Video Jockey / Radio Jockey / Disc Jockey

Introduction

A Video Jockey (or VJ) is an announcer who introduces and plays videos on music channels. It is a derivative of the term Disc Jockey as used in the radio industry. A VJ’s role has stretched beyond making mere announcements. Now, VJs anchor reality shows, host comic series along with countdown shows, they also incorporate live television feeds and music. VJing has expanded to the internet in 2012 with Rap Genius’s YouTube personality Nicole.
A club Disc Jockey (or a DJ as is commonly called) is an individual who selects and plays pre-recorded music for an intended audience usually in a club setting, a neighborhood party or even a discotheque. The making of a Club Disc Jockey requires the knowledge of the mood of the intended audience, the performance setting, the preferred medium, and the development of sound manipulation.
A Radio Jockey (or RJ) entertains listeners of a radio program and provides information along with selecting and playing records. They have their own style and they create newer ways to entertain the people while they are listening. RJs need to have very good awareness of the events and things going around in the city, they must know the city well and of course they should know a lot about Indian films and film music. They usually write their own scripts and have to be very innovative at the same time keeping their style intact. RJ’s begin with odd-hours duty and with experience and popularity they come in the prime time.

Courses & Eligibility

From time to time, channels invite young aspirants for VJ hunts and radio channels invite people for the RJ hunts. Else one can apply directly to the channel for audition and start working as an intern. People begin early in DJ industry and learn while assisting the established DJ’s. Many models and actors have become VJs.

There is no education route to be a VJ/DJ/RJ. There are short term certificate and diploma courses and some mass communication courses have radio jockeying as part of their syllabus. Some personality enhancement courses and language course can equip one in becoming a VJ.

Course Fee

Unlike other professional courses, the fee for becoming a CA is very less, which is often inclusive of the cost of study material. The fee for CPT is approximately Rs.6700/- while that of IPCC is Rs.9000/-

Top Colleges

There are no institutes that offer course in VJ.
To be a DJ one must have knowledge about DJ mixer (which is used to mix the music) and other equipment and sound mixing.
Institutes for DJ’s
(1.) The Studio Bakers , Pusa Road and Kailash Colony run by Rummy Sharma, a DJ with Djinns at the Hyatt.
(2.) ‘Sound of Music’, Vasant Kunj run by DJ Sunny
(3.) Modus Operandi run by Sumit Budhiraja
(4.) Sound of soul, New Delhi.
(5.) ScratchZ D J academy Bangalore.
(6.) SSR DJ workshops, Chennai
(7.) Grooves Entertainment
Course fee: Beginner: Rs 15,000; intermediate: Rs 18,000; both combined: Rs 25,000
(8.) Spin Gurus DJ & Remixing Academy
Course fee: CD DJ Course: Rs 20,000; Vinyl DJ Course: Rs 18,000; CD Turntable Course: Rs 28,000
(9.) Dance Café, Gurgaon
Course fee: Beginner Rs 5,000; advanced Rs 10,000
Institutes for Radio Jockey Course
(1.) CRAFT Delhi, Offers P G Diploma IN Radio Jockey.
(2.) The Radio School, Mumbai
Some other institutes that offer related courses are:
(1.) IILM Academy, Gurgaon
(2.) Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) New Delhi
(3.) AJK Mass Communication Research Centre New Delhi
(4.) Amity School of Journalism & Communication, New Delhi
(5.) Asian Academy of Film & Television
(6.) Delhi University
(7.) Xavier Institute of Communications, Mumbai
(8.) EMDI, Mumbai
(9.) Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi
(10.) Institute of Radio Jockeying, Chandigarh

Pay and Remuneration

At entry level, a radio jockeys get Rs 1.8 lakhs to Rs 2.4 lakhs a year and the pay increases according to your job profile and experience. Senior RJs make around Rs 10 lakhs to Rs 15 lakhs in a year.
The average take-home for a disc jockey at the initial level is Rs 1.5 to Rs 2 lakhs a year. Pay increases with one’s skills and the market condition and label/club/music composer one is working with.

Career Prospects

The demand for professional in Disc Jockeying and Radio Jockeying is increasing. People are spending a lot these days on hosting big parties and events which has opened a lot of opportunities. Professional have worked out contracts with banquets halls, discotheques, farm houses, and any other place where such parties are organized.

Famous Personalities

DJ Akeel (he played twice at World economic forum and entertained the likes of Bill Clinton), DJ Akbar Sami (known as the Indian remix guru).
Some famous VJ’s are Cyrus Baroacha and Rhea Chakraborty.
RJ Richa Vyas and RJ Prateek are two most popular radio jockeys of contemporary radio.

A Day In Life

On typical days these professionals are on air or are performing. The timings depend on the show timing if it’s a live show, if it is a delayed telecast/ broadcast /Podcast then they reach the studios and record the programs as per the schedules. The off air time is spent in planning for the next day/show and increasing awareness and learning about new music, videos, news and other current affairs.