How to Discover New Music for Your DJ Set
Becoming a disc jockey is a great way for music lovers to make a living while engaging in their passion. Of course, there is a great deal of responsibility and hard work that is required to turn a side project into a marketable skill. One of the most important factors for any up-and-coming DJ is the list of music in the set. Choosing a collection of fresh tracks as well as proven crowd pleasers is a surefire way to keep an audience engaged and give potential clients a reason to pay top dollar for the services. Discovering the latest collection of songs to bring new life to a DJ’s set involves some creative thinking and access to great resources. Here are a few of the most innovative and effective ways to accomplish the goal.
Follow the Inspiration
Every DJ has a unique point of view and tastes that are unlike any other professional on the scene. For this reason, it is important for those in this industry to listen to their own instinct when it comes to choosing new music for a set. While it is important to offer some variety to please as many people as possible, audiences also tend to react positively when they know that the DJ is playing music that comes from the heart.
Find the Right Sources
Some DJs prefer to check out social media or other online sources for the latest musical trends. However, the most reliable and affordable source for royalty free music can be found in a digital catalog like Artlist. Not only does this site make it easy to browse through tons of great new songs, but it also keeps the costs low and covers all of the legal details to ensure that every DJ set is perfectly acceptable to play in any venue, regardless of how many people are in the audience.
Listen to the Crowds
After a show or during breaks, it is a good idea for a DJ to mingle with those in the crowd. This will allow audience members an opportunity to weigh in on which songs they enjoyed the most and which ones were not as catchy. Keeping a mental tally or even writing down some of these recommendations will help determine which styles, artists, and genres of music are consistently more popular than the rest. Since tastes change over time, however, it is important to keep this list up to date and swap out newer hits for some of the other songs that might be getting a bit stale.
Set the Right Mood
Since every crowd is different, a great DJ should have several sets from which to choose based on the type of venue and audience that will be attending a show. For example, performing during a high school party will probably mean spinning a much different collection of songs than during a wedding. Becoming a successful DJ means anticipating what each crowd will enjoy and designing a set that will meet and exceed the expectations of everyone in attendance. This is only possible after some experience in the industry, so the best path toward developing the most comprehensive collection of songs is to book as many disparate gigs as possible and work toward finding a way to please as many different groups as possible.
Learn From Other DJs
Many popular DJs have their own blogs and websites and are willing to share their own experiences. Learning from the successes and setbacks of others in the industry is a great way to discover which songs are working and which ones tend to fall flat.
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