Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Nick Martin. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Nick, thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?
I am a self-learner and I have been independent my entire life as a dj and in my personal life only relying on just those that I know I can count on.
When a door closes, it does not mean it is the end. It closes because it will be like that for short period of time and soon it will be open again letting you back in some other time down the road. Or it is permanently closed and you’ll have no other choice but to keep looking. If the second option is the case, there are more doors you can try…
I persist because I am fueled by motivation. I persist because I have no other choice but to continue forward even when sometimes I feel like giving up. I persist because when I see others older than me or that have waited longer than me and they are just reaching their goals, being successful; I said to myself, if they were able to get to that point, I will be soon as well. In life you can see different actors of different ages from different generations and you can notice that some younger actors reach success from a very early moment in their career life while some other also reach success at a later time. You can see older actors that have been at it trying to reach their peak and they have not had any luck when all of the sudden, success hits and their luck changes becoming artistically known and popular. I will keep on trying until it happens.
I persist because I believe and I am convinced it will happen soon…
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
Music has been and continues to be a devotion, passion, and a hobby for me since my childhood. I remember being a kid and listening to music from the ’70s, growing up listening to ’80s songs, and feeling the vibes from the ’90s. I started very young, when I was 14 or 15 years old, collecting music, old records, and tapes. It was not until the year 2000 when I decided to become a DJ. Another friend who was into music and I together started our local DJ business called “MUSICMAN DJs, Audio and Lighting,” and we began doing private events and parties. Time goes by, and after a year, we decided to go separate ways. My friend was more focused on photography and filming, and I was more on the music side. Another year goes, I continued carrying on with the company I started with my previous friend until I met another local DJ. From there, we started a relationship, sharing ideas, experiences, knowledge, and events. Our relationship continued for another year and we finally realized that by joining forces, we could do much more, so we decided to start our own DJ business known as “MINITECA VENMAN DJ, SOUND AND LIGHTING”. During this time, we were busy every weekend with up to 3 to 5 parties per weekend; sometimes we had to subcontract other DJs to cover more events. Business was booming, and we were investing in equipment for future plans. We were able to do bigger events such as concerts and local festivals. Apex Latino Arts Festival, Dominican Festival, Don Omar’s 1st Charlotte Concert at the Bojangles Arena, formerly known as Cricket Arena, Oscar De Leon, La Makina, Wisin y Yandel held at The Backstage, Franco DeVita performing at the Blumenthal Performing Art Center, Victor Manuelle, Orquesta Guayacan, Grupo Niche, Fernando Arau, Priscila y sus Pistolas, and many more regional and international talent. As a DJ company, we were also playing at local nightclubs such as Latorre’s, Forum, Salamandras, Skandalos, Buckhead Saloon, Suite, Illusions 1000. Back then, I was taking audio engineering classes at CPCC and at the same time being a DJ. I was just starting out, getting to know the ways of keeping the crowd going, building my music library, learning new tricks of the trade, and being mentored by other DJ friends. “MINITECA VENMAN DJ, SOUND AND LIGHTING” remained in business until around 2010, when the house market completely collapsed, and business overall declined. It was hard for us to stay in business to the point that we had to go separate ways, and again, I was on my own carrying on with the company I started with my second business partner. With the economy being impacted by the housing bubble, not many events were getting booked. I was not heavily involved with DJing and gigs, and I was more focused on school, work, and family. Some time went by, and I decided to switch things around and rebrand my business to something more trending and easier to remember. That is when I came up with Nick Martin. Since then, I have been DJing for different venues here in Charlotte and surrounding areas. The Pub at Gateway, Barrel, Tilt, The Union, DJ’s Skylounge, El Centenario, QC Social, Charlotte’s Tin Roof, Snug Harbor, Mambo Nights, Vida Cantina, Big Ben, Clutch, The Boatyard, Scorpio, Press Box, La Capital MX, Charandas, La Lena, La Fonda, Kate’s Seafood Rest, The Fairwoor, RSVP, The Dandelion Market, Buho’s Rooftop, Yancey Brewing Company, Noda Brewing Company and many more. I have performed for different festivals such as Apex Latino Arts Festival, Festival Latinoamericano, Charlotte’s Parranda Venezolana, Festival Viva Venezuela, Summit Seltzer Fest, Charlotte’s Donut Fest, and Charlotte’s Empanada Fest. International talents I have shared stage with Joel and Randy, Billo’s Caracas Boys, Cardenales del Exito, Diveana, Desorden Publico, Tecupae, Los Amigos Invisibles, Ronald Borgas, Nelson Arrieta, Neguito Borgas, Luis Enrique, Tito Nieves, Gonin. Regional talent I have shared stage with, Conjunto Pentagrama, Swing Gaitero, Skynfolks, Davisson Brothers Band, Smokey Jones and the 3 Pistols, Ultima Nota, Orquesta Mayor, Bakalao Stars, Desorden Publico, and more. I have done many private events. Weddings, Sweet 16 and Sweet 15 (Quinceañeras), Parties, and more since I started as a DJ. I currently offer sound and lighting equipment rental, Master of Ceremony for events along with DJing. I am an open-format DJ, offering the crowd a mix of everything. I keep the music going nonstop, blending hit after hit and fluctuating depending on what the audience’s vibe tells me. From current dance hits, top 40 songs, pop, rap, hip hop bangers (classic, old school to new), house, remixes, mashups, and because of my diverse background and knowledge on music, I always keep some other genres up my sleeve surprising the audience all seamlessly blended, keeping the energy level at its peak, and the crowd anxiously waiting for the hit banger. I focus on events regardless of type. Weddings, Sweet 16 and Sweet 15 (Quinceañeras), Partes, Homecoming, Graduations, Festivals, Concerts, Corporate and private events, Bars, and nightclubs. I offer multicultural professional DJs, bilingual Spanish English master of ceremony, top-of-the-line sound and lighting equipment rental, Silent disco headphones, video DJs. I can be found on social media (Facebook, Instagram, Mixcloud, and TikTok).
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
1. Know your clients and market. This way you are directly in touch with what is needed. See a need, fill a need. 2. Get familiar with your product, your field and services. So you know what you and your product can do. Capabilities and limitations.
3. Be clear, transparent and specific with your clients/customers. This way they understand and know what to expect from you and your services.
4. Follow up. Keep track of your potential clients and vendors. If you get turned down because a client did not decide to book you, and this has been confirmed from the client. Move on and focus your energy on the next customer.
5. Network and target your market. So you can include others that offer services related to your line of business and you and others involved can expand as a company and grow as a business.
Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?
I have been in situations where I feel I am not able to deliver or my reality seems bigger than my capabilities. When in situations like these, I try to look at the whole picture and prioritize what needs an immediate attention. Break down everything into smaller sections where the amount of focus and energy needed ranges from higher to lower. Tackle whatever needs a higher focus and go from there to the lower less needed sections. When this plan of action is in motion, you will see that whatever looked huge turns smaller and smaller as you gain progress. If you have friends, someone helping you out or employees, delegate obligations and share the work load giving clear, concise and straight forwards directions in order to achieve what your idea, goals.
I am a fan of learning the process of how things get done and combine the steps along the process to minimize time and resources so a maximum profit or advantage can be achieved because sometimes you do not have help, resources or funds.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/NickmartinDJ/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NickMartinDJ
- Other: https://www.mixcloud.com/DJNickMartin/
Image Credits
https://www.zaconetfilms.com/ Ronald Zaconet
