Hey! I’m Mike, I go by DJ AXCESS, and I’m a travel DJ, hype man and public speaker based in Columbus, Ohio. I recently sat down with DJ Cadillac from Pittsburgh, owner of Finest Events and the winner of the Cleveland Barley House Spinoff DJ Battle. Our conversation was packed with tips, mindset shifts, and real-world advice that every DJ should hear before stepping into a battle. Whether you’re eyeing your first competition or looking to sharpen your edge, this one’s for you. You can watch the interview here: https://youtu.be/TwMllVFweIA?si=iedaQrWVh5B_mGe_
1. Understand What You’re Getting Into
DJ battles are not your typical club set. They require creativity, precision, showmanship, and a deep understanding of your audience, especially when that audience is full of DJs.
Unlike a wedding or bar gig, battles are about pushing boundaries and proving that your skills are sharper, faster, and more engaging than the competition. “It’s the hardest form of DJing,” Cadillac said. “You’re being judged by your peers. They’re just staring at you, waiting for you to do something.”
2. Plan Your Routines with Intention
For his battle win, DJ Cadillac built two completely different 15-minute sets, one for the qualifiers and one for the finals. He made a key point: you can’t blow all your best material in round one.
Here’s how he broke down his approach:
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Qualifier Set: Strong, polished, but not overly stacked. Just enough to move on.
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Final Set: Full-throttle. High-energy, clever transitions, and confident disses that pushed him above the competition.
If you’re preparing for a multi-round battle, stagger your material. Bring enough fire to survive, but save your best tricks for when it matters most.
3. Use a Notes System to Track Ideas
One gem from our conversation was Cadillac’s use of the iPhone Notes app. Every time he had an idea, a wordplay, tone play, transition concept, it went into the notes.
Later, those ideas were:
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Categorized (intros, disses, fillers, transitions, closers)
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Evaluated (some ideas sound good on paper, but don’t work in practice)
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Sequenced into a complete set
This mirrors how stand-up comedians build their sets. The more you document and refine, the better your end result.
Pro tip: Keep a running log of ideas after every gig, crate-digging session, or late-night brainstorm. That log becomes your goldmine when battle season hits.
4. Put in the Hours with No Shortcuts
DJ Cadillac’s final battle prep took five full days of 8 to 10-hour sessions. That’s serious rehearsal time, especially with only a week and a half between rounds.
If you’re serious about competing, block out time. Cadillac put it plainly:
“By the time the week was over, I was like, ‘This is hard as hell. Unless Scratch Bastid signs up, I’m not losing.’”
That level of dedication is what separates a good set from a winning one.
5. Get into a Battle Mindset
Confidence is key, but it has to be earned through preparation. Cadillac put it like this:
“I’m coming for your throat. I’m not here to show I can DJ. I’m here to win.”
This mindset isn’t about being arrogant. It’s about stepping into the room knowing your work ethic and skill level are undeniable. Especially if you’re battling outside your hometown, you have to show up at a level that gives the judges no choice but to pick you.
6. Bring Your People
Energy matters. Cadillac showed up with a crew from Pittsburgh and New York, and they made noise. That support adds volume to your presence and makes the crowd more engaged, which can tip the scale in close calls. Just make sure your performance backs it up.
7. Don’t Let Losses Stop You
We also talked about the resilience needed for the battle scene. Cadillac lost multiple battles early in his career, including ones against national champions. But he kept going.
“It takes major guts to DJ in front of other DJs. If you can do that, you can do anything.”
Every battle is experience. Every loss is a lesson. And every new set you create adds to your artistry.
Final Thoughts
If you’re thinking about stepping into the DJ battle world, take this as your push. The nerves are real. The prep is demanding. The pressure is high. But as DJ Cadillac proved, if you do the work, the results follow.
Want more interviews and behind-the-scenes insights like this? Stick around. And if you’re prepping for your own battle, hit me up. I’m always happy to share what I’ve learned along the way.
Let’s keep building a better DJ community, one battle at a time.
