18 July 6-12, 2023 dallasobserver.com DALLAS OBSERVER Classified | MusiC | dish | Culture | unfair Park | Contents Dallas’ culture is DJ-driven. The demand for DJs goes beyond nightlife. Bars, restau- rants and retail spaces are increasingly opt- ing to have DJs on site The DJ School is one of many options that helps meet demand. In Dallas, Jay Clipp’s Keep Spinning Academy offers 10 DJ classes, including a master class with DJ Spinderella. Clipp opened Spin the Spectrum, an inclu- sive DJ academy for neuro-divergent indi- viduals, with speech and language pathologist Courtney Willis in 2022. DJ Dan Quinn runs OontzKids DJ Academy for chil- dren, and Ivan G offers free DJ workshops for children through Legends DJ Factory. “DJs could come in, without going to school, there’s plenty of DJs that do that,” Salazar says. “But at the same time, the more you are out there, the more you put yourself out there and network with other DJs and like-minded people, that’s how opportuni- ties create themselves.” Enrolling at The DJ School streamlines students into a community. Each class has its own group chat where students can lean on one another. There, they reach out to in- structors and their peers with questions, ad- vice and recommendations. “Julio and Gilbert have created a wonder- ful community,” says Mia Mecham, manager and mother of The DJ School alumni DJ Twig. “The DJ School alumni help support each other, from sharing tips to passing along gigs to loaning each other equipment; there’s a strong camaraderie.” Najera and Rivera’s school has graduated over 100 students, ranging in age from 8 to 61. Mecham’s son, Asher Mecham, is the youngest. “We’re really lucky to have him, really lucky,” Najera says. “We’ve learned a lot about teaching with him.” Asher has grown up before Najera and Rivera’s eyes. He has taken DJ School 101 and over 20 private lessons with Najera. Now, he is an incoming high-school fresh- man with a DJ business and over 50 gigs un- der his belt. Mecham says her son has been able to learn valuable life skills through DJing such as time management, relationship skills, fi- nancial literacy and balance. Many of the school’s referrals come from word of mouth. Alumna Sarah Hacks, DJ Será, recommended the school to fitness in- structor Antoine Howard. For Howard, the DJ school provides the best of both worlds. Rivera is business-ori- ented. Najera homes in on the technical. “S.O.U.L.jah understands the business side of it, and how it plays with the craft. Ti- tan is more of a technical guy. He’s ex- tremely technical. He’s the board,” Howard says. “The way that they align is perfect.” He says Najera provides students with skills that transform a set into an experi- ence that can be applied to current audi- ence tastes and culture. Najera and Rivera continue to practice their craft. Their methodology is both lived- in and fresh. “They’re living what they are teaching,” Howard says. The school teaches aspects of DJing that are often overlooked. Behind the produc- tion, theatrics, electricity and adrenaline of DJing is logistics. Once the lights turn on and the sun rises, DJs are accountable for their marketing, management, finances, en- gagement and networking. The last two-hour instructional session of DJ School 10 is strictly business. “I don’t mess around when it comes to the business side of DJing,” Rivera says. It’s his fa- vorite class to teach and one he takes pride in. The founders teach pupils “how to make money out of their ideas.” They instruct stu- dents on filing as a business, opening business accounts and securing a website domain. The seasoned DJs educate students on pathways they can follow in DJing such as taking on club gigs, private events and cor- porate events. Howard, a professional fit- ness instructor, plans to use his newly acquired skill set in his career. “Music is an extremely valuable part of the energy and intention of a [fitness] class,” the fitness instructor says. “If fitness is my life and I love music, then why not be in charge of it?” The school’s alumni roster includes Casie Farrell, who graced the Observer’s Decem- ber 2021 cover alongside Rivera’s protégé DJ Luv Ssik. Other former students include Lady Vanity Roux, Nick Stracener, DJ Honey T and DJ RomiQ. While there are no industry-wide set rates for DJing, students can learn what rates are fair through their mentor’s experi- ence. They are able to lean on their instruc- tors to navigate compensation. DJ Bri-Z proclaims herself as a “product of the best.” She graduated from The DJ School in 2021. By day she’s a developer and at night she’s behind the deck at Dallas hot spots. She holds a residency at Komodo and has DJed at Canvas, Candleroom, Curfew and Hero. She estimates that she makes from $1,000 to $2,000 monthly from DJing. The instructor duo prepare students for the good, bad and ugly that comes with the profession. “It’s a toxic industry, I’m not going to lie,” Rivera says. “It’s been tough at times to keep a level head in this industry because there’s so many different aspects coming at us that are so toxic, from the hours, to the environ- ment, to the people and just the temptation of all these libations.” The instructors instill the discipline and awareness necessary for a successful DJ ca- reer. After students complete the six-week course, they are given two weeks to prepare for graduation. To graduate, students must perform a 30-minute set in front of an audi- ence at a public venue. Each student is allotted lab time for a one-on-one with one or both of the instructors during that preparation period. “The nerves drop drastically when you see that there’s so many resources readily available to help you succeed,” Howard says. Labs are the school’s “secret weapon.” Najera says they are true light-bulb mo- ments and he insists that they happen. Howard entered his lab with Najera ready to forfeit the graduation performance. He left equipped for the challenge. “The way he reaffirmed me was perfect. I love that,” he says. “I love how he guided me along that scale of confidence.” For 2023, The DJ School has partnered with Green Light Social for graduation. The instructors see the event as not just a mile- stone but as a springboard for careers. “These graduations are auditions,” Ri- vera says. Sarah Elledge graduated in July 2019 as part of the third class of The DJ School. Elledge is an accountant and looked the part, but under the glow of the chandeliers at swanky club Candleroom, the venue for her graduation, she took on the moniker DJ Slay. The accountant wearing plastic-rimmed cat-eye glasses took the stage and plugged in. Then she unleashed a hard trap set that blew Rivera away. “She taught me to never judge a book by its cover,” he says. Elledge’s set included “Throw Some D’s” by Rich Boy, “Big Titties” by Rico Nasty and “Twerk” by City Girls. She closed the set with “Chase the Money” by E-40 and Quavo. “Man, when she did her set, her energy behind the deck was infectious — ahhhh — amazing, amazing performance,” Rivera says. Candleroom management thought so too. She was booked to return on the spot. Elledge regards her graduation as a core memory. “[At graduation] there is nothing but love and support,” Elledge says. “It really is a spiritual experience for all of our graduates. Few nights in my life compare to graduation. It’s up there with [my] wedding.” Elledge now manages The DJ School. She works alongside the DJ duo to provide a fruitful experience for students. The school graduated its 22nd class on June 11. The graduates performed their first public set at Green Light Social. Students took the stage of the Vegas- style, high-energy club. Howard performed as DJ Eaaz in front of a massive 50-by-30- foot screen displaying his logo as family, friends and his fitness circle took over the dance floor. Lights beamed, illuminating dancers as Howard christened his DJ career with a trap set. The audience was euphoric. “He had the set of the night,” Najera says. Green Light Social management immedi- ately showed interest in inviting Howard back. Graduations are open to the public. Fam- ily, friends and Dallasites are encouraged to attend. Rivera says it is much like a kinder- garten graduation: everyone is proud and encouraging. “In the next five years, I guarantee that The DJ School alumni will be the majority of the resident DJs in Dallas, mark my words,” Rivera says. Nathan Hunsinger DJ School from p17 (Top photo) School co-founder Gilbert Najera (DJ Titan) works with students Wendy Castro, Dera Eneh-Ortiz, Eunice Afenkhena and Bailey Thrift
