Everyone wants to be better at what they do – this is no secret, but learning how to be the best DJ you can be will take some time and effort. Some may say that it is a constant learning curve.
In this DJ guide, we will be giving you ten excellent DJ tips to help you become better, quicker. Whether you are just starting or have been Djing for a long time and want to hone your skills, you’re sure to find this DJ advice invaluable.
1. Prepare In Advance
There are some DJs out there who have been working the club circuits for years and who, at the drop of a hat (or beat) can pull off an impressive impromptu set. However, this is a pipe dream for most people, and that’s OK.
Read: How To DJ In A Club
Once you have a booking secured, you should begin to prepare your set. One of the best beginner DJ tips is to create a playlist for every event. Let’s say you are going to be playing at a birthday bash – this event should have its own dedicated folder on your laptop. Decide on the music and have back-up tracks just in case. But it pays to know your audience and prepare music that will get them up and moving.
2. Red Lights And What To Do About Them
An inexperienced or unprofessional DJ may hand over a set to you without having switched off all the red lights.
If you come onto the set to find red lights, you should make it a priority to lower the EQ, gains or master volume to reset them to green; otherwise, the sound quality may be affected.
Not many people are aware of this DJ tip, so make sure that you are one of the few who do!
Read: How To Use A DJ Mixer
3. Get Scratching
Scratching is an age-old DJ party trick that isn’t used all that often. If you want to set yourself apart from the rest, it could be worth learning to scratch.
It is essential not to go over the top and interrupt the music too much – less is more, but this is sure to get the crowd going.
Read: How To Scratch: Beginner DJ Tips
4. Leave The Faders Alone
There is a common misconception that a DJ needs to be messing with his or her equipment constantly, but this is not the case.
Too many DJs fiddle with the faders far too much and this will take away from the track that is being played. It’s ok to use this technique to tease the crowd, but again, less is more.
5. Make Use Of FX
It is essential to point out that, as with some of our other DJ tips, you don’t need to go overboard with FX, but learning how to use them can add something special to your mix.
You could use these to cover up errors in your recordings, but of course, nothing beats getting it right and EQing correctly.
6. Widen Your Genre Base
You might love playing trance classics or be something of a metalhead, but a good DJ will be diverse and be able to mix and play music across multiple genres. After all, you’re aiming to please the crowd, not yourself.
Every genre will offer you new learning experiences, and this is invaluable in DJing, especially if you want to open up more avenues for performing.
Read Next: How DJs Choose the Perfect Song to Play Next
7. Listen To Yourself
While you may think that your performance is smooth and effortless, you cannot be sure how it comes across to others without seeing for yourself. But unless you have the power to be in two places at once, this is something of an impossibility.
Thankfully, you can record or even video yourself DJing and look back on the performance. What a great way to learn!
8. Use EQs Correctly
Without using the EQ, your mix may sound cacophonous and certainly not enjoyable. Many DJs don’t put in the effort to learn how to use their EQs, and this can hold you back. So be sure to take the time to use the feature to your advantage.
9. Produce As Well As Perform
Being multi-talented is beneficial in any career, and this is undoubtedly true of DJing. If you can, learning how to produce your own music will put you at the forefront of your game and make you stand out from a sea of other DJs vying for attention.
There are plenty of software options to help you along the way, many of which are incredibly sophisticated.
Read: How To Pick A DJ Name
10. Listen To The Crowd
Your job is to entertain the crowd, and a good DJ will know what is working and what isn’t. If you play in the same place regularly, you will learn to read the crowd, but learning general body language skills can help too.
It is also essential to interact with the crowd and make them feel as though they are a part of what you are doing, because after all – without them, you’d have nobody to perform to.
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