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ENTITY discusses how to become a DJ.

Do you love getting people in the mood to party? Does the idea of rockin’ out in front of a huge crowd sound like a dream? Then becoming a professional DJ might be the perfect job for you. Like most careers, though, making a name for yourself in the industry – especially if you’re a woman – isn’t easy

RELATED: Female DJs You Should Be Listening To 

Lucky for you, ENTITY reached out to Miss Kittin, a French singer, songwriter and professional DJ who broke out in 1994 and hasn’t looked back since, and NERVO, a DJ and songwriting duo featuring Australian sisters Olivia and Miriam Nervo.

Via GIPHY

Want to become the next big female DJ? Here are five tips from Miss Kittin and NERVO!

1 Figure out why you want to DJ in the first place.

Before you even start brainstorming stage names, you need to consider two points: your motivation and your end goal. If you  want to be a DJ to make people dance and have a good time, you may feel satisfied being a mobile/wedding DJ or one hired to play in various bars or pubs. On the other hand, if you just love music, striving to become a DJ producer may be more in line with your interests. 

For the sisters behind NERVO, the latter sentence describes their own journey into DJ-ing. “Music is the only thing that has ever come naturally to us, and we’re damn good at it,” they explain. “Our background was in pop music, and although we did okay writing for other pop stars (and DJs), when we discovered dance music, it was like a rude awakening. We were hooked and we knew that this was the type of music we wanted to make.” In NERVO’s case, following their passion for music is what led them to become producing DJs at all.

Entity talks with female professional DJs Miss Kitti and NERVO to learn their tips on how you can become a DJ.

Miss Kittin emphasizes, though, that “there’s no formula for anyone, man or woman, to succeed in any kind of project.” Based on her experience, though, it’s important to remember that “entertaining people is not about partying yourself” and breaking into “the industry shouldn’t be your ultimate goal.”

RELATED: How to Turn a Breakup Into a Career Breakthrough

Don’t become a DJ because you think it’d be a “fun” job or that you’re “on trend” enough to make it big. Instead, Miss Kittin suggests embracing “spontaneity [and] authenticity, which is the most precious and mysterious parameter” of performing.

Do you sincerely want to follow your passion and see where it will lead you in the DJ world? Then keep reading!

2 Realize that talent > dedication…so werk it!

Sure, researchers may have disproven the old myth that practicing for 10,000 hours can make you an expert in anything. However, practice is still scientifically proven to play an important role in mastering a skill – including DJ-ing.

RELATED: Why You’re Not Getting Better at Playing an Instrument…and How To Fix It

“Everybody is talented in his field, but without discipline, strong will and a kind heart, it’s worth nothing,” Miss Kittin says. “I don’t consider myself extremely talented but I learnt to shape my vision and skills with experience, and learning is still my biggest motivation.” In fact, she credits her own talent to always working hard and pretending “every single opportunity I had to play music was the last one.”

Entity talks with female professional DJs Miss Kitti and NERVO to learn their tips on how you can become a DJ.

Practice might not make you perfect, but it can still make you a perfect candidate to be a hit DJ!

3 Find your support group – and treat them right.

Regardless of what career you want to go into, building a network of support is key. In fact, research has found that social support is correlated to career success and that supported men and women also reported feeling less stressed, more resilient and happier overall.

RELATED: The Health Benefits of Women Supporting Women

NERVO certainly believes having each other is an advantage. “We’re sisters but we’re also best friends. We’re business partners, and each other’s sounding board, biggest supporters and harshest critic,” Miriam and Olivia Nervo explain. “Of course, there are going to be times that we argue or have disagreements, but that’s part of being sisters. There’s always that underlying honesty and respect that we have for each other that ultimately makes us a stronger team.”

Entity talks with female professional DJs Miss Kitti and NERVO to learn their tips on how you can become a DJ.

Miss Kittin agrees that who you’re surrounded by can greatly impact your work, which is why she encourages aspiring DJs to “carefully mind your entourage, and not necessarily work with friends. Instead, work with people who [have] your best interest, are able to tell you when you are wrong and can protect you. And treat them well in return.”

4 Own your femininity, even in this male-dominated industry.

If you’re a female aspiring DJ, realize that you’ll be a minority. In fact, a 2016 digital survey of Digital DJ Tips’ 10,000 readers found that only five percent of respondents were female. Being surrounded by men doesn’t mean you can’t shine as a female DJ, though.

Entity talks with female professional DJs Miss Kitti and NERVO to learn their tips on how you can become a DJ.

As the women of NERVO explain, “We’d be lying if we said there haven’t been times when people have been surprised NERVO was actually two women, or didn’t support, acknowledge or give us the respect we demand simply because we’re women.” However, they believe that their “difference could actually be seen as an advantage because:

  • a) being part of the gender minority has actually pushed us to be better than those people think we can be,
  • b) maybe actually being women has given us different points of view, abilities or coping mechanisms to deal with situations that can arise within certain parts of this industry.”

For Miss Kittin, demanding equal respect from the start is the best way to make your mark as a female DJ. “I never considered myself differently from men in my work, and that’s probably why I got respected in the first place, as I unconsciously showed how I wanted to be treated in return,” she says. However, she also tries to focus on her own art instead of the stats or ratings of other DJs. She believes that refusing to “compete” with others is “how I got respected long-term.”

RELATED: Best Coast Proves the Music Industry is Still Off Pitch with Gender Equality

After all, once you start slaying the music scene, your art will speak louder than your feminine appearance ever could!

5 Rock out and savor every performance.

You’ve discovered your intrinsic motivation to become a DJ; you’ve practiced until your fingers hurt; you’ve even prepared yourself for the male-dominated music scene. What next? Enjoy your first public performances, of course!

Whether you’re playing at your sister’s wedding or for a renowned London club, it’s important to let yourself feel the performance. AS NERVO explains, “One of our first tours with Paul Oakenfold showed us pretty quickly that when you play music for people (and they like it), they stay with you for the journey. It might sound corny, but it is almost like a spiritual experience – for everyone.”

Entity talks with female professional DJs Miss Kitti and NERVO to learn their tips on how you can become a DJ.

For Miss Kittin, “The best part [of performing] is simply the freedom – to be who you want to be, to express what you want without anyone telling you how, when and where. There’s also nothing like finding the right word, harmony, or mix between two records…that feeling of absolute grace in the act of creation.”

RELATED: Alessia Cara and 5 Other Artists Who Got an Early Start in Their Singing Careers

Of course, no job is perfect – and being a professional DJ is no exception. Miss Kittin admits, “As a woman, these night shifts physically become much harder with age. That’s why I slow down and have free weekends, and spend more time with my friends and family. I don’t want to turn back and say I missed the most important things, just because of my passion.”

If you are passionate about creating music or making people dance, though, being a professional DJ could be the ideal mix of adventure, challenge, art and expression you’ve been looking for.

Edited by Jayda Patterson
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