What It Takes To Be A DJ
Being a DJ is not as easy as some may think. There are people out there who dismiss being a DJ as just playing one record after another, which is easy to say if one has never witnessed a DJ in action or even tried it themselves. Yes, it may appear to be easy to the untrained eye, but that’s mainly due to the fact that so many professional DJs make it look like a walk in the park. It’s become second nature to them. Imagine having to play for at least an hour to an expectant audience, an audience that has paid good money to have a good time, and being able to give that audience a good time, using just two decks, a mixer, and music that the DJ has chosen, is quite a skill (Barnes). Few DJs are able to support themselves financially with their DJing alone, and on top of that, they have to spend a lot of time and money on their craft. Of course, there are the obvious pluses; the awe-factor, the parties, the party-boys and girls, the ass-kissing. But there is more to it than that. This is an artform, an expression, a way of life (kbein).
Many people dream of becoming a DJ, but to really be a DJ, one must buy the right equipment to handle the big-beat tunes. The first thing a DJ needs to do is to determine the type of gear he wishes to use. Building ones first DJ setup can be a difficult task if the person does not know which equipment to buy. There are four typical DJ setups: 1) computer only; it can be very difficult to DJ with only a computer because the DJ would have to remember a number of keyboard shortcuts for things that would normally be intuitive on the other setups, but it is a good place to start; 2) MIDI controllers; controllers may be MIDI or USB, used for controlling software on a computer which combines more traditional hands on DJing with computer DJing. The controllers usually have control for two virtual decks and a mixer in the middle; 3) CD Players; to DJ with CDs, the DJ would either need two table-top DJ style CD players or a rack mounted dual CD player. DJ CD players are not the same as consumer CD players; they have features like pitch control and jog wheels which are a necessity. A mixer will also be needed in your CD setup; 4) Vinyl Turntables; similar to CD players but for records/vinyl. A DJ would need two DJ style turntables and a mixer for a vinyl setup (Muxx).
A mixer is an audio mixing console that the DJ plugs his CD players, turntables, microphones, laptop and/or Ipod into. The DJ controls the volume levels and sound settings with it. The key features that differentiate a DJ mixer from other types of audio mixers are the ability to redirect/cue a non-playing source to headphones and the presence of a crossfader, which allows for an easier transition between two sources. The mixer plugs into the house amplifiers that connect to the speakers (Harlin).
Every DJ wears headphones while playing, and the major reason is for previewing the upcoming track. Special DJ headphones are built in such a way that they can bend and fold in different ways. They are durable and flexible. The inside overhead section is usually steel body which makes it strong enough for heavy use (Celikbas). Accurate sound reproduction is not of utmost concern here. DJ headphones should provide enhanced lows and crisp highs. It's the kick drums, snares, and hi-hats that a DJ is paying attention to when mixing, not intricate sonic details.
A solid collection of vinyl is always important, so a DJ shouldn’t neglect periodic trips to the local vintage record store. Some songs just won't be available online, so on those occasions, DJs digitally transfer those rare records from vinyl to mp3. An extensive record collection is what separates the elite DJs from the million other make shift DJs out there (Swift).
What good is the music that a DJ is spinning if nobody can hear it? Having a good pair of DJ speakers is essential for any serious DJ. If a DJ is making money from DJing, buying some DJ speakers is the best investment he can make. A DJ must choose between both active and passive DJ speakers.
Active PA speakers have the power amplifier and crossover built into the same cabinet as the speakers. The benefit of this is that all the DJ will need is the speaker and a sound source, whether it is a mixer, music player, or even an instrument in certain circumstances. Powered speakers simplify the PA system and are faster and easier to set up, but they aren’t always the best option for designing complex systems for permanent installation in large auditoriums and halls (Sweetwater).
Passive PA speakers require separate power amplifiers and sometimes crossovers, too. For most bands or small- to medium-sized venues, passive speaker systems may not be the simplest option for a sound system. But for larger, more complex systems, it can be a huge benefit to have the system components separated. Because of the extreme amount of power required for large systems, keeping the amplifiers separate prevents the speakers from being overheated by the amps, and system maintenance in the long term is much easier when someone doesn’t have to climb to the rafters to adjust the amplifier settings (Sweetwater).
A DJ should be aware of some basic lingo before he gets started: 1) BPM, Beats Per Minute. This is a numerical indication of the speed of the song; 2) Beat Match, this is when a DJ sets two songs to the same BPM, then matches the downbeats to ensure that, when both songs can be heard by the audience, the transition between them will be as seamless as possible; 3) Backspin, this is the term to describe when a DJ spins the record backwards, warping the sound; 4) Crossfader, this is the little sliding mechanism along the bottom of the mixer that allows for volume control of each track; 5) Cueing, a DJ must choose a point in the track at which he would like it to start playing. This allows the DJ to skip over low points in the song, or to find the best part for mixing into, this point is the cue; and 6) Scratching, this is when a DJ moves the record back and forth under the needle, creating the oh-so-familiar scratchy sound! Very popular when mixing hip-hop tracks (kbein). Once a DJ has managed to acquire all of the above, then the fun starts!
The most fundamental aspect of DJing is song selection. A DJ selects a range of tracks that mix nicely together in order to create a "mixset" (sometimes simply referred to as a mix). The DJ mixset, as we currently understand it, originated in the late 1970s. At its most basic level a DJ selects a range of musical pieces and plays them to an audience. The primary goal is to make people dance. The DJ finds music that he considers to have certain qualities. Selecting songs that move a dance floor does require special skill and talent. Not everyone can do it. There are many empty dance floors out there with DJs selecting all the wrong songs. Most dance music is based on eight bar sections (or phrases), if the DJ pays attention and counts these phrases, it becomes a lot easier to mix tunes together. The DJ then uses his technical skill to blend his chosen music together in a way which brings out the true beauty of the individual pieces. A good DJ will blend these songs together in a way in which the audience is unaware of the transitions between tracks. When a DJ does his job well, not only will the set be seamless, it will also take people on a musical journey which is almost symphonic in structure. The set will start in a certain place and take people through highs and lows, light and shade, through major and minor keys. This is not done randomly. It is done by carefully considering the mood of the people on the dance floor while also considering which songs mix well together. DJ sets often build up to a peak in energy before gradually coming back to the same level at which they started. Other DJ sets can start off subtle and continue to build people up, increasing the energy and excitement to a crescendo before rapidly dropping back down. Sometimes a DJ will end their set at the crescendo (SILBY). Waveforms and BPM information has become guides for DJs to plan better mixes. Not only does this keep a dance floor energy on a constant flow, it can also sound very good when elements between two songs interact.
Once a DJ has mastered mixing the next step is learning how to scratch. A scratch is the sound created when the DJ moves a record back and forth. This technique was created by Grand Wizard Theodore back in the mid-'70s. Learning how to scratch will allow the DJ to enhance the music his audience is listening to. It's like adding vocals to a funky beat, but instead of speaking with his lips, the DJ uses his hands. Believe it or not, a DJ can teach himself a lot of different scratches, but he needs a good ear. Hopefully, the DJ developed that ear during the mixing stage. It helps to understand the type of music he scratching to. A DJ must listen to songs from all genres, Hip Hop, Electronic, etc. It's important for the DJ learn how to perform scratches that complement the type of music he decides to play. With enough dedication and practice, a DJ can eventually develop his own unique style (Swift).
The final stage a DJ must learn is Beat Juggling, otherwise known as "The Funk". Beat Juggling was created by Steve Dee in the late '80s. Beat Juggling is accomplished by manipulating the drums sounds from two copies of the same (or different) record to form a new beat in real-time, using only vinyl, a mixer and the DJs hands. It takes a keen ear, a sharp sense of timing and bar structure awareness. Think of it as the ability to simultaneously mix and scratch. It's the most intense skill out of the three (mixing, scratching and beat juggling) because it requires constant manipulation of the mixer and turntables. When a DJ is beat juggling, a second doesn't go by where his hands aren't busy. Once a DJ has learned how to beat juggle, he can consider himself a well-rounded turntablist (Swift).
The learning doesn't stop there. DJ styles are continuously changing, becoming more and more complex with time. A DJ must be a sponge; he must soak up as much experience from the art form as he can. A DJ must make an effort to seek out inspiration from other DJs. He can continue the learning process by checking out schools where he can share knowledge with DJs from around the world. A DJ can get his hands on instructional DVDs. He has to absorb it all and become a part of the new generation of turntable wizzes.
I have been a DJ for thirty years and I can truly say that the art of being a DJ is not easy. I spend a lot of hours getting ready for gigs, downloading music and creating playlists. I have about 150,000 songs in my music library and I am in no way caught up on the different types of music and songs that are out there. A new DJ is not going to learn the essential skills overnight. It takes time to learn how to mix, scratch, and beat juggle, not to mention the hours of cataloging and song mapping the DJ will be doing before he can even get started. So I say good luck to those out there who would like to become a DJ and remember, never give up because practice makes perfect, and the end result is more than worth it.

Works Cited
Barnes, Marcus. "How easy is it to be a DJ? I went and found out…" http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2012/02/27/how-easy-is-it-to-be-a-dj-i-went-and-found-out/. 27 February 2012. 19 February 2014. Web.
Celikbas, Murat. "Why Do DJs Wear Headphones On One Ear ?" http://www.digitaldjinfo.com/why-do-djs-wear-headphones-on-one-ear/. 20 August 2013. 19 February 2014. Web.
Harlin, Terry. "What does a DJ mixer do?" http://www.mineeds.com/Ask-The-Experts/Answers/What-does-a-DJ-mixer-do/. 2011. 19 February 2014. Web. kbein. "So You Want To Be A DJ" http://iml.jou.ufl.edu/projects/fall09/bein_k/index.html. September 2009. 19 February 2014. Web.
Muxx, Teresa, DifuWu, June, BR, Ashley H. "How to Purchase a DJ Setup" http://www.wikihow.com/Purchase-a-DJ-Setup. n.d. 19 February 2014. Web.
Silby, Brent. "Is The DJ an Artist? Is a Mixset a Work of Art?" http://www.scribd.com/doc/3015613/is-the-dj-an-artist. 2007. 19 February 2014. Web.
Sweetwater. "PA Speaker Buying Guide" http://www.sweetwater.com/insync/pa-speaker-buying-guide/. 26 June 2013. 19 February 2014. Web.
Swift, Rob. "The Art Of DJing: Here's What You Need To Know" http://sistastroke.blogspot.com/2010/07/2-art-of-djing-heres-what-you-need-to.html. 26 July 2010. 19 February 2014. Web.