How to be a Rockstar DJ

[cyberina]

I was instructed to write an informative essay for my English composition class. The professor specifically asked me to write something having to do with music, saying that she can tell by my very essence that I'm very passionate and talented. So in response, I wrote the following, halfway tongue-in-cheek, and halfway serious article...

How to be a Rockstar DJ

“Everybody wants to be a DJ;” Those words resounded through countless songs during the heyday of the 1990’s rave culture. It is no surprise. From its less than humble beginnings in the late 1960s with the likes of Francis Grasso in the New York City nightclub scene, and Lee “Scratch” Perry in the Jamaican dub scene, the role of the DJ has developed. DJs have carried us through the disco era of the 1970s, the hip-hop phenomenon of the 1980s, and the rave culture of the 1990s. Today, the image of the DJ has all but replaced the figure of the rock star, and has become synonymous with the word party. How, though, does one become a successful DJ? As a six-year veteran who hosts her own award winning radio show, and has spun in some of the most legendary nightclubs in Dallas, Houston, New Orleans, and Los Angeles, I can tell you! With the right combination of image, talent, and promotion, anyone can be a DJ.

One of the most important, yet most often overlooked, qualities necessary to becoming a popular DJ is personal style. Of course, you need to choose a genre of music to specialize in. Selecting a broad genre base of several complimentary music styles can, in my experiences, lead to being hired more frequently. Style, however, encompasses much more than the music the DJ spins; gregarious personality, appealing dress, and a good stage name are of high importance as well. Decide on a distinctive, short, catchy moniker that captures the mood of the genres you wish to focus on. Plays on words usually work well; more obscure terminologies tend to be easily forgotten. For example, DJ 0-minus or Fatboy Slim are much more memorable than DJ Ubiquity or DJ RJ-45. For your look, you need to keep your music in mind. Interesting outfits, well-groomed or wild hair, and unique makeup applications all add to the DJ aesthetic. Be it an elaborate costume or a printed t-shirt and jeans, the idea is to catch the eye in a constructive way. The couture of admired musicians can always be used as a point of reference. I’ve found fashion web sites and forums helpful for clothing ideas, music magazines useful for hair style inspiration, and the books of Kevin Aucoin indispensable for makeup tips for any situation and gender. Finally, character can make or break the most gifted of DJs. Extroversion is highly valuable, you must display a generally positive and friendly attitude at all times, and a sense of humor never hurts.

Image serves the purpose of getting attention, but talent keeps it. One should practice, study, and refine their skills to be considered a capable DJ. You are required to have top-notch music knowledge; this includes both history of your genre, and facts about current top artists. Information on obscure and new bands constantly serves as an impressive plus. Mixing songs together is key to ability. This is a learned skill that requires quite a bit of practice, but instructions and pointers can be found in a variety of books, on an assortment of web sites, and from other DJs. I highly recommend the article archives on the music section of the Hyperreal web site, and DJ email lists for effective learning resources. The final aspect of talent is one of the most often neglected. You not only have to own a personal music library of classic, current, and new music; you have to develop the knack for making selections that will build a flow of dance floor energy. Nothing is worse for dance floor chi than following up a wildly popular, energetic dance floor anthem with a slow, unfamiliar ballad.

Now that you have caught and held attention, you need to maintain it and build it via promotion. Exploit your name to keep it fresh in people’s minds. Gigs are probably the most effective means of image management. Your name on a flyer with other well known acts will spread to new audiences, and the event itself will allow people to hear you live and in person. Another valuable method of publicity is the demo mix CD, a CD you have recorded to demonstrate your mixing aptitude. Hand them out freely to everyone: booking agents, event patrons, bands, friends, bartenders, and anyone else you may come across. In addition to being a resource for study, Internet music forums are a great place to show off your advanced music knowledge, captivate prospective fans with your engaging personality, and advertise the places where your performances can be heard. I’ve accomplished the most on genre specific email lists and community journal web sites like Livejournal and Myspace; others take advantage of web based message boards. Finally, one of the least obvious means of self-promotion is the development of relationships with artists that produce music in your genre. These relationships are mutually beneficial: the musician receives feedback on their end product, and endorsement from the DJs playing their material in public; the DJ is recommended by bands for bookings, and becomes associated by the fans as similar to the bands in genre.

Yes, with style, skills, and a degree of exploitation, you too can be a rockstar DJ. Contrary to popular belief, it’s not an easy task. A certain degree of creativity is required to effectively pull off any one particular facet. Resourcefulness is forever helpful towards aesthetic and marketing ends, particularly when you are working within a tight budget. Hard work and practice are paramount for developing the necessary expertise, and time is needed to spread your name enough to assemble a fan base. Fame as a DJ will certainly never happen overnight, but with dedication and perseverance anyone can be a DJ.

[gobodo]

lee 'scratch' perry are awesome!

[Shawnna]

A+ like deltron said (god this song is coming in such good use lately)

in the year thirty thirty, everybody wants to be a dj


You rock Sabrina. I am proud to call you a friend and will never call you "an associate" (you know damn well what i mean)


Shawnna

[cyberina]

Originally Posted by Shawnna

A+ like deltron said (god this song is coming in such good use lately)

in the year thirty thirty, everybody wants to be a dj


You rock Sabrina. I am proud to call you a friend and will never call you "an associate" (you know damn well what i mean)


Shawnna

I remember my breakbeat DJ exhusband playing it repeatedly.. It made its way into every one of his sets..
Oh, the mammories.