The
following article appeared in the College Times on January 27,
2004
Learn to Spin
DJ Lessons
by Eddie Shoebang
January 27, 2004
The Details:
DJ Lessons @
Scottsdale Community College
9000 E. Chaparral Road
480.423.3621
Every kid, way back when,
took their parents' Kenny Rogers record and tried to scratch
it to recreate a sound they heard on Yo! MTV raps. At least for
me, little has changed. But now Rob Wegner, a veteran DJ for
over 20 years, wants to help people learn the ways of being a
DJ and, if you've got the dream, to make a living off of being
the soundtrack to parties.
Rob Wegner, who has been
a DJ for over 20 years, wants to teach you how. He has been the
resident DJ for such clubs as Sanctuary and Axis/Radius. He started
DJ classes in 2001 and the intereste has grown ever since.
DJ Club is taught by Wegner
and deals with the history of the DJ, how to use the equipment,
basic scratching, and career opportunities.
"No experience is
needed to take the class," Wegner said. "All you need
is the will and a love of music."
Turntablism I is taught
by the legendary DJ Radar. It focuses on teaching the skill as
an art form with enhanced scratching skills and various hand
and fader techniques.
DJ Radar's class is for
experienced DJs or for people who have completed DJ Club who
desire to learn more about the art of scratching. At the completion
of both courses students will be able to start a career of their
own as a DJ which, as the man can tell you, can be profitable
and fun.
"Around the Valley,
a DJ can make about $150-$300 a night," Wegner said. "Provided
that you are good and working on a high profile night like New
Years, you can make $20,000 in a night."
DJing is a lot more than
just knowing what the popular club beats are or how to segue
into another song properly. You also have to learn how to read
a crowd which, unfortunately, is something Wegner can't teach
you in class.
"It's an acquired
skill that takes a really long time to develop," Wegner
said. "You have to learn how to pace a crowd, to get them
excited, then relax them so you can do it again. But it has to
be at the right time."
Though the class begins
on the February 4, interested parties can sign up a week after
the first class. After that registration closes because, Wegner
said, it would be hard to catch up on two classes.
