Skool's out for summer

Suddenly, the phrase "getting schooled" has taken on new meaning for some aspiring Atlanta DJs. All summer the Riviera Club has hosted Summer Skool, a DJ competition with winners receiving $200, a Wednesday-night club residency and a mixer. But, most of all, winners get some respect in the Atlanta DJ scene.

Initially, Riviera's senior music director, Lil' Steven (also owner of DeepTribalDubDisco Records), organized Summer Skool simply to draw people out on what's usually a slow night. But posting his invitation — "Calling all DJs, bedroom to big room" — in online forums, he received over 200 entries and decided he needed to divide DJs into appropriate categories (house, hard house/energy, progressive/trance, breaks and drum 'n' bass/jungle) for the elimination tournament. DJs perform timed sets in front of qualified judges, which include DJs, promoters and booking agents.

While crowds have fluctuated, the advancing talent is an increasing draw. For the upcoming final round, the five DJs who won in each of the sub-categories — Ray Adams (hard house), Dan Mizrahi (trance), Structure (breaks), Protege (drum 'n' bass) and Neidel Crisan (house) — will each get an hour to spin in any genre, because DJs "need to be able to work in any situation they come across," says Steven. "Veterans don't play a genre, they play the gamut, and they know how to read a crowd."

Steven hopes that's one of many lessons the DJs have learned during Summer Skool, which has caught the attention of promoters looking for future bookings. And even Steven has learned a lesson about giving positive feedback, watching as Summer Skool DJs graduate to bigger gigs.

The Summer Skool finals take place Wed., Oct. 10, at the Riviera.??