Disc Jockeys And What It Needs To Become One

The making of a disc jockey is a journey not traversed by many. If you are planning to take up this profession or simply interested in what a disc jockey is all about, read on to enhance your knowledge.

A disc jockey or a DJ is a person who selects and plays prerecorded music for an audience. In 1934 American commentator Waller Winchell coined the term “disc jockey” the combination of “disc” referring to disc and “jockey” which is the operator of a machine.

In 1943 Jimmy Savile launched the worlds first DJ dance party playing Jazz records in England. In 1947 he became the first DJ to use twin turntables for continuous play.

In 1947 the “Whiskey-a-go-go” night club opened in Paris, France, considered to be the world’s first discotheque or disco deriving its name from the French word, meaning a nightclub where the featured entertainment is recorded music rather than an onstage band.

There are several types of disc jockeys –

MCs Reggae disc jockeys- In Reggae the DJ is a vocalist raps, beat boxes or chats over digital music recording.

Radio jockey – They introduce and play music that is broadcasted on AM, FM, shortwave or digital stations.

Mobile disc jockeys- They travel with a portable sound system and play at a variety of functions like birthday parties, marriages, and a variety of other events.

Club Jockey- Select and play music in a bar, club, disco or a rave.

Hip hop jockeys- They select and play music with multiple turntables with one or more backup.

DJ equipments:

A sound system for amplification of, or broadcasting of the music.

A minimum of two devices to play sound recording for alternate back and forth to create continuous playback of music.

Headphones used to play one recording while the other is being played to the audience.

The music recording is done in a DJ preferred medium( eg. Vinyl records compact discs, computer media files.

A DJ mixer, an electronic two channel mixer with a cross mixer with a cross fader to go from one song to another.

A Microphone so that the DJ can introduce songs and speak to the audience.

Several techniques are used by DJs as means to better mix of prerecorded music like cueing or audio mixing of two or more sound sources. Club DJs use turntable techniques like cutting, scratching, needle drops etc.

Hire a DJ to enjoy the evening with your friends or to jive away the blues that have been troubling you for long. Use this unique performer to enhance the mood of your wedding, birthday or anniversary party.