The only thing I can tell you is to play what you feel. Don't worry about what flows into what, etc, that is something that takes months and sometimes years to develop. Don't worry about what genre is what, which tracks are popular or anything like that..if you go to a record store, listen to as much as you can, and decide there are 20 tracks you want to buy, try to narrow that selection down to your favorite 10 (or 5) and buy those.

Just play what you feel. If DJing felt more like a job than an enjoyable experience than it isn't worthwhile. 0.02

djing properly is like writing a structured essay. you gotta learn a couple things before you can start making head turning sets.

when i started i was mixing obsidian by banco de gaia (light vs pfn rmx) with riley and durrants ready for life. thats 132 mixed wit 140. the only pro dj that i kno that can KINDA pull it off is pvd. but hey come over the house n u can practice it. im finishin the floors today.

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Originally posted by jonas Bring lots of friends, a preist and a sack lunch. You'll need all three.

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Originally posted by Zild I can understand people wanting to tech up their house since Techno is the shit, but please don't house up my Techno.

You won't learn this overnight. First get some tracks that you really like (which you have done) and work on your queuing and beat matching. It will sound really bad at first and for a long time. Once you have that down you can work on key matching and so forth. As you learn those things, you will really start to understand the sound that best suits you and what you really like. It took me over a year to really find what I enjoy most when playing. As that happens your tastes will evolve and you will seek out other sounds.

For now, just stick with the tracks that you know and like. You will not only learn what to do from those tracks, but you can also learn what not to do once you get going.

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Originally posted by djjonas You won't learn this overnight. First get some tracks that you really like (which you have done) and work on your queuing and beat matching. It will sound really bad at first and for a long time. Once you have that down you can work on key matching and so forth. As you learn those things, you will really start to understand the sound that best suits you and what you really like. It took me over a year to really find what I enjoy most when playing. As that happens your tastes will evolve and you will seek out other sounds. For now, just stick with the tracks that you know and like. You will not only learn what to do from those tracks, but you can also learn what not to do once you get going.

jonas has some good advice. the best tip i can give you is to record your stuff!!! even when it starts sounding good to you in the mix, when you play it back, you learn a lot about what you are doing wrong.

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Helping girls make bad decisions since 1979

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Originally posted by Dirk W. jonas has some good advice. the best tip i can give you is to record your stuff!!! even when it starts sounding good to you in the mix, when you play it back, you learn a lot about what you are doing wrong.

Ah, that made me think of the other thing. Find peoples mixes on here and listen to them. Try to find the ones with track lists. I don't know why that helped me so much. But to just listen and listen more until I almost was sick of it really helped. Don't just go out to one of the internet stations and listen to mixes where you don't know what tracks they are playing.

It's been posted before, but I highly recomend this book:

http://www.amazon.com/How-DJ-Right-...76908904&sr=8-1


It won't make anyone a superstar dj but its useful for anyone wishing to learn the craft or improve upon what they already know.

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It's been posted before, but I highly recomend this book: http://www.amazon.com/How-DJ-Right-...76908904&sr=8-1 It won't make anyone a superstar dj but its useful for anyone wishing to learn the craft or improve upon what they already know.

I remember asking these questions over a year and a half ago. I took Matt's advise and read the book. It helped me with the theory and visualization of matching beats.

Jonas gave great advise too.

My .02 cents, Practice, Practice, Practice!

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Don't bother just to be better than your contemporaries or predecessors. Try to be better than yourself. -William Faulkner

"Life is simple. You make choices and never look back."

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Originally posted by Ph03n1x My .02 cents, Practice, Practice, Practice!

That's the key. Stick with it, stay dedicated, and you'll get better than you originally thought.

Don't buy anything unless you can't live without it...

Vinyl is too damn expensive.

Like Matt said, play what you feel RIGHT NOW and don't be concerned with trying to fit a mold. Your sound will shine through in time.

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Originally posted by Dirk W. People in Dallas aren't *ssholes. Just look at me, I live in Dallas.

Meat is Murder...tasty, tasty murder.

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Originally posted by davemolina Don't buy anything unless you can't live without it... Vinyl is too damn expensive. Like Matt said, play what you feel RIGHT NOW and don't be concerned with trying to fit a mold. Your sound will shine through in time.

But how am i gonna practice if i don't buy a bunch of vinyl.I don't wanna wait until i can buy some cdjs.Plus i wanna learn on vinyl turntables.

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Check out this awesome melodic uplifting drum & bass mix. You'll probably like it even if you don't normally like drum & bass. It's good.....no it's not by me but it's by an awesome friend whos mixes i like. Click the link!

http://www.tranceaddict.com/forums/...9&forumid=81&s=

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Originally posted by Surfmorworkless But how am i gonna practice if i don't buy a bunch of vinyl.I don't wanna wait until i can buy some cdjs.Plus i wanna learn on vinyl turntables.

Ahhhh Youth! How I miss it...

Look take all the advice here on the board and then make your own groove. So many Djs these years want to sound like this and or that Dj. Over the past 15years or so, I have dabbled in House, Trance, Tribal, Jungle, Trip Hop, Top 40, 2-step, Deep House even Industrial Dance and such. The mixes of mine you listened to the other day shows you what a Dj HAS to Do for a gig, Mine was a Top 40 Radio show and a Mainstream Dance Club and in order to earn I had to play what people wanted. I hated my self every time I played a focking remix of Pink or Britny Spears remix by Thunderpuss.... but it kept me going and plus all the free vinyl one can get for doing a steady gig with a radio station is SWEET!
You just can't expect to bust out and be a badd ass on day one. Learning the lost art of Dj is a long and life long lesson. I know I might get bitched at and even flamed, (especially here in the TATX sections, but continue getting the vinyl....CDs and MP3 Laptop Djing will not teach the art. Yes you can get the basics, it easier on the load and there are some kick ass things you can do with CDs that you can't do with Vinyl.
You have to learn the basic concepts....save a little at a time and get to know other Djs. Do not bother them but just watch and listen to how they mix in and out, listen to the break downs of each track you get. I know it sounds corny, but FEEL THE MUSIC! Allot of Djs, especially the young uns, do not LISTEN to the music, they do not listen to what the artist is trying to convey....see each track as a chapter in a story you are writting in real time. Keep aware of your audience....never forget the audience, If you see no one is jamming to a track you love, do not think down on them, adjust your roll and get them slamming. So many Times I have seen aspiring Djs that had the gift, but the would throw a hissy fit when the crowd was not involved with thier vibe. Not every one likes Trance or House....the object is to get to that level where people come to see you cause the know you will give them a good time! and thats what it is really all about, having a good time....
Vinyl can be expensive at times, but try to set aside at least 40-50 bucks a month, thats about 5-6 pieces of vinyl....depends on also if you import across the pond or not.
On-Vinyl shops I recomend

http://Dancerecords.com(us)
http://Kushrecords.com(us)
http://www.tweekin.com/(us)
http://www.satelliterecords.com(us)




Also just remember ......................................









waiting for Zild to call me an Old man that uses old old technology