Top Tips to Master The Art of DJing

In a world where average ‘DJs’ are making big bucks from pre-recorded sets, it’s more important than ever to recognise the skill of true professionals. There’s much more to DJing than pressing play, gesticulating wildly and throwing cakes at the crowd. The EDM crowd are welcome to that nonsense. The DJs we love all mastered the true art of DJing properly. They can beat match by ear, know how to read a crowd and build killer sets from their first-class tune selections.

Our DJ family at Ibiza Global Radio 95.3 are all great DJs in their own right. Here, Avidbold, Doomaz, Amir Sharara and Fizzo reveal how they learned the trade and offer their top tips to master the art of DJing. Check out their skills behind the decks at our next Beach Festival, on Saturday 14^th May. Grab your tickets now to hear the lads play alongside international guest headliners Steve Bug, the Mambo Brothers and Armonica. We promise you a day of great tunes, awesome vibes and highly skilled DJs – with not a cake in sight!

 

Avidbold

From:
Jordan

No. of years DJing:
16

My greatest DJ inspirations are…
Sasha and DJ Bee Bee. Many DJs have inspired me but Sasha and DJ Bee Bee inspired me the most. I was especially inspired by Sasha’s Involver and Involver 2 albums. He has a diverse and unique sound in electronic music and his many sound effects broadened my taste in music.

DJ Bee Bee is my older brother. He inspired me in the technical aspect of DJing and mentored me in the most gruelling way. He gave me space to learn alone, make mistakes, figure them out and correct them while still keeping a close watch on me.

I learned to DJ on…
Denon DNS3500 CD players and a Denon DN-X1500 DJ mixer.

The most frustrating thing when learning to DJ is…
When I started DJing between 2004 and 2005, the most difficult thing for me was understanding the mix and how to create smooth transitions between one song and another. Also, knowing how to beat match correctly and match the tempo of two songs, learning to count the beats and bars, and how to choose the right track and where it fit musically and harmonically with the other tracks being played.

With technology so advanced today, the solutions are more accessible but learning it the hard way is a great method for fine-tuning your craft. Understanding the details behind what you do and why you do it builds your trust and trains your ears to hear the music and not only watch the screen.

Learning the trade took me…
Around two or three years but I also don’t believe you gain proper experience DJing from home compared to DJing for a crowd. I would add a few extra years to that gaining experience and confidence to play for a crowd and learning how to read the vibes on the dancefloor.

My first public DJ gig was…
In winter 2007 at a club called NAI in Amman, Jordan. I was definitely nervous and scared; my heart was beating a mile a minute. I got behind the decks and performed and was nervous throughout my set, especially as the club was full and many of my friends were calling out my name and cheering me on. I definitely felt the pressure! After my set, I received good feedback from the crowd, but I knew I had made some mistakes and learned from them.

My biggest DJ gigs to date are…
The Distant Heat Festival, at Wadi Rum, Jordan, in 2010 – a unique two-day festival that attracted many people from the Middle East and Europe. I had the honour of warming up for Ferry Corsten. This event helped put my name out there in Jordan and the region.

The Chill O’posite Music Festival in 2018 – a three-day festival in Dahab, Egypt. I played the closing set for the entire festival. My set was supposed to be for two hours but I ended up playing for three. The energy was one of the most special moments I have ever experienced. And Creamfields Abu Dhabi in 2014, when I played to around 18,000 people. It’s the largest crowd I’ve played for and it was a great experience playing for such a huge crowd.

I prepare for each DJ gig by…
Typically, I relax before a gig and make sure not to listen to loud music so I give my ears a rest. I usually have a chill day before a gig so I have plenty of energy when performing. I go to the venue an hour or so before my set to get a feel for the club, the crowd and their energy.

When warming up for another DJ it’s important to…
This is a critical topic that has been misunderstood lately. The warm-up act, in my opinion, is more sensitive and vital than the main act due to having to build up the night smoothly. It’s extremely important to know the DJ you are warming up for and what their sound is when they play. Make sure to warm up with a sound that is not crossing into the main DJ’s sound as they are the headliner. I recommend playing a more downtempo sound than the main act; you can still ensure everyone is dancing and grooving to your warm-up set. Keep in mind that you are creating the vibe for the main DJ and dancefloor.

My set at the Ibiza Global Radio 95.3 Beach Festival will be…
I’m leaning towards house and deep house with happy grooves, as I like to play that kind of sound by the beach and under the sun but everything can change on the spot. I’m excited and looking forward to the Beach Festival and am so glad to be part of it. 

My top tip to master the art of DJing is…
I have a few. Constantly update your playlists. It doesn’t necessarily have to be with new releases; you can dig into old tracks as well. Get to know other genres of electronic music as it will help your own taste in music to evolve and will help you play different genres according to the venue, set time, etc, while keeping your own identity. When you DJ, make sure to read the entire crowd and the club vibes – don’t only read your friends’ vibes. Your friends will always dance in front of you so don’t let that fool you. And don’t compare yourself to other DJs as each is on their own journey.

It’s very important to understand the technical aspects of the DJ equipment you are using, the standard equipment in the market and what’s new. Most importantly, know the audio signal flow of the DJ equipment and its settings. Then you’ll be able to fix any technical issues that might crop up.

While it’s good to have a social media presence, don’t make it your primary focus. Remember, music – which is constantly evolving – and learning are more critical. This will help you grow in your career and give you longevity. Don’t copy other DJs; always be yourself and stay real, good things will come your way even if it takes time but when it comes it will sustain. Practice and practice and always trust your ears and your musical taste.

Check out Avidbold’s Wandering in a City show, broadcasting every Thursday, at 8pm, on Ibiza Global Radio 95.3.

Doomaz

From:
Egypt and Canada

No. of years DJing?
Three years professionally.

My greatest DJ inspiration is…
Maceo Plex. He is a constantly evolving artist, always leading the way as a market shaper for the past 15 years.

I learned to DJ on…
Native Instruments’ Traktor Kontrol S4 DJ Controller, the Pioneer XDJ RX2 all in one DJ system and Pioneer’s CDJ Nexus 1.

The most frustrating thing when learning to DJ is…
Understanding your sound versus what is being played around you. Bridging the gap between both and not solely focusing on one or the other is essential.

Learning the trade took me…
One year.

My first public DJ gig was…
At Solace Club in Dubai. I played an opening slot. I felt nervous before the gig but I had prepared for it very well. The gig went well and I felt great afterwards.

My biggest DJ gigs to date are…
Chill O’posite Festival, in Egypt, where I played a two-hour sunset slot to 4000 people. What an amazing vibe! And Sandbox Festival, again in Egypt, and again a two-hour sunset slot, this time playing to 5000 people.

I prepare for each DJ gig by…
Considering the location and vibe of the venue and my slot time. I also consider who is playing before and after my set. With these things in mind, I’ll start building a playlist from my music library. Typically, a two-hour set is around 22 tracks. I create a playlist of around 60 potential tracks that I can look through while I play live, rather than looking through my full library.

When warming up for another DJ it’s important to…
Build momentum slowly throughout your set to get people into the vibe gradually. Consider the other DJ’s style to ensure your opening set is a fitting preparation to his set, which should be the highlight. Respect the line-up and don’t get too excited and play too hard too quickly.

My set at the Ibiza Global Radio 95.3 Beach Festival will be…
A sunset slot, from 5pm to 6pm, featuring a mix of organic, groovy and Afro house, most probably.

My top tip to master the art of DJing is…
Start learning on a Pioneer set-up. There’s no need to waste time on Traktor. Take your time in the learning process and don’t rush. Take your time with beat matching and train your ears to beat match without any visual aids. Maintain your identity in the music you play and strive to always bring something new to the table. Be a trendsetter.

Hear more groovy Afro house sounds during Doomaz Live, every Tuesday, at 8pm, on Ibiza Global Radio 95.3.

Amir Sharara

From:​
Egypt

No. of years DJing:
Over 19 years.

My greatest DJ inspirations are…
Joris Voorn, Eelke Kleijn, Steve Lawler, Claptone, Nora En Pure and Black Coffee. Each has their own style and mixing technique, which inspires me to keep growing and explore different directions.

I learned to DJ on…
Denon’s DJ DN series CD players – the early ones that didn’t even have pitch bend!

The most frustrating thing when learning to DJ is…
The beat matching; training your ears to tell which track needs tempo adjustment to match. Also sensing which records match harmonically for a proper set build up without knowing the keys.

Learning the trade took me…
Lots of practice for a couple of weeks until I reached a good level of confidence to play a proper gig.

My first public DJ gig was…
The opening of ​Aloha Club, in Hurghada, Egypt, in 2003. As it was the official opening, I felt a lot of responsibility to deliver and not mess up my mixing. I prepared for my set in detail by creating a playlist and noting down the tempos and minutes of each track to mix in and out. I was so nervous when I started DJing but I was fine once I got into the mood. Everyone enjoyed it and I received great feedback from the crowd and the club owner. It was a massive relief. The best part? They booked me again for a monthly residency.

My biggest DJ gigs to date are…
​Reaching the final round of the Heineken Thirst DJ competition​ in 2007​, when I played with John Digweed in front of 6000 people. Playing the main stage of the Nokia Music Festival in 2008 to a crowd of over 10,000 people and touring Australia with stops in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth.

I prepare for each DJ gig by…
Understanding the theme of the gig, location, set time and duration of my slot and the type of audience that will attend. I base my preparations for each gig around these foundation elements.

When warming up for another DJ it’s important to…
Keep it interesting without going hard. A warm-up set is more of a teaser for the audience to get excited about what’s coming next. And do not play any of the headline DJ’s records.

My set at the Ibiza Global Radio 95.3 Beach Festival will be…
Balearic groovy non-stop uplifting Ibiza vibes.

My top tip to master the art of DJing is…
Practice makes perfect. Don’t try to copy anyone; you can reference but always have your own style, blend and touch. You will never please everyone so it’s okay to receive negative feedback because others will love it. Always be open to play different styles within your favourite music spectrum. Over time you will be able to read the crowd and improvising plays a big role in handling tough gigs and crowds. Keep in mind, if you are confident and trust yourself, be flexible. At the end, it feels great to have a successful gig for the crowd, yourself and the organisers.

Don’t miss Amir Sharara Live, every Wednesday, on Ibiza Global Radio 95.3.

 

Fizzo (Fizzo & Jay) 

From:
Jordan

No. of years DJing:
15

I learned to DJ on…
Back in the day, I didn’t really have much equipment, as it was expensive and DJing was only my hobby back then. I bought a Pioneer DJM 400 mixer and a sound card. Effectively, I was using two channels on Traktor and using a hardware mixer.

The most frustrating thing when learning to DJ is…
I wanted to challenge myself to be able to beat match without having to look at any BPM reading. It took me probably a month to be able to sync one track’s BPM to another by ear.

Learning the trade took me…
Well, I had my first residency when I turned 21 but even then there were many learning curves involving music genre transitions. I was about 25 when I found my sound and what I’m comfortable with.

My first public DJ gig was…
In 2002. It was a Redbull event, which my friend was managing as part of a University off-campus thing, for around 1500 people. My set was at midnight and I was there for the set-up all the way from 7pm. I remember I had about seven cans of Redbull and couldn’t sleep after the gig! 

My biggest DJ gig to date is…
The Wake-Up Call Festival at W Dubai, on the Palm, with names like Disclosure, Rita Ora and Rufus Du Sol. We played right after Disclosure and before Rita Ora. There were probably 4000 people there that night.

I prepare for each DJ gig by…
Getting a good night’s sleep and having a couple of drinks before my set. To be honest, I don’t really have a process. I just make sure I know what kind of DJs the venue books often and understand the sound of the venue so my sound will fall in line with the rest. 

When warming up for another DJ it’s important to…
There are a lot of things to mention here, really. Firstly, and most importantly, never play tracks of the artist playing after you, regardless if it’s a local DJ or an international one. Secondly, never play music that isn’t suitable for a warm-up set. We all have the urge to play the best tracks we have and fill dancefloors with people jumping and banging their heads but as a warm-up DJ your job is to warm up the crowd for what’s to come.

My top tip to master the art of DJing is…
The best piece of advice I can share is to understand the scene around you, whether you’re a hip-hop DJ or an electronic music DJ. You need to know what works and what does not. Yes, of course, play what you want to play and nothing else, but don’t play heavy techno in a lounge bar. Always practice and get hands-on with the latest equipment. With technology nowadays, DJ equipment is getting better and better so familiarise yourself with the industry standard, so you know what you are doing. Finally, reading the crowd is very important for knowing the pace of the set; start easy and end hard, not the other way around.

After playing a blinder at our first event, Fizzo & Jay return to the Ibiza Global Radio 95.3 Beach Festival on Saturday 14th May. Tune into their Fabrikated Junk show, every Wednesday, at 8pm.

Main photo: Antoine J/Unsplash