What in YOUR opinion is the main reason why there are so many DJs out there? So many calling themselves DJs?
Too Many DJs
- Thread starter ahoustondj
- Start date
There are not too many Art Dealers and to be a reputable Art Dealer or Gallery Director you have to have Formal Education on the subject.
There are "Art" Dealers and "Fine Art" Dealers. Two different Categories. Some may do both. Fine Art Dealers require much more expertise.
It has become much easier today to become a DJ. When I first got started you had to go to a store to buy records and you had to have a large enough of a collection to do gigs in the first place. A lot of DJ's today don't know anything about that. Now you have DJ's using computers with a controller. Some using very cheap controllers. There is no need today for a mixer unless that's what you want to use.
Then it went from using records to DJ's using CD's and now you can simply download music on to a source and play a song. Nothing wrong with being able to use such things to make things easier. It just has made what we do look so easy that just about anyone feels they can do what we do. Not to mention that some get into this business thinking it's a quick way to make some fast cash. Now throw in that you can now buy powered speakers thus no need to buy an amp and speakers if that is the way you want to go. Which is the way a lot of DJ's I know are going.
Then it went from using records to DJ's using CD's and now you can simply download music on to a source and play a song. Nothing wrong with being able to use such things to make things easier. It just has made what we do look so easy that just about anyone feels they can do what we do. Not to mention that some get into this business thinking it's a quick way to make some fast cash. Now throw in that you can now buy powered speakers thus no need to buy an amp and speakers if that is the way you want to go. Which is the way a lot of DJ's I know are going.
Mix I think you nailed it. The key though was the change in Media. Without a Library, which in the days of vinyl was expensive to maintain, one could not do gigs. There was no way to copy a vinyl to vinyl and everyone had their own. Now you can get a HD loaded with songs real cheap or even free.
Just because someone gets into this business doesn't mean they will stay. Some will find out the hard work and dedication it takes to make it in this business and will not be willing to put the work in. Thus they go away. The thing that some on here don't like to hear because it creates competition is to have those who are in this business to step their game up and become really good at this business. The real truth is some will never become good at this business. Just like there is good and bad in any business.
The big thing is to concentrate on what you do and how to continue to work on improving what you do.
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If you do the math, there are roughly about 90,000 DJs in the US -- including hobbyist and full timers. That equates to 0.026% of the population, which is a very low number.
Now if you count bedroom DJs (those who don't work for pay, but just post YouTube videos and such), you would probably double that.
So, in effect, there are not really many working DJs out there.
Now if you count bedroom DJs (those who don't work for pay, but just post YouTube videos and such), you would probably double that.
So, in effect, there are not really many working DJs out there.
You guys nailed it with regard to easy access to music being one of the reasons why we have so many so called dj's in the game now. I won't let this affect my outlook as a DJ any less. I reverted back to using 1200's and adding vinyl along with my digital library as well. I enjoy spinning like that and it adds a retro look to my events. 1200's are now looked at as classic pieces to what spinning music once was. I will still show todays digital dj respect.
Interesting approach, I split the difference and went with two V7's to have the best of both worlds.....the comment about easy music is the real reason "everyone" is a DJ, but with social media, the idiots get crushed pretty quick.....still, those that know you and your work....will blast through all the garbage and hire the real pros......
DjDennis
RIP- My Dad (2011), Sister (2013) and Mum (2017)
LOL! Dennis I don't care what they say about ya, I think yer alright!
How many people that contact you know who you are? A lot of people that contact me don't know who I am and what I'm about as a DJ. A lot of them aren't sure what to look for when booking a DJ because they never have. So how do they know if you're truly a professional that really cares about the work they do?Interesting approach, I split the difference and went with two V7's to have the best of both worlds.....the comment about easy music is the real reason "everyone" is a DJ, but with social media, the idiots get crushed pretty quick.....still, those that know you and your work....will blast through all the garbage and hire the real pros......
I've seen some that will put on their website how to book a DJ. Telling potential clients what to look for and questions to ask a DJ they contact. There are those who are doing this to make extra income and aren't very serious about what they do as a DJ. I take pride in what I do and I don't believe in doing gigs I don't feel are right for us.
Now please just check out the gig log I posted yesterday. Not a high end event but all went well. The client even wants us to come back and do something else. All you can do is try your best to convey how much of a professional you are if you are a true professional. After that it's up to the potential client to decide if they want to book you or not. My question to all here is how much do you care about what your show is like when you're doing an event for a client? Do you care about the littlest details or is it not a big deal just so long as they book you?
Easy access to music is NOT what has changed. Music has always been easy to access - but, never has it been so convenient to manage and use.
Prior to CDs everything was analog and records were 12" in diameter with as few as 1 -9 songs per disc. Cassettes were the ultimate in portability and custom recordings - but, tapes were a fixed arrangement, and cumbersome when trying to DJ.
PORTABILITY is what has revolutionized DJs - and the public's use of music in general. Nothing about DJing itself has really changed - it has simply become more convenient for everyone to do. You change and randomize things on the fly, automate palyback, etc. If you want to be a true DJ and mix - There's an APP for that ~
Storage and transport is no longer an issue. You can fit an entire music store along with a mixer/pre-amp in your shirt pocket. That's not really about the access - it's portability.
This is the real truth about iPod DJs that disc jockeys are in denial about. Historically, people hired DJs for events because managing music for that purpose was to cumbersome. Now, DJs have this twisted notion that it was all about their talent - and that's not accurate. There was/is a demand for entertainers - but, that is also something that is different from the need for a DJ. While the two may be combined they have also always been separable as well.
Prior to CDs everything was analog and records were 12" in diameter with as few as 1 -9 songs per disc. Cassettes were the ultimate in portability and custom recordings - but, tapes were a fixed arrangement, and cumbersome when trying to DJ.
PORTABILITY is what has revolutionized DJs - and the public's use of music in general. Nothing about DJing itself has really changed - it has simply become more convenient for everyone to do. You change and randomize things on the fly, automate palyback, etc. If you want to be a true DJ and mix - There's an APP for that ~
Storage and transport is no longer an issue. You can fit an entire music store along with a mixer/pre-amp in your shirt pocket. That's not really about the access - it's portability.
This is the real truth about iPod DJs that disc jockeys are in denial about. Historically, people hired DJs for events because managing music for that purpose was to cumbersome. Now, DJs have this twisted notion that it was all about their talent - and that's not accurate. There was/is a demand for entertainers - but, that is also something that is different from the need for a DJ. While the two may be combined they have also always been separable as well.
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I guess the easy access to which I am referring is, availability to get music without even having to pay for it (Pirated Music) Back in the day, sure it was available but you could not download vinyl. You had to go out and buy it. Also the record pools were basically for DJs only and we got special versions/pressings and promo copies. Not to mention, some singles were not available for public sale so the regular person had to purchase the whole album. It still comes down to the Music Library. It is the key element and the most expensive tool for those who are legally acquiring their music.
DjDennis
RIP- My Dad (2011), Sister (2013) and Mum (2017)
well I went ok using Tapes excuse me Cassettes in the day
but these days johnny gets an ipod/ipad and he is a Dj
so now argue that
but these days johnny gets an ipod/ipad and he is a Dj
so now argue that