Xplosive Blog

August 20, 2014 • No Comments

One week ago today (Aug 20th, 2014), Atlantic City, NJ was packed to the gills with thousand’s of DJs and entertainers on a mission. But what was that mission? Was it to purchase new gear? Where they there to learn from the wide range of seminars being presented by top industry professionals? Did they simply want to see and hear some of America’s top DJ talent perform including Lil Jon and DJ Skribble?

Well for us at Xplosive Entertainment, the visit to our local casino region had many important purposes. First and foremost, we attend the annual DJ Expo to spend time with our peers. The conversations, the ideas traded, and the friendships formed (and reunited) are indescribable. Then with the distinct honor, Jordan Marshall, owner of Xplosive Entertainment and partner, Michael Langsner had the opportunity to speak on several panels, perform at several events, and also were responsible for coordinating and hosting two packed nightlife influenced parties (one at the new Bar Anticipation at the beach behind Trump Plaza and the other at Scores in the Taj Majhal. If that wasn’t enough, we scoped out new equipment with the purpose to continue raising the bar for Xplosive Entertainment’s technology standards.

In a look back though, we have to reflect on how our visits through the years at the DJ Times International DJ Expo has changed. Michael recalls attending the expo for the first time in 1996. At that time, (barely out of high school), Mike remembers sitting in seminars with a note pad (since ipads weren’t even in concept at the time). He took feverish notes, in this green spiral pad, from industry pros explaining how to run a bar mitzvah, what games to play, how to beat mix two songs, how to MC wedding formalities and how to sell/market your services. Mike recalls listening in awe to pros including: Bobby Morganstein, Randi Rae, Mike Walter, and KC Kokoruz lead these seminars. Before the day’s end, Mike rushed to purchase some of the Bobby Morganstein CDs (which were designed to provide mobile DJs with the audio tools needed to step up their game). This was the same time roughly, that Pioneer had just released it’s first version of the CDJ. Djing was changing as we knew it. Speakers weighed a ton. Dancers wore glittered vests and poofy flamanco inspired arm coverings. A DJ’s light show at an event consisted of a mirror ball, police beacons, and derby styled lights. Year after year, Mike brought this same green spiral note pad to the convention and always found interesting nuggets to jot down and help him improve his stake in the entertainment game. Through the years, equipment options kept changing, computers started becoming the norm for Djs, lighting became more high tech, offering TVs at gigs was turning into a common occurrence, and those glittered vests were gladly tossed in the dumpster.

Fast forward now almost 20 years later… Michael is humbled knowing that he and his business partner, Jordan are now invited to attend formal dinners with some of the aforementioned professionals; they presented at seminars along with these experts who they once (and continue to) learned from; and they are finally old enough to not only enjoy the late night after-parties at the Atlantic City nightclubs, but to sit in the VIP sections and even participate as DJ and MC at some of these parties. Oh, and that green spiral note pad was replaced with a product designed by the late Steve Jobs.

The 2014 DJ Expo (like every other expo) ends with us rushing home energized to build our business, continue to perfect our show, and utilize the tools and concepts gained to create better experiences for our clients. We have so much new thrilling items to share with our families, friends, and loyal clients. It was said wisely at the Expo that the first few gigs after the DJ convention are always some of the best, as you return home on an information high. Lastly, important to note, for the second year in a row, Jordan Marshall was asked to perform at the “DJ of the Year” competition, but declined the opportunity both times. Should we compete next year? Hymn, only time will tell… SEE YOU IN AC NEXT AUGUST, DJ EXPO!!!