6/07/2012

Booked your first DJ gig? Here's how to pull off a great set

By Louis Wolts


Anyone who is starting any new hobby, profession or job for the first time will need a little time to adjust and pick up the basics. The same goes for new DJs, for whom there are plenty of things to learn. If you want to pull off a great set and book more jobs as a DJ, the following tips and advice will prove invaluable.

Booked your first DJ set? If so, you need to make sure you prepare properly if you want it to be a roaring success. The first thing to do is to make a full list of everything you need to take with, from your music collection to your DJ mixer and DJ decks. Don't forget the small stuff like your headphones and cables. To help you pack properly, some DJ equipment sets (such as Pioneer CDJ 2000 packages, for example) come with carry bags with special compartments for everything.

Venues, especially clubs, can be really dark. To help you see what you're doing in this kind of pitch black environment, remember to take a source of light such as a USB penlight with you to every gig you book.

It is always a good idea to visit the club, bar or venue before the gig itself to check the place out, set up your DJ equipment and perhaps do a sound check. This will prevent embarrassing technical problems later on in the night.

When it comes to performing the set itself, you must not allow yourself to become distracted. There are two things that can distract you quite easily, and the first is alcohol. Drinking whilst you're working can lead to unprofessional mistakes, especially if you're a beginner.

Friends can also distract you whilst you're trying to work, either requesting endless tracks or simply chatting to you. It can be difficult, but tell them that you need to work and get back to your DJ decks.




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