“Deejaing is a culture and we all play a part in keeping the culture alive and thriving.” – DJ PNUT
What led you to deejaying?
I come from a musical family. I started playing instruments when I was young and then my uncle, Mark Wilson introduced me to Djing. After that I was hooked. I got my first set of turntables in middle school from my aunt Barbara. They were horrible but I did what I could with them. I saved up and bought a set of Technic 1200’s about a year later.
In addition to mastering their craft, what other skill sets to you recommend that DJs develop if they want to be successful?
The business side of things plays a major role in your success. One of the most important skills is being able to manage and maintain relationships.
How do you map out your goals? How do you measure your success?
I’ve kept a blue book for the the past 6-7 years to write down goals and ideas. It allows me to get things out and develop my thoughts, and also to trace a thought from concept to completion. Measuring success is evaluating specific goals.
Name two of your top role models
My top role models are my parents. My father was my first musical influence. He instilled discipline and fortitude and also taught me what it is to be a man. My mother gave me faith, compassion, and love. I would like to think they gave me the foundation to be a well rounded person.
What affirmations do you repeat to yourself that contribute to your success?
“Today is the first day of the rest of my life!” – My mother used to tell my brother and I that all the time …
What technological innovation has made the biggest difference in your career?
Computers — hands down. Serato and the internet have made a big difference for DJs around the world. Once upon a time, a dj had to go to a record store and buy records. If that record was sold out you were out of luck. DJs had to pack crates for gigs, being carefully selective because you were physically limited to the number of records you could take. Today you can download songs on the spot and stock thousands of songs in your library.
How do you stay at the leading edge of your craft?
It’s a matter of constant evolution. You have to try new things, but at the same time remain true to who you are. The world is constantly changing. New information and technology create opportunities, but you have to be informed to take advantage of them.
