To become a disc jockey, one can attend college for technical skills or gain experience through apprenticeships and on-the-job training. Radio DJs need announcing and broadcast journalism skills, while club DJs require music and audio engineering training. It takes time to build a reputation in the industry, but those with charisma and adaptability can become celebrities.
To become a disc jockey, you usually need to go to college for technical skills and training, whether the plan is to work in radio or club environments. It is also possible to acquire the necessary skills through apprenticeships and on-the-job training, although this may take longer. It also helps to be familiar with a wide variety of musical genres and be able to keep abreast of developments in the music industry through professional publications, events and studious listening.
Radio disc jockeys must be able to operate equipment in the radio studio and also need some announcing skills. Many may provide weather forecasts and other announcements during the show and require training in broadcast journalism. During the training, students learn how to operate the equipment and will also receive vocal training so that they acquire the vocal skills they need on the radio. Disc jockey training often provides access to internships for students to gain work experience.
A student who wants to be a disc jockey on a radio station might want to think about the type of music that interests her most. He should develop a broad familiarity with the genre in which he wants to work. With a college education and some experience through internships, she can apply for positions at radio stations. Competition is often fierce, and it can help to have an outstanding application with credits such as internships at major radio stations.
In the club environment, disc jockeys may not need broadcast journalism training, but training in music and audio engineering can help. Many colleges and universities offer this type of training. Disc jockeys can learn how to operate audio equipment and can develop skills such as mixing and creating playlists. Club careers are less likely to require a high school education, but applicants who choose not to go to college to become a disc jockey must acquire on-the-job training through internships under the tutelage of experienced disc jockeys.
It can take several years to become a disc jockey and even longer to build a reputation in the industry. Radio announcers may move between stations to take advantage of better job offers and more employment opportunities, while club disc jockeys tend to develop freelance careers as they build a client list and following. Both have the potential to become celebrities if they have charisma and a knack for adapting quickly to emerging trends in music; a disc jockey may attract a following of clients which will make him in high demand and may enable him to negotiate better pay for services than he does.
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