We recently connected with Matthew Novick and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Matthew thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear from you about what you think Corporate America gets wrong in your industry and why it matters.

The role of the DJ has always been a staple in popular culture. Whether at clubs or weddings, on the radio or in movies; One of the coolest jobs you can think of is being a professional DJ / MC. However, so many times the perception of the DJ in media and popular culture is also almost laughable. A guy/girl standing up there on the elevated platform, jumping around, throwing their hands up; All while encouraging the crowd to do the same. Add some lights and a pair of headphones around their neck and it’s all just that simple… Right?

In a perfect world, perhaps. Yet the reality of the role and business can be much more complex than most would believe. As a profession that is essentially considered a skilled trade, it is considered by many as simply a hobby or an aesthetic attraction. As with any sector of the hospitality and live event industry, there are no shortages of logistics and variables to be accounted for regarding the role of the DJ. From the minimum requirements of power, sound, and setup, to more intricate ones that contribute to the success of the DJ performance, the needs of the position are often overlooked. Instead, those needs tend to be greeted by an attitude of irrelevance and low priority, as many nonprofessionals do not recognize their importance.

The portrayal of the DJ is a root cause of this. The prestige of the role, combined with the over-saturation of the market of up-and-coming DJs, also results in a lack of proper budgeting for such services. Market price for an industry-standard mixing setup alone can easily range reach into the thousands of dollars, and therefore must be accounted for in the pricing of the DJ. These expenses compound as speakers and other production elements get added, and of course the cost of the service of curating the music itself. This involves overhead licensing costs, music database subscriptions, and more. As one might guess these costs can add up quickly, especially when trying to secure a top-tier talent. As a result, many consumers may make the mistake of booking someone unqualified for the role in an attempt to cut costs. Similar to any job, moments like this truly depict the value of a professional DJ over a bedroom hobbyist.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

With origins in DJing and live event work, the Mattitude brand has expanded to encompass all sorts of services based off my prior experiences. From the titles and accolades, dozens of corporate partners, organizations, and venues I have worked with over these 13 years of experience, to my former radio and online media roles, I have been able to assist my clients with solutions for a wide variety of issues they may face in their business. Some of my regular and past responsibilities have included talent booking, live radio and event performances, event hosting, mixtape hosting, social media campaigning, blogging, web design, hospitality conception, and more.

Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

YouTube. The free college. I often times wished I had utilized their platform, as well as the power of the information highway in general, to expand my initial knowledge on various subjects. This likely would have helped me avoid more careless errors and could have aided in my overall career trajectory and success to date.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

“If you do something you love, you never work a day in your life.”

Something about that saying has always stuck with me. However, it has been no picnic and there are no free lunches. Even after all these years, the work and tensions of the career can tend to be a little much to handle sometimes. I believe the solution to this ailing feeling exists within passion; As nothing worth doing is easy. Therefore, you MUST truly love and believe in the path you commit to. If there is a good chance you will have to work for a majority of your life, you might as well enjoy it. Not to mention the gratification of self-improvement tends to be one of the most rewarding feelings.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://www.yoMattitude.com
• Instagram: http://www.Instagram.com/yoMattitude
• Facebook: http://www.FB.com/yoMattitude
• Linkedin: https://www.Linkedin.com/in/yomattitude/
• Twitter: http://www.Twitter.com/yoMattitude
• Youtube: https://www.Toutube.com/c/MattitudeTV

Image Credits
@VividCle @Churkh