A club without a live Disc Jockey is a boring club. Professional DJs add some color by applying their skills to produce jaw-dropping mix tapes. They expertly transform old tracks to danceable music and make the club lively. As such, Disk Jockeying is an excellent way of marketing your gig to specific demographics.

But where do DJs come from and what do they do?

A Brief History

The phonautograph, invented by Leon Scott in 1857, was the first device to record music. It was followed much later by phonographic cylinder, an invention credited to Thomas Edison, and which could playback the music

The very first disc jockey was by a 16-year-old student from California, who played records from a small transmitter in 1909. The first DJ party was in 1943 by Jimmy Savile, and as they say, the rest is history.

Who are The Deejays?

Deejays, or simply, DJs, are performers. They apply their skills to the manipulation of recorded music to create something unique for the live audience. Deejays utilize turntables to control sounds and music from various sources to create something loved by a particular audience.

Professional deejays proudly use the initials ‘DJ’ in front of their names or adopted stage names, to highlight what they do for a living. It is similar to what doctors or other professionals do.

Deejays are experts at employing a variety of devices that play two or more recorded tracks and blend them in a way that forms a seamless transition between them. Typical tools include audio mixers with cue functions and cross-fader, as well as, DJ mixers.

Mixers help the deejays pre-listen to upcoming tracks through earphones and adjust them accordingly to ensure a smooth flow of the music. Deejays have the option of using a console mixer or a DJ controller device to mix tracks on a computer. Most contemporary deejays carry a laptop for this purpose.

A Deejay sometimes uses a microphone to address the audience, maybe to ask for special requests or make an important announcement. There are also those that create professional drops a reknowned musical specialist.

What Makes Good Deejays?

Good deejays are experts in music, performers and great listeners. They recognize beats and can classify, as well as, manipulate them to produce some good hits. In other words, they are experts in music manipulation.

Favorite deejays are also great performers and must move in sync with their music. They must know how to read the mood and change the tune to fit this mood. If necessary, they may ask the audience about the music they prefer.

More importantly, deejays worth their salt are great listeners. They pay attention to the needs of the audience and change the genre if need be. Great deejays do not let their ego run loose. It does not matter whether a particular track is a hit or not. The needs of the audience precede the deejay’s opinion.

Technique is a critical component when it comes to the art of ‘deejaying.’ The fundamental skills when developing as a deejay include the use of turntables. Yes, there are better and more modern equipment, but you can only become a master of the trade if you are conversant with the basics.

Doubtlessly, new software and gear are continuously coming up faster than you can count to ten. No, seriously, the speed at which the world of digital music is moving at is neck breaking. As such, you will need to be at the top of your game by learning and updating your knowledge and skills. You can also get the latest tech by using a miami audio equipment rentals service.

Changing tracks in a way that will not interrupt the flow of the music and dancing is a skill that requires creativity. You see, billions of music tracks can fit in current flash drives. The deejay must successfully read the audience and determine which track or song among the billions in their collection will keep the music flowing and people dancing. A small break in the flow can break the party mood, and some may choose to go home or do something else.

It takes a blend of skills, taste and creative mind to keep the crowds mesmerized. The deejays who run out of ideas keep repeating the same tracks over and over. They are lucky if someone doesn’t shout them down. Boo hoo!