Your Questions: Is 60 Too Old To Start DJing?

Digital DJ Tips Forum member Gary writes: “I would like to know if you think at 60 of age I’m too old to learn the techniques of DJing. I always loved playing music at home, and I have an extensive old school library of R&B and hip-hop.

“I have a few skills, mostly mixing (not scratching), but not enough to play for a Christmas party that I’ve been asked to do for about 150 people. What do you think I should do? Should I polish up my skills or turn down the offer to DJ the party?”

Digital DJ Tips says:

Well, you’ve been asked to do it – that means someone thinks you can, even if you’re having wobbles about the whole thing!

The biggest prerequisite for DJing is a love of music, and you clearly also have that. That’s something that as long as you have an open mind about music can only improve with age.

Mixing, scratching and all that stuff is nice, but really, DJing is about putting the right tunes in the right order for the people in front of you, right now – and as long as you’re confident you can do that, age shouldn’t come into it.

Of course there is a basic level of competence around DJing, that involves an understanding of the gear (not only DJ gear but PAs, microphones etc), the music (you can’t just rely on what you’ve got, you’ll need some modern music in most cases), the basic techniques, and what you’re expected to actually do on the night… but all of this stuff can be learned. (Our How To Digital DJ Fast course covers it all, for instance.)

Our advice is definitely to go for it Gary, even if for no reason other than the old adage: “It’s better to regret something you have done than to regret something you haven’t done…”

What do you think? Is 60 too old to start DJing? Are you an older DJ? When did you start? Any advice for Gary? Please feel free to comment below.