What does it take to be a really good DJ?
There are a few things you should consider if you want to become a good DJ.
First off, you should always practice. Practice makes perfect. If you want to get better at playing music, you have to practice. The same goes for being a DJ. Additionally, you should know how to use the equipment properly. Just playing songs is not enough; you must be able to mix them as well.
Finally, you need to know how to entertain people. Being a good DJ means knowing how to interact with your audience since those who hired you will want you to make their special events memorable and enjoyable.
Other qualities make one a good DJ, though the above factors will contribute to one’s success. Therefore, if you want to become a successful wedding DJ for a wedding reception, a birthday party, a private event, or even a bridal shower, feel free to continue reading so, along with your technical skills, you will also have these tools that your clients will appreciate. In addition to managing the music and dancing, your client may expect you to ensure everything goes smoothly.
The DJ must be passionate about what he does and loves doing it!
A good DJ must enjoy interacting with others because his passion is meeting the needs of the client. This advice includes talking to your clients, entertaining them by mixing different genres of music. The DJs must capture the clients’ vision for the event. The DJ will then explore and enhance that vision according to the DJ’s expertise and experience.
The ability to extract that information from clients is essential because sometimes clients do not know what they want. This ability is not just one of the DJ’s skills but also an art form that he learned through many opportunities that the DJ has hosted private or corporate events. The musical knowledge of the DJ should be way above the clients’ expectations and his music library should be a broad spectrum of musical genres and be able to identify a particular genre of music that will fit the event. This experience means the DJ’s collection of music, whether digital files or otherwise, is more than sufficient to meet the needs and is appropriate to current events.
The key here is he is loving it because the DJ is living it!
DJs must enjoy working as part of a team.
This teamwork mindset is critical, especially when dealing with a large group of individuals who may require special attention. DJs who know how to work in a group setting can adapt to any situation without losing focus on the task at hand. The service you provide must be responsive to all requests made by guests. You must be able to communicate effectively with everyone involved in the planning of the party. You must love helping out when needed and making sure everyone else on the crew feels comfortable and happy while they work.
As a team player, the DJ must also be trustworthy, reliable, and capable of working closely with the planner and caterer. Understanding the purpose of the event is crucial before planning can begin. A good DJ knows when to ask questions and when to let go. Asking too much can lead to confusion which may result in poor performance. On the contrary, asking too little leads to frustration on both sides.
Teamwork is vital to building relationships, especially if this will be a long-term relationship between your client and other third parties. A lot can happen over time, and sometimes relationships change. So, having someone who enjoys working with you no matter what happens is necessary.
It takes a unique type of person to do this job. There is no way to fake it. There is nothing like being a true team player.
Your personality needs to match up well with your clientele.
As mentioned earlier, the DJ is responsible for making sure everything runs smoothly during the event. This duty may have to be done alone or with the assistance of a sound engineer or wedding band. In either case, the DJ must understand all aspects of the job, including planning, organizing, coordinating, managing time, budgeting, scheduling, communicating, delegating tasks, among others.
This task requires a lot of patience and understanding, which can only come after years of experience. A good DJ knows when to delegate some responsibilities to someone else while still maintaining control over the situation.
It takes a different personality type to be a good DJ. You cannot simply follow instructions without thinking out loud. Your ideas might differ from the ones given to you by the client. However, you must respect the wishes of the clients and deliver just what they expect.
In addition, you must be willing to listen to feedback from the client regarding any changes needed to improve upon the service provided.
Lastly, you must be flexible. Sometimes unexpected situations arise, and you must adapt quickly to handle them effectively. A change in the location of the event, for example, could occur due to unforeseen circumstances. Or maybe the weather turns bad, and the event gets canceled. Whatever happens, you must remain calm and professional.
Your goal is to provide excellent customer service and ensure that you handle every aspect professionally.
Conclusion
To summarize, when clients hire you as a DJ, remember that you are a professional first before anything else. You are a trained musician and artist who can perform any task required of you professionally. The dance floor is your most effective feedback. A good DJ knows how to work within a team, and this is why most DJs hire assistants such as sound engineers, lighting technicians, photographers, and more. These individuals help you achieve your goals while ensuring all aspects of the event run smoothly. Essentially, you must understand that this job requires teamwork since you also must work closely with the caterer, photographer, bandleader, and others to create a seamless experience for all guests.
And finally, enjoy doing what you love and loving what you do. Your clients will not only appreciate it, but they will also remember the event … and they will remember you.
About JD of SWDE, LLC
JD is an experienced DJ, MC, and event planner serving in Greater Los Angeles area. He offers entertainment service for any corporate event, private parties, school dances, special events, sweet sixteens and will also make your wedding day one to be remembered. It’s his passion to get your dance floor moving.
