Why I Have to Brag (and How I Do It)
I have to brag sometimes. As a DJ, producer, event organizer, and marketer, it is part of the job. I have to promote my clients, and I have to promote myself if I want to treat this like a business.
That said, there is a right and wrong way to do it. There is a difference between being braggadocious and actually celebrating wins. I try to avoid coming across as “look at me” and instead focus on sharing progress in a way that feels earned.
I do not post a ton of selfies or constant self-promotion like some DJs do, but I know that even the way I present myself online has cost me some relationships in the scene. That is part of it. If I want to grow in this industry—as a DJ, producer, and label owner—I have to be willing to put myself out there.
Starting Without Longevity in the Scene
A lot of DJs in East Idaho have been doing this for 10 to 15 years or more. I do not have that kind of longevity here. I am still relatively new to the EDM scene in Idaho Falls.
That does not mean I am unfamiliar with the culture. I was around in the late 90s and early 2000s, going to shows and experiencing the music. My current focus, though, is modern—mostly artists from 2020 to now.
Because of that, I have built a deep knowledge of newer artists. I can name a large number of producers who are just starting to gain traction or are about to break through, especially within my specific lane.
The Guest Mix Opportunity
This post is ultimately about a milestone.
I was asked to do another guest mix for Mixmission Clubnight Sessions, on rm.fm, an online radio station out of Germany. This will be my third time as a guest on their platform.
They have always treated me well, and I am excited to be back on their channel again. Over time, I have been able to hear the difference between my earlier mixes and what I am doing now—improvements in mixing, track selection, and overall flow.
Learning DJ Set Building
One of the biggest turning points for me was a conversation with Dean Savage after we brought him on as a resident DJ at Atlantic Progression.
Dean has been DJing for over 20 years. He understands underground dance music at a level that comes from decades of experience. His taste is specific and curated, and when he gives a compliment, it carries weight.
He brought up the concept of “set building.” He did not walk me through his exact process, but just introducing the idea stuck with me.
At the time, I did not feel like I knew how to properly build a set. I could mix in key and match BPMs, but I did not feel like I had the depth of knowledge or catalog to structure a set intentionally for a specific sound or energy.
My Approach to Mixing
My approach has always centered around mixing in key and understanding how tracks will interact.
I focus on selecting music I have not overplayed, while still maintaining cohesion through key and BPM. Over time, I have developed a better instinct for how a set will sound based on the artists and labels involved.
That instinct did not come overnight. It came from repetition.
The Moment It Clicked
During this latest guest mix for Mixmission Clubnight Sessions, something changed.
I received a message from one of the people at the station about my set:
Reading that message made something clear to me.
I built a set that did exactly what I intended it to do. It created the response in the listener that I was aiming for.
That realization was the milestone.
What the Work Looks Like
At the time of writing this, I have nearly 1,000 mixes uploaded to my Mixcloud channel. That does not include everything else that exists outside of it—additional uploads on YouTube and other recordings that were never published.
This will be my seventh year of DJing once July 2026 hits.
I do not consider myself a beginner anymore. I am somewhere between beginner and intermediate—moving out of the early stage and into refinement.
I know how to DJ. Now it is about finessing it.
Only took 7 years to get to this point. 😎
Proof That the Work Pays Off
That message and that mix validated the work.
The hours, the repetition, the constant practice—it all led to a point where I could intentionally build a set and get the exact reaction I was aiming for.
That is what this post is about.
Not just the guest mix, but the realization that the process is working.
If you want to catch my Mixmission Clubnight Sessions guest mix, tune into rm.fm/techhouse on Saturday, March 21st, 2026 at 2pm MDT!
Disclaimer: This blog post was edited with the assistance of AI to improve clarity and structure. All experiences, insights, and opinions expressed are my own and were not generated or fabricated by AI. So, yes, there are em dashes. Deal with it.