DJ Training Checklist

I'm typically not a checklist person.  I know some people who swear by checklists and I can see why.  They provide structure to otherwise complex processes.  So, as I consider how best to train multiple DJ's as efficiently as possible, I have decided to create a checklist of things that I want my DJs to know and demonstrate before I send them on their own solo gigs. I'm sure this list will change many times before I feel it is comprehensive.  But for now, you can get a sense of what you'll need to learn in the coming months by reviewing the list below.

As DJs shadow me and complete their field training, I will be using this checklist to determine how well they are progressing.  We'll cover all of these topics in detail in future articles.  Fasten your seatbelt, it's going to be a fun ride!

Can the DJ name all of the components of a PA system?

Can the DJ wire the PA system?

Is the DJ thoughtful about where to place speakers?

Is the DJ thoughtful about where to run cords & tape?

Can the DJ thoughtfully wire PA system, run cords and prepare workspace?

Can the DJ work the mixing controls?

Is the DJ familiar with all of the controls on a mixing board?

Can the DJ dismantle the PA system and put it away?

Can the DJ work dance floor light(s)

Can the DJ program and place LED par can uplights?

Can the DJ set up the gobo light?

Is the DJ familiar with his/her own music storage & delivery system

Can the DJ plug his music into the PA system?

Can the DJ access Gigbuilder software to view event info?

Can the DJ access Gigbuilder software to print out song requests, timeline, & event notes?

Is the DJ well dressed for semi-formal event (suit or dress clothes)?

Does the DJ have a dependable vehicle?

Does the DJ keep a calendar of sorts to remember appointments & gigs?

Does the DJ love music?

Does the DJ enjoy interacting with people?

Is the DJ polite and well mannered?

Is the DJ well spoken?

Has the DJ facilitated mini sets of music (15 to 20 minutes) at a gig?

Has the DJ facilitated half the music sets at a gig?

Has the DJ facilitated most or all of the music at a gig?

Can the DJ effectively make simple announcements on the mic?

Can the DJ speak effectively at length on the mic?

Can the DJ effectively multi-task during an event?

Has the DJ facilitated a sales phone call with a prospective client?

Has the DJ observed a sales meeting with a prospective client?

Has the DJ actively participated in a sales meeting with a prospective client

Has the DJ observed a planning meeting with a client?

Has the DJ actively participated in a planning meeting with a client?

Can the DJ facilitate an entire event  - sales/booking, planning & performance?

DJ has shadowed at least 1 event

DJ has shadowed at least 5 events

DJ has shadowed at least 15 events

DJ has shadowed at least 20 events

Learn more about our company by visiting our Website for My Life DJ Services and joining our various social media platforms!

3 Roles of a Mobile DJ, Summary

Each of the three roles covered in the introductory articles will be broken down and studied in greater detail as you learn to be an effective mobile DJ. We just wanted to give you a framework for understanding what is expected of you as an event DJ.

1. Delivery, Set-up & Sound Technician
2. Announcements & Coordination
3. Music Selection & Engaging the Crowd

For example, as a sound technician you will need to learn the various components of a sound system and how they work together to produce amplified sound. You'll literally need to know how to wire up the system, position speakers and conduct a sound check for each venue and event. As someone who helps the client plan the entertainment for the event and then act as MC, you'll need to understand the process of communicating with clients prior to the event and how to provide necessary announcements during the event. You'll need to practice your stage presence which is typically one of the most challenges parts of the learning curve. And, finally, you'll need to develop a deep appreciation for a variety of musical genres, how to develop play lists that will get people dancing and how to control your mixing board for good sound quality throughout the event.

There's a lot to learn about the activities of the mobile DJ but future articles will introduce you to the entrepreneurial journey. If you decide to pursue a career as a DJ entertainer, you will also be making a commitment to being an entrepreneur!

Learn more about our company by visiting our Website for My Life DJ Services and joining our various social media platforms!  

Mobile DJ Role #3, Music Selection & Engaging the Crowd

As a professional mobile DJ, you will play an integral part in your client's event. An experienced, professional DJ will play several roles before and during the event to ensure that it will be a fun and memorable celebration.

Music Selection and Engaging the Crowd
 
The third role is what most people think of when they imagine their DJ at work. You will be selecting music that reflects your client's musical tastes and will produce a fun and active celebration. You will also need to monitor the extent to which your guests need to be encouraged to get up and dance! You will be first and foremost concerned with the type of music your client and the guests want to hear and dance to. A professional DJ knows how to engage guests and encourage an active dance floor but without being obnoxious or overwhelming. A pro will always remember that the celebration is not about the DJ but about the client, their family and guests.

You will by seeking your client's guidance to create the musical atmosphere they wish to have at their event. An experienced DJ knows that music has a powerful affect on the psychology of the group and therefore can influence the flow of the celebration. He or she will be able to “read the crowd” quickly and gain insight into what motivates guests to have fun. You will constantly monitor the energy level in the room and speed things up or slow things down when necessary. A pro will be sensitive to the diversity represented in the crowd and be sure to play music during the event that will be enjoyed by everyone.

You will design a process that allows your client to give input and song requests before and during the event. Also, you will honor your client's wishes regarding music that is NOT to be played.
A professionally operated DJ service will encourage DJs to get to know their clients before the event. Don’t hesitate to communicate with your client by phone, email, online planning tools or a personal meeting. Your client will be glad that you care enough to seek their input because this type of communication leads to the effective fulfillment of the three roles discussed in this and prior lectures. Remember, your client wants you to be a partner in the planning process and wants, more than anything, to give their guests a celebration that they will fondly remember forever.

Learn more about our company by visiting our Website for My Life DJ Services and joining our various social media platforms! 

Mobile DJ Role #2, Announcements & Coordination

As a professional mobile DJ, you will play an integral part in your client's event. An experienced, professional DJ will play several roles before and during the event to ensure that it will be a fun and memorable celebration.

Announcements and Coordination
 
You will be responsible for making all the necessary announcements throughout the event so that guests and other vendors know what is going to happen. Photographers, for example, don’t appreciate when a DJ goes ahead with an unannounced portion of the event that might cause them to miss meaningful photos. You will act as the master of ceremonies (MC) making sure that everything your client wants to happen, happens in an orderly way. Often you will be playing music while at the same time making announcements or facilitating festivities. This means that you need to be comfortable multi-tasking while coming off smooth, calm and collected. A DJ who effectively fulfills the role of coordinator and announcer will create a flow to the celebration and avoid a choppy, haphazard feel to the event.

Preparation is the key to making announcements at the appropriate time and ensuring that everything happens in smooth order. You will communicate with your client before the event to get the information necessary to act as MC. There are various ways to go about communicating and planning with your client including online planning tools, hard copy planning forms that are completed by the client and returned to you. Or, you might schedule a phone conference or a face to face meeting to go over the details of the event in person.

Learn more about our company by visiting our Website for My Life DJ Services and joining our various social media platforms!

Mobile DJ Role #1, Delivery, Set-up & Sound Technician

As a professional mobile DJ, you will play an integral part in your client's event. An experienced, professional DJ will play several roles before and during the event to ensure that it will be a fun and memorable celebration.

Delivery, Set-up & Sound Technician
 
You will be responsible for delivering a sound system to the site of the event. You'll need to be sure to get there in plenty of time prior to the start of the event. You will assemble the sound system, conduct a sound check and make sure everything is sounding great before your first guest arrives. This represents a lot of time, energy and work on your part that very few people will see. In fact, this process may take several hours depending on travel time and the physical layout of the venue. In this sense, your client has hired you to be a delivery person and a sound technician.

Only through experience can one really understand the challenges and nuances of setting up sound equipment and making adjustments to provide the clearest possible sound. An experienced DJ will be able to do this in rooms of various shapes and sizes. You will continually adjust the sound throughout the event so that your guests won’t be made uncomfortable by feedback, sound that is too high pitched or that may have too much bass, or is simply not well balanced.

Learn more about our company by visiting our Website for My Life DJ Services and joining our various social media platforms! 

Welcome! Interested in Becoming a Professional Mobile DJ?

This is the place where people come to learn how to become a professional mobile DJ. Whether you end up working for My Life DJ Services, some other company, or start your own business, it's my pleasure to help you learn how to be a fantastic DJ entertainer. It's been a passion of mine for over 25 years to help people celebrate significant moments with music and I hope it will become yours as well!

If you like people, music and celebration, perhaps a career as a professional DJ entertainer is for you. You'll also need to nurture the entrepreneurial spirit because whether you work for a company as an independent contractor or you decide to own your own business, you will essentially be self employed. That means that you're going to have to adopt a business owner's mindset, learning everything there is to know about the event entertainment industry. In the next several blog articles, we cover the three primary roles of a mobile DJ. There is so much more to know, of course, but this is a good place to start!

Learn more about our company by visiting our Website for My Life DJ Services and joining our various social media platforms!