One school, The Ohio and Illinois Centers for Broadcasting, offers a "Be a DJ for a Day" opportunity. (www.beonair.com/BeADJ.aspx) They grant free, live airtime on their international Internet radio to participants interested in a broadcasting career. Experience the world of DJ'ing firsthand and discover the thrills and challenges of live broadcasting.
A radio DJ connects to his audience through his voice, so stations always look for someone with a good speaking voice and a firm grasp of correct grammar. In addition to speaking, a disc jockey can write scripts for her shows and commercials, and she's often responsible for interviewing various people, from local business owners to celebrities. Classes in broadcast communications at colleges or vocational schools provide excellent training and tools to learn these skills. Some successful DJ's have degrees in fields like mass communications or theater. Creativity is also a key ingredient, as ad-libbing is a required part of the job. Creative writing, English and public speaking courses build a good foundation for a career as a DJ.
Disc jockeys must be familiar with sound equipment, mixing boards and computers. Interning at a local radio station is one way to gain experience with the mechanics of the job. The majority of DJ's get their start at college stations or in small local markets, where they train on the equipment for the industry and learn about the styles and logistics behind the job.
A Disc jockey for a dance club or a private function must learn how to blend songs together for smooth transitions. Performing in front of a live audience, requires him to put together play lists and design a proper theme for that event. DJ's must incorporate current musical trends and lingo for their genre into their shows. Schools specializing in record engineering or actual DJ'ing are popping up all over. The Scratch DJ Academy (www.scratch.com/flash/), started in 2002 by Jam Master Jay, and The DubSpot (www.dubspot.com/) have DJ workshops and full courses geared toward club/event DJ's. They use celebrity DJ's and professional equipment where students learn to mix and scratch songs. The Dubspot even has a course for learning "how to read a room and understand crowd psychology--getting the party started."
While no hard and fast formal education exists for a disc jockey career path, interning, attending workshops and finding a mentor to teach you are good places to start. Obtaining a degree in broadcasting from a four-year college or taking record engineering or DJ classes from a vocational school can go a long way in getting your foot in the door for this exciting career. Also, look for opportunities that will allow you to practice your craft, such as offering to perform free at club or local events. Take that chance to start making recordings of your gigs to present to future employers. Someday, maybe you'll have millions of listeners tuning in to hear your voice.