How to Be an Internet DJ

If you love music and think you have what it takes to be a DJ but can't figure out how to get a gig, just create your own by becoming an Internet DJ. Internet DJing is rapidly becoming the way for music lovers to share their musical tastes with anyone who cares to listen. It's not that hard. You just need the right equipment, time and a passion for music.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. Buy the necessary equipment. Outside of the obvious you will need a music server and the software to stream your music across the Internet. Shoutcast server and Winmap software are the cheapest and most popular options for server and streaming software.

2. Create a blog or website to stream your music and list your playlists as well as give you an online identity.

3. Know and love your music genre of choice. This should seem obvious but many people love music without really knowing its history so make sure you really know the genre you're spinning. Your listeners are going to expect as much when they start calling you about that little known band or who wrote the lyrics to a specific song.

4. Build an online personality. Since your listeners don't see you and interact with you like they would an offline DJ, it's important that your personality shines through online so your audience can identify with you.

5. Interact with your listeners. Have a way they can call in, IM, text and email you. Be sure to respond promptly to their requests and questions. Throw contests, allow shout-outs, do whatever it takes so they feel like they're part of a community to keep them coming back to your blog or website.

6. Comply with all copyright, legal issues and fees associated with playing copyrighted material. These laws are changing all the time, so make sure to stay abreast of the situation. If you don't, it could result in heavy fines and the end of your Internet DJ days.

[igar]

on 12/29/2007 Step 6 is the most important - yet tells us nothing - even a link would have been useful.