We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Dannis Winston. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Dannis below.
Dannis, appreciate you joining us today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?
At DWP Live Factory, our mission is more than a goal—it’s a heartfelt commitment. We’re here to bring hope and support to the musician community, independent artists, and small business owners who dedicate themselves to the arts. In a time when music education and business programs are harder to come by, we’re passionate about providing a steady, meaningful income for these creators. We aim to inspire and empower them to carve their own path and be their own boss—without chasing fame, but simply by doing what they love.
Dannis, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
My name’s Dannis Winston—a 36-year-old musician, singer, and designer who started in the vibrant streets of Jamaica, Queens, NY. That’s my origin story, but what truly defines me is being a passionate creative and a lover of all genres of music. This passion led me to build a music and design agency that crafts unforgettable experiences for social gatherings, corporate events, and weddings. We’re the team behind the scenes for brands like St. Jude, SpaceX, and notable clients like Cynthia Erivo and Rockefeller Center, delivering one-of-a-kind bands, DJs, dancers, decor, and seamless production management.
Our clients come to us for one reason: they want something fresh, uniquely tailored, and unlike anything they’ve seen before. And we deliver, every time. What I’m most proud of? Starting this journey with nothing but a microphone and a love for music, performing in senior homes, to now orchestrating large-scale events with custom orchestras, designing music festivals, and pulling off multi-day weddings around the world. I crafted my path, blending business savvy, musical artistry, and event design, to become exactly who I knew I could be.
How do you keep in touch with clients and foster brand loyalty?
We make it a point to gather our clients’ email addresses and phone numbers, jotting down the date of each event where our paths crossed. Each month, we send out vibrant company newsletters, and every year, we delight them with a digital anniversary card—a thoughtful reminder of our shared journey and a peek into the exciting road ahead. It’s our way of staying connected and celebrating the milestones, both big and small.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
I had to learn the hard way that passion and talent alone aren’t the golden ticket to making it in this industry—they’re just the spark, not the full fire. Success takes so much more. You need to understand contracts, master networking, stay on top of bookkeeping, and develop strong team management skills. When I started out, I was all about the talent my first band brought to the scene, and for the first two years, that energy carried us. But by year three, we were close to calling it quits because I hadn’t grasped that real success demands the whole package—branding, marketing, and the business smarts to pull it all together. Talent opens doors, but strategy keeps them open.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.dwplivefactory.com
- Instagram: @dwplivefactory , @danniswinston
- Facebook: DWP Live Factory
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dannis-dah-niss-winston-b7103731
- Twitter: @Dwplivefactory
- Youtube: @DWPLiveFactory
