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A Brooklyn bar lets you practice being a DJ. So, I tried it.
By
Precious Fondren
Published Nov 10, 2023
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Courtesy of Nadia Ayad
By
Precious Fondren
Published Nov 10, 2023
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Oh, to be a DJ – that seemingly cool person mixing song after song in the background and setting the vibe at parties. I’ve been DJing since March, and I know that the next step in growing my skills means playing on the tool professional DJs use – a compact disc jockey – but I don’t have one.
Fortunately, there’s a way to practice your DJ skills without quitting your day job.
It’s called Bond Street Open Decks and it takes place at The Bar at Café Kitsuné in Boerum Hill every Wednesday, hosted by local DJ Nadia Ayad.
Ayad started hosting Open Decks in early September as a way to help aspiring DJs rip off the Band-Aid.
The author, pictured at a recent "Bond Street Open Decks" event.
Photo by Ariana Speight, Courtesy of Precious Fondren
There are actually several spots across the city offering similar events, such as Eris in Williamsburg, the “Bedroom Open Decks” at Hart Bar in Bushwick, and the happy hour open decks at Mood Ring in Bushwick, to name just a few.
I picked Bond Street Open Decks because of its “low stakes” environment. There aren’t more than, say, 50 people in the bar at a time.
Open decks are a chance for newbie DJs to hop onto what’s called a “CDJ,” a device that you might think of as a modern version of the turntable. DJs use them in clubs, concerts and bars, and they can cost upwards of $2,500.
A CDJ enables you to make a mix without having to schlep around a laptop and cords. It has all the controls you need to help manipulate the music – like hot cueing, pitch fading and filtering – all in one place. And at open decks, you can do it all in front of a real, live audience.
As a journalist, I can’t afford a CDJ, so playing on one in open decks is a way to go from being a “bedroom DJ” – using a DDJ, which I have to connect to a laptop – to building real skills on professional equipment.
How it works
Bond Street Open Decks is free, but you have to sign up in-person only with Ayad at The Bar at Café Kitsuné. Once you do that, you’ll get an email the Sunday before your date confirming everything.
When it’s your turn, you have 50 minutes to play your set. All genres and skill levels are welcome.
I played my set last Wednesday evening along with five other DJs.
DJ Nadia Ayad
Photo by Gabriel Bbosa, Courtesy of Nadia Ayad
Some people were there to connect with other DJs or impress party organizers – who are known to attend open decks – in hopes of booking a gig. Others simply wanted to practice on equipment they might not own.
I was there because I wanted to conquer my fear of playing on a CDJ in front of people, and get real feedback on my playlist.
When it was finally my turn to set the vibe, the 50 minutes felt like a blur. I was initially worried that I’d be so nervous I’d forget what songs to play, or that someone in the crowd might actually groan if they hated one of my song choices.
But none of that happened.
Instead I had fun and played a dance version of Destiny's Child’s “Cater 2 U,” Usher’s “Confessions Part II,” and Normani’s “Wild Side” that made me and the small crowd dance.
As I transitioned from songs like “On My Mind” by Jorja Smith to "Love Shy" by the Danish singer Kristine Blond, I got cheers and smiles. A few people even came up to me while I was playing to say they were feeling it.
The only hiccup was that I had trouble with the beats per minute button, which the DJ before me left on. But even that wasn’t a big deal. Ayad quickly showed me how to solve the issue, and I didn’t need to stop my set.
When my final song came to an end, I got a round of applause from the crowd and even a couple people asking me to identify the songs they especially liked.
As someone who’s loved music since childhood, the best part of the open decks was seeing people enjoy music just as much as I do.
What to know about participating in an open deck in NYC.
“Bond Street Open Decks” fill up a month in advance, so it’s best to come early in the night and find Ayad to sign up and provide your contact information. Once you’re confirmed for a date, you get to choose the time, but this can’t be changed so be sure it works for your schedule.
You don’t need to practice beforehand.
Before my open decks date, I booked time to practice on a CDJ at Pirate Studios' Bushwick and Gowanus locations. I got as familiar as I could with loading songs, hot cueing important points, and mixing out tracks using larger, sometimes more complicated equipment. All the practice was fun, but ultimately unnecessary. You can use your time at the open decks to practice and familiarize yourself with the CDJ, even if it’s your first time.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help.
There are dozens of buttons on the CDJ, so it can get tricky remembering which button does what. If you ever get tripped up, ask for help; someone there will know how to fix whatever issue you're experiencing.
The next “Bond Street Open Decks” will take place at The Bar at Café Kitsuné in Boerum Hill on Wednesday, Nov. 15. For more information visit here.
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Precious Fondren
Precious is a former WNYC & Gothamist culture reporter.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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