We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Tessa Young a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Tessa, appreciate you joining us today. Are you 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?
I’ve been spinning since 2009, and it’s still hard to believe that my passion for music has become my full-time job. How did I transition into making a living from my creative work? Well, it’s been quite the journey, filled with successes, a few hiccups, plenty of valuable lessons, and growth.
Before my DJing days, I spent 10 years as a paralegal. In the early stages of my DJ journey, I was still juggling part-time legal work to make ends meet. In 2017, I deliberately decided to leave the legal profession behind entirely. This choice allowed me to create space and concentrate on building a financially sustainable career in DJing.
And here I am now, rocking corporate and premiere events! Grateful doesn’t even begin to cover it.
Tessa, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
Hello there! I’m Tessa, and I wear a few different hats:
1. I’m a DJ for corporate and premiere events.
2. I am the Founder & CEO of PRISM DJs (www.prismdjs.com), an agency that books talented women DJs for various occasions.
3. My mission is to empower women in the DJ industry by sharing valuable resources to help them succeed.
My journey into the DJ world began in 2009 when I converted my extensive CD collection into digital MP3s. Thanks to Serato’s software, I was able to kickstart my DJ career.
Early on, I noticed the scarcity of female DJs, and it was challenging for people to find them. In response, in 2016, I launched PRISM DJs. We connect clients with talented and professional female-identifying DJs who perform at a wide range of events.
What sets PRISM DJs apart is our dual focus: We deliver top-tier DJ entertainment to our clients while actively working to narrow the gender gap in the DJ industry.
Through PRISM DJs, we’ve provided gig opportunities for over 30 women DJs in the Los Angeles area and inspired many female DJs to turn their passion into a full-fledged career.
Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?
In 2021, PRISM DJs was honored to receive the Jane Walker x IFundWomen First Women Grant, which included a $10k grant and a one-year coaching membership with IFundWomen. This funding enabled us to kickstart our marketing strategy, a pivotal move for us.
What truly impacted my management and entrepreneurial thinking was the monthly coaching provided by IFundWomen (www.ifundwomen.com). Even after the initial year, I continued investing in their coaching program. Elizabeth Eichhorn from IFundWomen played a vital role in guiding PRISM DJs, leading to significant growth from 2021 to the present.
Before 2021, I hadn’t considered business coaching and mentorship, but looking back, I believe that starting earlier would have accelerated our growth.
Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?
DJs do much more than just play music at events. There’s a lot that goes into creating a successful event and ensuring a great experience for our clients.
First, we work closely with clients to understand the musical vibe they want. Then, we use our music expertise, mixing skills, and the ability to gauge the crowd to curate the perfect playlist.
Additionally, most DJs handle all their administrative tasks, including client communication, contracts, invoices, and insurance.
Sometimes, we’re responsible for setting up our equipment, which can be physically demanding. This means arriving a couple of hours early and spending extra time afterward to break everything down. For a four-hour event, this can add up to seven hours on-site, not to mention the prep time.
Clients or non-creatives should know that they’re not just paying for the DJ’s time during the event; it’s a combination of years of experience, extensive music knowledge, creative mixing, stage presence, preparation, collaboration, professionalism, and physical effort that ensures a successful event.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.djtessa.com & www.prismdjs.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/dj_tessa & www.instagram.com/prismdjs
Image Credits
Cruel Summer Image Credits: Josseline Pacaja, Joss Digital, Little Cinema Wall Street Journal Credits: Nikki Ritcher Zombies Credits: Vivian Son Olivia Rodrigo Credits: Vivian Son