Meet Dj Zest | DJ-Entrepreneur-Clothing Designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Dj Zest and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi DJ, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I seen many DJ’s doing the same ol set up and play and get paid. I truly looked at that as a disservice to someone who’s not just paying you but someone looking for a great time that looks great! And not to say many DJ’s can’t give a good time but many at times had no customer service added into booking clients. That’s why many moved away from weddings and stay in the crowded circle of bars and clubs. I started in bars and clubs and got paid $175 for 5 hours every Saturday for a whole year! I did weddings and other events between time but once I realized my “worth” and I have control over what I want to do, looking into equipment to entice customers, and not just take anything that’s handed to me. But even more I started something that I give to all my DJ friends. That every client should be a “relationship over a transaction.” Many people will become friends, family, Godfather, give you as a reference, and repeats clients. I’m all the above at this point in my business. I walked away from opportunities and people who I gave my knowledge and time to. So with my loving wives support I took a leap in October 2018 to DJ full time and haven’t looked back or worked for anyone since. It has had it’s challenges, with equipment getting stolen out of another DJs car and times were I’ve had dry months far as gigs. But I never stopped believing that this was my calling. Even during 2020; you’d be surprised that I was still getting booked! When you’ve gained a reputation of a good business, word gets around. People trust you, they want you for everything from their wedding to holiday parties to birthday parties. You become family.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
– What you are most proud of or excited about.

I’m proud to be a dad. I have 4 boys from 2 to 12. I’ve enjoyed watching them grow being a stay at home dad since my 2 middle boys were 1 year old and 6 months old. It helped that I was an educator but I only used some techniques not all to raise them. I wanted them to explore and see things from from their view. It’s not the most quietest house but we’re teaching our boys how to clean up after themselves and be consistent with it. I’ve introduced them to video games I played as a kid and teen so we get to play here and there. Baking and cooking experiences during this summer have been fun and messy. I just want my boys to grow up and be respectful to everyone and never stop learning and exploring.

– How did you get to where you are today business-wise. Was it easy?

NOTHING is easy! I’ve worked hard to get to this point. When you step out on faith and know that its now or never, you move with a different stride. My pace wasn’t fast, I had to be responsible because my wife and family were depending on me. So I made my round from clubs and bars and doing events and weddings for any and everybody. But the turn came when I was told how much a photo booth was charging at a gig I was at. Same for photography and wedding/event coordinators. I recognize I’m the glue that keeps all of it contained. No photos coming out great without me DJing and the reception?!?! People love to dance and without me there would be no party! I’ve seen people try to save a buck or two and use playlist at their parties and even a wedding reception after I did the ceremony. The feeling is not the same. So you get passed those clients and you gain high end clients like corporate gigs and being on venues preferred vendors list. This eliminates a lot of what many DJ’s face, so you can pick and choose and not take everything offered as when you first started.

– What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way.

I’ve learned that their are good people and not so good people in this industry. I planned to assemble a crew of DJ’s and we were going to be effective. But just like all teams you have a few people who just don’t get what you putting out, along with jealousy, envy, betrayal, being dishonest, not living up to your own abilities, etc So just as I hand picked them I released them with all due respect. Now its’s three of us and a few associates in case we need help with gigs we can’t do. Having a big crew seemed to be a great goal but you realize a few can do just as much and we’ve proving it.

– What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?

I started from an idea. Although I’ve been doing music for most of my life. DJing never crossed my mind. I wanted to be a singer/songwriter/music producer. So I went to college (Long Beach City College, G Building) in the Spring of 1998. What would have been a two year program turned into four (I graduated in 2002) but I still stayed around for another two before I moved to Virginia and its there I was isolated in my music to create and get noticed but like all artist seeking to making it in the music industry I was a small fish in a big pond on 2006. I meet a few music producers through artist I knew on MySpace with whom I’m still friends with after all these years. We made great music, I believed I was on my way but life throws you curve balls and many times I gave up even when I moved back to California in 2009. I just lost the feeling and it’s been that way on and off till this day. My wife is not happy that I don’t sing much anymore. I’ve sang at events here and there but nothing has come of any of it. One day when I have time I’ll step back into the light but for now DJing has been all the entertainment I have time for. At least our kids are wanting to play instruments without me pushing them like Joe Jackson did his kids! It’s in our DNA.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Long Beach is the city I claim. We have everything from skateboarders, to the Best Thai Food, The Queen Mary, Shoreline Village, The Best High School Football Team in History; Poly High, The Aquarium of the Pacific, Naples, Signal Hill, Belmont Shore, Mother’s Beach, and Pine Avenue Night Life. Spring is the best time of the year to visit. You can check out the Long Beach Grand Prix, music festivals, and cultural events. Summer heats up with more festivals and having good times out on the water. I had another answer to this that was longer because of how much I love my city but I’ll be brief. I believe when you visit you’ll find something to make you fall in love with our beach city.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
It’s hard to give credit to one individual. I’ve come a long way to be the person I am today. Respectfully I’ll say these names and one name that rounds them all out. First up my mother Charisee Weston for giving me full charge of our tiny garage on the Eastside of Long Beach to play my records and start my album collection. My brother Antonio Weston and my Pops Oscar Weston for always introducing artist to me like Goodie Mob, Bilal, Bob Marley, The Eagles, Hank Williams Jr. and Wu-Tang. My sons God Father Dario De Santiago who I’ve known since 1998 when I first step foot in the music department at Long Beach City College. I’d go watch him DJ often throughout the years and when I decided to go full time as a DJ his support from lending me his speakers for gigs and sending me music. I owe him major! I could run through many DJs who I admire and local DJs who I appreciate their love for one another and support in the DJ community but I’d be locked into Shoutouts for a while! My biggest Shoutout goes to wife Catrina. In the summer of 2018 we had a 1 year old and 6 month old and I was an educator and she was headed back to work in October. We flirted with the idea of me staying home and taking a leap into my entertainment business full time. I was doing great! Working full time and doing weddings and DJing at the bar most weekends that I looked at what I was getting paid as an educator and what I was getting for weddings and events. That I retired from teaching after 9 years and into another full time gig as a stay at home dad and running my business. She believed in me so much I went even harder in the paint to get gigs and 2019 proved to be my best year to date. I did 170 gigs, sometimes 3 days and 4 days in row! Then have to wake up on Monday morning after a long weekend to care for our sons. Nothing was easy but my wife’s support through it all, the rough weekends, the time my equipment got stolen (the first time and second time), my car troubles when I had to use the family van to get to gigs, dry seasons when I had no gigs, but mostly a listening ear to my ups and downs at gigs. Sometimes you have to release the day before you lay down after a long day at a gig. She stays up to see I made it home so I can tell her stories of unexpected things and show her videos and photos. She’s my biggest fan and her love is unmatched.

Website: https://linktr.ee/DJZEST_California