While most people generally only think of the inside of a club or house party set up when they think of DJing, that’s not always the case.
In some instances, you may be asked to perform at an event held outside and some of you will be scratching your head thinking, what do I need to DJ outside?
Whether it’s weddings, birthday parties, or just a very big concert or event, there are going to be times that every DJ eventually has to perform outside; and, if you’re not prepared for it, you’ll be in for quite the rude awakening when you do.
Simply put, when it comes to performing a DJ set, indoor and outdoor gigs venues are very different from one another.
From power outlet accessibility to proper right equipment positioning, to putting together a proper shelter space, everything is different types and generally a lot more involved on your part.
In this guide, we’ll go over everything you need to know about how to best set your DJ gigs up for outside performance.
We’ll go over the type of setup you should have, some of the additional items you should bring with you, as well as several other things you may not have even considered (like how to put together a shelter based on the weather conditions).
What Do I Need To DJ Outside? (in short)
Preparing for an outdoor live DJ set is very different from the standard indoor venues DJ gig. A DJ will have to decide on using the more lightweight portable djing setup or committing to a static setup. A DJ will also have to consider investing in some more specialized outdoor DJ setup basic equipment. This will usually include a power generator, extension cables, additional battery power storage, and a protective shelter, and plenty of speaker wire.
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Deciding On Your Outdoor Setup
First off, you’re going to need to decide how your outdoor setup is going to be. Generally, this is either going to be a “static” setup or a portable/mobile DJ option.
Static Setups
If you are going for a static setup, note that these are designed more for solitary locations where you’ll be performing for an extended amount of time.
Static outdoor setups are usually considered the more stable and professional of the two options and are used when you plan on playing for at least a few days.
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Portable Setups
Portable setups, on the other hand, trade security and professionalism for convenience and mobility.
These setups are meant for being picked up and put down as fast as possible with as little stress as possible, a luxury static setups simply do not have.
Static Vs. Portable – Which Is Better?
Amount Of Time Performing
When deciding on which of the two outdoor setups is better, you need to consider how long you’re planning on being in a particular area.
If, as an example, you’re only going to be there for a day (or even just a few hours), it makes much more sense to invest your time in the portable setups.
Conversely, if you expect to be there for at least a day or two, having something sturdier and more “legit” with a static setup may be worth it by comparison.
Type of Performance
In addition, you also want to consider the type of performance you expect to put on.
Even if you don’t expect to be there for an extended period of time if you’re putting together a highly professional gig, complete with big-name artists, investing in the static setup is going to be better.
On the flip side, if you’re a smalltime DJ, that is doing a small tour to build your name up, spending too much time on a static setup may work against you, as your lack of notoriety will cause people to wonder why you have such a large performance area for such a small crowd moving.
In these cases, you’d ideally want to scale things back and just have a smaller, more mobile DJ portable setup so that you can manage expectations and be on the move as quickly as possible.
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Additional Outdoor DJ Setup Gear
Outside of how you decide to have your place set up, you also want to make sure you bring a few additional items with you.
Since you’re going to be outside, enough power outlets and cables will be in short supply and, if you’re not careful, you may end up needing more items than you thought to bring with you.
When you’re expecting to do a DJ gigs outside, you’ll want to make sure you’re well-stocked on some of these different items:
- A Power Generator
- Extension Cables
- Battery Packs
- Shelter Gear & Items
Power Generator
Starting this list off, you’ll want to set yourself up for a really good generator. A generator is especially useful when the preexisting powers aren’t able to be reliably called on.
As setting up your space, you’ll want to determine whether you want a generator that is big or one that is smaller.
Smaller generators don’t pack as much power as the larger options though they are generally much faster to charge and get together.
Regardless, you want to get started a generator that you’re confident will keep your essentials running throughout the entire event.
Take into consideration noise pollution and fuel popular options when picking a generator. Hiring your generator is also a solid choice if you do not play music outdoors a great deal.
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Extension Cables
Extension cables are always a useful thing to bring with you whenever you plan to DJ outside out for more than a few hour.
Even if you do decide to bring a generator, a lack of extension cables could either hinder you from charging your generator or make using that generator as difficult as possible.
You’ll want to also consider investing in a sound quality set of extension cables, as putting too much on a cable, if it isn’t particularly quality, can cause a potential malfunction or the blowing up of the particular cables entirely.
I always tend to pack far more than I need, that way you will never go short.
Battery Packs
Next, you want to make sure you’ve got some battery packs on hand.
Battery packs are incredibly convenient to have with you.
They are easy to use and, unlike cords, cables, and power source, you can switch them out pretty much immediately, even during an outside DJ gear performance if need be.
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Protective Shelter
Lastly, you want to think about bringing with you some shelter materials.
Bringing a foldable tent or investing in the setup of a gazebo is a great option, especially if you expect any chance of inclement weather.
Shelter options also offer you and your audience some much-needed shade from the sun, so that you’re protected regardless of whether the sun or the rain is hitting you.
You also want to consider adding some shelter options to your DJ gear setup to better establish a sense of space away from the audience.
Whereas an open area can lead many people to believe they can enter your personal space while performing, by putting together an actual physical barrier, you create a real space between you and the audience, meaning you can perform without worrying about anyone bothering you.
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What Do I Need To DJ Outside? Takeaway
We finished with our ‘what do I need to DJ outside’ takeaway. Performing outside, if you know what you’re doing, can be a very fun and exciting process that can potentially boost your popularity a fair bit.
That said, it only really works if you’re aware of what you’re switching out by doing things outside.
By knowing and understanding the differences between performing in a club compared to outside, you can know what items to bring with you and how to make sure you’re protected at all times, be rain, the sun, or even other fans.
All in all, it’s important to know what makes DJing outside so different from inside. By having that information, you put yourself that much more over other most DJs in building a brand and growing your overall status.
