On Saturday, Oct. 4, the energy was electric at Music City as rising teenage DJs Julian Krantz and Leon Schablitzki took to the stage for their debut live performance. The event, modeled after the global underground dance phenomenon, a “Boiler Room,” drew a sold-out crowd of 200 people at the all-ages venue in the heart of San Francisco.  

With $10 tickets and a buzzing online promo campaign, the young duo brought great beats to the stage from 9:00 p.m. to midnight. Krantz opened the night before Schablitzki joined for an hour. Schablitzki closed it out himself, keeping the crowd moving until the very end.

The event became possible when the two DJs and their manager Leighton Olsen emailed a variety of places around the city trying to secure a showtime. 

“We had a list of venues to reach out to,” Schablitzki explained. “[Music City’s] assistant manager wrote us back, and they were super excited to have us. All you need is good communication.”

Krantz’s DJ Journey started a decade ago at a summer camp in Basig. 

“They had this tiny little DJ board at the music station,” Krantz said. “At the end of the camp, they gave everything away, so I picked up that deck and started practicing at home.”

For Schablitzki, the spark came more recently–just last year–after a spontaneous idea to help Krantz book a show.

“I thought if I could learn it would be so fun to do it with him,” Schablitzki said. “I started practicing with Julian, and then I got really hooked on it.”

Though their musical styles differ, both say their differences are a strength.

“Working with Julian is the best,” Schablitzki said. “We don’t necessarily have the same sound in the music we play. But because of that, we get different influences from other things that we see, and then get the chance to teach each other new stuff. ”

For both, DJing isn’t just about spinning tracks; it’s about shaping an experience and controlling the energy of the crowd. Both found their passion in the unique blend of creativity that DJing provides. 

“I’ve loved music my whole life, but I was never really into making it myself, or playing instruments,” Schablitzki says. “But when I started DJing, I loved the fact that I could still add something to music, even if I didn’t make it.”

Krantz echoed that sentiment, saying the best part of DJing is the creativity and power to control the vibe.

 “It’s really fun to get a response from the music you play,” Krantz said. 

Their show had all the hallmarks of a Boiler Room inspired night: a raw, intimate space, proximity between the DJs and people and a crowd ready to lose themselves in the music. However, the night wasn’t without its challenges. Schablitzki explained how the two couldn’t hear anything besides the bass because their booth monitors weren’t working. 

“For three quarters of the whole thing, we were almost blindly mixing,” Schablitzki said, “But, we talked to the audio tech and it’s an easy fix for next time.”

The show wasn’t just a creative milestone, it was also a business win. Thanks to Music City’s mission to support emerging artists, the DJs were able to keep 100 percent of the ticket revenue.

“The whole thing about Music City is they’re a place where you can expand your music,” Schablitzki said. “It’s there to help you and upcoming artists become something bigger.”

Attendees like senior Brooke Denler found out about the show from a group chat made by Krantz, who was aiming to promote the show. Denler deemed the night a huge success. 

“The $10 tickets were a great deal, considering it was a three and a half hour event, and it was so much fun.”

Bringing the club environment to high schoolers was a big goal for Krantz and Schablitzki. According to Denler, that goal was met. She described how the all-ages aspect made the night especially welcoming. 

“I liked that there were more kids my age. There were a lot of students [which] made me feel very comfortable and safe in the so-called club scene,” Denler added. 

With footage of their first show, both DJs are looking towards bigger goals. The pair is aiming to do double capacity at their next show on November 15th, hoping to attract even more Bay Area youth to their growing scene. 

“My goal as a DJ is to just make people dance and bring people together through music,” Krantz said.

As for where they go next, their team is working on a big announcement. Watch out for their names in the upcoming 2026 Outside Lands roster.