DJing for Dummies

by John Steventon

How to start and build a successful career as a DJ-from at-home mixing to making demos to playing to a live crowd Whether it's a digital or vinyl track of "Proud Mary," a DJ sets the mood, amps up the excitement, and gets a crowd of revelers rockin'. Often an outsized personality, blessed with a gorgeous voice and an encyclopedic knowledge of music, a DJ is this era's new pop star. For those interested in how to begin a career as a DJ, DJing For Dummies offers newcomers all the technical know-how needed as well as advice on how to create your own DJing style and how to make DJing work for you. With tips on equipment essentials, such as turntables, slipmats and needles, headphones, and amplifiers, as well as buying records, CDs, and MP3s, this practical guide takes you through the basics of mixing, song structure, building a foolproof set, creating a great demo, and what to do when you finally face a live audience. With tips on the ten items to take with you when you get a gig, as well as how to DJ at a wedding, DJing For Dummies will help turn your fantasy into an exciting and fun, money-making career.

Genres: Music, Reference

424 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 1, 2006

Reviews

[Warren Gossett · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book about the spirit and the mechanics of DJing. It is a fast and useful read. I don't plan to be a professional DJ but I wanted to know something about how it works. I have started loving electronic music the past two years. The author writes from his perspective as a house and trance music DJ in the UK, although of course he is flexible in other genres as well. He suggests that beatmatching has the purpose of keeping a constant pounding bass beat for clubbers to dance to and to play the music at a pace that matches the speed of the clubbers' beating hearts. This is helpful for house and trance music but not needed in rock music DJing, which has a wider variety of beat tempos, or in party and wedding DJing where people want a variety of hits or old favourites. I suppose that beatmatching is also not needed when I am playing just for myself at home. I know what is coming and change moment to moment what I want and the tempo I want. I would also guess that beatmatching will become less necessary even in clubs because people are getting more used to the irregular beats of EDM and electronic music. As for DJ's beatmatching the speed of the heartbeats in a crowd, I say let all the hearts have unique speeds and moods and still be enjoyable to each other. Dancers, like people in general, can communicate. They can synchronise and harmonise but not "identicalise". We can use our skill and enthusiasm to dance our own transitions between tunes of differing beats, tempos and structures without relying only on the DJ's transition mix.

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of good advice in this book and new ideas to practice, but considering the Edition I read came out in 2014, it is definitely becoming a little outdated. It can be hard to write a book about something that is so physical and auditory, but this book mostly pulled it off. I only wish it was a bit more musical: give me some music theory that applies to all music. Good DJs are smart enough to take it.

3.5/5 Stars

"Looping intros and outros or sections of a tune can extend the mix and subtly remix the tune to make something different, or looping part of a build-up to extend it adds variety to the mix. If the build-up is a drum roll, set it as a loop and edit the length of the loop so it gets shorter and shorter; the shorter the loop gets, the more frantic the breakdown sounds, and you can work the crowd into a frenzy before finally ending the loop or hitting a hot cue button and crashing back into the powerful beats of the tune."

[Ahmed Souissi · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're new to DJing or want to improve your basic skills, "DJing for Dummies" is a great resource. It covers everything from how a mixer works to basic music theory, and even gives tips on DJ style and behavior. The instructions are easy to understand, and it's helpful for beginners and those looking to move to an intermediate level. Plus, it reminds you to play the music you love, which is the most important part!

[Cameron Galvan]

is was good

[Daryl Nagai · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this as a gift from a friend and I read the whole book over the course of a couple months. Lots of information and stories about being a DJ. An easy and enjoyable read.

[Marc · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I have very little experience when it comes to DJing, it's always something that I wanted to learn so of course, I bought a 'Dummies' book. In the beginning, I really got into DJing for Dummies. I understood things even if I had no experience with it, and thought every thing was simple. Suddenly, it lost me.

I'm not quite sure where or when I got lost, but it was for a huge part in the middle. It might be my own fault. I don't quite understand all the technical aspects when it comes to audio. I want to learn to DJ as a hobby, for myself, and maybe for family and friends, but nothing more. I was reading, but didn't quite get it. Instead of being for dummies, it felt like it was for more technical people. I do believe that it might not be as bad to people with more DJing or audio experience.

There was a little quirk that bothered me. I read the 2nd edition so I'm not sure when this was first written. But Recess kept referring to mini-discs and that seemed outdated. Even referring to CDs seemed a bit outdated, but at least I understand those possibly being used today.

When I finally decide to give this hobby a go, I'm sure I'll re-read sections of this book. Hopefully, with a little more hands on, I'll understand it.

[Joshua Piorier Sr. · Rating 5 out of 5]

DJ Dummies!
Take your time with this book, do not read it in one sitting. You can definitely learn with this book but in my opinion there are some parts that would require you to do further research to understand some of the contents better and then return to the book. Don't give up and keep at it! This book touches on every concept of DJ'ing so this seems to be more of a guide that you can continue to return to until you have you techniques down. I also joined DJ Q-Bert's Skratch University which also helped a ton and has a YouTube channel that is helpful. Download "Audacity" because it's free and a very good tool to use while you learn and progress. The book also has a great amount of websites to check out too, don't pass these up. I would definitely recommend for aspiring DJ's and good luck!

[Graham Cammock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow!

I have been mixing on an iPad for a year and have mastered beat matching on various apps. I like techno and trance. This book is very comprehensive, so much so that it has inspired me to buy a controller and to learn how to scratch. (I never thought in the least that I would be interested in or able to scratch). This book makes you a very keen DJ indeed! I highly recommend this amazing book to any aspiring DJ!

[Kurtzprzezce · Rating 3 out of 5]

Though I know it has "for Dummies" in the title, I found parts of it a little bit redundant. Besides that, quite useful.

[Ronald Warren · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book with a lot of information and good information

[Jozef Kindred · Rating 5 out of 5]

Class! Must read for all start out DJs! Taught me a lot!