DJs are in high demand these days. People hire them for everything from weddings and birthday parties to corporate events and beyond. Of course, customers have certain expectations when they bring in a DJ to help make their events more exciting and memorable. Personality is an important factor; they want someone who is fun and personable while still having plenty of professionalism. They also want someone who is willing to work with them to build the perfect playlist and create just the right atmosphere for their events.
On top of all that, people want a DJ who has the right equipment to meet their expectations and those of their guests. No matter how much personality and experience you have, prospects are likely to overlook you if you don’t have a professional setup. With that being the case, you need to have at least a few basic pieces of equipment to get started.
A DJ Stand
One of the most essential pieces of equipment for an aspiring DJ is a stand. It’ll make your job much easier and help you keep your customers happy. Consider looking for a professional DJ stand that’s adjustable so you can set it up to match your height and arm length and collapsible so it travels well. Several types of stands are available. Some are small, simple setups that are designed to hold a laptop or tablet. Others offer additional space for other equipment, like mixers and controllers. It’s important to find a balance between bulkiness and versatility. If you choose a stand that only has a space for a laptop and controller, you may want to branch out and buy a separate table to accommodate your other equipment.
A Laptop
Your stand is an important piece of equipment, but it’s only the beginning. You need to be able to provide the music customers are looking for. One standard tool for that is a laptop. This doesn’t necessarily have to be a high-end model, but it does need to have enough power and storage space to do the job. If it doesn’t, it’ll hold you back with the same lag, limitations, and other issues gamers get so frustrated with when they’re not using the right PC setup. That’s bound to leave you with a lot of unsatisfied customers and bad reviews.
A laptop with a 2-core processor is the bare minimum here, but many DJs recommend stepping up to a quad-core processor or better. It’ll give you more processing power, which equates to better performance. Beyond the processor, your laptop needs to have ample RAM and storage space. Screen size is also important. Some DJs feel that 13-inch screens are a bit too small, but 15-inch screens tend to be just right. If you’d like a bigger screen, they’re certainly available, but you’ll sacrifice portability to an extent with those. Having plenty of USB ports to plug into as your setup grows is a good idea as well.
DJ Software
Laptops can only do so much on their own. Without a few additional pieces of equipment, you’ll only be able to stream certain types of music or play songs from a basic pre-recorded playlist. Most customers can do that on their own. They want more from a professional DJ. To give them that, you’ll need the right DJ software.
DJ software is essentially a virtual workspace. Instead of relying on physical turntables, mixers, and other equipment, those tools are built into the software itself. It gives you the same faders, equalization, beat mixing, transitioning, and other capabilities as separate pieces of equipment. It may also offer a few extras that you wouldn’t have with a physical mixer and turntables. Those include special effects, various filters, and editing tools. Numerous types of DJ software are on the market. Each one has its own features, and some are more inclusive and versatile than others. Some are also more user friendly than others, which is particularly important for beginners.
A Controller
Controllers are also crucial pieces of equipment for DJs. Granted, with the right laptop and software, you don’t necessarily need one. Still, many prefer the hands-on approach a separate controller can provide.
On the other side of that argument, you could choose an all-in-one controller. These have the screen, controls, software, and other features all built in, so they eliminate the need for a separate laptop and software. Some DJs insist they’re a better option because they’re made specifically for the job, and they can be more reliable than the alternatives. That being said, they tend to be more expensive, and they don’t give you the added flexibility and customization options of a laptop and software. They don’t always come with automatic updates, either.
Headphones and a Microphone
Headphones and a microphone are vital pieces of DJ equipment too. Headphones allow you to hear the music over the crowd, so you can keep up with all the intricate details. They help with cueing up new tracks, beatmatching, smoothly transitioning from one song to the next, and other tasks. A microphone is helpful for obvious reasons. It’ll allow you to talk to your audience and add more of your personality to the show. If you prefer to let your music speak for itself, you don’t have to use a microphone, but it’s a good idea to have one nonetheless. You can let other people use it to make announcements and give speeches.
Speakers
You’ll need to have speakers as well. No matter what type of laptop you have, its internal speakers won’t suffice when you’re playing for a crowd. Some venues have their own PA systems for you to connect to, but that’s not the case with all of them. It’s always a good idea to be prepared. Besides, you may want to use your own equipment to get the sound you want.
Creating the Perfect Setup
These are some of the basic pieces of equipment every aspiring DJ should have. Though you don’t necessarily need to purchase the most expensive equipment on the market, an investment in quality is sure to generate great returns. As you become more experienced and gain more of a following, you can certainly purchase additional gear to expand your repertoire.
