This week’s DJ LIFE Mobile Monday DJ spotlight, presented by QSC, shines on Justin Stringfellow from Dallas, Texas.
Justin Stringfellow is this week’s DJ LIFE Mobile Monday spotlight. Presented by QSC, Justin The DJ is a mobile DJ, based out of Dallas, Texas.
As a mobile and wedding DJ, Justin Stringfellow a/k/a Justin The DJ, based out of Dallas, has mastered the art of reading the room and playing the right songs at the right time. According to Justin, setting ego aside and focusing on giving the crowd the best experience possible is when you know you’ve really succeeded as a mobile DJ.
We venture into Justin’s early days of DJing and how he first got his start in the scene, discuss his current DJ setup vs. his dream setup, what being a mobile DJ means to him, some of the pet peeves surrounding his profession, and how being a DJ has impacted his personal/family life.
When DJ LIFE spoke with Stringfellow regarding all things mobile DJ, here’s how it went down…
DJ LIFE: What does being a mobile DJ mean to you?
Justin Stringfellow: Being a mobile DJ is an important job—you’re the one setting the vibe and making sure people have a great time. At the end of the day, it’s not about me trying to be the next coming of Tiësto because, let’s be honest, no one came to the wedding to watch me DJ. They came to celebrate, dance, and enjoy the night with the couple, and I just happen to be the one behind the booth. It’s all about reading the room, playing the right songs at the right time, and keeping the energy up without making it about me. When you set the ego aside and focus on giving the crowd the best experience possible, that’s when you really succeed as a mobile DJ.
DJ LIFE: Can you tell us about your current DJ setup?
Stringfellow: My setup has a lot of moving pieces, but here are some of the standouts. I’m rocking a Pioneer S11 Mixer with two Rane 12 MKIIs, all housed in a custom Hoerboard (Stereo T) podium booth, which gives my setup a clean, modern look. On the audio side, I recently built my own rack featuring a QSC TouchMix 8, and that’s been a total game changer for my workflow—makes everything way more streamlined and efficient. I also just upgraded to the brand-new QSC KC12 speakers, and they’ve been seriously impressive. Super clean sound, plenty of power, and a nice upgrade for the kind of events I do. For lighting, I’ve started using SoundSwitch, which has been awesome for syncing my lights with my music, and I’ve paired it with some Both 360 Tubes to add that extra visual punch. Always tweaking and upgrading, but this setup has been working great for me!
DJ LIFE: What would your perfect or dream setup look like?
Stringfellow: If you had asked me this question a few years ago, I probably would’ve thrown out some insane, over-the-top gear with a ton of flashy lights. But honestly, I’m already working with my dream setup right now. For me, it’s all about finding the perfect balance between efficiency, ease of setup, and something that actually looks good in a wedding setting. I’ve dialed in my setup to the point where planners compliment how clean and professional it looks, and photographers actually want to take pictures of me and my booth instead of trying to edit me out of the background. That’s the goal—something that sounds amazing, runs smoothly, and looks just as good as it performs.
DJ LIFE: Do you have any favorite or new gear that you’re currently using?
Stringfellow: Right now, I’m really loving the QSC KC12 speakers. They’ve been a solid upgrade to my setup, and I can already tell they’re going to be a game changer for my events. The 3-way design really sets them apart, making a huge difference in how clean everything sounds. I can play music and talk on the mic at the same time without it clipping or getting muddy, which is super important for weddings and events where I need to make announcements without killing the vibe. On top of that, the 145° horizontal coverage spreads the sound evenly across the room, so I don’t need a ton of extra speakers to fill a venue. Whether it’s a packed dance floor or a more spread-out space, these handle it effortlessly. Definitely one of my favorite pieces of gear right now!
DJ LIFE: What are some of the biggest pros and cons of being a mobile DJ?
Stringfellow: One of the biggest pros of being a mobile DJ is that you basically get to party for a living. You’re the one making sure people have an amazing time, and that energy is contagious. Weddings especially are great because you’re working with happy people who are there to celebrate—there’s way less of the “let me speak to your manager” type of drama that you might deal with in other industries. It’s just a fun, high-energy job where you get to create unforgettable moments for people.
On the flip side, you’re always working. It’s not just about showing up and playing music—there’s a ton of behind-the-scenes work, especially for me since I put a lot of effort into marketing and social media. Between making content for Instagram and YouTube to attract new clients, and also creating content to help other DJs, it can feel like a nonstop grind. The DJing part is the fun and easy part; everything else that comes with it is what really takes time and effort.
DJ LIFE: Do you have any DJ-related pet peeves?
Stringfellow: When people talk about DJ pet peeves, most would probably say song requests or dealing with drunk people at weddings. But for me, what really bugs me is the overall mindset I see in the DJ community on social media. Maybe it’s the current internet culture, maybe it’s just the way people act when there’s no face-to-face interaction, but the amount of negativity and toxicity that gets thrown around for no reason is wild to me. If you don’t like something, just keep scrolling—why go out of your way to tear someone down?
I’ve had friends ask me how I deal with negativity online, and honestly, you just have to ignore it and move on. I know that’s easier said than done, but engaging with it only gives them what they want. The reality is people who feel the need to constantly hate on others aren’t doing it because of you—it’s about them. I actually feel bad for people like that because it usually means they’re miserable themselves. But at the end of the day, those people are not your audience.
People who are successful and doing big things don’t waste time tearing others down. It’s the ones who are struggling that feel the need to punch up. It sucks, and trust me, it still gets to me sometimes, but I remind myself that I’m the one putting in the work, building my business, and getting booked—while they’re just sitting there hating. And that’s all that really matters.
DJ LIFE: How has being a DJ impacted your personal/family life?
Stringfellow: It can be tough sometimes. DJs work weekends, which means while most people are off and hanging out, I’m usually working. Trying to find time to spend with friends and family who have a regular 9-5 schedule can be a challenge, and it definitely takes some effort to stay connected. That’s why when I do get a rare Saturday off, I make sure to really make it count—whether that’s spending time with family, catching up with friends, or just enjoying a break from DJing. It’s all about finding that balance, even if it’s not always easy.
DJ LIFE: How did you get started as a DJ?
Stringfellow: I got into DJing because I was obsessed with EDM in high school. I was constantly going to concerts and festivals, just soaking it all in. But the moment that really flipped a switch for me was seeing Flux Pavilion live in 2012. I remember being blown away by how all the songs blended together so smoothly, like one long, continuous track. Up until that point, I had never really thought about how DJs actually mix music—I just knew it sounded amazing. That same night, I went home, downloaded some free DJ software, and started messing around, trying to figure it out on my own.
When I got to college, things really started to take shape. I met some actual DJs who had real equipment and experience, and that’s when I started to really learn what I was doing. I saved up, got my first DJ Controller, and started playing parties on campus, which was a wild but valuable learning experience. Those gigs taught me how to read a crowd, deal with unexpected issues, and just keep the energy going no matter what. I got more involved in the campus DJ scene, helped run the DJ club, and by my senior year, I was president of it. That’s when I realized this was more than just a hobby—it was something I wanted to take seriously.
DJ LIFE: What is the most important life lesson you have gained from your experience as a DJ?
Stringfellow: The biggest life lesson I’ve learned from being a DJ is how to adapt and stay in the moment. No matter how much you plan, things will go sideways at some point—whether it’s a technical issue, an unexpected song request, or a crowd that just isn’t feeling what you thought they would. You have to be able to read the room, switch things up on the fly, and keep the energy going without panicking. That skill goes way beyond DJing—it applies to life in general. Things don’t always go the way you expect, but if you can stay calm, think on your feet, and adjust, you’ll always find a way to make it work.
