This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure for more info.

Let’s face it, women DJs are still in the minority by a long shot. 

Women interested in the art of DJ’ing may never begin partially due to the fact that they feel too intimidated to DJ. 

Starting a DJ career can be intimidating, but after getting over your fears, you’ll realize how fun it can be.

In this beginner’s guide for women DJs, I’ll give you the best tips to get you started as a professional DJ.

The first thing to know is people love female DJs, and since they are a rarity, you most likely can always find gigs to be booked on.

However, it’s not easy. A lot of it has to do with the way a female DJ is perceived. Check out my video: 2 Female DJs talk DJ Life: What it’s like being a female DJ

Also, check out this video of a male DJ discussing his feelings of why it is harder to take female DJs seriously. 

From my experience, I find that I am way more scrutinized than my male counterparts. Because of this, preparation is key in knowing how to deal with people and managing your business.

You can expect people to test you. You can expect people to ask you if you’re actually DJ’ing or not. You can expect people of all kinds, male and female, to hit on you while you’re in the booth. You can expect people to try to hold lengthy conversations with you while you’re DJ’ing. You can expect people to express how much they do or don’t like the music you’re playing.

Expect the unexpected. 

Take into consideration these 15 tips when stepping out into the world of DJ’ing.

1. Confidence is Key and having a Thick skin is a MUST

As a female DJ, your confidence will be tested. It’ll determine your success.

Confidence comes with knowing yourself and your DJ style.

Confidence comes with practice. You need to come prepared, especially as a new DJ.

Expect feedback from people.

You can not take most things personally. Everyone has their own opinions about everything. Learn from people’s feedback.

You have to step out on that stage knowing that you got this. The spotlight is on you so give them all you got and show the world that women DJs bring that fire.

Show off your amazing personality, acknowledge the crowd, and acknowledge the other DJs. Show them whose boss. Introduce yourself to the crowd, shout out the promoters and bartenders too.

Most importantly have fun, loosen up, and dance a bit when you’re playing. Let your confidence shine through.

Stand your ground, hold your space, and don’t let anyone take advantage of you.

Also, people aren’t always going to get up and dance to your music. Don’t take it personal just keep playing until you find your rhythm with the crowd. Plus, it doesn’t always mean they aren’t enjoying your music if they’re not dancing. You probably won’t make every single person in the room happy at all times, but do your best at it. Give the mass majority what they want. 

One last thing, networking is an important part of growing your DJ business. Networking requires confidence. You’ll need to put yourself out there and let others know that you are a DJ ready to be hired.

Introduce yourself to other DJs. Tell your friends and see if they know any DJs they can introduce you to. Ask certain DJs if you can shadow them at their gigs. Watch, listen, and learn. I did this a lot in the beginning.

2. Choosing a DJ Name

Choose a name that fits you. Make it meaningful. For instance my name has a double meaning K la V are initials in my full name. “K la” coming from my first name Makayla. The “V” represents the first middle initial of my middle name. “K la V” is pronounced like the French term “c’est la vie” which means “that’s life”. “That’s life” was something I would say all the time before I even knew what “c’est la vie” meant. When I found out the meaning of that phrase, “K la V” was the winner.

There were times I thought to change “K la V” to something more googleable but I decided against it and kept it as is.

Have fun with it like DJ Lo Down Loretta Brown or Spinderella or keep it sweet and simple and use your first name like DJ Rashida.

Make a list of different name options and see which one stands out to you the most. Follow your heart on this one. You can even ask friends what they think before you make your final decision.

One day your DJ name may even override your regular name, so make it count. 

3. Buy Equipment, Organize, and Practice until you are comfortable

until you feel comfortable enough stepping out of your bedroom and into the crowd.

Start out with smaller cheaper equipment like the Pioneer DDJ-SB3 and practice at home on that. If you feel good about it then start investing into more profssional equipment.

Practice, practice, practice…

until you feel comfortable enough stepping out of your bedroom and into the crowd.

With all the latest DJ technology out now, it is easier than ever to become a DJ and pick up the basics. However, you can’t short-cut practice. There’s a level of comfort that comes with practice.

I practiced while I cooked breakfast, or after-work, or with other DJ friends.

I had a small Dj controller that I could take with me on trips so I could practice there too.

You also want to practice organization. You want to organize your music and DJ crates in a way that you can easily navigate through them. It makes life much easier.

Also, not only does your music need to be organized, but your equipment should be too. Label your cables so that you know which cables are yours when mixed with other cables. Get carry cases for your speakers, stands, mics, mixers, and dj consoles. Get a sturdy back-pack to take with you everywhere. Get a table and a table-cloth. Have extra XLR, RCA, and extension cords on hand. I promise you will need them.

Make it easy for yourself to set-up your own DJ equipment and break it down. It should be something you can do in about 30 minutes or less.

4. Find Equipment that fits you (literally)

Confidence comes with practice, preparation, and comfortability. Working with equipment that you are not comfortable using will affect your confidence; I promise. There’s nothing worse than being on stage figuring out what buttons are where while you are playing out to an audience. It’s extra stress and others will take note.

Bring your own mixer or controller to use as opposed to using whatever they already have at the venue. Have all your equipment needs figured out ahead of time with the event booker. If you can’t bring your own equipment, ask them what equipment they’re providing so you are prepared. Or, give them your DJ rider (a list of things you’ll need to perform) so that way they’ll know what to supply you with for your performance at their event.

If you are more of a mobile DJ who brings their own equipment, then

buy equipment that you can easily lift and lug around to your events.

When I first started out, I bought 12″ speakers that I could barely lift over my head. I also bought speaker stands that required me to lift those heavy speakers on to the stands; it wasn’t practical for me at all. Im only 5’3 in height so the speakers were never at the height I needed them to be. They were too low and the sound would blast into peoples faces as they walked by my speakers. This almost always made me rely on someone else (usually a male) to help me set-up and take-down my speakers.

After a few years of struggling, I decided to invest in better speaker stands. These stands had a hoist on them so that I did not need to lift the speakers up as high to put them on the speaker stand poles. I can now hoist the speakers up to the desired height (above people’s faces). These speaker stands were more expensive but they are worth it. You can buy these speaker stands right here.

I also invested in new speakers. I needed a lighter, less bulky speaker that packed a lot of power and punch.

One time I was DJ’ing an event that supplied QSC speakers. I fell in love with those speakers. They are much more expensive than the bulky speakers I was totting around but I didn’t care. Not only were they sleeker and streamline, but they also had an amazing sound.

I bought one speaker and then saved up to buy the second speaker; $1400 in total. I purchased two 8″ speakers because of their smaller size and lighter weight. I love them and they make all of my mobile DJ events sound amazing. I can lift them much easier and they fit great inside my car.

I also bought protective bags for each speaker and the speaker stands. Protective casing is essential to keep these expensive items looking like new.

If you’re a Dj on a budget then check out some of the used DJ equipment that Guitar Center sales here. I have bought used equipment from them before and it worked out great for me. 

5. Get a Cart

I swear by my cart. When I first started DJ’ing I didn’t have a cart. I was loading in equipment piece by piece by myself and it took forever.

Invest in a DJ cart that will load all your equipment in with one trip. It looks professional and it makes your life much easier. Also consider the size of your cart so that it fits perfectly into your vehicle.

Here is a cart that I would suggest you get.

6. Find your DJ Voice

You might get away with not saying much on the mic for a little while but eventually, it will catch up to you.

You’ll need to be comfortable speaking to your audience.

Your clients will likely expect that of you.

You’ll have to make announcements like introducing a wedding party or hyping up the crowd.

For most DJs (myself included) microphone work can be very uncomfortable, but with practice you will get better with it.

Practice at the same time your practicing mixing records at home. Video record yourself doing it so you know what you look and sound like.

You want it to feel like it’s second nature.

Just like scratching takes time to master, so does getting comfortable on the mic.

Be bold.

7. Find your DJ style

Think of this as your DJ theme.

What’s your style? Are you funky, soulful, hip-hop, housey or all of the above and some?

What style suits your brand? Are you daring or are you going for something a bit more corporate and casual?

It’s said,

when you look good, you feel good, and when you feel good, you are good.

This translates from your clothes to your hairstyles, down to your music selections.

Since I am an open format DJ I determine my style based on the gig I’m playing. I do corporate events one day, weddings on another day, and Afro-Carribean club nights on the weekend, so I switch up a lot. 

Also, consider clothing styles that are comfortable enough to work in.

Although I would love to wear heels all night long they are not the most ideal shoe to DJ in. I stand in one spot for hours on end some times. So it’s important to find shoes that are cute, yet comfortable, and can complement your style.

Wedges are good for this, boots with a thick heel, fancy flats, or unique sneakers usually do the trick.  

Other esthetics to consider would be your nails and your skin. As much as we don’t want to be superficial, it is important to look presentable. You want to impress your clients. Invest in your physical upkeep.

8. Find your tribe

In my experience, it’s always best-having someone with you at your events. Especially if you need help with the set-up and break-down of equipment. They can also be your videographer, photographer, and help secure your DJ booth from distractions. You can pay them for their help or they can enjoy the free perks of rolling with the DJ at no extra cost. Usually, the later is a good friend or family member.

Yet, that is not always the case. For me, I DJ solo most of the time. I have to be able to set-up and break-down my DJ equipment efficiently all by myself. So when you buy equipment remember to organize it in a way that you will be able to handle it all by yourself.

Finding your tribe isn’t just about who can help lug equipment around, it’s also about who will be there to support you at your events. These are the people who will help push your career along. They always show up at your events. They’re the first ones on the dance floor. They share your party fliers amongst their friends, and they simply just love what you do.

Building a tribe isn’t something that happens overnight, but it is something to work towards. Yes, DJ’ing is a solo sport but in essence, it’s a beautiful balance between you and the audience. You need your audience just as much as they need you.

Grow your tribe by always showing them love and being open to their feedback. Smile, shake hands, hug, show love, and tag them in all your upcoming events. Soon you’ll see your tribe grow one person (or more) at a time. Spread love and get love back.

9. Professionalism at all times

Being professional means showing up on time, ready to play, looking the part, smiling, and having a good time.

Your clients are depending on you.

They’ll most likely use your services again and again if you treat this like a true profession.

No matter what their misconceptions are of a female DJ, show them otherwise. Show them you have everything in order, under control, and you are ready to roll whenever they are.

Remember, if you need to cancel on an event you agreed to do, then make sure you cancel it way in advance so that they can find another DJ. They will respect you, and most likely try to use you again at a later date.

If you wait till the last minute to cancel, unless it’s an emergency, they will smear your name to others.

Also, being that you are a female DJ, people will feel inclined to approach you. So prepare yourself to handle these people with professionalism.

Many times other male (or female) DJ counterparts may even approach you. I’ll touch on dating other DJs in a later blog post, I got lots to say about that.

10. Create an event

Creating an event is a great way to showcase your skills, and make some money on the side.

You may need to invest a little upfront on marketing materials like flier design and sound system rental if you don’t already have that covered.

First, you’ll need to find a venue that suits your needs for your event. Once found, speak with the owner on how you’ll do business. For instance, some places will give you a portion of their bar earnings. Some places will allow you to charge at the door and not pay you anything from their bar earnings. Some places will just give you a flat rate for coming in to play.

Second, what’s your marketing strategy going to be?  

Social media, direct messaging, emails, and passing out fliers are usually what most DJs use to promote their parties.

Yes, creating an event can be so much fun, but I do have to warn that there is always stress related to it in one way or another, especially if you’re first starting out. Do you plan to include other DJs and performers on the bill with you? If so, they too need to help in promoting this event. How much can you afford to pay them? There needs to be a business understanding between you both.  What if they don’t show up on time or at all? What if you don’t make enough money from the night and now you’re having to come out of your own pocket to pay your guest DJ? Take these things into consideration before working with other talent.

Also, will you need security for the event?

What equipment will you need to rent?

Who’s manning the guest list at the door and how much will you pay your door person?

What if people don’t show up at all to your party? Will you be able to get over the sting of that reality?

With the right amount of marketing and planning all those issues can be put to rest. So I say create an event and learn the ropes of event creation. Then, add it to your resume.

11. Put together a press kit & shop it around

Your press kit or EPK (electronic press kit) makes it easy to shop around your DJ brand to potential clients.

Within the press kit you want to get straight to the point because there is a lot to include. Such as your DJ name, your contact info, your website, and social media links. Also you’ll want to include everything listed below:

– your location

-a short well written bio about yourself (a paragraph or two)

-professional grade photos of yourself (at least 2)

-your vector logo and how it should be used.

-your technical rider (which tells clients what you expect from them for you to perform; including equipment, travel, and lodging preferences)

-linked music clips and mixes you’ve done.

-past tour dates

-press clippings (if you have any)

-past promotional fliers and videos

-career highlights

-other well known DJs you’ve worked with or who sound similar to you

Your DJ press kit is always to be updated.

Stay away from extra fluff and stories relating back to childhood. Get to the point and stick to the facts.

Make your EPK downloadable too, like a PDF file.

Once your EPK is ready, send it to potential clients and companies that you desire to work with.

12. Create an LLC & get DJ insurance

Once you feel you’ve gotten the hang of things here in this DJ world, make your business official. This way you are better protected in case anything happens.

Create a company name and quickly start your business with LegalZoom. 

You can get DJ insurance quickly too. Check out https://www.rvnuccio.com/ for a quote.

I’ll do a later blog post going more in depth on both these items so stay tuned for that. 

13. Don’t drink too much and DO eat foods that will optimize your energy

Read my article on DJ’s vs Alcohol. Try not to drink while you are performing because it looks unprofessional. If you do have a drink, give yourself a 2 drink max. Drink alcohols that aren’t extremely potent.

Check out my alcoholic storytime on YouTube.

Don’t let alcohol be the reason why you get blackballed by a client.

Also, eat for energy. Before your DJ gigs eat the foods that will be most beneficial for your health. Eat foods that will leave you feeling satisfied for hours but won’t make you sluggish.

Foods like a huge mixed-greens salad with nuts and berries. Try a big grilled veggie quinoa bowl, or a soy-free veggie burger loaded with greens, and grilled onions, tomatoes, and avocado. Or try lightly-grilled veggies topped with baked wild salmon with a slice of spelt toast; you get the gist.

Bring healthy snacks with you like nuts, kale chips, plantain chips, and sea salt popcorn in case you get hungry. Bring a bottle of water with you as well.

14. Don’t forget these things in your Feminine Care Pack

Don’t forget to properly pack your feminine care pack a.k.a your DJ backpack.

Include smell-good body spray, pantyliners, pads, lotion, and travel-size cosmetics for touching up.

Also include antibacterial wipes to clean communal mixers, microphones, turntables, and other things when necessary.

Have back-up batteries and audio cables in there. Make sure you have your computer charger and any other charging cords you may need. Consider bringing a back-up charging cord as well.

Keep a small amount of cash on you just in case.

As I mentioned before, bring snacks and water. This has really been a lifesaver many times during long gigs. 

I also carry mase on me to be on the safe side. Some late nights when you are packing up your car by yourself you want to be on guard. I have luckily never had to use my mase but I definitely keep it handy.

Include what you think you will need for the hours you’ll be away from home. Try to keep your travel pack as light as possible though. You don’t need to carry around lots of extra weight.

15. Have Fun!

Most importantly have fun.

As a DJ you can get so lost in all the technical aspects of DJ’ing and totally forget about having fun with it.

Recently I did a gig with a DJ who hadn’t DJ’d in quite some time. He wanted to briefly hop on the decks and DJ with me at one of my parties. He was using my controller and my music library so of course he had no clue how I had everything organized. He knew what songs he wanted to play and found them in my library. He played the songs in no particular order nor did he even bother trying to beat match the songs. Instead he had tons of energy and dropped each song one after the other, and the crowd loved it.

I personally like my DJ sets to flow so I spend time beat matching. Because of this sometimes I can lose site of the fun aspect. I’ll get so wrapped up with song selection that i’ll forget to give energy to the party. 

That DJ I described earlier reminded me that no one cares about your mix as much as you think. Just have a good time with the audience.

I am not saying don’t beat match, but I am saying don’t get so hung up on the small stuff. Don’t forget that you are there to provide an experience for your audience.

So remember to RELAX, have fun with your sets, and don’t be so darn serious all the time.

****

In Conclusion

There are many components to take into consideration when DJ’ing but now you should have a good idea of the basic things to think about. Good Luck!