Find a friend or local community club with DJ equipment and practice on their board to get a feel for the experience. It would be a shame if, after investing in all the expensive DJ equipment, you discover you don't like to DJ. Rushing into buying DJ equipment before you are serious about it can be a costly mistake.
Learn how to mix. According to the website Learn 2 DJ, the use of the mixer is "half the skill of DJing." People are more likely to leave the dance floor if there are gaps of silence between each song, so learning how to mix effectively is essential to keep people interested in your performance. Ask friends or local DJs to show you the ropes.
Expand your music collection. Most DJs prefer vinyl records or computer media files as their sources for music. Most record stores will allow you to preview the music before buying it. A wide-ranging music collection is often the mark of a versatile DJ.
Perform for a live audience. After many hours of practice, you might feel inclined to take your DJing to the next level, but if you are nervous or a beginner, it might be a good idea to start with smaller gigs, such as house parties or casual events.
Promote yourself. Once you have a couple of smaller gigs under your belt, you can start advertising yourself as a DJ for hire. Try promoting yourself by building a fan base on popular social media sites (e.g., Facebook or Myspace) or by posting listings on free online advertising sites, such as Craigslist. You can always kick it old school by posting fliers at local nightclubs.
Charge for your services. You might need to play a few gigs for free at first in order to establish your reputation, but performing live is work, and you should be compensated accordingly.