This is a picture from the club last Friday Night (taken on my iPhone). If this picture doesn’t make you want to learn how to DJ than I don’t know what will!
If you want to be rocking parties, clubs or raves, sign up for free DJ Lesson Videos by clicking HERE right now!
The nightclub was packed and people came ready to hit the dancefloor. I got paid very well and the dj equipment in the dj booth was awesome and tweaked for perfection. The room was filled with beautiful people and it was definitely a house music friendly crowd! It was a great night to be a DJ! I reflected back on my time when I was learning to dj and was struggling to learn to mix and I remember that back then I couldn’t imagine DJing at nightclubs like this!
This was two nights later on Sunday (taken on my iPhone):
Again I got paid very well to be there but this night didn’t go as smoothly. I showed up and there was no gear set up and nobody knew how to set the gear up (despite it being in my contract that the gear needs to be set up). So I had to find the gear in the basement of the club and then I had to set it all up. The club was dead all night. One group of people came in and it was a Japanese family that asked the server to turn the repetitive music down… Not a great night to be a DJ.
Every once in a while I am reminded that while DJing is my wildest dream come true, the process of Learning To DJ still has its ups and downs.
It is a lot easier to become a professional Dj than most people think however along any journey, on the way to any goal, there are going to be times that will test your patience.
Case in point is the contrast between two different clubs that I played in one city… and the challenge of being faced with an empty dance floor when I’m used to play to hundreds of people every night I play.
As you learn to dj you will find similar peaks and valleys as well. Some days things will go your way. You will be able to mix like crazy, you’ll be able to match beats, you’ll figure out parts of your gear and other days you’ll struggle with something little or will be hit with something like an empty club or a crowd that doesn’t like your style of music.
When you were learning to ride a bike you probably fell a few times. When you learned to play any sport you probably pulled some awkward moves along the way that made people laugh at you. There are always challenges along the way to any great goal, learning to dj included!
With this in mind I came up with some tips for getting through the challenges we all face with our DJing. Consider this a dj tutorial to help you advance as a dj. DJ Training at its finest:
1) Realize that no matter how bad it is, guys like me have done worse. You stopped the wrong record playing at a house party in front of 50 people, causing what seemed like endless silence and booing…. Try it in front of 5000 people. I’ve been there… It takes you an hour to figure out how to turn on your mixer. Again I’ve been there but in front of 5000 people. :p Learning to dj is a process of making errors and mistakes…
2) Mistakes and challenges are what make you learn. Each mistake and challenge is an opportunity in disguise because once you make enough mistakes, you won’t make them any more. All of a sudden you’re a solid DJ that doesn’t make mistakes… You have to make mistakes and come across challenges to learn to dj.
3) Some things are out of your control. There is so much going on in a party environment that a lot of stuff can go wrong. Although I believe that we can control pretty much everything around us, if a drunk girl tries to come up and flirt with you but falls and takes out one of the turntables, there isn’t much you can do (again…I’ve been there! ). When you decide you want to learn to dj these are some of the fun dj lessons you’ll have to learn.
4) The more challenges you blow through, the better and more confident DJ you become. You show up to a club and there is only one turntable. You find a way to mix despite the lack of gear. Next time you walk into a party or a club, you will feel awesome and confident that you’ll be able to rock it! A lot of DJs ask me how to gain more confidence…. the answer is to play as much as possible because the more you play, the more challenges you will face and the more confident you will become as you handle these challenges.
5) With DJing the challenges can be tough but the reward is well worth it. To live like a rockstar DJ is worth the few challenges we face. On a challenges faced to reward ratio I’d say that it is the best job in the world because I know guys that have way tougher challenges with their jobs and life that don’t have as much fun or get paid as well as I do.
It doesn’t matter what type of music you’re playing: techno, trance, house music, or hip hop, if you can learn to take these challenges head on the you will become a much better DJ because of it.
I hope this helps you learn to dj!
Tags: dj tutorial, free learn to dj videos, learn how to dj, learn to dj, learn to dj free, learn to dj mix, learn to dj now, learn to mix dj, learning to dj, techno, trance
Gosh, I am new in this Djing and I nearly give up due to lack of support from the family until I read your article! I have got a MBA but now I want to do something which I am very keen since high school. At the age of almost 30 now, my family and my friends really don’t encourage me to go for DJing as I need to start from zero ground. They said I am not those hip-hop kids anymore. I am so sad. But now, your article motivates me a little. Thank you Sean. I wish I can meet you one day… :~(
Its funny because you sound a lot like me.
I have my BA in Business and the BIGGEST challenge I had starting out and still in some ways face today is my mom & dad and old friends putting down DJing. They don’t understand why I don’t want to work an office job like they do now that I have my degree.
They always thought it was wasting my time but thats because they didn’t understand it.
What I’ve realized is that you have to do what you want. Do what you love. It doesn’t matter why people tell you that you shouldn’t.
As they say, follow your bliss…
Now, my mom brags to her friends when she sees videos of me playing to huge crowds. Its so funny how things change…
Gosh, finally I am talking to the guy that sounds a lot like me too when I am nearly giving up!
After I read your feedback, I have decided to start a blog on my DJing journal, right from zero step. I am glad to have your advice. And can I include your link in my new DJ blog?
I wish I can keep in touch with you and visit you one day, getting your further guidance after I finish my DJ course here. Any idea on how to keep in touch with you further with email, msn or any medium? Appreciate to get your reply to my email if it is not convenient to publish your contact here.
Thanks brother! Keep rocking. This article is a great motivation for those who are in the cross road!
Hi guys to add with what you were saying that’s true I mean I’m a electrician at eskom but I used to play in a small pub and you know what one knight I was gunpointed and this guy took all my pouches with all my cd’s and stuff and I couldn’nt play for about two mounths and finally when I came back on track some guy asked me to play in his club for one night and he told me that he likes the music I played and he made me the resident dj guess what I almost played 3 months in a empty club and all the other clubs were pumping packet with people and then I started to make recordings while I was playing and handed them out to the few people who were there, you know what in one mounth that place got so full that you couldn’t dance properly and it’s still pumping so it’s true to become a good dj you have to come across with different challenges and experiences just be patient and the most Important thing that I’ve learned is always to have a good rest before a gig because I know how our kind are is always music music and more mixing!
Hey Sean!
Just wanna say I really appreciate your site. I actually just found it and subscribed to your lessons. I just decided DJing is what I want to do after a couple of years of tip toeing around it. I really want to be on the fast track in the dj world, but I also want to be on the right track… Do you see any limits to being a female DJ?
Great story Charlton! Thats a perfect example of sticking to your Dream and battling through a challenge.
Glad you like the site Sonja! I’m also excited that you have decided to DJ.
There are no limits to being a female DJ. In fact, its only a benefit! In a male dominated industry, a good female DJ is a rare thing. This is great for you because anything rare will attract attention.
What I mean is that as a female DJ it will be easier for you to build a following and a name for yourself because you are one of the few girl djs out there.
Take this with the fact that most nighclubs are 60 % guys and 40% girls and it makes sense for a lot of clubs to hire a girl DJ. I like seeing a cute girl bop around in the booth more than some dude…
Some of the girl DJs I know aren’t even very good DJs but they get huge gigs here and around the world because they are more of a novelty.
Being a girl Dj is a positive. If you learn to mix well and understand how to build a following (which you will learn on this site), you can get big professional gigs a lot quicker than boy Djs.
Hi Sean, I am waiting for your consent of the following which I have pointed to you in earlier comment:
I wish I can keep in touch with you and visit you one day, getting your further guidance after I finish my DJ course here. Any idea on how to keep in touch with you further with email, msn or any medium?
If it is not convenient to publish your contact here, would you mind forward your details to my email dj.aggro@gmail.com?
Just information on how to keep you in touch and your course detail as I might visit and look for your guidance after I finish my basic here. I am from Malaysia.
oh yes, can i also include your link in my new blog about Dj?
tq brother!
Please do include my link in your blog mate. I sent you an email earlier today. Check your email!
DJ SeanGallagher…..really got to tell you am happy stumbling onto this site…….u sure wont believe its like one of the greatest thing that has ever happpended in my Djing life…the fact is i felt challenged when i went online and found out that Africa’s No. 1 DJ is ranked 1815 on the DJ List….for real Sean i want to do all i can to come top 100 on the list…please tell me what to do….i need to break it…..like screeetccccch……
teach me please:)
Hey guys,
I’m glad I’m helping out!
KBlack, there are a lot of big name DJs that came from smaller and more isolated towns than you. The Dj List isn’t accurate and even if you are the 1815th ranked DJ in the world, you’re still going to be living the sweet superstar DJ lifestyle!
Keep checking back and keep hustling!
Ninoch, keep checking back and keep an eye out for my free video series!
hi sean,
I was having some questions on the dj software I got my hands on. Its name is Traktor, you have probably already heard of of it, just looking for some advice on how to use it and if it is good to start out as a dj using it!!…..thanks a lot
Christian
Hi sean,
sorry to write again without any response but I was reading your dj gear page when I noticed you might also be shoked that I also started to learn how to dj about a week ago and already have Traktor Pro in my computer. Truth is I found a way to download Traktor Pro free so I didn’t pay the $400:D!!!…Ok so I may need some advice on how to use it since i noticed it is a very advanced software!!Or maybe I shouldn’t be using it anyway….I don’t know? please I need some professional advice..
Thanks, Christian
Hey Christian,
Thanks for the messages! Thats awesome. Traktor is a great piece of software for DJing.
I’ll have some videos coming out soon that will outline how to use Traktor. They will explain the basics and I will send them out in our email newsletter soon!
dj agro i find my self in the same position im early 30′s and family and freinds either laugh or tell me to grow up . even if i end up being the worst dj in the world i am gonna have fun trying
Hi Sean!
You are the greatest man i know, and i respect you a bunch!
So, I got my Numark Player Fusion 500 and i started beatmatching on it. Before that, i worked in Cue, Traktor and FL Studio. I made 3 songs in FL Studio, and i would LOVE it if you could hear them….I am really trying to build my own style of music and to be unique. I red couple of books about the Music History, Parts and Equipment, and also, about the DJ Techniques. I tried applying those and i did it eventually, and I am going to practice more thanks to you, your advices, you were like a sparkle of light in a dark room, that showed me the way…Guess you`ll laugh, but….This really means so much to me, and this is the thing i want to do. There are people that support you, and there are those that don`t, but you need to listen to yourself, whether you`re right or wrong…So:
these are mine:
http://www.myspace.com/d10n1tr1x (The third song is named Fusion, but i am still working on it…)
and these are remixes i did in software progs.:
http://www.4shared.com/file/107971484/e31786ad/Xerox__Illumination__Abomination__Benassi__dionitrix_remixed_final_sf_.html
&
http://www.4shared.com/file/107303475/aa3a9d09/Brooklyn_Bounce_-Take_a_ride__dionitrix_remix_.html
Everyone liked the other one, as Brooklyn Bounce is the group i really liked to listen to, so i made it better….I guess they are the one`s that i should be mixing then i guess!
Anyways, to you all, aspiring or no, just believe in yourself, keep on practicing, and to you Sean, thank you indef. and good luck!
I hope to meet you someday, on a gig where i will also dj =) And i will follow your steps…
Hi sean!
Thanks for the information it realy makes a difference in my DJYING career and it inspire me to keep on pushing and hustling.I believe that one day i will meet you and give back to you when i am a superstar DJ because i will be one.
ONCE AGAIN thanks and keep in touch
Sean I have a question I’d like to ask you. Do you think that I can become a professional dj and have sucess in this industry if I live in Guatemala?
sorry sean, I have another question….how much do you get paid to dj in a club?
hey Sean, I am a software Engineer, wanting to learn Djing from a long time. Tried so much on the net to collect info., in vain. Finally I got you as my tutor… I am new to Djing and I hope your guidance and my effort would surely take me high…
The article is usefull for me. I’ll be coming back to your blog.
HI BRO TELLE ME HOW TO MAKE A NICE MINIMALTECH SET MY FIRST TIME LITTLE CONFUSED
Hi, gr8 post thanks for posting. Information is useful!
Hi, interest post. I’ll write you later about few questions!
hi sean, i’m 15 and i’ve been playing at gigs for about 3 months now. Last saturday i was in one where the people where just very boring, they arrived to the party and sat down. As the “controller” of the party i started playing commercial music and finally they went out and danced. But, the party was supposed to last until 3a.m. and by 1 o’clock i had played all the commercial music lol. Now that was a challenge. at 2 a.m they were all siting back again, and I was really dissapointed, BUT your post really inspired me again. I think that’s another thing that’s out of our control, people being boring.
Thanks!
OH MY GOD I’ve had so many of those nights. Its just a part of DJing. Doesn’t matter if its a rave or if its a club or just a house party, sometimes you will run into crowds that are boring or like a different type of music.
Hey Sean, great site and really helpful / useful advice for someone at an intermediate level. Just wanted to post a note of apprecietion for taking the time out to help like minded people in music and DJing and for no reward other than just having really helped out a shit load of people.. Thanks mate!! from ya new NZ pal down unda.. Peace
Your blog is so interesting! I have subscribed on rss and I will read it regullary/
Hey,
I am from Belize. Great site. Great articles and advice. i really appriciate it. God Bless
I’m glad that this post helped you learn to dj. I really hope that it gives you inspiration you need to blow through anything!
Awesome blog! Subscribed on rss. Regular will read it. Good job.
Excellent blog! Very interesting themes. I will regularly read it.
Where did you take from such kind of information? Can you give me the source?
Amazing blog! Very interesting aspects. I will regularly read it. Also e-mailed on rss.
I UNDERSTAND THAT WHOLE SITUATION BOUT GO 2 WORK CUZ DJ’N IS NOT A REAL JOB. IM JUS STARTING OUT AS A DJ AND PPL THINK I AM NUTS FOR GETTING READY TO SELL MY STEREO AND TV TO BUY MY DJ EQUIPMENT. BUT I KEEP TELLING THEM WHEN YOU SEE THE WORK I PUT IN AND THE MONEY I WILL BE MAKING, YOU WILL HAVE A DIFFERENT INPUT. I DO HAVE A JOB BUT ITS NOT ENOUGH MONEY TO PAY ALL THE BILLS. AND MUSIC IS MY LIFE. I’D RATHER LISTEN TO MUSIC & MAKE BEATS THAN WATCH TV. I AM SERIOUS BOUT DJ’N AND I AM NOT GONA STOP AND I KNOW I HAVE A WAYS TO GO TO GET TO WHERE YOU ARE SEAN BUT THE HARD WORK I PUT IN WILL EVENTUALLY PAY OFF. PLUS ME BEING A FEMALE DJ, SOME PPL LOOK LIKE WTF BUT HEY WHEN I GET TO MESSING ROUND W DA EQUIPMENT @ THE CLUBS- THEY ALL LOOK SURPRISED LIKE THEY DIDNT THINK I HAD IT IN ME AND WHEN I SEE THEM DANCING AND ALL INTO THE WORK IM DOING AS A DJ I GET EXCITED. IM EXTRA EXCITED WHEN THEY PAY ME ATTENTION SO I GET ON DA MIC AND START THAT WHOLE GEEKING THE CROWD UP EVEN MORE. I HAVE HAD 4 GIGS SO FAR AND 1 WASNT ALL THAT GREAT
Nice blog! Very interesting posts. I will often read it. Also e-mailed on rss.
Good blog! Very interesting aspects. I will often read it. May i post your site link on my page?
Wow. Awesome post. I love LearnToDjFast
thanks for the encouragement..
Hi Sean
i been Djing for 6 months professionally in Tianjin China, i learned lot of techniques from your website.Now i want to get gig but i don`t know how bcoz every club has his permanent Dj Can u give me any advise
just finish my second session with an italian dj in college iv realised u need an experienced ear to no ur stuf and a lot of practice also ur info has been very helpfull roughly the equipment seconded hand is about 3,ooo euro for every thing. im working on it. As u say sean broke as a joke. my sessions will carry on for another for weeks so fingers crossed. talk soon dj
well, i am djing since,well the disco music times in the 80′s really can you believe it, i saw electronic music get born,i have played all type of genres,house,techno,electro,tech-house,minimal,etc, and you will ask to yourself,why i am not big an a superstar dj,well i sometimes ask this to myself too, well i am not so good in the networking, plus a lot of the club owners are pricks with big egos, as well as some promoters, not telling you about other dj’s that when they see you playing they don’t like you because you hurt their feelings,well anyway,i can tell you that i am waiting for the video about how to get the gigs to see if i can break through,but really the more safe play is really getting in production, after you learn how to dj,wich is what i am focus at the moment,as a fact a just got a B-tech in music technology and sound engineerings,also i have a fat studio at home, i have my own vocalist singer,and i play dj sets with her freestyling at the same time,and i still don’t get the gig’s even tho i have someone networking all day.
i am not trying to pull you out,or take your couragement away, but it is good to produce.
i can show you i am not bull shiting.
i will give you a link to download my mixes,a see my profile.i just if you want to be a dj you really have to love it and do it for the love, don’t think that because yo can spin and famous.
http://djzaga.podomatic.com/
http://www.myspace.com/djzagathegconnection
http://www.myspace.com/bellaemotions
Hey Sean.
Just wanna say thank you for all these good tips, am also very new to djing, i normally play the guitar and still do, but since i have been to some rave party´s i really wanna become a Dj;)..Right now i only use traktor pro scratch on my pc wihtout any hardware, but its coming soon..
hey sean, i jus wanna thank u 4 your things tht u hav done 2 help us.its really helpful n it encourage me a lot.and i want 2 ask u sometin,ma class 4 dj has jus started is it neccessary tht u must hav 2 buy the system? i asked u ths question because ma family they dnt knw tht am doing ths n they never gonna support me 4 ths so i hav financial problem, i jus dont knw wat 2 do……….confused???
Hey Shaun thanks for all your advice i have now been djin for about 2 years but im only 14 and how can i get better as i would love 2 dj pro. djin is my life rite now ive done a few raves so far with about 200 – 250 people in the adience hope 2 hear from you again cheers – DJ GrEgZiE
I have just started by doing about 4 to 5 paties by now and all i got max was 20something people. And i thought Man i wount get anywhere. Just today i was thinking about it and then i read this… It inspired me and on top of it i am going to dj tonight with this in minde.
I will dj like no one else so that later i can beacome a DJ like no one else.
Thanks Shaun.
Keep well
Dj Kaliber T
WOW sean ur website is helping me alot with the DJ Gear and Mixing techniques.. right now one of my goals is to start out as a Local DJ at raves in Denver, COlorado then work my way up.. thankz for everything Sean.!!
DJ ERA
I was woundering should I switch to cds from lps or do both???????????
are mixes good way of getting started and passing them around?????????
cheers in advance for the help
Its good how you get peoples confidence up and all that, i like that… im sure alot of people do too.
Im still starting out 7 months gone past using only a laptop and making my own awesome music, i am one of these, HIGH acheivers trying to be a producer and Dj and i will get there, only problem is getting the cash and advice.
I wont give up… and ill look forward to meeting you in a few years Sean
i meed to convince m parents but ive been apart of this website for a while and thx ur an amazing dj keep it up
dj tj
ehh.. luv it.
ey Sean those are amazing tips!at list as a beginner il be knowing what to expect and know how to react towards the challenges!You doing a great job so far my man.kip it up
I should notify my girlfriend about it.
emm… luv this thread.
crowd was poppin !!!!!!!!!! wats glory without stumbling
mm.. attractive style!
Love this post! Thanks for this. I’ll be sure to come back again. P.S: I’ve bookmark your site as well.
Whats up people, I just signed up on this superb forum and desired to say aloha! Have a memorable day!
This is Leonard Betsill
Just wanted to begin by stating
Thanks Admins !
I am new member on this site and Thank You for providing such a wonderful community !
Hi Sean
Your tips and guidelines has made a load of sense. Its been a real eye opener. Thanks! Im a typical bedroom DJ wanting to persue my passion for playing house music to the next level. I have been playing a couple of gigs. I mainly play from my PC. Is this a problem? Im not confident enuf to go manual. And the finances is also a bit of a problem to get a decent rig.
Hey sean I just love the way you show pepole how to mix like a pro I’v been DJing for a min I’m in to the deep house I like that sound B.P.M. at 117 or 119 I’m trying to get some gig’s but I have a kid a my wife work’s so I have to take care of her and I’m not working right now so I have to do what I have to do my man I’m trying. You have good tips In this game I hope I can get my shit together one day and mix in a club soon I’m from the sound factory day’s but now I’m in to Lars Behrenroth you know D.S.O.H. Well I hope to talk to soon about my problem and I wood like to here how you sound…….THANK YOU BYRDMAN99 A.K.A. DJ L.A.