The Deejay Life

Hey Mr DJ..

In this current era, the term “DJ” is used widely like an independent word (commonly pronounced “Deejay”), but it is only an abbreviation for the professional title Disc-Jockey. The term borrows its origin from the English language, referring to a disc or record on the one hand and the racer or driver with Jockey. In the original sense, disc-jockey was someone who put on records on the radio or later also in discotheques and clubs.

History of Deejaying

The first DJs worth mentioning in the history of Deejaying are probably radio DJs from the beginning of radio. The first audio radio broadcast happened in 1906, and the first-ever Disc-Jockey took his place in history in 1909.

The term Disc-Jockey did not become popular until the 1930s. Soon after this, Jimmy Savile, in 1943, threw the world’s first DJ dance party where he played jazz records for his guests.

However, back in Los Angeles in the year 1932, Al Jarvis had set the new ground already with the first DJ celebration of the recording of records in such a way that the impression was given that a concert was taking place. Although the art was new and unique, Al was never credited for his talent because his level of awareness was still not enough to enter the history books.

In the 1950s, radio DJs started making appearances in the crowds to host sock hops for kids all over the US. In Kingston, Jamaica, promoters had already borrowed the title and referred to themselves as DJs. These would throw big dance parties in the streets, and DJs would blast their beats from colossal PA systems. In Jamaica, these were called party entrepreneurs Sound Systems.

Discotheques continued to spawn themselves throughout the United States and in Europe. New equipment penetrated the market, such as the controllers and mixers, allowing DJs to have more control over their tunes. In 1969, one Dj, Francis Grasso, began popularizing beat matching, seamlessly mixing his songs, so the dancing never had to stop. But the popularity of DJs in clubs began to slump in the late 60s, and the party was moved to the streets.

How Deejays spice up the industry

Within the music and entertainment industry, one might say Djs are everywhere. From clubs to music festivals to studio sessions and music production, Djs are being featured more than ever before. If you consider vibrant music industries like in Europe, you will notice that at the moment, DJs are considered to be musicians in their own style of creativity.

Many journals and blogs written about the life of Deejays illustrate how Djs are necessary for the entire development of the music industry. Many radio programs, Club events, and also music productions assume their success from the work of DJs. In the clubs, DJs have for long generated a time where music pieces are no longer the standardized three minutes to five to twelve minutes or longer in studios but have gone an extra mile to mix music and produce it as played “remix productions” of their own design.

This has developed into different styles from disco to house to techno and now almost countless variants. As central characters and most important protagonists, the club DJs have now not only developed Deejaying into an independent art form over the decades but have also invented entire music styles. Some of them have become absolute stars of the music scene themselves.

You have to prepare to practice, practice, and then practice again. You have to get your brain used to listening to music in a particular way, which can only be done through Patience and training.

Paths to becoming a Deejay

The term Deejay has changed from just being a Party maker to earning a decent figure from displaying your talent. Today, many youths choose this path because a DJ doesn’t really need a lot of school hours and tests to become good at his skill. The one most crucial test in the Deejaying world is Patience.

Becoming a DJ is not particularly difficult. To become a DJ and stand out from all the other DJs, might on the other hand, be a bit difficult. If you choose the path to become a DJ, you should know that it is less about adjusting two tracks. Instead, it’s about finding your own style and the people who go for it. The top DJs always have a good feel and have a good view of the industry.

But probably the most crucial skill that every DJ must have and without which it cannot be done is – passion for music and the constant will to learn something new. Many professionals recommend that new DJs spend as much time as possible in the studio and try to find and constantly improve their own sound.

You have to prepare to practice, practice, and then practice again. You have to get your brain used to listening to music in a particular way, which can only be done through Patience and training. If you feel like you have trained enough, then keep going a little more! With this job, you must be 100% willing to learn and practice constantly—otherwise, all the other DJs who just want more than you will quickly overtake you.

As a candidate for the next DJ star, you also have to know that the playfield is vast and has more than one option. Instead of looking for invites to every party around town, choose to be a DJ in another sphere of influence. As a DJ, you can look into career options like; Being a resident club DJ, Turntablist DJ, Wedding DJ, or Radio DJ.

After securing a spot in one of the career options, we can now look into the cost-effective beginner setup. You may not be earning enough to start big.

Basic beginner setup

As an up-and-coming Deejay, a cost-effective budget is very critical because you may not be paid enough on your first gig. Nevertheless, this should not hinder you from showing up with the best equipment to pull off the party and have a good time.

Some of the crucial items that you have to look into first are; A laptop (Preferably Macbook Air), a controller, and headphones to help you control your mixing.

A suitable controller (Pioneer DDJ-400) might cost you $250, a Macbook Air (2010/2011) will be about $200, and headphones (Pioneer) will go for $50. This sends you to a total of $500 to start your DJ career. Considering the amount of money Deejays are making today from the music industry, this value is worth investing in for a start.

Frequently asked questions in the Deejay Life.

1. What is the difference between Platters and Jog Wheels?

Even though so many DJs (including professionals) can’t seem to notice the difference between these two terms and keep using them interchangeably, there is actually a difference.

Platters are usually motorized and will always require you to put something ON – think turntables and scratching. The ON button is always present on the equipment. On the other hand, Jogwheels are all one piece and are rarely motorized – think DJ controllers and many club gears.

• Other than Beatmatching, what other great things should one master when starting a Deejay career?

Beatmatching is probably the most overrated and most minor vital skill to master when becoming a DJ. Some other essential skills you might want to work on are;

• Track selection
• Reading the crowd
• Building a set
• Following on from the DJ before you and knowing what the DJ after is going to play. No one likes to play when the DJ before them has played too hard, and you have to turn it back
• Timing of your mixes, i.e., no harmonic or vocal clashes and no dead beats
• Knowing your music really well.
• Knowing how to use different equipment.
• Levels! Learn how to make sure your gains and EQs are right

• What are the top three recommended cost-effective DJ controllers for beginners?

For Beginners, the cost might be essential, but quality and ease of use are critical as well. Because of this, it’s usually better to invest a little bit more for the built quality and flexibility. These three controllers might be what you want to start with;

• Pioneer DDJ-400

The pioneer ddj-400 is the best choice for beginner DJs. In this one controller, you will get the experience, the cost-effectiveness, and create the fun.

• Reloop Beatpad 2

The Reloop Beatpad 2 is a little bit more expensive than the Pioneer but is also a fantastic controller for beginners in the area of mixing and scratching.

• Gemini MDJ-500

At about $300, the Gemini MDJ-500 will make you stand out as a professional even if you were a beginner. Its sleek design allows any DJ to shine during a set.