About Open Decks
Open Decks is the first program of Open X — a Richmond, VA nonprofit building platforms that democratize music performance culture. We're not a startup. We're a community governed by the people who built the culture we're opening up.
The Parent Organisation
Open X is a nonprofit organisation founded on a single belief: music culture transmits through people, not gatekeepers. We build programs that invite people into music performance culture — not as spectators, but as participants.
Open Decks is the first program. It starts with DJing because DJing is one of the most technically inaccessible performance skills in music — and one of the most culturally rich. Expensive gear. Scene gatekeeping. A craft learned by proximity rather than by design. We're changing that.
No credential required to start. No gear required. No scene membership. The platform meets you where you are — with sample playlists if you have nothing, or with your full library if you've been collecting for years.
Open X uses sociocratic governance. Stewards hold real authority — not advisory roles. They consent on curriculum changes, contribute cultural knowledge, and hold seats in the organizational structure.
Every tool teaches something true about DJing. The Rulebook and Rule-Break Guide are the intellectual core. The challenges are applied practice. The Steward commentary is the master class.
The Collective
"You helped build this culture. Help us make sure it doesn't close ranks on the next generation. You have a seat at the table — not a plaque on the wall."
Stewards are established DJs and performers who hold real authority in Open X's governance structure. They are not volunteers. They are not advisors. They are co-owners of a cultural institution — with the ability to block decisions that violate the mission.
What Stewards do:
Richmond, VA · Chapter Zero
Open Decks launches in Richmond. We're building with partners who've been building the scene for years. Richmond isn't the test market — it's the foundation. Open Decks goes wherever communities invite it.
Richmond's destination for underground dance music. World-class sound, safe space policy, W. Broad St.
Cabaret and curiosities in Carytown. Weekly open jam sessions — players of all levels share the stage.
Social club in the Arts District with podcast studio, event halls, and community programming.
Beloved mid-size concert room on W. Broad. Decades of commitment to Richmond's music scene.
Jackson Ward's historic theater, rooted in Black performance culture. Our equity anchor.
Cross-disciplinary art and performance space on N. 5th. The spirit of Open Decks in architecture.
All genres, all people. Richmond's most eclectic stage — from punk to electronic to bluegrass.
Partner your venue with Open Decks. If your space believes music culture should be accessible — let's talk.
Get Involved
Start with Rookie tier — sample playlists, Alphabet Run, Phrase Finder basics, Camelot Wild. No gear. No account required.
Start Free →Established DJs, vocalists, and music practitioners who believe the scene should be open. Governance role, not a plaque.
Apply →Open Sessions, Showcase Nights, community events — no velvet rope. If your venue believes music culture should be accessible, we want to build with you.
Get in Touch →Open Decks' free tier is made possible by supporters who believe in the mission. Your contribution keeps Rookie access genuinely free.
Donate →