What is a DJ?

There are three major kinds of DJs: Mobile, Radio, and Club. Mobile DJs are the most common. They generally work parties andspecial events (ie: weddings, birthdays, etc.) onsite. This sort of workusually entails entertaining a wide array of tastes and age groups, as well asa bit of MC'ing. Radio DJs are the least common. Their task is to make sure there isnever any dead air time by filling it with either their words, or music.Again, there is a certain mass appeal that needs to be worked on andbeing a Mr. Personality is important. Club DJs can be found, but aren't nearly as prominent at mobile DJs.They have a very specific clientele (age group wise) and are expected to playthe latest and greatest all the time. This sort of DJing often requires themost technical know-how on mixing since style and uniqueness are critical toestablish a name for yourself and the club you work for. Rave DJs tendto fit into this category because of the similar mixing skills required.

Most DJs, or disc jockeys, are radio announcers who broadcast music. A DJ has a variety of duties, both on-air and off. Another frequently used term to describe a DJ is air personality.

DJs read prepared scripts and commercials, and also chat with listeners. A DJ also takes listener requests, interviews guests, and announces musical selections. As a part of their duties, some DJs comment on weather, traffic, or other topics, and may make public service announcements. Other tasks often performed by DJs include coordinating listener contests, making promotional appearances on behalf of the radio station, and broadcasting at a remote location. Most DJs do not select the music that is played on the radio, because that function is now computerized and is usually determined by station management.

A radio DJ is usually hired based on a pleasant voice, musical knowledge, and prior experience. Organization is a skill critical to a DJ position. Many DJs work their way up the ladder into larger markets by starting at a college radio station or as an intern at a radio station. The position requires the ability to use technical equipment and to speak comfortably and casually. One goal of most radio DJs is to build a loyal group of listeners that tune in regularly because they like the DJs style.

Other types of DJ positions include club, or nightclub, DJs. Club DJs, of course, work night hours. A club DJ is responsible for maintaining the mood of a club by mixing music, sound effects, and special effects. Because the goal of a club DJ is to keep people dancing, he or she should be familiar with many music styles that appeal to a variety of people.

Many DJs work part-time hours and might initially work for free to establish a following. Radio DJs create tapes of their shows and use them, similar to a how other jobseekers would use a resume, when looking for a new position. Pay at small stations is relatively low. As a career, competition for jobs is intense and shifts can be long. Most DJs cite isolation as the biggest career drawback.

Other DJs work for entertainment companies and staff private parties or events. Some DJs decide to start a mobile or special event DJ business, although it is an expensive proposition. The basic required equipment includes an amplifier, a speaker, a mixer, and an audio source.

A DJs job is to combine all the elements necessary for their performance into one fluid package which can be easily swallowed by all of his or her's listeners. For some DJs this includes talk and games, while for others it means spinning the latest and greatest to the hippest people in
town.

All DJs, however, deserve respect for the job they do. This gets really tough among DJs themselves simply because you can't fit too many ego-inflated heads into one room without some of them bumping into each other (and believe me, the average DJ has an ego-inflated head... =). But in the end, we're all trying to accomplish the same thing -- providing entertainment.

The single greatest piece of advice that can be given to someone starting out is -- PRACTICE! Many aspects of DJing are reasonably intuitive and will present themselves the more you practice. The core of being this sort of entertainer is being able to work your music. Learn your songs well, and get your beatmixing down solid. A natural progression will start from there. The hardest part about writing this document is covering all the different choices available. From my experience and listening to other professional DJs, I've learned that most decisions are personal choices which only you can make. If you find yourself unsure about what direction you want to take, examine both for yourself. Its not nearly as easy as someone telling you "decision X is the best way to go," but you will be much more confident in your choice and will have much less room for bad decisions. The first few questions you have to ask yourself are common amongst beginners.

Do I really want to do this?
This may seem like a terribly odd question to be asking, but it is something that you need to evaluate carefully. DJing requires a lot of time, energy, money, and patience. If you aren't sure you have these sort of facilities, avoid making any commitments until you are sure.

What sort of equipment do I need to start with?
If you aren't sure about whether this is something you want to seriously pursue -- don't buy anything. Find a friend who'll let you use their equipment and practice on it a bit. (Don't forget to take them out to dinner in exchange!) Once you're sure you want to get into this some more, be ready to drop serious money on gear. Professional level gear should run you about $1000 to get started. This will include either a pair of turntables or a pair of CD players, and a mixer. You can use a home stereo as your amps and speakers while you get started. If you aren't sure that you're going to be doing this for the long haul and can't drop $1000 for equipment, then skimp as much as you can and save for the real stuff once you're sure. This means getting turntables with minimum features (ie: Gemini XL-BD10's) and a simple mixer. If you're going to spin CDs, this becomes tough real quick... the minimum priced pitch control CD decks are from Gemini and cost about $250 a piece. They are good starter decks, but moving up to better CD players in the future is something to seriously consider. Bottom line: Spend the least you can if you aren't sure. Buy the real stuff as soon as you can afford it and are sure thats the direction you want to take. And don't forget to buy a pair of good headphones! You can get them from Circuit City or similar stores for about $40 for a decent pair.