Networking is the lifeblood of the sound business. You might be the best deejay in the world, but it won't mean a thing if you can't get anyone to listen to you play. One of the fastest ways to build your network is to attend DJ school. In addition to learning everything that escaped your original realm of experience, you'll meet fellow students and be taught by respected sound professionals in a challenging environment.
Most deejays are self employed, making anywhere from 40$-200$ an hour (while others are paid much more than that). The majority of these music professionals are creatures of the night who enjoy the freedom of planning their own schedules at the venues that are best suited to their personal tastes.
Of course, before getting to this point a deejay already has to have a good reputation and a built rapport with his/her clients and/or employers. While a reputation can come with years of networking and socializing, many people don't have the liberty of that much time, especially when there are no professional guarantees.
While many deejays dream of global recognition, and playing in the deejay meccas of the world (think Ibiza, Amsterdam, London and New York), most aim for a residency, and go from there. If you have no actual education, this residency may very well be the end of the road for you.
On the other hand, studying audio engineering, or taking audio courses can put you on the fast track on the path to international recognition. And you won't be restricted to working venues and parties. Professionally trained deejays can work in music production for television, radio and films. You can even work with professional musicians, or in some cases, even cut your own record (think Tiesto, Grandmaster Flash and Jazzy Jeff).
In addition to supplying a fulfilling education, a DJ school usually offers students recording studio time, covering everything from postproduction to live recording. This allows students to get hands-on training, putting everything learned in theory to practice. Additionally, DJ schools offer their students the opportunity to work with the latest computer software, while simultaneously teaching them the key elements to ensure that the students can keep up with the latest changes in music software. Upon graduation, the majority of these institutions request that their students prepare a final project to showcase the range and versatility of their skills. While this is great practice for students, it also provides them with a finished product that is portfolio ready. Working deejays know the value of studio time - and a student with a professionally prepared piece of work to showcase to potential employers and clients is defiantly at an advantage.
Even without professional deejay training, most driven individuals can make a name for themselves in the audio industry, but attending a DJ school will definitely get you there little faster. The people you will meet will allowing you to build your network more quickly, and provide you with a finished product at the end of your studies - and these are two things that you will need if you ever want to make it in the music industry.
