The Pro's (and woes!) of becoming a Mobile D.J!

So how do you become a Mobile D.J?, easy!, just call yourself one!. There are no diploma's or qualifications and no graduation ceremony. However the time may come where you are called upon to demonstrate your D.J'ing skills and often this will be in front of 100's of people at your first gig. Entertaining such a a large number of people can be a very daunting and nerve racking task.

Not just music and flashing lights

Mobile D.J'ing is different to club or radio D.J'ing. Just having £10,000 of the very latest equipment and the top 40 won't make you a successful D.J or get you re-booked. Being a Mobile D.J is also about being an entertainer, rather then just being a Jukebox surrounded by lots of pretty lights!. You will also have to play a lot of music genres which you may not choose to listen to by choice.

A successful D.J is one who plays to his or her Audience, who can break the ice at difficult functions and who isn't out to satisfy their own ego's. Most D.J's learn to "read" the audience, and are frequently watching the dancefloor to gauge what music will work next. At Mobile Functions such as Weddings, your audience may take some time to get onto the dancefloor and this is where Microphone work is important in order to break the ice, make your audience feel welcome and encourage them onto the dancefloor.

Where and how can I learn D.J skills and get advice?

Some people may not be cut out to D.J. Others may pick up the skills in a few months, others may take a year or longer. There is no hard or fast rule to learning the basics. The best, and often the most successful route to becoming a D.J is by helping another local D.J at weekends.

Consider volunteering your services to another D.J locally. Helping out as a Roadie may not be financially rewarding but you are essentially learning new skills for free, which would cost you £100's on a course. Most D.J's will often cover your expenses and refreshments, some may even pay you, in return for your help, but don't expect to live off it, after all they are doing you a favour as well.

Learning to D.J by becoming a Roadie is the fastest way to learn the business and by actually watching another Professional D.J at work can teach you more than in a classroom or College environment. Most D.J's themselves got into the business this way, so don't be afraid to ask.

For more advice, why not become a member of a community?. http://www.dj-forum.co.uk is a FREE forum especially for Mobile D.J's to share ideas and offer each other advice on a wide range of issues. This is a good place to find advice and ask questions. New members, especially those new to the industry are always welcome.

What music will I need?

This topic is addressed in another document, but a Mobile D.J is often called upon to cover all ages, so a fair collection of music from the 1950's to the latest top 10 is required.

What Equipment do I need to buy?

Again it's not the equipment which entertains, it's the D.J. By having the latest equipment it won't make you any better as a D.J. It is possible to start up on a budget of £1000, which will get you a sound system and a few lighting effects. If your budget won't stretch to this, then you may need to consider buying 2nd hand or hiring the equipment. More information on choosing equipment is covered on another article.

Any good reason to start off by helping another D.J, is that you gain the experience and also find out if D.J'ing suits you BEFORE spending a lot of money and committment on buying equipment.

Buying a comprehensive music library is far more important than how much lighting you have, and should be your first consideration. You can build up your lighting, and upgrade your sound system (if required) once the work starts coming in to justify it.

What else do I need?

Committment, dedication and enthusiasm is a must. As is patience and a good sense of humour. By definition, most Mobile D.J's work the weekends, so if you get a good reputation and a full diary, you may have to cut down on your own personal social activities.

From a professional prospective, you should also obtain some level of PLI (Public Liability Insurance), as a business, it is a requirement to have some minimum level of insurance cover in order to protect you in the event of causing harm to a third party through accident or neglect. The amount of PLI cover required varies from £2 million to £10 million. You may find that £2 Million cover is adequate for your area, although some hotel chains may insist on a minimum of £5 million to work at their venues.

P.A.T (Portable Appliance Testing) is also recommended. This is like an annual MOT for electrical equipment, and the test proves that your electrical equipment is safe.

You may be asked to produce evidence of your PLI and PAT cover before being allowed to set up in some Hotels, and Council run establishments, so it is wise to get cover sooner, rather than later.

How about a D.J Course or Workshop?

These are few and far between especially in the UK, and usually aimed at teaching you beatmixing or turntable skills, which are of little use to the Novice Mobile D.J. If you are aiming for club work, then you may find a course to be of interest, however these courses have limited use on the Mobile Circuit.

D.J courses can cost between £100 and £1000s. Like any industry there are risks, so it is important to find out exactly what the course involves and whether the information is of any value to you before parting with your money!. Some courses may of little use, others may teach you the basics find out exactly what each one offers and weigh up the benefits to you.

If you want to find a list of official College / University courses on further education opportunities in media, radio, stage and technical then you may find the archived list here:-  http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=2318 to be of use (Free registration required).

Where can I find more information?

The internet is a wonderful medium to find out information. Here are a few useful links:-

http://www.dj-forum.co.uk - A D.J Forum created exclusively on content by it's own membership, many of them professional working D.J's. Find topics and ask questions on a variety of subjects from Advertising, Where to buy CD's, Getting PLI, Contract Writing, PC's and D,J'ing, Buying Equipment, 2nd Hand Equipment and Special offers are also advertised here.

http://www.uk-mobile-disco.co.uk - A full list of UK Based Mobile D.J's and website links

Recommended Disco Equipment Retailers

Thomann Sound & Lighting - Well respected and reliable disco equipment mail order supplier with very competitive & realistic prices!

DJ Superstore - Massive Online DJ Superstore - Lowest Prices!

DJ Bargains - Great Deals and Low Prices on Disco Equipment