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

Johnny , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Getting that first client is always an exciting milestone. Can you talk to us about how you got your first customer who wasn’t a friend, family, or acquaintance?

My first wedding was for a friend. She knew that my brother was a Dj in the past and that I was his sidekick. I was able to come up with some decent gear to do the wedding and it was a total hit it was and I was complimented left and right, I was paid for my time. That wedding night, I gave some people my info because I didn’t even have business cards made. So the wedding lead to another event and so and so forth. Along the way, I was still bartending for TGI Fridays and I was asked to run their Trivia Night (since they knew I had gear from my side Dj hustle at the time). That lead to me joining another company do to trivia for and me goin got ton my own. I Tok the lea of faith and went full-time with music and trivia.

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 got into the industry through my brother. He did weddings for a few years before moving into radio. With my brother Luis is where I learned the basics of audio and sound the basic of setting up speakers, microphones and mixers. Today what sets me apart from a typical Dj is that I mix music videos (VDJ). Sine day one I have purchased music videos. I can still use it as a typical MP3 but it gives my Dj sets an edge as you can see what and how I’m mixing with with music videos coming out TV at venue or my Dj setups with TVs. Its simply “cool” to see music videos, specially the older stuff that takes people back to their younger days. The fashion and dance moves takes people back and I see people doing them.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

Some of the things that keep me relevant is the nightlife in my hometown. I DJ nightclubs on Fridays and I can’t even count the number of times my phone rings from someone seeing me do my thing on a Friday and want my services on a Saturday night. They see me in my element and the energy I bring so they want that same energy and feel for their event. Since I do a lot of weddings, I do a lot of school dances as well. These are future college student that will turn 21, so they will recognize my name when they see on club flyer. They will also find love at some point and want a DJ for their wedding. So I have played for some people since high school, into their clubbing phase, weddings, birthdays and Christmas parties well.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

So one of things that has helped me to believe more and more in what I do was COVID. When the pandemic hit, it hit the entertainment industry hard. We were the first to be cut and last to be brought back in. Some cases they never called back. Well once the governor decided to keep the state open and not keep us under “quarantine” conditions. Bars and Restaurants open back back up and my phone rang right away. My trivia shows were back to full swing within 2 weeks and my weddings that had been put on holds were being rescheduled.

Also there was a moment during the pandemic the will never forget. One of my oldest trivia shows that is about to hit the 10 year mark. They knew I wasn’t working during the time and they all got some money together for me. Before I knew I had a card in the mail with a check over $600 for me and my family. It was such a nice gesture from a group of some of the coolest people I know.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.djrocketentertainment.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/djrocket84/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DJRocketEntertainment

Image Credits
Johnny Sanchez for all