John Steventon, a club DJ and author of "DJing for Dummies," says aspiring DJ's should be passionate about music. Someone lacking passion could easily grow impatient with the hard work and sometimes lengthy learning process required to develop technical DJ skills. But a sincere passion for music can inspire you to stick with it, even when learning gets frustrating or feels like it's taking too long.
Frank Broughton and Bill Brewster, authors of "How to DJ Right: The Art and Science of Playing Records," assert that DJing is ultimately about being a good listener. Music knowledge and training improve your listening skills and ability to hear. The authors count listening to music as musical training, so do not be discouraged if you lack the formal background you'd get from voice lessons, playing in a band or studying an instrument.
Attempting to teach yourself to be a DJ can be frustrating and overwhelming. Piper Terrett, author of "Bedroom DJ: A Beginner's Guide," saw this firsthand when she attempted to teach herself. Terrett sought out professional DJ's to interview for advice and in the process obtained a few personal lessons at her home.
Her advice is to find an experienced professional to learn from before you establish bad habits, purchase equipment you don't need yet, or make any other beginner mistakes you could avoid with guidance and advice. Mentors can take the form of instructional videos, books and live classes. Introductory courses cover topics like music theory, equipment selection, setup, breakdown and use, and business issues.
Music fuels the energy of a party or event. As the person controlling the music, a DJ needs a positive, energetic, outgoing personality. DJ's are entertainers, enabling others to have a good time. Shrinking violets need not apply.
To be successful as a DJ, you need to sell yourself and your professional services. Most DJ's are self-employed, which means you need to constantly market yourself if you want to work on a consistent basis.