Reading The Crowd <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nPeople don’t realize how difficult of a job it is to understand and adjust to the vibe of a crowd. DJs need to understand what music a particular crowd may respond best to and adapt their sound accordingly. Oh, and they need to be able to do this consistently while also beatmatching perfectly, transitioning, and adding effects. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The vibe of a party or event is almost this fragile and beautiful unspoken communication or frequency between a crowd and the DJs. A DJ has to create the stirrings of the vibe with the music, and the crowd may or may not respond to that vibe. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Have you ever thought about how DJs structure their mixes? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since a mix extends songs to be almost like one large track, DJs need to structure them accordingly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It would be exhausting for the people on the dancefloor to dance non-stop to really fast techno without any breaks. As a result, you will often see DJs playing around 3 tracks in a row before creating a drop. They will isolate one or two sounds, allow the crowd to have a quick little breather before building it back up to dance level. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the flip side, if a DJ only plays slow music without any sort of build-up, it could be seen as boring. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It is a nerve-racking experience to control the music for a huge crowd.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Think about how difficult it is to be on the aux cord at a house party. Making sure everyone is having a good time is a huge responsibility. You never want to be the person in charge of music when people complain about it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now imagine that feeling in front of a crowd of thousands of people. Scary, right? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Having A Stage Presence<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nIn addition to the technical skills DJs possess on stage, some level of performance during their set is also required. There are different ways to accomplish this performance aspect. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Some DJs naturally have a great stage presence. Superstar DJ Carl Cox is a wonderful example. He is always so into the music he is playing, whipping up a storm, and interacting with the people on the dance floor. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
But this performance aspect can manifest in other ways too. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
For example, I have seen DJs who never dance or even look up from their setup once during their sets. Initially, I thought that was lame, but I quickly realized that these DJs were so focused on creating the most intricate, perfectly mixed drops and transitions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
This quality of music was the performance value. The music was speaking for itself without any need for the DJ to hype up the crowd with their dancing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
I think what makes a good DJ to a professional DJ level is the ability to create engaging, complex mixes that keep everyone engaged and interact with the crowd. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Performing Songs LIVE<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nTo me, what defines an expert DJ is one who can play well live, not just in the confines of their studio setup. Of course, that is totally subjective, and everyone has their own idols. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
If a DJ can play an incredible and exciting set live, I’m ready to bow down. In my opinion, a dance music live performance is the coolest of the cool. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It is kind of wild how the music industry is changing. You see some live DJs using mixing tech and instruments in their sets. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Monolink, for example, will often use DJ software and analog instruments such as a guitar to create interesting downtempo mixes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Related Questions <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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What kind of lifestyle does a DJ have?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n
It depends on how often they are playing. Professional DJs will have gigs worldwide and constantly traveling, sometimes to multiple cities in one weekend. It is not an easy lifestyle, but it’s definitely worth the chaos if it is your passion.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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What do DJs do when they turn knobs?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n
When you see a DJ turning knobs on the DJ mixer, they are adjusting the equalizers or throwing on a filter. The equalizers represent any given track’s Hi, Mid, and Low sound frequencies. For example, the low frequency is the kick or sub-bassline, so if a DJ turns off the low, it means they get rid of the bassline or drum beats.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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How do DJs know what song to play next?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n
Knowing what to play next is the eternal skill lesson that DJs will constantly need to practice. The intuitive understanding comes with lots of practice playing in front of people and receiving feedback. Usually, though, a good rule of thumb is to play a track that is similar in tempo to the one currently playing and either the same key or a complementary one.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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How long does it take to be good at DJing?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n
DJing skill is directly proportional to how much time is spent practicing. Of course, some are more talented than others and have a natural musical ability. If you dedicate a lot of your time to practicing, you can become a good DJ within a couple of years. It all depends on how much time and effort you put into learning and practicing.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Can you still be a DJ today without being a producer?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n
Definitely! You can absolutely be a good DJ without ever producing any music. However, music production is the next natural avenue for many DJs since it is the next step of music mastery. Otherwise, you will always be playing other people’s music.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Many DJs I have spoken to comment that they got into DJing because of the ability to create and control the vibe of the music. Producing is the next step of creating and managing your vibe.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
Closing Time <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nI hope this clarifies the mystery of what DJs do on stage. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
They need to beatmatch as their life depends on it, transition smoothly, and add effects to create their own flavor. On top of this, a great DJ needs to read the crowd like it’s their favorite book and have a stage presence to rival the best. <\/p>\n\n\n