DJ

You could do a college course to learn some of the skills needed to work with sampling equipment, mixers, digital controllers and record decks.

Courses include:

• music technology and production
• radio production
• creative and digital media

Colleges and community education centres also often run short workshops in DJ-ing techniques and recording skills.

Entry requirements

Entry requirements for these courses vary.

Getting experience will help you to develop your skills and make contacts in the industry.

You could:

• work on student, community or hospital radio stations
• volunteer to DJ at events like parties, weddings and charity shows
• work as a DJ on an internet radio station
• find work as a roadie for an experienced DJ
• post mixes to online video and music streaming sites to get noticed

You can also find work experience placements through BBC Taster Days , or by contacting broadcasters to ask about opportunities. The Radiocentre can help you find commercial radio stations.

You can apply directly for work as a DJ by contacting bars, clubs and radio stations. You'll need to showcase your mixing and presenting skills, for example through your own online music channel or by posting mixes to music streaming sites.

You can take training courses or attend DJ workshops, which are offered by private music training providers that specialise in DJ skills, music technology and sound recording.

Career Tips

You can find lots of online tutorials on how to set up as a music DJ, how to use equipment like digital controllers, and on mixing and remixing techniques for different music genres.

Do your research and make sure that you target your demo mixes to match a venue's music policy, audience or type of music on a radio station's playlist.

Further Information

You can get more advice about working as a DJ from:

• Community Media Association
• Hospital Broadcasting Association
• Radio Academy

As a club DJ, you could:

• play and mix music in clubs and bars
• choose music to suit your audience's taste and the venue's music policy
• control lighting and visual effects to match your playlist
• create your own loops, manipulate beats, and add samples and sound effects
• work with an MC who raps or sings over the music
• stream your live set or record it for posting online

As a radio DJ or presenter, you'll present a radio programme in your own style. You could:

• select music for your show
• keep up an entertaining and natural flow of chat
• interact with listeners through phone-ins, emails and social media
• interview studio guests
• keep to your programme's timing schedule
• operate studio equipment to play music, pre-recorded news, jingles and adverts
• discuss ideas with the producer for future shows, and prepare scripts and playlists

You could work at events, on festival sites, at a music venue or at a recording studio.

Your working environment may be hot, noisy and you'll travel often.