DJ or Disco Jockeying is in the simplest of terms a profession where you get paid to play music. Forget the oldies just for now. Is there anyone who does not feel like dancing to the rhythm and beats of a DJ when he plays his musical instrument? Is there any party or college event today that takes place without a DJ?

Well the answer to all of the above questions is obviously NO. Today there are over a 1000 well known DJ’s in the Indian music industry and millions more heating up the dance floor in various dance clubs,  Hotels, Pubs and smashing cultural extravaganzas organized by colleges, media mammoths like MTV, Channel V and so on.

The job of a DJ is to make you dance no matter whatever perpetual state you are in at the moment. Often DJ’s have a very extravagant life styles which Indians normally refer to as the Generation X or Yo Culture. But their lifestyle is the direct result of their profession. They have to live in such a modern fashion as they have to mix hip and hop in their tunes and must be well acquainted in all sorts of modern day trends and life styles. It is basically the modern day youths who flock in large numbers to pubs and late night DJ parties and to stand out among them a DJ must of course be on the forefront in style.

From Ray Newboy who is considered to be the World’s first DJ to the millions out there today DJ’s have basically become an integral part of today’s life style.

What the job Demands?

But what does it take to be one among these elite professionals?

On the eligibility criteria, the job profile is quite different from almost every other profession we normallythink of. There is no educational qualification required for a DJ but it is always preferred that he is well versed in the English language. This is particularly the main reason for a higher number of youngsters opting for DJ courses are found in flamboyant Metro and Tier 1 cities in India like Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore and Chennai. The demand is more in these places too.

The basic thing you should have is a vast knowledge in different forms of music like Rock, Jazz, Melody and many more to name a few. A professional DJ should be well aware of all the latest musical releases in all languages and also be well updated with all kinds of new mixing technologies in music.

The larger your database of music is the larger your potential. Thus anyone with a lot of passion for music and a sound knowledge of all relevant tracks can opt for a career as a Disco Jockey or DJ as we affectionately call them.

Another requirement for them is to be aware of the latest softwares and hardware available for mixing different genres of music so as to create a flow of well tuned dance music and also he or she should know how to mix them at the correct time as and when required.

Just mixing some popular songs and playing them with loud beats will not put you in the show light for long as the profession is more rewarding for those who can create their own blend of rhythmic music rather than just patching together a few flashy music to create a rather too familiar dance tune.

In order to gain universal acceptance a good DJ must understand the mood and intensity of the crowd and then create an appropriate dance tune with the right amount of variations in bass and treble to make the audience swerve and groove their bodies to the flair of the played music.

There are some personal qualities that are required in such a profession as a pleasant nature with a smile always on your face, good communication skills and preferably punctuality in turning up for events demanding him or her.

The timing s of the job is largely varying as it is dependent on the party timings. Sometimes it may stretch for hours long and also into late nights or early morning. DJ’s have to entertain the crowd as long as the target audience feels like shaking their bodies to the tune.  They should have the patience and calmness to work at tiring schedules and in rather unfamiliar locations.

He needs to be good in handling different music manipulation techniques such as bass boosting, equalization adjustments, vocal and treble pitch maintenance and many more.

However above all of the above mentioned he or she should have a good deal of practice.

The more you learn to groove your music the dearer you will become to the crowd. The job of entertaining people will never loose its charm and so the future of a DJ is always safe if he can use his skills to become an achiever in this field.

How to study?

There is more to the job than it looks and often you will need a good training in the DJ musical equipment to correctly produce a scintillating performance for your audience.

There are various institutes that offer training in DJ courses but majority of them are found in metro cities like Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore.

A DJ course may cost between RS 25 000 and Rs 2 Lakhs depending on the place of study and the range of equipment’s you will work on in these places.

Remuneration

A DJ should have a good track record in events and the more you play the more you get. Initially DJ’s may have to prove their skills by playing their stuff for very low pays and even sometimes for free.

But once you have established a good name for yourself you will be eligible to receive pays ranging from Rs 10 000 an event to Rs 1 Lakh an event. Such is the potential in the field.

Final Say

Thus If you are passionate about music and is willing to dedicate yourself to entertaining people by making them dance then the career of a DJ is the best option for you.