CD insert from my audition mix, created by me in 1998 - click for fullsize version to print out

In 1998, I got my first high profile DJing gigs - actually, two at the same time. A longtime friend of mine was opening a new alternative/goth/dance club (the nights rotated), and I was the first person he thought of to DJ. By a weird coincidence, I had somehow decided that The Grid, Cleveland's premier gay club at the time, needed a new Friday night DJ (call it hubris). So, I got myself a couple of decks, a cheap mixer, a preamp, and plugged the whole shinola into my then-cutting-edge MiniDisc recorder. This audition mix was the result.

Listening now, it's very much of its time musically and some, if not all, of the transitions make me cringe. Nothing too trainwrecky happens, but with practice, I certainly got a lot smoother than this represents. I also learned that you don't have to play the ENTIRE song, including beatless breaks - you can certainly sneak another beat and song up there and move on. Who knew? I ended up doing Fridays at the Grid and Saturdays at Beyond (the friend's club) before I quickly burned out and moved to San Diego.

So here for your enjoyment is a blast from the past - DJ Jon Lenin's (speaking of cringing - where did I come up with THAT?) audition mix from 1998. Songs include:

Ruffneck - Everybody Be Somebody
Tori Amos - Jackie's Strength
Savage Garden - To The Moon & Back
Pocketsize - Walking
Garbage - You Look So Fine
Basement Jaxx - Red Alert
Madonna - Beautiful Stranger
TLC - No Scrubs
Hypertrophy - Beautiful Day
Sal Dano - Feel My Drums
Pet Shop Boys - I Don't Know What You Want...
Everything But the Girl - Lullabye of Clubland

Download the whole shebang(approx. 65 MB - it'll take a few).