Drop the beat with bangers that’ll make clubbing fun again. Bring the good vibes to these seven DJ open decks in Toronto.
Every time you go clubbing on King St. W., you hear the same Drake songs over and over again, and no one’s really dancing. Enjoying Drake is fine, but as seen online, Torontonians like going to Y2K events and other music eras other than rap.
If you want to remix Toronto’s clubbing scene to your liking, get your name out there and go perform some banging sets.
Check out these seven venues that regularly host DJ open decks.
Freeplay
FreePlay Arcade Bar Toronto is a vibrant arcade and drinking spot on College St. Known for its unlimited arcade play with entry for only $5 from Sunday to Thursday and $10 from Friday to Saturday, FreePlay has established a strong presence in the city. Hosted by DJ Sela Vie, Toronto DJs can come spin sets every Tuesday night – the most recent date was Jan. 13, with 10 DJs on the lineup.
BarDem
BarDem, a secret Vietnamese bar behind Dzô Viet Eatery, has a series of open decks bi-weekly. @isolationcuts on Instagram created this initiative to help up-and-coming (and seasoned) DJs build their confidence by performing live using professional DJ equipment.
The first edition just passed on Jan. 15, with one-hour time slots from 8 p.m. to 12 a.m., plus happy hour drinks.
If selected, you will get to perform and receive a small media package including a few photos, a short raw unedited video, and a recording of your set. Register in the link in their bio or DM them for any inquiries.
Midnight Arcade
Midnight Arcade is a hidden Asian-fusion bar/restaurant serving takoyaki and soju, also known for its freeplay games (except for a $5 cover charge on busy weekends). The arcade has a lively nightlife with DJs on weekends and open decks varying throughout the week. DVNA and DXGREE are hosting on Jan. 22 as part of their “1Up Sessions” series, featuring local DJs at 8 p.m., with $6 specials on bar rail and whiteclaws all night.
As part of their extended mix, four house DJs will be turning up the tunes on Friday, Jan. 30, starting at 10 p.m.
To become a DJ at their open deck, message the host @drtydvna on Instagram to secure your spot.
The Silver Dollar Room
The Silver Dollar Room, a Queen St. W. music venue established in 1958, is vital in supporting local musicians and hosts many touring artists as well. Every Sunday (except long weekends), The Silver Dollar room hosts open deck DJ nights. Genres must be house, tech house, techno, or progressive. Sets are 28 minutes with a two-minute changeover, and the setup is with two CDJ-2000NXS2 + DJM-A9.
You must bring a USB drive (laptops/MIDI devices are forbidden) and be 19+ to participate. It’s free entry, first sign-up, first spin – so be there early. Book your spot via the link in their bio and possibly land future bookings at The Silver Dollar Room or The Comfort Zone.
Houndstooth
This café-by-day, bar-by-night spot in Little Italy transforms into a community-focused space for musicians. Houndstooth hosts open decks every other Tuesday in partnership with Que’d up, a Toronto collective for LGBTQ+ DJs, to allow performers to showcase their skills.
On Que’d up Instagram bio, they advertise the next open deck to be on Feb. 3.
Overture Studios
Overture Studios is a DJ and music production studio focused on underground techno and experimental music. They occasionally host DJ open decks, and all you need to do is bring your USB and network with other DJs and producers.
In an Instagram DM, they confirmed they will be hosting another for the end of this month, with details coming soon.
JSTDRMN
JSTDRMN fosters local talent across House, Techno, Drum & Bass, Dubstep, Trap, and more.
They’re known for their DJ bootcamp, where you follow five in-person weekly classes, totalling 15 hours. Progress will be on industry-standard CDJ-3000s and professional media coverage to build your portfolio. Only five students are accepted to keep the teaching personalized, and unlimited online support is available in between sessions.
You will also get a debut performance at the JSTDRMN showcase, which will be recorded. That sort of acts as an open deck, and a perfect way to build up confidence before performing at the other open decks mentioned above.
