From Bedroom Mixtapes to Packed Dancefloors: My Journey as a DJ

My love of music started long before I ever touched a set of decks. As a kid and teenager, I spent countless hours making mixtapes for myself and my friends, carefully piecing together tracks in the days before playlists and streaming services existed. I’d also spend hours recording shows from the radio, hovering over the pause button and trying to stop the tape at exactly the right moment before the presenter started talking over the intro. It was probably my first real introduction to timing, track selection, and the obsession many DJs develop with music.

My DJ journey officially started back in 2002, and in a rather unconventional way.
The very first time I stood behind a set of decks was in front of a packed crowd. There was no warm-up, no practising in my bedroom for months beforehand, and no easing into it. I got the gig because I had the music collection. Back then, nobody was particularly concerned about perfect mixing techniques — they just wanted someone who knew good music and could keep the crowd entertained.

Looking back, it was a complete baptism of fire.

Whilst I wouldn’t necessarily recommend everyone’s first DJ experience involves a packed dancefloor, it taught me a lesson that I’ve carried with me throughout my career: sometimes you just have to jump in at the deep end. You can spend hours watching tutorials, reading guides and practising transitions, but nothing teaches you faster than playing in front of real people. You quickly learn what works, what doesn’t, how to handle mistakes, and most importantly, how to connect with a crowd.

That mindset has stayed with me ever since.

Of course, there’s huge value in learning the fundamentals properly. Understanding your equipment, developing solid mixing skills and building confidence all matter. But at some point, every DJ has to take that step from practising at home to playing for other people. My aim as a tutor is to help you make that transition with confidence, whilst avoiding many of the mistakes I made along the way.

Over the years I’ve played all sorts of events, including bar residencies, club nights, private parties, weddings and festivals. I’ve played to packed dancefloors, half-empty rooms, enthusiastic crowds and tough crowds. Every venue, audience and event teaches you something different, and that’s one of the things I still love most about DJing after all these years. No two gigs are ever quite the same.

My background has always been rooted in open-format DJing. Whilst I appreciate DJs who specialise in a single genre, I’ve always enjoyed the challenge of moving between styles, reading the room and finding the right track for the right moment. Whether it’s house, disco, funk, hip-hop, chart music, classics or something completely unexpected, there’s a real skill in knowing what to play and when to play it.

DJing has also taken me into the wider industry. For a period, I worked in a DJ equipment shop, helping customers choose their first gear, upgrade their setups and navigate the world of DJ technology at the time. This was in the era before modern controllers were really a thing — most setups were based around CDJs and dual CD players, and that’s what I spent my time demonstrating and supporting day to day.

As a kid, I always had a dream of working in a record shop, surrounded by music and new releases every day. Unfortunately, by the time I was old enough to work in that world, many of the independent record shops I grew up visiting were already starting to disappear as the industry shifted. That childhood dream never quite happened in the way I imagined, but the passion for discovering and sharing music never went away.

Away from performing, I spent almost a decade working behind the scenes for one of the world’s largest online DJ schools. During that time I provided customer support and technical guidance to thousands of DJs around the world, from complete beginners unboxing their first CDJs or controllers, to experienced DJs looking to refine their skills.

From troubleshooting equipment and software issues to helping students improve their mixing, prepare for gigs and overcome technical challenges, I gained a unique insight into the problems DJs face at every stage of their journey. It also taught me how to explain things clearly and practically, without drowning people in technical jargon or unnecessary complexity.

What I’ve learned over the years is that everyone learns differently. Some people want a structured approach, others prefer to learn by doing. Some want to play clubs, others want to DJ weddings, livestream online, mix vinyl, or simply enjoy a new hobby. That’s why I focus on tailoring lessons to the individual rather than following a rigid formula.

More than twenty years after that first nerve-racking gig, I’m still actively DJing across Cheshire, playing bar gigs, club nights and events whenever the opportunity arises. I’ve never really stopped. I still enjoy digging for music, refining my craft and occasionally uploading a new mix to Mixcloud when time allows.

When I’m not behind the decks, you’ll usually find me spending time with my wife, our two young daughters and our dog, Beau. Life looks very different these days than it did back in 2002, but my passion for music and DJing remains exactly the same.

And if there’s one thing I’ve learned from more than two decades behind the decks, it’s this: nobody starts out knowing everything. Every DJ begins somewhere. Mine just happened to begin in front of a packed crowd.