Salt Lake City, Utah – To hear Daryl Bennett tell it, more than anything, entertainment lighting has helped blaze his trail of success.
Indeed, after giving up the rock-band life for the DJ booth, he learned how to strategically implement entertaining lighting to help create more engaging productions, and his Salt Lake City market has reacted positively.
Since founding ADM Productions in 2017, Bennett has maintained a relatively modest schedule that balances with his regular job as a software developer. Bennett says that the COVID period gave him the downtime to fully understand and implement lighting into his company’s productions.
In fact, Bennett, 35, will bring these ideas this August to DJX ’26 in Atlantic City, N.J., with his tech-and-marketing seminar, “Lighting That Sells: How Smart DMX Elevates Mobile DJs.” We recently caught up with the SLC-based DJ to hear his success story.
DJ LIFE: What got you first interested in music?
Daryl Bennett: Music was always part of my life growing up here in Salt Lake City. My dad was a musician, so it was never just background noise – it was something you did. I started my first rock band at 15, and I’ve been performing in one way or another ever since.
DJ LIFE: What instrument? And what kinds of rock bands?
Bennett: My primary instrument is guitar, though I’ve also played drums and keyboards in various projects. I’ve been part of several bands spanning original rock, alternative, emo, and party rock. My most recent project focused on high-energy crowd favorites – classic rock, ’80s hits, and modern pop – performing in bars, clubs, private events, and weddings.
DJ LIFE: So, what got you into DJing side of things?
Bennett: A bandmate invited me to help run lighting at a gig, and that experience flipped a switch. I realized DJing was far more dynamic than playing in a band – I could read the room in real-time and adjust the music instantly.
DJ LIFE: What’s the origin story of your current DJ company?
Bennett: I began DJing on weekends when my band wasn’t booked, but the demand grew quickly. At a certain point, I made the decision to step away from the band and fully pursue DJing. ADM Productions began in 2017.
DJ LIFE: How do you mix DJing with your regular day job?
Bennett: I work as a full-stack software developer in the medical-software space. So, I intentionally cap my schedule at about two events per month, while the company, as a whole, handles 60-plus events annually.
DJ LIFE: What’s your percentage breakdown of events?
Bennett: I mostly do weddings, corporate events and, occasionally, community events.
DJ LIFE: What makes your company unique within the market? What is its range of services? How many DJs do you carry?
Bennett: Early on, I chose to emphasize lighting, presentation, and guest experience – not just music – which naturally led us into higher-end weddings and corporate events. Services include DJing, ceremony audio with lavalier mics, DMX lighting design, uplighting, photo booth, and full event production. We operate with a small team of four DJs, prioritizing quality over volume.
DJ LIFE: What’s unique, interesting or particular about your market?
Bennett: Utah’s market is heavily influenced by LDS [Latter-day Saints] culture, which often means shorter wedding timelines, an emphasis on family-friendly programming, and alcohol-free receptions — sometimes featuring soda bars instead. Crowds also tend to skew younger, which changes how you approach music selection and energy. At the same time, Utah’s scenery and ski resorts attract couples from all over, making destination weddings a significant part of the market as well. We’re happy to serve any couple, but LDS events often have a strong DIY approach. Our services tend to resonate most with couples who are looking for a high level of production.
DJ LIFE: Your website says you service “Utah and surrounding states.” How far do you travel for gigs?
Bennett: We travel world-wide, but it’s not uncommon for us to travel to Nevada, Idaho or Wyoming.
DJ LIFE: How does your company market itself?
Bennett: SEO, social media, venue and planner relationships, referrals, and WeddingWire.
DJ LIFE: How has the business changed in the past few years? What have been its challenges?
Bennett: Client expectations for production value are higher than ever, even as budgets tighten. For me, lighting has become a major differentiator.
DJ LIFE: What DJ gear set-up do you usually use?
Bennett: I use Virtual DJ software and a Rane ONE MK2 controller. I use Engine DJ software on my Denon DJ Prime Go+ controller, as well. I use the RCF EVOX 12 column-array PA speakers and OneOdio Studio Max 1 wireless headphones. I use mostly the Humpter B3 DJ booth, BunnGear Quadpods and Gravity Stands for lighting.
DJ LIFE: And the lighting gear?
Bennett: I am known for using SoundSwitch DMX software and sometimes use my ADJ Wolfmix WMX1 controller. Using units from different brands – Chauvet, JMAZ, Both Lighting – I like to use a couple of moving head spots, uplights around the perimeter of the room, and pixel tubes – all battery-powered with built-in wireless DMX.
DJ LIFE: What events do you most enjoy and why?
Bennett: Weddings are my favorite – the pageantry, the significance of the day, and the demand for elevated presentation, performance, and production. At the same time, smaller community events are rewarding because they’re for people I know and see regularly.
DJ LIFE: What have been the three hottest songs for you in the last six months?
Bennett: The most frequent song requests are from my kiddos – and they’re requested daily. They are “Let It Go” from “Frozen” film, “Steve’s Lava Chicken” from the “A Minecraft Movie,” and “Soda Pop” from “KPop Demon Hunters” film.
DJ LIFE: You’ll be doing a lighting-related seminar at DJX’26 in Atlantic City. How did you become so interested and adept at mobile lighting and what can DJX attendees expect from your presentation?
Bennett: COVID gave me time to re-think how I approached lighting. I wanted it to feel more musical and intentional. As I started learning, I realized much of the available content online was fairly surface-level, so I started creating content that went a bit deeper. My background in software development naturally influenced how I approached lighting – breaking systems down, understanding workflows, and focusing on repeatable, intentional results. Sharing that process has led to conversations with thousands of DJs, which sharpened both my skills and how I teach them. My focus is practical mobile lighting: fixtures on the market; fixture placement; DMX workflows; and how lighting elevates perceived value without unnecessary complexity.
DJ LIFE: Where do you see yourself and your company in five years?
Bennett: Remain a boutique, production-forward DJ company, while expanding education, content, and digital products for DJs.