My first DJ work was as a licensed radio engineer (3rd class) in 1977 or 1978 on a small FM station. I was just running the board, transmitter and platters. I wasn't the on-air talent. I started doing on-air news reports around the same time with someone else running the board. I think my first solo show (on mic and running the board) was in 1979. Around 1980, I started DJing house parties using my two reel-to-reel decks and cheapo PA speakers (15" woofer with three piezo tweeters) powered by 100 watt guitar amps. This was the most powerful system among all my friends and I had my mother's '72 Cadillac with the huge trunk to carry it all. I started DJing fraternity parties in 1981 finally using a real (Radio Shack) DJ mixer but the tables were cheapo belt drive units that couldn't really do slip starts. My first wedding was probably around 1990.