Behind the Scenes at the Scratch Lab DJ Institute
One of the best things about being a freelance writer is that I get to meet really interesting people. If I want to know more about someone or something, I contact them and interview them. This is the case with the Scratch Lab DJ Institute.
I heard about a new school that taught inspiring DJs about the art and science of DJing called Scratch Lab, but that’s all I knew. I googled scratch lab and found some information that piqued my interest, and I came to the conclusion that I loved the concept and I really wanted to talk to someone. I e-mailed the school and got the friendliest e-mail from Jordan Fisher, the Director of Marketing and Sponsorship. I told him that I was curious about the school, and he immediately invited me to come down to see it for myself. I gladly accepted.
The main classroom is spacious, with ample room to house the many turntable workstations that are set up. The instructor stands on an elevated platform while a projector screen behind him catches all of his moves. This allows the students to see everything that he is doing. Very impressive! The school also boasts two practice rooms for those who want to get in some extra study time.
About five minutes before the class started, I asked a couple of students why they signed up for classes. One student who looked to be in his mid-teens said, “Because of Starting from Scratch.” (He’s a legendary DJ in Toronto.) Another student, who looked to be in his late 20s, answered, “I was always curious about DJing, so I went on the net, did some research, and decided to take the class.”
After observing the class for close to an hour and being completely taken with what I witnessed, I felt ready to sit down with Jordan and learn more about his very lucrative business.
How did the concept for the Scratch Lab come about?
My partners and I had the idea a few years ago, and we thought that there was a need for people who didn’t have hours and hours on end to figure out how to DJ. I actually don’t DJ myself—my partners do. We looked around to see if the idea existed anywhere, but it didn’t exist in Canada.
Who are your partners?
DJ Baba Kahn and Abby Tobias. Baba is one of the top club DJs in the city, and Abby owns a mobile DJ company. He DJs at weddings and parties.
How were the DJs selected?
We all envisioned getting the best guys to be a part of the school. We know that not all good DJs necessarily make good teachers. We want guys who are approachable, knowledgeable, and willing to chat with students; basically, we want them to check their egos at the door.
Who are the Scratch Lab DJs?
Baba Kahn, Starting from Scratch, DJ Grouch, Dave Campbell and Jr. Flo
How are the classes set up?
Students can do private classes or group classes. The group classes run on a semester basis. A semester is ten classes, once a week, and they run for 70 minutes. We provide all of the equipment and the records. We also give all the students free time in the private practice studio so that if they don’t have their own equipment, we encourage them to come and use our facilities to practice what they’ve learned in class. It is just like any other instrument; you gotta practice if you want to excel.
We have Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced classes. Each of those levels consists of two semesters. In the Beginner classes, you are taught all the fundamentals of DJing—equipment knowledge, set up, tear down, beat matching, blending, mixing, and basic scratching. The Intermediate deals with the business aspect of things and getting into the digital side as well. I wouldn’t recommend taking the Intermediate for someone looking to do this as a hobby. It’s really geared to those who have the fundamentals down and are interested in DJing professionally. The Advanced class is for DJs who are already working in the field and want to expand their skills.
How many students are currently enrolled?
Since January, we’ve had 250 students.
What are the demographics of the students?
Our demographics are so varied. In Toronto, there are so many people with their own backgrounds and ethnicities that they bring their own flavour to DJing.
More and more women are coming to the school, which is great. There is such a great market for female DJs. You know, guys, we’re not hard to figure out! Get a good female DJ, and guys will run!
How has the school changed since you opened it?
For one thing, more people are becoming aware of us. Also, we recently had our curriculum approved by the Ontario Ministry of Education. So now it’s in line with the requirements for a grade 10 half-music credit. So kids can come here—and once they’ve completed 60 hours of course material, which is going through the program from Beginner to Advanced—they are able to go into high school and receive credit.
What do you want your students to accomplish at the end of their semester?
I want them to learn, expand their minds, come in and leave knowing more than when they came in, whether it’s expanding their musical tastes or learning how to beat match. Everyone is different. I want them to leave with the skills that they’re taught, and I want them to learn more, take what they’ve learned and go out on their own.
Would you like to open the Scratch lab in other cities?
Eventually, but not yet. It’s pretty amazing: just by advertising online, we’ve gotten franchise inquiries from everywhere, from Singapore to India. There’s definitely potential, but you need a solid foundation before you branch out.
Anything next for the Scratch Lab?
We are doing a summer camp this summer. We will run one-week programs for kids 10-13 and a program for kids 14 years old and older.
I know that you are “The Business Man,” but have you ever tried to DJ?
I have….and I am a true testament to the fact that it is an art form. I think I’ll stick to writing business plans!
