Logan Square invites amateur mixmasters to third annual DJ competition
Troy Gaub set up his equalizer at the front of Logan Square’s Walk In bar. It was 3:30 p.m. on a Sunday.
But Gaub was not going by his typical name. He was going by DJ “Still Working on It,” or the name he submitted to participate in the third round of an amateur DJ competition.
At the competition located at 2727 N Milwaukee Ave., Gaub played a 30-minute set with close attention to song transition, crowd reaction and stage presence. Apart from the event’s three other competitors, — and separate rounds — the bar filled with attendees, walk-ins and fellow disc jockeys ready to battle for a spot in the competition’s finals on July 27, 2025.
Throughout the summer, participants signed up to showcase their beats in front of audiences, other DJs and judges. The bar featured a total of 12 amateurs each Sunday in July, commencing with three finalists in their finales. Feedback from experienced mixmaster, Rex J. Balcita, better known as DJ Rex who founded the event in 2023, was stationed on the side of the booth, listening closely to each set.
As an iPad timer counted down from the set’s start, judges used a “technical” rubric, created to evaluate music programming, transitions, cleverness, intelligence, crowd reaction and stage presence.
Last year’s competition winner Zachary Val, or DJ Valley, emceed the competition. After the third round’s competitive sets, both Val and Balcita publicly presented their notes to the DJ and audience members.
“What you’re doing with the control board, I’ve never seen before,” Balcita said on the mic after Gaub’s set.
After an applause from attendees, Val announced the next competitor to the stage.
The third round’s DJs, including DJ Rendezvous, Technova and Booly, all had talent, but DJ “Still Working on It” proceeded to the finals.
The Finals
On the final Sunday of July, it was hot and humid. Apart from the construction that still blocked some of the barfront’s view, three competitors remain: Jesse Luna, CHATA and “Still Woking On It.”
When CHATA opened for the competition’s second round, it was obvious he’d progress to Sunday’s finals. Balcita’s remarks began with, “That is how you open a f*cking competition.”
Naturally, CHATA was chosen to open the July 27 finals.
Jesse Luna, following CHATA, brought a bubble gun, and took a dance break on the dancefloor mid-set. Luna’s fiance, Ashley Scoot, helped pass out mini pins with the DJ’s name. Scoot also helped with bubble gun duties, despite its failure to dispense them evenly.
A DJ of over 25 years, Ariana Ray, helped judge the finalists. Ray is the “first mainstream crossover trans DJ” in Chicago to perform at world renowned venues, including Hard Rock Cafe, FAME nightclub and Joy District. Ray’s also known for infusing hiphop, trap, reggaeton and house.
As well as judging previous rounds, her perspective was needed in choosing Chicago’s third amateur dj finalist.
After each final set, both Ray, Balcita and Val provided commencing competition feedback.
After mixing genres, starting with Doechii and dipping into throwbacks like Wilson Pickett’s 1996 “Land of 1000 Dances, DJ “Still Working On It” took this year’s amateur win.
Gaub “scratched” beats from Gorillaz, Fred Again, Tyler the Creator, Apache, Hey BB, closing his set withKendrick Lammar’s “DNA.”
After commencing applause, Balcita began his remarks.
“You gotta do a little bit better with the volume, but man you got some soul bro,” said Balcita. “You had the crowd swinging and dancing and bouncing. The vibe in here was 200%,” he said.
When Gaub was signed up for the competition, he didn't have much experience. After he saw the event posted on Instagram, and with two and a hlf years of djing under his belt, Gaub signed up as “Still Working On It.”
Ariana DJ, who didn't hear Gaub at his earlier set on July 20, said, “This is the first time I'm hearing you. Badass… badass.” As an “open format dj” herself, Ray appreciated the risks Gaub took in his varied genre selection.
“Your level of difficulty was higher than any other DJ here,” and for the judges, that level of difficulty and risk taking “means a lot," she said.
Along with appreciating that Gaub was the “first dj that spun other than 130 bpm,” she had additional advice to give.
“Change your motherf*cking DJ name. No club wants to fire a DJ that's still working on it,” she said.
While information is still being coordinated between the winner and hosts, the DJ is set to also hold a residency at the Logan bar, receive a $250 10AK gift card, as well as perform a “special set at Navy Pier,” according to Val.
While some of Gaub’s transitions could have been smoother, according to Balcita, Gaub had the final comment.
“I’m still working on it,” he said.
