How to get into DJing: kit, music, practice and first gigs

By Chris Pollitt · Updated 8 November 2026

Loads of people want to DJ and never get past watching videos about it. The truth is you can start with a few hundred quid and a laptop. The rest is practice. Here’s how to get going.

What kit to start with

A DJ controller is the cheapest way in. It plugs into a laptop and gives you two decks and a mixer in one unit. A decent beginner controller costs a few hundred pounds. Look for one that works with Rekordbox or Serato, the two programmes most DJs use.

Most clubs have Pioneer CDJs and a DJM mixer. You play from a USB stick prepared in Rekordbox. If you want to play out, it’s worth learning on Rekordbox from the start, and getting some time on CDJs when you can. Some studios and shops hire them by the hour.

You’ll also need a pair of closed-back headphones and some speakers. Vinyl is great, but it’s an expensive way to start.

Getting music

Buy your music. Beatport, Bandcamp, Juno Download and Traxsource sell high-quality files and you can play them out. Streaming services connect to some DJ software, which is handy for practice, but you can’t usually use them in a club. Don’t rip tracks from YouTube. The sound quality is poor and it’s obvious on a big system.

Organise as you go. Tag tracks by genre, energy and mood, and build playlists. A well-sorted library makes a huge difference when you’re playing live.

What to practise

• Beatmatching. Lining up the tempo of two tracks so the beats stay together. Software has a sync button, which is fine to use, but learning to do it by ear means you can cope when things go wrong.
• Phrasing. Most dance music is built in blocks of 8, 16 and 32 beats. Bringing the next track in at the start of a phrase makes mixes sound smooth.
• EQ. Use the bass, mid and treble controls to stop two tracks clashing. A common trick is swapping the basslines over rather than playing both at once.
• Reading the room. Practise putting sets together that build, rather than playing your favourite bangers back to back.

Record your mixes

Record everything and listen back. You’ll hear mistakes you didn’t notice at the time. When you’re happy with a mix, upload it. Mixcloud is licensed for DJ mixes, so it’s a good place to share them. A couple of good mixes are your calling card when you ask for gigs.

Getting your first gigs

• Play house parties, friends’ bars and small local nights.
• Go out to the nights you want to play at. Get to know the promoters and residents.
• Offer to do warm-up sets. Opening a night well is a real skill, and promoters remember people who do it properly.
• Be reliable. Turn up on time, play to the room and promote the night.
• If nobody will book you, start your own night with mates. Lots of well-known DJs did exactly that.

Learn from the people doing it

Watch how DJs build a night. See who is playing near you on our DJ pages, have a listen to new music and mixes, and get yourself to a club this weekend.