We asked DJs around the country about their vacation plans. What are you doing to de-stress?
Ron Kronebusch, KMP Entertainment Group
“I am a traveling DJ so I am always on vacation when I travel, and the good thing is that the client pays for my air fair, hotels, and food. Plus, I make money. I was in Texas for ten days touring and djing and am an international open format DJ, so that’s what I call a working holiday. I also do destination weddings and corporate retreats and have 6 businesses, 46 years in the business, but I am in Ottawa, Canada.”
David Trimmer, Dynamic Spunds Unlomited. Warwick RI
“I used to plan my life around the DJ business. Now I plan the DJ business around my life. If I want to take a vacation, I just don’t book any events that day or week.”
Richard Zimmerman, Performance Tunez Mobile DJ, Wichita Kansas.
“We are booked solid through December. Along with the DJ business, we have a Commercial Embroidery Business. My wife and I also work full time. No time this year for vacation.”
Mark Senior, Jr., JAM Event DJs West Boylston MA
“Took 4th of July of as I do every year to host a family party. Took the week prior off to plan. Working 4 days straight this week, flying to Myrtle Beach for 5 days, and driving back in time to work a Wedding. Balancing life, family, and running a business is a big challenge but doable. (The trip is for my son’s AAU baseball tournament, but we will get a few vacation beach days in). Work and family balance is crucial. Don’t need to be a 40-year-old divorced DJ for not spending time with the family.”
Ken Duquette, Champagne Toast Entertainment in Massachusetts.
“Hard to take a lot of time off. 40 years and we still steal a day or two during the week. Florida is our semi-off time.”
Ramu Al-Mahdi:
Had a chat about this with another DJ. He’s on this page. Vacation is the enemy of business. Tough to get shit done sipping a margarita. This business is a 7 day labor of love. When it ceases to be that, you start to get behind. Real talk. If you are in the pool and you can’t get back to someone right away, they are going right down the list. I’m just making too much sense right now.
Jay Friese, Signature Sounds, Bristol RI
“As otherwise full-time mobile DJs, are we planning for our own summer vacations. I take my vacation in March for 2 weeks always in Aruba. One week with my kids. One week solo. I stay at a resort week 1 and my timeshare week 2. Week 1 I’ll do all the adult stuff. Including DJing at the best two spots on the island. Week 2 is relaxing by the pool and doing what the kids want. Usually means off road tours and cliff jumping.”
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