Thoughts for the future Disk Jockey

A feature article by Gamit, Jul 16, 2006         

Summary: To be a Disk Jockey sounds like a great idea at first, but very few people stop their day dreaming to wonder what this really implies. It can be a hobby or a job. Only the persons who actually do this can say what being a NJ DJ represents to them - pure pleasure or a way to earn a living.

 
To be a Disk Jockey sounds like a great idea at first, but very few people stop their day dreaming to wonder what this really implies. It can be a hobby or a job. Only the persons who actually do this can say what being a NJ DJ represents to them - pure pleasure or a way to earn a living. If you are thinking about becoming a NJ DJ just for fun, as a hobby, then you should know your pick is a very expensive and time consuming activity. Just to be able to call yourself a Disk Jockey, without any reference to your skills you have to spend a lot of money. Just think how much the turn tables cost, the mixer and the amplifier and the speakers. This can set you back a couple of thousands of dollars just if you buy some pieces of equipment, not the best ones out on the market. The records will cost a lot also because you must have an up to date vinyl collection. You will be permanently spending money on materials, even if you only like a single song from one record. Let's say you have the financial part covered, think about the hours of practice you must have before calling yourself a true Disk Jockey. Furthermore, before you can call yourself a good NJ DJ, a lot of time has to pass by, time that you will spend practicing and improving your skills and spending more money on equipment and records. So it's up to you to decide if it's worth trying to becoming a Disk Jockey just for fun. On the other hand there are people who learn how to be a Disk Jockey the same way they would learn how to be an accountant or manager. Being a NJ DJ can be a very well paid job. Becoming a NJ DJ isn't very difficult, but it isn't easy either. Again, if you have enough money and determination, it can be done. But anything is possible if you have enough money! Becoming a good, respected NJ DJ is more difficult. A lot of people think that working as a Disk Jockey is rewarding both financially and emotionally as well. This probably happens because they see a NJ DJ as a person who is paid a lot for a gig which lasts only a couple of hours. What they don't see is what lies behind the time they spend playing. They don't understand that, distributed over the entire work and preparation period, all that money isn't much at all. A gig that last somewhere from two to four hours might actually be a twelve hour gig for the Disk Jockey. It's not necessary for a Disk Jockey to bring his own equipment, but some do this because they consider that their music sounds better when they use their own equipment. Even if you don't bring your own equipment you have to bring your records so packing takes time. Sometimes the gig won't be somewhere near the Disk Jockey's residence so he or she has to drive all the way to the spot. This might take from 30 minutes to a couple of hours. Then comes the actual job when the Disk Jockey is the star. After that, the NJ DJ that has been setting the house on fire for the last couple of hours gets his deserved money. Work doesn't stop here as packing again is necessary and there's also the long road back. And this is how a Disk Jockey can spend up to twelve hours on a gig that last four hours top. The thing about being a NJ DJ is that not every person that uses the turntable and the mixer a little bit can work as a Disk Jockey for money and do gigs and shows. This is where the skill of every Disk Jockey comes into play. To learn how to be a NJ DJ is not that consuming. The difficult part is to become an appreciated NJ DJ. You can learn with another Disk Jockey, but that is only recommended for the first stage when you're a complete beginner. After you learn how things work and you know what to do, it is better to start working by yourself. Another important thing is not to work with other DJs recordings or mixes. It's best to work with the music you enjoy and do yourself. This is to create your own style because no one likes to hear a copy, an imitation of another Disk Jockey. You need to shape your personal style from scratch to have a unique sound. Having this ace up your sleeve you can call yourself a pretty good NJ DJ. The style you've created and defined will finally be tested by how long you can keep the crowd mesmerized. Whether you decide to become a Disk Jockey as a hobby or to make money and earn a living there's only one thing you should keep in mind: express your own personality through a fresh new style and keep the people happy and dancing. Everything will work your way. The NJ DJ doesn't have the easy life most persons who think of becoming a Disk Jockey hope for. It is a job that requires efforts, but is rewarding through the good time of the listening crowd.

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