We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Michael Garrett a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Michael, thanks for joining us today. Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.

Regarding the art of DJing, I was self-taught in many of the skills I have developed. I have been DJing for over 35 years. Knowing what I know now I realize that I should have been more assertive in my early years as a DJ. I didn’t ask enough questions from those that I looked up to. Most of all I didn’t look at it as a business, it was something that I enjoyed doing and it was so relaxing to me. It came so easy to me and I just didn’t take it seriously. What got me into the digital solution field? I have a great friend that I was working with in this Net Work Marketing venture that both of us were in. When that didn’t work for us he started doing digital solutions for small to medium size businesses. He ask me if I was interested in working with him and he would teach me everything that I need to know. I quickly realized that I loved this type of work. But, if I had to do it differently. I would have learned more at the beginning of my digital journey. I have had the opportunity as a DJ & Digital Strategist to work with all kinds of people and my work has brought so much joy and success. One thing that stood in my way to becoming better in the early years as a DJ, is the jealousy that has always been a staple in the DJ Industry. That doesn’t exist with all DJs but there is a large amount that is present at that table. Time was my biggest obstacle as a Digital Strategist. When you have a family it’s extremely hard to digest the amount of information that’s needed to be successful in the digital solutions business at a quick pace.

Michael, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I have been a professional DJ for over 20 years and have been in the DJ industry for over 37 years. I got into DJing as a hobby and through my journey, I realized that I was really great at DJing. I realized that I had a gift for reading my audience and by being able to read them I have been able to take them on so many journeys, creating everlasting moments that they will remember for a lifetime. Being able to read as well as understand the people that you DJ for is not something that should be taken lightly. It takes skill. You can be the best skilled DJ in the world, if you’re not able to relate to your audiences, you will be viewed as a BAD DJ. It’s not enough to just be skilled (being able to mix, cut, scratch, beat match, & the numerous other DJ skills you can develop). You have to be skilled in the art of understanding people and how they respond to music. You have to develop the ability to move a crowd with that understanding. Having that ability is one of my greatest gifts as a Professional DJ. I have provided DJ Service for all types of events (i.e. weddings, private parties, corporate events, fashion shows, school events, coming of age events *Bar Mitzvah, Bat Mitzvah, Sweet Sixteen, & Quienceañera*, bars, and night clubs. Also, that consist of all nationality. The trick is you have an appetite for all types of music to be able to play to any type of CROWD. I love all types of music and that love has made it not only fun but it has made my transition into all these different events easy. I love to see people excited and happy when I’m DJing their events. I have a saying that I live by as a DJ; ” I’ve seen a Million People and I’ve Rocked Them All”.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

Due to the fact that I’ve been in the Digital Solutions business for well over 8 years now, I have developed a great feel for what it takes to build your audience on SM. You must be consistent and persistent when it comes to building that presence. You must determine who’s your customers/audience, how can you be of service to them, and how can you make it worth their stay. When it comes to someone looking at your post (rather that post is an image or video) you have 7 – 11 sections to capture their attention. Once you capture their attention what will you do with it? You have to always have a CTA (Call To Action). You should not just post things without a reason. SM can be very unforgivable to those of us that take it for granted. Learn who you what to be on SM and build around that and make sure that you’re consistent with your post.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

In my early years as a DJ, I use to play what I liked even if that meant that people didn’t like it. I thought that I was in tune with everyone and that they liked what I liked. Once I really start DJing for people, I realized that I need to do a 360 and start to understand my clients better and those that they invited to the event. Once I did that I began to see my gift provide nothing straight of joy to my clients no matter their age of nationality.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://djmikeproduction.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dj_mike_production/?next=%2F
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mike.garrett.923
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-garrett-aa73b644/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/JMike71