How much does it cost to be a DJ?

There are a lot of reasons why one would want to become a DJ. They could be looking for a creative outlet to showcase their fondness for music. For some folks, it's been a dream they've had since their teen years. Others meanwhile want fame, fortune, and everything that the top DJs have. Regardless of your reason, pursuing a career as a DJ can be expensive, according to DJ Rama. Unlike a singer who mostly just relies on their voice and songwriting skills, a DJ needs equipment, and those are seldom affordable. Here is a breakdown of what you need to become a DJ and their cost.

DJ Lessons: If you want to learn the basics of DJing all by yourself, then the cost would be totally free. However, DJ Rama states that it could take you a long time getting started without proper training. This is why getting lessons is preferred if you're just starting. Basic DJ lessons go for about $500, which covers only the basics. Advanced lessons cost more.

DJ Controller and Mixer: You can spend as little as $100 for a secondhand mixer to over $2500 for a top of the line mixer. A good starting mixer that's of high quality and can be connected to your computer, turntables, or CD deck costs around $300.

Quality Laptop: Most DJs today rely on a good laptop which serves as their studio. Ideal DJ laptops should have at least 8 gigs of RAM and an i5 processor. This is just to make sure any DJ program you install won't lag or keep crashing. While you can invest in a sturdy PC for future sound design projects, DJ Rama claims that laptops are versatile enough to bring to your gigs. A quality laptop with these basic features is often sold for $500 or more. As for the DJ mixing program, those can run from $100 to $300.