Your Shot's 2026 U.S. edition has added Denver and Miami to its returning Los Angeles and Brooklyn stops, with registration open now. Magnetic Mag describes roughly six weeks of training and booth-gear exposure before a live showcase.
You can learn to beatmatch alone. It is harder to rehearse unfamiliar monitors, a club-standard mixer, a waiting crowd, and an experienced person watching the transition. Before paying a competition, academy, or mentor for booth time, ask a few direct questions.
Five questions to ask
What gear will you use? Ask whether the room has the CDJs, mixer, and monitor setup you are likely to face onstage, or a simplified practice rig.
How much mentor time is hands-on? A large group lecture is different from having someone listen to your transitions and correct them.
Will you play for an audience? A private demo teaches less about nerves and recovery than real minutes in front of people.
What does the fee include? Get the full cost and check who owns any recording or footage of your set.
What happens afterward? A booking, an introduction, and continued mentor access are different outcomes from a certificate and photo.
This is neither an endorsement nor a criticism of Your Shot. Its expansion is a useful prompt to examine what any beginner program actually provides. Learn the fundamentals in our free Learn to DJ section, then pay for access and feedback only when the offer is clear.