15 Interesting Tips for DJing As A Hobby | Beatmatch Guru

15 Interesting Tips for DJing As A Hobby

DJing as a hobby can be one of the most rewarding and enjoyable things you ever do. It can also be challenging, frustrating, and demanding – but in a good way! 

If you’re reading this, then the chances are you’ve been practising a little, and now you’re trying to seek some direction or find answers to some questions that have come up.

Well, you’ve come to the right place as we’re going to dive into many hobby-related ideas and share ten tips to help amateur DJs improve their skills and make the most of their hobbies. Let’s get started!

#1 – It’s okay to DJ as a Hobby

There’s nothing wrong with being a hobbyist DJ, whether you want a professional career in the long run or just having fun in your bedroom. In fact, some of the world’s best DJs started out as hobbyists. 

Regardless of what others might tell you, DJing is your hobby, which means it can be for you whatever you want it to be.

The important thing is to find a balance that works for you – between your personal life, work, and other commitments. If you can only dedicate a few hours a week to DJing, then that’s fine. The key is to be realistic about your expectations and to not put too much pressure on yourself.

Even if you’re not looking to make a career (full-time, part-time, or otherwise) out of DJing, you can still have fun with it. However, it’s still good to work on yourself and your skills as a DJ because this is where you’ll get the most satisfaction from the experience.

#2 – Set DJ goals that suit you

Even as a hobbyist, you should be setting goals if you want to get the most out of your DJing experience.

A good goal to start with is to develop a basic understanding of the technical aspects of DJing.

Start by learning:

  • how to mix two basic tracks together
  • how to add in EQs and effects,
  • how to beat match. 

Remember you can learn how to DJ with Beatmatch Guru; CLICK HERE.

Once you have a solid foundation, you can experiment with different music genres and styles and begin to develop your own unique sound.

Another important goal is to build up a good collection of music that you enjoy playing. This can be anything from the latest chart hits to classic tracks that never get old. I like to keep a mixture of both!

It’s essential to have a wide range of music to choose from so that you can cater to different audiences and moods and have room to experiment, and that’s really the key to DJing.

It’s easy to find something that works and then stick with it, but without developing your sound and style, you’ll get bored of yourself and quickly lose motivation. Keep working on yourself and being creative. Try new things and set goals to make sure you are.

This is how you’ll keep your energy levels and enthusiasm high!

Finally, it’s also important to set goals for your personal development as a DJ. This could involve things like improving your stage presence, developing a better understanding of music theory, or learning how to use new DJ software.

#3 – Find the best practice style for you

There are plenty of ways to learn how to DJ, and so many approaches you could try, and try you must. To become a proficient DJ, you need to experiment with practice styles and filter them down until you find the best one for you.

One great way to practise is to create mixes of your favourite tracks and share them with friends or family. This will help you get feedback on your mixing abilities and give you a chance to try out different genres and styles of music.

Another useful way to practice is to record yourself DJing live and then listen back to the recording. This will help you to identify any mistakes you made and also give you a chance to hear how your mixes sound from an audience perspective.

Basically, just record any mixes you make and listen to them back. There’s no way to get greater insight into your skills and find new ways to improve.

Finally, watching other DJs and learning from their techniques is always helpful. You can do this by attending live shows or watching DJ sets online. Personally, I think it’s a great idea to network with other DJs so you can share your personal experiences and hear that of others.

#4 – Avoid the mistakes other DJs make

One thing to avoid is over-preparing for your sets. 

Using strict, pre-organized formats for your sets can make you sound robotic and uninteresting, and it will also take away from the spontaneity of your mixing. Instead, try to relax and let the music flow through you.

It can take a while to really let go in this way, but keep it in mind every time you perform, especially when you’re just performing at home. There are no rules or expectations to meet and nobody else to impress. Just experiment and have fun, and you’ll instantly see how much of a difference that makes.

Another common mistake to avoid is becoming too attached to your equipment.

It’s important to have a good understanding of the technical aspects of DJing, but it’s also important to remember that the best DJs are the ones who know how to use their equipment to create a good vibe.

You can constantly change your equipment until you find a set-up that works for you, and other equipment will always work in different ways while allowing you to create a new sound.

Sure, you can have your preferences, and it’s good to really know a set up so you can focus on your skills instead of what everything does. However, remember that if you perform somewhere and use someone else’s equipment, it can be off-putting if you’ve grown attached to your own.

In my own experiences, I stuck religiously to my own equipment and put so much pressure on myself when using another set-up. The pressure was only in my head because the basics all work the same in the end. Let it go.

Finally, try to avoid comparing yourself to other DJs. 

Everyone has their own unique style, and there is no “correct” way to DJ. The important thing is to be true to yourself and to have fun with the music.

#5 – Consider how to put yourself out there

As a hobbyist, it can be daunting to think of ways to put yourself out into the world. 

After all, you don’t want to go straight from your bedroom to a packed venue. You could, and if you got the opportunity, it could be a lot of fun, but realistically it’s a lot of pressure to do something like this, and nerves could get the better of you.

Instead, starting small and building your confidence up is a good idea.

There are loads of ways to go about this. You could start recording your mixes to upload them to Soundcloud and YouTube or stream them live on platforms like Twitch. You could host small events for friends and family, whether at home or small events, like a garden party, to help you build confidence.

If you want to take it a step further, you could look into hiring a small venue for an evening. This could be a bar, club, or even a restaurant. The key is to start small and work your way up.

The most important thing is to have fun with it and not put too much pressure on yourself. The world of DJing is vast, and there’s plenty of time to explore it. Embrace your hobby, and who knows where you’ll end up.

#6 – Start Off Small, Aim to Grow

When starting out as a DJ, setting realistic goals is important. Don’t try to become the next Hardwell overnight – it’s just not going to happen. Instead, start off small and focus on gradually improving your skills over time. 

As you become more confident and comfortable with your abilities, you can start aiming for bigger and better things. Remember, it’s all about taking things one step at a time.

#7 – Analyse Your Mixes and Evaluate Yourself

After you’ve recorded a mix, take some time to listen back and analyse what you did well and what you could improve on. Be your own worst critic, and don’t be afraid to give yourself constructive feedback. This is one of the best ways to learn and grow as a DJ.

#8 – Build Your Music Library and Constantly Tweak It

If you want to be a successful DJ, you need to have a large and diverse music library. Constantly add new songs to your collection, and make sure to mix things up on a regular basis. This will keep your sets fresh and exciting, and it will also help you appeal to a broader range of listeners.

#9 – Learn to Count to 8

The vast majority of tracks in all genres are made using four bars. This is why it’s so important for DJs to learn how to count to eight. If you can master this skill, mixing and matching tracks will become much easier.

Most dance music, for example, can easily be broken down into four bars, with each bar made of four beats. Take any song (example below) and listen for the intro to build up, and then count the beats in sets of four and you’ll see how it all lines up.

Four bars make 16 beats and using this rhythm will allow you to find the best parts of a song to mix and will help you match your timings. Work on making this counting an innate skill that happens automatically, and you’ll become a much better DJ

#10 – Take Your Time Learning Transitions

One of the most difficult things for beginner DJs to master is making smooth transitions between tracks.

This usually takes a lot of practice and patience. Don’t be afraid to take your time and experiment with different techniques until you find a transition style that works for you.

So, this point doesn’t so much cover learning how to transition certain tracks between one another, but rather the strategies used to mix that you can then apply to any two tracks or more tracks.

Transitions like:

  • Fading EQ and HPF/LPF
  • Hard cuts and switches
  • Single phrase mix
  • Bassline swap

#11 – Be professional

If you’re looking to take your DJ ventures out into the world, remember that it’s not just about pure skill and your mixing skills; you need to be someone that people can trust. There’s nothing worse for a venue owner than booking a DJ who turns up late, misses their set, and just generally causes more hassle than it’s worth.

Instead, work on making sure you’re always punctual and professional in your dealings. This means turning up to gigs on time, being communicative when there are issues, and just being someone that people can rely on. It’s not the most glamorous part of DJing, but it’s important nonetheless.

Yes, music events have drugs and alcohol, but that doesn’t mean you have to have anything to do with them. Making mistakes like this can and will ruin the experience of so many party-goers, and you’ll end up making a bad name for yourself.

As a rule of thumb, just don’t be an idiot.

#12 – Experiment with new music

This one should be pretty obvious, but don’t play the same songs as everyone else.

Sure, if you’re at an event and this is what’s being requested, then sure, you may have to. But outside of this, there’s nothing worse than going to a party and hearing the same tracks you’ve already heard a million times. Not only is it boring, but people will start to wonder why they bothered coming to your event in the first place.

Always be on the lookout for new and exciting tracks that you can play. This could mean scouring the internet for hours on end or simply asking your friends for recommendations. Either way, it’s important to keep things fresh if you want people to keep coming back for more.

#13 – Experiment with everything

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again; the key to being a good DJ is experimenting.

There are millions of songs out there and, therefore, billions, if not infinite, ways to blend them all together.

It’s incredible how many people want to DJ (at any level) but fail to realise that the only way to get better is just to DJ and see what works. It’s like writing a book and thinking about all the story ideas you could have and characters you could develop but failing to actually just sit down and write.

Nothing is ever created until you put the work in.

The best advice I ever received was to make as many mix tapes as possible. Literally power on your turntables, drop a 30-minute set, listen to it back, highlight where you can improve and what you would do differently, rinse and repeat.

That’s it. By following this process over and over again, you’ll naturally improve, develop your skills and techniques, and ultimately grow as an artist and individual.

#14 – Learn to take criticism

No one is perfect, and that includes DJs.

If you want to improve your craft, you need to be open to receiving feedback from others. This can be difficult, especially if you’re not used to it, but it’s essential if you want to progress.

The best way to do this is to find a trusted friend or colleague who can give you honest feedback on your sets. Once you have someone you trust, ask them to listen to one of your mixes and give you their thoughts. It’s important to remember that not all criticism is bad – even the negative stuff can be helpful if it’s constructive.

Don’t take it personally; just use it as a way to improve.

#15 – Find your own voice

Personally, I have nothing against emulating the DJs you love. Growing up, I loved hard dance music and Frenchcore artists like Dr. Peacock and Billx, DJs renowned for their ultra-fast mixes, hard cuts, and relentlessly high tempo sets.

I adored these sets, and they were one of the main influences when I wanted to start DJing, and I tried so hard to mimic those insane sets. While this is great because I really dived into how these DJs curated their sets and the techniques they used and learned so much from it, I really started to find my flow when I stopped trying to copy and started trying to discover my own style.

It can be easy to get caught up in what everyone else is doing and to try and imitate that, but it’s so much more rewarding – both for you and your audience – when you find your own voice. It takes time, effort, and a lot of trial and error, but it’s worth it in the end.

Dan Dracott

I'm Dan Dracott from Beatmatch Guru. I love DJing and have done since I was 15 years old. I want to share my knowledge and love of DJing to help you guys get better at DJing.

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