Did you know that according to our reader survey, more than half of you classify yourselves as “bedroom DJs”? That’s great (we’ve all got to practise somewhere), as long as all that practice leads to playing real DJ sets in front of an audience. And that’s what today’s rule is all about.
As usual, we’ve got a video explaining the rule in more detail, a list of resources (both on this site and elsewhere), and today as an added bonus, we’ve got a completely free, instantly downloadable PDF worksheet to let you put what this rule is all about into action for your own DJing immediately.
Today’s commmandment
So, this one is particularly aimed at bedroom DJs, and DJs who say they don’t want to play “real” gigs in front of real people:
Commandment #3: Play in front of an audience as soon as you can, and as often as you can.
OK – before we take you to the content, just a quick word of thanks! The whole idea of this special extra content is to spread the word about how, here in the digital DJing community, we all care a lot about the way DJing should be done. That’s why we’ve subtitled it “Campaign For Better Digital DJing”.
That’s also why we are asking you to click the Facebook Like button at the end if you enjoy today’s post.
By passing this post on to your friends (and hopefully theirs too) in this way, we are reaching a whole audience of people, some of whose opinions about digital DJing we hope to change by the end of the campaign.
Video
Resources
- How to get your first DJ gig – We’ve produced a free, downloadable worksheet PDF for you to help you to get that first booking. It contains a 12-step plan to go from choosing a venue through approaching them, negotiating your fee and playing your first gig – then asking for a regular slot. Get it below
- How to survive your first DJ gig – We can help you with getting through your gig. Check out our article How To Play Your First DJ Set for the basics. For more specific information, here’s some advice on calming your nerves, dealing with unwanted people in the DJ booth, dealing with requests, keeping a long DJ set interesting, and – that DJ’s worst nightmare – what to do when people won’t dance. Oh, and don’t forget to take everything with you”!
- How to progress from your first gig – Getting paid is what’s going to make you a real DJ – real DJ’s don’t “pay to play”, whiich is what you’re doing if you’re turning up with all your gear, buying music, putting the time and effort in to practise, and not getting money for your sets when you play them. Read 7 Ways to Stop Being a Freejay & Start Being a DJ for advice on how to avoid this trap. From here on, the very best possible guide to forwarding your new DJing career is D-Jam’s huge 13-part course that starts here: How To Succeed At DJing, Part 1: What Type Of DJ Do You Want To Be?
- Turning pro – If it ends up all going well for you, you may be lucky enough to decide to try and make a full-time income out of DJing. The most complete guide there is to help you make that leap that we’ve come across, written by a real veteran “superstar DJ” who’s seen and done it all, is Danny Rampling’s instant download e-book Everything You Need To Know About DJing And Success. (His sales page is a bit old hat, but the book is excellent.)
Remember, you’re not alone! Read about how other beginners have played and survived their first DJ sets – these two articles: Laptop DJing In Bars: This Much I Know… and the funny 7 Big Mistakes I Made At My First DJ Gig (And Why It Was Still Great Fun) should help you to realise that it’s all going to be ok!
We hope this material has been useful to you, and thank you once again for Liking this post in order to help us spread our campaign for better digital DJing far and wide…
• Watch out tomorrow for the fourth of our ten “commandments”. And thanks again for your support – it’s truly appreciated.
Check out the other parts of this series:
- 10 Commandments For Better Digital DJing, #1
- 10 Commandments For Better Digital DJing, #2
- 10 Commandments For Better Digital DJing, #4
- 10 Commandments For Better Digital DJing, #5
- 10 Commandments For Better Digital DJing, #6
- 10 Commandments For Better Digital DJing, #7
- 10 Commandments For Better Digital DJing, #8
- 10 Commandments For Better Digital DJing, #9
- 10 Commandments For Better Digital DJing, #10
What are your views on our third commandment? Do you think it’s possible to become a better DJ and to fulfil your potential without playing in public? What challenges did you have to overcome in order to get a first or a regular gig? Please let us know your thoughts in the comments.
Phil Morse
