We recently connected with Debbie Sallee and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Debbie with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?
That is a good question! I guarantee I’m a surprise to my High School teachers laughing out loud. Definitely not in school. I started working at 14, yes, I lied about my age but I was able to get a hardship license due to my mom being legally blind. I always set goals to move up in the companies I worked for and most of the time I achieved them or left for better opportunity. “Upper” Management was my ultimate goal and that happened when I worked for a local news/TV station. That is where I truly worked my butt off to get to the Marketing Management position I wanted to be in. I learned so much from our management team and still use the work ethics today with work and my everyday life.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I’m Debbie The DJ! You invite the guests, I’ll bring the fun and entertainment. Happily married for 29 years, whoop whoop. 90% of my business is weddings and I love it! I’m definitely a people person and love to meet and interact with guests. I can’t tell you how many guests I’ve become friends with and we keep in contact thru social media. Reading a crowd is so important, but what I enjoy more is getting guests to do things out of their comfort zone without pushing to hard, of course, but I swear most of us have a little “want to” in our blood but just can’t cross over or step out on that dance floor. I have a “tricks” bag that I take with me that I can sometimes pull something out to get that one person everyone wants on the floor to actually go out there. That’s a win, win for me.
Something I love to watch for during dinner while playing various music is guests are tapping their feet or table, moving those shoulders or singing along… I’m already working up the crowd for when it’s time for the dance floor to open. Every wedding is different, it’s like going to a new job everyday and I’m here for it.
Connecting with my brides is a must. I want a good idea of their vision for their reception so I can help make that a reality. I think the hardest is the brides that are shy and do not want to be the center of attention, but I “get” them and am very careful not to call them out or put them in the spotlight any more than they want to be. The outgoing brides.. well they are in a category of their own and need no assistance from me. Lol.
Instead of reviews from your boss annually, the perks for this job are the Google & Facebook reviews, that is a review that keeps on giving!! I’m guilty myself of checking reviews before selecting what business I will use. Then there are the guest during the night that give you the fist bump, high five or point at you from the dance floor, those little attaboy signs that are so rewarding to me personally.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Customer service, customer service, customer service… think about your expectations when you go to a place, Dr.’s office, Fast Food, Auto parts, Restaurant, etc. From the person that greets you at the door or on the phone, their facial expressions, etc. We decide right then and there if we are going to be satisfied or if it’s going to be a bad experience. The same goes for you. If you own your own small business, you are the voice and the face of your business. Before you pick up the phone or meet with someone put your game face on. If you’re not a morning person don’t schedule those calls or meetings in the morning till after you’ve had your coffee. Reading people is pretty easy to do and most of us can see if someone is being real or fake. Let’s be Real.
Who is your ideal client or what sort of characteristics would make someone an ideal client for you?
Ideal clients for me would be bride to be, newly engaged couples wanting to make their wedding fun and memorable. Of course that is probably most brides out there but the ones that want to be different and have me entertain their guests with games, fun wedding party entrances, picture dash, etc. I also enjoy family and class reunions they are looking for that same type of entertainment that I can bring to an event.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.debbiethedj.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/debbie_the_dj
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/debbiethedj1
Image Credits
Breana Marie Photography
