Ex DJ's Talk about music, performing, and life in general after Dee Jaying. Meet Paul Al and Brad.
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From Skate Rinks to Clubs and Pubs. Al's done it all. Born South Australia to English parents. Grew up & went to school in Kwinana Left school at 16 (inattentive student, would probably be diagnosed as ADD nowadays) 1 year as chefs apprentice, Peninsula hotel Mandurah. Left and started pastrycook/chef apprenticeship. Worked at Coles & various hot bread shops/patisseries during course of apprenticeship. Stopped soon after gaining trade papers (reasons) During the course of training, built up a significant singles collection and dabbled in part time DJing. Became what you would call an itinerant worker (read unemployed) with my main source of income being the Government and part time DJ. Spent a lot of time doing community theatre. Scored a job as resident DJ at the George & Dragon in Shoalwater. Eventually, this gig ran its course and scored a job DJing at Haley’s rollerrink. Surprisingly, I managed to work my way up to assistant manager (or slave/general dogsbody) Rink closed down to become a bowling alley & I moved on. More itinerant work including being in a band or two. Scored a residency at Whiskey Au Go Go night club. Filled in for one of my best friends as DJ at the Leisure Inn one Sunday after he had up and quit as their DJ the night before and had taken his mixer home. His terms for the pub to get use of it, was that they put me in as his replacement. Did the one session and they made me an offer I could not refuse. 11 years later, I was still DJ and had worked my way up to one of two assistant managers. (60 hour weeks suck). Owner of the pub decided to go in a different direction and I was let go. More itinerant work, including learning to weld in a metalworks factory. Was asked to come back to the Leisure Inn as the 8pm to midnight DJ (falling numbers, lol) also worked in the kitchen and gained my chefs papers via RPL (thank you Spencer Black) After quite a while, I just decided, I did not want to DJ or chef there anymore and quit. I ended up going back to the old club as DJ (now Equator) to do their Thursday nights for a little while. Got a job in the Waikiki hotel in the bottleshop. Through this, I managed to get promoted to Assistant manager at the Grosvener Hotel in East Perth (Same operations manager at both pubs). Thanks to this pub I got to be on first name terms of some of the big names in the WA original music scene. Left this pub (reasons) and went to work as assistant manager at the Carlton down the road. The day I started the manager quit and I suddenly got promoted to Manager. Had a great year improving how the pub ran, then got bored and left to manage the Woodbridge Hotel in Guildford During my time at the Woody, I had met Fiona and had a daughter. I eventually realised that night/weekend shifts sucked and running pubs was a young person’s game. Left & went to work for Australia Post. Unfortunately, me and Fiona spending more time together made us realise we were more friends than soulmates. I ended up in WA business support for Aus post until redundancy knocked on the door (YipYah!). Sat on my arse for 3 months then got a job with HBF where I am still ensconced today.
An Old DJ From Rockernm, Bio To come! Or just watch the Podcast or listen to it up to you really.
