“I didn’t realise how many different ways to DJ I would become interested in. Mobile DJing as a potential income stream…club DJing could be fun…I’ve been excited to see DJs playing experimental or ambient sets, which is probably closest to my passion…and then a lot of the music I listen to would probably be most at home in a bar set. So, I’m having trouble focusing and deciding what to start with. There’s just so much music in the world.”
This message from one of our students – a musician in a noise/art rock band who got into DJing when a gig fell through – captures a problem many creative people face. You discover DJing through one thing, then realise there are loads of different ways to do it, each pulling you in different directions.
Unlike someone who discovers DJing through clubbing and knows they want to play house music, musicians often see connections everywhere. The experimental DJ playing ambient sounds speaks to their artistic side. Mobile DJing can earn decent money. Club sets look like fun. Bar gigs suit the music they already love…
This is a surprisingly common beginner pain point – it’s the real challenge of having multiple interests that don’t obviously connect. How do you move forward when every direction looks good? If you’re facing a similar dilemma, read on for some of the advice I gave this student.
1. Just pick one and start mixing
Stop thinking about which path is “right” and just start DJing. Pick the one that gets you most excited right now – whether that’s mobile work, experimental sets, or bar gigs – and commit to it for the next three months.
Download 20 tracks that fit that style. Learn to mix between them smoothly. That’s it. Don’t worry about whether it’s the perfect choice – you’ll learn more in three months of actually mixing than six months of researching different paths.
If you chose mobile DJing, practise mixing between completely different genres. Get a wedding playlist and learn to go from Ed Sheeran to classic soul to current hip-hop without trainwrecking. If you picked experimental sets, grab some ambient tracks and learn to layer them, building atmosphere over 20-30 minute stretches.
The skills you develop will work everywhere. Smooth transitions are smooth transitions whether you’re playing a wedding or an art gallery. Energy management works the same at festivals and house parties.
Three months from now, you’ll have actual DJ skills and real experience to base your next decision on, rather than endless theoretical possibilities.
2. Set up your music sources and actually use them
There are loads of ways to get music nowadays – streaming services, digital stores, subscription platforms. The point isn’t to master them all or worry about which is the perfect one. Just pick two options and actually use them. This week, spend 30 minutes on one service finding 10 tracks you want to play. Next week, spend 30 minutes on a different service doing the exact same thing.
Don’t compare features or read reviews – just use them. Which one helped you find good music faster? Which interface felt more natural? After two weeks of actual use, you’ll know which one works better for you.
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In his long note to us, our student also mentioned that he wanted to “find that intersection of dance music, punk, and experimental music”. The trick is to stop looking for perfect playlists. Start with one track you love that bridges those worlds. Look up the artist, find their label, see what else they’ve released. Check who’s remixed them. Look at DJ sets where that track appears.
Music discovery (and DJing) work through connections, not categories. You find your sound by following trails from tracks you already love, not by browsing endless playlists hoping something clicks.
3. Play your first gig in the next two months
Nothing clarifies your DJ direction faster than actually playing for people. Book something small and achievable – offer to DJ a friend’s birthday party, play a short set at an open mic night, or stream a 30-minute mix on Twitch.
If you’re thinking about mobile work, volunteer to DJ a charity event. You’ll quickly learn whether you enjoy the business side, dealing with requests, and reading crowds. If experimental music calls to you, find a local art space or café that hosts creative nights and offer to play.
The gig doesn’t need to be perfect. You don’t need professional equipment or a massive music collection. You need to experience what it feels like to play music for other people and see their reaction.
That first gig will teach you more about what type of DJ you want to be than months of thinking about it. You’ll discover whether you love the energy of moving a crowd, the satisfaction of background music done well, or the artistic expression of experimental sets.
4. Use your band experience practically
Your noise/art rock background isn’t just inspiration – it’s practical DJ skills you already have. You know how to read an audience, build tension, and create atmosphere. You understand how different sounds work together. You’ve dealt with equipment and performed under pressure.
Apply this directly to your DJ learning. When practicing transitions, think about how your band builds from quiet verses to explosive choruses. When selecting tracks for a set, use the same instincts you use for setlists – how do you take people on a journey?
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Your experimental music experience means you already understand texture, space, and unconventional timing better than most beginning DJs. Use this advantage. Instead of learning standard club mixing patterns, experiment with overlaying tracks the way you’d layer instruments in your band.
Most DJs come from a dancing background and learn music from that perspective. Coming from a creative/performance background gives you different strengths. Don’t try to DJ like everyone else – use what you already know about making music work.
Finally…
If you’re new to DJing, especially with a musical background already, you can probably relate to some of the concerns our student shared above. The final bit of advice I offered him was this: “The overwhelm you’re feeling comes from treating DJing like a career decision instead of a skill to learn. Stop planning and start doing. Pick a direction, get some tracks, and start mixing. You’ll figure out what works for you through experience, not analysis.
“Your creative background and broad musical interests aren’t problems to solve – they’re advantages that’ll help you develop something distinctive. But only if you stop thinking about it and start actually DJing.”