5 Best Practices of Today’s DJ

February 8, 2012 by David Sabat

To continue to obtain and maintain DJ gigs in today’s market is not an easy task. The scene is flooded with many talented DJs and standing out can be difficult. I’ve have come up with five simple best practices for DJs that will always keep you in the game:

1. Create

Always work on creating something new. If you’re a producer then create new music. If you’re a remixer then create a new remix. If you strictly DJ then make a new mix. If you’re also a promoter then create a new event.

2. Invest

Invest in your art. This includes studio and performance sessions, websites, photography, graphic design, studio/DJ equipment, CD duplication, and even continuing education. While there are many ways you can stretch a dollar by utilizing your resources, you’re still going to have to spend more than a few bucks.

3. Promote

Take your creation and share it with the world. Let people know what you’re doing. Utilize all the resources we have at our fingertips such as e-mail, text messaging, and social networking to promote our creations, music, and events.

4. Validate

Back it all up by working hard and treating every performance like its New Year’s Eve. Show people that you’re as good as you appear to be. Play to an empty room as if there are thousands of people there.

5. Support

It’s important to support other artists. You can do this in a number of ways such as attending events, buying drinks and paying to get it, and buying music. You can also show support by charting other artists’ songs, providing positive feedback, acknowledging a good set, or congratulating them on a gig, award or other accomplishment. The main point here is to say positive.

Posted in Be Found, Branding, Mix CDs, Professionalism, promotion, Publicity, scene, SMS, social networking, Technology, Text Messaging, Websites | Tagged create, dj, duplicator, e-mail, facebook, identity, marketing, mix, music, networking, Photos, Professionalism, promote, promoters, promotion, scene, SMS, social networking, support, Technology, website | 26 Comments

26 Responses

on February 8, 2012 at 4:16 pm | Reply Reginald Davenport

Loving the blog. I’m a “weekend warrior” at the moment, so I can’t quite go hard on point 3, but I will say this – I’m ‘all in’ on the other points. I am a big House fanatic and I’ve got something to contribute…so here we go! “D
-DJ Purple
on February 8, 2012 at 5:16 pm | Reply DJ FRANKOZYNO

THE ONLY 5 BEST WAYS FOR TODAY’S DJ.
on February 8, 2012 at 5:28 pm | Reply DJ2Shott

super note so on to the point
on February 11, 2012 at 1:04 pm | Reply Music Jobs USA» Blog Archive » Music Jobs Weekly Round-Up

[…] DJs 5 Best Practices of Today’s DJ : (DJ Marketing 101) […]
on March 30, 2012 at 12:39 pm | Reply DJ Lil' John™

VERY well written Dave! Let’s see how many take notes, and let their actions do the talking 🙂 And happy b-day bro! Can’t make the parties, I’m in New Orleans playing at a couple of the Final Four weekend parties!
on May 25, 2012 at 6:31 am | Reply Djzion

This blog is good I’m a Dj/producer and all the stuff u put on here iv done and still doing it and let metell u it works the part about showing sapport to others very true and promoting man now a days these club and bar owners don’t want to pramot so it’s up to u to get you to get your ppl out there this blog is good all I got is keep up the good work love to all the Dj and producers out the
on July 19, 2012 at 10:01 pm | Reply YahYah

Great suggestions ..
on September 27, 2012 at 5:48 pm | Reply DJ SGZ

This is some really valuable info, Thnx for sharing. I also believe investing in yourself really does help you put more effort in what you’re doing. These are some really great tips, highly recommended!

Peace !!
on October 2, 2012 at 10:56 am | Reply DJ SteeZy Baby

Very Useful
on October 26, 2012 at 2:28 pm | Reply DJ TONNIE

Great tips,seem easy bt SMART, quite to the T.
on June 18, 2013 at 4:09 pm | Reply bianca

I have aa great friend who is a DJ and very well known in Europe. I want to help him break into the Latin American consumer and book him at the top clubs in Mexico, Central and South America. The only kind of experience I have is Business Development in Media/Television Industry so Music is relatively NEW to me. Can someone please offer a good website, tutorial or any help me get my foot in the door?
For example, what is the best way to contact event managers at the top nightclubs? Do I call, email, facebook them?

PLEASE ADVISE. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE
- on July 6, 2013 at 2:28 pm | Reply Rick Resin (@RickResin)
  
  I am a producer/remixer DJ from Southern California.I do events In Mexico as well as Panama. If you are interested in networking maybe we can do something together.I can be reached at
  - on December 24, 2013 at 9:38 am Ash b
    
    We are a group of 2 djs in india, well known in delhi. Abhardwaj118@gmail.com…mail me, so we can talk in better way.
  - on July 24, 2014 at 6:29 am Lupe
    
    Wow! I love how you just reached out to network! Love seeing people trying to help others, because of that you just made a fan of a fellow DJ in Chicago! Where can I go to hear your work?? Btw, I love SoCal.
on September 4, 2013 at 6:26 pm | Reply Luis Martinez

Dj LouDogg

I am a beginner at Dj but I am a firm believer that hard work pays off. I want to promote myself and know how to market myself effectively and efficiently. My heart and soul is in music and I want to show the world my talent. Understanding that I am a beginner but I want feed back to better myself.
on October 2, 2013 at 1:37 pm | Reply Eddie

I agree with everything except DJing all out to an empty room. When people get off work and the night is early, it’s often they need to decompress when first arriving. If the room is empty, early and not going to be full right away it shouldn’t be spinning 90 Mph. I agree with the rest of it. Good work.
- on October 3, 2013 at 10:48 am | Reply David Sabat
  
  Eddie. When I wrote “play to an empty room as if there are thousands of people there” I was talking about playing at peek times when the crowd is light….not at 9pm. So I actually agree with you. What I was referring to was that it’s still important to play for the people that are there like it’s packed. The general meaning is that they paid to get in and they deserve a good show. -Daivd
  - on October 3, 2013 at 2:04 pm Eddie
    
    Thanks for clarifying that. With that said I do agree. Also, I think there can be an additional factor of making the few people there feel comfortable to stay. -I’m not at all try debate with you about it, but just to respectfully discuss DJing. I do agree with you totally about giving them their moneys worth, I think that is EXTREMELY important. Thank you for the article. and discussion. 🙂
on October 3, 2013 at 2:09 pm | Reply Eddie

I’ve been DJing on and off for 15 years and I’ve learned that DJing is shuck a meticulous job that I compare it to legal work. What do you think?
on November 6, 2013 at 4:51 am | Reply galis christian

https://soundcloud.com/gali-christian/tech-house-promo
on April 7, 2014 at 4:33 pm | Reply dan

thank you for sharing your advice with us all i am trying to promote myself in south yorkshire and live for my music, been djing for around 5 years now and just wanting to move myself up a little now, im ready for bigger and better things, so any information would be very much appreciated
on September 16, 2015 at 3:48 pm | Reply Everton Rezende

Nice post!! Great suggestions 😀
on November 10, 2015 at 11:12 am | Reply Donald

dj freeze here i need your help i am new in florida i was in ny 20 years i dj with the best dj in ny i did radio station. How can i get promoters in florida help me i have started when i was 14years old i need help
on February 13, 2016 at 10:24 pm | Reply Adebayo Adeniyan

Exactly what I’m looking for,I’m a well known dj in Nigeria West Africa,played many place in d UK and Dublin,now in Chicago and looking at how i can promote myself in Chicago.Thanks much for 5 best practices,I’m DJ
BBEST.
on July 22, 2016 at 10:54 am | Reply Constant Fiasco

July 2016 Summer House & Garage Mix. Get it while it’s HOT 🙂 https://www.mixcloud.com/Constant_Fiasco/july-2016-summer-garage-mix/
on October 17, 2016 at 7:04 am | Reply DJ King Lui

thanks for the tips and advices