RENAISSANCE Disco’s founder Delano Thomas recently set aside his role at the turntables for the classroom. He tutored 40 disc jocks and their managers under the DJ Academy Capacity Building Training Programme.

“The programme is not designed to create DJs. It is designed to enhance the capacity of the DJs that are specifically functioning in the formal tourism environments,” he told the Jamaica Observer.

According to Delano, the curriculum is geared toward overall development of the trainees’ soft skills, rather than how to be a good song selector.

“Training focuses on skills such as crowd reading and emotional intelligence, enhancing performance and marketing the culture even within the confines of the resort setting,” he said.

Held in partnership with the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF) under the Ministry of Tourism, participants are certified musical ambassadors under the Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCO). Prior to this programme, DJs were the only members of the tourism sector who did not receive this official recognition.

So far, Delano has tutored more than 60 disc jocks and managers. The last graduation ceremony was held at Pier 1 in Montego Bay on October 30.

The 2019 class had DJs and managers from over 12 hotel chains and nightclubs including Secrets, Breathless Resort, Jungle Nightclub, Pier 1, Margaritaville Ocho Rios, and Sandals Montego Bay. Training usually takes place on the properties.

Delano has been in the industry for more than 30 years. He is also a music producer whose credits include Sean Paul’s chart-topper We Be Burnin’.

He believes it is a duty to pass on knowledge to his peers.

“It has been my goal and my pleasure to lend to the development of my peers and the next generation of performers while myself growing,” he said.