What makes a great DJ? You may be wondering because you’d like to hire a quality DJ for your next event, but you’re not sure where to start. What questions should you ask when getting to know your entertainer? What sets one DJ apart from another?
If you sit with a group of DJs who specialize in a niche genre, then you’re likely to receive different answers for what makes a great DJ. That’s because you’ll likely get DJ jargon about mixing techniques specific to the genre, but overall there are abilities that all great DJs possess. Read on to learn more about the qualities of a great DJ and how you can find the right fit for your special event.
1. Highly organized music libraries that allow easy access to files.
Great DJs begin to prepare for a performance by asking themselves the most important question of all. Who is my audience? Without having a good understanding of the target audience a DJ will not be able to visualize their set prior to delivering a performance. In the “golden era” when DJs still carried crates of vinyl out to their events, being prepared was critical because they couldn’t possibly carry every record they owned to every gig. They had to be selective and bring out the 100 records they were most likely to play.
With the advancement of technology and a migration to .mp3 files, DJs can carry their entire library with them on their laptop. In theory, this allows them to be prepared for any event at any time as long as they have the library with them. Well, that’s not necessarily true. The DJ can have a ton of music on a hard drive, but if they cannot organize the files for easy on-demand access, then the library is essentially useless. Therefore, the best DJs have highly organized libraries that allow easy access to their music.
2. Knows how to set the tone for the environment.
Understanding the audience isn’t enough for a great performance. It’s also vital to understand the environment. The type of music played at a break dance competition will be different from a company holiday party. Similarly, the cocktail hour of a wedding will require different music from the party portion of the reception. Knowing the venue and creating the desired mood for that particular event is a skill all great DJs possess.
3. Varies the pace to get the most out of the dance floor.
At a nightclub, an experienced DJ knows that what he plays at the beginning of the night differs from the peak hour performance. That’s because they understand how to build the energy in the room and program their music accordingly. A great performance will feel like the energy is constantly shifting with upward momentum until the dance floor erupts in a frenzy. Then the pace will drop back down so that the dancers can catch a breather and the upward shift will start all over again.
Some events, such as weddings, already have a traditional format that dictates the pace, but the principles of maintaining and building the energy remain the same. Great DJs know how to keep a constant groove while incorporating changes and surprises to keep the dancers entertained. They are masters of thinking ahead and planning the musical journey.
4. Unique mixing style appropriate for the genre and audience.
All DJs should at least be able to mix/blend two songs together to keep the dance floor moving. But the greats develop an understanding of music theory, which enhances their mixing abilities. They know how to count “beats” and “phrases” that help with timing a mix. The “Tempo” or “Beats Per Minute” is matched to ensure there are no beat clashes in the mix. The “key” of the song is considered and they understand which keys work to psychologically evoke a particular mood or feeling. The rule of thumb is, major keys are happier and more energetic while minor keys tend to give the opposite effect.
For those that play progressive electronic music with long mixes, it is especially important to understand how to mix in key (harmonic mixing). For that style of music, the DJ will take the audience on a musical ride that seems to constantly increase in energy, even if the tempo remains the same. They achieve the upward momentum by going up in key as they move from one song to the next. During those long mixes, skilled DJs know how to properly use dissonance (inharmonious tones) to create tension in the track, then release it at the right moment and watch the audience go crazy.
Urban music, such as hip-hop and R&B may benefit from slam mixing, meaning abruptly cutting one track and introducing the other. Timed properly and with the right succession of tracks, this is a powerful way to mix and keep the audience's attention. With urban music, the mixing tends to be quicker, usually done within 4 to 16 bars of the track, relatively short in comparison to electronic music.
I’ve purposefully armed you with lots of DJ lingo in this section. That way when you’re speaking to a DJ and inquiring about their services you can get down to the fine details of their mixing style.
5. Knows how to read a crowd and play the music accordingly.
This is one of the most important qualities a DJ can possess. One can practice all day and develop flawless mixing techniques, but if you can’t read your audience then you can’t rock the party. Great DJs are constantly on the look out for indicators that may give them a hint as to what the crowd is feeling or what they may enjoy coming up. How is your audience reacting to the tracks? Is someone tapping his or her foot? Are they nodding their heads? Did guests run over to the dance floor? Did you lose a portion of your dance floor? There are many cues DJs look for that provide clues as to what the audience is enjoying. The greats know how to read body language and use it to their advantage.
You are now armed with a good understanding of the qualities all great DJs have. Now you can go out there and confidently find the right match for your event.