The total running length of this series is approximately 40 minutes, full of in-depth details on “mixed in key” dj sets and how you can learn to dj in key without the aid of any expensive and uneccessary software. Andy Touchfingers explains the best ways to pick tracks, plan a dj set, determine the key of each track, and mix the tracks together to create the perfect, harmonically “mixed in key” dj set.

Parts

• 1: Mixed in Key: Video DJing Tutorial Part 1 of 5
• 2: The Key Mix : Djing & Key Matching Video Tutorial 2 of 5
• 3: Key Match your Mixes: Video DJing Tutorial 3/5
• 4: DJing in Key Video Tutorial 4 of 5
• 5: Correct Key DJ Mixing Video Tutorial : Mixing & Notation Tool 5 of 5

*this video series is provided free for you. The information is taken from the new eBook/audio book on “How To DJ”: Click here for more info.

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Thanks to Andy Touch Fingers from www.learnhowtodj.com for this video.

Transcription:
In the second video of our 5-part video series, Andy demonstrates how to listen for the melody, hum the key / tonal center. He shows how to match the key of a track by comparing the tonal center with a note played on a computer piano (for reference). Andy also recommends writing down every track in your playlist down so that you know which key they are all in … so your entire set is planned appropriately.
The second part of this video is an explanation that a track can have more than one tonal center, and how to find the best key for tracks like that.

Andy demonstrates that using the bassline is the best thing to listen for as a starting point in finding a key.

Click here for more great videos & detailed DJing tips and tricks from best product currently on the market

• View the next video in the series: Key Match your Mixes: Video DJing Tutorial
• View previous tutorial video: Mixed in Key: Video DJing Tutorial Part

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A contract is defined as:

” an exchange of promises between two or more parties to do, or refrain from doing, an act, which resulting contract is enforceable in a court of law.”

(source)

Basically, a contract is an agreement that is enforceable in the courtrooms… so, if anyone breaks the rules outlined in the contract, they can be held liable for not living up to their end of the bargain.

Whatever you’re doing, it is best practice to work with a contract. On the lower end of the scale, contracts may not make sense. When there is a larger monetary investment involved, it is very important to ensure that both parties get their agreement in writing so that everyone knows what to expect, and also to ensure that both parties get a fair deal and to make sure that no one gets ripped off.

What is in a DJ Contract?

DJs and booking agents may require certain things to be outlined in a contract, including:

• Payment Terms
• Fees
• Room, Board, and Transportation details
• Equipment Requirements
• Date of Event/Time Slot Confirmation
• Artist Riders
• Any Additional Requirements
• Terms that breach the contract

Clubs, Event Organizers, and Promoters can require certain things from the artists as well:

• Confirmation of date
• DJs obligation to perform
• Use of Artist in promotional materials
• Additional requirements and assurances
• Terms that will breach the contract

Usually the venue/promoters cannot do anything if the DJ plays terrible, misses the gig due to illness or travel complications. Most DJs / agencies will require a portion of the money upfront, in order to hedge against playing then never getting paid.

Whether you are a DJ or a promoter, do not be intimidated by contracts. Contracts between DJs and event organizers are not meant to intimidate or deter anyone from working together.. they are simply a form of agreement to ensure that everyone gets what they ask for.

NOTE: If you need full DJ Contracts and more detailed information on how to draw up any type of DJ Contract, we recommend purchasing Danny Rampling’s eBook, which covers DJ Contracts in full detail, and includes samples and templates you can use to draw up your own DJ contracts. It’s only about $30, and will definitely save you from the pain and suffering of writing out your own contracts.  Click here for purchase info.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Here are just a few words of wisdom from the Benjamin Ellis , President and CEO of the successful DJ Video tutorial series

Mistake #1: “Learning How To DJ From Books Is Too Difficult…”

This is the number one culprit that most new DJ’s fall victim too. They think they can pick up a book and learn how to DJ overnight. I’m sorry to say it just doesn’t happen like that. If there is one thing I’ve learned that I can pass on to you is that without actually seeing how it’s done, books on how to DJ are pretty much useless.

Mistake #2: “I can learn how to DJ by using my friends DJ equipment…”

This is another big hindrance and probably the most unbeknown to beginner DJ’s. This catches most new DJ’s off guard because learning DJ skills and techniques on another persons DJ equipment will hinder your development to personalize and create your own style. Why? Because you can only use their equipment when they’re available. Besides, owning your own DJ equipment allows you explore your creativity on your own time when that spectacular idea pops in your head!.

Mistake #3 “I’ll just buy some cheap DJ equipment and learn on that…”

Using “cheap DJ equipment” is basically like committing a crime in the DJ community. Avoid this mistake at all costs. There are many reasons why you should but here are the biggest reasons. (1) Belt drive turntables are worthless for DJ’s and they are not made for DJing. (2) Using cheap DJ equipment will only throw your DJ skills and techniques off. (3) Buy the right DJ the first time because like I’ve told tens of thousands of people “DJing is easy when you have the right equipment.”

Avoiding these three main mistakes
virtually guarantees your success.

And just incase you were wondering I’ve made these mistakes before including some not mentioned. But after I learned from these three mistakes I was able to avoid future mistakes and “develop my own style” after a few short sessions.

My friend … if you let me, I along will my partners Ill Vibe Collective, can show you DJ skills and techniques by teaching you basics and then showing you variations of the same techniques to take you to the next level. Once have those skills down pat other skills will come much faster and thus the learning curve is shortened.

- Benjamin Ellis

Check out the full scoop on the idjondemand website, where they’re giving away $136 worth of free material and content just for checking out their new program.

Here’s an overview of the best methods for connecting other devices to your mixer, including recording devices, laptops, and more.

Source: idjondemand

This set up runs along the same vein as connecting your turntables however, instead of connecting these components to the PHONO INPUT they get connected to the LINE INPUT.

Use the LINE/PHONO button or switch on your mixer to access either the CD player that is connected to the LINE INPUT or the turntable that is connected to the PHONO INPUT. You can have a CD player playing on CH1 making sure you have the LINE INPUT selected and mix it with a turntable on CH2 making sure you have the PHONO INPUT selected. However, you can’t access both components at the same time on the same channel.

DJ Tutorial Tip: Remember connect like colors from your RCA leads to the color connections to the mixer.

Had enough talk about setup? Let’s get down and dirty with some more interesting DJing tidbits from idjondemand

• Go to the final step: DJ Output Connection Setup
• Go back to :  Connecting DJ Needles and Cartridges
• Back to DJ Equipment Tutorial Index

Here’s a simple, straightforward explanation on how to set up your needles and cartridges for best use when DJing.

Source: idjondemand

So if you are going to be doing tricks there is one setting and if you’re not there is another setting. Instructions come with the needles when you buy them. If not let me know and I’ll find out for you. Click on the “Contact Me” link from the menu below.

DJ Tutorial Tip: Remember to take into consideration what type of DJing you will be doing. There are different needles for different types of DJing but all needles and cartridges fit turntable tone arms.

Some needles come mounted on a head shell while with others you have to mount the needle to the head shell then connect the head shell to the tone arm. Other needles are built on one platform so all you have to do is connect it to the tone arm.

DJ Tutorial Tip: Follow the manufacturers instructions and you should do fine.

Done with setting up?

Move onto bigger and better things with this resource for advanced DJing Tips and Techniques

or

• Go to the next Setup step: Setting Up Other DJing Equipment
  
• Go back to :  Setting Up Your DJ Gear
• Back to DJ Equipment Tutorial Index

This sections will help to ensure that you have a quality connection between your mixer and your amps or recording devices.

Source: idjondemand

The REC OUT is used to record your mix. You can connect any device to it such as a tape deck, digital 8-track like my Roland VS880, MP3 recorder/player, or Mini Disc player and so on. The REC OUT has one level and can’t be adjusted on most mixers. REC OUT is a stereo mix so it has a LEFT and RIGHT outputs.

DJ Tutorial Tip: Make sure you connect the proper leads to the proper connections on the REC OUT just as you did with the turntable leads to their corresponding inputs.

The MASTER OUT gets connected to the amplifier or to the component that is amplifying the signal. On the back of a stereo receiver there are usually RCA connections. Those RCA connections correspond to a component that gets plugged into it. But there is nothing that says mixer on it. Not to worry. Simply take the MASTER OUT and plug it into the CD if it’s not in use or AUX IN of the stereo receiver.

If you have an amplifier like the Peavey PV900 Power Amp take a look at the rear connections. Chances are you don’t see an RCA connection on it. You probably see a QUARTER INCH jack on it. If this is the case on your amplifier then you need and RCA to QUARTER INCH cable.

Plug your RCA end of the cable into the MASTER OUT and the QUARTER INCH end into the QUARTER INCH input of the amplifier making sure you plug the LEFT MASTER OUT of the mixer into the LEFT QUARTER INCH in on the amplifier. Do the same with the RIGHT MASTER OUT.

DJ Tutorial Tip: If you are using powered speaker then connect use the proper cables such as RCA to RCA or RCA to QUATER INCH. Chances are it is an RCA to RCA. Connect your mixers MASTER OUT to the RCA INPUT or QUARTER INCH input if it has one, of the powered speakers.

Success! You’re ready to create your first mix! For info on how to create that killer DJ mix, check out one of these two great resources:

• i DJ on Demand’s Video DJ Tutorial Series
• Danny Rampling’s “Everything You Need to Know About DJing And Success“

or

Go back to the previous step :  Connecting DJ Mixers to Other Devices

About Bill Matthews, author of the eBook on how to be a strip club DJ

My name is Bill Matthews and before I retired from the business, I was a DJ and manager for one of the most famous gentleman’s club organizations in the world, Rick’s Cabaret and The Colorado Bar & Grill in Houston, Texas.

Rick’s was the first ‘gentleman’s club’ and is the club that many of the biggest clubs today are modeled after. The club has been featured in Penthouse magazine and one year over half of the Penthouse Pets were Rick’s Girls including Pet of the Year and the 20th anniversary Pet, Lynn Johnson, as well as former Playboy Playmate of the Year Anna Nicole Smith. The Colorado Bar & Grill has been featured in Playboy and has also had its fair share of Penthouse Pets and Playboy Playmates.

In addition to being a DJ, I was responsible for hiring and training new DJ’s for the organization. Some guys are great DJ’s but they don’t have any idea how to teach someone else how to be a DJ. I’ve trained dozens of DJ’s and, having also been a manager, know what managers look for when hiring a DJ.

In more recent years, I’ve been involved in the music business in a management capacity and developing seminars for musicians. My experience in the music business helped me learn how to help creative people handle their careers for the long term. That experience came in handy when writing the book. I use it to show you how to get noticed and move up to the bigger clubs where the real money is.

More than anything, I love to teach. While still managing bands, I developed a weekend seminar for local musicians to show them how to take charge of their careers. My seminar was successful on a local level but there were several other people doing similar seminars around the country and the music industry was changing in a big way due to the internet and sites like Napster.

It was then that I remembered an idea that I’d had ten years ago: to write a book about how to be a strip club DJ. I did a little checking and was surprised to find that not one book had been written on the subject. I also recalled how much I’d enjoyed teaching other people to DJ. So, I started working on the book right away.

In writing the book, I tried to think of every single question someone just starting out would ask and what they’d need to know to get started and, more importantly, what they’d need to move into the better paying clubs. I also tried to include as much information as I could about how to deal with the people you’ll encounter in the clubs: the dancers, the managers, the customers and even other DJ’s.

Every working DJ that I’ve show the book to has said the same thing. They wish they had a book like this when they started out. Fortunately for you, this information is now available to you for the first time anywhere. You’ll learn not only what I spent several years learning, you’ll be able to avoid some of the mistakes that I made along the way.

More info on Bill’s eBook is available on
his book’s site