Episode 27
How To Kickstart Your DJ Career (Self-Taught DJ PoV) - w/ Mayya
In this episode, featured not-expert is Mayya Perova. Originally from Moscow, Russia, Mayya recently graduated from a Masters of Arts degree from DePaul University but for the purposes of this episode - we’ll be deep-diving into how Mayya kickstarted her DJ career from scratch.
First moves to steal
- Kickstart Your DJ Career (Self-Taught DJ PoV) - w/ Mayya
- We also go over music production, steps to becoming a “master” at DJ-ing and some really funny stories of stuff she’s seen at clubs.
- Support the Ready Set Do podcast:------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Resources: Mayya's Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/mayyaperovaa/ Timestamps: (00:00) Background + Introduction(02:19) What was it like growing up in Moscow?(04:01) Initial exposure to music growing up(07:04) Beginning of DJ journey(10:12) First gigs and mixing experience (playing for “people” and not just friends)(13:37) Learning from feedback on initial gigs and spotlight effect(15:34) Landing first gigs in Chicago via open decks(18:53) Playing pop crowd-favorites VS “unknown” but rewarding house music(22:40) Should a DJ care about pleasing the crowd?(24:21) “A real DJ never takes requests” - Yay or Nay(27:15) Juicy gossip of stuff that Mayya has seen at clubs(29:41) Freaky starer-s (DJs find this type of people ridiculous)(30:59) What do DJs and their friends talk about during hang-outs(32:50) How to integrate into and leverage the DJ community to break-out(35:20) The three key steps to becoming a competent DJ(38:29) Signing for record labels(40:34) The “final boss” of technical ability in terms of a DJ(43:59) How exactly does a DJ console work(46:38) Why do DJs wear headphones?!
- It’s not JUST for show)(49:44) Advice for DJs starting out right now(54:01) Jokes + Outro + Gratitude
- like your generic DJ stuff play at clubs when you and your DJ friends hang out what is the generic type of stuff that...
- step two is music production is there such a thing as a step three final boss such a thing as a step three final boss...
Transcript-backed moments
A few lines worth stealing before you hand over the full hour.
I wasn't DJing because it's so cool to DJ I love the technical side of it I DJ I love the technical side of it I love playing with frequencies it was just personally so much more interesting
just personally so much more interesting for me to DJ house transition like house music rather than like open format so like rap pop all of that kind of stuff like rap pop all of that kind of stuff like your generic DJ stuff play at clubs
like your generic DJ stuff play at clubs when you and your DJ friends hang out what is the generic type of stuff that you talk about if Step One is mixing step two is music production is there
step two is music production is there such a thing as a step three final boss such a thing as a step three final boss like the absolute Mastery of DJ can you give us a quick and dirty outline of
give us a quick and dirty outline of what a DJ console is I love this kind of what a DJ console is I love this kind of people when they like come up super close to you they just St at my hands I
Show notes
In this episode, featured not-expert is Mayya Perova. Originally from Moscow, Russia, Mayya recently graduated from a Masters of Arts degree from DePaul University but for the purposes of this episode - we’ll be deep-diving into how Mayya kickstarted her DJ career from scratch.
We go over the onset of Mayya’s musical pursuits, how she learnt mixing - which is the fundamental skill every DJ must learn, and how she landed her first gigs. Currently Mayya is one of the hottest DJ-ing prospects in Chicago, and we discuss how she made it to DJ-ing at some of the biggest locations in the city. We also go over music production, steps to becoming a “master” at DJ-ing and some really funny stories of stuff she’s seen at clubs.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Support the Ready Set Do podcast:-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Resources:
Mayya's Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/mayyaperovaa/
Timestamps:
(00:00) Background + Introduction(02:19) What was it like growing up in Moscow?(04:01) Initial exposure to music growing up(07:04) Beginning of DJ journey(10:12) First gigs and mixing experience (playing for “people” and not just friends)(13:37) Learning from feedback on initial gigs and spotlight effect(15:34) Landing first gigs in Chicago via open decks(18:53) Playing pop crowd-favorites VS “unknown” but rewarding house music(22:40) Should a DJ care about pleasing the crowd?(24:21) “A real DJ never takes requests” - Yay or Nay(27:15) Juicy gossip of stuff that Mayya has seen at clubs(29:41) Freaky starer-s (DJs find this type of people ridiculous)(30:59) What do DJs and their friends talk about during hang-outs(32:50) How to integrate into and leverage the DJ community to break-out(35:20) The three key steps to becoming a competent DJ(38:29) Signing for record labels(40:34) The “final boss” of technical ability in terms of a DJ(43:59) How exactly does a DJ console work(46:38) Why do DJs wear headphones?! - (It’s not JUST for show)(49:44) Advice for DJs starting out right now(54:01) Jokes + Outro + Gratitude