http://www.vaneska.com/

1. What does a typical Thursday look like for you, starting from when you wake up – to heading to bed?

I am usually up by 9am, and I spend my mornings catching up on emails, phone calls, and on facebook and myspace (don’t overlook these social network tools!). My afternoon is spent working on any promotional and marketing materials for upcoming events. I’ll take a break in the early evening, and read up on music news and hunt for any new songs that I may want to play that night or next time I am DJing. If I am djing that night, I’ll quickly send out any last minute promotions. Hopefully I can squeeze in a dinner with some friends before I head off to my gig. If I am not DJing that night, I’ll try to check out a new art opening before going out to a few parties and events. I like to be very supportive of friend, promoters, and other local DJs by attending their events, as well as using the opportunity to network and promote my own. I hate after-parties, unless they’re my own, so hopefully I’m in bed by 3am. 

2. What was your first job out of school?

After my undergrad, I planned to go to graduate school for psychology so I started working for a professor as his research assistant. During this time, I was still DJing and organizing arts and music events all over the city. It took me a long time to realize however, that I could actually make a career out of throwing parties. I finished up my work term with my prof, and looked into opportunities working in arts and culture, while at the same time taking my own event coordination a little bit more seriously. I’m sure you can imagine the expression on my parent’s face when I told them I had no interest in pursuing a career related to my university education. 

3. What are the 3 skills you require most to do your job well?

Many DJs are elitists and would like you to think that it’s a really hard job to master, and that you really need to know your musical history to be a good DJ. They also seem to really hate on the DJs who didn’t have to struggle for years to catch a break. By no means do I think I’ve mastered the art of DJing, and I don’t know every single song by every single band that was ever created, but I do know how to make people dance, and I think that’s what matters.  

i. I don’t play for myself, I play for the crowd. It doesn’t matter if you’re playing an unreleased track by a band that is going to make it big a year from now, if the crowd isn’t feeling it, you aren’t doing a very good job.

ii. I try to adapt to new situations. If something is not working, change it.

iii. Be creative. You need to stand out from the rest of the pack in order to get noticed.

4. What do you love most about your career?

I love being in control of what music I get to hear at club, and even more so when the music I’m playing is making everyone scream and go crazy. I also love being constantly surrounded by interesting creative people.   

5. Do you have any warnings?

Don’t take yourself too seriously; you’re in the entertainment industry after all.  

6. If you could try a different career on for a year, what would it be?

I want to own a book or flower shop someday. Is that not the most boring thing that someone who parties for a living could say?

Check out Vanessa’s upcoming event:
Studio Gallery Presents: SO Me’s Portraits
Opening Friday March 21,6-9PM
294 College St, UPSTAIRS
Details: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=38987925440&ref=nf