When a young music fan declares, “I want to be a DJ,” the typical response is, “What kind?” DJs, like their music, have become multi-track as audio technology has advanced over the last two decades. Some people still listen to music on the radio with commentary, just like DJ legends like Alan Freed and Wolfman Jack did two generations ago. Others work in nightclubs, where they are frequently both performers and distributors of music.
Furthermore, there is a type of DJ who makes house calls, arriving with a music library and a van full of equipment to entertain guests at house parties. And, unlike the days of the baby boomers, when all kinds of music found their way onto the top 40, today’s DJ is often a specialist in a specific genre. A reggae DJ, for example, may present a very different image than a hip hop or classic rock DJ.
In the twenty-first century, becoming a DJ necessitates more than just a passion for and knowledge of music. It also necessitates a basic understanding of sound equipment and computers. Furthermore, traditional radio DJs must be outgoing, as the job will almost certainly require them to set up “remotes” to broadcast from businesses and community events.
However, the best way to become a DJ hasn’t changed: practice makes perfect. Many local radio stations offer internships, and most colleges have their own radio stations. As the profession has grown in popularity, many colleges have begun to offer radio broadcasting courses.
The time-honored musical tradition of “paying dues” is frequently used in this situation. Someone aspiring to be a DJ in a city with multiple radio stations often has to settle for a low-paying (or non-paying) job at one of the least popular stations, perhaps working with the “wrong” kind of music or going on the air at odd hours. Nonetheless, such opportunities provide valuable experience with a wide range of equipment that will be required in the future, including sound systems, playback devices, music mixers, microphones, computer files for storing music, and so on.
The broadcasting industry, like many other creative fields, is actually quite democratic. A radio station or club owner usually doesn’t care if an applicant has a college diploma or “school of hard knocks” experience. Rather, the quality of the audition tape brought by the hopeful DJ determines whether the interview will go well or not. “Don’t tell me; show me,” the mantra goes.