DJ LIFE caught up with Bowman to discuss working in a top wedding-destination town and how it creates opportunities for mobile and club services.
Charleston, S.C. – To hear Michael Bowman tell it, his DJ company’s market is as fertile as any in the country. Working in a top wedding-destination town creates opportunities for both mobile and club services, so he and his colleagues at Drop The Mike Productions are spinning nearly non-stop throughout the year – at catering halls and area nightspots.
We caught up with Bowman, 37, to discuss his company and the Charleston market, where, he says, “the parties are hot, and the weddings are even hotter.”
DJ LIFE: Where did you grow up, and what got you interested in music?
Bowman: I grew up between Ridgeville, Summerville, and North Charleston, all in South Carolina – small-town vibes with big-music energy. I was an evangelist’s kid, so I basically grew up in church and around music 24/7. My mom was a preacher in a Holiness Church back in the early ’80s, so I grew up immersed in church culture. One of my first introductions to music was drumming for the kids’ choir. So, before I was rocking dancefloors, I was keeping time for Sunday-morning praise breaks! That early exposure to music and rhythm played a huge role in shaping me as a DJ today.
DJ LIFE: When and how did you get the DJ bug?
Bowman: My true DJ awakening happened at a spot called Local Records in North Charleston. It was more than just a record store; it was a whole vibe. They had live DJs spinning, and one day, I walked in, heard the music, and boom! That was it. Love at first beat drop. Funny enough, my first DJ gig wasn’t in clubs – it was in radio. My mentor, DJ Sean Doby, was a local legend in Charleston. I grew up listening to him, and when he held an open audition for his radio show while I was in high school, I went for it. Once I got on-air, I was hooked. Fast forward, I officially launched Drop The Mike Productions in 2015, making this my 10-year anniversary running my own DJ business.
DJ LIFE: How does the company operate?
Bowman: My company is a multi-op, led by my fiancée, DJ Erin Elyse. We currently have a team of six DJs, most of whom I personally trained – from helping with load-ins at corporate events to becoming full-fledged DJs. Erin, however, was already a seasoned pro before we met. She was based in Seattle, specializing in weddings and karaoke. When we came together as a family, we naturally evolved into a powerhouse wedding-and-nightclub duo.
DJ LIFE: How many events – club or mobile – do you personally spin each year?
Bowman: I personally do about 25 to 30 weddings a year, which is a slowdown from my previous 45 to 50 – thank you, knees. But I still hit the clubs 50 to 75 nights a year.
DJ LIFE: What’s your company’s event breakdown, percentage-wise?
Bowman: We handle around 400 to 500 events a year, with about a 60/40 split between nightclubs and weddings/corporate events. So basically, we take people from “I do” to “let’s get loose.”
DJ LIFE: What makes your market unique for mobiles?
Bowman: Charleston is one of the biggest wedding destinations in the country. It’s surrounded by hotspots like Myrtle Beach, Hilton Head, and Savannah, making it a magnet for couples ready to party. So with the demand for high-energy, club-style wedding DJs, we’re a natural fit. We don’t just DJ weddings; we turn them into nightclubs.
DJ LIFE: What makes your company unique within its market?
Bowman: Drop the Mike Productions – aka Bridal Club –is the bad boy/girl squad of the wedding industry. Our clients aren’t here for stuffy traditions, fancy catering talk, or floral arrangements; they want their wedding to be the biggest, wildest party of their lives. If you still love going out on the weekends, then we’re the DJs who will make sure your wedding feels like a legendary night out.
DJ LIFE: What makes your market unique for club work?
Bowman: On top of that, Charleston is also a top tourist destination, so my nightclub crowd is 90-percent different every single weekend during our eight- to 10-month warm-weather season. Every night, it’s a brand-new audience, which means I never have to play the same set twice – unless they request “Sweet Caroline” for the hundredth time.
DJ LIFE: How does your company market itself these days?
Bowman: Our slogan: “Celebrate You Differently.” We brand ourselves as the ultimate frat party that just so happens to be a wedding. And it works because we encourage our clients to be 100-percent their authentic selves – whether that means a crowd-surfing groom or a bride doing shots with grandma.
DJ LIFE: Tell me about your destination weddings.
Bowman: I’ve been fortunate to DJ weddings in 10 states so far, as well as in Canada, Jamaica, and Costa Rica. I love destination weddings because it means the couple specifically sought me out instead of just picking a local DJ. That’s a huge honor! One of the coolest places I’ve DJ’d a wedding was Friday Harbor in Washington state, right on the Canada-U.S. border. Technically, I was DJing in two countries at the same time – pretty wild!
DJ LIFE: How do people find you outside your market?
Bowman: Because Charleston is one of the top bachelorette party destinations in the country, I get a lot of bookings from bridal parties that come to my club nights. I started bringing a sign with a QR code that says, “We also DJ weddings!” When I see a group of bachelorettes vibing to my set, I hype them up and casually mention that I also do weddings. Nine times out of 10, the maid of honor or the bride’s sister comes up, scans the code, and boom – another destination-wedding booked!
DJ LIFE: When you’re playing clubs, what kind of music are you playing?
Bowman: We’re truly open format – whatever gets the people going. It can be Top-40 in a variety of genres – hip-hop, old-school, disco, R&B, EDM/dance, etc. Charleston’s club scene is open-format-heavy, which keeps things fun and unpredictable. No rules, no limits – just reading the crowd and giving them exactly what they need, even before they know they need it.
DJ LIFE: How has the business evolved?
Bowman: Technology has revolutionized the game. I started when we were lugging heavy crates of records –now, DJs have the power of an entire record store on a laptop. The ability to instantly drop requests, remix on the fly, and even live-stream has completely changed the way we perform.
DJ LIFE: What’s your DJ-gear set-up?
Bowman: For controllers, players, and mixers, it’s all Pioneer DJ – the DDJ-REV7, the DDJ-REV5, the CDJ-3000 with the DJM-S7 mixer. We use Serato DJ software. As for headphones, I don’t need ‘em anymore… I can feel the music – also, I keep losing them.
DJ LIFE: What about loudspeakers?
Bowman: I’ve been a QSC guy for years. Their K Series is my go-to because of the clarity, power, and reliability. I have an arsenal of 8s, 10s, and 12s, plus four KW118 subs to bring the bass when it really counts. Whether it’s an intimate wedding or a high-energy club night, I can scale up or down to fit the vibe perfectly.
DJ LIFE: How about lighting and accessories?
Bowman: I roll with Both Lighting U.S.A. because they’re reliable and affordable – perfect for mobile DJs who need quality without breaking the bank. For cases, Odyssey all day! Their cases are built like tanks and can handle the wear and tear of constant gigging. For stands, I rock Rockville Audio – sturdy, reliable, and easy on the budget. They get the job done, and that’s what matters!
DJ LIFE: Where do you see yourself/your company in five years?
Bowman: Running my own nightclub/wedding-venue hybrid – less DJing, more curating the ultimate wedding-meets-nightclub experience. Think of it as a Vegas-style party meets Charleston charm… also, probably still refusing to wear headphones.
Current Rage: Drop The Mike’s Top 3
- “Whatchu Kno Know About Me” by GloRilla feat. Sexxy Red. “It’s a modern flip on ‘Wipe Me Down’ from 2007, and the nostalgia hits hard. Plus, it’s all over TikTok and Instagram, so it gets a crazy crowd reaction.”
- “Pink Pony Club” by Chappell Roan. “The ultimate sing-along anthem. I have a special edit that takes the ladies to another level, and I love watching their energy skyrocket.”
- “No Hands” by Waka Flocka Flame feat. Wale & Roscoe Dash. “It’s this generation’s ‘Back That Azz Up.’ Doesn’t matter the crowd – first beat drops, hands go up, chaos ensues. It’s been a guaranteed floor-packer for over a decade, and I don’t see it fading anytime soon.”