For the past five or six years, the art of Dj-ing has become increasingly more accessible to the general public. Becoming a disc jockey used to require a substantial investment into gear and media to play, as well as plenty of practice in mixing and beatmatching. The advent of timecoded vinyl systems such as Final Scratch, Scratch Live, Ms. Pinky, and many others along with completely internal systems such as PCDJ, Virtual DJ, etc. changed the game entirely. Downloading of music through torrents and other methods was already widespread, so quickly accumulating a music library at zero cost made Dj-ing far more attainable and thus more Dj’s entered the market. The fully internal software mixing options, though certainly not as popular as timecode systems in the professional world at that time, began getting greater attention because not only were they even lower cost than most timecode systems, they were easier to transport, had more features such as effects, and could bpm sync to tracks or a master clock automatically– almost completely bypassing a need to understand manual beatmatching. Software applications such as Traktor Pro can even quantize events and auto-gain tracks to create perfectly timed mixes even if the user makes a mistake, and programs like Mixed In Key reduce the chances of mixing clashing songs.

All things considered, the new emerging technology certainly felt like a threat to already established Dj’s because of software’s ability to do a lot of the work for the Dj, and the implication that this combined with lower cost-of-entry would bring many more Dj’s into the already diluted pool. The way I’ve always seen it is that if new technology arrives, one must understand and utilize it where needed to stay on top of the game and use it as an opportunity for more creativity. I use Traktor Pro, and set-up beat grids to keep my songs in sync, despite that I know how to beatmatch, because this affords me the chance to do things that would be very difficult otherwise. Mixing three decks in sync, using a sampler, and manipulating effects all at the same time using midi controllers; my mixes sound far better, and are more creative than what I could do with two turntables and a mixer alone (which I started with) and so I have the competitive edge and bring a new sound to the table. The new sound which I create, and the method of doing so is called controllerism, which is the generation of DJ from which I belong (turntablism being the alternate generation). But controllerists and digital Dj’s alike have been experiencing an exponential flood of new products and will subsequently receive a wave of new Dj’s.

Activision’s DJ Hero, Amido’s Touch DJ, Native Instruments’ Traktor Duo as an option to include when you order a Hewlett Packard computer, Vestax’s Spin available in Apple Stores, a whole slew of mixing and beat production games, and many, many other new products that have arrived in the past few months are examples of Dj related products that will interest a great number of to-be disc jockey’s in the coming year. Many of these new, even less expensive Dj products, though not necessarily very high in quality, are quite capable of mixing well enough for a mobile disc jockey or to the liking of a small club audience (and are much better marketed than cheap gear of the past). Which means once again, we will see many more Dj’s join the fad. The implications of exponential growth in the supply of Dj’s has many dynamics that effect different aspects of the modern disc jockey world.
 

Mobile DJ’s

As this is a mobile DJ blog, let me first put to rest any undue fear in the mobile disc jockey’s out there. Mobile Dj-ing is a very different beast than club and studio Dj-ing. It requires a vast musical knowledge and strong stage presence with both professional manner and charisma. These aren’t things that you can learn from a product. There may possibly be a greater number of cheap, inexperienced Dj’s in the market, but these Dj’s will likely be hired in the same manner as they always have: by parties that would not pay the premium price for a career disc jockey anyway. As long as we are producing a good professional service, new consumer products shouldn’t change a thing for professional mobile Dj’s.
 

Bedroom DJ’s

Bedroom Dj’s are the individuals whom have their deck set-up at home, and aren’t necessarily doing their thing for money. Dj-ing is fun and addictive, and that’s why new consumer products are being rained upon us. In 2010 we will see many, many more bedroom Dj’s on YouTube, SoundCloud, and a plethora of other resources. This is just part of the wonderful world of user generated content in Web 2.0. Do not be alarmed. I can only see this as a valuable spread of ideas, from which the pro’s can tap.
 

Club DJ’s

As Dj-ing is better understood by the general public, it stirs less interest in a live “performance” setting. Some Dj’s really are doing a lot on stage or mixing tracks they made, and it’s not easy, but most are mixing two top 40 tracks that they downloaded earlier that evening. The novelty of the two-deck and mixer Dj is dying– fast. Sign up for a MySpace account and no doubt you will be overrun by ads from Dj’s. Clubs in my local area that could rely on Dj’s as relatively inexpensive performers a year ago are either in dire financial troubles or shut down entirely. Those that have live performers are faring much better. This is the area of the craft that will, over the next year especially, meet some big changes (I hope!). It’s not 2008, people are not dishing out $300 for a DJ to play house music unless they are mildly famous these days. Serious club DJ’s will have to separate themselves from those trying to ride the bunny slopes to the bank, something that used to be commonplace for Dj’s. We all will have to step up our game and create an actual performance out of Dj-ing. A show that people will want to be there for, and one that others will hear about. My suggestion to club Dj’s is that you take what you have and expand on it. Add a sampler, learn some new software, add a drum machine, modify your gear, and, hell, wear some silly clothing. The key to staying on top for 2010 will be to take produced music that you like and add even just a touch of your own alteration to it. I highly recommend reading music blogs such as Create Digital Music. There are many out there but CDM is among most informative and eloquently written (I read it religiously, homage to Peter Kirn). Reading blogs, such as CDM, may not always include information that is entirely relevant to the reader but the extra knowledge gained from awareness of new technology and methods of playing music will give you the competitive edge. This is true no matter what kind of music you are spinning if you want to make Dj-ing a serious performance spectacle and get all the attention every club Dj dreams about. When you’ve really got something groovy going on, look for others to collaborate with. As I always say, artists are collaborators, not competitors! Club Dj’s I urge you: do not view these new products as threats, see them as motivation for you to push your craft to a new level.