10 Highly Achievable DJing Goals For 2012

Ever noticed how New Year’s Resolutions tend to be negative? I’m going to give up smoking. I’m going to lose some weight. I’m going to stop biting my fingernails. I’m going to try not to lose my temper whenever I’m faced with some retard or other…

I gave up on such resolutions a long time ago. You’re on a downer before you’ve even begun! Whether for DJing, work life or personal life, instead, I set goals – usually, one in each of the three categories I just mentioned. Here’s 10 DJ goals you could choose from for 2012…

10 Highly Achievable DJ goals for 2012

I set myself one positive goal, write it down, tell everyone… and then work out how I’m going to get there. It really doesn’t matter what it is – and indeed I think the trick is not to make it too ambitious, but at the same time making it something that scares you just a little. Why not set a DJing goal yourself like this?

Here’s a few suggestions. I am sure there’s something that springs to mind that you can think of for yourself that’s similar to one of these:

1. I am going to play my first gig in front of a crowd
2. I am going to get paid for a DJ gig
3. I am going to throw my first proper party in a real venue
4. I am going to publish a mix online every month for the next 12 months
5. I am going to learn to beatmatch manually
6. I am going to properly tag, organise and learn my music collection
7. I am going to choose a DJ name for myself and get a web presence
8. I am going to stop DJing with just my laptop and learn on a proper DJ controller
9. I am going to get a booking for DJing at a wedding
10. I am going to produce my first track / mashup / remix

What to do next

The crucial bit comes next. Once you’ve decided on one, you can break it down into steps as to how you’re going to get there. For instance “I am going to post a mix every month for the next 12 months” could be:

1. Get some mix creation software like Mixmeister and learn how to use it
2. Research and choose a hosting service (or bite the bullet and make my own website)
3. Work out a music discovery schedule that gives me enough time to find 15 new tracks to use in my mix every four weeks
4. Plan an hour of practice every day into my schedule so I can reach the required standard
5. Learn how to webcast my mix so I can perform it “live” at the same time each month to grow my audience before I post it onto my chosen hosting service

You see how setting one goal can lead to lots of other useful tasks, skills and DJing progress for you? But instead of just having a haphazard list or wishes and dreams, this is a sensible roadmap – so you know why you’re putting all that effort it and where you want it to lead you.

Focus on one goal

CEOs of big companies know that one thing – focus – is to be valued almost above everything else. If you can pick just one goal, and think it through properly, map out your roadmap, and stick to your plan, you’ll end up making more progress than if you make a great long never-never wishlist and end up muddling through the year not achieving any of them.

And frankly, should you end the year with a cigarette in your mouth, having put half a stone of weight on, fingers bitten to the bone, and shouting at any retard who dares to cross you (our list of resolutions from the start of this article)? Well, as long as you’re sitting on a monster track you produced, proudly looking at all the online listens for your mix series, enjoying spending money you’ve made by getting paid DJ gigs, or some other equally worthwhile Ding achievement, I’ll be the first to pat you on the back!

My goal for 2012

Me? My DJ goal is to DJ regularly in front of a “dance” crowd again having played chill-out and sundowner sets for the past two or three years. I’m already working on my roadmap. Let’s see how I do come this time next year! (Any my other goals? Let’s just say Digital DJ Tips has some highly ambitious targets for 2012, and in my personal life, the goal is better organisation so I can spend more time with my family…)

• Once again, I’d like to take this opportunity to wish each and every one of our readers a Happy New Year. I sincerely hope 2012 brings everything you wish for.

So, what’s your DJing goal for 2012? Make it public and make yourself accountable by sharing below!