This is a question I get asked almost every day by new DJs starting out in this business.
A lot of people try and mix two tracks together and have a hard time doing it.
Its not easy, learning how to beatmatch can be something that will take months or even years for some people to develop.
It will take a lot of practise to be able to mix and beatmatch to a high and consistent level.
I remember trying to learn how to beat match myself and it took me about 6 months of constant practise to get to a good level and even at that I was still way ahead of all my friends that were trying also.
However, once I started DJing professionally I realised that just being able to mix wasn't just what made you a good DJ.
I was actually shocked at how many people couldn't even tell the difference between a good mix and a bad mix.
It seemed the only people who knew what made a mix sound good was other DJs themselves.
I remember I mixed a perfect CD of tracks to give to a local club in my area.
The mixing was spot on perfect and I was sure I would get the gig.
However, the manager called me to say he was going to give someone else a go.
I said but the mixing is perfect what more can I do? He said, "yes the mixing is perfect and you have the skills, it's the track selection which was just not right".
That is when it hit me that the secret to being a good DJ wasn't actually being able to mix well it was to be able to play all the right tracks that the club managers and the crowd want to hear.
So I would say that whilst it's important to learn how to mix, you should focus much more on being able to play the right type of music to the right crowds.
Track selection is far more important to making a good DJ then the mixing.