messing around with ableton and it's so confusing.
Jun 13 2009 11:18PM
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prontocuts.com
Posts: 5244 - Karma: 42
Its actually one of the easiest DAWs to use ever. I love it to death for production

But yeah, its daunting at first
Jun 13 2009 11:34PM
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TheQuailman
Posts: 7382 - Karma: 147
seems like being a DJ costs you more money than you make
Jun 14 2009 8:07PM
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Dbouch
Posts: 1059 - Karma: 13
Precisely, its a hobby, not a career.
Jun 14 2009 8:34PM
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k-rob
Posts: 14217 - Karma: 2,891
just go through every lesson, twice.

i got the hang of it after that haha.
Jun 14 2009 8:44PM
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.peter
Posts: 1222 - Karma: 63
That mix was good... It'd definitely be worth the investment for you to buy and learn hot to use real DJ equipment!

Just make sure you know the club scene near you.
Jun 14 2009 8:56PM
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Malcolm
Posts: 15951 - Karma: 9,451
thats such a sweet setup! i want to get into mixing
Jun 14 2009 9:12PM
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prontocuts.com
Posts: 5244 - Karma: 42
Ive spent around 6 grand? Yeah its expensive. And then I think what kind of ski setup and bike setup I could get with that kind of money, but ive gotten about 5 grand in puma shit, and some money too. So it is what it is, and thanks malcolm, just PM me if you have questions
Jun 14 2009 9:35PM
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mothaeast
Posts: 2923 - Karma: 13
Do it for fun, not for money. Best way to learn is on your own, just get the equipment and spend 4+ hours a day.
Jun 16 2009 10:24AM
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neutralzombie
Posts: 8629 - Karma: 606
the lessons sound over priced for nothing. your best bet is hands on experience and experimenting.  you can always go to a local bar or where ever or find a friend who does it for a living and try chatting them up sometimes. ya theyre usually busy if theyre heavy into it. but sometimes who knows.
Jun 16 2009 10:52AM
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JoeTheRipper
Posts: 1567 - Karma: 14
sick setup, I have the same decks and mixer as you. What kind of music you play out/produce?

As to the original question, it's not what you know, it's who you know, this is soo soo soo true in the music industry it is unbelievable. Start making your own tunes, you're so much likely to get noticed sending tunes into labels, and then when you are signed it will be much easier to get sets in clubs.
Went to the SAE institute for sound in London, and I can tell you that the good from schools and shit is who you meet, and what contacts you make.

do it for the love.
Jun 16 2009 11:50AM
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MrScruff
Posts: 575 - Karma: 10
If you want to stick with the laptop you could try Traktor with a controller like a VCI-100/300

A pair of Technics will be cheap but eventually you'll want to invest in Serato (not that that's a bad thing)

Unfortunately getting work has very little to do with skill, too many club DJs just mix their way through the top 40, outro into intro over and over
Jun 16 2009 12:43PM
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prontocuts.com
Posts: 5244 - Karma: 42
thanks, wait till my studio is complete, its looking sick so far. Ill post pics in about a week, just remind me.
I play everything thats good really, hip hop, breaks, electro, tech house, mnml

for producing I make tech house and mnml really
Jun 16 2009 2:22PM
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JoeTheRipper
Posts: 1567 - Karma: 14
Keen. where you from? you'd like the english music scene going by your music tastes. I'm more into playing out and producing more dnb, dubstep, and breaks mostly but getting more and more into my minimal.

You want to get decks hands down. Not only is it a great skill to have, but also it is a lifelong hobby (passion for me) to collect vinyl. I'm sure your parents have some classics that you will want to hear, and you need decks to listen. Cd's don't compare to vinyl at all imo.
Jun 17 2009 8:10AM
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Dbouch
Posts: 1059 - Karma: 13
The cheapest route is probably using a software with a midi controller and an external soundcard.

However, a lot of controllers have built in I/O already like the Numark Omnicontrol or the Hercules RMX.
I have an RMX running through traktor, its by no means the best set-up, but it serves it purpose and it didnt cost me an arm and a leg.
Jun 17 2009 11:40AM
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thisandthatfilms
Posts: 7714 - Karma: 526
WIN
Jun 17 2009 11:42AM
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prontocuts.com
Posts: 5244 - Karma: 42
yeah im from the US, I love collecting DNB vinyl, dubstep is tight too. After getting my moog Im getting more into producing dub step since the little phatty has such great wobble bass.

and yeah vinyl is so much better then cds or ableton, and you get alot more respect for it (well from me you will) I hate microwae djs
Jun 17 2009 3:06PM
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2+2=5
Posts: 3676 - Karma: 18
if ur DJing hip hop/top 40 you're gonna probably wanna stay with the two turntable/jogwheel setup if you wanna scratch. but if you plan on just djing house music or techno you can buy a uc-33 , hook that up to your laptop with ableton and you have all the things you'll ever need. felix cartal uses it, and so does surkin.
Jun 17 2009 3:58PM
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Dbouch
Posts: 1059 - Karma: 13
The uc-33 dope, but the apc 40 is only about a hundred more and looks even more dope.
Jun 17 2009 8:34PM
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prontocuts.com
Posts: 5244 - Karma: 42
the uc 33 is plasticy and feels cheap. the UPC is pretty cool. But at the end of the day you are paying $400 for a bunch of buttons and lights. For the same price you can get some used technics
Jun 18 2009 1:33AM
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2+2=5
Posts: 3676 - Karma: 18
who cares if its plasticy, its a sick piece of hardware and you can do way crazier mixes than any technics setup. and im just gonna say this, you can dj and you'll probably not make it past your bedroom, or you can produce and dj around the world. learn how to dj, but dont focus too much on it.
Jun 18 2009 10:15PM
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prontocuts.com
Posts: 5244 - Karma: 42
wat

Its not about the gear, its about the DJ.

and is that last comment directed at me? Cause within 3 months of DJing it my bedroom I was spinning out, and I do produce. Saying you cant DJ around the world is nonsense, I know plenty of DJs who travel, but dont produce. Its next to impossible to get a gig outside of whatever state you are in for your production talent.
Jun 19 2009 10:36PM
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steezesticks
Posts: 48 - Karma: 10
i have a really quick and easy question... how do you add the really heavy beats in the background of songs? are there programs or what?
Jun 20 2009 6:43PM
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crazyfuck
Posts: 5968 - Karma: -7
most clubs and top DJs are using Pioneer CDJ-100MK3's or better... and they start at $1,775 each. and you need a mixer that's up to par- at least something like the Pioneer DJM-800, $2,100. on top of that, you'd be hard-pressed to find the DJ who didn't also use something like the Korg EMX1, $850. add to this the cost of cables, stands, a laptop (name ONE professional DJ who doesn't use a MacBook Pro on stage these days), software, and a music library (initially not cheap, but gets increasingly less expensive the more you get in to it) to the list and you're talking $8,000 easily... and that's not even using top-end shit. top-end would run you more between $15,000 to $20,000 (the Pioneer SVM-1000 is $8,000 alone).

being a professional DJ is not a cheap investment.
Jun 20 2009 7:48PM
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MrScruff
Posts: 575 - Karma: 10
He's DJing, not starting a club
Jun 21 2009 10:36AM
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prontocuts.com
Posts: 5244 - Karma: 42
umad dude. I dont know one DJ that uses a kork emx1, hell I dont even know what it is, and the djm 800 goes for 1300 NEW and cdj1000s can be had for a grand each.

And plenty of DJs dont use macbook pros. (well last gens)
Jun 21 2009 1:10PM
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prontocuts.com
Posts: 5244 - Karma: 42
and sorry for the double post but, that is top end shit. Low end shit is the cdj 200 which has the same pitch res as the cdj1000s. the SVM is top end VIDEO mixing shit.
Jun 21 2009 1:11PM
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crazyfuck
Posts: 5968 - Karma: -7
i was referring to the equipment i've seen Paul van Dyke, Carl Cox, Paul Oakenfold, etc. use... in person.

and the Korg EMX-1 is one of the most popular analog beat making pieces of equipment out there, it's not my fault you don't know what it is.

as for the SVM, it's video AND audio- i've seen it used at Rain, TAO, and Lavo in Las Vegas...
Jun 21 2009 2:58PM
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2+2=5
Posts: 3676 - Karma: 18
the emx is like a drum machine, you dont really need a drum machine to be a dj, especially if you're starting out
Jun 21 2009 4:25PM
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prontocuts.com
Posts: 5244 - Karma: 42
And neil pert uses 12 cymbals in his drum set. You dont need that many to be a solid drummer.

hahahahahhaha I looked up the EMX and now I remember what it is. Its an out dated POS. The memory cards for it arent even made any more and the tubes on it dont even do anything.  Like the one person said, thats for production, not many DJs use it.  The post popular beat making gear consists of monomachines, monodrums, MPCs, Vermona DRM, etc.

Im sorry dude but you sound like you are spewing soooo much bulllshit its not even funny. DJing is not some super eleborate multi million dollar hobby. You can get a decent setup for $800 and be done. Just cause clubs have all this super amazing elaborate gear doesnt mean you have to own it. Ive spun on cdj1000s just fine, and at home I have cdj200s, which can be had for $250 each used.
Jun 21 2009 4:38PM
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crazyfuck
Posts: 5968 - Karma: -7
DJing as a hobby can be done for little-to-nothing, yes. DJing at the top level, the level i've personally worked with (i've worked at Jet Nightclub, Vegas), is EXPENSIVE as fuck. the level i was talking about was top-end professionals.

as for spewing soooooooo much bullshit... you and i have clearly had very different experiences. i'm living in Vegas, attending shows on a weekly basis, and commented on gear i've seen top DJs use personally, including that POS you seem to think is so out of date (i've seen PvD open his show running beats off the EMX-1 at the Love Festival at Rain at the Palms, LV about a month ago... Paul van Dyke knows more than you, there's no arguing that, and i watched him start his set off with a blinking blue box that said "Korg EMX-1")... when if you knew anything, you'd know that no recording technology is "out dated".

i knew as soon as i posted that you were going to jump all over what i was saying, because it's the exact opposite of what you were saying. wow, congratulations, you've had a different introduction to the DJ world than i have. i live in Vegas, love house, club regularly, and DJ as a hobby and was, as i've already said, commenting on the equipment i've seen some of the best DJs on the planet use.

so, feel free to tell me i'm wrong- i know what i've seen. ;)
Jun 21 2009 8:04PM
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prontocuts.com
Posts: 5244 - Karma: 42
Ha, respectfully disagree. Im trying to prove a point that DJing isnt as expensive as alot of people put it. You can make $500 a wedding EASY if you want to sell your soul to the devil and pay off gear QUICK. Vegas is a whole different ball game then out here. Setups consisting of monomes, lemurs, macbook pros, xone mixers, etc are nothing to djs that are getting paid $50,000+ a night (tiesto makes like what, 150,000 a night?) even at the low end, I know guys get paid ~$2,000 a night, and thats just in small minnesota. I know a few guys who dont even own anything special. They just request what they want to the clubs in their contracts.
Jun 21 2009 9:07PM
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prontocuts.com
Posts: 5244 - Karma: 42
new page for pictures
Jun 24 2009 6:36PM
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