So, you want to become a female DJ. Good on you! At first glance, it may seem strange to suggest that there is a particular difference in DJing career for women when compared to men; and, to a degree, that’s correct.
The reality is that, while the profession is, in and of itself, genderless, we can’t ignore the fact that DJing is still a male-dominated field.
You can’t get around the fact that, for every most DJs out there, only one or two are going to be female.
As such, if you are a woman, there are some key tips you can start doing today that will help you push the odds further in your favor.
Below are the top 10 tips any woman should know if they want to become an awesome and renowned DJ.
Hopefully, by having more and more women learn to successfully navigate the potential traps and pitfalls that come with DJing, we can make the space a more welcoming and open environment for all genders.
How To Become A Female DJ (in short)
If you are dreaming of becoming a successful female DJ then the magic sauce is simple but demanding to follow. Be inspired by others around you. Practice, practice, practice your DJ skills. Work harder, work smarter. Network, network, and network again. Be professional DJ, reliable, and consistent. Above all else, make great stand-out music.
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Tip #1. Practice, Practice, Practice!
The first practical step you’ll want to do is, once you’ve got your DJ gear and equipment, to make sure you are a master at your craft.
The reality is that women, much more than men, are heavily scrutinized, often with the intent of tearing them down. It isn’t fair and it isn’t right but it is a reality. The way to overcome that is by knowing the ins and outs of your controller, turntable, or CDJ both, backward and forwards.
The ideal situation is that, before you ever go on stage (even once) you know as much as you can about how to mix and can perform your DJ sets without the slightest sense of fear or trepidation.
Tip #2. Network With Other Female DJs
One of the first things you need to do is to put yourself out there and network with as many female DJs as possible.
By doing this, you can form a sort of sisterhood, where each female DJ shares what they know and how to excel in the space. You’ll want to make sure you join as many groups as possible.
Some great places to check people out and find groups are none other than Facebook and other social media platforms.
Tip #3. Develop Your Own Style
This is a HUGE tip, so take notes. One thing about becoming a renowned DJ is that you have a style that is unique sounding to you and something people will immediately recognize as coming from you and no one else.
This could vary from the DJ style of music you play to the type of music you’re putting out. It could also be how you’re styled and dressed when performing at an event.
Deadmau5, as an example, is known instantly for the “Mouse” head he wears to every performance.
As a result, no matter what they put out, it’s instantly recognized as being done by Deadmau5 and not some other DJs performer.
The same goes for other artists such as Claptone and Daft punk. But I am not saying that you have to now go out and use masks to create an identity and style.
Take the Brazilian DJ Mocchak, over the last year (2021-22) his flamboyant and energetic DJ sets have generated a huge following online.
His passion has shone through and people have engaged with that.
Tip #4. Grow A Thick Skin
You’re not going to like this one but it’s here for a reason.
Whether you’re a man or a woman, you’re going to deal with setbacks and haters. Yes, you may have different setbacks or haters than a man, but odds are they aren’t going to be nearly as many as you’d think.
In reality, most negative comments come down to, “I’m a jerk and want to be a jerk today.” You’re going to need to ignore these comments and see them for what they are – a sad person who’s having a cruddy day or life.
Once you realize that, it’s hard to ever feel bad about something a hater ever has to say.
Tip #5. Be A Professional Woman DJ
A pro tip that all DJs should know, male or female.
You should always remain professional throughout your DJ career. It doesn’t matter how crazy or stressful the situation gets, you are meant to be the expert in the room as it pertains to music and own music mixing.
You’ll want to show up to each gig on time and to give a venue as much time as possible before canceling anything you’ve got with them.
When it comes to your outfit, while you don’t need to be in a business pants suit when going out, you do want to look presentable and as if you belonged there.
We’ll get to this in a bit, but, as a woman, you’ll need to toughen up a bit as people make comments about you.
Brush them off and don’t give those people either a reaction or sense that things are at all affected by what they said about you.
Tip #6. Market Yourself Properly
One thing you’ll want to do if you want to excel as a female DJ is market yourself as an artist.
Create a brand and image that can be marketed.
You’ll want to present yourself to people both online and offline, making the most out of social media as well as local smaller clubs and party venues.
When marketing yourself online, be sure to promote all your current and future DJ gigs as well as any other industry projects or releases you’ve already got lined up.
This both helps potential bookers know what you are currently up to. Plus it gives an idea of your availability.
Marketing yourself as an aspiring DJ is a mammoth part of being a DJ in these modern, digital days. We go into this in a lot more detail in our DJ marketing focussed articles.
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Tip #7. Put Yourself Out There
Since there’s a good chance you’re not going to land a major gig right off the bat, it’s a good idea that you put yourself out there and showcase what you can do to as many people as possible.
Posting videos via social media or sound mixes on either SoundCloud, Mixcloud or YouTube is a great way to slowly build up a following.
Not only that but you could even be discovered by someone in the industry who’s browsing around for fresh talent. You never know!
On the offline side of things, don’t be afraid to ask your friends, family, and colleagues for help putting your work out there. Ask if they’d be willing to let you perform at a birthday party or event, even for free. Remember that the money will come.
First, you need people to know who you are and care about what you’re doing.
Tip #8. Look For Female Inspiration
Somewhat of a callback to tip #1, as a woman DJ, you need to ideally reach out and connect with other female DJs, both for perspective as well as for inspiration.
By knowing that, while it may be difficult, it is possible, you can give yourself the strength to speak to that next venue that you may not have otherwise.
Connecting with a female DJ (even one that works local events) can be incredibly crucial to a young woman trying to break into the field. Don’t be afraid to ask if she could impart some expertise to you or mentor you in her spare time.
Avoid at all costs cat-fighting with other female DJs. It’s just not cool. Take the recent spat between Nina Kraviz and Nastia for example.
It has simply taken the attention away from them being professional DJs to them now being perceived as quite petty. It’s more at home with a soap opera.
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Tip #9. Be Prepared
Next up, you’ll want to be as prepared and “on the ball” as possible.
When taking up DJing, you spend a lot of time on the road performing various gigs at different venues. That means bringing a battery bank with you so that you can keep your cell phone charged so that you can keep in contact with others.
You can also use your phone to double and triple-check the number of people available as well as if everything is still good at the venue.
Make sure you invest in a DJ bag or DJ backpack packed with everything you need to be on the road for some time.
Tip #10. Always Consider Safety
Personal Safety. Always be prepared. There are some unsavory characters in Clubland.
Ideally, you can also go with a friend, though this friend should ideally be very cool, calm, and collected.
Not a hard-drinking wreck.
Tip #11. Enjoy it!
Ok, this may sound a bit cliché, but that doesn’t make it any less true.
While all of the above tips are important, and you should certainly follow them as closely as possible, you don’t want to lose the point of being a DJ in the process of becoming a DJ. It’s fun!
Trust me, the LAST thing you want to be is the DJ that’s not having fun. Nobody wants to hang out with that guy (or gal).
If you’re trying to go into the DJ sphere as a woman, keeping things light, playful, and all-around fun will not only keep the job feeling exciting and worth your time, but it will also ensure your crowd is loving every minute with you.
And if there’s any way to guarantee you’ll make it as a DJ, it’s performing to a crowd that is there specifically to see you.
Read this next: How Do I Start Mixing Dubstep? (Djing Dubstep for Beginners)
How To Become A Female DJ: Takeaway
We end with, our how-to become a female DJ takeaway. As you go through many of these tips, one thing you may have noticed is that, while they are great ways for a woman to become a DJ, a vast majority of these tips work for men as well!
The truth is, while the music industry is still very male-dominated when it comes to most audiences, there’s not nearly as much scrutiny cast on their DJ as there would be for many other types of performances. This means that (with rare exception) you’re going to get a pretty fair shake of things when going out there and putting your produce music out to be judged.
By following these tips, you’ll not only become a great female DJ, but you’ll become a great successful DJ in general. Girl DJ power!
