As DJs, our music library is our most critical asset of who we are and what we do. It is the heart of our profession. I’ve been DJing for over ten years, so my music library is very extensive. I’ve got years of work put into it, and as many of you may know, music accumulates very fast. I know firsthand that developing and improving your music library is a task that is as fun and rewarding as it is tedious and time-consuming. Here are my top 3 tips and tricks that won’t have all that hard work go to waste. With these, you’ll be ready for go-time when the crowd is in your hands!  

One of the easiest ways to keep myself on track when it comes to backing up my music library is by setting a weekly reminder. This way no matter how busy I get, whether I’m on the road traveling or going from day club to nightclub all weekend long, my music library will constantly be backed up. I can stay on top of the backing up process, by having it scheduled every week.

As much as we love technology (and depend on it ) there’s always room for some type of technological error. With that in mind, I always utilize backing up to the Cloud and a separate hard drive. I do this to give me peace of mind and so that I can access my music library in multiple ways. There are multiple cloud services that a very user-friendly and inexpensive, which is nice for DJs at all levels. Also, as another measure of security, you can encrypt your external hard drive, so if a theft were to occur, they won’t have access to your music library, and you’d still have access to your cloud backup. You can even take your music library protection up a notch by putting your external hard drive in a waterproof and fireproof safe.

Another way that I like to stay prepared, especially out on the road is by making a copy of at least 2 hours of my go-to tracks. This way even if my laptop crashes, I can still finish my set and get the job done. I highly suggest at least two 1-terabyte USB drives, preferably the 3.0 for optimal speed when dragging and dropping. I say to have at least two USBs on hand at all times just in case the link function isn’t working properly. There is a wide assortment of USBs available at multiple price points.

So, these are my top 3 ways of backing up my music library and staying prepared. And take it from me, not being prepared out on the road is not the business. By utilizing these tips, you’ll be able to DJ with one less worry, and focus on the task at hand – providing a fun and memorable party!

About the Writer

Kid Conrad is a DJ, artist, creator, blogger, connector, entrepreneur, and Las Vegas native. He stays busy with multiple DJ residencies and a family-owned dessert business in the Vegas area. Kid Conrad is also currently pursuing the launch of his own fashion clothing line.