A ‘No Experience Needed’ DJ competition is launching in the US this month

Your Shot, a DJ competition first launched in Australia 15 years ago, is heading to the US for the first time with the aim of giving DJs with no previous experience a chance to perform “at one of the world’s top music festivals”.

Launching this month in Los Angeles and New York City, Your Shot seeks to remove the traditional barriers of entry to DJ culture, providing participants with several weeks of expert training in order to improve their DJing skills. Since 2010, the initiative has trained more than 12,500 people in Australia and New Zealand, and is now branching out.

“Your Shot is about giving people a platform to challenge themselves, learn the basics, build a community outside their bedrooms, and take their passion for DJing and dance music to the next level,” said Your Shot founder and CEO Steve Pillemer in a statement. “That’s what young Americans are asking for today, just like young Australians, and it’s so exciting to finally be able to answer the call.”

Selected entrants to the Stateside programme will showcase their skills in front of industry professionals after they finish their training. Previous alumni have performed at events like Croatia’s Hideout and San Diego’s CRSSD.

Your Shot claims that 62% of past participants now perform regular gigs. They’ve signed up LP Giobbi for the US launch to provide support.

Registration for the inaugural US program is now open. In-person selections took place at Los Angeles’ Catch One last weekend, but those in New York can sign up in-person at New York’s Elsewhere tomorrow (20th September). 200 participants will be selected from each city.

Find out more here.

Earlier this year, Tomorrowland launched competitions to win sets at their flagship Belgian festival, as well as their event in Brazil.