You’re not a bad person. Of course you’re not. You want people to like you. And you want to succeed when you’re booked to DJ at your local club, bar, lounge etc. But DJing comes with immense and largely undocumented stresses and strains, and you’re often required to be close to saintly to get through difficult events without losing your composure. So based on decades of experience and of course sharing stories with our DJs and students, here is an up-to-date “DJ etiquette” guide.
It covers how to “behave” as a DJ in public, what NOT to do (and why we sometimes fall into those traps), and I’ve also got a ridiculously simple tip for you right at the end that – trust me – makes all the difference.
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This stuff is basic manners, but nonetheless many DJs get this wrong, and often it’s because they simply don’t realise the importance of some of these unspoken rules. Yet getting this right will lead to more gigs, because bookers will trust you, and other DJs will want to work with you – and as a bonus, (without getting too cheesy), practising some of these things will make you a better person as well as a better DJ. So let’s go…
10 Rules for Behaving Well As A DJ
1. Remember you’re working – You’ve got a job to do, as does everyone else – Sure, it’s a party, and sure, people will be drinking, letting their hair down, and probably at least some of them may behave a bit badly over the next few hours (I repeat: it’s a party). But to create an environment where that can happen safely and sustainably, week in, week out, the team has to be professional. That team includes you. Don’t forget you’re part of a staff that is required to do its job well and without unnecessary incident. YOU are not one of the party-goers.
2. That said, remember how lucky you are to be the one DJing – It’s the best job in the building, so be considerate of the door man, the toilet attendant, the bar staff, and so on. They all wish they knew how to DJ and could be in the position you’re in, being the one who’s leading the party from the front. Many of them may indeed be wannabe DJs (after all, one of the time-tested routes into becoming a resident DJ is working in any capacity at a venue). Don’t be arrogant or a prima donna.
3. Don’t let the stress show – You’re expected to be the “life and soul”, to be always smiling, enthusiastic and loving every second of your DJing. But as we all know, really it isn’t like that, at least, not all the time. We all get nervous, we have biblical crises of confidence, we seriously wonder sometimes how we’re going to get to the end of a set when things don’t feel good. In short, we are – each and every one of us – fully aware of how damned hard DJing can be. But here’s the thing: Everyone else doesn’t get that! So your job when you’re nervous, when you don’t want to talk to anyone, when your face falls…is to keep up the appearance. Nobody else needs to know how you’re feeling on the inside. Be cheerful, and you’ll look the part, and the rest will (usually) fall into place soon enough.