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How to get started with DJing

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Re: How to get started with DJing

#21

Post by barbs »

dpc59 wrote: post #2

I'm going to seem like an elitist prick, but in my opinion DJing is absolutely useless if you don't produce/compose. Basic 2 decks DJing is fucking boring, learn how to play instruments and all the theory behind pop music, then figure out the software and hardware to play live sets. Obviously you're going to need to understand the basics of mixing to play live sets, but playing a regular DJ set in front of an audienc…

You say:

> DJing is absolutely useless if you don't produce/compose

But then give no reason for this to be the case. You imply that DJing takes less skill than composing/producing/performing, and that may be true, but that doesn't make DJing useless if done on its own.

"Elitist prick" indeed.

Re: How to get started with DJing

#22

Post by barbs »

Ericson2314 wrote: post #18
nnd wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I see where you are coming from, but masterful DJing takes much more than switching from desk A to desk B. Song selection is crucial, it's even more important than transitions, moreover you need to play the right music to the right audience. Those things you won't find in tutorials, and that's what makes a great DJ set great. On top of that you can combine producing with playing live by adding effects, creatively tra…

As someone who plays lots of music, but never listens to music because its just too much of a chore, I appreciate that a good DJ can find a form in multiple songs none of which I ever have any chance of know about myself.

That's interesting, I'm the opposite - I listen to loads of music but don't play much. I would've thought one would lead to the other, but I guess not.

Re: How to get started with DJing

#24

Post by empath75 »

Okay, so I was a rave DJ in the early 2000s and opened for some of the most popular DJ's in the world at sold out clubs and I'm about to give some real advice.

Yes, all of this stuff about producing music is important, but people who can mix records are a dime a dozen. You need to be able to do it, but it's not enough to get gigs.

The way you get gigs is to be popular. You need to go clubbing every weekend. You need to go to after parties. You need to promote on social media. You need to throw your own parties and book other DJ's so they'll book you at theirs.

Nobody is going to book you on talent. You get booked because you get people in the door and that really only has a little bit to do with talent and a lot to do with personality and networking.

You'll never make a living that way, though, because nobody pays money for local DJ's except at weddings and bar mitzvahs.

Alternatively, you can spend 10 years in your bedroom learning how to be a really good music producer and hope some popular DJ signs your single and then gradually build a following and then maybe in five more years you might make what a junior sysadmin makes.

Re: How to get started with DJing

#25

Post by analog31 »

chtfn wrote: post #16

Shame the author promotes the use of Spotify so much, for two reasons: - the ridiculous amount of money going to artists (i.e. the ones who do want money for their music), although you could argue that you would generate revenue for every play the song gets, rather than a one-off amount when buying it (although, pretty sure it still doesn't compare); - having Spotify means everyone will ask you to play your favourite…

...everyone will ask you to play your favourite song, and you'll have less of an excuse not to, which is a massive PITA.

Sure it's a pain, but at least coming from the standpoint of playing in conventional bands, I've found that audiences love it when you can play requests.

Re: How to get started with DJing

#26

Post by empath75 »

doublerebel wrote: post #5

* Love good music. If you don't love or don't have good music, blending songs together will never sound good. * Try out Xwax or Mixxx (based on xwax) for free. They are open-source. You don't really need all the other distractions of modern systems to play good music. All that comes later when you run out of things to do with good music. Any easy effects will sound canned to the slightest trained ear. * Harmonic mixi…

Harmonic mixing is amazing, but really as long as your mixes aren't out of key, it's fine. You can just tell when two records aren't in tune, you don't need to write down the keys of all your records.

I tried using mixed in key and stuff but what I mostly did was mix every record I had with every other record I had to find out what sounded good. I don't think there's any replacement for planning out sets with practice. Sometimes you just play two records that are a little out of tune because the drums sound good together. Nobody will ever complain about it like they will about train wrecks.

Re: How to get started with DJing

#27

Post by empath75 »

dpc59 wrote: post #2

I'm going to seem like an elitist prick, but in my opinion DJing is absolutely useless if you don't produce/compose. Basic 2 decks DJing is fucking boring, learn how to play instruments and all the theory behind pop music, then figure out the software and hardware to play live sets. Obviously you're going to need to understand the basics of mixing to play live sets, but playing a regular DJ set in front of an audienc…

There are different kinds of djing, and 'boring' sets where you just mix two records together all night are a skill all their own. Sometimes people want the DJ to disappear so they can focus on dancing all night. They don't want someone scratching or doing live remixes. They want to just get in a groove and feel time stop while an endless beat plays.

It's really hard to keep a crowd like that dancing all night when you aren't performing. I've had 1000 people jumping up and down and screaming and I was just standing there doing nothing while a record played. You really need to know what the crowd wants to get them there and the difference between getting people amped up and just having them wander away from the dance floor is subtle.

Re: How to get started with DJing

#28

Post by ericzawo »

angersock wrote: post #20
dpc59 wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>The problem as I see it is that technology has made DJing too accessible. Every two-bit hipster with a Macbook thinks that they're a DJ. This is the point I was trying to make. I'm very familiar with soundsystem culture, I've been making a living from it since I was 17. Obviously there's some good sounding stuff you can do while mixing on two decks, you just gave decent examples, but in my opinion it's never going t…

A little off-topic, but why is there just so much good music out of Montreal? And any more good recs for somebody who likes swa-swally and mstrkrft?

Lunice, Kaytranada and Tommy Kruise are worth looking in to.

Re: How to get started with DJing

#29

Post by bigmanwalter »

angersock wrote: post #20
dpc59 wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>The problem as I see it is that technology has made DJing too accessible. Every two-bit hipster with a Macbook thinks that they're a DJ. This is the point I was trying to make. I'm very familiar with soundsystem culture, I've been making a living from it since I was 17. Obviously there's some good sounding stuff you can do while mixing on two decks, you just gave decent examples, but in my opinion it's never going t…

A little off-topic, but why is there just so much good music out of Montreal? And any more good recs for somebody who likes swa-swally and mstrkrft?

Montreal has cheap rent and everyone who's career focused leaves for Toronto or New York. In their wake is our amazing music scene :)

Re: How to get started with DJing

#30

Post by voycey »

This article should start off with "First buy Turntables and then buy Vinyl"

Step 2 - once you have mastered beat-matching on this then you can fuck around with the new fancy electronic systems.

Step 3 - learn to get good at it.

#1 its all about fun and the tactile pleasure of controlling your music, something that the digital age has robbed many of us from, CD's are a happy medium between Vinyl and Digital but are even now outdated.

You will never get anything as satisfying as rooting through record bins at a vinyl store, taking it home and mixing it in a full manual process - I am glad it is making a return :)

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