What does DJ stand for?

DJ stands for disc jockey. FDJ stands for female disc jockey.

What does a DJ do?

In simple terms, a DJ plays music. In reality, being a DJ is a bit more complex that this definition would make it appear. It may seem that a DJ could be easily replaced by a music playlist, but there are few things a DJ can do that no canned music can accomplish:

• A DJ can mix songs and create musical transitions. This allows the intro and outro of various songs to lead smoothly into one another, allowing music to flow easily and without any startling disruptions that might dampen the mood or be distracting for the crowd.
• A DJ will also make sure that the audio output levels remain consistent between songs. This is important because some songs will have much louder or softer elements than others, and playing the two back to back can be jarring. Having someone tend to the sound levels keeps the music flowing smoothly without distractions.
• A DJ can read the crowd and change up the playlist to help keep the mood of the event consistent. If the energy levels of the gathering are starting to droop, a change to more up-beat songs may be in order; if the night is starting to wind down, more laid back music could be prescribed.
• DJs at events often also act as announcers or event organizers who are able to keep the party on track. For example, they may announce things like which important dance is coming up at a wedding reception, hand the microphone over for speeches and otherwise keep the night moving according to schedule.