We recently connected with Kim B. and have shared our conversation below.

Kim, appreciate you joining us today. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

I’m a DJ now, but in my 20s I was a recording artist. I remember feeling in my spirit that it was time to pivot. I had just turned 30 and had a yearning to do something new creatively, plus I needed extra money because my day job wasn’t cutting it. So I went on indeed and search the word music to see what was out there. That’s when I saw an entertainment company was hiring DJs with no experience needed. I applied and was hired. The company does a great job of putting you thru training and classes before booking you for gigs. The owner of the company, showed us the basics in class. His main priority was to teach us how to beat match. In DJing, this is the most common way to transition in between two songs. Even though, you don’t necessarily NEED that skill to DJ, it was important to him that we master that and I’m glad that I did. I do think it was essential in becoming a professional at mixing. However, I didn’t just lean on the owner as my only mentor. I went home and followed a bunch of DJ-Youtube channels and I shadowed experienced DJs. My main obstacle was buying my own professional equipment so I could practice at home. I just didn’t have the money yet, so I was using this little tiny $80 controller with a refurbished laptop. I ask the company could I schedule time to come practice at the warehouse and they told me I could just take their equipment home. That’s when I became obsessed with practicing. By the time I left the company 4 years later, I was teaching the class and had my own students. – Something I could of done to speed up my learning process was book more of my own gigs. The company was very good at keeping me booked at weddings with an occasional corporate event. But, I wish I had explored more bars/clubs back then. I didn’t really do much of that, until I left the company years later.

Kim, 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’ve been interested in the performing arts my whole life. I always have had a need to explore differents ways to express myself creatively. I think us having a piano in our home when I was a kid really set everything in motion. Also, my older sister, who’s almost a decade older than me, was also a dancer and I would dance for her friends when I was very little. I went from taking lessons on the piano, to singing in church, to songwriting, then dancing in groups, then eventually a solo recording artist. Present day I am a DJ & content creator. My primary focus is being a DJ. I think what sets me apart is that I do not consider myself a jack of all trades. I don’t think that is a complement and I wouldn’t want to be known as that. When I have a new focus, other things must go on the back burner. I made a very conscious decision to stop recording & dancing when I became a DJ. And it was easy actually. I had accomplished everything I wanted as a singer and knew it was time to pivot. It was important for me to be excellent and not just good enough at my new craft. I knew I couldn’t do that if I was still spreading myself thin across all these other talents. However, the great thing about Djing, is that I still get to incorporate my singing and dancing abilities in my performance. I don’t really consider myself a DJ at my gigs, I think of myself as a performer still. I’m not just playing music for these people, I’m PERFORMING. That’s my mindset and I think my clients and peers can tell. I started out my DJ career getting bookings thru a company , but I’ve been independent now for about 4 years. I am proud that I’ve still been able to market myself and get steady work without the backing of a company. I studied marketing in college and I continue to study it. Anyone who works with me, can trust that not only will I be prepared and professional, I will be constantly reading the crowd and create an experience that their guests won’t forget, no matter what the occasion is. I actually practice, I don’t just wing it. I spend hours decided what potential songs I can use and the best way to transition between them. I even think thru my presentation aesthetically from head to toe. I make no assumptions and I talk to my client to make sure we’re on the same page. There is constant communication leading up to the event and I type of timelines to stay on track. I also have checklist to make sure I don’t forget any equipment. Many people have had bad experiences with DJs and sometimes they feel the need to micro-manage, but I assure them that they can trust me. Let me do the job you’ve hired me to do. With my years of expertise they have nothing to worry about. I come with back-up plans. It’s very rare that events always go exactly as planned, but I’m proud of my ability to adjust on the spot and not spiral under pressure. – As a content creator, I also usually record at least 1 hour of the live mix. Afterwards, I master the audio. The client gets to enjoy a mastered mix and the opportunity to reminisce thru the music.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

I graduated from Columbia College Chicago with a major in Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management with a focus on the Music Business and a concentration in Marketing. I finished college in 2009 during the recession. It was so hard to find a job period, let alone something in my field. I used to think I was a failure unless I had only jobs in the field that I studied. I quickly had to unlearn that. I had to realize that I had to grow up fast and take care of myself and consider jobs outside of my passion. I had to endure some jobs that I didn’t like but I never stopped pursuing creative endeavors in my free time. As of matter of fact, my creative pursuits became even better since my day job begin financing it. Funny how that worked out. Having more money thru my non-artistic job allowed me to have the freedom to truly elevate my recording artist career at the time. I financed an EP, photoshoots, videoshoots, put on listening parties and more. Had I refused to get realistic and take a day job outside of my field, I would have stayed a “starving artist” hoping for sponsorships etc.

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

My biggest platforms are Youtube & Instagram, so I’ll primarily talk about those. I started taking Youtube seriously in 2020. It’s a search engine, so I researched what people were already looking for and tried to be a result in that particular search. Turns out people really enjoy experiencing music with eachother for the first time. I started reacting to mainstream albums on camera. Listening to them for the first time ever. I also watch music videos, concerts and film my dj sets and post those too. I try to keep the channel very music focused and it currently has over 2 millions views with over 15K subscribers. Consistency is key. One video a week is enough. I feel some people burn out thinking they have to post several times a day on Youtube, but no once a week grew my audience. In the beginning, it has to be quantity over quality. Don’t try to be perfect and have perfect editing etc. – On my channel, I promote my social media platforms with lower third pop ups thru out the video. This is how I grew my Instagram. Most of Instragram is clips from Youtube videos. I re-purpose them.

My best advice for anyone starting to build your presence on social media. It’s best to start with a niche, don’t be a jack of all trades. In the beginning, nobody knows who you are and may be turned off if you seem all over the place. Create your content from a realistic stand point. Be yourself and don’t cosplay as a celebrity. People are yearning for authencity and want to get to know you. This doesn’t mean you have to put your private business out there, but let people get to know you thru your work. Take them on your journey. You will have to be courageous. Only courage is going to keep you consistently putting yourself out there for the world to see. Start imperfect and don’t stall. Just press record and you will learn as you go. When I first started Youtube, I had bad lighting in some videos, but people were still watching. You’d be surprised how graceful people can be. Most people are really patient and will deal with the quality of the content as long as you’re still providing some kind of value.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://kimbmusic.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kimbmusic/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thedjkimb/
• Linkedin: Linkedin:
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/kimbtv
• Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/kimbmusic

Image Credits

The photos in the camouflage jacket are by a photographer named Vera Melissa Photography. All the other photos are casual.