FAQ

Where can I hear you spin?

Keep your eyes on the schedule for any public dates on my calendar! I probably won't have any show dates for at least a few months due to other commitments (I *do* have a day job!)

What are some of your other interests?

I am into computers a whole lot and am a founding member in a geek co-op. We sell Internet services and register domains. Pretty cool stuff! The group is called the Geek Empire.

I have also done stage acting before and have performed in both straight plays and musicals. I enjoy singing a great deal and have also participated in a number of choirs.

Also, when I'm not on the turntables, I'm often at the computer composing new original pieces. None of them are quite finished yet, but I plan on self-publishing my own album sometime in the future.

Can you recommend any gear? Can you tell who puts out good albums?

I hesitate to tell anyone what to buy, so my best suggestion is to try out any equipment you want to buy on your own. Don't feel pressured to buying anything then and there! Good salespeople won't pressure you. If you feel pressured, go to a different store!.

As far as music goes, avoid listening to commercial radio for the next couple of weeks to "cleanse your palate". If you're lucky, maybe try listening to a good techno show on your local college radio station. If there aren't any in your area, try listening to those that are webcast (WRUW 91.1 FM in Cleveland on the campus of CWRU has a number of good shows that you can listen to.)

Try listening to music you never thought you'd even LIKE. Perhaps then go to your local record or CD store (NOT a chain) and pick up music by artists in the genre you're interested that YOU'VE NEVER HEARD BEFORE. Maybe even pick up some compilation CDs. Avoid stuff that's over-exposed. For some really wild stuff, get a few CDs from CD Baby.

The art of being a DJ is showing people what music is good. Stuff that's popular is already good, that's why it's popular. Don't just copy everything you hear at the club! An old standby or favorite is great every now and then, but mix it up a bit. That's your job!

I want to be a DJ! Tell me how...

Before you even think about being a DJ, ask yourself the following, "Do I have two to three thousand dollars that I can spend in the next 30 days buying gear and records?" If the answer is no, save up. If the answer is yes, then consider the fact that being a DJ is unlike a lot of other hobbies, you need to put a lot of time into it to get anything out. Practice does make perfect, and being a DJ requires lots of it! If you're not sure if you're going to be interested in it or not, find a friend with some turntables or professional CD decks and ask him or her if you can practice on them a few hours every week. Start building up a good record collection (even if it's stuff that you don't want to spin, per se. Just get some records you don't mind scratching the hell out of or destroying!). Practice your fades, cuts and beat matching. Then start out playing some house parties (or have your own party for that purpose!). It'll be a great way to boost your confidence as well as give you some exposure of what it's like to be "live". Remember, too, that the money won't stop flowing, as you will always need to find a source of new material to play!

Where do you shop for vinyl?

That's a pretty good question. I'll search for it just about anywhere, but I've found some good luck on Ebay (tirade) and Amazon zShops (Soundwaves) as well as other online stores.

Here are some local shops in Cleveland that tend to have interesting stuff: