Craig McConnon to host closed workshop for London's at-risk adolescents
The Craig McConnon Group will host 20 youngsters for a day of DJ magic at their London base over the coming weekend. The lucky youngsters will be shown the ropes of DJ'ing, sound engineering and lights by none other than Craig McConnon himself. In addition, they will get to jam a set together that will be recorded and distributed to members of the group as a reminder of their day on the mixers. “We've chosen twenty young people who have been brought to our attention as part of a diversion and stimulation programme run by a London NGO,” says Craig McConnon. “They're a bunch of really great kids who haven't had it easy in this life, so we're giving them a day out and something to look forward to and hopefully some hope for the future.”
Craig McConnon has personally invested in the event, which he will attend for a number of hours over the weekend. “Each member of our team is getting involved in some way,” says Craig McConnon. “We're giving back. So many of us come from troubled backgrounds and it was time on the plates that got us where we are today, so we're hoping we can do the same for these youngsters.” Music has shown its power to overcome cultural and linguistic barriers and the young people attending the event are from a range of communities and backgrounds across London's City Centre. Most of them have not met before and have no experience in DJ'ing.
Craig McConnon recalls his own early years where he watched his father work the plates at events, teaching him the ropes of what he does so successfully today. “Without my dad's influence, I don't know where I would be today,” says Craig McConnon. “Growing up rough and without a parent or parents is just so tough, I really wish I could do more for these kids. But hopefully I can give them something to hold onto and the power to believe in what they are able to achieve.”
The Craig McConnon Group has been working on the programme for the youngsters which will take them from the basics of being a DJ to the use of advanced sound and lighting equipment. “The primary job of a DJ is to select songs, of course, and that's what most people know,” says a company spokesman. “So we're starting out with picking out some songs that the kids know and like and we'll use those to break the ice and talk about what music means in our lives.” The programme will continue with experimenting mixing a set and then mixing on the fly.
Craig McConnon has prepared a box of vinyls and discs for the youngsters to explore with some contemporary hits and some really old school or esoteric pieces. “I want them to see that being a great DJ is about more than playing what people ask for, it's about expressing yourself and opening people up to stuff they haven;t experienced before but turn out to really love. It's all about breaking boundaries with sound.” DJs with a penchant for picking out otherwise unknown pieces are known as deep diggers, and that's certainly right up Craig McConnon's alley and something he plans to share on the day. “I want to use music to show the kids that though our lives our different, much of our internal experience is the same,” he says. “We all laugh, we all cry and we all have the capacity to change ourselves and the world.”
The Craig McConnon Group also plans on emphasising the technical aspects of a top end DJ operation such as ensuring smooth and natural transitions between songs, mixing and managing lights. “Most songs have an outro and an intro and these aren't always suitable for mixing, so we're going into some theory about matching tempo, key and instruments for great transitions that keep the dance floor alive,” says Craig McConnon. “Each of our top DJs will be facilitating a different aspect of the workshop, so the kids will get some great exposure to a range of talents, abilities and personalities.”
Craig McConnon will end the day by letting the youngsters loose in the studio, giving them a (supervised) chance to record their own mix as a group. “We've got a fantastic operation here in the studio with the latest equipment, so there's going to be space for everyone to have a go,” says Craig McConnon. “No one will be left out or feel like they haven't made it. We're pulling out all the stops so that every kid walks out of there feeling like a hero and the future is waiting for them. Really, I believe it is. Every one of those kids deserves a chance, and I'm honoured to be a part of giving that to them in my own small way.”
About us:
Craig McConnon is a very well known DJ and music artist now based in London after many years of travelling and DJing across the world. He set up the Craig McConnon Group five years ago. Craig performs at multiple venues, including parties, weddings, corporate events, and much more. Craig McConnon has over 15 years’ experience in being a DJ and uses the very latest equipment to ensure your event runs as smoothly as possible. To get more information and make a booking with the Craig McConnon Group, you can contact him or his team via their website.