Nope. Seems crazy, but that’s the answer. There is no training necessary to become a DJ. You just need to buy some equipment and you’re off. But even so, you need to establish what equipment you need. And depending on where you look and who you ask, these requirements will differ depending on the situation, venue and client. Some knowledge would be useful, right?

Once you have your equipment, there are more questions. How do I hook it up? How do I use it? What music should I play? Where do I get that music? Again, some knowledge would be helpful.

And wait, don’t I need gigs to be a DJ? How do I get paid? How do I find work? It would really help to have these answers and to hear it from someone with professional knowledge.

The problem is that I know of people who call themselves DJs who have simply guessed the answers to all these questions. And even if (to a trained professional) their guesses are wrong, all they need to do is claim to be a DJ – and to the public, they are. The public believes them because those DJs are the ones most people have seen at countless events over the years.

The DJ industry is saturated with individuals who have adopted a copycat approach, mostly to compensate for their lack of knowledge and training. Furthermore, they mimic the styles and techniques of more established DJs without ever developing their own unique identity. And ultimately this lack of originality hinders their ability to connect with audiences on a deeper level.

They are people with gear they don’t know how to use properly, playing whatever music they like (often far too loud) with little or no regard for the people they are playing it for. This is the public’s definition of ‘DJ’ according to their real-life experiences of events and parties. And they are right. These DJs are everywhere and many of them are telling others that it’s just that easy.

In fact, that’s how I got started. Another DJ told me just how easy it was. And for a while, I considered myself a DJ because I fit the public’s perception of what a DJ was. I was a DJ, right? No training necessary!

Until I wanted to make a living, of course. And even then, I thought I would have to quit and get another job to have a car and a house and provide for a family. It was either evolve as a DJ, or sell insurance. Then I went to my first conference and saw people doing things with these tools that were making them so much more valuable. So I leaned in and did what they did. Gear for gear, mix for mix, marketing for marketing, announcement for announcement. I even charged what they did, but it still wasn’t much more because everyone else did the same thing I did and the client’s perception really didn’t change much – except that now, in their eyes, I was better dressed with cleaner equipment and a flashier website. Still the same, just a better-looking copy.

I watched videos and read articles and books but still the only thing I had was the info from others to copy. I still wasn’t anything more than the old me with new stuff, trying to copy what I saw another guy do. And trust me, I was a bad impressionist.
Becoming a skilled DJ requires a combination of technical proficiency, musical knowledge, and an innate ability to connect with the crowd. It’s about more than just pressing play; it's about crafting a seamless musical journey that resonates with the audience.

Trainers and coaches are key to this success.

As an actor, I learned early on that without the help of a director you were moving around the stage only saying words. Without an acting teacher or coach, I couldn’t see how what I was doing was affecting the audience. My first acting coach told me that when I wasn’t on stage working with a director I should always be learning and training with a teacher and coach. Much like working out in a gym, if you aren’t continually working on the muscles you have and learning about new ones, you won’t be ready when the opportunity to work presents itself.

As a DJ, connecting with the audience takes a level of self-awareness and skill that just isn’t available without this kind of formal training and mentorship. And professional DJs possess a wealth of knowledge and experience that will significantly accelerate your learning process. What a good teacher, trainer, coach or director does is share a perspective of yourself and your job that you don’t see. This new perspective can start you down a path of discovery, discipline, skill and evolution that you won’t get by simply watching and copying others.

Amazing DJs want and seek out evolution. They go out of their way to find teachers, trainers and coaches that challenge and stretch them. People who inspire them in such a way that it creates new ways for them to love and care for their audiences, creating and presenting originality that cannot be matched by anyone else.

To stand out in the competitive DJ landscape, it's essential to challenge the status quo. Instead of blindly following trends, focus on developing your own artistic voice and style. Experiment with different genres, incorporate live elements, and collaborate with other musicians.

Remember, DJing is a journey, not a destination. Embrace the learning process, seek feedback, and continuously strive to improve your craft. By investing time and effort into honing your skills, you can differentiate yourself from the crowd and build a successful career as a DJ.