I had the opportunity to become a “scratch expert” this week at the Scratch DJ Academy in New York. The event, sponsored by Smirnoff – gave a special group of individuals the opportunity to get lessons from the masters themselves in creating scratching techniques. Of course — as one always up for a challenge, I decided to participate in the DJ battle – and the event moderators got me testing out my skills.

To be honest, I think I did pretty well!

And for those of you out there that are really “experts” when it comes to the 1s and 2s, make sure you check out Master of the Mix, Season 2 on BET to see how your skills compare with those on the show.

Check out the information on how to get involved and your chance at being the “Master of the Mix”:

Smirnoff will take it to the streets in six cities across the nation, holding open casting calls for the cast for Season 2 and giving deejays who think they have what it takes the chance to prove their skills. Auditions will begin Thursday, May 19 – Saturday, May 21 in Los Angeles, CA and continue in Houston, TX on May 25 – 27; Miami, FL on May 28 – May 30; Atlanta, GA on May 30 – June 1; New York, NY on June 1 –3; and Detroit, MI on June 4 – 6. For more information on how to audition, visit www.masterofthemix.com and click the auditions tab.

The top deejays will board the tour bus and while traveling through seven cities be judged on their technical ability, track selection, originality, and crowd response. The ultimate DJ will be named the Master of the Mix and receive $250,000 in cash and prizes. Kid Capri, who deejayed for Russell Simmons’ Def Comedy Jam and has produced sessions for Heavy D, Boogie Down Productions, and Quincy Jones, will anchor the judging booth, while the hottest musicians and notable veterans will make guest appearances throughout the season.

The show will air in the fall on BET, the nation’s leading provider of and premier brand for quality entertainment, music and news television programming for the African-American audience. Check your local listings for further details.

For additional information, please visit www.masterofthemix.com. And while mixing it up, always remember to enjoy SMIRNOFF responsibly.

Audition Schedule
• LOS ANGELES: May 19 – May 21
• HOUSTON: May 25 – May 27
• MIAMI: May 28 – May 30
• ATLANTA: May 30 – June 1
• NEW YORK: June 1 – June 3
• DETROIT: June 4 – June 6