Blend DJ Institute
Address: 5165 S. Fort Apache Road, Suite 175, Las Vegas
Phone: 702-550-4492
Email: [email protected]
Website: blendvegas.com
Hours of operation: 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday
Owned/operated by: Andrew Benna
In business since: June 2014
Describe your business.
We are a full-service DJ school offering lessons on everything from music production to DJ marketing. We teach people how to DJ or make music with all of the latest software and equipment.
Who are your customers?
Our students range from preteens to grandparents.There is no age restriction; it’s all about a love for music.
What is your business philosophy?
We believe that in the realm of DJing, there is always room for improvement. There may be a DJ who has amazing scratching ability, but his or her mixing may be subpar. Some DJs can produce a great track but need help in marketing. Some DJs are awesome at marketing, but their turntablist skills may be lacking and they need to brush up on their scratching skill.
What inspired you to open the institute?
I have been DJing for 24 years. Over the years, I observed that many DJs were good only at certain things. But in this industry, you must be able to compete on every level.
This is the entertainment capital of the world, and many DJs in Las Vegas are not on the level that this city requires to really make it big.
What is the hardest part about doing business in Las Vegas?
In the entertainment/nightlife industry, there can be a lot of egotistical people who do not wish their peers well; some go as far as trying to make others fail. I believe it’s due to the highly competitive nature of the industry, especially in Las Vegas, where DJs are everywhere. I think some people feel they cannot afford to be supportive of others, which is really a shame. We are all human beings and should show each other basic respect.
What is the best part about doing business in Las Vegas?
Everyone comes to Las Vegas — this is a destination city — so we constantly see new faces and meet people of all ages, backgrounds and varied stories of how they got into DJing. We also get celebrities who visit our school.
What is the hardest skill to teach aspiring DJs?
Patience. DJing is not as easy as it seems. The skills do not come overnight; many DJs take years before they become famous.
Do you help DJs land gigs?
People call us all the time looking for available DJs. We usually give priority to our students.