THE 5 ELEMENTS OF DJING SUCCESS

1. GEAR
Knowing what gear to choose, understanding the gear you have (and nowadays that includes software), and being competent around PA systems, club DJ set-ups and lighting desks, is essential. Shortcomings here will trip you up when you can least afford them to.
2. MUSIC
Your ability to hear, pick out, choose, organise and playlist better music than both other DJs and the general public is crucial to your success as a DJ. Too few DJs understand the principles and actions needed to do this, and so play poor, generic, instantly forgettable DJ sets.
3. TECHNIQUES
There are core DJ skills that every DJ needs to know – mobile or club, analogue or digital, lounge bar or festival, whatever. Without these skills, you’ll always be found out eventually, and you’ll be held back time and time again in your DJ progress.
4. PLAYING OUT
Knowing how to do your job in public – and that means everything from conquering nerves and treating other DJs correctly, to controlling the energy level in a room and handling requests tactfully – will stand you apart from so many DJs who get this stuff badly wrong.
5. PROMOTING YOURSELF
Every successful DJ knows how to market themselves effectively in order to leapfrog other (often equally as good) DJs who can’t or won’t do this stuff. A decent online profile coupled with effective offline networking are prerequisites to getting more and better DJ bookings.