About James

How It All Started (With a Pint and a Quiz)

It all began back in 2006 in the Rose and Crown pub in Stratford-upon-Avon. One evening, I was with a friend, having a few drinks and, as usual, losing spectacularly at the weekly pub quiz. When the landlord announced there'd be no quiz the following week, we half-drunkenly volunteered to host it ourselves. The fool said yes.

That first quiz night led to being asked if we'd fancy doing a disco for New Year's Eve. We said "why not?", got a small bank loan, bought some kit, and threw ourselves into our first proper gig. Like anything you do for the first time, it was absolutely rubbish – but it was good fun, and we kept at it.

My partner in crime dropped out after a few years, but I was hooked. Nearly 20 years on, I've done pretty much every type of event you can imagine (except funerals – whilst I understand the concept, I'd feel deeply uncomfortable, so that's where I draw the line).

The Music & The Experience

Growing up in the early 2000s, I spent my late teens experiencing the nightlife across Stratford, Banbury, Cheltenham, and Oxford – and trust me, I've been to some truly awful nightclubs! But that's given me something invaluable: I know what it feels like to be on the dancefloor.

I've always believed that the music from people's late teenage years brings back the happiest memories. Whether it's that cheesy anthem that had everyone singing along in some dodgy club, or the track that was playing during someone's first kiss, I try to tap into those emotional connections that get people moving.

I'm what you'd call an "open-format" DJ – I do a bit of everything. My personal taste runs pretty much down the middle of the road (I'm not big on the extreme stuff like heavy metal or dubstep), which actually works perfectly for parties where you need to keep everyone happy, from teenagers to grandparents.

Always Improving

Over the years, I've continuously invested in new and better equipment – partly because I'm a bit of a gear nerd, but mostly because I want to give my customers the best possible experience. The kit I use now is a world away from that first setup we bought with our bank loan!

By day, I'm a software developer (which explains why I'm rebuilding this website myself rather than paying someone else to do it). DJing is my hobby job – I do it because I genuinely love it, not because I have to. That means when I'm at your event, I'm there because I want to make sure everyone has an absolutely brilliant time.

What You Can Expect

When you book me, you're getting someone who:

• Understands what makes a great night out (having experienced plenty of terrible ones!)
• Can read a room and adapt the music to keep everyone dancing
• Genuinely cares about making your event special
• Has nearly two decades of experience getting it right (after getting it spectacularly wrong that first time)
• Won't clear the dancefloor with obscure experimental tracks

Whether it's a wedding in Worcester, a birthday bash in Birmingham, or a corporate do in Cheltenham, I'll make sure the music creates those moments your guests will be talking about for years to come.

Ready to get the party started? Get in touch and let's make your event one to remember!