16/12/2025
This isn’t a callout post or anything like that, it’s more of a reflection from someone who’s spent the years learning the long and hard way.
DJing has never just been about equipment, software, or access. Those things matter, but they’re only tools.
What really shapes a DJ is time, the empty rooms, the rough transitions, the nights where nothing lands right on the floor, and the patience & resilence it takes to keep showing up anyway. I can't even count how many cold sweats i've had rescuing a set at the peak of it and the amount of nights nervously wondering if my selections are even worthy of the crowd.....
There’s a natural skillset that can’t be downloaded or purchased.
Learning how to listen before you play.
Reading a room.
Understanding restraint.
Knowing when not to push.
Developing taste, timing, and humility through trial and error.
The respect that lasts in this scene is earned quietly. Through consistency. Through growth. Through accepting that mastery comes from mistakes, not shortcuts.
If you’re just starting out, don’t rush the map, walk it. Let the process teach you. The work you put in when no one’s watching is what eventually separates a DJ from someone who just owns the gear. The old saying goes:
'You can't read about storms, and then call yourself a sailor'
There’s room for everyone in this game. And i wholeheartedly believe that.
Just don’t skip the rites of passage that give this culture its depth, and its consistency.
Look to the established DJs for mentors. Learn the lessons. Even the small ones, that you think don't apply to you. I guarantee you, every lesson matters.
And remember.... always have respect for each other. Respect will bring you to the top faster than skill ever will.