What makes a good DJ? Seems like an arbitrary question, but there are in fact some agreed upon terms to what qualifies someone as a good DJ.
Before we define what entails being a good DJ, I think it makes sense to clarify what exactly a DJ is. DJ stands for Disc Jockey and according to Brewster and Broughton, at its most basic, a DJ is someone who presents a series of records (tracks) for an audience to enjoy.
“What a DJ does is this: he knows music. The DJ knows music better than you, better than your friends, better than everyone on the dancefloor or in the record shop. Some DJs know their chosen genre better than anyone else on the planet.”
Now if all of this sounds just about right, let’s finally break down the fundamental characteristics of what makes a good DJ?
NO EGO
The DJ should be a humble person, who sheds their ego and respects music, and is there to keep the flow going. A DJ is never greater than his audience. The DJ is in equal parts performer and listeners.
TECHNIQUES
“The best DJs can even play the sound system itself using volume and frequency controls, as well as special effects like echo and reverb, to emphasize certain moments or event certain instruments in a song.”
Malcolm Gladwell says that it takes roughly ten thousand hours of practice to achieve mastery in a field, which means even if you are at the top of your game, you still have a lot to learn. Knowing how to use turntables, even if you’re part of the CDJ/USB generation, unlocks skills you would not normally think to utilize. So it’s best to do it all and be a jack of all trades rather than just pigeonhole yourself to one technique.
CREATIVITY
“They select a series of exceptional recordings and use them to create a unique performance, improvised to precisely suit the time, the place and the people in front of them.”
A DJ’s ability to mesmerize the crowd is due to the combination of track selection, technical skills, and the creative mind to tie it all up into an eclectic bouquet of sounds that take the listener on a journey. A DJ repeating tracks in various sets without at least a moderate amount of time in between performances, to the point that people can no longer listen to that song is a wack DJ
TASTE
This is the topic that generally gets a lot of arguments because taste is arbitrary, but in regards to being a DJ, taste is what sets you apart. What necessitates having good taste? As a DJ, your taste essentially has to be impeccable, at least to us listeners. We are trusting you to play what we like, even if we have never heard it before. Our ability to enjoy the evening rests upon your very capable turntables.
LOVE OF MUSIC
“DJs are evangelists about music – they can make their love for their favorite records completely infectious.”
Lastly, but probably the most important of all is the pure and innocent notion that all of this is to satisfy your love of music. Too many times have I heard people becoming DJs because it’s “easy,” that you get all these perks along with a string of able bodies throwing themselves into your bed. I want to see someone at the decks who is so immersed into the music that I’m pretty sure they forgot they were on the job.
Energy is contagious and if the DJ is having a blast, believe me, you will too. Why is HipHop and Afrobeat so popular? Because the artists, the people, and the music brought about something that was nothing short of an incredible night filled with positive energy and vibes that gave you chills as you groove.
Of course, all of this is just my opinion, but if you find that as a DJ, you check all the same boxes I’ve mentioned above, then congratulations! You are someone I would like to come see perform.
