Meet Griffin Carroll | DJ/MC & Owner of SoCal DJ Entertainment

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

Hi Griffin, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
Oh man, great question! There are a few important factors I like to consider as the motivators behind my success. The most important factor has been building genuine connections with my clients. I take the time to really understand their vibe, their crowd, and what kind of energy they want for their event. Whether it’s a wedding, private party, or corporate event, I treat every booking as a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I take that personal approach, and combine it with professionalism and attention to detail. This has led to consistent referrals from planners, past clients, family members, etc- which have been the biggest driver of my business growth.

The second factor I would heavily consider is consistency. I show up prepared, early, and ready to deliver a seamless experience every time. My goal is to make clients feel confident that they’re in good hands from the first message to the last song. That reliability builds trust, and I feel as if trust leads to long-term success and repeat referrals.

Finally, I would say my success really comes down to passion. I genuinely love what I do. Bringing people together through music, creating energy in the room, and making memories that last. That passion shows up in how I plan, how I perform, and how I interact with every client. People can feel when you love what you do, and I think that’s been one of the biggest factors. I always like to say, success isn’t always linear. Real success is often unpredictable, and it’s important to focus on consistent effort rather than expecting a perfect, upward trajectory every time.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
For me, DJing has always been more than just playing music, it’s about creating energy and moments people remember. What sets me apart is how much I care about reading the crowd and curating the vibe in real time. Every event is different, and I take pride in being able to blend genres and transition smoothly so the night flows naturally. Whether it’s a wedding, private party, or corporate event, I want every person in the room to feel connected to the music.

It definitely wasn’t easy getting here. In sort of a ‘spark notes’ version of how I got started, I was working at my church as a sound technician – learning how to mix and run live bands. At the same time, I was part of my school’s student government, and often found myself playing music during the morning program, during lunch, break, and school sporting events. My passion for “playing music for people” really grew when I was just 18 years old. These tools turned out to be the beginning steps to my DJ career.

Once that started, I was carrying speakers into backyard parties and learning everything through trial and error. There were long nights, tough gigs, and plenty of moments where I had to figure things out the hard way. But I just stayed consistent and kept showing up, learning from every event, and investing back into my craft and my business.

I’m most proud of how far things have come and the fact that I’ve built this business from the ground up. What excites me most now is continuing to evolve – not just as a DJ, but as a creator who can bring people together through music. Weather it be doing more ‘high caliber’ weddings and events, or more events that challenge me through the logistics and music, it has all be so rewarding. Iron sharpens iron.

If there’s one thing I’d want people to know about me and my brand, it’s that every event matters. I treat every booking like it’s the most important one I’ve ever done. That mindset, plus my faith, and the most amazing support system of DJs/techs in the community around me, has been the foundation for everything.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’m a Southern California local through and through. If my friends were visiting from out of town, I would take them to a few of my favorite spots here in the city. First we would start at Bobs Big Boy in Burbank for breakfast. Nothing beats the nostalgic diner feel and their double decker burger. (Who says you can’t have a breakfast burger?!) Next we would visit Disneyland for a ride or two. Maybe grab a churro and watch the parade. I have been a Disney kid since diapers, and I feel blessed to live in such close proximity to a legendary theme park. On the following day I would take them to Langer’s for one of the most deliciously famous pastrami sandwiches you can eat. Hopefully we can catch an early matinee at the Pantages or Ahmanson theater. And on an ideal night, I would love to visit the Magic Castle, too. On Sunday we would visit Newport Beach and cruise the boardwalk. We would then go to one of my favorite barcades – “Playground” in Huntington Beach, for a round of 9 hole golf and some delicious food. We’d wrap the weekend up in Laguna Beach at Top of the World park for an epic sunset.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
First and foremost, I want to thank God for giving me the tools and purpose to use my gifts in a way that honors Him. I also want to thank my friends and family who believed in me early on, back when I was still a novice and just trying to find my sound. They were the ones who “put me on” and gave me the confidence to keep going. Some of my earliest wedding clients back in 2011, they trusted me when I had little experience. I’m grateful for them, and still close friends with a lot of my ‘early days’ couples to this day. I’m also grateful for my early work experiences in the tech department at Saddleback Church, as a DJ/Tech at N-Effect Productions, and throughout my high school and college ASB. Those teams gave me the freedom and encouragement to keep working, grinding, and building the foundation for what my business has become today. Nowadays, I would be nowhere without my team of DJs and mentors that keep me motivated and our business-wheels turning!

Website: https://socaldjent.com/

Instagram: @djgriff

Soundcloud: https://www.mixcloud.com/socaldjent/

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/dj-griff-entertainment-lake-forest-4

Image Credits
Mad Love Media Reagan Suitt – Olive and Oath Laura Burns Photography Clarisse Rae Photography Scrap Media Hollow & Grace