DJ Tips and Stories
Hen party ideas in London: why a DJ party is the one everyone will talk about
Looking for hen party ideas in London that aren’t another cocktail class? Try a private DJ party where everyone gets on the decks.
Cocktail making, life drawing, bottomless brunch. They're all great, but if you're planning a hen do in London and want something a bit different, try this: a private DJ party where everyone gets their hands on the decks.
What happens at a DJ party?
We take your group into a private room with real club kit and a teacher. First we show everyone the basics: how the decks and mixer work and how to blend one track into the next. Then everyone takes turns back to back, so the whole group gets a go, and by the end the bride to be plays a short set to the room. Bring the bride's favourite tracks and it becomes the soundtrack of the day.
Nobody needs any experience. Most of our groups are complete beginners, and the ones who swear they'll just watch are usually the hardest to get off the decks.
Why it works for a hen do
Everyone joins in. It's hands on, but nobody's put on the spot.
It fits around the rest of the day. It works as a daytime activity before dinner, or as the start of the night out.
It's genuinely memorable. Far more of a story than another bar.
It's not just for hens. Birthdays and groups of friends love it too.
Where and when?
We run private sessions in studios and clubs around London, mostly north and central, and we can suggest the right space for your numbers. Sessions run in the evenings and at weekends.
How much does it cost?
Private group DJ parties start from £60 a head, with the teacher, the kit and the studio included. The exact price depends on your numbers and the venue, so tell us what you have in mind and we'll come back with options.
Planning a work do instead?
Our team DJ workshops are built for office Christmas parties and team events, from £995.
Book a session for your hen party and we'll take it from there.
How long does it take to learn to DJ?
Most beginners mix two tracks in their first lesson and play a short set within three. Here’s what to expect, lesson by lesson.
Short answer: quicker than you think. Most of our students mix two tracks together in their very first lesson, and with three lessons behind them they can plan and play a short set of their own. Getting really good takes longer, of course, but you don't need months of practice before it starts to feel like DJing.
We've been teaching people to DJ in London for over a decade, from complete beginners who have never touched a pair of decks to people who want to tighten up before their first gig. Here's roughly how it goes.
Your first lesson: the kit and your first mix
Two hours is plenty to get comfortable. You'll learn what everything on the decks and mixer actually does, how to load and cue up tracks, and the basics of beatmatching: getting two tracks playing at the same speed so they sit together. By the end, most people have done their first proper blend from one track into the next. It's a great feeling.
Lessons two and three: proper mixing and your first set
This is where it clicks. You'll work on smoother transitions, using the EQs so tracks don't clash, and phrasing, which means bringing the next track in at the right moment so the mix sounds natural. Then we put it all together: picking a handful of tracks that work as a set and playing them start to finish.
That's exactly why we built our Zero to Hero package: three two hour lessons that take you from the basics to playing your own short set. It's £335 for one to one, or £500 for two people learning together, studio and kit included.
After that: practice is what makes the difference
Once you've got the fundamentals, getting better is mostly about time behind the decks. A few things help:
Practise as much as you can. The more time behind the decks, the quicker it clicks, but aim for at least an hour a week.
Know your music. The better you know your tracks, the easier mixing gets.
Play to people. Even a few friends in a room changes how you play.
Book time on a club system. Big speakers feel very different to headphones at home.
If you'd like a teacher on hand while you practise, our practice sessions give you time on a proper club setup with someone there to help.
Do I need my own equipment?
No. We provide all the kit, and you don't need to own anything to start. If you have music you'd like to play, bring it on a USB formatted with Rekordbox and you'll get more out of the session. Headphones are ideal too if you have them, though not essential.
Ready to start?
One to one lessons are £125 for two hours, or £187.50 for two people sharing a lesson, studio included. Or go for the Zero to Hero package and be playing your own set by lesson three.
Book a session and tell us a bit about what you're after.
How much do DJ lessons cost in London?
DJ lessons in London usually cost £40 to £75 an hour. Here’s what you actually get for your money, what drives the price, and how to choose between one to one, groups and team workshops.
In London, DJ lessons usually cost somewhere between £40 and £75 an hour for one to one tuition, depending on who's teaching, where, and whether studio hire is included. Group sessions work out cheaper per person, and team workshops for companies are normally priced per group rather than per head.
At The London DJ School, a two hour one to one lesson costs £125, including the studio. Here's how the market breaks down, and what to look for so your money goes on actually learning.
What drives the price
Four things make the biggest difference:
Who's teaching. A working DJ with years of teaching behind them costs more than a hobbyist, and you'll usually learn faster.
The room and the kit. Club standard CDJs and a proper mixer cost money to hire. Check whether the studio is included or charged on top.
Lesson length. One hour flies by once you've set up. Two hours gives you time to learn something and then actually practise it.
One to one or group. One to one is the fastest way to learn. Small groups are more sociable and cheaper per person.
Typical prices in London
One to one, per hour: £40 to £75
Course of four lessons: £300 to £450
Small group class, per person: £40 to £80
DJ experience or gift session: £70 to £100 per person
Team or corporate workshop: from about £800 to £2,000 per group
What a lesson with us costs
One to one lesson: £125 for two hours, studio included. We book you into a professional DJ studio near you, on weekday evenings or at weekends.
Couples lesson: £187.50 for two people over two hours, studio included. A fun one for a date or a birthday present.
Private groups (hen dos, birthdays, friends): from £60 a head.
Team and corporate workshops: from around £1,100 for ten people, with decks, speakers, tutors, set up and pack down all included. Bigger groups get extra tutors and deck stations.
How to get the most for your money
Bring your own music. A USB formatted with Rekordbox means you spend the lesson mixing tunes you love.
Book two hours, not one. You'll get past the setup and into real progress.
Practise between lessons. An hour in a practice room between sessions makes the next lesson twice as useful.
Be honest about your level. Total beginner, bedroom DJ, or ready for your first gig: tell us and we'll pitch it right.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need my own equipment?
No. Everything is provided in the studio. If you have your own controller, bring it along and we'll show you how what you learn carries across.
How many lessons will I need?
Most beginners can mix two tracks together confidently after one or two sessions. Four lessons is a solid foundation for playing your first set.
Can I buy a lesson as a gift?
Yes. Get in touch and we'll sort it out.
Do you teach vinyl as well as digital?
Yes, we teach both CDJs and vinyl.
Ready to start?
Tell us what you're after and when you're free, and we'll book you in.
Christmas party ideas for London offices that are not just drinks
Want a Christmas party your team will still be talking about in January? A two hour DJ workshop gets everyone on the decks, no experience needed, and ends with the whole team playing a back to back set.
If you want a Christmas party your team will still be talking about in January, give them something to do together. A two hour DJ workshop does exactly that: everyone gets hands on the decks, nobody needs any experience, and by the end of the session the whole team plays a back to back set on a proper sound system.
Here's why it works, what actually happens on the night, and how to book one.
Why an activity beats another round at the bar
A drinks reception is easy to book and easy to forget. The people who already know each other stand together, the quieter ones drift off early, and nobody remembers much by the next morning.
An activity changes that. People who never cross paths in the office end up side by side, cheering each other on, laughing at the first wobbly mix and celebrating the first clean one. It breaks the ice in about ten minutes flat. And it doesn't replace the party, it kicks it off.
What happens in a DJ workshop
We've been demystifying all the knobs and lights for over a decade, from the booths of some of London's best known clubs to studios across the city. A typical team session runs like this:
Welcome and kit tour (15 minutes). What everything does, in plain English. No jargon, no judgement.
The basics (30 minutes). How to cue a track, find the beat and bring the next one in. Everyone has a go.
Mixing in small groups (45 minutes). Teams work on their own mini set, picking tracks and taking turns on the decks with a tutor alongside.
The back to back finale (30 minutes). Every group plays their part of one continuous set to the rest of the room. We record it, so the team gets the mix to keep.
From the curious to the connoisseur, everyone leaves having actually DJed, not just watched someone else do it.
Where it happens
There are two ways to run it:
In one of our London studios. Professional DJ rooms with club standard kit, which suits smaller teams.
At your office or venue. We bring the decks, the speakers and the tutors, set everything up and pack it all away. This works brilliantly as the opening act of your Christmas party, with a DJ set to carry on the night afterwards if you'd like one.
Who it's for
DJ workshops work for teams of all sizes, from a handful of people up to around 30 with extra tutors and deck stations. It's a great fit if your team is:
new and still getting to know each other
spread across departments that rarely mix
tired of the same escape room or cocktail class
full of people who secretly want a go on the decks
We've always believed in making dance culture open to everyone, so sessions are relaxed, inclusive and pitched at total beginners. Nobody gets put on the spot.
Frequently asked questions
Does anyone need DJ experience?
No. Most people on our team sessions have never touched a pair of decks before.
How long does it take?
A standard session is two hours. We can run it shorter as an opener for a party, or longer if you want more time on the decks.
What music do you use?
We bring a library covering everything from disco, house and drum and bass to hip hop, Afrobeats, Afropop and pop, and we're happy to build the session around your team's favourites.
How far ahead should we book?
December evenings go quickly, so get in touch as early as you can. Weekday evenings and weekends are when we're busiest.
Book your team's session
Tell us roughly how many of you there are, your preferred dates and whether you'd like us to come to you. We'll come back with options and prices. You can see prices and how it works on our team DJ workshops page.