DJX Education & Learning
Seminars and workshops are core features of DJX, with more than 35 sessions, including sponsored seminars, “Keynote Q&A,” and panel discussions – covering everything from DJ performance to music production, technology to business growth. DJs leave equipped with high-impact insights and actional strategies to improve their businesses right away. This elite educational program is spread across three ballrooms, offering available seating from 100-400 attendees on Level 2 of the DJX Campus. Required passes for access offer unparalleled opportunities to learn, network, and elevate your craft from the industry’s most coveted talent, educators, and thought leaders.
10:30-11:00 AM
Hollywood Ballroom East
with Jake Jacobsen
Meet & Greet: Intro, Kick-Off & Networking Session
Welcome to DJX’25 – our 35th anniversary show. In this kick-off session, attendees will meet fellow DJ/professionals, exchange business cards, and then prepare for a big week of networking, education, and enlightenment. Hosted by Jake Jacobsen of Georgia’s A2R Entertainment, this session will allow everyone to experience the magic of DJX. Whether you’re a first-timer or a DJX vet, this intro session is designed to immerse you in the heart of the DJX community.
11:00-12:00 PM
Seminole Room I
with Mike Walter
Last Dance: Musings on the Best Way to Finish an Event… & Also a Career
As the saying goes, you never get a second chance to make a first impression. The same can be said about last impressions. And, as mobile vet Mike Walter will show you at DJX ’25, when it comes to a DJ’s party, the final 10 minutes can be the most important part of the night.
In his lively 60-minute tutorial, Mike Walter of New Jersey’s Elite Entertainment will tell the stories behind some of the “classic closers” we DJs all use. He'll also offer some superb suggestions for perfect-finale songs that you might’ve never considered. Plus, as sticking the landing at your events is just as important as finishing out your career on a high note, Walter will offer some advice on how to do that as well. Don’t miss the latest ultra-informative session from one of the DJ industry’s top jocks and presenters.
12:00-1:00 PM
Seminole Room III
with Chris D’Amico
Going the Extra Mile: Why Little Things Mean a Lot
It’s a competitive world out there, so DJs should try to create every little advantage they can for themselves. And to hear DJ vet Chris D’Amico tell it, taking those extra steps to stand out from the pack is a great way to create better relationships and, ultimately, better business. In this session, he’ll reveal those steps and explain how going the extra mile will pay off in the end.
What can you do? D’Amico has the answers. It can be tipping out bartenders at a club gig, finding out a clients’ particular tastes and gifting them accordingly, or simply loading out a gig in record time – the Jersey-based D’Amico has done it all for the betterment of his company. At this idea-rich tutorial, DJX attendees will find new and novel ways to connect with clients – and, in the end, boost their businesses.
12:30-1:30 PM
Seminole Room I
with DJ Troy Adams
Power Questions: Getting Answers for Better Gigs & Better Biz
What would your gigs and business look like if you had more answers – and better answers – from clients? Answers like… exactly how to get booked… what they really have to spend... who to avoid… how they really want you to perform... or what it'll take to get that 5-star review, referral or repeat business. In this tutorial, mobile vet Troy Adams will explain how asking the right questions of your prospective clients will get you all the answers you need.
The Charlotte, N.C.-based Adams will give you a simple framework to follow that helps you uncover real needs, meet those needs, and establish better value. Are you ready to try some new things in order to grow? Takeaways include: understanding the psychology tied to people in questioning; establishing a repeatable framework to rely on, even when caught off-guard; creating core questions that reveal red flags, buying signals, or connection points; building better emails & campaigns to solicit the answers you need; and identifying exactly how to exceed expectations.
1:00-2:00 PM
Ft. Pierce Salon D
with Jim Tremayne
New Tech: Shopping for DJ Gear
Each year, the DJ industry evolves with new technologies and gear trends, and each year DJX discusses how they impact the market and its greater culture. Looking at playback, pro-audio, lighting, software, studio/content-creation, and accessories, what are the latest industry developments – like the recent tariffs on DJ-related goods – and how will they impact the market in the near-future? What are the implications for DJs of all stripes? In this free-wheeling session moderated by DJ LIFE Editor Jim Tremayne, top retailers and industry insiders will offer their views and take your questions on gear, trends and more. Don’t miss this vital DJ-tech talk.
1:30-2:30 PM
Seminole Room III
with DJ NVision
The Big Show: Winning Over the School-Events Market
For DJs, school events can be an underrated, but highly lucrative market because they often come with built-in repeat business. If you deliver a standout experience – something truly memorable – you’re likely locked-in for future events year after year. The real power comes from how quickly the appreciation for these concert-like events spreads by word-of-mouth. So, how does one capture the school market, including the coveted prom business? At this session, DJ NVision – aka Nick McPherson of NWN Entertainment in Albany, N.Y. – will share his winning strategies.
For this energetic & instructive tutorial, DJ NVision will explain: how to set yourself apart, by creating high-energy performances through strong set structures, fast mixing, and dynamic crowd engagement; how DJs of any age can stay relevant and master the ever-changing trends of today’s youth culture; techniques for creating unforgettable “show-stopping” moments that drive engagement and buzz; the best use of crowd work and social media (all platforms) to energize events and build up pre-event excitement; and how these strategies can increase ticket sales for schools and lead to higher-paying bookings for DJs in the school market (and events beyond just schools).
2:00-3:00 PM
Seminole Room I
with Greg Curran
The Pricing Panel: How Much Do You Cost?
Hosted by Greg Curran of The DJ Entertainment School & Curran Entertainment in Philadelphia, this session will feature a panel of veteran mobile jocks from a variety of markets, and they’ll discuss how they set prices in their areas and explain their strategies. Bring your questions and prepare to dig into this heavily debated topic. Panelists include: Tauhid Chappell of New Jersey’s Entertainment Unlimited, Pat Danaher of Alabama’s Gulf Coast Sounds, and DJ Frank Broughton of Pensacola, Fla.
2:30-3:30 PM
Ft. Pierce Salon D
with DJ White Shadow
Keynote Q&A: DJ White Shadow
He was born Paul Blair, but music fans know him as DJ White Shadow. As the longtime DJ and award-winning producer/songwriter with Lady Gaga, White Shadow has cranked out the highest-charting records, played the biggest arenas, and won the most prestigious honors – like a Grammy Award for his work on the A Star Is Born soundtrack. At DJX’25, he’ll sit down for a “Keynote Q&A” to tell his success story.
Growing up in music-rich Detroit, young Paul Blair absorbed all genres of music – punk, pop, techno, metal, house, hip hop and more – and began his fruitful career on the decks. As DJ White Shadow, he co-wrote or co-produced much of Lady Gaga’s Born This Way (2011) and ARTPOP (2013) albums, plus he provided similar efforts for the A Star Is Born soundtrack (2018).
Additionally, he’s done production and remix work for a slew of top artists, including Chris Brown, Pitbull, Jennifer Lopez, No-Yo, and the Black Eyed Peas, as well as releasing his own tracks, which range in style from dance-pop (“Just the Way You Are") to ominous dubstep (“Fear” from his EP trilogy). In more recent times, he's played select club dates and celeb-filled events, in addition to working on a few yet-to-be-unveiled Hollywood projects.
At DJX ’25, bring your questions for DJ White Shadow – career advice, gear, Gaga, whatever – at his “Keynote Q&A” at the Hard Rock where he’ll be interviewed by DJ LIFE Editor Jim Tremayne.
3:30-4:30 PM
Seminole Room III
with DJ Joshua Lask
Think Fast: A DJ’s Guide for Handling Event Emergencies
In the middle of an amazing party, a guest goes down and he’s not breathing… what to do? How can the event’s DJ help, aside from merely asking on-mic: “Is there a doctor in the house?” DJ Joshua Lask of Hudson Valley Event Group is a former New York State Paramedic who has experienced these situations – and, in this unique session, he’ll have incisive answers and swift protocols to help remedy any immediate crisis.
In Joshua Lask’s ultra-practical session, he’ll instruct DJ/attendees on: controlling chaos using your microphone to deliver clear and calm directions/updates; simple interventions that can make the difference; CPR, bleeding control and gathering important information; being the calm in the chaos; the 5 things every DJ should have in an “emergency bag”; how to talk to 911 – when to call, what to say, and what to expect; why you should not be afraid to help; and why you are the most important factor in the chain of survival.
4:00-5:00 PM
Ft. Pierce Salon D
with Chris Washburn
DJing Non-Dancefloor Events
As a DJ, having the ability to crush a dancefloor isn’t always what is optimal for events that don’t feature dancing. And what’s key is that, very often, these non-dancefloor events can pay well, open a ton of doors, and occur during weekdays and off-season months – so, they can be great opportunities, if done correctly. In this tutorial, mobile vet Chris Washburn will explain the ins and outs of working these types of often-lucrative gigs, and doing them well.
In this engaging and informative seminar, Ithaca, N.Y.-based Washburn will discuss the techniques and skills that will help you master gigs like: sports, award shows, galas, conventions, and corporate presentations. DJ Washburn has gained global recognition by performing at events like these, featuring celebrities and Fortune 500 companies, and he’s going to give you the rundown on how you can do it, too.
5:00-6:00 PM
Seminole Room I
with DJ Jay Brannan of
AlphaTheta/Pioneer DJ
Sponsored Seminar: Tools for DJs with AlphaTheta/Pioneer DJ
As a longtime innovator in the market, AlphaTheta/Pioneer DJ has always worked with DJX in maintaining its genuine connections with the DJ community. At DJX ’25, the legendary brand is back, and in this session it will bring its best pieces of mobile-DJ gear for all to experience. Join AlphaTheta/Pioneer DJ’s own DJ Jay Brannan for an in-depth and interactive demonstration of products. Giveaway Alert: Three lucky attendees could win some brand-new AlphaTheta gear! Must be present to win.
