Why we finish with a live set
Practising in your bedroom and playing to people are different skills. Knowing there's a real set at the end gives students a reason to practise, and playing it is the moment most of them realise they can actually do this.
What happens on the day
- The venue: graduation is a real set, with family and friends in the crowd.
- The set: students play the set they built with their mentor during the course, pitched to their level.
- Support: their mentor helps them prepare in the final sessions, so they know the set and the kit before they step up.
How students prepare
- Choose the tracks with their mentor, usually in weeks 5 and 6.
- Rehearse the set from start to finish in week 7.
- Plan a back-up for anything that might go wrong (it happens to professionals too).
What comes next
Many graduates move up a level: from Starter to Selector, and on to Headliner. Standout graduates may be invited to join the DJ Archie Agency, and new talent gets stages at Archfest.
Nervous about performing? Most students are. The one-to-one format means the mentor builds confidence step by step,
and the crowd is family and friends who are there to cheer.