Years DJing?:
21
Fun Facts?:
Almost everyone who knows me cannot understand my affection for the 1980’s. I absolutely love the 80’s. The music, the cheesy but awesome TV shows (like Knight Rider), old school friends, roller skating rinks, the arcades…I still eat it all up. I actually collect and restore classic arcade games like Ms. Pac Man and Donkey Kong in my spare time. My garage is my man-cave.
Related Experience?:
Well, let’s see…other than a short stint working in a pet store when I was 15, I have always been a DJ. It’s really all I’ve ever known. Over the past 2 decades, I have honed my “skills” performing for almost any type of event you can imagine. Local nightclubs, private parties, corporate events, anniversaries, birthday parties for young and old, and of course, wedding receptions.
What got you started?:
I began my career in 1989 as a part-time DJ for Z104 FM. One night after a shift, I met Greg Chappell from Astro (also a Z104 DJ at the time) who must have detected a hint of talent and offered me an audition for an open DJ position that needed to be filled. I accepted his offer, rocked the audition, and before you know it my life was a balance of college, a full-time position on the air with Z104, and a night life full of gigs from Astro. Performing for a crowd quickly won me over and, in the long run, I walked away from a 12-year career in radio to focus more on my future with Astro Disc Jockeys.
When DJing, whats your goal?:
Every event is different, and that’s what makes this job a blast. My goal is, of course, to make sure that people have the time of their lives. That’s a given. For me, though, the ultimate goal is to make sure that the final “product” ends up the way that my clients originally envisioned. That’s most important.
Specialties?:
Wedding receptions. Once I had come up through the ranks of Astro and was allowed the opportunity to actually perform at weddings, they quickly became my favorite type of event, simply because of their importance and the fun challenge that each one presents. Some clients want their weddings to be wild n’ crazy. No problem. I can do wild n’ crazy. I’ll make sure the guests are swinging from the chandeliers by the end of the night, if that’s what a client wants. Wild & crazy is actually really easy to pull off. Most of the brides and grooms that I work with are looking for a more polished and professional approach. In other words, they want just the right amount of interaction with the crowd, without coming off as the annoying “game show host” DJ. The music is actually the star of the show. Making an event both fun AND upscale? That actually requires a bit more finesse. That’s my specialty.
Email?:
Shawn@AstroDJ.com
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