Of all the careers in the club music industry, being a professional DJ is the one that involves the most actual music playing. Whilst there are many benefits to becoming a professional DJ, this career also takes a lot of hard work and effort.
If you’re keen to get started as a DJ and make your mark on the music scene in your area, here are some of the ways you can get your new career off to a flying start.
Buy All The Gear You Need
Being a professional DJ requires a lot of equipment, so explore the best gear such as turntables, DJ laptops, software and speakers out there to find the solutions that will work best for you. Once you have the basic gear you can start practicing and developing your own unique style. Later on down the line, you can consider getting a professional DJ setup.
Practice Makes Perfect
Before you get out onto the circuit and start making a name for yourself, it’s important that you take the time to define your style and practice so that you’re used to using your equipment. This will also allow you to calculate prices and give estimates to potential clients on how long it will take you to set-up/ take down your gear.
Start Small
Initially it might be hard for you to get paying gigs, so try taking on small, voluntary DJ gigs or low-paying jobs. This will offer you a unique opportunity to build your reputation and hone your skills at the same time. It might not be the most prestigious way to get to the top, but everyone has to start somewhere.
Promote Your Brand And Music With Business CDs
Most business owners carry business cards with their contact details and branding printed on them, but as a budding DJ you should go one step further and try carry CDs to give to potential clients. Sites like directcds.co.uk allow you to duplicate your CDs and create unique packaging that can hold your contact details and information on the services you offer. This particular company offer some of the cheapest prices so if you’re just getting started, they will help ensure you aren’t going out of pocket.
Establish Relationships With Venues
Local clubs, bars and pubs will often host regular music nights which require a DJ, so try to create relationships with venue owners to put yourself in the running the next time a slot becomes available. Always be polite and show yourself to be a quality DJ who can offer both an exhilarating experience for partygoers and a stress-free experience for organisers.
Keep Up To Date With The Latest Music Trends
As a DJ, you’ll need to be able to show clubgoers and venues alike that you know and play the latest chart hits and favoured classic tunes, so make sure that your knowledge is kept current by listening to the radio often and following the hottest musicians online. This will keep your sets fresh and bring venues coming back to hire you time and time again.
Build An Online Following
Whilst it’s important that you develop a reputation on the DJ circuit, it’s also vital that you establish an online following as well. Learn how to use social media to your advantage, so that you can reach out to a wide range of potential customers and get your name at the forefront of everyone’s minds when they think about hiring a professional DJ.
Featured image by AudioReputation
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