Pioneer Digital DJ competition

There are several ways to become a DJ. One route involves bugging club managers, promoters, other DJs and anyone else you can get a mixtape to continually for months, possibly years, hoping for a slot at your favourite club.

Or, you could sign up to the prestigious Pioneer DJ Competition, impress the judges in each round with your knock-out skills and your track choice, and fast-track your way to a club residency.

The 2012 competition is now open - head to www.dj-me.ae to register, with auditions and heats taking place on August 24 and 31 at the new DJ Corner showroom on Sheikh Zayed Road. If you're unable to attend the auditions, simply send a 5 minute video of you DJing.

The competition is open to all DJ styles, with finalists getting 10 minutes to deliver their sets, and 5 minutes for the auditions. A panel of judges will preside over the competition, and contestants have to mix in at least 3 tracks during their set and will be judged on the following criteria:

Technical Skills (60%)  

-       EQ’ing (10%)

-       Clean Application of On-board effects (10%)

-       Music Harmony/Key mixing & Track Selection/Sequence (25%)

-       Bar mixing, Drop mixing, Acapellas & Samples usage, Cutting, Looping, Hot Cues usage, Transitions, Phasing, Patterns, Scratching, rekordbox usage (30%)

For a full run down of the rules and regulations, equipment provided and more, head to their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pioneer-DJ-ME-Digital-DJ-Championship/502165319810630

And good luck to all the entrants!