We were lucky to catch up with Dan Obermann recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Dan thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you talk to us about your team building process? How did you recruit and train your team and knowing what you know now would you have done anything differently?

When I started SoundBlessed, it was just me—DJ Dan—doing everything from spinning tracks to hauling gear. It was a grind, but I loved every second of it. As weddings stacked up, I knew I needed a team to scale. My first hire was my friend Charlie, who had been DJing for another company that didn’t treat him well or pay him fairly. He was passionate, skilled, and hungry for a better opportunity. Bringing him on was a no-brainer.

After Charlie, I knew I needed a system to find and train DJs who could uphold the SoundBlessed standard. That’s when I got strategic. Instead of hoping to find “naturals,” I used a hiring funnel that filtered out the half-hearted applicants. I ran an Indeed ad that brought in 400 applications. But instead of just reviewing résumés, I introduced a trip-wire task: every applicant had to complete a personality test and send me a 30-second video explaining why they’d be a great wedding DJ—by noon the next day. No exceptions. This instantly cut down the pool to 13 high-energy, committed candidates.

Those 13 got Zoom interviews, and the best of them were invited to “The Blueprint”—a paid training class I found to teach everything from DJing fundamentals to crowd control to troubleshooting technical issues. Once they completed the course, they had to prove their skills at an in-person event I called *SoundBlessed Has Talent.* If they impressed me there, they shadowed two experienced DJs. Only after those DJs gave them a thumbs-up were they officially part of the team.

If I were starting today, I’d have implemented this system even earlier. Initially, I hesitated, thinking no one could match my passion for this business. But by setting up a structured process, I was able to find and train DJs who not only meet expectations but exceed them. SoundBlessed started with just me, but now it’s a family of DJs who bring unforgettable energy to every wedding. And that’s exactly the kind of team I always dreamed of building.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I’m Dan, the founder of SoundBlessed, a wedding DJ company that exists to create unforgettable moments on the biggest day of people’s lives. But before I was running a team of DJs and helping couples dance the night away, I was just a guy who loved music, energy, and making people feel something special.

My journey into the DJ world started in a way that a lot of great things do—by accident. I was always drawn to performing. I loved music, I loved public speaking, and I had a natural ability to read a room. But it wasn’t until I was handed a mic and a playlist at a wedding that I realized: **this is it.** This is what I was made to do. The energy, the responsibility of setting the mood, the ability to turn a good night into an unforgettable one—it hooked me instantly.

At first, I worked for another DJ company, learning the ropes and building my skills. But I quickly saw gaps in how the industry operated. Couples were being treated like transactions, not like people. DJs were showing up unprepared, not caring about the couple’s vision. It felt like there was a disconnect between what a wedding DJ *should* be and what most companies were providing. That’s when I knew—I could do this better. **I could build something that actually serves couples the way they deserve.**

At **SoundBlessed**, we provide **high-energy, personalized DJ and MC services** for weddings. But we don’t just play music—we create experiences. Our goal is to make every wedding feel like the best night of our couple’s lives.

Here’s how we do it differently:
– **Personalization:** We don’t do cookie-cutter playlists. Every set is tailored to the couple’s music taste, vibe, and energy.
– **Flawless Execution:** We train our DJs not just in mixing music but in **crowd psychology**—reading the room and keeping the energy exactly where it needs to be all night long.
– **Stress-Free Experience:** Wedding planning is overwhelming. We make the entertainment process easy, seamless, and fun for our couples so they can actually enjoy their wedding.
– **A Team of DJs Who Care:** Every DJ on our team goes through an intense vetting and training process. We only bring on **people who genuinely love weddings, love music, and love serving couples.**

The problem in this industry is that many DJs either **overlook the importance of storytelling in music** or they **don’t take their role as an MC seriously.** A DJ doesn’t just hit play—they set the tone for the entire night. And that’s what we do best.

What makes us different? **We are not just DJs. We are wedding professionals.**
– **We train and invest in our DJs** to ensure they are the best in the industry.
– **We focus on the entire wedding experience**, not just the dance floor—helping with timelines, reading the crowd, and keeping everything flowing perfectly.
– **We bring joy and passion to every wedding**—we truly love what we do, and it shows in every interaction with our couples.

I’m most proud of **the impact we’ve had on people’s lives.** The best feeling in the world is when a couple tells me, *“That was the best night of our lives.”* Or when a bride hugs me at the end of the night and says, *“I couldn’t have imagined my wedding without you.”* That’s why I do this.

I’m also incredibly proud of the team I’ve built. I started this business as one guy with a love for music. Now, **we have a growing team of DJs who share that same passion** and are out there giving couples unforgettable experiences every weekend.

– **Your wedding is not just another event to us.** We take every couple’s vision seriously and work hard to make it a reality.
– **We don’t just play music—we create memories.** Your guests will talk about your wedding for years, and we’ll make sure they remember it as *the* party of the year.
– **If you want a DJ who truly cares, who will bring energy, fun, and professionalism, and who will make your wedding stress-free and unforgettable—SoundBlessed is the right choice.**

At the end of the day, my mission with SoundBlessed is simple: **We create moments that last a lifetime.**

What else should we know about how you took your side hustle and scaled it up into what it is today?

SoundBlessed started as a side hustle—something I loved doing but never imagined would become my career. At the time, I was working full-time as a **substitute teacher at Heritage Christian Schools**. It was a steady job, but deep down, I knew my passion was elsewhere. Then, everything changed when I got engaged to **Ellie**.

I realized that if I wanted to build a future for us, I couldn’t treat SoundBlessed as just a hobby. It needed to become the *main thing*. From that moment on, I made a decision: every spare second I had outside of teaching would be spent growing this business. I used my **lunch breaks to email leads, my free periods to design marketing materials, and my evenings to DJ weddings and network.** Every single waking moment that wasn’t dedicated to my full-time job was invested into SoundBlessed.

Scaling Up & Key Milestones

1. **The First Big Leap (Getting Serious About Growth)**
– I started with **just me**—one DJ, one setup, and a vision. But I knew that if I wanted this to be a real business, I had to **scale beyond myself**.
– I focused on **branding, lead generation, and automation**, making sure every couple had a seamless experience from inquiry to the dance floor.

2. **Hiring My First DJ (Building the Team)**
– My first hire was **Charlie**, a talented DJ who had been underpaid and undervalued at another company. I saw potential in him and knew that by treating DJs well, I could build a team that truly cared.
– That first hire was a **game-changer**—I wasn’t alone anymore.

3. **Going All In (Leaving My Job for SoundBlessed Full-Time)**
– After **2.5 years of relentless effort**, the business was finally generating enough revenue to **support me full-time**. It wasn’t just a leap of faith—it was the result of countless hours of dedication.
– The moment I walked away from my teaching job to focus solely on SoundBlessed was surreal. It was proof that all the sacrifice had been worth it.

4. **Expanding the Brand (From Side Hustle to Recognized Wedding DJ Service)**
– I streamlined my **hiring process**, bringing on **six more DJs** through a structured recruitment system that ensured quality and consistency.
– We went from being “just another DJ company” to **a trusted brand that couples rave about**.
– **Referrals and venue partnerships** became our biggest drivers of growth.

Looking Back

If I had waited for the “perfect time” to go full-time, I’d probably still be juggling jobs. Instead, I went all-in before it felt comfortable—**I built the bridge as I walked on it**. The biggest lesson? **You don’t “find” time to build a business. You make time.** And if you’re willing to invest every free second into your dream, you’ll wake up one day and realize it’s no longer a dream—it’s your reality.

Today, SoundBlessed is a thriving business, and I get to do what I love every single weekend. What started as a side hustle is now a company that **creates unforgettable wedding experiences**, employs amazing DJs, and provides me the life I always dreamed of. And the best part? We’re just getting started. 🚀

Where do you think you get most of your clients from?

The Best Source of New Clients

In the early days of **SoundBlessed**, our biggest sources of new clients were **The Knot** and **Google Ads**. The Knot was a great platform for connecting with engaged couples actively searching for DJs, while Google Ads allowed us to target couples in our area who were searching for wedding entertainment. Both of these played a huge role in scaling the business and getting our name out there.

But as SoundBlessed grew, we started shifting toward **a more sustainable and powerful source of leads—venue referrals**.

Why Venue Referrals Are the Game-Changer
Wedding venues **have the trust of engaged couples from day one**. When a venue recommends a DJ, that referral carries way more weight than an online ad or a directory listing. Couples trust that their venue knows which vendors will deliver an incredible experience, which makes these referrals incredibly valuable.

Now, instead of spending as much on paid advertising, we’re focusing on **building strong relationships with wedding venues** and becoming their **go-to DJ recommendation**. This means:
– **Meeting with venue coordinators** to understand their needs and how we can complement their events.
– **Offering incentives** (like a 10% commission to sales teams who book us).
– **Delivering an unforgettable experience** at every wedding, ensuring both the couple and venue staff see us as a top-tier, professional DJ company.

This shift from **paid leads to organic referrals** has been a major milestone in our business growth. It allows us to work with clients who are pre-qualified and excited to book us, making sales easier and allowing us to **focus more on delivering amazing experiences rather than chasing leads.**

The goal now? **Becoming the #1 recommended DJ at as many venues as possible.** 🚀

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.soundblessed.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soundblesseddjco/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SOUNDBLESSED
• Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/company/soundblessed
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@soundblessed4274