Make Money as a Disc Jockey (DJ)
Start a DJ Business in Nigeria – Are you into music and know how to get a party rocking? Being a disc jockey or DJ could be your dream job. It is a flexible job that you can run from your home and work on part time basis. Starting a DJ business in Nigeria can be quite profitable as well as thrilling.
Also Read: How to Start an Event Planning Business in Nigeria
There are lots of possibilities. In Lagos alone, parties, feasts, naming ceremonies, weddings, burials, engagements, festivals, carnivals etc are events that happen on a daily basis (trust our Yoruba brothers). There is always a reason to celebrate, a reason for good loud music, hence a reason for the services of a DJ. My people, this business is fast becoming a million dollar industry in Nigeria, celebrity DJ Jimmy Jatt can attest to that!
Here are basic steps to consider before starting a DJ business.
Before starting a DJ business in Nigeria, you should write up a business plan. This will help you to choose what areas of the DJ services you will offer, who your potential customers are, who your competitors are, how you will do marketing and promotion, how much money you have to spend on equipment , and how you intend to grow your company. A business plan will not only help you to plan for success but it will help you to be focused.
Experience
Experience as a DJ is a key factor of starting your own business. Before you start, gain enough experience by working for an established DJ.
Learn how to mix beats. Beat mixing entails maintaining a constant beat while moving from one song to another. The aim is keeping the music continuous so that dancers will continue going without a break. You will have to know the beats per minute of all your songs. This skill will determine how easily you can mix one song with another. Learn all genres of music. You need to become a music expert.
Practice mixing as much as you can. Always listen to the radio and CDs of experienced DJs. Try to duplicate and enhance other mixes you hear. To promote your services, offer to DJ at family and friends’ parties. Also make demo CDs of your work to send to potential customers.
Learn every business secret in the book before setting out. For example, in the Nigerian context, learn to play songs to the listening pleasure of a larger number of people in any crowd.
Collect Music
Good music is the product you are selling so you will need a large selection of music. Your music catalog should include all styles – Afrobeat, blues, Hip Hop, Pop, R&B, gospel, etc. and you have to follow the music industry so that you can update your catalog with new songs always . Try not to be ever caught in a jam and you don’t have a certain song.
Equipment
The amount of equipment you need for your DJ Company depends on the type of disc jockey services you want to do. But here are the basic equipment you will need;
- Turntables or a Laptop loaded with DJ software (one of which is compulsory)
- Mp3 player
- Headphones (compulsory)
- Mixer (compulsory)
- Amplifier (compulsory)
- Microphones (optional at the beginning stage)
- PA System (optional at the beginning stage)
- Speakers (optional at the beginning stage)
- External hard drive
Be reasonable. Don’t invest in very expensive equipment immediately. Spend your money on the most important equipment. You can lease the amplifier, microphones, speakers and other accessories at the beginning stages of business. Spend wisely.
Minimal Capital needed: N150, 000.00 – N250, 000.00
Get a Business Name
Register Your Business with the Corporate Affairs Commission Nigeria.
Industry Connections
You must network and build business relationships with other service providers in the entertainment industry (photographers, videographers, caterers, hotels and clubs, cake decorators, etc) especially event planners. Event managers can hire you on behalf of their clients. Networking enables you to have a steady flow of clients. So make lasting deals with service providers, give them a percentage of your fee and they will in turn point clients your way.
Start Performing
- Depending on how experienced you are, you could start playing in small gigs, private events (e.g. birthdays, engagement parties, etc) and grow from there.
- Be professional, polite and punctual at booked events
- Knowing the age group and statues of your crowd before the event begins is important to become a successful DJ. This will help you know the kind of songs to play to the pleasure of your audience.
- Keep up with current music trends. In order to be viable in today’s fast-paced world, you’ll need to be on top of all the music charts in Nigeria and international.
- Do not take on any job that you are not qualified for. That can ruin your reputation.
- Find a DJ whose style you admire and observe him as much as possible. Pay attention to how songs are constructed and how the crowd is managed.
- Do not be stuck on repeating the same set over and over again in all your gigs. People do notice and comment about the lack creativity and effort.
- Do not use many sound effects while playing
- Make sure that your Djing equipment is in excellent working condition before you leave for any event.
- Money is also very important. So get paid!
I hope we have been able to offer some advice, ideas and tips on starting your own DJ business. cheers
Photo Credit: http://costadelparty.com/
Make Money as a Disc Jockey (DJ) © www.businessplan.com.ng
Wow sounds good…… Thanks you for the experience.. I do copy that.
Thanks so much