1. A DJ can turn their activity into a job
It’s true. Music is an art form, but it has increasingly become a product. This product evolves with trends and fashion but remains indispensable to a DJ’s work. Since the vinyl era, things have changed. Despite the enduring appeal of vinyl for music purists, its sales have long been surpassed by CDs, which once dominated specialty stores. Although expenses for vinyl and CDs are decreasing, they are still relevant for many professionals.
Today, the most common method for DJs to acquire music is through digital purchases from platforms like iTunes for various music genres, Beatport for electronic music specifically, and other online platforms. Although seemingly less costly, this method still represents a significant expense due to the vast amount of music and the constant changes in the musical landscape, requiring ongoing updates to the music collection.
The cost of quality is high, and building a large collection of original, legal music takes many years. However, it’s essential for a DJ’s work, serving both as raw material and a tool of the trade. This is one of the factors that naturally influences a DJ’s fee, with the quantity and quality of their music reflecting their professionalism.
2. The DJ’s work period is not limited to the duration of his performance
Clearly not. First and foremost, it’s important to understand that DJs spend a significant amount of time researching music. The general public often wants to hear the latest hits or trendy songs from their favorite artists, and DJs need to acquire and include these tracks in their collections. They then study and analyze these songs, and might need to integrate them into software developed specifically for the equipment they use during performances. Each performance requires individual preparation, including selecting and organizing music based on the type of event, client, and audience.
Regarding the DJ’s working hours at each event: it varies. Some DJs work only during their performance time. This depends on factors like the booked service, the DJ’s status and market position, and the event’s needs. In bars and clubs, resident DJs might open and close the venue, managing the desired musical atmosphere set by the owner, manager, or event promoter. Guest DJs, whether high-profile or lesser-known, might prepare sets based on their own music or tailor their playlist to the specific event. In these cases, the DJ typically works only during the agreed-upon time for the event.
For private events, the DJ’s responsibility is higher. They need to account for different stages of their performance throughout the event. This may include pre-event preparation, such as creating playlists for cocktails or meals, which should be carefully curated to meet the client’s specific requests or requirements.
3. The DJ invests in training.
Yes and no. Professional DJs invest in training, whereas amateur DJs often do not. Every professional in any field should receive training to perform their job. For example, would you want to be treated by a doctor without training or receive advice from a nutritionist without qualifications? The answer is always “no.” The “yes” comes from the assurance, confidence, and guarantee of professionalism, which requires formal training. Unfortunately, not all DJs seek or receive formal training. Despite the lack of regulation and specific diplomas required in this field, only professional DJs who are committed to living exclusively from music invest in their education.
Selecting and playing music is something anyone can learn on their own, as we all did from childhood with our first music players or streaming platforms like Spotify and YouTube. However, the art of mixing music, adapting and selecting tracks and effects, managing client and audience expectations, creating exclusive musical content, and mastering various techniques in DJing and music production are skills that only professional DJs develop.
In the past, there were no formal training programs for DJs, but today there are numerous specialized courses and high-value training options for DJs and music producers. Therefore, professional DJs invest significantly in training to advance both musically and technically.
4. The DJ channels a significant portion of their income into acquiring music
It’s true. Music is an art form, but it has increasingly become a product. This product evolves with the times and trends but remains essential to a DJ’s work. Since the vinyl era, things have changed. Although vinyl remains for music purists, the acquisition of music has long surpassed the period when CDs were a major sales item in specialty stores. While costs for music in vinyl and CD formats are less common in a DJ’s regular expenses today, they still represent a reality for many professionals.
Nowadays, DJs typically acquire music for their collections through digital stores like iTunes for various music genres, Beatport for electronic music, and other online platforms. Despite seeming less costly, this source still represents a significant expense due to the sheer volume of music and the constant evolution of the musical landscape, which requires ongoing updates to the music collection.
The cost of quality is high, and building a vast collection of original and legal music takes many years. However, it’s essential for the DJ’s work, serving as both raw material and a tool of their trade. This is one of the factors that naturally influences a DJ’s fee, with the quantity and quality of their music reflecting their level of professionalism.
5. Investment in equipment is recurrent
The DJ’s equipment is constantly evolving. The equipment, commonly known as the booth or setup, can consist of various components such as turntables, CDJs, mixers, MIDI controllers, internal and/or external effects processors, and computers or other accessories.
Turntables are less commonly sold today, and vinyl enthusiasts are rarer but still present. Some setups for DJs exclusively use vinyl, especially for specific event concepts or for DJs whose musical styles require techniques like scratching and turntablism, which involves manipulating sounds directly through vinyl handling.
DJs are the most commonly used equipment for DJs to play and beatmatch music. They are essentially multimedia playback platforms with features that allow for maximum creative exploration through technological upgrades over the years. Similarly, mixers have increasingly more functions, enabling the development of new and innovative mixing techniques, reflecting technological advancement.
External effects processors and portable computers are generally optional components of the setup, though they also continuously evolve. Therefore, the DJ’s equipment is in constant development, and investing in newer setups is a part of any DJ’s career.
6. The DJ does not only have nighttime routines
This is perhaps one of the more humorous points to make. It’s clear that DJs do not live solely at night. Although the profession is commonly associated with a nocturnal lifestyle, there are increasingly more daytime events.
DJs are frequently hired for a variety of events, both daytime and nighttime. It is becoming more common to find a DJ at different venues and events, such as promoting a new product in a business setting, fostering a new concept for a venue, impressing consumers and boosting sales, performing for a private group, doing a live set outdoors, or experiencing a sunset at a beach bar, among many examples.
Clearly, nightlife exists, and DJs are in high demand for various public and private events, hotel and restaurant performances, weddings, corporate events, DJ sets in bars and nightclubs, and more. Additionally, DJs maintain their weekly routine during the day, taking care of basic personal needs and performing other professional tasks, such as researching new music or producing musical content for their performances.
7. A DJ’s lifestyle can be healthy
The DJ profession has evolved significantly over the years. Image, style, industry presence, the age at which one starts, courses, training, and various event opportunities allow DJs to lead lives similar to most people, especially regarding lifestyle.
Physical and emotional well-being is crucial for a DJ’s motivation and energy over time, with activities such as exercise, recovery, rest, good nutrition, and engaging in cultural, social, or leisure activities being essential. The days of DJs adopting unhealthy lifestyles—such as disrupted circadian rhythms, alcohol and drug abuse, imbalance between fatigue and poor health habits, psychological issues from extreme exhaustion, and excessive partying in toxic environments—are nearly nonexistent.
While these factors depend on each DJ’s working conditions and career choices, DJs are increasingly seen as relatable, human figures who present a genuine image of being cheerful, fun, and healthy.
8. A DJ does not have to work in solitude
As mentioned earlier in this article, while it is common to see laptops in the DJ booth, their use is not strictly necessary for performance. Laptops serve various purposes; they may be part of the DJ’s setup to provide easier access to playlists or play a more creative role in a live act, where the DJ uses MIDI controllers to access a library of samples and create or manipulate music and effects in real-time.
Some artists explore their creativity further when, along with a video wall to complement a VJ’s work, sound and image are manipulated simultaneously and in real-time. When used this way, laptops add value and aim to enhance the audience’s experience and present more elaborate party concepts. Unfortunately, such cases are rare.
Most often, laptops are used by amateur DJs who rely on automation to compensate for their lack of experience or technical difficulties when facing professional setups. In these cases, the amateur DJ’s equipment is typically a smaller, less powerful controller compared to professional gear. This often compromises the success of the party, as the DJ may focus too much on the laptop screen and lose touch with the dance floor, leading to poor technique, hasty and mismatched music selection, and audience dissatisfaction. Therefore, attention should be paid to the professionalism of the DJ and the proper understanding of what laptops represent in the DJ booth.
9. The DJ uses headphones because it’s cool
Of course not. It’s quite common to find people who don’t understand the function of headphones and their contribution to a DJ’s work. Especially when they’re resting on the DJ’s neck or when the DJ tilts their head to place the headphones on their shoulder. There’s a reason for everything. Headphones are essential tools for a DJ. Just like music storage devices, such as vinyl records, CDs, and USB devices, DJs use headphones to successfully perform their work. Mixing two or more songs is done through the mixer, but beatmatching, which is aligning the beats, is achieved with the help of headphones.
The DJ listens to the track they will play next and matches its beats with the current track. While the audience hears one song, the DJ can listen to other songs to select the next track, ensuring they are at the same speed by synchronizing the BPM (beats per minute) and then mixing the new song with the current one. The reason only one ear is covered by the headphones is that the other ear is listening to the music playing for the audience through the booth monitor. The ear closer to the booth monitor remains free, while the other is covered by the headphones. The position of resting the head on the shoulder is a matter of style and comfort.
The DJ might prefer to rest their head on their shoulder to keep both hands free for mixing or adding effects on the mixer, or they might want a more relaxed and casual posture. When the headphones are around the DJ’s neck, it means they are not using them at that moment and are focused on observing the dance floor.
It happens all the time! The number of hours dedicated to the event can be high. The period leading up to the party, their performance schedule, the intensity and high peaks of the party or the distance from the venue can compromise the number of hours the DJ goes without eating. Evaluating this topic, we can see that a party lasting more than four hours is long enough for the DJ to feel hungry and want to eat a lot when the event is over. Oddly enough, it’s very common for the DJ to eat fast food or less healthy food after the event. If they’ve had a bit of alcohol, this characteristic is accentuated!
10. Male DJs are not better than female DJs
This was once true, but thankfully, it is no longer the case. Gender discrimination has existed and continues to exist in many professions. Men were traditionally seen as the powerful figures who reached top positions in large companies, while women were perceived as less likely to achieve professional success. In the fields of sound and music, this has changed rapidly.
While it is still uncommon to find women in roles such as sound technicians or roadies, it is increasingly common to see them in other roles related to the music industry, such as venue managers, managers, commercial assistants, bookers, and accounts. Women are now recognized as valuable assets and are considered as professional as men. This shift is evident in the presence of female singers, vocalists, and dancers, for example.
When it comes to being a DJ, opportunities for women are clearly greater.
There are fewer female DJs, often referred to as “DJanes,” compared to their male counterparts. As a result, there is a higher market demand for them. Women have unique qualities that set them apart, and these attributes are also reflected in their roles as DJs. Their beauty, grace, distinctive style, and ability to connect with the female audience make them stand out. Therefore, the presence of female DJs is increasing, which is excellent news for both women and the music industry.
