I will be the first to say it's not rocket science.
There is a foundation to learn which most people skip when they first get behind the decks.
If this foundation is skipped it confuses the learning path and you end up skipping around the internet learning various things, looping, hot cues, how to use effects etc., but when it actually comes down to what you are actually trying to achieve when you are behind the decks this goes unanswered and gets somehow lost in the journey. Almost all give up at this point.
This is where I step in.
I stayed in my bedroom after purchasing my first set of ropey, 5th hand decks. I went to school, came home, let my dinner go cold and never went out. If my mates wanted to see me they had to come round and listen to me DJ really badly. I was utterly hooked on the transitions, the breaks, and the affect of playing two records together, when done well, did to people.
We are essentially controlling the mind of the audience in front of us which is translated and exported out the body through movement. We dance to bass. As a punter, when the bass is cut, the crowd mellows, a break if you like, 'What's your name? Where you from? What you on?' then it's back to the low frequencies and there is no more chatter until the next break. I'm dancing.
Understanding these slight nuances are really important as a DJ. When to drop a vocal tune for the sing-a-long pose, when to take people on a journey, when to calm things down and when to let things go crazy.
So when I say, 'DJing is not rocket science' I mean the actual physicality of it. The twisting of knobs and pushing of faders, we count, we hit the drop and move onto the next.
Where the magic comes in is how you continually keep the frequency spectrum moving, how you soak up the energy from the crowd. How you understand that each and every person on that dance floor got ready before they came out, dancing round their house to a favorite tune, they met up with mates, they had a few early drinks to get them in the spirit, and each of them brought the will to have a good night. They bring this positive energy with them into the club and onto the dance floor. That positive expectation. They pass this onto you as the DJ and will you to do well. In turn you take that energy and through planning and working hard away from the decks, you're ready.
Take that energy and push it through those speakers by blending the sweetest tracks together in the most amazing way, in a way that they have never heard before. Make statements for them to remember and refer back to the morning after. Be brave. Be bold, and they will adore you for it.
To learn the basic foundation of 'how to DJ' takes no more than 6 months. Once this is in place, your personal creativity takes the helm and it will carry you to great heights depending how far you are willing to push the envelope.
Always remember, the audience WANT you to have a great set. They WANT you to be well prepared. They WANT you to give them one of the best nights of their lives. They WANT you to succeed.
This process is unworldly. It's an out of body experience when it goes well, and I can honestly say it's all within your reach. 6 months. You could be smashing it. DJ life.
Neil
BPM DJ Courses
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