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

Christopher, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. So, let’s imagine that you were advising someone who wanted to start something similar to you and they asked you what you would do differently in the startup-process knowing what you know now. How would you respond?

If I was to start over, I would learn more of the basic aspects of being a dj. I honestly just jumped into the industry without full knowledge of how to maintain or even grow a following. Granted I stayed humble through these years of growth and that helped me to be able to take on corrective criticism easier. Also I am always trying learn more and more things to make my sets more enjoyable!

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?

I am an Army veteran with a strong passion for music. I have been dj’ing for 15 years now and I really enjoy the vibe I set for people to dance to. Before I started dj’ing I would burn compact discs (I’m telling my age now lol) or record music on tapes and play them at parties, my car or anywhere that someone could or would listen. For me music is a stress reliever for the bad days I was battling PTSD, music was and is what kept me calm. I mainly dj R&B, Hip Hop and Reggae/Dance Hall music but I have lately ventured into Afrobeats. Which is really trending right now. I currently work overseas in the Middle East and on the side I host events and parties that gives a different option other than just going to a club.

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

A lesson I had to unlearn was to not play music for myself. Meaning you are suppose to play for the crowd and not for yourself. When I first started dj’ing I would constantly loose the crowd because of that reason. And it never dawned on my why. I had figured I was playing all the hits, so why people are not dancing. Another experienced dj told me what I was doing wrong and I had to change what I was doing if I wanted to be known as a good dj. I applied what was told to me and became a better dj.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

What helped me build my reputation was the professionalism I showed with clients and how I am able to keep people dancing. What clients ask for is what they got and then some. I would put on a great set whether it was for 1 person or 100. I take pride in this craft and my work shows it. Also, I post my mixes online for anyone to hear anytime. I use my mixes as a virtual resume so clients can get an idea of what and who they are hiring.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://instagram.com/djkoolaid843?igshid=MWI4MTIyMDE=
• Other: https://www.mixcloud.com/christopher-davis-sr/

Image Credits
Vouge Club Doha