Booking your first DJ gig is a huge accomplishment. You're leaving that bedroom setup and taking your mildly awkward Milly Rock skills to the public. In the excitement, there's a good chance that you'll forget some things, so I've compiled 8 questions to ask yourself before your debut that will give you a comfier first ride than a married couple that saved themsel.... never mind.

It's essential to do a walk through of a space, or have a conversation with the venue about what equipment is available, so you can bring whatever they don't have. Some places have mixers, some don't. Some places have mixers that somehow predate disco. The point is, find out before you get there and write a checklist of the items that you need to pack, down to the cables and power strip. You should also use your walkthrough to scout general logistics like booth and speaker layout. If possible, ask if you can come in before operating hours a few days before the event to do an actual sound check, and make sure everything works. Take photos during the walkthrough too so you can reference the layout and booth setup. You can use these photos for promotion leading into the event too.

Any accomplished recording engineer will tell you the job requires wearing a lot of hats. Why does Pharrell choose to do the multiple hat thing? I have no idea. But recording engineers walk into a unique set of circumstances every day, with a goal of capturing someone's art and inspiration before it fades into oblivion. It's stressful, multifaceted, and often involves way more than just pressing buttons. If you're thinking about being a recording engineer as a profession, or if you're wondering how to start wowing more clients, put some consideration into improving these skills if you haven't already.

We've all been there. You try to get a mix sitting right and it just isn't working no matter what you do. If you're new to the process and have had recent issues mixing, odds are, one of these tricky little issues might be the root of your problem. Here's how to get over the hump.

​Welcome back to the Lab Science Podcast. This week we take a look at some synthesis basics while conducting an audio overview of the new Korg Monologue, a hardware synth that literally can't be found in stores. Professor SentZ and Captain Lean Automatic also crack a few Modelo's and discuss Troy Ave, the difficulty keeping NYC clubs open, and the "post crack" hiphop generation.

Click here to listen/download this week's episode

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I'm beyond excited to announce that I'll be teaching multiple courses on music production and djing! The first course is already live and covers the basics of sampling in Ableton Live 9. Students can study at their own pace, rewind content, and reach out for 1 on 1 assistance. 

As a thank you, the first 25 students to enroll get the class for free! Just use this link to check it out!