First things first, no matter what advice you get here, or anywhere, do it your way. Be true to the style that appeals to you, the ideas that are yours, and what your gut tells you. DJing requires an immense level of commitment; so don't waste it on someone else's vision of how things are done. If the love of the art, music and performance is there, then everything else is just details.

The first detail is equipment: you need something to play your music on! Since your newfound passion for DJing might be a passing fancy, you'll want do your first practicing on someone else's equipment. Give it a test drive for free. The added bonus is that, as long as your visiting your friend's house to use their DJ equipment, you can also get the grand tour of the full DJ setup and some free advice.

The second detail is mixing: getting song A to blend into song B. A lot of dance-music DJs beat match their records, meaning that the speed and timing of the beats on two songs are matched up, to disguise the fade from one to the other. Not every DJ, or every song, needs to be beat matched. You can start by just mixing together beatless songs, or putting one song on just as another ends. This is a great way to build confidence, and get used to the equipment.

The third detail is beat matching: getting the speed and timing of the beats in song A to exactly match song B. For your first beat matching lessons, you can choose to have an experienced friend walk you through beat matching step-by-step (they'll be flattered!), or you can experiment and figure everything out for yourself - so your "trainwrecks" can be held in private. You should have a good idea of which learning style is better for you by thinking back on how you best learned other skills in the past. And no matter which style you choose, you'll want to record and review your sets. You don't know what you really sound like until you sit down and give a listen.

Whether you practice alone, or with a guide, the one buddy you won't want to forget is your mentor. Or mentors. Although online DJ resources are becoming more prevalent, nothing beats the know-how of a seasoned veteran. And you should have one by your side (or on the phone, or via email.) From new tracks, to tricks, to gigs, your mentor will be your guide along the winding path to starting as a DJ. In fact, Sister SF was formed, in part, to provide a comfortable mentoring environment for female DJs. We not only recommend it, we do it!

""A mentor should be someone you're comfortable with, whose patience and understanding of your level of DJing is clear. They can guide you right through your first struggles with beatmatching past thie steep learning curve of you early gigs. Some things just can't be explained using words, and a good teacher can demonstarate different concepts and speed your progress immeasurably. Sister SF has helped out quite a few DJs like that, and it's something we're really proud of." - DJ XJS

Here's a tip from your Sister SF mentors: Be patient while getting the records beat matched in your headphones, and don't over-correct the record you are mixing into after you have started to fade it in. Most new DJs are impatient to start the next mix, and then over-correct by adjusting (and adjusting again, and re-adjusting) the new record while both tracks are playing. Guess what? The crowd can hear when you touch a record, so hands off whenever you can! Get the beats right the first time, in your headphones, and stick with the mix.

"That was probably my biggest obstacle when I was learning. I was always trying to correct it when it wasn't off, and then over correcting and making it really go off, then having to correct AGAIN to fix that. Took me a long ass time to get over it and just trust myself and my beat matching. TRUST YOURSELF." - DJ EvenflO

If you're still feeling the fever for the flavor after your first mixmaster attempts, try buying some records or CDs for your collection. If you already know what style of music you'd like to spin, you should know which format (records versus CD) is standard for your genre. My genres - acid trance and techno - are almost exclusively vinyl releases, and that format will be my focus for this article.

So, let's get you some music! Visit your local DJ record store (an actual store, or an online wax dealer) and try picking out some records either by listening to audio clips online, or by giving them a spin at the listening station; DJ record stores have turntables where you can listen before you buy, unlike regular music stores. See how you enjoy this experience, and if is sparks creative ideas. You're starting to drive your own vision now.

Now on to how you mix those tracks. Choose tracks that fit the story you're telling, build a set that flows well, and represents your usual style. Some musical genres, like hip-hop and breaks, lend themselves to DJing tricks. Scratching, beat juggling and other skills can really grab attention in a positive way, and a hip-hop mix without them is going to fall short. Long, smooth mixes that can go on for several minutes require a solid command of beat matching, and are favorites of the trance, techno and house sets. Dropping in vocal snippets, acapellas, unusual intros or outros and using sound effects, as well as using a sampler or effects box can make all the difference in setting you apart from the rest.

Still with us? It's probably time to invest in your own equipment. You should have at least $1,200 at the ready if you're looking to get turntables, a mixer, needles, and enough records to get you started. This is no small number, and money will keep going into your new musical habit as pick up more and more records. So, if this figure is too high, just keep practicing at your friend's place or go in on a DJ setup with a pal. There are lots of ways to make it work.

One great side-effect of the current DJ craze is that a lot of lightly-used equipment is on the market. Not every new DJ keeps their turntables, and this is where you can swoop in and be a winner. You might even get a full nearly-new setup, down to the needles, at a discount. Check the online and newspaper classifieds, auctions, or postings on your local DJ store for listings of used equipment for sale. Of course, be sure to check any used item thoroughly for good care before buying.

Another choice is new equipmentÑfresh out of the box, and with a piping-hot warranty. If you're purchasing new turntables in the San Francisco Bay Area, Sister SF recommends Guitar Center. Excellent prices and service, you might even get some accessories for free. We do!

What to buy? For turntables, the answer is nearly a no-brainer: Technics 1200s. The old standard, an absolute workhorse, and the turntables you'll find at your gigs. And you will be getting gigs after the excellent advice you get here. Right? There are slight variations between recent models, but they all feel the same. The "feel" of the record platter is critical in manipulating your music, you'll come to expect a certain height and movement, and Technics 1200s are the standard by which all other turntables are measured. Vestax turntables also receive an honorable mention as a turntable with growing popularity in the scratch DJ community, thanks to the "no skip" straight tonearm and other turntablist-friendly features. However, the feel of the record platter on the Vestax turntable is very different from Technics, so you'll either need to get used to both, or be sure you have a Vestax available when it's time to show your turntablist skills.

Your selection of mixer will be the hardest of all, because the market is huge here. What you have to spend will dictate your starting place. What you'll use the mixer for will help you zero in. For "bedroom DJs" or house parties, an affordable mixer will do just fine. If your mixer will be traveling for use on large sound systems, don't be stingy. You'll want a rugged mixer that's up to the challenge.

Mixers are available from $150 to $1400 or more. For the budget buyer, I recommend a Numark. Numark offers a range of mixers for battle scratching, and your multi-line needs. They offer a range of mixers for about $200 with all the features you'll need: 3-band EQ, -40dB kill switches, and solid construction. If you want the best of the best, and are willing to pay for it, pick up an Allen and Heath or a Rane. These are the two mixer brands provided at nearly every major club, and they are a joy to use.

Now practice, practice, practice! Get to know the equipment, other peoples' equipment, different speaker setups, different volumes, different records, different styles. Sharpen your skills and broaden your abilities. It will happen. Watch other DJs, you'll begin to "mix along" with the DJ in your head, and you can bring what your observed to your own skills. The music will flow into you, and you'll put it back out into the world as you inspire new DJs. And by then, you'll be able to show them just how to do it.

Visit these links for more information on how to start DJing:

So You Want To Be A DJ? - by Pat Lui
Advanced Vinyl Handling: a Guide to DJing and Mixing - by Geert-Jan Pluijims

The bottom line: Got mentor? Get one! Choose the right equipment, practice like a mad thing, and take your time.