Meet DJ GIZZMO! When I received my interview questions for DJ of the Month from the Out On The Town Entertainment Guide, one of the questions was, “What makes a great DJ?” Well I thought about all the great DJs I learned from and I asked myself, “What was it I liked about their skills?” Well DJ Gizzmo taught me to be interactive and have FUN! Don’t just stand behind your equipment staring at your computer. Show them your personality. Get out there and give them ALL OF YOU!
DJ Stu taught me how to roc the mic! Another huge part of being an interactive DJ is getting your audience excited to be at your event! Make them feel your energy! Let them know this is going to be a party! What did DJ Deville teach me? Song selection is key. A while back, I had a conversation with DJ Deville. I said, “Deville, can you teach me how to become a better mixer, or how to scratch?” He looked at me and shook his head (like he does to most of the things I say), “Shelly, I’ll teach you whatever you want to learn. But let me ask you. What is your strong point as a DJ?” I knew the answer right away, “I play great music. I know what songs people like and I know when to play them.” He said, “Song selection is the most important thing to being a DJ. If you’re not playing the songs the audience wants to hear, trust me your mixing skills aren’t going to help.” So what’s the point?
I’ve found many beginner DJs spend countless hours in their rooms, basements, wherever – practicing how to mix, scratch and loop. Sure these things are important, especially if you want to be a club DJ. However, what most people remember from a great DJ, isn’t how they mixed song A into song B. What most people remember is the positive energy they felt and how they didn’t get off the dance floor because every song the DJ played wouldn’t let them. So how do you become a great DJ? How do you learn how to select great songs? Get Out There! Gain experience. Learn how to read a crowd. And when you get out there – don’t forget to have FUN! And give them ALL OF YOU!
Have you heard John Legend’s “All of Me” yet? Oh, you have? Well, have you heard it remixed by Tiësto?! DJ Gizzmo and I agree – we love it! Check it out.