Will Good Mixing Skills Help You Become a Top DJ?

This is a question I get asked almost every day bygood mix and a bad mix. It seemed the only people
new DJs starting out in this business. A lot of peoplewho knew what made a mix sound good was other
try and mix two tracks together and have a hard timeDJs themselves.
doing it. Its not easy, learning how to beatmatch can beI remember I mixed a perfect CD of tracks to give to
something that will take months or even years fora local club in my area. The mixing was spot on
some people to develop. It will take a lot of practise toperfect and I was sure I would get the gig. However,
be able to mix and beatmatch to a high and consistentthe manager called me to say he was going to give
level.someone else a go. I said but the mixing is perfect
I remember trying to learn how to beat match myselfwhat more can I do?
and it took me about 6 months of constant practise toHe said, "yes the mixing is perfect and you have the
get to a good level and even at that I was still wayskills, it's the track selection which was just not right".
ahead of all my friends that were trying also.That is when it hit me that the secret to being a good
However, once I started DJing professionally I realisedDJ wasn't actually being able to mix well it was to be
that just being able to mix wasn't just what made youable to play all the right tracks that the club managers
a good DJ. I was actually shocked at how manyand the crowd want to hear.
people couldn't even tell the difference between a