Re-discover the sound of vinyl + more

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In order to be considered part of the final 8 you must submit a video to us via email at wmrecordshop@gmail.com. The video must be no less than 2 minutes and no longer than 5 minutes. The video must also show your set-up and hands during the whole video in one continuous shot, preferably an overhead shot. When emailing us your video you can send a link to the video such as a YouTube link or google link. In the submission email make sure the subject reads “DJ Battle submission” and you must also provide the following information. Your full name, DJ name, Instagram handle, and a preferred reliable way to contact you if we have any questions or to notify you that you have made it to the final 8. We will start receiving your submissions immediately and will close the submission period Sunday September 15th 2024 at 1159 PST. The final 8 will be announced Wednesday September 18th 2024.

***The grand prize will be $500 and more prizes yet to be announced. WINNER TAKES ALL!***

The final 8 battle will be held at WM Record Shop 3535 Adams Ave. San Diego CA, 92116 October 22nd 2024. The final 8 will be a bracket style elimination. The names of who will battle who will be picked the day of the battle out of a hat randomly. The Judges will be announced later. This is a winner takes all battle! 

The following are the rules and break down of the DJ Battle.

Each DJ is given 5 minutes in the first round (elimination round), 5 minutes in the second round (semi-finals), and 15 minutes for the championship round to impress the judges with their originality, creativity, and ability. As stated earlier this is a bracket style elimination. We want you to show your skills, take us on a musical journey, and most of all we want you to do you!

The only creative constraint you are given is that you must play at least 3 genres of music in all your routines. So dig deep into all kinds of crates.

On the technical front we allow for the following: 2 players (2 turntables or cds), 1 mixer, or one controller, and a maximum of 1 midi devices. There really is no standard set up for this art form but this is the maximum allowable amount of gear for our event. You are free to do whatever you want with the aforementioned gear.

What are the judges actually looking for?

Ideas that blow minds, uniqueness that moves the audience, tricks that make the other DJs say "how did they do that!". Most of all we want to see a true original; someone who approaches their performance in their own way. We want to see the next leader in the DJ world.

One of the great abilities of a DJ is to take a song, add a personal touch to it, and create a new experience with it. Mixing it in a fashion different than others, using unconventional parts and pieces of a song -- finding a way to make your individual mark in the mix. We challenge competitors to think about how they can creatively use their music and gear to take the crowd on a unique journey over the course of their set, presenting new ideas that leave a lasting impression on the audience.

Being aware of what has come before you as a DJ is important. Whether it is another DJ's set on the night of the performance, or previous defining moments in DJ history, DJs must be weary of repeating an idea that has already been done. There is always an opportunity to take an established idea to another level, but if that bar is not passed, your interpretation of the idea will be regarded as inferior, or worse, as a copy. Challenge yourself to create something that is your own and create your own lane.

Elements considered in the SKILLS category:

Mixing: arrangement & sequence of music, flow & pacing of set, timing of transitions (beat matching, fading, etc).

Live Editing of the Music: including (but not limited to) beat juggling, scratching, musical use of cue points.

Overall Presentation: how the DJ combines these skills with their music selection in a balanced manner.

Your musical selections largely define who you are as a DJ. What music will you choose to use and be remembered by? We want to see your style and taste on display. Finding the right tracks to play requires work. Researching new music, shining a light on lesser-played-but-great music, digging for classics that are ripe for a revisit, playing unexpected music -- these are all important parts of DJing. We want to hear music that you are passionate about. Do things YOUR way. Making and finding edits & remixes adds an element of exclusivity to your sets and can help you stand out from the pack.

How the crowd reacts to the DJ’s performance. How the party gets rocked.