We recently connected with Michael Walter and have shared our conversation below.
Michael, appreciate you joining us today. Have you been able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen? Was it like that from day one? If not, what were some of the major steps and milestones and do you think you could have sped up the process somehow knowing what you know now?
I started with a DJ company in the late 80s and yes I was making a full-time living right away, working in their office as well as DJing on the weekends. When I left to start my own thing (1993) I took a financial step backwards for a few years but I was still able to make a living. Since then, as I’ve built my company (Elite Entertainment) my income has grown. I run the business these days but also still perform at about 60 weddings per year
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I actually thought about getting into radio initially but then fell in with a company that was DJing weddings and I found I liked it better. The money was better for one thing but just as importantly, I like the immediate reaction from the crowd that is right in front of me. On radio I was talking into a microphone and playing songs but I didn’t know if anyone listening or digging it. At weddings and events I know immediately if a song choice has gone over or if something I’ve said connects with the guests.
The thing I’m most proud of is that I’ve trained so many DJs to do what I do which is how I’ve built my company. We perform at over 600 weddings a year and almost 1,000 total events and every DJ who works for me I’ve personally trained. It’s a great feeling to know we are spreading joy every weekend at so many parties. People need to escape from their everyday pressures and stresses and dancing and cutting loose is one was people do that. I and my staff provide that safe space!
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
Weddings are a very stressful day for the couple. The most rewarding thing for me is that I can make it easier for my couples because I help them with the planning like song selection and order of events and I’m also a calm voice for them in the weeks before their day and then also the wedding day itself. I get a lot of reviews from my past clients and many of them mention how relaxed I made them and how confident they were that the entertainment was going to excellent. When I get that kind of feedback it makes me very happy
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
The worst time for me and my industry was during the pandemic. We were literally shut down and not able to work. Couples had to postpone their weddings and we spent months not doing weddings. Then when things opened back up it was like the floodgates had been opened. I DJed twice as many weddings in 2021 then I normally do in a year. In early 2022 my wife and I went on vacation and I remember laying on the beach in Negril and thinking, well, if I could make it through the last two years I can make it through ANYTHING. It’s a similar feeling I’ve gotten when I ran marathons. When I’ve crossed the finish line in my head I was like, If you can do that you can do anything!
Contact Info:
- Website: EliteEntertainment.com and DJMikeWalter.com
- Instagram: EliteEntertainmentNJ and DJMikeWalter
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EliteDJEntertainmentNJ and https://www.facebook.com/michael.walter1
- Linkedin: Mike Walter (https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-walter-485147b/)
- Twitter: DJMikeWalter
- Youtube: @NJEliteEntertainment
Image Credits
Elite Digital Images