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Background to DJ Tutor
In October 2006 Johnathan Lewis started uploading comedy videos, then some drum tutorials on to Youtube, under the username 'ellaskins'.
Surprised by the level of positive responses, he looked at Youtube more closely, and realised there was a lack of DJ tutorial videos that were accessible to beginners.
Being a DJ and a drum teacher, Johnathan was well qualified to fill the gap, and started making simple, easy to follow tutorials on the art of the mix DJ.
New DJs around the world were drawn to his straightforward, rough and ready style, his ability to break apparently difficult ideas down into easily understandable fragments, and, importantly, his willingness to answer questions, often producing a new tutorial video within hours to clarify a point for one person.
More established DJs also became involved, offering the benefit of their experience, or filling in gaps in their knowledge. Some were inspired to dust off their decks and start spinning again.
A community started to grow around the DJ Tutor, as Johnathan became known.
From the heart of rural West Wales, Johnathan was now producing videos for viewers on literally every continent (with the possible exception of Antarctica).
In January 2007 the website www.djtutor.com was launched, to catalogue the over two hundred videos he had uploaded.
In February DJs from around the world were asked to send in videos of ten minute mixes. This proved extremely popular. with hundreds of videos being sent in.
In March the first ten minute mix chart was launched, topped by DJ Ravine, but it was discontinued when changes at Youtube made it too easy to influence the results.
The DJ Importz section was also launched, giving a number of DJs from around the world a section of their own on djtutor.com.
In April 2007, DJ Tutor joined forces with DJ Mag to run the DJMag Micromix competition.
In June Johnathon started regular broadcasts on phatbeats.net, a London based internet TV station, their first live outside broadcast from beyond the capital.
In July we started the ‘tenminix’ competition, which has run continually ever since, with winners announced every month.
The winners now do a set on Ministry of Sound Radio and are featured in DJ Mag, where Johnathan has a regular half page.
In September 2007, DJ Tutor invited the world to Aberystwyth to the first Welsh Youtube Gathering. In fact he first Youtube Gathering in a small country anywhere.
Over 20 people signed the Welsh Youtube hat.
From the start Johnathon has done video demos of DJ equipment, which have become very popular because of the simple straightforward style, and his obvious honesty and independence.
In November 2007 Johnathon visited BPM, a major DJ Trade Show, armed with nothing but a few hasty leaflets, and a shedload of charm.
We now get a regular supply of the latest products to demo, and give away as prizes, often before they are available in the shops.
The website was redesigned and reorganised to cope with the ever increasing number of videos.
In January 2008, Brian S Redd joined the team as a second Tutor. Based in Milwaukee, USA, Brian is a very experienced mobile DJ, and like Johnathan has produced hundreds of quality videos on the subject.
Johnathan flew to the States to run the first Practise and N_Joy Event with Brian, where DJs new and old could come together to teach, to learn, to try out some of the latest gear, and just to hang out.
Johnathan was also a guest at Musikmesse in Frankfurt.
He has run DJ Tutor stands at NADJ, and in DJ Superstore, and staged a Practise and N_Joy Event in Newtown, Powys.
Brian has been a guest at Mobile Beat Las Vegas and Chicagoland, and at International DJ EXPO Atlantic City.
He has also been a guest on several American DJ tours.
In 2008 we started expanding the number of DJ Importz featured on the site, giving a handpicked selection of DJs round the world a place in the spotlight.
We also launched DJ Profilez, a section featuring all the DJs who have sent in a video to DJ Tutor.
We now run an occasional Mash up competition, a regular Back2Back competition for two or more DJs. Plus the ‘Get Your Kit Out’ competition, where a DJ can show off their use of lighting and effects.
We also helped Tonemine run the DJ Tutor ringtone competition.
In October we will be doing tutorials, talks and demos in our own stall at BPM, immediately followed by the first London Practise and N_Joy event.
These events will be broadcast live on Ustream by the Youtube DJ Channel, and live4vibez internet radio.
Johnathan has continued to produce literally thousands of tutorial and comedy videos, and he has inspired countless others to make tutorials, giglogs and demos in the same style.
Several videos have been featured by Youtube, who have also sent messages of support, and came o meet us in Aberystwyth.
There are always several DJ Tutor videos in the various charts on Youtube.
We do particularly well in the Most Discussed and Most Responded charts.
Probably because we are not just producing video content, to be watched passively.
We are starting conversations through the new medium that is Youtube.
