Today we’d like to introduce you to Courtney Wade a.k.a. DJ C Wade.
Courtney, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I’ve been DJing for around 10 years primarily in Dallas, but also in other parts of the country. I’ve done a little of everything from clubs to festivals and battles. At this point, I’m pretty much DJing clubs on a weekly basis.
I’ve always been a DJ at heart as I’ve always been the one stuck at the music source (by choice) wanting to control it. That was at parties when I was in middle/high school, or simply in my parent’s car (which I was never really allowed to do). Once I was sure I wanted to commit to DJing, I bought my equipment piece by piece until I had what I needed. I practiced and shadowed some of the best DJs in Dallas until I was solid enough to start putting demos out.
My first club was The Brick. From there, I went on to do Havana on Cedar Springs and a host of other clubs and events. I’ve also been apart of DJ coalitions such as Go DJs and an all-female group known as the She DJs.
At this point, I have definitely put the time and work in and am happy to be in the position as an established DJ here in Dallas.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
There were definitely struggles along the way in being a female in this industry. I automatically knew that getting my name out there would be difficult. Knowing the challenges, I had to make sure that my skills as a DJ and my ability to grasp the attention of people was imperative. I had to be twice as good just to be able to compete with the guys. I spent days and many hours practicing and perfecting things like scratching and beat juggling on turntables because I knew that was something that would set me apart being a female DJ. Being in a male-dominated industry, promoters would look over me because they didn’t think I was capable of sustaining a night. Once I started getting around and meeting people, one gig led to another. I rocked every single gig I had to where I made sure everyone (patrons and promoters) knew my name and what I was capable of.
My advice to other women would be to take any craft that you decide to pursue seriously and perfect it to the best of your abilities. Find something that sets you apart, and go for it. Don’t stop until you get what you want. Persistence is everything.
Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
I kind of shed some light on this previously but I’m definitely known for my skill as a DJ and really being able to read and deliver to the crowd every time. I’m proud of the brand I built and the reputation I have because I’ve put the time and dedication into it to ensure that it is one of quality and professionalism. Those things are what sets me apart.
Who have you been inspired by?
My biggest inspiration is my mother. She is one of the most prolific women I’ve ever known. She’s a go-getter in every way. When my sister and I were younger, my mom would take us to school with her as she was getting her masters degree. She succeeded and has always exemplified what it is to be successful. She always been a huge supporter of mine and still is.
My biggest female DJ influences are DJ Coco Chanel from NY and DJ Spinderalla from Salt and Peppa who is locally based. Coco Chanel was one of the first female DJs I saw that was technically skilled in scratching and beat juggling. She’s this prissy chick but can scratch and cut like or better than some guys. It’s still crazy watching her get down. Spinderella was the first female DJ I had ever really seen or heard of, period. So, it was with her that I first gained interest.
Contact Info:
- Email: djc.wade@gmail.com
- Instagram: @Djc_wade
- Facebook: DjCwade
Image Credit:
@dgthephotographer
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