Mansfield, Ohio – Bryan Gifford is a DJ whose interests in audio and music never seemed to settle down – and, lucky for him and his Northern Ohio customers, it’s worked out rather well.
When he was young, he learned the craft and the mechanics of DJing – for events and on the air. During his stint in the U.S. Navy, he stepped up his game with off-post gigs – both mobile and club. Crucially, along the way, he also learned the business of mobile DJing.
After moving to Ohio, Gifford launched a DJ company that eventually enjoyed a COVID-era re-brand – thanks to some righteous relief bucks from Uncle Sam. The result? A newly launched brand, SnagaDJ & Photobooth, and success to a degree that he also began another company that makes Powerbooth One, a unique DJ booth that he exhibited at the recent DJX’25 in Atlantic City, N.J.
We recently caught up with Gifford, 55, to hear the busy single-system operator’s story.
DJ LIFE: What got you interested in music?
Gifford: In the third grade, we did a Christmas gift exchange and my gift was Michael Jackson’s “P.Y.T.” on a 45 record. Columbia House was my favorite bill back in the day.
DJ LIFE: How’d your DJ career get started?
Gifford: It started when I was in vocational school and received my FCC license to DJ on-air. DJing was my life right away. I always had interests in professional-audio equipment. From there, I was asked to DJ our school’s homecoming, and was hooked. During high school, I ended up DJing the overnight shift at a local AM jazz radio station, a popular skating rink, and our local vocational school radio station. I did all this before starting my own mobile-DJ service there in Richmond, Va.
DJ LIFE: How did things progress?
Gifford: After high school, I joined the Navy, as my recruiter told me that all ships had their own radio stations and my rate was the ones who the manned those jobs. Needless to say, my type of ship did not have a radio station.
DJ LIFE: Those darn recruiters…
Gifford: Right? I served four years – 1991 to 1995. I was an Operations Specialist. During my time in the military, stationed in San Diego, I learned to beatmix on Technics 1200s at The Trophy Lounge, a local club. From there, I moved to Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska. There, I worked my way from being a new mobile DJ [working for a company], using their equipment and getting $75 a gig to being an employee/contractor with them, buying my own equipment and making $125 a gig… to becoming a DJ trainer and equipment warehouse manager. We had 12 complete DJ systems that went out every weekend.
DJ LIFE: That’s a lot of experience you picked up. How’d you get it going in Ohio?
Gifford: From there, I moved to Ohio and worked in nightclubs in Columbus, Marion, Sandusky and Mansfield. Here, I also started my umbrella company, DJ Connections. That business operated until COVID – I took the government money and rebuilt the business. We re-branded, re-structured our marketing and promotions. We drew up an all-new client agreement, along with our ceremony and reception planner, and purchased our first photobooth.
DJ LIFE: How’d that work out?
Gifford: As SnagaDJ & Photobooth, we more than tripled our rates with our top-tier wedding package and, because of raising our prices, our clientele not only increased, but the quality of the weddings increased, as well. I went from chasing my business to getting in front of it and reaping the rewards from compassion, hard work, and dedication. I actually quit my 12-year career of selling life insurance to being able to DJ full-time and support our wants and needs.
DJ LIFE: Life got better?
Gifford: My tithing increased from $20 a week to $125 a week. I paid off my two vehicle loans and was able to go from a super-modified Hummer H3 to a Chevy Tahoe RST for my DJ vehicle – that pulls our SnagaDJ-wrapped 7-by-14-foot enclosed trailer – and purchase a RAM 2500.
DJ LIFE: How many events do you do each year? What’s the percentage breakdown?
Gifford: As a one-man owner/operator, I do roughly 50 events per year. I’d say I do 80-percent weddings and 20-percent non-formal events and benefits.
DJ LIFE: How would you describe your market?
Gifford: Our market ranges from the bride looking for the inexpensive wedding DJ to college sorority events to corporate gigs and huge MMA fights that require a big sound system and mics for the ring MC.
DJ LIFE: What’s the mobile-DJ competition like?
Gifford: We have your typical bedroom DJs to professionals in the industry for 35-plus years. Radio personalities also do mobile-DJ gigs. There seems to be more DJs than you’d expect, so I’m very glad there’s still enough business for everyone to stay busy.
DJ LIFE: How do you fit into the mix?
Gifford: One of our company’s slogans is: “Big-city show, hometown price.” We bring more to the show and charge less than the big-city DJs do. We’re a full-service mobile DJ and photobooth business. We also provide sound for small live Christian concerts. At the moment, the business is promoting its own very first Christian concert at our church. We’re fully funding everything on our own dime.
DJ LIFE: How does your company market itself?
Gifford: Through social media and our websites… I really use social media… nearly 100-percent on Facebook and Instagram to market. We get a lot of repeat business and referrals, enough to book nearly two years out. Plus, we are on quite a few recommended vendors lists at venues.
DJ LIFE: You exhibited your Powerbooth One at DJX’25. Describe the system…
Gifford: The Powerbooth One is an inclusive mobile-media booth with an electric height-adjustable tabletop. Your equipment is already set up. So you roll in, plug in the power, set up your speakers, and you’re playing in under three minutes. The transport lid doubles as a platform… if the DJ is short, so he/she is now above the crowd and the tabletop adjusts to whatever height the DJ needs to eliminate even the slightest bending over. It hosts a 65-inch TV, storage, and a large top-to-bottom 19-inch rack.
DJ LIFE: What DJ gear are you using?
Gifford: Depending on the gig, we use Pioneer DJ gear – the OPUS-QUAD, XDJ-RX3 and an XDJ-AZ. The OPUS-QUAD is nestled nicely in our black Powerbooth One and the white wrapped AZ sits nicely inside our white Powerbooth One. The RX3 goes with us to church events, Columbus Marathons, and all of our non-formal events.
DJ LIFE: How about pro audio?
Gifford: Each system has a dbx DriveRack PA2, Shure SLXD4 and Shure QLXD4 wireless-mic systems, along with an all QSC lineup – KS118 and KS212 C subs, plus K12.2, K10.2 and K8.2 tops. We also own Mackie Thump Go and the Electro-Voice Everse 8 speaker systems.
DJ LIFE: How about lighting?
Gifford: Our lighting gear comes from Chauvet, Rockville, MEGA-Lite, Both Lighting, and Betopper, plus SoundSwitch and SpringTree Media Group controllers.
DJ LIFE: And video?
Gifford: We live-feed video into the Powerbooth One’s 65-inch TV off the dancefloor – guests love seeing themselves on the TV. The kids really love it. I can video-switch between the computer and the GoPro using our Roland V02-HD mixer. I can also shoot wireless HDMI across the room to projectors or monitors with our Accsoon CineView HDMI transmitter/receivers. We’re able to broadcast audio wireless using any of the three ALTO Bluetooth receivers.
DJ LIFE: What events do you most enjoy and why?
Gifford: I enjoy the Christian concerts. They allow me a chance to flex the system.
DJ LIFE: What are the three of the hottest songs for you so far in 2025?
Gifford: Believe it or not, at most weddings, I get requested to play: “Church Clap” by KB feat. Lecrae; “The Wobble” by Family Force 5; and “Praise” by Elevation Worship feat. Brandon Lake, Chris Brown and Chandler Moore.
DJ LIFE: What did you see at DJX’25 that impressed you?
Gifford: After attending DJX’25, I fell in love with the DAS Event Series speakers. Given the opportunity, I’d use the DAS system for our concerts and the QSC systems for my smaller events. Also, I loved the BassBoss Kraken MK3 Quad 21-inch sub – I might just have to own one of those before I die.
DJ LIFE: Where do you see yourself and your company in five years?
Gifford: Retired from weddings, having sold the patent. Owning DAS Event speakers and enjoying live sound.