We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Ralph Russell. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Ralph below.
Ralph, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Innovation comes in all shapes, sizes and across all industries, so we’d love to hear about something you’ve done that you feel was particularly innovative.
An innovative thing that I’ve done over the course of my career was create my own clothing brand “DJ 23 Merch”. My clothing brand was created to promote my DJ business and market my brand to clients nationally. First, I got my name trademarked and copyrighted. Once I got the proper licenses and paperwork, I began to get T-shirts printed with my logo on the front. Everywhere I worked, I would sell shirts and eventually people wanted more merchandise. I began to make tracksuits, hoodies, laptop sleeve, lighters, and other accessories to promote the “DJ 23” brand. This was one of the most innovative ideas I’ve done because it helped me develop a brand image and create a professional look for my business. Ever since I started the clothing line, other DJs have come to me interested in creating their own merch as well. I am glad that I was able to influence others to implement this marketing strategy into their business.
Ralph, 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 am a professional DJ, producer and artist. I am the resident DJ for Sparkles Family Fun Center, and I book many other private events. I also DJ for clubs, lounges, weddings and more. In addition, I produce and engineer for a variety of artists in the metro Atlanta area. I built a home studio so I can create in a peaceful and stress-free environment. I’ve worked with some rising artists including Anti Da Menace, Wee2Hard, & Quez4real; just to name a few. Even though I produce beats for other artists, I create my own songs as well. Recently, I started rapping and releasing my music to all streaming platforms.
Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?
I built my audience on social media by promoting my business daily and sending my booking info to my friends. I printed out business cards to pass out to others who were interested in booking me for my services. I would leave business cards at local businsses, gas stations and restaurants so people in the local community would have access to my contact information. Doing this allowed me to build my clientelle and get referrals for more bookings in the future. In addition, I began to post mix videos of my DJ skills on Instagram, Twitter & TikTok. The mix videos helped me gain noteriety and more followers on social media. My advice to those trying to build a social media presence would be to not be afraid to promote yourself to others. You have to be confident in your business and network with others in your community. You need to start small to grow a local fanbase then branch out to other surrounding areas. Invest in your business and purchase marketing material. Following these methods will help you build your brand and grow your following on social media.
Have you ever had to pivot?
I had to pivot my business during the COVID-19 pandemic. When COVID-19 hit, all venues and public outings were cancelled. It was hard for DJs around the world to find business. I began broadcasting my mixshows live on Facebook and Instagram to promote myself and keep my followers entertained during the difficult times. During my online mixshows, I would post my cash app or payment options below in case anyone wanted to tip me. I ended up getting paid from some of these sessions and it was a great way for me to stay afloat during the pandemic. After the pandemic was over, venues opened back up and owners of different venues and skating rinks began to reach out. I had gained their attention from doing the online mixshows, and doing so brought me more business and clientelle.
Contact Info:
- Website: dj23atl.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/dj23_live?igshid=MjEwN2IyYWYwYw==
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/dj23_live?s=21&t=RCD–7zVWRHGMyNI3jSBMA
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@DJ23LIVE
Image Credits
@eyeofmarko @paparazzi_pics