Though marked as a part of the entertainment genre, disc jockeying is also a business, and as such the equipment used has to work in a professional capacity. This means that quality becomes the most important feature of anything you buy, and failing to purchase the best will cost a lot more in the long run. It is one of the most common mistake made in the beginning, with the DJ assuming that it is music alone that matters, and that buying cheap equipment will only save them cash before they start bringing in the bucks.
This will have several negative effects on the overall image and performance of the DJ, and could actually ruin their career before it begins. One of the more frequent problems that occur is the equipment itself breaking down. If you are lucky, this will happen prior to a gig, and you will have enough time to replace whatever it is. It could be a cheaper tool, such as a piece of software, or something that will need to be fully replace, like an amp or equalizer.
If you are very unlucky a piece of equipment may break down during a gig, which would be a disaster. As any DJ will tell you, if one thing goes wrong it throws off the delicate process, ruining the whole show. You will be unable to do your job, which will lose you the money on the gig, and possibly ruin future gigs. In this industry your best friend is word of mouth when you are good, and your worst enemy when you are bad. Your reputation could be shattered if your tools break down during a set.
It isn’t just quality that should be considered. You will also need the most recent, up to date equipment in your arsenal. This means you will want to purchase equipment that can be updated over time, and so compatible with newer tools. Buying cheap amps, equalizers, software, and turntables will leave you unable to get the latest releases as they come. Instead, you will have to buy all new tools when your old ones break down, which will be sooner rather than later.
The final reason for buying high-quality is your image. Reputation is a delicate thing, as mentioned above. Image is even more frail, and ever changing. You are responsible for showing yourself to be a modern, professional DJ, and your equipment will speak louder than anything you wear, play, or say. You have to put your best face forward at all times, and showing up with old, broke, cheap equipment will send a rather strong, and negative, message to the people who hire you now, and will want to hire you in the future,.
In the end, it’s obvious to see why buying good amps, equalizers, and other tools are crucial to get your business off the ground. Failing to do so will lead to problems that may be insurmountable, and ruin your career before it even begins. Don’t let that happen to you. Buy high quality equipment not, and start spinning your tunes, not your image.