DJ Job Description And Duties

Many types of DJs (Disc Jockeys) exist, but in this article we're focusing on club and radio DJs. Club DJs might be for a single venue might be referred to as resident DJs.

Club owners can use the below article to form an advertisement. DJs can use it to understand the potential duties of DJing.

The duties listed below may change depending on the job.

Education requirements of a DJ

There's no formal qualifications for a DJ. Many DJs are self taught. The main qualification that you need is experience.

A radio DJ may benefit from a journalism, broadcasting or communication degree.

Duties of a DJ

• Know how to use DJ decks or another device to play music.
• Mixing music could be required depending on the job.
• DJs choose what music to play.
• Most jobs would require interaction with the crowd/listeners so you'll need to have good people skills.
• Responding to requests may be required.
• It may be required to update social media pages.
• DJs would normally dance, especially club DJs.
• The schedule may start late and end in the morning.
• Keeping on top of any trends in your genres would be important.
• It may be required to read out announcements or advertisements.
• In most cases the DJ would need to stick to a tight schedule.
• Some DJs would need to tolerate people they may not like, especially club DJs.
• DJs have to be reliable.

Additional duties of a club DJ

• It may be required to direct the night. This may involve stopping the music for shows.
• DJs need to play music to keep the crowd dancing.
• A tolerance of strobe lights could be required.

Additional duties of a radio DJ

• Interviewing people could be a requirement.
• It would either be required to work with a producer or produce the show yourself.
• Talking between songs/advertisements may be necessary. It helps if a person is entertaining and friendly.
• Some DJs respond to live calls, emails and/or texts.

More about job advertisements

The job listing would have the genre required on it. They would have the address of the venue.

These days job listings would be online but some may be in newspapers.

What DJs give the company

DJs would typically give a venue the items contained in their press kit. This should have the venues/gigs they've played at before and some sample music.

Thanks for reading

If you're a DJ you may want to read our article on promoting events as a DJ or learn about the types of DJs.