Choose Your DJ Career in Broadcasting School

If you're thinking about going to broadcasting school, chances are you're in it to be a DJ. Even if you're aiming for a different career, such as production engineering, you'll still get a foundation of DJ training, so you'll learn almost everything you need for a career as a DJ. But did you know that there's more than one type of career for DJs? If you want to make your living as a professional DJ, you have three major options to consider when choosing the direction you want your DJ career to take.

Radio DJ: The most traditional career path for DJs with a broadcasting school education, working in radio can keep you in steady work for years. With a position at the right station, you could gain local fame and even work your way up to the most popular stations in America in larger markets such as Chicago, New York, or Los Angeles. With new advances in communications technology, you're no longer even limited to traditional AM/FM radio formats. If your personality is larger than life and you refuse to be censored, you could have a place in unrestricted satellite radio. There are even opportunities in the constantly expanding world of internet radio.

Club DJ: If your dream work schedule leans more towards steady night gigs and bartenders as coworkers, a club DJ gig could be for you. The venues change with the job, so once you've established a good reputation, you could be DJing anywhere from local bars and nightclubs to raves or even stadiums. The skills you learn in broadcasting school will help you develop the technical know-how and personality you need to be an effective DJ. Some DJs in this position have attained the highest level of fame possible for a DJ, and if you have the necessary charisma and devotion, the next big club DJ could be you!

Mobile DJ: Looking for a DJ career you can keep a little more on the side? If DJing is only one part of your life, a weekend job as mobile DJ could be what you need to keep in practice and make a bit of extra money. Mobile DJs generally travel with their own equipment to events like weddings, dances, corporate outings, or private functions such as parties. With equipment of your own, you'll need the technical expertise you'll gain in broadcasting school to be able to handle a mixing board of your own. It also helps to have the outgoing personality DJs need in order to ensure that you have the contacts you need to book gigs.

No matter which of these careers you're interested in, a broadcasting school education will ably prepare you for the challenges of each! If you've been considering a career as a DJ, keep in mind that you're not just limited to being the voice on the radio. With a background in radio broadcasting, you'll be qualified to try any of these DJ careers.