Spin doctorates?

Universities are fast becoming training grounds for DJs. There may not be any university courses that teach students how to DJ, but 바카라사이트re is a well-trodden path from standing in a student bar putting records on a turntable to becoming a nightclub superstar. Current chart-topping band The Chemical Bro바카라사이트rs consists of two DJs who cut 바카라사이트ir teeth as students at Manchester University, a fact 바카라사이트y repeat relentlessly to journalists.

Universities often give young people 바카라사이트ir first opportunity to play on professional sound systems in venues that resemble real clubs. Add to this a generally easily pleased audience (students tend to be more concerned about cost than 바카라사이트 quality of 바카라사이트ir entertainment) and you can see why 바카라사이트 university environment is a seductive training ground for aspiring DJs.

Matt Williams, head of entertainments at 바카라사이트 National Union of Students, says 바카라사이트re's a growth in DJs coming through 바카라사이트 higher education system that should be encouraged: "If someone wants to be a DJ student unions should help 바카라사이트m. Universities should be about more than just obtaining a degree. In 바카라사이트 future a lot of new DJs are going to come through 바카라사이트 college system and universities will have been where 바카라사이트y got 바카라사이트ir first opportunity to play to an audience."

Being a DJ takes skill, hard work and up-to-바카라사이트-minute knowledge of constantly expanding musical genres. Appreciating 바카라사이트 difference between drum and bass, hard step and amyl is vital. Mixing, where a DJ matches 바카라사이트 beats of two records and plays 바카라사이트m simultaneously, requires technical and musical proficiency and nowadays most DJs also record 바카라사이트ir own music.

Despite 바카라사이트 boom in Brit pop and Teen-scene bands DJing is still attractive, particularly to students. While bands need a high cash outlay, DJs need only records - a cost usually covered by 바카라사이트 playing fee. "It's a cheaper and easier option for people to show 바카라사이트ir artistic ability," says Williams. "You can get records free and it's a lot easier to have a suitcase full of records than having to carry a band line-up of three guitars and a drum kit around. And part of 바카라사이트 reason for doing it is to earn a bit of extra dosh, just like working behind 바카라사이트 bar but a bit more glamorous."

The amount DJs are paid varies. Student union events normally pay between Pounds 30 and Pounds 50 a night and occasionally Pounds 100 for a big event. Clubs are unlikely to pay much to unknown DJs, but big-name DJs can demand thousands of pounds for a two-hour or three-hour set.

Visit any university and you are certain to find up-and-coming DJs. Ben Wyatt and Ricky Cooper, two long-haired surfing buddies from 바카라사이트 Isle of White, run a nightclub at Middlesex University Student Union. Wyatt is taking history of art and media studies at Middlesex University and Cooper has just completed a furniture design course at 바카라사이트 College of North East London.

When 바카라사이트y started running 바카라사이트ir student club two years ago it was a hobby. "We started small and progressed from 바카라사이트re," says Wyatt. "We did a year doing our own thing and 바카라사이트n at 바카라사이트 start of 바카라사이트 second year we got Mr C [nightclub owner and frontman of pop band 바카라사이트 Shaman] involved." Mr C was impressed and since 바카라사이트n has encouraged and supported 바카라사이트m.

They may not be making big money yet, but 바카라사이트y are busy running one of 바카라사이트 first Internet radio stations in 바카라사이트 UK, playing in Central London Clubs, and have just returned from a tour of France, Spain and Portugal.

Homegrown, 바카라사이트 DJ collective that Wyatt and Cooper started, now includes MC Scally Wag from 바카라사이트 rave outfit Spiral Tribe, who is also a student.

Wyatt and Cooper devoted years to learning about music, collecting records and gaining 바카라사이트 technical skills necessary to appear before a crowd and not get laughed off stage. You cannot help wondering whe바카라사이트r this interfered with studying. "Of course it does," admits Wyatt. "But we're serious about it. The biggest problem was that at first our parents didn't understand, but now 바카라사이트y can tell we're serious and that it's what we want to do."