Tips for starting your own business from a DJ's perspective

Tip No. 1: Follow your passion

Okay, this first tip is cliché, but still so important.

I have loved music since I was a kid. I still remember listening to classics like Tootsie Roll on Jock Jams on my cassette player Walkman and later got into my parent’s CD collection and burning CDs of my own. The iPod was one of the most impressive inventions of all time in my opinion. The ability to carry hundreds of CDs in your pocket at one time was a game changer at the time. One of my first splurges, I saved up money from babysitting to buy my first one in junior high.

Tip No. 2: Always be on the lookout for opportunity

The stars aligned in high school when I got a job working for the Parks and Recreation department of my home town. I began working at kids camps at the age of 14 before getting extra hours working as a sound technician for a community amphitheater that hosted musical performances and special events such as weddings. I learned the basics of audio visual equipment and was able to earn extra money setting up and taking down tables and chairs before and after weddings.

I really loved working in high school and felt a sense of accomplishment to be able to contribute, be part of a team, build skills and earn good money at the time. The cool thing about working in high school is that any amount of money seems big -- I still have never felt as rich as I did in 11th grade.

I took an entrepreneurship class at my high school and was given the assignment to create an idea for a business along with the a detailed business plan. As I brainstormed ideas for my business, I thought about working at the event center and seeing DJs that weren’t that great and did some research on them. When I discovered how much money they charged for one night of work, I decided that I could definitely do a better job (or at least couldn’t suck any more) for a lesser price. (At the time in 2006, I would estimate that DJs were generally charging $600 to $1,200.)

I created my business plan for the DJ business in Ms. O’ Driscoll’s high school classroom junior year and ended up putting that thing to work that summer!

Tip No. 3: Spend Money to Make (More) Money

After months of obsessively talking about it with my family and then-girlfriend (later wife), I finally made the leap and bought the equipment I needed. I was fortunate enough to have not needed to buy a car when I was 16 (my parents had the first new car they had bought together - a green 93’ Camry - waiting for me to use).

The initial investment included 2 speakers, a sound board, microphone, computer, colored lights, a small backup sound system in case of emergency and a variety of necessary stands and cables. I set up a website, printed business cards and started posting ads on Craigslist. I estimate the total investment at that time was about $3,000. I was able to pay in-full for this initial investment with money I had saved working odd end jobs.

Tip No. 4: Start small; deliver big

I spent my senior year of high school DJ'ing my first several events including school dances, wedding, family reunions and any gigs I could get to hire me. I charged about $100/hour for school dances and parties. I also offered a $495 wedding special which was a great deal, but still a lot of money for a 17-year-old kid to go home with at the end of night!

When I started out, I did a circuit at every VFW banquet hall wedding around the Twin Cities. My services were a great value, and I treated every gig as though I was being paid double what I was. I met some truly amazing people and am so grateful for how kind, generous and trusting my clients were of me. My hard work paid off - I was able to collect amazing reviews from happy clients and soon was able to start charging a more competitive rate (while still keeping it a good value!) Read about how I grew my DJ business.

Tip No. 6: It's never too early to get started

When I first got started, I thought I was busy with the business. I somehow balanced working 25-40 hours per week managing an event venue, DJ'ing 30-50 events per year and attending college fulltime. I am exhausted just thinking about it.

However, I had no idea how busy life could truly be. Now as a thirty-something-year-old with three kids, three houses (2 rental properties), a 40+ hour per week job, and family and friends to keep up with, I realize that back then, I had the extra time.

My advice is to do it while you are young! At the time I didn’t know any better and thrived off the challenge. Plus, it was easy to sacrifice nights out at the bar, but it's more difficult to sacrifice a kids' first soccer game or dance performance. If you start early and gain the experience when you have more time to hustle, it's easier to scale back and still make good money when life becomes crazier (it happens!).

Tip No. 5: Have fun!

Looking back, I barely had any idea what I was doing, but I was determined, committed and, most importantly, excited. It is hard to replicate that excitement again. The thrill of sales, marketing, earning referrals, and being able to deliver a valuable service and leave at the end of a hard day’s work with a pocket full of money was incredibly rewarding.

My wife, Megan, was along for the ride with me and often came with me to the gigs. When I ask her why in the world she spent many of her college Friday and Saturday nights hanging out with me at strangers' weddings, she says that was her only chance to hang out with me. (I totally hit the jackpot in the wife department, but that is a story for another blog post.)

After my DJ business took off, I had several additional side hustle spinoffs from the initial DJ business. Read more about my other wedding side hustles.

We would love to hear from you!!

I am so inspired by entrepreneurs who take the leap of faith to start their own business, regardless of the business or what type of product/service it provides! Success can be a multitude of different things and in my opinion someone making the best of their situation while earning an honest living and pursuing their best life is just as successful as a wealthy billionaire.

What is your story? Have you started your own business in the past? What advice do you have for aspiring entrepreneurs? Do you have dreams of starting your own business, what is it and what is stopping you?