maybe i should have been more clear. They are both instruments to an extent and both can create music but its like walking and dancing they use the same movements but in a very different way and therefore are realted but at the same time aren't, you see what i mean?

Dj's are definately musicians they produce music so they are. Dj'ing is a brilliant hobbie and is very complicated. I gave it a try and was very hard :( ... My brother used to DJ he was well good and did his own gigs :)

they dont produce music though. they simply throw a record or 2 together and make them sound neat. i could do that with 1500 dollars in dj equipment

^ a guitarist throws a few notes or chords together and makes it sound cool. and there's lot more to it than just throwing it together. you have to match the beats, find two melodies that work together, whats more they have to blend it all together seamlessly and artistically, making sure the new melody isn't monotonous or repetitive, its alot more complicated than just throwing on a few records at the same time.

I would consider a musician to be a person that CREATES music using an instrument.

A DJ is someone that uses music that is already created by other people to make his sound.

i agree that although the have to have an extreme amount of talent to perform their sound to a high standard, i still cant help thinking they are piggybacking off the sound that other musicians have created.

Interesting, what would that make a singer or band doing a cover song?

i would still consider them as musicians seeing as they are still using instruments to create the music even though the music has been made before

I say yes,but i don't like my own answer.

Sure, DJing is a skill, but just because it is a skill, does not make it musicianship. spution said "in my eyes anyone who uses music and gets a reaction is a musician." By that logic, politicians are musicians becuase they "use" music at conventions and they do get a reaction. Throwing a record on does not make you a musician.

according to www.dictionary.com

the definition of a musician is

One who composes, conducts, or performs music, especially instrumental music.

and in my opinion a deck is not a musical instrument, it is a peice of equipment that plays recorded music.