Your reputation is your brand as a DJ. You want to be known as someone who is easy to work with, easy to hire and professional. Many times, this will go farther in getting hired than your actual DJ skills. Here are 6 tips for putting your best foot forward.
#1 – Don’t sit down
Don’t sit down while you are playing your DJ set. Anytime you are out in front of the guests, you should be standing. It’s just a better, more professional look overall.
Sitting, leaning, or slouching while you are playing just makes you look sloppy and lazy. You are onstage from the minute you start playing until the minute you finish. You can sit and relax when you are done, but for now, keep standing.
#2 – Don’t eat or drink unless invited
This should go without saying, but you shouldn’t be helping yourself to the buffet or the open bar unless you are invited. I will usually ask my client if they will provide a meal for me so I can make plans to eat beforehand if necessary.
If you are eating at the event, try to eat out of sight of the guests. Nobody wants to watch the DJ stuff his face in five minutes, which is basically what you are going to do. You have to get back to work so there’s no time to linger over a meal.
#3 – Don’t EVER get drunk
I know many DJs that do not drink any alcohol at their events. If you do decide to have a drink (after you are invited, of course), you must know your limits. I can have a beer or two over the course of a 4 hour event and it will not affect my performance. Know your own limits, and also know if you can stop at just one or two drinks. A sloppy DJ who is stumbling through his mixes is never getting hired again. Be smart and do the right thing for you.
#4 – Don’t insult the guests
This is another obvious one, but you shouldn’t be talking bad about your guests. You can think whatever you want, but keep your chatter to a minimum. You may think you are just talking to a server about how ridiculous that drunk guy is over there, only to find out it’s the server’s cousin. Don’t put yourself in a bad situation. If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all.
#5 – Don’t badmouth other DJs
This goes for your fellow DJs too. Don’t hate on other guys and gals who are out there doing their best. It just makes you look petty, and it hurts our whole DJ community. We need to be building up and supporting other DJs, not talking trash about them. Remember that there was a time when you weren’t a very good DJ, and you will have nights that are total disasters. Have some compassion for your fellow brothers and sisters in the craft. Don’t spend the whole night talking about how much better you would have played.
#6 – Leave the space better than you found it
When you finish, take some extra time to clean up around you, whether that’s the booth in a club or the event space for a wedding. Help out others where you can. I try to make sure I get my stuff out of the way as quickly as possible, so the other vendors can break down their equipment faster and we can all go home. I make sure I pick up any trash and try to help out where I can. This extra effort gets you noticed and hired again.
In Summary…
Your actions and your attitude speak volumes to other people. You need to gain a reputation as a DJ that people want to work with. Pay attention to the little things you are doing and the way you treat others, and your success won’t be held back by a small mistake.
