Meet DJ Bill Bara

Hi! 👋 I'm DJ Bill Bara 🎶

I started my musical journey with 2 turntables, a DJ mixer, and some vinyl records.. but I always had a love for rhythms and beats since I was a little kid. It wasn't until I was a teenager attending teen dances that I experienced a live DJ and was instantaneously hooked. With hopes of one day being a DJ, I acquired 2 turntables, a DJ mixer, some speakers, and music. Due to my constant practice at home, my Mother quickly gifted me my first pair of professional DJ headphones. (for her sanity 😂)

Teenage DJ Dream

As a teenager, I'd practice at home while looking for any possible gigs I could land. A lot of birthday parties, kids dances, and under 21 nightclubs helped me gain much needed experience at a young age. The little money I'd earn, I'd spend on aquiring new music at local record stores around Pittsburgh. I didn't know any DJ's around my hometown, so I would use the internet for DJ tutorials and use them to continue to practice at home.

College Years

When I got to college, I was actively working as a DJ on the weekends, but then I started to DJ college parties and bars during the week. I started at Robert Morris University, but then transferred to Indiana University of Pennsylvania, also known as IUP = I Usually Party. 🎉 It was the perfect place for me to refine my DJ skills, as I'd perform 5-6 nights a week. Weekdays were for gigs around Indiana, PA, and then I'd travel to Pittsburgh to work in the bigger nightclubs on the weekends. After graduation, I moved to Pittsburgh to continue my career fulltime.

Working In Radio

My degree was in communications media, and in order to graduate I had to complete an internship. I was already working with radio jocks in nightclub appearances, so it was natural I'd intern with Clear Channel Radio in Pittsburgh. Following the completion of the program, I was hired to work for Fox Sports, 96.1 Kiss, 102.5 WDVE, and 105.9 The X. As the company changed to IHeartMedia and I witnessed changes in the radio industry, I eventually left to pursue new challenges. The knowledge I gained about audio production, voicing scripts, and producing live shows proves to be vauable to this day.

Voted Top Nightclub DJ

While the daytime was dedicated to radio, the evenings were dedicated to nightclubs and mobile events. I was lucky enough to work for some of the biggest and best nightclubs in the history of Pittsburgh. This gave me the ability to meet more experienced DJ's who would take me under thei wing and teach me all the skills I needed to become an elite DJ. The combination of programming great music, being able to read a crowd, and having the technical skills to mix live, lead to me winning City Paper's Best Nightclub DJ. I still enjoy performing in nightclubs and you can find me at popular establishments in Pittsburgh and along the East Coast.

Wedding Knot Hall-of-Fame

Noticing a bias against wedding DJs during my career in clubs, I decided to shake things up. I started DJing at my friends' weddings, bringing those vibrant club vibes to the scene. It became a hit and I quickly gained a reputation in the wedding industry. I went on to found Modern Era Weddings, employing some of the finest DJs in Pittsburgh. Our team’s excellent client reviews helped us become the first DJ company in Pittsburgh to join the Knot's Hall-of-Fame. Afterwards, DJ Mike Willis aquired the business from me. Today I personally manage most of my bookings, but also accept weddings through DJ agencies.

Fitness With DJs

Combining my passion for music & fitness, I created a DJ mix service called 'Running Mixes' that provides free training music for runners. These mixes are specifically curated to keep runners in rhythm to help them maintain their stride. This project led to me co-founding 'Club Cycle,' a Spin Studio with DJ's mixing music videos. The DJ is there to entertain riders and change the tempos of the class. Club Cycle was voted City Paper's 'Best Fitness Center in Pittsburgh' 2 years in a row.

Experienced For Any Event

After years of rocking a variety of crowds, today I'm confident in my ability to help take your event to the next level! Weddings, Nightclubs, Corporate Events, Birthday Parties, School Events, and more! This is where I feel most comfortable as an open format DJ. My expertise in music programming, reading a crowd, technical DJ skills, proficiency with equipment, and overall experience brings value to any event.

Streaming Into The Future

2024 is the most exciting year yet for DJs! With advancement in DJ technology and new streaming networks have created new audiences across the globe. Now is the perfect opportunity for any DJ to showcase their skills. As a fulltime DJ, I have a home studio where I create fresh new weekly content. Be sure to follow me on TikTok, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, X, MixCloud, and Twitch for DJ content!