How to Get Into EDM DJing: 

A Beginner’s Guide 

From Chance the Closer

Getting into EDM DJing is not about buying the most expensive gear.

It is about learning how to control energy, serve the room, build your taste, and become the kind of person people actually want in the booth.

I’m Chance the Closer, a Portland-based DJ and producer known for high-energy sets that blend bass house, tech house, dubstep, trap, techno, and festival-ready EDM. I have spent years producing music, playing shows, hosting events, working with collectives, running open decks, building lineups, and watching what actually works in real clubs.

So if you are wondering how to get into EDM DJing, this guide is for you.

Not the fake version where someone tells you to buy a $3,000 setup and magically become the next festival headliner.

The real version.

The version where you learn the gear, build your library, practice transitions, understand crowds, support your local scene, play your first open decks, make mistakes, recover, and slowly become a DJ people remember.

Let’s get into it.

What Is EDM DJing?

EDM DJing is the art of mixing electronic dance music live in a way that creates a continuous experience for a crowd.

That can include genres like:

  • House
  • Tech house
  • Bass house
  • Dubstep
  • Trap
  • Riddim
  • Drum and bass
  • Techno
  • Future bass
  • Melodic bass
  • Festival EDM
  • Experimental bass

But being an EDM DJ is not just pressing play on popular songs.

A real EDM DJ understands timing, energy, song structure, transitions, tension, release, and crowd psychology. Your job is to guide the room from one moment to the next.

At its best, EDM DJing feels like storytelling with bass, drums, drops, vocals, and chaos.

How I Think About DJing as Chance the Closer

For me, DJing is the live version of producing music.

Producing lets me build the weapon. DJing lets me test it in battle.

When I play live, I am not just thinking, “What song do I like?” I am thinking:

  • What does this room need right now?
  • Is the energy rising or falling?
  • Are people locked in?
  • Do they need a vocal?
  • Do they need something heavier?
  • Do they need a reset?
  • Is this the right time to drop an original track?
  • Am I serving the crowd or just feeding my ego?

That is the difference between someone who plays songs and someone who DJs.

A playlist plays music.

A DJ controls energy.

Step 1: Start With the Right Mindset

Before you buy gear, choose a DJ name, or post your first mix, understand this:

You do not become a good EDM DJ overnight.

You become a good EDM DJ by practicing consistently, listening deeply, supporting your scene, learning from mistakes, and building a sound people can recognize.

The wrong mindset is:

“How do I get booked as fast as possible?”

The right mindset is:

“How do I become good enough, prepared enough, and valuable enough that booking me makes sense?”

That shift matters.

If you want to get into EDM DJing, you need patience, humility, taste, consistency, and a real love for the music.

Step 2: Get Beginner DJ Gear You Can Actually Practice On

You do not need the most expensive gear to start DJing.

For most beginner EDM DJs, I recommend starting with:

  • A laptop
  • A beginner DJ controller
  • Rekordbox or Serato
  • A decent pair of headphones
  • A small but organized music library
  • A way to record your practice mixes

That is enough to start learning.

If your goal is to play clubs, it is smart to understand Rekordbox and Pioneer/AlphaTheta-style club layouts because many venues use CDJs, XDJs, or similar setups. But do not let gear anxiety stop you.

The best DJ setup is the one you will actually use.

A beginner controller you practice on five days a week is better than expensive gear you are scared to touch.

Step 3: Learn the Basic DJ Layout

Most DJ setups have the same basic structure:

  • Two or more decks
  • A mixer
  • Volume faders
  • EQ knobs
  • Gain/trim controls
  • Tempo sliders
  • Cue buttons
  • Play/pause buttons
  • Jog wheels
  • Hot cues
  • Loop controls
  • Effects
  • Headphone cueing

At first, this can look intimidating. But do not panic.

Your first goal is simple: understand how to play one song, cue another song in your headphones, match the tempo, and transition from one track to the next without trainwrecking the entire room into emotional damage.

Start simple.

Do not worry about fancy effects, tricks, or festival-level routines yet. Learn the basics so well that they become automatic.

Step 4: Learn Phrasing Before You Try to Be Fancy

The most important beginner DJ skill is phrasing.

Phrasing means understanding how songs are structured and knowing when to bring the next track in.

Most EDM tracks are built in sections:

  • Intro
  • Buildup
  • Drop
  • Breakdown
  • Second buildup
  • Second drop
  • Outro

These sections often move in 8-bar, 16-bar, 32-bar, or 64-bar phrases.

When beginners do not understand phrasing, their transitions feel random. Drops come in at weird times. Vocals clash. Breakdowns overlap badly. The energy feels awkward.

When you understand phrasing, the mix starts making sense.

A simple beginner rule:

Start the next track at the beginning of a phrase, not randomly in the middle of nowhere.

If you only learn one thing early, learn that.

Step 5: Learn Beat matching, But Do Not Worship It

Beat matching is the process of matching the tempo of two tracks so they play together smoothly.

Should you learn manual beatmatching?

Yes.

Should you act like using sync is a crime against humanity?

No.

Here is my honest take: learn to beat match so you understand what is happening. But do not build your whole DJ identity around hating the sync button.

Sync is a tool. It can help. But sync does not make you a good DJ.

Sync cannot choose the right track.
Sync cannot read the crowd.
Sync cannot fix bad phrasing.
Sync cannot stop two vocals from clashing.
Sync cannot make your set interesting.

The goal is not to look cool to other DJs. The goal is to make the room move.

Step 6: Build a Real Music Library

Your music library is your toolbox.

If your library is messy, your sets will be messy.

Beginner EDM DJs should get music from legal, high-quality sources like:

  • Beatport
  • Bandcamp
  • SoundCloud free downloads
  • Hypeddit downloads
  • DJ pools
  • Promo pools
  • Label newsletters
  • Direct artist downloads
  • Your own edits and original tracks

Do not rely only on streaming if you want to play real shows. Wi-Fi can fail. Platforms can disconnect. Venues can have different setups. Files matter.

Start building a real collection of tracks you know well.

A smaller library of music you understand is better than a massive library of tracks you barely recognize.

Step 7: Organize Your Tracks Like a Working DJ

Do not just organize by genre. Organize by how you would actually use the track.

Good playlist and crate ideas include:

  • Warmup tracks
  • Opening tracks
  • Peak-time tracks
  • Closing tracks
  • Bass house weapons
  • Tech house groovers
  • Dubstep heaters
  • Trap switch-ups
  • Festival energy
  • Vocals
  • Dark tracks
  • Funny tracks
  • Heavy drops
  • Crowd resets
  • Original tracks
  • Edits and mashups
  • Tracks that always work

As Chance the Closer, my sound moves between bass house, tech house, dubstep, trap, techno, and bass music, so I need crates that help me react quickly.

If the room needs more energy, I need to find the right track fast.

If the room needs a reset, I need to know where that track lives.

If I want to switch from tech house into bass house or from bass house into dubstep, I need transition tools ready.

Your library should help you make decisions under pressure.

Step 8: Practice With Purpose

Do not just play random songs for two hours and call it practice.

Practice specific skills.

A good beginner DJ practice session might look like this:

  • 10 minutes organizing tracks
  • 15 minutes practicing beatmatching
  • 20 minutes practicing phrase matching
  • 20 minutes practicing EQ transitions
  • 20 minutes building a mini set
  • 30 minutes recording a mix
  • 15 minutes listening back and taking notes

Recording yourself is one of the fastest ways to improve.

The recording does not care about your excuses. It will tell you if your transition was late, your bass was muddy, your volume jumped, your energy died, or your mix got boring.

That feedback is gold.

Step 9: Learn EQ and Stop Redlining

Redlining is when your levels are too hot and the mixer is clipping.

Do not do it.

It does not make the music hit harder. It makes the music sound worse.

A good DJ knows how to control gain, EQ, volume, and low-end energy. This matters a lot in EDM because kick drums and basslines can easily fight each other.

When mixing, pay attention to:

  • Bass EQ
  • Kick overlap
  • Track volume
  • Gain staging
  • High frequencies
  • Clashing vocals
  • Muddy low mids
  • Overuse of effects

A clean mix hits harder than a loud mess.

The bass can be nasty.

The levels should not be.

Step 10: Understand Song Selection

Song selection is the difference between a DJ who plays music and a DJ who moves a room.

Good song selection means playing the right track at the right time.

Not the track you wanted to flex.
Not the track everyone else is playing.
Not the track you planned earlier even though the crowd clearly wants something else.

A good EDM DJ knows when to:

  • Raise the energy
  • Pull the energy back
  • Play a vocal
  • Go darker
  • Get heavier
  • Switch genres
  • Play something familiar
  • Play something underground
  • Let the room breathe

Taste gets you noticed.

Timing gets you remembered.

Step 11: Learn How to Read a Crowd

Reading a crowd means watching what people actually do.

Are they dancing?
Are they leaving the floor?
Are they facing the booth?
Are they talking more than moving?
Are they reacting to vocals?
Are they reacting to drops?
Are they tired?
Are they ready for something heavier?
Do they need something familiar?
Is the room warming up or peaking?

Crowd reading is humility.

The room gives feedback. Your job is to listen.

A lot of beginner DJs are so focused on their planned set that they forget to watch the people in front of them. Do not make that mistake.

The perfect set in your bedroom might not be the right set for the room.

Step 12: Build Sets, But Stay Flexible

Beginners should prepare their sets, but they should not become trapped by them.

Have a plan. Do not marry the plan.

A good beginner EDM set should have:

  • A strong opening
  • A clear energy build
  • A few standout moments
  • Breathing room
  • A peak section
  • A clean ending
  • Backup options

Do not start at 100 percent energy unless the moment truly calls for it.

If everything is a banger, nothing is a banger.

Energy only works when there is contrast.

Step 13: Start Recording and Posting Mixes

Once you can put together a decent 20- to 30-minute mix, start recording.

You can post DJ mixes on:

  • SoundCloud
  • Mixcloud
  • YouTube
  • Instagram
  • TikTok
  • Your website
  • Private links for promoters

But do not just upload something called “Mix 1.”

Give your mix a real title, description, and purpose.

Weak title:

My first EDM mix

Better title:

30-Minute Bass House & Tech House Pregame Mix

Even better:

Bass House Weapons Vol. 1 — High-Energy EDM Mix by Chance the Closer

Make it searchable. Make it clickable. Make it clear who it is for.

Step 14: Use Social Media Like a DJ, Not a Ghost

Social media matters because it proves you exist.

Promoters want to see that you have a sound, a personality, and the ability to help promote events. You do not need to become a fake influencer, but you do need to show signs of life.

Beginner EDM DJs should post:

  • Practice clips
  • Mini mixes
  • Track IDs
  • Gig recaps
  • Crowd clips
  • Behind-the-scenes clips
  • New music finds
  • Funny DJ content
  • Local scene support
  • Original music previews
  • Event flyers
  • Short educational posts

Do not only post when you want people to come to your show.

Build the relationship before the ask.

Step 15: Choose a DJ Name and Build a Brand

A good DJ name should be memorable, searchable, easy to spell, and not already taken by a bunch of other artists.

But your name is only part of the brand.

Your brand is:

  • Your sound
  • Your visuals
  • Your personality
  • Your online presence
  • Your event history
  • Your photos
  • Your mixes
  • Your logo
  • Your reputation
  • Your community involvement
  • The way people describe you when you are not in the room

Do not just be “an EDM DJ.”

Be specific.

Be the bass house DJ.
Be the weird experimental bass DJ.
Be the tech house party starter.
Be the heavy dubstep opener.
Be the genre-blending festival-energy DJ.
Be the person with the funniest clips.
Be the DJ with original edits nobody else has.

Memorable wins.

Step 16: Play Open Decks

Open decks are one of the best ways to get into EDM DJing.

They give beginners a chance to play on real gear, meet other DJs, test music, and experience booth pressure without needing to headline a show.

Before you play open decks, bring:

  • Rekordbox-prepped USBs
  • Backup USB
  • Headphones
  • A short set ready
  • Flexible music options
  • Earplugs
  • A good attitude

Do not show up with a messy USB, no headphones, no plan, and then blame the equipment.

Open decks are not just about playing. They are about proving you can handle yourself in a real DJ environment.

Be prepared. Be respectful. Be cool.

Step 17: Get Your First EDM DJ Gig

The best ways to get your first DJ gig are:

  • Open decks
  • House parties
  • Friend’s events
  • Local bars
  • College parties
  • Small collectives
  • Charity events
  • Starting your own event
  • Supporting other local shows

The easiest way to get booked is to become part of the scene before you ask the scene for favors.

Go to shows.
Meet people.
Dance.
Share flyers.
Support other DJs.
Bring friends.
Be normal.
Be consistent.

Then ask for opportunities.

A lot of new DJs want bookings before they have built relationships. That is backwards.

Community first. Slots second.

Step 18: Network Without Being Annoying

The best networking sentence is not:

“Can you book me?”

The better sentence is:

“How can I support what you’re building?”

That mindset changes everything.

If you want to network with promoters, venue owners, collectives, and other DJs, start by showing up and being useful.

Good networking looks like:

  • Attending events
  • Sharing flyers
  • Bringing people
  • Complimenting specific sets
  • Introducing yourself respectfully
  • Following up without spamming
  • Offering help
  • Being consistent
  • Not acting entitled

Scenes remember who supports them.

Step 19: Understand What Promoters Actually Care About

Promoters care about DJ skill, but they also care about much more.

They care about:

  • Reliability
  • Promotion
  • Professionalism
  • Communication
  • Crowd draw
  • Brand fit
  • Social media presence
  • Community involvement
  • Flexibility
  • Booth etiquette
  • Whether you make their job easier or harder

As someone who has hosted events and worked with collectives, I can tell you this clearly:

Being talented gets attention.

Being easy to work with gets you booked again.

Step 20: Learn DJ Booth Etiquette

Good booth etiquette matters.

Here are the basics:

  • Do not touch another DJ’s gear
  • Do not interrupt their transition
  • Do not hover aggressively
  • Be ready before your set
  • Keep the booth clear
  • Respect the sound tech
  • Do not redline
  • Do not unplug random cables
  • Do not bring a whole party into the booth
  • Finish on time
  • Clear out politely after your set

The booth is not your living room.

Treat it like a workspace.

Step 21: Prepare Your USBs Correctly

If you are playing on club gear, prepare your USBs properly.

Use Rekordbox if the venue uses Pioneer/AlphaTheta equipment. Analyze your tracks. Set cue points. Make playlists. Test the USB before the show. Bring a backup.

Do not wait until you are in the booth to discover your music does not load.

That is not bad luck.

That is bad preparation.

A prepared USB is boring in the best possible way. It just works.

Step 22: Handle Nerves Like a Professional

You are going to get nervous before your first DJ set.

That is normal.

The goal is not to eliminate nerves. The goal is to prepare so well that nerves do not control you.

Before a first set:

  • Know your first three tracks
  • Test your USBs
  • Arrive early
  • Keep water nearby
  • Do not get too intoxicated
  • Breathe
  • Remember that most mistakes feel bigger to you than they do to the crowd

If something goes wrong, stay calm.

The crowd mirrors your energy.

If you panic, they notice. If you recover smoothly, most people move on.

Step 23: What to Do After a Bad Set

Every DJ has a rough set eventually.

Maybe your transition trainwrecks. Maybe the room does not respond. Maybe you play the wrong energy. Maybe you have a technical issue. Maybe nerves get you.

Do not quit.

Listen back if you recorded it. Be honest. Figure out what went wrong.

Was it:

  • Track selection?
  • Nerves?
  • Technical preparation?
  • Bad phrasing?
  • Poor volume control?
  • Wrong genre for the room?
  • Lack of practice?
  • Not reading the crowd?

A bad set is only a failure if you learn nothing from it.

The best DJs are not the ones who never mess up. They are the ones who recover, adjust, and keep improving.

Step 24: Should EDM DJs Learn Music Production?

You do not need to produce music to start DJing.

But eventually, production helps a lot.

Producing your own music gives you:

  • Original tracks
  • Custom edits
  • Better understanding of song structure
  • A unique sound
  • More branding power
  • More reasons for people to follow you
  • More leverage with promoters and labels

As Chance the Closer, production is a huge part of my identity. I am not just playing tracks. I am building music, testing ideas live, and creating a sound that belongs to me.

If you want to become more than a local DJ, learning music production is one of the smartest long-term moves you can make.

Step 25: The First-Year Roadmap for Beginner EDM DJs

Here is a realistic roadmap for getting into EDM DJing.

First 30 Days

Focus on learning the basics.

  • Get beginner gear or software
  • Learn your DJ layout
  • Build your first 50 tracks
  • Practice beatmatching
  • Learn phrasing
  • Record short practice clips
  • Start organizing your library

First 90 Days

Start becoming more intentional.

  • Build a 30-minute mix
  • Record and review yourself
  • Post clips online
  • Attend local EDM shows
  • Meet other DJs
  • Study your favorite sets
  • Practice three to five times per week

First 6 Months

Start getting involved.

  • Play open decks
  • Improve your USB prep
  • Build better crates
  • Create a short DJ bio
  • Get a promo photo
  • Post mixes online
  • Support local promoters
  • Start developing a recognizable sound

First Year

Start building real momentum.

  • Play your first gigs
  • Build relationships with venues and collectives
  • Create original edits or tracks
  • Improve your branding
  • Grow your social media presence
  • Keep recording mixes
  • Become known for a specific sound, energy, or lane

Do not rush the process.

Build something real.

Minimum Viable DJ Checklist

Before you play in front of people, you should have:

  • 60–100 organized tracks
  • A 30-minute set
  • Basic beatmatching
  • Basic phrasing knowledge
  • Clean transitions
  • Headphones
  • Backup USB
  • No redlining habit
  • Ability to recover from mistakes
  • Understanding of the gear
  • A short DJ bio
  • A promo photo
  • A social media page or website link

You do not need to be perfect.

You need to be prepared.

Biggest Beginner EDM DJ Mistakes

Here are the mistakes I would avoid:

  • Only playing bangers
  • Ignoring phrasing
  • Redlining the mixer
  • Not knowing your tracks
  • Overusing effects
  • Playing too loud
  • Not reading the crowd
  • Copying festival sets without understanding context
  • Showing up with bad USBs
  • Not promoting your shows
  • Acting entitled
  • Spamming promoters
  • Badmouthing other DJs
  • Getting too intoxicated before your set
  • Thinking DJing is only about transitions

The biggest mistake is forgetting that DJing is both service and leadership.

You are guiding the room, but you are also serving the room.

How to Stand Out as a New EDM DJ

The EDM scene is crowded.

To stand out, you need a clear identity.

Ask yourself:

  • What sound do I want to be known for?
  • What energy do I bring?
  • What makes my sets different?
  • What kind of crowd am I trying to reach?
  • Do I have original edits?
  • Do I have a visual identity?
  • Do I support my local scene?
  • Am I easy to work with?
  • Can people remember my name after one show?

Standing out is not about pretending to be bigger than you are.

It is about becoming specific, memorable, and consistent.

My Strongest Advice for New DJs

My strongest advice is this:

Be good, be prepared, and be part of the community.

Technical skill matters. Taste matters. Branding matters. But scenes are built by people.

If people trust you, like working with you, and see you supporting the culture, you will create more opportunities.

Being a good community member will take you farther than being technically perfect but impossible to work with.

That is true in Portland.

That is true in EDM.

That is true almost everywhere.

Final Answer: How Do You Get Into EDM DJing?

To get into EDM DJing, start by learning the basics on affordable DJ gear or software, build a high-quality music library, understand phrasing and beatmatching, practice consistently, record your mixes, post content online, attend local EDM shows, play open decks, network with promoters and DJs, and become part of your local music community.

You do not need to be rich to start.

You do not need perfect gear.

You do not need to be famous.

You need taste, preparation, consistency, humility, and the courage to keep improving after every set.

EDM DJing is not just about playing music.

It is about controlling energy.

It is about building moments.

It is about making people feel like they are part of something bigger than whatever stress they walked in with.

And if you can do that, even for one room, even for thirty minutes, you are on your way.

About Chance the Closer

Chance the Closer is a Portland-based DJ and producer known for high-energy sets that blend bass house, tech house, dubstep, trap, techno, and festival-ready EDM. With years of production experience, ongoing Portland club involvement, original releases, and a sound built for both underground rooms and big-stage moments, Chance the Closer creates music for people who laugh at the chaos and keep dancing anyway.


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