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Starting out is hard. I have to give a pat on the back to everyone who’s just begun to learn how to DJ. There’s so much to learn, and so much of it we learn from making mistakes. Yes, I use “we” because we’ve all been there. There might be some DJs who are born with such a degree of talent that they impress from the moment they put finger to knob. Most of us aren’t really like that, though. Most of us have to just practice, practice, practice and make mistake after mistake before we learn what to do and what not to do.

So, with that in mind, I want to highlight the kinds of mistakes that new DJs tend to make.

  1. The fixed set. Go ahead plan out your sets. But, don’t get so attached to them that a glitch will throw you off for the whole night. Practice being spontaneous, and think about what you’d do if disaster strikes. Think about how you’re going to connect with the crowd on the spot, too.
  2. Messing up the night’s rhythm. You really want the crowd to like you, and you really want the club manager to hire you back. So, you drop a banger right at opening. Remember that there’s a rhythm to the night. Don’t use up the crowd’s energy right at the very beginning.
  3. Being too technical. A DJ can get too caught up in his own technological expertise. That DJ can be so focused on mixing that he forgets that the crowd doesn’t really care. The crowd wants to have a good time. Those people standing around or dancing don’t want a lesson in beatmatching.
  4. Don’t be boring. The music is one thing. Being an entertainer is another. Don’t get so pulled into your laptop and other equipment that you forget to look up every once in a while. You’re going to need to talk to the crowd and engage them.
  5. Take too many requests. Some DJs won’t take requests at all. Others will take some. It all depends on the DJ and the specific nature of the event. The only rule to remember is that you shouldn’t take too many requests. You have a plan for the night. You need to follow through with it.

What beginner mistakes do you remember making?