DJs, We need bare minimums

The DJ is the new rockstar. It’s the new cool. It’s the new thing to do. Every dorm room has at least 10-15 aspiring dj’s on each floor with a dj app on their iphone wondering how what are the necessary steps to get a gig. Usually there is only one step, and thats meeting the right person.  Nowadays, its so easy to get a gig as a DJ it’s to the point where when people are beginning to fail in other industries they start to think “I guess I could just become a dj…”  This is a problem…


DJ’ing didn’t used to be the lucrative industry it is today. There was a time where DJ’s weren’t being flown out to clubs all over the nation and paid thousands of dollars. There was a time where DJ’s practiced for hours a day, and spent much of their small paychecks on records because it was something they were passionate about.  I’ll spare you the old “back in the day” stories, but yes, DJ’s worked hard, for very little money for a very long time.

Cut to the rise of the open format DJ. Thanks to the late DJ AM, people started to appreciate the impact a DJ has on the nightlife experience. People actually started to pay attention to the fact there was someone working hard up there in that booth to make you enjoy your night. The DJ booth went from a hidden corner of the bar somewhere to front and center, and started to become the center of attention of the party.  Flyer’s were made with the face of the DJ on them and DJ’s had logo’s, stickers, wristbands, t-shirts, sneakers.  DJ’s became a brand, and started getting sponsorships.  Started being represented by the same agents that represent rock stars and musicians.  They got TV show’s and commercial appearances.  DJ’s became cool.
Naturally, with any booming/lucrative industry comes the hype. There is nothing wrong with wanting to be a DJ. There is nothing wrong with thinking DJing is cool. There is nothing wrong with enjoying a culture/art/profession that DJ’s worked so hard to make it what it is today. The problem lies within the industry itself.

This isn’t a turntable vs controller argument. This isn’t a edm vs open format statement. This isn’t a producer vs dj statement. The problem is this…
There is no order, no organization to this industry. It’s everyone for themselves. You want to be a dj? All it takes is having music (on a laptop or hard drive) and knowing the right people. If you know lots of people, or you are already popular in entertainment (tv, music, film, modeling) then you’re pretty much guaranteed a job. Now that this industry has become a lucrative one, that drives lots of money to bars, clubs, and venues, the priorities shift to the profits it brings in rather than the quality of the actual product/service. This is where you get your celeb dj’s because they bring in lots of people which = lots of money. Conversely, its also where you get your microwave djs, that just purchased a laptop, just purchased a dj software, downloaded beatport’s top 100 and the hottest tracks of the year, and are ready to play out for a bar tab or hundreds of dollars less than the other dj, cuz “dj’ing is fun.” Bars and clubs get to save money on entertainment, this dj gets a gig, its a win-win right?
Maybe I’m just bitter. Maybe I’m just complaining, while I have the dream job, where I get paid to do what I enjoy as a hobby… Maybe I should just accept it… cuz DJ’ing isn’t that tough anyway right? I mean really all we’re doing is playing other peoples music right?….
Let me explain for those of you who are unfamiliar with what goes in to DJ’ing before I continue on with this…. (This is a very abridged version by the way)

Practice: This is usually but not limited to dealing with technical skills, (scratching, juggling, mixing, transitions, tricks, etc)

Music Library: as an open format dj, you gotta keep up with not only whats hot in multiple genres, but you also have to be able to work it into your set in a way that makes sense and will sound good. This takes lots of preparation. This could involve lots of organization, and in general you just have to have lots of music and know your music very well.

Production: If you are a dj that produces also, whether its custom edits, remixes, original tracks, there is lots of work that goes into that as well.

Programming: This has NOTHING to do with writing code, or html, or computers. This has everything to do with how the night (at a bar, club, venue) flows from beginning to end. There is a reason why you don’t hear the biggest hits of the night at 9pm. The same reason why you don’t hear the most chill, background music type songs at midnight. There is a method to how DJ’s choose what songs get played when, and how we transition from song to song. This method is called programming. The way a dj programs a night is probably one of the most important and underrated responsibilities of the dj, and this process is only learned by experience. You can’t learn how to feel out a crowd by sitting in your bedroom. You can’t learn to adapt to a situation without actually being in the situation.

Business Side: Everything else, from marketing, networking, to promo etc, since we are our own business, and brand.

Like I said, there is plenty more that goes into it, but these are some of the things DJ’s have to work on daily to be good at what they do, hoping that it translates to success.
Unfortunately, many of these aspects of DJ’ing become overlooked, and without organization to the industry, there is no standard or bare minimum to stress the importance of these aspects.
Example: Say you want to join the job force. You want to become an architect, an investment banker, a doctor, a lawyer, a president of a fortune 500 company, etc. What are the steps to getting into that industry?

1. Education: You take classes, study, learn the in’s and out’s. Learn the history. Then someone quizzes/tests you on how well you know this information then you work hard to achieve good grades showing you are in fact well averse in this field.
2. Training: You get an internship or volunteer, or get a job shadowing apprenticeship where you don’t make any money, but you get important on-site experience. You get to apply the information you took classes on or at least get to see it applied in real life. The information becomes an actual experience instead of words you just read in a book. You get to work with someone who has extensive knowledge and experience and pick their brain. They mentor you, and show you the ropes, the do’s and don’t's. You learn, grow, and apply yourself in hopes that this person will eventually co-sign you and maybe write you a nice letter of recommendation.
3. Resume: If you want to apply to any job, you have to have a nice resume to show why you are competitive and what makes you the right candidate for the job. You have to show your knowledge and experience in the field you are applying to.
4. Someone hires you: Someone assesses you based off of your knowledge, experience, talent, skill, and hires you because you were the right person for the job.
All these steps may take years, but it is necessary to create quality. You want the person that fixes your car to actually know what they’re doing, and have had experience in the field? or are you okay with the guy that “has an app…” The DJ Industry should be treated no differently. We need a union, or some sort of structure. We need something that drives the quality and makes it a little bit harder to get a gig than “I know a promoter…”
Right now there are plenty of DJ schools, and classes, and various institutions that teach the basics of DJ’ing/production etc. These institutions are making plenty of money and the attendance is booming. However, it’s similar to a school that just gives everyone an A. Where is the prestige? Where is the standard you are creating? taking a class and learning the basics should not be the end of the process.
There should be DJ Internships/apprenticeships. You want to be a DJ? You want a gig? You don’t care about getting paid right now? Cool… don’t undercut. Don’t steal another dj’s potential gig. Make friends with a DJ ask him if you can learn from him. Ask him if you can be his understudy. Go with him to his gigs, carry his bags, set up his equipment. If you want to intern at a law firm you might have to go fetch someone some coffee. This is no different. Learn the ropes. Show your mentor your skill level, ask him for advice. Show him you’re practicing and working hard and let him see your improvement. Make them believe in you. Get them to the point where they would co-sign for you and recommend you. Then when you are finally ready, and you get your first gig, build that resume. Keep working hard. Practice more and learn more. Eventually all the hard work will pay off. This would at least take care of the new DJ problem, where DJ’s nowadays don’t want to help anyone else out for fear that they are just simply creating competition for themselves and allowing for someone less talented and less experienced to steal their gig for less money.
At the end of the day we’re not going to be able to stop random C-List Hollywood celeb/actor from trying his/her hand at dj’ing, and successfully landing a high paying gig at big clubs. But at least if we create some standards and bare minimums, we can drive the quality of DJ’ing up, and change the general publics outlook on what (GOOD) DJ’ing actually is. That way, when they hear Random Model/actor spinning for their first time at popular Las Vegas nightclub, they’ll know how horrible they are, and maybe they won’t spend 100′s of dollars to see them train-wreck all night.
hit me up on twitter @djpaimon if you agree, disagree, or want to discuss!

Credit : DJ Paimon