DJ
DJs mix and play music for audiences in live venues, at events, on the radio and online.
Also known as: Disc jockey, club DJ, radio DJ
What you'll do
As a club DJ, you could:
- play and mix music in clubs and bars
- choose music to suit your audience's taste and the venue's music policy
- control lighting and visual effects to match your playlist
- create your own loops, manipulate beats, and add samples and sound effects
- work with an MC who raps or sings over the music
- stream your live set or record it for posting online
As a radio DJ or presenter, you'll present a radio programme in your own style. You could:
- select music for your show
- keep up an entertaining and natural flow of chat
- interact with listeners through phone-ins, emails and social media
- interview studio guests
- keep to your programme's timing schedule
- operate studio equipment to play music, pre-recorded news, jingles and adverts
- discuss ideas with the producer for future shows, and prepare scripts and playlists
Working environment
You could work at events, on festival sites, at a music venue or at a recording studio.
Your working environment may be hot, noisy and you'll travel often.
Skills and knowledge you'll need
You'll need:
- knowledge of media production and communication
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- to be flexible and open to change
- the ability to use your initiative
- excellent verbal communication skills
- the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
- broadcasting and streaming knowledge
- the ability to understand people's reactions
- to be able to use a computer and the main software packages confidently
How to become a dJ
You can get into this job through:
- a college course
- volunteering
- applying directly
- specialist training courses
College
You could do a college course to learn some of the skills needed to work with sampling equipment, mixers, digital controllers and record decks.
Courses include:
- music technology and production
- radio production
- creative and digital media
Colleges and community education centres also often run short workshops in DJ-ing techniques and recording skills.
Entry requirements
Entry requirements for these courses vary.
Volunteering
Getting experience will help you to develop your skills and make contacts in the industry.
You could:
- work on student, community or hospital radio stations
- volunteer to DJ at events like parties, weddings and charity shows
- work as a DJ on an internet radio station
- find work as a roadie for an experienced DJ
- post mixes to online video and music streaming sites to get noticed
You can also find work experience placements through BBC Taster Days , or by contacting broadcasters to ask about opportunities. The Radiocentre can help you find commercial radio stations.
Direct application
You can apply directly for work as a DJ by contacting bars, clubs and radio stations. You'll need to showcase your mixing and presenting skills, for example through your own online music channel or by posting mixes to music streaming sites.
Other routes
You can take training courses or attend DJ workshops, which are offered by private music training providers that specialise in DJ skills, music technology and sound recording.
Career path and progression
As a successful club DJ, you could move into music production and recording, events promotion, work for a music label or start your own label.
As an established radio DJ, you could take on production duties, or get involved in other types of media work like TV presenting.
Career tips
You can find lots of online tutorials on how to set up as a music DJ, how to use equipment like digital controllers, and on mixing and remixing techniques for different music genres.
Do your research and make sure that you target your demo mixes to match a venue's music policy, audience or type of music on a radio station's playlist.
Guides for this industry
Related roles
- Job roleMusic promotions manager
- Job roleRadio broadcast assistant
- Job roleLive sound engineer
- Job roleStudio sound engineer
- Job roleRoadie
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