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

Jered, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What do you think it takes to be successful?

The lesson here is that genuine enthusiasm is irreplaceable. You can’t fake the energy that comes from truly loving what you do. When you’re genuinely excited about creating memorable experiences for people, that energy becomes contagious and translates directly to better events.

One of our core strengths has always been our ability to read crowds brilliantly. This skill developed over thousands of events, enabling you to recognize the subtle cues that indicate when to switch from dinner music to dance hits, when to take requests, and when to stick to your planned playlist.

I remember early events where we’d stubbornly stick to what we thought people wanted to hear, only to watch empty dance floors. The breakthrough came when we started paying attention to body language, conversations, and the overall energy in the room. Success means being adaptable and responsive rather than rigid.

Running a business has taught me that refined processes and systems are absolutely crucial. We’ve developed planning documents that make event coordination “super-duper easy” for our clients.

Early on, we’d wing it and hope for the best. Now, we have detailed questionnaires and communication protocols. This systematic approach allows us to maintain quality across 100+ events per year while reducing stress for both us and our clients.

What separates successful entertainment services from mediocre ones is understanding that all DJs play songs, but great DJs create experiences. We don’t just show up and press play – we become MCs, crowd motivators, and event coordinators who ensure everything flows seamlessly.

Our clients consistently mention in reviews that we “take all of the stress out of planning” and help them “focus on what’s really important”. This philosophy of going beyond the basic service requirement has been fundamental to our success and recognition, including winning Dubuque Hospice’s Best Fest for best DJ service multiple times, most recently in 2024 and 2025.

The entertainment industry is ultimately about people and relationships. Our approach has always been to be genuinely “user-friendly” and accommodate reasonable requests. We answer inquiries quickly and maintain efficient communication because we understand that planning events can be stressful.

Many of our bookings come from referrals – people who’ve seen us at other events or heard recommendations from friends. This word-of-mouth growth only happens when you consistently prioritize the client experience over short-term profits.

Success requires evolving with the times. We’ve expanded from just DJ services to include photo booths, uplighting, super yard games, screen rentals, and more. Each addition came from listening to what our clients wanted and being willing to invest in new equipment and training.

The key insight is that standing still in the entertainment industry means falling behind. Technology changes, music trends evolve, and client expectations grow. Successful businesses anticipate these changes rather than react to them.

Perhaps most importantly, building a successful entertainment business requires thinking long-term. We’ve been doing this for 30+ years, and the relationships and reputation we’ve built compound over time. Awards and recognition are nice, but they’re the result of consistent quality service rather than the goal itself.

Success in this industry isn’t about getting rich quickly – it’s about building something sustainable that brings joy to people during their most important celebrations. When you approach it with that mindset, the financial success tends to follow naturally.

The combination of genuine passion, systematic processes, relationship-building, and long-term thinking has allowed us to create something that’s both personally fulfilling and commercially successful. That’s what I believe it takes to truly succeed in the entertainment industry.

Jered, 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’m Jered, and my story begins in 1993 when I was just a high school kid with an insatiable love for music. My best friend, Mike, and I were known as the two students with the most extensive CD collections in school – we were those music-obsessed teenagers who spent every spare dollar on new albums and could talk for hours about different artists and genres.

Our professional journey started completely by accident. When the DJ for an upcoming school dance had to cancel at the last minute, my friend and I volunteered, figuring we had enough music and enthusiasm to pull it off. That single event in 1993 changed everything. We discovered we had a natural ability to read crowds, keep energy high, and create the kind of atmosphere that makes events truly memorable. What started as helping out our school became a passion that has sustained us for over three decades.

From those humble beginnings, we’ve built Absolute Music into what I’m proud to say has become a world-famous DJ and photo booth service based in Eastern Iowa. We now handle over 100 events annually within a 90-mile radius of Bellevue, Iowa, and our reputation has grown far beyond what those two teenagers could have ever imagined.

The growth has been organic and relationship-driven. We’ve never relied on flashy marketing or gimmicks – instead, we’ve focused on consistently delivering exceptional experiences that leave clients and their guests talking about their events for years to come. This approach has earned us recognition including winning Dubuque Hospice’s Best Fest for best DJ service multiple times, most recently in 2024 and 2025.

Absolute Music has evolved far beyond just playing music. We offer a comprehensive entertainment experience that includes:

Professional DJ services that go beyond just playing songs – we serve as MCs, crowd motivators, and event coordinators who ensure everything flows seamlessly from start to finish.

Photo booth services that capture the joy and spontaneity of celebrations, giving guests tangible memories to take home.

Uplighting and atmospheric enhancement that transforms venues and creates the perfect ambiance for any occasion.

Super yard games that add interactive fun and help break the ice at events.

Screen rentals for presentations, slideshows, or visual enhancements.

Complete event coordination support that takes the stress out of planning and lets our clients focus on what’s really important – enjoying their special day.

The Problems We Solve
The entertainment industry is filled with DJs who simply show up and press play, but that’s not what creates truly memorable events. We solve several critical problems that many clients don’t even realize they have:

Stress elimination – Planning events can be overwhelming, so we’ve developed systems and processes that make coordination “super-duper easy” for our clients. Our detailed planning documents and communication protocols ensure nothing falls through the cracks.

Crowd engagement challenges – Many DJs struggle to read rooms and adapt to different audiences. We’ve mastered the art of crowd psychology, knowing exactly when to transition from dinner music to dance hits, when to take requests, and how to keep energy levels optimal throughout an event.

Technical reliability – Equipment failures can ruin events, so we invest in professional-grade gear and always have backup systems ready.

Seamless flow – We coordinate with other vendors, manage timelines, and handle announcements so events progress smoothly without awkward gaps or confusion.

What Sets Us Apart
Our differentiator isn’t just our three decades of experience – it’s our approach to the craft. We understand that all DJs play songs, but great DJs create experiences. We don’t just provide background music; we become integral parts of celebrations, helping to create the moments that people will remember forever.

Our ability to read crowds is something we’ve refined over thousands of events. We can sense when a room needs energy, when it’s time to slow things down, or when to completely shift musical directions. This intuitive understanding of crowd dynamics, combined with our vast musical knowledge spanning multiple decades and genres, allows us to create perfectly curated experiences for each unique audience.

We’re also genuinely user-friendly and accommodating. We answer inquiries quickly, work with clients to understand their vision, and remain flexible enough to adapt when plans change. Our clients consistently mention that we take all the stress out of planning and help them focus on what’s important.

What I’m Most Proud Of
I’m proudest of the longevity and consistency we’ve maintained. Thirty-plus years in any industry is significant, but in entertainment, where trends change rapidly and competition is fierce, it’s a testament to our commitment to excellence. The fact that we’re still growing, still winning awards, and still genuinely excited about every event we do speaks to the foundation we’ve built.

The relationships we’ve developed over the years are equally meaningful. We’ve provided entertainment for multiple generations of families, watched couples we’ve married have children, and then DJ their kids’ graduation parties. These long-term relationships represent the trust and quality that define our brand.

What Potential Clients Should Know
If you’re considering Absolute Music for your event, here’s what you need to know: we’re not just service providers – we’re partners in creating your perfect celebration. We bring three decades of experience, genuine passion for music and entertainment, and a commitment to making your event stress-free and unforgettable.

We understand that your event is one of the most important days of your life, and we treat it with the respect and attention it deserves. Our goal isn’t just to meet your expectations – it’s to exceed them in ways you didn’t even know were possible.

Whether it’s a wedding, corporate event, graduation party, or any other celebration, we bring the same level of professionalism, enthusiasm, and attention to detail that has made us award-winning entertainers. We’re not just playing music – we’re helping you create memories that will last a lifetime.

Most importantly, we genuinely love what we do. After more than 30 years, we still get excited about every event, still discover new music to share, and still find joy in watching people celebrate life’s special moments. That passion is something you can’t fake, and it’s what makes the difference between a good event and an extraordinary one.

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

The pandemic delivered a crushing blow to DJ services financially. For mobile DJs specifically, the impact was immediate and severe. Wedding DJs, corporate event entertainers, and club performers suddenly found their entire booking calendars wiped clean. We had a lot of events planned for 2020, including weddings, private gatherings, and other events that involved DJs. When all this stuff happened, everything got put on pause. And we had to be okay with that.

The pandemic’s effects extended beyond immediate health concerns. We experienced lasting changes in corporate events, with holiday parties returning but in diminished form as employers learned they could provide minimal rewards while employees remained grateful just to have jobs. The shift to remote work also reduced the need for traditional office celebrations.

For many DJs, the pandemic forced a fundamental reevaluation of business models. Fortunately, Absolute Music was well-positioned to adapt to the change and make adjustments accordingly.

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

Based on my experience building Absolute Music over the past 30+ years, referrals and word-of-mouth recommendations have been by far our best source of new clients. This isn’t just my opinion – it’s backed up by concrete results and industry understanding.

The DJ industry operates fundamentally as a referral-based business, especially for private events like weddings and corporate functions. What we provide is an intangible service that can’t be fully captured in a brochure or website description – it has to be experienced firsthand. When clients see us perform at an event and witness how we read crowds, keep dance floors packed, and create memorable experiences, they become our most powerful advocates.

Our clients consistently tell us that their guests are “still talking about how much fun they had” at events we’ve DJ’d. That kind of lasting impression naturally leads to conversations where our satisfied clients recommend us to friends, family members, and colleagues who are planning their own celebrations.

What makes referrals so powerful for us is that we’ve been in business for over 27 years, which means we’ve built relationships that span multiple generations. We’ve DJ’d weddings and then years later provided entertainment for those couples’ children’s graduation parties or sweet sixteen celebrations. These long-term relationships create a compound effect where our reputation and referral network continues to grow organically.

The trust factor is huge in our industry. When someone is planning their wedding day or important corporate event, they want assurance that their entertainment will be flawless. A personal recommendation from someone they trust carries infinitely more weight than any advertisement or online review.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.absolutemusicdjs.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/absolutemusicdjs
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/absolutemusicdjs
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jerednoonan/