Disc Jockey (DJ) Duties & Responsibilities

The role and function of a Disc Jockey (DJ) includes the following duties and responsibilities:

Operate lighting and visual effects in time to the beat
Play and mix records in clubs or bars, to create atmosphere or keep people dancing
Choose music to suit your audience’s taste and the venue’s music policy
Create your own sounds by manipulating beats, using samples, adding extra music and sound effects
Work with an MC who raps or sings over the music.
Choose the music to be played
Keep up an entertaining and natural flow of chat
Operate studio equipment to play music, pre-recorded news, jingles and advertisements (known as ‘driving the desk’)
Interact with the audience through phone-ins, emails, texts and social media
Keep to a very tight timing schedule
Interview studio guests
Discuss ideas with the producer, write scripts and prepare playlists for future shows.

Note that this is not an exhaustive list of Disc Jockey (DJ) duties and responsibilities. Job functions for specific Disc Jockey (DJ) roles may vary, depending on the industry and type of employer.

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