Today we’d like to introduce you to Johnny Sanchez.
Hi Johnny, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I got in the DJ business in my teenage years with my older brother. I was his helper at events he Dj at and I soaked up all the knowledge of sound and lighting. After he stopped and sold all his gear so did I. Many years later, now in my 20s, I was asked to dj a wedding event even though I did not have any gear. I had music from my sheer love of music and so I rented some gear for the wedding. From that wedding, I was asked to DJ a few more events and it just grew from there. So I bought some gear. Along the way, I got in hosing trivia during the week. With my weekends being booked, I was able to leave my bartending job and do this full time. For the first few years, I did weddings strictly and then I got into the local club scene and that took off as well. Doing this now for ten plus years now. I run 6-8 trivia shows a year. I have residencies at local bars/clubs, and I have 2-4 weddings a month.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
On a personal level, after High school, I really did not have a sense of direction. My senior year in high school, I lost my mother in a car accident. I was driving, brother and sister in the back in the seat. Not having her around really messed with my sense of direction. She was my compass. I graduated (2002), and I went to college and did what I was supposed to do, but my desire to do anything was just not there. I stopped going and just worked. I served and bartended for the longest (eight years), and then music came back into the picture. I realized I was good at it, and the possibility of making good money was there. So my desire to take it seriously grew and I looked at as a business and took a dive into it. So I invested several thousand dollars into my gear and as my business grew so did my services and what I was able to offer. Around 2015, along the way, as I left the restaurant industry and did Dj full time. I met Katie, my first wife, we had Lola, the center of my universe. Katie and I did to work out, but we raised Lola and were good friends. Lola and I, unfortunately, lost her to health issues in January 2019. Today Lola is a Happy six-year-old, currently in 1st grade. In 2017 I met Rachael, my fiancee (wedding 6/19). We raise Lola and her daughter Emily together. She is six as well. They are sisters.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Since day one when I decided to make a biz out of this, I invested into music videos. I can still use them as regular MP3 but I can “mix” music videos where the venue is capable. It adds complete other elements to the music. Being bilingual comes in very handy.
Risk-taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
I feel my industry is not very high risk. It’s a sink or swim kind of thing. Your good or your not, simple as that. DJs don’t get a 2nd chance. That wedding won’t happen again. Brides are not repeating business. Assuming they take the whole thing seriously and taking marriage as a joke. Same with clubs, no one is going to a club where a dj sucks. I learned real quick I had to be consistent and good, regardless of a wedding with 30 people to 150 people. Your next potential client is listening and watching. Reading a crowd correctly will dictate where you go with the music. Same with Trivia, shows have to be consistent. The energy and vibe has to be up there. At all times.
Contact Info:
- Email: djrocket84@gmail.com
- Website: https://www.djrocketentertainment.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/djrocket84/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DJRocketEntertainment
