Episode 39: DJ Tessa
Thank you for tuning in to Wonderful Radio! We are happy to introduce DJ Tessa for Episode 39!
Pioneering a way as a DJ and agent for other women in the music industry, Tessa is no beginner to the music and business world. Early in her career, people often told Tessa that they had difficulty finding women who DJ. In response, she launched PRISM DJs as a full-service agency that pairs clients with women who will build soundtracks for parties, weddings, and events. Enjoy her mix here on Wonderful and read the interview below to find out more about Tessa and her work!
1.How long have you been Djing and where did you get your start?
I bought my first pair of turntables in 2003. At that time, I was a hobby DJ and collecting vinyl records from thrift stores. In 2009, I booked my first paid gig, so I would say 2009 was the beginning of my professional DJ career.
2.I know you are the founder of an all-female booking agency called PRISM DJs.
We love to see this! Can you tell us more about PRISM DJs and what inspired the venture?
I've always loved music, entrepreneurship, and helping people, so everything aligned in 2015 when several clients expressed how difficult it was to find a female DJ. These conversations sparked an idea to meet the market demand for talented, professional female DJs, and with that, PRISM DJs were born! I was able to fulfill a market need, plus help contribute to gender balance in the DJ industry.
3. It looks like you’ve had many opportunities providing music for many branded events and experiences. What is your favorite thing about these types of events? Maybe you can tell us about some highlight experiences?
Experiential events are my favorite! I love curating the music and atmosphere to match the brand's vision for the event. I also get super happy when I can book other team members for the same event. For instance, some of my favorites were TwitchCon with Miss Ninja and Crykit, FabFitFun with Miss Ninja and Victoria Van Damn, and Upfront Summit with Frazier Davis.
4. What advice or knowledge would you share with female DJs looking to level up within the aspects of self-marketing & entrepreneurship?
I will start with self-marketing. Make sure your online presence is on point! Keep your website, Mixcloud, and social media current and have a good design aesthetic. When I submit DJs to potential clients, they want to see the DJs online profile. If it isn't current or doesn't look like the DJ is an actual "DJ" (i.e., a bunch of cat or food photos), they will move on to the next.
As for entrepreneurship, I want DJs to understand that they are a business! So, make sure you present yourself as a legitimate business with a business license, an LLC or sole proprietorship, insurance, contracts, payment systems, etc. Provide excellent customer service by being responsive to emails—clients love working with me because I am a professional, knowledgeable, and reliable. Professionalism and trust are key!