DJ & Music News Posts

Hey! I Want To Be A DJ 🎶

Hello and welcome to my website! I'm DJ Bill Bara and I'd like to thank you for your intererst in learning more about me. I started my musical journey with 2 turntables, a DJ mixer, and some vinyl records.. but I always had a love for rhythms and beats since I was a little kid. It wasn't until I was a teenager attending teen dances that I experienced a live DJ and I was instantaneously hooked. With hopes of one day people able to make people dance, I acquired 2 turntables, a DJ mixer, some speakers, and vinyl records. Due to my constant practice at home, my Mother quickly purchased me my first professional pair of headphones. (for her sanity 😂)

Teenage DJ Dream

As a teenager, I'd practice at home and then look for any possible gig I could land. A lot of birthday parties, kids dances, and under 21 nightclubs helped me gain much needed experience at a young age. The little money I would make, I'd spend on aquiring new music at local record stores around Pittsburgh. I didn't know any DJ's around my hometown, so I would go on the internet to download DJ tutorials and use them to continue to practice between gigs.

College Years

When I got to college, I was actively working as a DJ on the weekends, but now I started to DJ college parties and bars around town. I started at Robert Morris University and then transferred to IUP, also known as "I Usually Party. 🎉" It was the perfect place for me to refine my skills. I'd DJ 5-6 days a week, by working around town durning the week and then traveling to Pittsburgh to work the bigger nightclubs on the weekends. After graduation, I moved to Pittsburgh to continue my career.

Hear Me On The Radio

My degree was in communications media, and in order to graduate I had to complete an internship with Clear Channel Radio. Following the completion of the program, I was hired to work for Fox Sports, 96.1 Kiss, 102.5 WDVE, and 105.9 The X. It was a rewarding experience that over the next decade taught me a lot about audio production, voicing scripts, and producing live shows.

Voted Top Nightclub DJ

While the daytime was dedicated to radio, the evenings were dedicated to nightclubs. I was lucky enough to work for some of the biggest and best nightclubs in the history of Pittsburgh. This gave me the ability to meet more experienced DJ's who would take me under the wing and teach me all the skills I needed to become an elite DJ. The combination of programming great music, being able to read a crowd, and having the technical skills to mix live, lead to me winning City Paper's Best Nightclub DJ.

Wedding Knot Hall-of-Fame

Noticing a bias against wedding DJs during my career in clubs, I decided to shake things up. I started DJing at my friends' weddings, bringing those vibrant club vibes to the scene. It became a hit and I quickly gained a reputation in the wedding industry. I went on to found Modern Era Weddings, employing some of the finest DJs in Pittsburgh. Our team’s excellent customer reviews helped us become the first DJ company in Pittsburgh to join the Knot's Hall-of-Fame. Afterwards, DJ Mike Willis aquired the business from me. Today I manage my bookings personally, but also accept them through DJ agencies.

Fitness With Live DJs

Continuing my passion for DJ entertainment, I created a website called Running Mixes that provides free training music for runners. These mixes are specifically curated to keep runners in rhythm with the beat to maintain their stride. This led to opening a Spin studio called Club Cycle that had live DJ's mixing music for all the riders to stay in rhythm to. Club Cycle won City Paper's 'Best Fitness Center in Pittsburgh' 2 years in a row, but ultimately closed after the pandemic. You can still find free classes to ride in rhythm to on YouTube.

Experienced For Any Event

After years of rocking crowds as a career DJ, I'm confident in my ability to take any event to the next level! Weddings, Nightclubs, Corporate Events, Birthday Parties, School Events, and more! This is where I'm at my peak as an open format DJ who can read the crowd and play a variety of genres to get them dancing. Music programming, knowledge of a crowd, technical skills, and using advanced equipment all play a role into being a successful DJ.

Streaming Into The Future

2024 has got to be the most exciting year yet for DJs! The advancement in DJ technology combined with new social media and streaming networks has created the perfect opportunity for any DJ to show their skills to the world. As a fulltime DJ, I have a home studio where I create fresh new DJ mixes every week. Be sure to follow me on TikTok, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, X, MixCloud, and Twitch.Twitch to watch new DJ videos and hear new DJ mixes!