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DJs mix and play music for audiences in live venues, at events, on the radio and online.
You could work: freelance / self-employed; managing your own hours
As a club DJ, you could:
As a radio DJ or presenter, you'll present a radio programme in your own style. You could:
You could work at events, on festival sites, at a music venue or at a recording studio.
Your working environment may be hot, noisy and you'll travel often.
You can get into this job through:
You could do a college course to learn some of the skills needed to work with sampling equipment, mixers, digital controllers and record decks.
Courses include:
Colleges and community education centres also often run short workshops in DJ-ing techniques and recording skills.
Getting experience will help you to develop your skills and make contacts in the industry.
You could:
You can also find work experience placements through BBC Taster Days, or by contacting broadcasters to ask about opportunities. The Radiocentre can help you find commercial radio stations.
You can apply directly for work as a DJ by contacting bars, clubs and radio stations. You'll need to showcase your mixing and presenting skills, for example through your own online music channel or by posting mixes to music streaming sites.
You can take training courses or attend DJ workshops, which are offered by private music training providers that specialise in DJ skills, music technology and sound recording.
You can find lots of online tutorials on how to set up as a music DJ, how to use equipment like digital controllers, and on mixing and remixing techniques for different music genres.
Do your research and make sure that you target your demo mixes to match a venue's music policy, audience or type of music on a radio station's playlist.
You can get more advice about working as a DJ from:Community Media Association; Hospital Broadcasting Association; Radio Academy
You can also find out more about working in creative careers from Discover Creative Careers.
As a successful club DJ, you could move into music production and recording, events promotion, work for a music label or start your own label.
As an established radio DJ, you could take on production duties, or get involved in other types of media work like TV presenting.