4 ways DJing is changing in the modern world
Whether you’re a purist or at the forefront of technological advances, it’s safe to say that we’re in exciting times for DJing.
DJ gear is more advanced and accessible than ever before, and the industry has a new wave of young hopefuls ready to get our takkies squeaking.
Let’s have a look at how the world of DJing has changed over the past few decades.
Digging in the Crates
How it used to be:
Being a DJ used to mean hoarding banks of vinyl records and knowing your collection like part of your family. The more seasoned professionals even had whole rooms in their homes dedicated to endless shelves of weird and wonderful records from forgotten eras.
How it is now:
An entire crate of albums can now fit onto a small 32gb flash-drive that fits into your pocket! Travelling and mobile DJ’s no longer have to break their backs carrying tons of wax in and out of venues, and the ability to organize one’s library so easily is slowly winning the industry over.
Pros:
Categorizing, tagging and browsing your library is much easier. It no longer requires hours of searching through crates, and with the use of search you’re able to recall your favourite tracks within seconds.
Cons:
Vinyl records and CD Albums, being physical objects often meant that DJs formed bonds with them, recalling those epic moments every time that tune was dropped. Digital tracks don’t invoke the same nostalgia, and often seem disposable – if you lost it you could just download it again.
The entry-point
How it used to be:
Getting into the DJ game used to be a fairly arduous task, the entry-point for beginners was high – gear has never been cheap and often hard to come by, and professionals didn’t give away their secrets very easily.
How it is now:
Platforms like YouTube and the fact that gear has become a lot more accessible means that DJing is available to everybody. Whether it’s using software or a simple CDJ setup, you can’t argue that the more DJ’s that get access to being able to practice – will just result in a plethora of better DJs.
Pros:
Good DJ gear is more affordable and plentiful than ever, whether you’re a professional or beginner you’ll be able to find a setup that suits your style, and it also means that DJing can be enjoyed at home by anybody with a simple setup.
Cons:
Some may argue that the lowered entry point dilutes the quality of professional DJs, however, I feel it just pushes the seasoned professionals to pull their socks up.
Technological Advances
How it used to be:
DJ’s in the past used to spend most of the time during their set either looking through vinyl crates and CD folders, then finding the tempo, cue and various other settings before mixing it into the previous track and repeating the process. If your crate wasn’t kept in impeccable order, you may miss the cue and leave the crowd hanging.
How it is now:
Software like Traktor or Serato take care of organizing and beat-gridding your library, giving you the freedom to concentrate on adding more of your own unique flair to the set. It also gives you more time to connect with your audience, to see if they’re actually enjoying the music.
Pros:
Having your entire library just a click away, beat-gridding, unique setups and controllers and being able to connect closer with your audience.
Cons:
It’s much easier to get away with relying on stuff like sync, without pushing the envelope further, and a large portion of newcomers do fall into that trap, but they will, hopefully find their way. [The good ones always do, Ed.]
Social Media
How it used to be:
DJing used to revolve mainly around the art of DJing itself, promoting and marketing was done by labels and managers. With the advent of the internet, and more specifically social media, it’s all changing.
How it is now:
DJing in today’s industry means staying relevant, whether it’s the music you play or your online persona, your fans want to connect with you on levels further than just your music performance. They want to know what coffee you drink and see an occasional selfie. I know right.
Pros:
The widespread footprint of the internet, means you’re able to connect with an audience outside your usual groups. Discuss new ideas and even collabs with other DJs across the world.
Cons:
Social Media can be daunting for those DJs who have spent their years locked away behind the decks, and for some cases even create unwanted attention.
Final thoughts…
The entire DJing industry is changing at a rapid rate, from the gear we use to the way we use it, swimming against the stream is gonna be tough, so my suggestion is find your way of getting comfortable with the changes, because things are bound to change again at the next turning of the wheel – or turntable for that matter.
