The music industry is a whirling dervish in the entertainment industry, renowned for fast living and a notorious lifestyle. There are many people that aspire to the big names in music and endeavour to get out of their bedroom and into a club to play their finest selection of tunes and live the life of a super star, but it is not all fun and games. The biggest names in music have worked hard to get to the top, and although the reputation for 24 hour partying is widespread, the reality is that it takes hard work and dedication to be at the top of your game. If you are just starting out, with an eye on a prize of musical fame, then it is essential that you take your music, your talents and your equipment seriously from the start. Like many of the big names before, you'll probably be working hard to fund your DJ obsession; vinyl, turntables, headphones and an endless supply of replacement needles all soak up the contents of a healthy bank account. In my days as a music journalist, I always made sure that I asked what the now super-stars did for cash before earning a living through their music. The answers were always astonishing, and although I will name no names, I will share a couple of nuggets of inspiration. One DJ from the south coast of England, worked his way round many jobs before fame successfully knocked at his door, amongst his many trades he was a yoghurt taster for St Ivel, and a purveyor of pedal bins emblazoned with football insignias. Another DJ made his first pennies as a door to door vacuum cleaner sales man and saved until he could afford to buy all he needed to build his own sound system to take music to all the best festivals. Both examples are testament to the perseverance of the DJ dream, and one that all you newbies should pay attention to. You will be pleased to hear that buying DJ equipment is a little easier on the pocket than it was a few years ago. With all new digital options available for mega bucks, the old school style equipment is generally more affordable, and as other DJ's upgrade, there is a massive market for used equipment. In the quest to move from bedroom DJ to one that plays out to a crowd, knowing how to use classic DJ equipment is a must, for a start you can't expect to be head hunted for playing an iPod playlist. The benefits of buying the old style decks as opposed to the new style CD mixers for example are many. Not only will you really look the part arriving with a flight case full of vinyl, the only way to truly please the music loving masses is to be able to work a sturdy set of decks. Underground parties thrive on classic DJ styles and some of the most exclusive releases can only be found on vinyl, so to be truly cutting edge, it is essential to be able to fade between a turntable or two. The technology of analogue players has also reached a quality that is hard to beat, and with digital technology only just taking off, there is still a lot of room for improvement, especially on cheaper items of DJ equipment. Essentially, if you are looking to make a name for yourself, then working a room the old way will get you noticed and give you kudos, and then my dear friend you can move on and become part of the digital DJ generation.
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