Being a DJ in the heart of a lively nightlife scene is never predictable. Surrounded by dancing crowds, flowing drinks, and high energy, DJs often find themselves in the midst of incredibly funny and sometimes downright awkward situations. We connected with several seasoned DJs – DJ Hakan, DJ Castro, DJ Spark Madden, and DJ Ralphsta – to get the inside scoop on some of the wildest experiences they’ve encountered while spinning tunes. Get ready for some unforgettable stories from behind the DJ booth.
DJ Ralphsta kicked things off with a tale from his early days. “The craziest thing for me, even now, happened when I was just starting out. I was headlining a sold-out show at the Durango Arts Center, and this guy just decided he wanted to jump on stage. He wanted to show me how to DJ – while I was in the middle of my set! And when I didn’t exactly welcome his impromptu DJ lesson, he decided to start a fight, right there and then. Mid-song, this guy wants to throw punches. So, in the moment, I just took him down, kept the music going, and by the time security managed to get through the crowd, I went back to him and said, ‘You want to try and mess with my set?’ Let’s just say things have been a lot more structured since then. I definitely focus on keeping things professional. Otherwise, that’s the story people remember for the next decade.”
DJ Hakan Aybar shared a story involving what he thought would be a harmless bachelor party prank that quickly escalated. “Okay, so picture this. A woman comes up to me and says, ‘Hey, my friend is getting married tomorrow!’ It’s a bachelor party, and she asks if I can play ‘Pony’ by Ginuwine. She wants someone to give her friend a lap dance. I’m thinking, ‘Okay, this will be a fun, innocent lap dance, no big deal.’ Well, turns out, there was a professional stripper, a dancer, in the crowd. He jumps in and starts giving her a lap dance, and she just completely loses it. She starts taking off her shirt, grinding on him – I mean really going for it,” DJ Hakan recounted, mimicking the action. “She almost took her bra off! It was way beyond what anyone expected for an ‘amateur lap dancer’ situation. Honestly, it made me a little worried about the future of their relationship.”
DJ Spark Madden’s memory was less about awkwardness and more about the sheer energy of the crowd. “I was DJing a show in Denver, outdoors on a patio, when suddenly it started absolutely pouring rain. Instead of running for cover, the crowd just went wild! Hundreds of people just kept dancing in the rain. I was lucky enough to be under a big awning, so my equipment was safe,” he laughed. “But the crowd? They were loving every second of it. It was downtown Denver, at a venue I think is closed now, but the energy that night was unforgettable.”
DJ Fidel Castro shared a story that highlighted cultural differences and overcoming assumptions. “I had a guy from Atlanta hear me play at a club in New Mexico. He was really impressed and invited me to come DJ in Atlanta. This was about eight years ago, when I was younger and really chasing those bigger opportunities. So I thought, ‘Why not? It’s an experience.’
I went to Atlanta to play at Club Dream, which was, at the time, about 99 percent African American. Coming from Farmington or Durango, playing for an all African-American crowd, I was honestly a little nervous. I was wondering, ‘Is my music going to connect?’
I was planning to just play my usual set, the stuff that works here. But one of the DJs at Club Dream pulled me aside and asked if I had a hoodie. I didn’t – it was already hot in there. He gave me his hoodie and told me to wear it.
Now, Atlanta humidity is intense, especially if you’re not used to it. But I put the hoodie up and started playing. I was sweating like crazy. He told me, ‘The reason I had you wear the hoodie is because I didn’t want them to look at you and decide you weren’t ‘one of us’ and not accept you.’
I played like that for two hours, building the energy, getting the crowd hyped. Finally, I took off the hoodie, and I swear, you could have heard a pin drop. Everyone just stopped and stared, completely surprised. But then I just kept the music going, and the party went on. That was the moment I realized I had reached a new level as a DJ.”
These DJs’ stories prove that life behind the decks is anything but boring. From unexpected stage invasions and rain-soaked dance floors to bachelor party lap dances that go hilariously wrong, DJs are always ready for the unexpected chaos of nightlife.
