Five Tips For Commanding The Attention Of Your Audience As A DJ

Although your audience isn’t inside the DJ booth with you selecting the music you play and the order in which you play it, they’re still a part of your set. So the deeper the synchronization between you and them, the better the experience of DJing.

Here are my five tips for commanding the attention of your audience as a DJ.

1. QUESTION TACTIC

The first words you speak into the microphone set the tone for the exchange of energy between you and the people in front of you. Asking a question is a great way to warm up any crowd but asking THE RIGHT question is an art so depending on the situation and the environment, ask something everyone is collectively passionate about.

2. ACTIVE VS PASSIVE VOICE

As a listener, I know I’m more inclined to focus my attention on a speaker who sounds excited to talk. So be active as a speaker, you want the intonation in your speech to project power. If you’re passive or soft spoken, it will hamper your ability to get and keep people’s attention.

3. BE SHORT AND PUNCHY

Avoid being too wordy whenever possible. Stuffing unnecessary words while talking to a crowd when music is playing is cluttered speaking. Instead, come up with attention grabbing phrases.

4. SCRIPT YOUR WORDS

Speaking off the cuff during a personal conversation is something we do every day. But talking to large audiences doesn’t happen as frequently, and so if you try to wing it, chances are the impulse to say something cool might outrun the speed at which your brain can come up with something slick enough to say. Scripting my words has helped me a lot. During the week leading up to my College GameDay set I mentally rehearse what I want to say and when I want to say it! This way I’m not up there saying, “Um.” “Uh.”, etc.

3. BODY LANGUAGE

DJing is the perfect career for shy people because you can channel your attention while you rock at your laptop or down at the gear you’re playing music on and never feel the need to interact with your audience. Your body language is crucial when you’re DJing though. So, if you expect an audience to give you their energy, you must be willing to give them yours. Make eye contact with as many people as you can while you’re jamming. Sounding great is important, but looking like you’re having fun makes the way you sound even better.

Always remember, when you’re DJing for a big crowd, preparing for what you’re going to say on the mic could be just as important as organizing the music you plan on playing off your laptop. All these people are standing together, not focused on themselves or each other but focused on you, and when they’re receptive to your voice you can actually feel the energy of the people in the room vibrate back to you. It is an awesome power.