hallabackkid101
Whats up guys, My names Jason. Im 15 and im from griffin ga. Here recently ive been wanting to go a little bit further in my dj career. Im pretty much a new DJ. Im currently a DJ at a skating rink. Im still trying to figure out things about djing such as what equipment to get, etc. If someone could leave me tips that would be great. I appreciate anyone that helps, because i really wanna go foward i just need to know how too. Thanks - Jason
geposted Tue 15 Mar 11 @ 7:25 am
Dj-Milz.Assam
if you are new to djing and you are tight on budget then get urself a Numark Mixtrack Pro with a good configuration lappy and then upgrade ur Virtual Dj LE to VDJ Pro for a lower cost in here and also a set of Numark H-F 125 headphones and you are done :-)
geposted Tue 15 Mar 11 @ 8:45 am
djnutz
hallabackkid101 wrote :
Whats up guys, My names Jason. Im 15 and im from griffin ga. Here recently ive been wanting to go a little bit further in my dj career. Im pretty much a new DJ. Im currently a DJ at a skating rink. Im still trying to figure out things about djing such as what equipment to get, etc. If someone could leave me tips that would be great. I appreciate anyone that helps, because i really wanna go foward i just need to know how too. Thanks - Jason
First and foremost, you will need to get a handle on your grammar and punctuation. If you send a message like your message above to a potential customer, they most likely will not call you back. This isn't a text conversation between you and your friends. What you are asking about is serious business related stuff.
I mentioned this on your other post: www.adja.com
They are an invaluable resource.
You will need a business plan before you need even a mic cord.
What type of events do you plan to do?
Are you planning on getting paid?
What if your gear breaks down?
What if someone gets injured by your gear?
What if your gear causes property damage?
These are all very real issues you need to deal with. Your hands are tied until you turn 18. Right now you cannot enter into a contract. Your parents/guardians would have to sign and be responsible. If you are getting paid, then taxes need to get paid. If taxes are getting paid, then child labor laws come into play. Child labor laws dictate the hours you can legally work. If you were caught "illegally working" then whoever signed the contracts would be held responsible, which would be your parents/guardians. Same goes for insurance. If your gear were to fall and cause injury to someone, whoever signed the contract can be held liable in a lawsuit. Again, you can't enter into a legal contract until you turn 18.
I am not trying to be a downer, just trying to paint a picture of what the dj BUSINESS involves. It is BUSINESS and needs to be run as such. If you want to go out and spend your money on a couple CDJ's and a mixer to mess around with in your own basement, then go ahead. Practice, practice, practice. You should check the child labor laws in your state to see exactly what you can and can't do. Perhaps you could go with another DJ as a roadie. You might not get paid in cash, but the knowledge you could glean from a PROFESSIONAL DJ BUSINESS is priceless.
geposted Tue 15 Mar 11 @ 8:51 am
hallabackkid101
hallabackkid101 wrote :
Whats up guys, My names Jason. Im 15 and im from griffin ga. Here recently ive been wanting to go a little bit further in my dj career. Im pretty much a new DJ. Im currently a DJ at a skating rink. Im still trying to figure out things about djing such as what equipment to get, etc. If someone could leave me tips that would be great. I appreciate anyone that helps, because i really wanna go foward i just need to know how too. Thanks - Jason
First and foremost, you will need to get a handle on your grammar and punctuation. If you send a message like your message above to a potential customer, they most likely will not call you back. This isn't a text conversation between you and your friends. What you are asking about is serious business related stuff.
I mentioned this on your other post: www.adja.com
They are an invaluable resource.
You will need a business plan before you need even a mic cord.
What type of events do you plan to do?
Are you planning on getting paid?
What if your gear breaks down?
What if someone gets injured by your gear?
What if your gear causes property damage?
These are all very real issues you need to deal with. Your hands are tied until you turn 18. Right now you cannot enter into a contract. Your parents/guardians would have to sign and be responsible. If you are getting paid, then taxes need to get paid. If taxes are getting paid, then child labor laws come into play. Child labor laws dictate the hours you can legally work. If you were caught "illegally working" then whoever signed the contracts would be held responsible, which would be your parents/guardians. Same goes for insurance. If your gear were to fall and cause injury to someone, whoever signed the contract can be held liable in a lawsuit. Again, you can't enter into a legal contract until you turn 18.
I am not trying to be a downer, just trying to paint a picture of what the dj BUSINESS involves. It is BUSINESS and needs to be run as such. If you want to go out and spend your money on a couple CDJ's and a mixer to mess around with in your own basement, then go ahead. Practice, practice, practice. You should check the child labor laws in your state to see exactly what you can and can't do. Perhaps you could go with another DJ as a roadie. You might not get paid in cash, but the knowledge you could glean from a PROFESSIONAL DJ BUSINESS is priceless.
First and foremost, you will need to get a handle on your grammar and punctuation. If you send a message like your message above to a potential customer, they most likely will not call you back. This isn't a text conversation between you and your friends. What you are asking about is serious business related stuff.
I mentioned this on your other post: www.adja.com
They are an invaluable resource.
You will need a business plan before you need even a mic cord.
What type of events do you plan to do?
Are you planning on getting paid?
What if your gear breaks down?
What if someone gets injured by your gear?
What if your gear causes property damage?
These are all very real issues you need to deal with. Your hands are tied until you turn 18. Right now you cannot enter into a contract. Your parents/guardians would have to sign and be responsible. If you are getting paid, then taxes need to get paid. If taxes are getting paid, then child labor laws come into play. Child labor laws dictate the hours you can legally work. If you were caught "illegally working" then whoever signed the contracts would be held responsible, which would be your parents/guardians. Same goes for insurance. If your gear were to fall and cause injury to someone, whoever signed the contract can be held liable in a lawsuit. Again, you can't enter into a legal contract until you turn 18.
I am not trying to be a downer, just trying to paint a picture of what the dj BUSINESS involves. It is BUSINESS and needs to be run as such. If you want to go out and spend your money on a couple CDJ's and a mixer to mess around with in your own basement, then go ahead. Practice, practice, practice. You should check the child labor laws in your state to see exactly what you can and can't do. Perhaps you could go with another DJ as a roadie. You might not get paid in cash, but the knowledge you could glean from a PROFESSIONAL DJ BUSINESS is priceless.
Well i wasnt exactly planning to start a buisness at this time. Im just trying to figure some things out.
geposted Tue 15 Mar 11 @ 10:21 am
djnutz
Explain what you mean by "wanting to go a little further in your DJ career then...
geposted Tue 15 Mar 11 @ 10:26 am
hallabackkid101
When i say Wanting to go a little further, I want to start buying equipment, etc, to start getting a set up for when i turn 18. Every week i get my check I want my money to go into something that will help me in the long run, and being A DJ is one of my biggest plans for my life.
geposted Tue 15 Mar 11 @ 10:31 am
A Man and His Music
Wow DJNUTZ, that was a little heavy. I agree with all the things you pointed out, I just think it was too soon. At 15, he doesn't know what he wants to do, in the next minute. Next week he may want to be a Policemen. My tip for you if you want to be successful, is to acquire a great deal of knowledge about music. A DJ needs to be able to play to a wide range of people, so you have to know that there was music before the year 2000. I think programming the music is the most difficult part of being a DJ. Listen to other DJs, and observe the reaction they get from their crowd. The equipment part is easy. You can get good sound to come out of almost anything, including most mp3 players. So, if you are serious about this business, practice, practice, and then practice some more. My advice about equipment is to buy what you want, not what you can afford. If you have to save, then wait. You will only end up buying again. go to your local dealer, and try stuff out. Get a feel for what you like. Good luck.
geposted Tue 15 Mar 11 @ 11:15 am
hallabackkid101
Wow DJNUTZ, that was a little heavy. I agree with all the things you pointed out, I just think it was too soon. At 15, he doesn't know what he wants to do, in the next minute. Next week he may want to be a Policemen. My tip for you if you want to be successful, is to acquire a great deal of knowledge about music. A DJ needs to be able to play to a wide range of people, so you have to know that there was music before the year 2000. I think programming the music is the most difficult part of being a DJ. Listen to other DJs, and observe the reaction they get from their crowd. The equipment part is easy. You can get good sound to come out of almost anything, including most mp3 players. So, if you are serious about this business, practice, practice, and then practice some more. My advice about equipment is to buy what you want, not what you can afford. If you have to save, then wait. You will only end up buying again. go to your local dealer, and try stuff out. Get a feel for what you like. Good luck.
Really helpful tip. I really appreciate it, and I also know most music before the year 2000. Im a jamskater (professional rollerskater), so im familiar with older music due to older beats.
Really helpful tip. I really appreciate it, and I also know most music before the year 2000. Im a jamskater (professional rollerskater), so im familiar with older music due to older beats.
geposted Tue 15 Mar 11 @ 11:29 am
The Lone Mixer II
a man and his music + 1,000,000,000
geposted Tue 15 Mar 11 @ 11:46 am
SuperAceMan
Start to collect music legally for public broadcast. A music subscription is the best investment you can make and you'll have 3 years in advance to collect it! I've been collecting for 15 years and still find that there is music out there that I missed. It's not easy to collect everything, but at least you'll have a head start!
Best of luck,
AC
Best of luck,
AC
geposted Tue 15 Mar 11 @ 2:40 pm
TacoDj
like AM&HM said...practice, practice, practice.
you don't need the best equipment, start off with what you can afford, get to know your equipment and limitations first, once you've mastered the basics, then you should start looking at other elements of dj'ing...no use in buying an all singing, all dancing sub studio if it's only going to confuse you right from the off.
and, like any decent dj worth his salt, know your music, dont just be specific in what you like, open your mind and broaden your horizons....it would amaze you the things you hear from genres that you just wouldnt dream of listening to, but most of the time this is where musicians get inspiration from, just hearing a cool vocal, or 5 second sample, the 'Amen Break' is the perfect example...taken straight off a 60's soul 'b' side, and pretty much gave birth to r'n'b and breakbeat.
and like superaceman says, start collecting, that should be your first priority
you don't need the best equipment, start off with what you can afford, get to know your equipment and limitations first, once you've mastered the basics, then you should start looking at other elements of dj'ing...no use in buying an all singing, all dancing sub studio if it's only going to confuse you right from the off.
and, like any decent dj worth his salt, know your music, dont just be specific in what you like, open your mind and broaden your horizons....it would amaze you the things you hear from genres that you just wouldnt dream of listening to, but most of the time this is where musicians get inspiration from, just hearing a cool vocal, or 5 second sample, the 'Amen Break' is the perfect example...taken straight off a 60's soul 'b' side, and pretty much gave birth to r'n'b and breakbeat.
and like superaceman says, start collecting, that should be your first priority
geposted Tue 15 Mar 11 @ 5:29 pm
djcity
Imma keep it simple for you.
Love what you do and you will never work a day in your life.
Most of us if not all of us (Professional Dj's) truly LOVE what we do. If you have a passion for it then you will be successful. It takes time, patience and PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE!!!!
Love what you do.
Practice.
Learn your music.
Practice.
RESPECT your craft, yourself and others.
Practice.
Learn the basics.
Practice.
Develop your own style.
Practice.
Practice.
Practice.
First figure out if this is really what you want to do because it gets REALLY EXPENSIVE REALLY FAST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Until you know if DJ'ing is really for you, don't get a whole lot of equipment that you will never use. Get the basic gear to practice on. Figure out what kind of DJ you wanna be then get equipment to support that.
(Example)...
Hip Hop DJ ----------- Turntables (Direct Drive), Tabletop CD players (CDJ's) or Controller (Numark NS7 or Numark NS6 or Vestax VCI300)
House Music Techno Trance DJ ----- Controller (Hercules RMX)
Love what you do and you will never work a day in your life.
Most of us if not all of us (Professional Dj's) truly LOVE what we do. If you have a passion for it then you will be successful. It takes time, patience and PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE!!!!
Love what you do.
Practice.
Learn your music.
Practice.
RESPECT your craft, yourself and others.
Practice.
Learn the basics.
Practice.
Develop your own style.
Practice.
Practice.
Practice.
First figure out if this is really what you want to do because it gets REALLY EXPENSIVE REALLY FAST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Until you know if DJ'ing is really for you, don't get a whole lot of equipment that you will never use. Get the basic gear to practice on. Figure out what kind of DJ you wanna be then get equipment to support that.
(Example)...
Hip Hop DJ ----------- Turntables (Direct Drive), Tabletop CD players (CDJ's) or Controller (Numark NS7 or Numark NS6 or Vestax VCI300)
House Music Techno Trance DJ ----- Controller (Hercules RMX)
geposted Tue 15 Mar 11 @ 5:50 pm