Where did “DJ Flair” come from?
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I started gymnastics when I was two years old and eventually earned a scholarship to
compete for The Ohio State University. My freshman year I decided to create a business for
my upcoming DJ career and wanted something tied into gymnastics. I chose Flair
Entertainment because a flair is a gymnastics skill (that I USED to be able to do), a break
dancing move that really wow people (yup, could do that too!), and according to the
dictionary flair is “a special or instinctive aptitude or ability for doing something well.” I
wanted to put on the best show possible and work as hard as I could each night out so it
made total sense to call the business Flair Entertainment. Over the years, DJ Flair became
my personal moniker as friends, family and business colleagues started referring to me in
that way, so I’ve continued to market/brand DJ Flair under the business of Flair
Entertainment.
Describe the most common types of jobs you do for your clients.

I have been an active club/lounge/bar DJ since 1999 and have done countless weddings
throughout the years as those are the crutch of my business, but I’ve also been fortunate
enough to play many corporate and special events. I’ve worked alongside major record
artists opening for their shows (EverClear, The Verve Pipe, En Vogue, Gin Blossoms, Mack
Miller and more), represented corporate clients at events (Carmen’s Distribution Systems,
Red Bull, Palm Beach Tan, LMN Apparel), and have done events for major organizations
such as The Ohio State Alumni Association, Adventures for Wish Kids, The American Heart
Association and The Crawl For Cancer.
What questions should a consumer ask to hire the right service professional or what things should
they consider before booking a DJ?

First, always make sure your service professional is willing to meet with you. If they are not
able or willing to, then they are not serious about your event. After that, make sure they
have the music library you want, the flexibility you need to make changes, and what their
experience with not just weddings but with other events is like. You want a DJ who can
usher the night along and facilitate you and your guests with good microphone skills and
music selection, and the more diversity in work your DJ has the more likely they are to be a
DJ you can trust to do the job right! Hiring the right DJ is VERY important. Consider this
analogy: If you were going to through a big Super Bowl Party for all your friends, what is the
most important thing about that party you need to make sure you have secured? A TV TO
WATCH THE GAME ON! The food, the beer, the pizza, the wings, the “trimmings” are all
secondary and mean nothing if you have force your friends to watch the game on a small
black and white TV because that’s all you have left to spend after you’ve exhausted your
budget on other items. Take care of what matters first – getting the right entertainment
lined up – if you plan on “entertaining” anyone for any event, wedding or party!
What do you like most about your job?

I love making people have smile. Having fun is job 1, and if we do not provide you with a fun
and enjoyable experience then why are we even here?
Do you have a favorite story from your work?

I love seeing the look on people's faces when they hear their request - and it's mixed in and
catches them by surprise! Also, I love the feeling I get after weddings when people come
up to me and are shocked that the DJ wasn’t what they expected walking in --- the typical,
too-talkative, playing bad music, traditional boring wedding DJ!
What do you wish customers knew about you or your profession?

The illusion is out there that becoming a DJ is easier today than it ever has been – but
sustaining a DJ business in this competitive industry is where the challenges arise.
Technology has put music and the ability to manipulate it at everyone's finger tips and thus
new DJ's are popping up left and right. A good DJ is like a good musician. They practice
technique, they study trends, the update their library, take care of their gear and stay
ahead of the curve to improve just like any smart guitar player would do. I wish more
people knew the talent that really does go into being a DJ and how there is SUCH a
difference between the top end and low end DJ’s.
What are the latest developments in your field?

The invention of digital music not only makes our jobs easier but more challenging as now
more than ever people think they can also be a DJ if they wanted to. This flooding of both
equipment and materials to the marketplace makes our industry more competitive than
ever as everyone wants to be in on the hot new tip.
Describe a few recent jobs you've completed other than weddings.

2014 Orange Bowl events in Miami for The Ohio State Alumni

New Year’s Eve at Park Street Patio

Let-it-GO Suicide Prevention Event @ Ohio State

German Village Society’s Part on The Platz

The Ohio Municipal League’s Yearly Party

Ohio State Day at Cedar Point on behalf of the OSU Alumni Association
If you were a customer, what do you wish you knew about your trade? Any inside secrets to
share?

If I were a customer, I would want to know that the best DJ's consider themselves a
musician, just like someone playing in a band. They practice, they work hard improving
their art and love to put it out there for others to see. That love for what you do must show
through your work and through your performance and that's why hiring a real DJ who loves
to entertain is important. Many DJ companies are nothing more than business men looking
for a market to enter that will always have a demand - as people are always getting
married, having parties and needing entertainment. Finding that real gem of a DJ requires
looking beyond the marketing, and realizing what really matters - experience, skill,
personality, equipment and maturity, and I feel that I have all of them. The proof lies in the
15+ years of playing not just for brides and grooms, but for major corporations and staying
relevant in the local club scene. It’s a level of trust through experience I’ve built up that
can’t be overlooked.
What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?

Why do you have so little reviews, and I tell them it's because I wasn't smart when I began
my business at age 18 - and took for granted how powerful word of mouth is and how
helpful collecting reviews can be. I was naive and admit that - as being honest is part of our
culture at Flair Entertainment. Now I make an effort to collect reviews as often as
possible. It’s worth pointing out however that I have been DJ’ing in the Columbus bar scene
for more than 15 years consistently, and that speaks volumes in itself.
Tell us about a recent job you did that you are particularly proud of.

2014 Orange Bowl in Miami on behalf of The Ohio State Alumni Group. I’ve developed a
great relationship with their staff and am very proud of the work we do together!
How did you decide to get in your line of work?

I was always asked to provide burned CD's for parties in college so I turned that love for
music into being an actual DJ. I began my career at a college bar, taking my entire desktop
computer in to randomly play songs. From that point on I began teaching myself how to mix
music, aligning myself with mentors and taking risks to play bigger and larger venues.
What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?

Experience, experience, experience! Sites such as Thumbtack is a great resource for
finding a DJ, but make sure you do not simply choose based on price. Many DJ's on this site
will offer you a $200, full service DJ experience - but lack experience! When it comes to
your event - no matter what event it is - you want a DJ who has seen it and done it all. You
want a veteran. Someone you can trust. There is a major difference between an entertainer
who claims to be a real DJ, and a real DJ who knows how to entertain people and how to
use music to create memories. If you were going to offer the biggest meal of your life to
friends and family, wouldn't you feel more comfortable knowing you've hired a top-notch
chef instead of a local line cook? Flair Entertainment disc jockeys are the conductors to
the soundtrack of your night, and our experience makes us that top-notch chef you've been
looking for! That is the best advice I could possibly give you!
Why does your work stand out from others who do what you do?

Many of the DJ’s I affiliate and work with began as MC's at local clubs, and so their
speaking ability is outstanding! Some have even worked for radio stations as well as been a
commercial voice over for several local businesses. All of us are confident and comfortable
in our microphone skills! Another point of emphasis is my ability to blend and mix songs
seamlessly as if you were at a real club, and that also is one major difference between us
and other companies. We feel it takes real skill and talent to perform during your
party/dancing part of the night in addition to being vocally talented enough to usher it
along.
For a private party, we can dial it up or down as much as you would like, but
encourage allowing our DJ's to do what they do best! And last but not least, programming
is the main ingredient that often times gets overlooked. Even though pushing buttons is
easy, figuring out what to play, when to play it, and how to play it takes years of trial, error
and learning.