We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Kutmaster Spaz. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Kutmaster below.
Kutmaster , appreciate you joining us today. The more we talk about good leadership the more we think good leadership practices will spread and so we’d love for you to tell us a story about the best boss you’ve had and what they were like or what they did that was so great?
One of the jobs I had before owning my own company was working as an engineer at a recording studio called “Rising Star”. The owner Debbie Ige, showed me what it took to be a great Leader. She showed kindness, and empathy, and treated all her employees like family. This made all of us staff members feel valued and appreciated, so we loved coming to work and going over and beyond to service the clients. One of the amazing things Debbie did was throw me my first surprise birthday party. I will never forget how special that made me feel. No one had ever done something like that for me before. I took this business motto with me when I started my company and businesses. Debbie always made it clear that the success of the company was never all about her, it was all about us.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
My Brand / Business is “Kutmaster Spaz”. I built a name for myself in Hawai’i and abroad in the early 90s as an on-air radio DJ/Mixer on HOT I-94 a number-one urban radio station in Hawai’i at the time. I later went on to tour and open up for Hip Hop artists such as Cypress Hill, House of Pain, Lighter Shade of Brown, Ice Cube, and MC Hammer. In the early 2000s, I got the opportunity to host and produce my television show called DIS-N-DAT TV on Time Warner Cable which led to me starting up my Media Marketing Production Company DIS-N-DAT Media. It took a lot of hard work and practice to gain the success I have in my career. I started my path to being a professional DJ/mixer at the age of 10. I delivered newspapers to save up and buy turntables and a mixer. I practiced my DJ craft 8 hours a day. I got up at 5:00 am and practiced for 2 hours, then ran off to school. Did my homework in school got home by 3:00 pm, practiced for another 3 hours, I would eat dinner at 6:00 pm, finished and washed dishes by 7:00 pm, and practiced for another 2 hours until it was time for bed at 9:00 pm. I didn’t hang out with friends at the park, go to the Mall, or even have a girlfriend. My focus was to be the best DJ in Hawai’i. I did this for 7 years When I practiced I imagined I was in front of an audience of over 5,000 people performing at a concert or huge nightclub. So when the opportunity presented itself I was ready. I always tell people “If you stay ready, you never have to get ready”. I believe that “success happens when opportunity meets readiness”.
What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?
The answer is simple… “giving to your community”. Growing up, I went through a lot of hardships. I got thrown into a special ed class at age 9, which made me “different” so my neighborhood friends and classmates stopped hanging around me, and even started bullying me for being different. So when I gained my status as Kutmaster Spaz, I volunteered my time to host anti-bullying rallies, free dances for the community, putting on youth events, and telling my story at school assemblies. Please understand, that I didn’t do this with the intent to build my name or brand. I did this because I felt it in my heart that I wanted to give something to the youth in my community that I wish I had growing up. I never expected anything in return, but you can call it God or the Universe, somehow opportunities would present themselves. Doors opened up for me and I met a lot of good like-minded people who helped me along the way. As they say “what goes around, comes around”.
Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?
In the entertainment business it’s not what you know it’s who you know. So I have always had a philosophy that you treat normal people like celebrities, and celebrities like normal people. There should be no difference. I treat everyone I meet with dignity and respect. No matter where they are from, how they are dressed, or what their appearance is. This is a reflection of my character and reputation as an entertainer and businessman. I also maintain good relationships with current and past clients. Showing kindness is not a weakness it’s an asset. I remember years ago a friend of mine introduced me to an acquaintance of his. The gentleman was dressed in shorts and a t-shirt, he was an older Japanese man in his 60s. I had no background of this man, but my friend said “You have to meet him he is cool and wants to meet Kutmaster Spaz”. We had lunch and talked stories and had some great moments in that meeting, I treated him as I would anyone else with respect and kindness. Well turns out my friend had told him I was starting a new project to help our youth, so at the end of lunch this gentleman asked me how much I needed to start this youth program project, he said “give me a rooftop amount, so I said $50,000 he then pulled out his checkbook and wrote me a check for $50,000. He said this is not a loan, it is an investment in our youth, you do not need to pay me back just do good things with this investment. Turns out he is a partner in the Black Bear Diner chain and loves supporting youth programs. As the saying goes “Never judge a book by its cover”.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.disndatentertainment.com
- Instagram: @spazkutmaster
- Facebook: @kutmasterspaz
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/derrick-bulatao-20aa3812
- Twitter: @kutmasterspaz1970
- Youtube: @kutmasterspaz
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/dis-n-dat-mobile-entertainment-honolulu
- Soundcloud: @kutmasterspaz
Image Credits
“Spaz Headphones” and “Spaz Loves Music” photos by Mapunana Reed
“Spaz 1996″ Spaz 1997” and “Spaz 1998” photos by Jon Mozo