Amani Roberts – How Learning to DJ can Unlock your Creativity

Amani Roberts is a DJ, Producer, Professor and Podcaster who loves to help people unlock their creativity by teaching people how to DJ. In my free time I love soccer, reading and perfecting my salsa skills. A Washington DC-native who now lives close to the beach right outside of Los Angeles.

Amani Roberts Vroom Veer Stories

Being an entrepreneur is a very lonely life; you need to find a tribe of folks you can meet with and talk with otherwise; I need to find a meetup
Jeff is ready to hit the road and backpack the world as a vagabond; Mrs Smith is not ready to take the leap.  Yes I have the book Vagabonding by Rolf Potts (see affiliate link below)
His first musical instrument in elementary school was the flute which he didn't like; so he transferred to the saxophone
In High School he was in a Jazz band that won a state level competition; they even produced an album!  He played with Ari Ambrose who is now an attorney; he also played with Marcus Johnson who is an accomplished musician as well
Studied hospitality management in college while playing music and soccer
What was it like recording an album in high school; didn't realize how lucky he was; in the moment it was another distraction from calling girls
Played video games on the original Nintendo like Zelda and eventually Madden Football
After college, worked all around the country for Marriott; started in Atlanta and went through Chicago and ended up in California
During 9/11, Ari was near the pentagon and people were fleeing from the area to his hotel; Jeff was close by (not as close as Amani!) in Fall Church, VA
Caught on camera running away from a drunk women who thought he was cute; she climbed over the counter and started chasing him around; the video of the incident showed up at his going away party years later and got great laughs
Mirth:Nadir was a love song dedication podcast that is started in 2008 and was like Art Laboe
Partnered with Cliffbar to DJ athletic events around the country
Learned how to play spades in high school; he was on the year book staff, but they didn't have much to do the after the yearbook was done; they played spades and watched All my Children
In college he was in a massive spades tournament and made to the finals; they last match they beat guys from the football team; the football guys were so angry with the the little soccer players they chased them around the campus
Attended the Scratch Academy.  The school was created by Jam Master Jay of Run DMC.
The program is intense and difficult; he came up two points shy of passing on his first time through; had to decide to keep going or take his ball and go home
We talk about he HBO mini series The Defiant Ones which you all need to watch

Amani Roberts Connections

Website - The Amani Experience