Country Music Fan Hits The Decks As Part-Time DJ

Notes from Chris

Episode 1249

It was ten years ago that Kate Williamson was living in Hawaii studying full time. She had a full course load, but the life of a student offered a lot of downtime as well.

Evenings out usually meant going out to a local bar. Kate was a big country music fan so she often hit bars that only played the type of music she liked. The types of establishments where hearing Thomas Rhett, Maren Morris, or Carrie Underwood wouldn’t feel out of place.

Kate’s favorite bar was called the Country Bar in Pearl Harbor. She’d spent many a night there enjoying the music. Eventually she got to know the staff, including the DJ.

One night, he told Kate he wanted a backup DJ for times when he needed to take the night off. Up until that point he wasn’t able to find anyone suitable, but Kate was up for it—you could say she decided to add pitch to an idea.

So Kate and this house DJ made a deal. She’d become the backup DJ at the bar and work for job free for the next two months to learn the ropes. She’d take in all the information she could about mixing, turntables and how to seamlessly glide from one song to another to keep the beat going. Then, when they both felt ready, Kate could take over as the DJ.

With that, she had her training sorted out—and with some free DJ software she found online, she was ready to go.

The learning paid off and Kate was able to DJ her first night, earn a few bucks, and start a new side hustle all in one go. Cue the music!

From that night on, Kate had a regular gig at the Country Bar. When the DJ needed a night off Kate would drop on by with her computer and a collection of country tracks and spin the place into a frenzy.

Right now, Kate has no plans to take her DJing full time—and her nights out have been on hold during the pandemic. However, over the last year she has earned over seven thousand dollars through her gigs, enough money to keep her comfortable while living as a full-time student.

Kate shows that having a side hustle skill to fall back on can be handy, especially when you’re dropping the beat.

 

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SEE ALSO:

• Marketer by Day, DJ by Night Brings in Extra $30,000/Year: She had worked in the music industry, but she had never performed—until she discovered a hidden talent that pays $200/hour.
• Turn It Up to 11! Musical Mash-Ups Provide Passive Income for New York DJ: This New York DJ wants to rock and roll all night... and party every day. After he mixes recordings from classic rock and roll songs, he sells the packaged shows to international music markets.
• German DJ Turns Up Profits with Magic Marriage Mixes: After a false start with an online course that fails to sell, a DJ in Germany takes a risk with a more controversial product—and finally finds the right beat.

Inspiration is good; inspiration combined with action is better. Now get back to work!

Yours in the revolution,