Patch Whiz Kid of the Week: Brandon Peltz

Each week, Patch features an outstanding young person in the area. If you know of a student doing great things inside the classroom or elsewhere, let us know! E-mail pete.kennedy@patch.com.

Patch Whiz Kid of the Week: Brandon Peltz

Hometown: East Whiteland

Age: 14

School: The Shipley School, Bryn Mawr

Accomplishment: Spinning an early interest in DJ equipment into a budding business. 

Key to Awesomeness: Brandon Peltz first took an interest in DJing when he found some old party lighting equipment used by his father, a former DJ himself. The lights no longer worked, but it wasn't long before the young technology enthusiast bought all new equipment. At age 12, Brandon had his first gig — an eight-hour party for his neighbor, who was graduating from Great Valley High School.

He once DJ'ed for 400 people at the Crystal Tea Room in Philadelphia. In March, he'll man the cross-fader at the Seventh Grade Game Night at The Shipley School, where he's an eighth-grader.

"So, I get to perform in front of all my peers. I'm actually pretty excited; it's the first time they get to see me in action," he said.

Through his own work and his time as an apprentice for career DJs, Brandon's learned some tricks to move a sleepy crowd onto the dance floor: "Show some personality," for starters. And "find some pretty girls, and get them dancing" ... the rest of the crowd will follow.