It’s hard to be an electronic music DJ in Central Iowa. Equipment is difficult to find, and DJs either have to order their records on the Internet or travel to Iowa City to find the newest techno, trance, jungle and happy hardcore.

Giving DJ lessons and selling equipment and accessories needed to spin electronic music, Keeper’s Music in Ames has stepped in to help provide DJs with resources.

“There definitely has been a big empty spot around here for something like this,” said Keeper’s resident DJ Richard McCabe, who is commonly known as DJ Flash in the rave scene. “I’ve been teaching out of my home for like a year, year and a half.”

Keeper’s heard about DJ Flash from a feature article by the Des Moines Register, which profiled Flash and his lessons. After the store began selling the equipment, it hired Flash as an instructor.

Flash’s course includes a five-step process. Each course lasts about three months and begins with the basics, whether the students have had experience or not.

The first step is an introduction to spinning (that’s technical jargon for DJ-ing) and turntables. The second is learning how to handle the vinyl. The third and fourth steps are basic and advanced mixing techniques, where students learn how to mix different kinds of music, such as house and trance. The fifth and final step is playing live and advanced recording.

For some time, the owners of Keeper’s had been toying with selling DJ equipment as a supplement to their other items. They were sold on the idea while away at the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) conference. The owners then recruited DJ Flash to sell and teach new buyers to use the equipment.

“DJs around here are starving for gear,” Flash said.

Keeper’s is one of few stores in Central Iowa to sell the equipment; it is also one of the even smaller number of shops that sells records.

Flash hopes to make Keeper’s a main source for DJ records in this area.

“This is a high-end guitar shop, so we’re going to try to not get the low-end, cheap crap,” said Flash, referring to the products Keeper’s is selling.

Some of their brand names include Gemini, NuMark, Korg, Yamaha and Vestax – which is used by rave favorites such as Paul Van Dyk and DJ Q-Bert.

The store will be offering a starter kit, affectionately called “DJ-In-A-Box,” which will start at $500. However, many other models, like the Vestax decks, will cost that much for just one turntable.

Lessons are cheaper than the equipment, running at $12 per half-hour, or $48 a month, and students can refer to workbooks Flash has created to guide them along.

Those interested in lessons or equipment can visit Keeper’s Music at 134 Dotson Drive, or call 292-9595.