I’ve previously spoken about the idea of making money from your musical passion, and I still believe it’s something well worth considering. If you enjoy something, then why don’t you try and make some money out of it?!
Clearly, there are loads of ways you can get into the music business. But, one of the ‘easiest’ is to become a DJ. DJs have loads of work opportunities as they can play at clubs, weddings, parties, or even on stage at festivals. If you love music, then it might be a brilliant career path for you.
Before you make any rash decision, there are a few things to know about being a DJ. Here they are:
You’ll need to supply your own equipment
It’s very rare than a venue will provide all your equipment for you. At a push, they’ll have a sound system for you to connect to. But, you’ll still need to get your hands on mixing equipment, TRS patch cables, XLR cables, and all that jazz. It’s also probably worth having some speakers of your own, for those events where no equipment is provided.
As such, be aware that considerable investment must go into this job! But, think of it from another point of view. You can charge people higher rates if you need to supply your own equipment. So, the costs will eventually even out, and your equipment ends up paying for itself.
You need a strong catalog of music
Have you ever wondered how DJs have access to so many songs? Are they just connected to Spotify or another streaming platform? I used to think this, but the answer is no, they’re not. DJs have to find and download songs from various sources.
The video above will go into detail about where you can download songs from – it includes both free and paid options. Essentially, you must download as many songs as possible to build a strong catalog of music. Why? Because DJs get requests all the time. You will struggle if you can’t provide music when it’s requested. Obviously, you don’t have to give in to every request. But, if the audience is asking for songs – and you can’t play any – then they soon get restless. So, a strong catalog of music is required, and you should continue to build it over the years.
Know your audience
The last thing to consider is the audience you’re playing to. Let’s say you’re in a club on a Friday night, then the next week you’re playing at a wedding. These are two completely different environments with different audiences. Therefore, what works for one might not work for the other.
Always know your audience and get an idea of what sets work best for them. This is how you keep everyone entertained and show your diversity as a DJ. Consequently, you’ll find work in so many different settings.
The life of a DJ can be pretty high-octane stuff, but it’s rewarding. My final piece of advice is to build yourself up. Don’t aim for big clubs or huge events right away. Start playing the smaller events and bars first. Grow your reputation, and the bigger opportunities will present themselves.