Photos courtesy of Cory Giles and NYDJCON.com

This year marked the 5th Annual New York DJ Con taking place at the New York Marriott Marquis in Times Square. Over the past 5 years, NY DJ Con has become a great event where DJs, brands, and gear companies gather under one roof. It’s dubbed the “ultimate music, lifestyle, and DJ experience,” and from my experience, this description isn’t a lie.

Attendees gather to watch a performance at NY DJ Con 2019

I had the chance to attend this year’s NY DJ Con and found that it’s a hub for DJs of all kind, tech lovers, music lovers, and those wanting to expand their professional networks. The 2019 event had notable brands in the building such as Peavey, QSC, Rock and Soul, and Rokit, as well as legendary New York radio stations Hot 97 and Power 105. There were also booths held down by iconic DJ crews like The Heavy Hitters, Fleet DJs, and Da Union, all with talent from their camps spinning and interacting with conference attendees.

NY DJ Con 2019 at the New York Marriott Marquis

When I first arrived, I had a huge smile on my face seeing all of the people around me who share my love for DJ culture. The energy in the room was crazy. NY DJ Con had classes available for those who wanted to learn the art of DJing, sessions where attendees could jump into beat matching and scratching lessons, and panels to help DJs educate themselves on the business side of things.

DJ Ted Smooth at NY DJ Con 2019

This year, the conference saw the return of one of my favorite panels, “In Flex We Trust” with Funkmaster Flex and the debut of DJ Enuff’s “Enuff Said” panel with Keith Shocklee. During both of these great showcases, DJs got firsthand advice on how to navigate the DJ industry and heard stories from veteran DJs who have worked in the business for several decades.

DJ Lady S at NY DJ Con 2019

NY DJ Con attendees also had the chance to catch performances by artists Chinese Kitty, Skinny From The 9, as well as DJ sets by DJ Throwdown and DJ Sophia. Booths and brand activations gave attendees a chance to take professional DJ photos, demo DJ Gear, buy music, or even get a brand new phone at the T-Mobile booth, one of the event’s main sponsors. Throughout the event, BPM Supreme swag was on hand and we connected with several influential DJs including Heavy Hitters crew member DJ Lady S, Power 105’s DJ Will and the legendary DJ Ted Smooth.

Overall, the 5th annual NY DJ Con was an incredible event that gave us DJs a business insider experience, access to the latest in DJ technology, and opportunities to mingle with some of the industry’s most respected DJs. As successful as this year was, I’m confident that next year’s event will take it up another notch!

DJ Will at NY DJ Con 2019

Let us know if you attended NY DJ Con 2019 or if you plan to go next year. We want to hear from you!

About Cory Giles

From the age of 4, Cory Giles was curious what it meant to be a DJ and had a strong connection to the art form through his dad, DJ Keith. Beginning with the business side of the music industry, Cory started working with giants like Def Jam, Universal Music Group, and HOT 97 in New York City. It wasn’t until 2018 that he joined Hot 97’s Summer Mix Weekend lineup and soon after enrolled into Scratch DJ Academy determined to master the craft of DJing. The next year, Cory joined Dash Radio and created his own show “The Corner” which airs weekly on the platform.

With Cory’s professionally-taught skills and early exposure to the art form, DJing came to him naturally. He’s performed everywhere from community events like AIDS Walk New York to sponsored events with companies like Verizon and Applebee’s. With a strong understanding of various genres including Top 40, R&B, EDM, throwbacks, reggae, and hip hop, never expect anything less than a quality experience when Cory Giles is on the set. Follow Cory on Instagram.