Elevating Your DJ Game: Mastering Stage Presence
Elevating Your DJ Game: Mastering Stage Presence
Stage presence is an important, yet often overlooked, element of a DJ performance. Mastering the art of stage presence will elevate your DJ performance and allow you to connect with your audience, creating a memorable experience. If you leave a lasting impression it will help you preliterate your brand and become a more valuable act. You'll be seen as headline material if you create a show that turns heads. Ultimately, this means you'll get higher paying gigs and find it easier to establish your DJ career.
Wether you're performing your first gigs or looking to improve your DJ performance and stage presence this guide will provide tips, hints and advice to help you captivate the crowd.
Confidence and Preparation is Key
In order to truly perform and command a stage you need to be confident in what you're doing and that means being prepared. You need to know how to DJ and everything about your DJ equipment. You should be capable of overcoming any technical problems without letting them affect your show.
Practice and preparation is key. First, take the time to truly learn how to DJ the correct way. If you're looking for help, check out our range of DJ courses that include some of the most advanced DJ courses available in Europe. If you're already a DJ and want to improve your performance we recommend taking the Elite DJ Course challenge.
Click here for the Elite DJ Course
Once you have learnt how to DJ and perform like a pro you need to prepare. Many more complex stage shows will have to submit a tech rider to the promoter of the event. A technical rider is a list of all the tech considerations needed to accommodate you. This will include what DJ equipment you need for your show and any other needs like additional tables for equipment, DJ booth particulars or anything else you need the promoter or venue to provide for you.
Click here to find out more about DJ riders
Make sure you are familiar with the stage layout of the venue, the sound system and any visual systems in place. A bit of research is wise, we recommend reaching out to the venues AV team (Audio Visual Team).
The AV team will often provide you with a map of the venue and stage as well give you information about the sound system and any lighting or screens you can make use of. There might also be important health and safety information within the document.
Being well prepared will help you perform with confidence on the night and create a lasting and memorable performance. Knowing about the audio visual set up at your venue will allow you to make best use of the resources available to you.
Showmanship and Movement
DJs and live performers need to command the stage by creating a spectacle. If you're just standing still behind a DJ booth it won't excite the audience. Your movement and showmanship are tools you can use to communicate your enthusiasm for the music. When performed correctly, your positive and excited attitude will be infectious and lead the crowd into a frenzy.
Dos
Make use of the whole stage
Use up space. Walk from one side of the stage or booth to the next, give everyone a good view of you. In some cases you can climb up to higher vantage points or along stage paths like catwalks.
Be bigger than life
Make use of lighting, visuals and props to help create spectacle and enchant your audiences attention.
Dress the part
Make sure you put some effort into what you are wearing. It doesn't have to be smart dress but it should be on-brand for your particular niche.
Dont's
Stand still
Standing still and not using your body is the fastest way to kill a vibe. Your body language should lead the crowd, set an example for them to follow.
Avoid eye contact
Eye contact with audience members is crucial. You should make gestures and eye contact with many audience members.
Visual Elements
Other than your person, you can extend your show to include visual effects. This action will make you bigger than life, allow you to take up more space and command the entire stage.
Dos
Make use of any screens or projections
Show your logo and think about getting custom visuals made.
Make use of the lighting
Find out who is controlling the lighting and plan a light show that is timed with your music for maximum effect.
Use smoke or pyrotechnics
If there is a fog, haze or smoke machine available it will enhance the lighting effects and also fill in any gaps on the dancefloor. These types of stage effects help to create interesting atmospheres. Some larger productions will allow for pyrotechnics such as CO2 cannons, flame effects, confetti cannons or fireworks. Reach out to the AV team and see what is possible but always remember, safety first!
Banners and advertising
Many venues will allow the act to place a banner or other forms of branding and advertisement. Don't miss this opportunity to reach a new audience and make your performance more memorable.
Tell a story
Make sure your audio visual performance is telling a coherent story and is now haphazard in its design. Perhaps come up with a theme.
Dont's
Copy
Don't copy other peoples shows or use off-the-shelf visuals. This is a copyright issue and it reduces the uniqueness of your show. Be original, unique, inventive and authentic.
Over do it
Don't overdo the visuals, the music should be a priority. You also don't want to overwhelm the audience or create a nuisance. Make sure your show matches the audience and venue size. Make sure that anything you do is safe and adheres to health and safety protocols, regulations and laws.
Interactive Elements & Props
Sometimes the best way to engage your audience is to include interactive elements so they become part of the performance. Props, stunts and dancers are great ways to directly engage with the audience.
Explore these ideas:
- Props -particularly ones the audience can use like inflatables.
- Theming - perhaps its a halloween gig and you can create a theme the audience can also explore.
- Giveaways - free merchandise give aways like throwing t-shirts into the audience help create excitement
- Dancers - hiring a dance or two can go a long way to create an exciting vibe by learning by example.
Retain Your Audience
If you're good at engaging your audience and delivering a top quality live performance you'll want to figure out a way to retain that audience. Hopefully, happy customers will come back for future gigs and bring that same infectious energy with them. A busy dancefloor is far easier to entertain than a dead one.
Think about:
- Create a mailing list and collect email addresses
- Create a text-out link and create a text-out
- Ask them to follow your social media accounts like Instagram
- Give them free giveaways to your music
- Give them VIP access to your next show or a golden ticket
We hope these ideas, tips and tricks help you create the best DJ performance of your life! Remember, stage presence is an essential element of a live DJ show. Work toward masting stage presence with this guide and see how far it can take you. We hope you become a headline act and enjoy the ride!
