Today we’d like to introduce you to Keith Pierce II.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Keith. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
As a member of the United States Navy, I was deployed overseas in Bahrain in 2017. While stationed there, my friends would always try to get me to tag along to the clubs in the area. At first, I was a little apprehensive, but I gave in and after a while we started going out so often that we got close to the local promoters, managers, and DJs. We partied a lot, so when I didn’t feel like being in the mix, I would just hang out in the DJ booth and talk with the DJ. One conversation in particular, helped me realize that this was my calling. I was fascinated with how DJs could captivate an entire crowd and control the energy in a venue.
As a result of this conversation, I decided to buy my own equipment and learn how to start mixing. I kept going out with friends and as my relationship with one of the local DJs evolved, so did our conversations. He showed me the basics for how all the equipment worked and helped me purchase my first major upgrade, a Pioneer DDJ-SB3. My time overseas gave me access to one-of-a-kind experiences and exposed me to a wide range of different music styles, which was very important for laying my foundation as a DJ. When I returned to the US in 2018, I continued upgrading my equipment and started hosting my own parties. Constantly practicing and taking advantage of networking opportunities have been vital to my success. Every time I go out, even if it’s just hanging with friends, I make sure to get connected on social media and hand out business cards to people I meet. I also keep an eye out for opportunities to talk with promoters, managers and other entrepreneurs who may need my services.
Has it been a smooth road?
Looking from the outside in, it may appear that everything has been smooth, but in reality it has actually been a very difficult process. Doing business with club managers and promoters can be very stressful. It’s not uncommon for me to land a gig and come to a verbal agreement, only to find out later that my client made other arrangements without notifying me. I have also encountered people who viewed me as a hobbyist and judged me by the amount of time I’ve been Djing, instead of my skill set. I do my best not to let things like this get to me, and I’ve found that when I keep working and stay focused on my craft, people notice. Many of the would-be clients I mentioned often return and seek my services after they’ve heard good reviews about me or seen for themselves how I work a crowd.
I am always looking for ways to improve my craft, and upgrading my equipment has been one of the most difficult challenges I have encountered. It costs a lot of money, but this investment is what separates hobbyist from professionals. Just a few months ago, I upgraded my board, speakers, and microphones. Unfortunately, I got into a bad car accident on the way to a gig. Not only did I lost the gig, but I lost everything; my equipment was totaled and unusable. In spite of this, I kept faith in my dreams and purchased what equipment I could afford. I was able to save up enough to repurchase the hardware I lost, and I eventually connected with more clients and landed bigger gigs than I was before.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the DJ KayJ story. Tell us more about the business.
DJ Kay J is more than just who I am as a professional; it is a brand that blends entertainment, charisma, originality and one-to-one networking. Although I specialize in large parties and club style events, I don’t spend most of my time hosting these kinds of gigs. Much of my job includes hosting and providing entertainment for smaller, more personal events such as birthdays, graduation parties, baby showers, and marriages. The scale of these events varies, but more often than not, they are intimate and involve a lot of direct interaction between me and my clients. These smaller events are often more rewarding for me, personally, since it allows me to develop stronger bonds with the people I entertain. My proudest accomplishment was being requested to DJ at a wedding, baby shower and birthday, for the same client. Moments like this remind me that DJing is about more than just a good mix or a playlist; it is about the trust an entertainer builds with their client. It is awe inspiring to know that someone trusts me enough to share and allow me to witness with them, some of the most intimate moments of their lives.
This level of trust and openness is what separates me from other DJs and entertainers. In addition to my interpersonal skills, I understand the individual components that go into beatmixing, the process of DJing. Of all these skills—beatmatching, equalizing, phrasing, and track selection—I stand out from others with my unique track selection and meticulous beatmatching. I carefully consider my audience and what they are interested in hearing; however, I also choose songs that are diverse and inclusive in regards to culture and age. This helps get more people involved. In addition, I find good times within a set to incorporate music that I personally enjoy. This adds originality and a layer of intrigue to my sets. From a technical aspect, pay very close attention to BPM and constantly look for new ways to mix songs together. A lot of DJs do not do this and it gets exposed in their mixes. My originality and attention to detail make my mixes more memorable, and my high energy and interpersonal skills leave lasting impressions on all my clients.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
Because of advances in technology and the impact social media has had on the entertainment industry, the art of DJing is constantly evolving. It’s much easier for DJs to get the music they need. Serato, a popular DJ software, recently partnered with Tidal and SoundCloud, some of the industry’s other top streaming services. Their partnership allows DJs to integrate their accounts with Serato and directly import music so it can be used offline, on the fly. Just a few months ago, I used to spend a lot of time manually importing songs and setlists. This would fill up space on my computer, to the point where I would have to purchase portable hard drives. With the addition of streaming services in Serato, my DJ toolbox is more versatile become more versatile. I no longer need to download everything. I can save space by only keeping the most popular music on my devices and streaming less popular songs. In the next five years or so, I can see physical files becoming completely phased out and replaced by online streaming.
In addition to these changes, the evolution of the technology in DJ boards has changed the way people DJ. Many of the boards now contain a variety of pre-programmed slices and effects. This combines several complex functions and makes mixing much easier. As a result, DJing becomes more accessible for beginners and hobbyists. I see this becoming more of an issue in the next few years, but I think having a high level of creativity and the ability to manually mix songs will continue to separate professionals from amateurs and hobbyists. Regardless of these technological advances, there is no amount of technology that can replace the energy that a DJ must give out to engage an audience.
Pricing:
- 50$ a hour
Contact Info:
- Address: 6310 Gypsum Ct. Houston, Tx 77041
- Phone: 8327249494
- Email: kpierce31@gmail.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/dj_kayj
- Twitter: twitter.com/dj_kayj
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