My First DJ Lesson!

Ryan lives in my community and, in response to one of my regular requests for people to teach me something, offered to introduce me to his professional world!  I knew what he did, so I was excited! I was about to have my first DJ lesson!

Before getting my hands on any of his equipment, I asked lots of questions, and he was nice enough to take the time to answer them for me.

What is the name of your company?  

4 Sure Entertainment & Chicago’s Best DJ 

How did you get into this industry?  Does your previous education/background tie in to your current work?

Started as a little kid, (15 years old- in 2000, and never grew up) 

In college I started the company as a school project, and it grew to what it is today.

What is one/are some of your favorite aspects of this work?

I get to see people smile and party all day. (and I get paid for it) 

What part is the biggest pain or something that you dislike about it?

Breaking down everything after the party ends. 

What is something that you knew you had to learn to do this type of work? 

To follow up with people promptly. It’s all about the follow up. And paying attention to details. 

What is something you learned over the years that, originally, you didn’t know you didn’t know?

I can learn anything I put my mind to… most things come with instructional manuals. 

What changes have you seen in this industry over the years?

Started with CDs, Switched to all Digital, I used to bring a VCR to play montages, then a DVD player, and now everything is done off of a flash drive or a computer. 

What changes do you envision for the future?   What changes are you thinking of making in the years ahead?

Becoming more of a booking manager, and managing talent, instead of being the talent. 

Share a piece of wisdom gained over the years.  Is there something that you have learned through your work that is relevant to those outside your industry?   Enlighten me! : )

Growing a dj business is the same as growing any other type of business. It takes hard work, dedication, and doesn’t just happen overnight. 

If someone is interested in learning about the industry, where or how to you recommend that he or she start?  What are some ways to go about learning these skills?

There are two schools of thought. One would be to go online, do research and practice… be a “bedroom dj” .  The other is to find a mentor to teach you the way.

I had a mentor for over 10 years that helped train me to be the entertainer I am today. Shout out to Marz from Charizma for teaching me how to dj, and program a party. 

Is there anything else that you would like to share or you think would be interesting to learn?

Party Planning is fun… 

I finally had the chance to meet with Ryan in person at the facility where he stores all of his equipment.  We had a great time talking. (I am single-handedly trying to bring back the art of face-to-face conversation.)  He told me all about how he got into the industry, how his career within the industry has transitioned and transformed over time, and some of the crazy stories, events, and people he has experienced along the way.  (People can really be interesting! I highly suggest that you all take some time to just talk with people and learn about them.)

We eventually got to the equipment.  He was brave–he let me touch it! Honestly, he did show me a thing or two.  It was very interesting just seeing some of the things that have to be considered when participating at an event.  There is more involved than just playing music. The DJ/entertainment staff are in control of the flow of the event.  Little things are often taken for granted. This can include fine tuning the timing and coordination of music in relation to talking to the guests at an event and time on the dance floor.  Something else I became more aware of were the elements involved in making smooth transitions from one song to another. It seems so easy until you try it.  

I had a fun afternoon!  I am not yet ready to run your party, but, in the future, who knows!  Hopefully, Ryan will let me shadow him at an event so that I can actually pay more attention to what happens from his side as opposed to the guest side of things.  (It will be much better to call myself an “apprentice” or “assistant” than a “party crasher.”)

Now I am ready to enjoy some more music!

In the video, I know that I look corny, but I was having fun!  Plus, if you were paying attention, you heard that I appreciate the classics when it comes to music:  80’s music!

(If you are interested in learning about another interesting industry, check out this post from when I spent the day with another great member of my community. I’ll let it be a surprise–just check it out!)