Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Chris Abell. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Chris, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Earning a full time living from one’s creative career can be incredibly difficult. Have you been able to do so and if so, can you share some of the key parts of your journey and any important advice or lessons that might help creatives who haven’t been able to yet?

Without taking risks, it is hard to achieve real reward. Many of those on the outside do not see the hard work and dedication it takes to build a successful business: late nights, endless days, & time away just to try and make your dream a reality.

For me, it all started at around 13 years old. My father owned his own successful landscaping business & I wanted to follow in his shoes as being my business owner one day. I have always loved electronics and music, playing my parent’s records and CDs, felt DJing was a perfect fit.

During high school, I worked a few different jobs all to make a buck and invest in my small DJ business. After graduation, I moved to St Louis to grow and expand all while still carrying a full-time job. My business was growing and the director at my full-time job told me “Chris, one day you will have to decide to pursue your DJ work or pursue a career here.” That night I thought long a hard about what he said. The next day I walked into his office and said, “Dave, today is the day.” I walked out and got to work on building my own business never looking back.

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?

Around the age of 14 this when I really started DJing and getting paid for it. I ran into someone that said he was starting up a teen night in his nightclub called Shakers and asked if I would be the DJ for it. So, I had a few dozen CDs and my home-made DJ setup, and with every paycheck I got, I would take that and buy a piece of professional gear to help build a sound system where I could do bigger shows.

I wanted to get to know the DJ business more so I reached out to the local big DJ in town at the time, I’d go to his house all the time and mess around with his turntables and shadow him at his shows in town.

So after high school I packed up with all my DJ gear and moved to the city of St Louis all in hopes of getting into the nightclub scene and building my mobile DJ business. One day I went up to the local car stereo shop and ran into a guy that worked the install shop. His name was Chris. He said he was managing the DJs at a new downtown nightclub called Fusion. Soon I became the resident DJ and where i really learned to mix better and perfect the art the djing.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

After about 8 or so years in the nightclubs, I got to a point asking myself, where will I be in the next 10 years. How can I keep doing this, it’s in my blood, I just cant give it up. I’ve been doing this since I was a little kid. That’s when I really shifted my Focus to mobile DJing and Weddings. It felt like it was the natural progression. I started doing more and more weddings and eventually I remember thinking, everytime the phone rings and have to turn away that call, they are still going to get married, they are still going to need a DJ, Why can’t I be the one to provide that DJ. In the course of a few years, it went from 1 DJ to 4 DJs to over 8+ DJs on.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

I honestly love to DJ weddings, I mean there is nothing like that feeling when the couple come into the room and everyone stands up and goes crazy. The couple hit the dance floor, and they go into their first dance and you have that moment where everyones attention is on them and you know that your just a small part of that day. its goes through the whole night making sure you do a great job and keep the dance floor packed. then right before the couple leaves they come over to you and litterely give you a hug because you helped make their night, your the entertainment and what people will remember 10 plus years from now.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.abelldjcompany.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abelldjcompany/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/abelldjcompany/
• Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/abelldjcompany/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/abelldjcompany/
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/abelldjcompany/
• Other: https://www.DJChrisAbell.com