Customer Reviews

DJing for Dummies

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I picked up the book a week ago.
You know what? I liked it a lot better than "How to Dj Right".
For the beginner dj the books explains in detail what a lot of us might be embarrassed to ask.
The first few sections of the book seemed a tad slow for me. Maybe because I've already got my gear and know the basics. After a few days I decided to re-read the first parts of the book and what do you know, I learned something new. Worth every penny

this book helped me go from a bumbling idiot to a dj that is now playing out in a matter of 3 months! best purchase i could have made. HIGHLY RECOMENDED!!!

I've never read one of the "... for Dummy" books before so I was unsure of how basic they break down a topic. "DJing for Dummies" was thorough, from selecting equipment to beatmatching, from demo creation to club management relations. It is an EASY read but doesn't "talk down to the reader". I have been DJing for 12 years and, although I knew most of the contents of the books through self teaching and experience, there were still many tidbits of information that I 1) never knew, 2) forgot or 3) wasn't doing it per the book's recommendation. If you are a beginner, this book will certainly help you get on your way into the business. If you're a seasoned DJ, this book can still be a great reference for you. Hey, it even inspired me to splurge on a new MIXER !!! : )) Highly recommended!!!!

This was a reply to one of the negative reviews which I would like to repost here:

I'd like to mention that its up to you what kind of music you want to play. You can go for multiple genres. It just depends where you'll be playing at and what type of music they'll be promoting. For example, I'm a drum n bass dj so, of course I'll be hanging out with dnb heads and find clubs that host weekly dnb shows. I would play the records that sound good to me and that I can enjoy on a personal basis. Taste becomes your personal style. So, you might want to rehearse a set you would like to play live to be prepared. Eventually, you might even want to produce your own tunes and play them live. Another way to land a "hit" is mixing one genre with another genre or a beat with a famous song, creating a remix. Also, you don't always have to be on the hunt for the latest chart toppers. Sometimes you'll find little gems in the "underground/unknown" section.
On the notes of talent and sense of rythm, just what Mr Steventon mentioned, anyone can be a dj. No special breeding requirements needed. You don't have to be born a wunderkind to be a dj. It just takes patients and practice. It took me about 3-4 months to learn how to beatmatch. I didn't even have a book or instructor who could tell me how beatmatching works. My first turntable set was a puzzle for me. After time, I figured it out, slapping myself on the forehead going "Ooooohhh! That's how you beatmatch!". I wish I would've had "instructions" or a book, during those times, explaining how to mix sooner. As far as "sense of rythm" goes, you just gotta be in love with the music you're playing. You just have to feel the flow from one track to the next and how the two can seemlessly blend together. Again, this does not require skill. I guess, to sort of explain, don't think mechanical/robotic. Think organic even though you're using electronic equipment. I really appreciate what Steventon has done because his book is very helpful for the beginner and I wish I had something like it, back in the day when I started. So, pick this up if you need some helpful tips on getting started.

This book is very usefull for all DJ starters, a very comprehensive book with a clear explanations

Like me you may have a love of some kind of music. You may see a live DJ and think to your self "I know I could do that" but really not know anybody in the industry or with the same fascination. I found this book to be informative and a great introduction to the concept of DJing. I am reading it for the second time. It has helped me along on several different levels, invaluable really!!!

This book is great for anyone who's just getting started with DJing. I've been using Ableton Live for over a year now, and this book has helped me improve my techniques. I do intend to eventually begin using turntables in my setup, so this book was an excellent choice. Furthermore, this book includes information on promoting yourself, and has good advice about topics that you might not think about until it's too late!
Even if you're already a pretty good DJ, this book can help you become even more successful, especially if you're getting ready to play out.

I wished I've read this book before I started to DJ a few years ago. This book covers everything on what you need to learn before you commit to an expensive hobby. Everything is explained clearly, on how to setup your expensive DJ gear, how to beatmatch properly, ect.

I also love the fact that the author has a great sense of humor :D

If you're at all interested in learning to DJ, please read this book first!

My grandson is starting to do some DJ mixes and so (after he checked it out online) bought it for him to help him increase his skills as he continues to DJ. He loves it.

Picked this up after buying a Traktor Kontrol S4 and reading tutorials all over the 'net. Lots of good information, and lots of time devoted to beatmatching...but honestly, if you do any amount of searching on the internet for tutorials, 99% of what's here is out there, often with a video showing the actual techniques as they are explained.

If you have any kind of technical savvy/ability to filter out good information from the bad, I can't really recommend picking this up. Search Google and Youtube instead for more advice, and advice specific to the kind of DJ you want to be.