Meet Canberra’s 17-year-old DJ star Georgie Jones
Posted on
Georgie Jones had the unique experience recently of dressing up for the Canberra Grammar formal and then doing a quick change into something more comfortable to DJ the after party.
At just 17, she is juggling Year 12 study with a burgeoning DJ career which has seen her business expand to include two employees and allow her to buy her first car, a brand new hulking black Ford Raptor, which is big enough to transport all her gear to gigs.
It’s a career which has grown quickly and started from a random walk by a Sydney nightclub with her mum Angela when she was just 13.
“That’s when I discovered DJing. The atmosphere he had created was insane and I discovered a whole other world. I couldn’t wrap my head around the fact you can genuinely get paid to play music and make a party.”
On the drive home from Sydney, Georgie couldn’t shut up about the possibilities of being a DJ. She talked for three hours straight.
KODAK Digital Still Camera
“There were no young females I was aware of and I saw a hole in the market I wanted to fill. My mum and dad have always been my number one supporters and have had so much faith in me. I convinced them to help me buy my first DJ deck, it was only small – a DDJ pioneer 400, which I would highly recommend for anyone wanting to get into DJing. That, along with watching hours of youtube tutorials, helped me build foundational skills.”
Georgie’s first paid gig followed a party she held in 2023, when one of her friend’s mums loved the atmosphere so much she booked Georgie for her daughter’s 21st.
“I was terrified leading up to it, but it ended up being a huge success. To this day it’s still one of the best gigs I’ve done despite the limited skillset I had! From there, I continued to get booked through word of mouth and Instagram advertising. I gradually built up a strong clientele which continued to give me repeated business and build my reputation.
Not only does she get constant bookings each weekend, but she has also hosted some sets in Thailand for the Full Moon Festival as well as her regular gigs at Mooseheads and private functions around Canberra.
This, combined with her marathon training, part-time café job, and study, makes for a busy girl.
“Recently I have hired two employees as the demand for work is so high with the growth of my business. If they are booked, they come and pick up equipment from my house. My first private gig generally starts around 6 pm and finishes around 11 pm depending on weather they extend or not. If I have work at Mooseheads after, I start there either at 10:30 pm or midnight and go home after my shift. I rely on Sundays to catch up on sleep, ensuring I get enough rest and give time for my body to relax and wind down.”
A student at St Clare’s, Georgie has nothing but praise for the support she has received.
KODAK Digital Still Camera
“School has been so supportive, hiring me for their school discos, and often doing formal after parties. My friends help me with content and have always fully advocated for me, I honestly couldn’t be more grateful for such a good support system.”
It also pays well – hence the flash car.
“Being 17, normal jobs pay pretty average (I know because I also have a normal daytime job!). Not only is the pay extremely low for such hard work, there’s not much room for growth as your working as an employee. I’ve always had businesses growing up, from breeding and selling guinea pigs, to a slime business. I learnt from a young age the best way to make money is working for yourself. My business is highly profitable, especially as my team grows with more employees. Social Media is a tool I’ve discovered over the past few years which has increased my brand image tremendously and really helped establish myself.”
Now it’s just a matter of cramming it all in.
“Being in Year 12 and having so many commitments is a struggle. I’m doing a tertiary package at school whilst also recently committing to the role of House Captain. I have four jobs – between the cafe, working for boombox2u, Mooseheads and running my own business. It’s hard to run my own schedule and is becoming increasingly difficult now also having to manage other people’s wages and work. Exercise is a remedy I have used for years to help me manage stress and stay sane. Running consistently and using the gym are my coping mechanisms. I have mentors that support me and professional help from financial advisors and accountants, plus a genuine close support network of friends, family and teachers.”
Plus, she has always been a night owl.
“I make sure to prioritise sleep, although it’s hard when I go from going to bed at 4 am on Fridays and Saturdays to then adjusting back to my school sleeping schedule. I try to wake up early during the week and exercise so I’m tired by night, making it easier.”
Now she has a license and a car she no longer relies on her family to drop her and pick her up from every gig – which was a punishing schedule even for such devoted parents.
Given Georgie’s age, various safety procedures, contracts, and legal protections have been prioritised to ensure her safety in clubs.
At Mooseheads, a female resident DJ Chloe Ngu has been acting as a big sister role model and Georgie says she feels happy and safe at her work.
Never one to stay still, Georgie made a vision board in January that included a DJ at a festival.
She set about creating a business model for RAW CUTS, which she launched at the end of January.
KODAK Digital Still Camera
“It’s aimed at promoting upcoming and established DJ’s along with my new album. We had our first event on Love Boats. The first one was aimed at getting content to promote the event. We sold out in less than 9 hours, proving that I was onto something. I want to grow the event, with various plans being put in place over the next year. Redbull have reached out and are keen to help out with the next event, as well as the Vault in Fyshwick. There is a lack of nightlife for teenagers 16-17, despite having passions for house/tech music. I want to create an event that’s inclusive to underage people. Age obviously contributes to restrictions, making it difficult to plan and host the event but I’m eager to make it work.”
As the business expands, Georgie will work hard to earn the qualifications for a business degree, but is always open to alternative paths.
“I honestly have no idea what the future holds, but what I’m doing seems to be working and growing. I love music and it’s something I’m truly passionate about and can see in my future. Many people say that dreams aren’t realistic but with ambition, drive and having faith in yourself, anything is.”
