So you want to be able to DJ like a pro, but it's hard to know where to start, it's hard to know what to practise, and it's hard to know if you're getting better.

This proven five-step formula, first popularised in our book Rock The Dancefloor! (which has now reached its second edition and is a global bestseller), is your answer.

Each of the five steps in this teaching method identifies an area to work on. When you work in all areas, it has a "multiplier effect". By approaching your DJing hobby this way, you’ll get noticeably better – fast – and you’ll have more fun doing so. You’ll find you’re never stuck for something to do, and your progress will be obvious, not least to you!

Here we’re going to look at step three, which is mixing, before moving on to look at the next two steps in order (the order is important). We’ve already covered the first two steps, gear and music.

Mixing is what you do with the music you worked on in step two, using the gear we covered in step one.

A big mistake beginner DJs make when they want to learn to DJ is try to start here, at step three. As we’ve already seen, without a solid grounding in the first two steps, you’re going to come unstuck quite quickly, because either you’ll get frustrated with the gear and it will hold you back unnecessarily, or you’ll find you haven’t got the music you want (or you can’t find the music you want quickly enough) to make the mixing part fruitful.

However, if you understand and are also working on the first two steps, you’re ready for this one. And of course, it is this one that often ultimately draws DJs to the hobby, because we all see DJs doing a great job and want to emulate them.

This episode covers three tips that will help you master this area of DJing. Enjoy the show!

As ever, this pod is supported 100% by the students of Digital DJ Tips. If you enjoy it and you can, please do give us a five-star rating on Apple Podcasts. It really does make a difference.

TIMESTAMPS

0:00 Intro

0:15 Episode overview

1:09 Where beginner DJs get stuck..

2:41 Tip #1 - Get the volume right

4:30 Tip #2 - Noticeable mixing is OK

7:33 Tip #3 - There's no "correct" way to DJ

11:09 Bonus tip - Record your sets

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