Table turning: Spinning around

Presented with two turntables and a mixer covered with knobs, buttons and levers and being told that in a few months' time you will be able to master this object can be quite an exhilarating thought. The man of the hour – DJ Chico, a regular at Chi and Boudoir – is ready to put you on that path with Dubai's first advanced DJ course.

I recently had a chance to take a few baby steps into the world of music mixing with DJ Chico taking me through the spins. “DJing is something that you cannot learn through books so the lessons will be all practical.'' DJ Chico begins, twisting, turning and swiping different sections of the console as if it's an extension of himself.

The practical classes he is describing are a new initiative by RNH Events and EMDI to launch a DJ course aimed at both beginners and advanced. Very hands-on, the course aims to equip students with the skills to go pro. As well as the creative side of sampling, looping, beat matching, etc, the students will also be taught the business aspect of the industry such as gig preparation, self-promotion, what to wear and negotiating performance fees.

Back to basics

In order to stem my growing fear of the flashing table in front of me, DJ Chico takes me back to the basics – the beat.

“All tracks have to be at a certain beat per minute (BPM) which you can slow down or speed up to match the next track. It is very important to start on the beat, which is in four counts. When you mix, you essentially let go of your next track, but before you let go, you have to have a base line which you catch hold of. If the beat is off and you don't set your cue, it goes completely wrong. It's like using a camera with a lens cap on. You'll keep getting pictures but they'll all come out blank.''

Listening to one track in one ear, pairing up the next track in the other and making sure the crowd is happy isn't an easy feat. You need to be good at multi-tasking and forward planning. “Your job is to provide the crowd with continuous music so they can dance all night.''

Planning ahead

While planning ahead can make the night run smoother, DJ Chico believes putting it together on the spot works a lot better. “In the last 18 years I haven't planned anything. You get a different crowd every time and you don't know what the crowd is feeling. You've got to try various things. Some things work, some don't. You experiment all night long until you get it right and then you continue on that path. You're still planning three songs.''

Variety is another important component. “The more styles you play, the better DJ you can become. The days are gone when people would go to a certain club to just hear house music. Now everyone wants a mix of everything.''

Night out at a club

By the end of the course, students will be ready to take on a night at a club. However, it's only the beginning, says DJ Chico, “I still learn a lot off DJs. I always end up next to the console in a club watching the DJ because I'll always walk away with two or three things that I haven't thought of doing myself.''

Whilst I was nowhere near being able to call myself a DJ, I was assured by DJ Chico's advice. “To be a good DJ all you have to do is like music. Even if you think you don't understand music, you do. If you tap your foot when you're listening to a track in the car and you're listening to tracks all day long, you understand beat counts. You just have to get that to come out.''


Course details

• The courses will run once a week for four hours with the choice of any day from Sunday to Wednesday
• 
  You can opt for the Certificate in Disc Jockeying, a two-month course for Dh3,500; or the Diploma in Disc Jockeying & Music Promotion, a four-month course costing Dh6,500

(Aya Lowe works for ANM magazines)