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Power of Consistency with DJ Kevro
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Power of Consistency with DJ Kevro
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Transcript
Introduction of Hosts and Guest
00:00:00
Speaker
Happy Will Wednesdays! Today on Get A Heck Yes, I'm joined by DJ Kevro, music creator, MC, and certified energy shifter. I see him a lot at football parties and he knows how to get the energy lifted up.
00:00:14
Speaker
And he is known for his electrifying performances and magnetic vibe. Kevro is a master at building trust and connection with his couples before the dance floor even opens.
00:00:25
Speaker
Head on to his Instagram and you'll know what I'm talking about. So today we're diving into the power of consistency and how showing up as your best self on repeat is a secret sauce to building a brand that books.
00:00:38
Speaker
He's sharing practical tips on the process, presence, and how to keep feeding what works so your business keeps thriving. Stick around because he's also dropping a special free photo booth offer just for our listeners.
00:00:56
Speaker
Welcome to Get a Heck Yes with Carissa Wu. I'm your host Carissa and I've been a Los Angeles wedding photographer for over a decade. I've traveled the world, built my team, and seen it all.
00:01:06
Speaker
I now coach wedding photographers hit 10K a month and build a thriving business. In this podcast, we are going to deep dive into how top wedding creatives get that heck yes from their dream clients. We are not holding back on the struggles of the business and how to push through the noise. Some healthy hustle, mindset shifts, up-leveling your money story,
00:01:24
Speaker
Time hacks because I'm a mom of two, a little bit of woo-woo, and most importantly, self-love and confidence are just a few of the many things we will talk about. I want to give you a genuine thank you for following along my journey.
00:01:37
Speaker
i hope to inspire you every Woo Wednesday so that you say heck yes to listening to this podcast. See guys soon.
Kevro's Musical Journey: From Shy Beginnings to Stage Performances
00:01:47
Speaker
Hey everyone, welcome back to Get a Heck Yes with your girl, Carissa Wu. I have my dear friend here today, DJ Kevro from Musical Functions, and he is a skilled music creator, an emcee, and energy shifter.
00:02:03
Speaker
He is known for his electrifying performances and versatile mixing. His talent for connecting with audiences and client relationship development has made him a sought after a figure in the wedding entertainment industry. That's for sure.
00:02:18
Speaker
What's up, DJ Cabral? What up, what up, what up? I'm good. How are you? I could never do that, right? ah Exactly. I'm good. How are you? I'm good. Tell everyone who you are in a nutshell.
00:02:31
Speaker
all right so I am DJ Kevro, the curator, owner of Musical Functions, DJs and Entertainment. And we do weddings and corporate and we shift energy for those events. Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes. You definitely shifted my energy. So I'm feeling pumped.
00:02:46
Speaker
I love it. We're not going to talk about your career yet. Let's go back to like young Kevro. Like what were your like as a Where'd you grow up? What was your family dynamic? Like anyone, anything you want to share with audience?
00:02:57
Speaker
Yeah, so as a kid, you know, so I was pretty shy as a kid. So, um but at times, you know, it brought, I had to bring out the yeah the energizer in me, right? So I was a kid in the corner always observing.
00:03:10
Speaker
I observed everything. So I grew up in Oakland, California, observing everything. My ah family was really, really ingrained in music and, you know, they instilled that in me as well.
00:03:22
Speaker
Nice. let's talk about it. Let's talk about your family, like instilling music. um where did you were you Were your parents in a band? Did they play records a lot? Were you in like the church choir? Talk about it.
00:03:34
Speaker
I grew up playing drums. I'm a drummer. And so um I grew up playing in my mother and my aunt's band, playing reggae music, music from the Caribbeans, from Belize, Guatemala, and, you know, and that whole that whole area.
00:03:49
Speaker
So played a lot of salsa, played lot of merengue, played a lot of punta and soca and reggae. So ah Bob Marley and things like that. so And then my uncle had one of the best bands in Oakland.
00:04:00
Speaker
So I was able to kind of see and you know play with him. My earliest memory from him was standing on a chair and him showing me how to play the congas. Wow. so Yeah, so music has always been ingrained in our lives.
00:04:15
Speaker
But a key fact, though, is that I've always been running away from it. So it caught up to me later on in my life. Okay, we'll talk about that soon. Let's talk about like the performances and like the band and like where you guys performed and just bringing kind of like how old were you when you started the drums? I'm sure you're a baby, but you can walk us through that journey. Yeah, so I started playing the drums when I was five.
00:04:39
Speaker
And again, so I would stand next to the drummer and the drummer would show me things. And when I would be at the rehearsal, they would rehearse in the house and then they moved to the garage. Then they moved to a rehearsal place. And we would always, you know, I would always kind of observe.
00:04:53
Speaker
And so I would always be the while everyone's playing outside, I'd be in the house playing drums and practicing and learning. So my first show was when i was eleven And i was I was playing for my mother's band and my aunt's band, obviously. My mother and my aunt.
00:05:11
Speaker
It was their band. And played the drums because their drummer didn't show up. ah So they had to kind of sneak me in the back door and set up all my drums for me and everything. And yeah, I played for them.
00:05:24
Speaker
So that was a cool thing. I bought my first bike with that money. Oh, like a bicycle. Yeah, yeah. I bought my first bicycle with that money. What was the feeling like being on stage at 12 years old and like you had to be snuck in? And what was the feeling like getting the vibes from the audience and just being on stage?
00:05:41
Speaker
Yeah, it was kind of eerie because I felt like I was doing something wrong. Right. You know, um I was in this adult 21 over club with all these grown people. And, you know, and I got in there. But once I got on the drums, you know, all that went away.
Balancing Life: Music, Sports, and Career Aspirations
00:05:56
Speaker
And as I was in my zone.
00:05:58
Speaker
And so I was um naturally able to kind of lead the band and lead the crowd, you know, with my playing. So, yeah, I had had a really enlightening experience from that. Does your ah mom and aunt still play perform? Yeah, so my my aunt doesn't sing anymore, but my mother still performs. And so she still performs in Orange County, Long Beach, and with ah with a Bob Marley tribute band.
00:06:21
Speaker
Crazy. Yeah. You have to send me the link. I will, I will. And so, yeah. And then a major part of when I, so when I turned 15, my family is a family that actually brought out Too Short.
00:06:36
Speaker
Yes. So this is before Blow the Whistle. And, you know, the first album was Life is Too Short. And my uncle and my cousin was actually started the record companies that brought them out.
00:06:47
Speaker
So, yeah, exactly. Yeah. Blow the whistle. but Everyone knows it. Everyone knows it. thats so Yeah. I love that song. That's so crazy. So they had like a producing company as well.
00:06:59
Speaker
No, it was actually a record label. So Too Short and my uncle started Dangerous Music, which was Too Short's first label. What? Yeah, and they started that together out of Oakland, California. My first concert as a 12-year-old was a Too Short concert.
00:07:15
Speaker
Whoa. I know Oakland get typey for sure. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, exactly. yep And I went on my first tour and when i was 15. So, yeah. Nice. Okay. Tell us about high school years and then early college years. What what were you like? and Did you come out of your observer show?
00:07:33
Speaker
I did. So, you know, what I always stayed in my observer bag. So I'm always observing. This is what I do and who I am. Right. And but when I'm on, I'm on and ready to go because I take all of those experiences and then I use those to perform when I do.
00:07:49
Speaker
So high school, i was the one always, you know, I was always the one around dancing and, you know, joking and having a good time. And so talent shows, I would always come back and do all the talent shows and we will win the talent show with, with you know, i would my first one, I would do a um a cover of a rap that Too Short made that didn't that that he didn't put out. so yeah And so a lot of the artists that um they're they're their record company had, I would do a lot of those um covers um during the talent shows in high school.
00:08:24
Speaker
Oh, that's awesome. Yeah, you are like an observer. Like ah from the time I met you at the gala, um Charleston, though you're like you guys are you're just like bright eyes and like always looking around. and like That's it. you' Just like ready to go.
00:08:36
Speaker
Yeah, yeah, yeah. So always observing. So um so in high school, I also played football. So what happened was I got away from music because I was got interested in girls and interested and sports.
00:08:49
Speaker
So girls in sports kind of took over. and And then through college, I was kind of, you know, away from music. So I went to Cal State Dominguez. And so, you know, I really, I wanted to be a doctor, honestly.
00:09:03
Speaker
Yeah. So I wanted to be a doctor, but... music kept pulling me back in. So yeah. Okay. So college, Dominguez, sports, girls, um how did music pull you back in in those days and early, I guess, right out of college?
00:09:22
Speaker
Yeah, yeah. So this was like um late night So early 2000s, late 90s. Okay. So out of college. So I graduated college in 2000. gosh, it was 2004. There you go.
00:09:35
Speaker
two thousand four there you go let's So Yeah. And so at that time too short came to l a And my uncle was still managing him and they had a concert and they were at a club in downtown LA.
00:09:55
Speaker
And, you know, at this time I haven't been on stage in a long time. So it's been over like, shoot, at least five to 10 years. yeah And so finally um I'm there and I'm hanging out and they pulled me up on stage.
00:10:10
Speaker
And so like, they started pulling a bunch of us on stage that they knew, right? Like we're like the, you know, the hype people and we're kind of going around and talking and everything. So, Yeah, so it pulled me back on stage. And then as soon as I got on stage, I caught i caught the vibe again.
Building Musical Functions: Innovating Wedding Entertainment
00:10:24
Speaker
I'm like, you know what? I need to get into this. Wow. And so at the time, my brother was DJing. And then he actually got me back into it. um to get it Actually, not back into it, but got me into DJing and showed me some stuff and was taking me to the clubs and the bars that he was DJing at. And I was like, man, I really like this. So, yeah, I did it.
00:10:43
Speaker
Wow. So when they pulled you up on stage, was it like um like drumming or were you? No, no, no. So it was two shows on stage and we were all just being hype people. So, you know, you have we got a rapper on stage and they yeah have a bunch of people around them. so yeah I was one of those guys and one of those people.
00:10:59
Speaker
Yeah. I would watch the They Not Like Us, Kendrick Lamar, and they're always on stage. They Not Us with their phones and like going live with all the friends and homies. and so and so But music was always a part of it because I got my my degree in business.
00:11:14
Speaker
And my final project actually for um for business school when i and I graduated was my company Musical Functions. o So we had to create a business and do a SWOT analysis and do all those things. and my final project was Musical Functions.
00:11:33
Speaker
Wow. What was like the whole like big vision of musical functions? So the big vision of music at that time, the big vision of musical functions was to be ah because at the time, one of the first million dollar ah ah wedding company.
00:11:48
Speaker
Yeah. Right. And i wanted to just do these you know amazing events and do something different because I was what happened was I was going to weddings while in college because my all my friends are getting married and I'm seeing people getting married, going to weddings and I'm seeing these DJs.
00:12:04
Speaker
who, you know, the DJs, they have a headset on and they're, you know, playing games. And they're just, to me, they were really corny. was like, man, there has to be ah a cooler factor to do this, a cooler way to do this.
00:12:15
Speaker
Yeah. Right. um ah lot what So basically they weren't relating to their crowd and relating to the couple. It was, hey, this is what we play. We're going to play these songs and, you know we're going to do these dances rather than kind of letting the energy take them where the the day should go.
00:12:32
Speaker
<unk> Interesting. Yeah. And they seem pretty outdated too at the time. Yeah. I still see that like nowadays. Yeah. Exactly. Exactly. we We still see it these days. But... Luckily, i belong to a group that is that's looking to change that and has changed actually the um the the wedding DJ industry. So a lot of my friends like DJ Malik, DJ Jason Jani, Brian B, DJ Torn out of Atlanta, a lot of um us are trying to change the image of what the DJ is and have changed the and the image of what the DJ is. So the DJ, it seems to be a lot cooler now for a weddings, right? Because we're bringing that club atmosphere and environment to weddings now.
00:13:11
Speaker
Yeah, I love that. um I guess one more question before Hot Topic, but sure what is your, I mean, just you just said it, but what is your woo factor? um What makes you stand out from the rest? So what makes me stand out from the rest is being unique, my cool factor, and it's showing up and keeping a cool head in stressful situations, right? Because weddings are state are so, like, really so, like, ever-changing, right? Yeah. So,
00:13:38
Speaker
Being able to keep a cool head and keep a cool factor and kind of really be you know like, hey, listen, no worries. We'll do this. No worries. We can change this. We can kind of be pliable. um It really helps out with a couple.
00:13:50
Speaker
Oh, I love that. Yeah, you have to be on your toes all the time. You never know what's going to happen, especially when people are drunk. Be on your toes and be pliable and be you know ever-changing. Be able to kind of you know ah adjust to the situations.
00:14:02
Speaker
Yep, yep, yep, yep. I love that.
Consistency and Authenticity in Business
00:14:04
Speaker
Okay, what is your hot topic, Kebril, and why is it so near and dear to your heart?
00:14:10
Speaker
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00:14:24
Speaker
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00:14:36
Speaker
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Speaker
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Speaker
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00:15:16
Speaker
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00:15:30
Speaker
All right. So I took a little some notes here. So want to make sure I get it right. what so i sit So, you know, so for me, my hot topic is, you know, showing up 100 percent consistently you and the value of being consistent.
00:15:43
Speaker
Right. A lot of times I see it to where you get on the phone with a client and you're like, all right great. That's that's amazing. Oh, I really let's book it. But then on the day of or later on in a future meeting, it's like, man, I don't really like this person.
00:15:59
Speaker
This person's not really a good, good person. Right. yeah Or, you know, oh, I thought I was getting this, but now I got that. Or another person showed up. ah Right. Yeah. And it wasn't, um you know, who they said were they were going to be.
00:16:14
Speaker
Yeah. Right. But just my hot topic today is it showing up as consistently you and being who you are for your clients. Yeah, I'm trying to wrap my head around everything you just said already. So let's talk about it. I mean, yeah yeah that we're kind of going to talk about like being bit ah consistent in your business. But now it's kind of like being consistent um to your clients as the same like energy, the same ah personality and the same vibe. So let's talk about it.
00:16:46
Speaker
Exactly. So let's so it's um actually two things. So it's showing up consistently in your processes so that you can be consistently you and show up as yourself. Right. And doing those things that make you you and take the time to do the things that make you you so you can show up for your clients.
00:17:03
Speaker
So. All right. So showing up as your best self. Right. That's one thing I want to talk about. And then success lying within your processes and then feeding what works and starving what doesn't.
00:17:14
Speaker
Right. Because a lot of times we keep on trying to make things happen when we maybe need to just take those things out of our process to eliminate that so that we can move forward. All right. Let's talk about the first one showing up as yourself.
00:17:27
Speaker
So showing up as yourself. So. For me, i like to have a process. So it's something that I do for every single wedding, right? I do weddings, sometimes four weddings a week.
00:17:38
Speaker
And so every morning or every day, I need to take an hour or two to do completely nothing. Right. So I will sit in my bed. I'll watch something um mindless on TV and I'll just, you know, just hang out.
00:17:54
Speaker
I'll eat something. But I take those hours, that hour or two just to do nothing, to clear my head so I can kind of reset every single way. Yeah, even like before this podcast, like I don't really look at anything else besides you. So just to kind of like clear my head and focus on the podcast. So I get that. Yeah, so it's kind of like meditating, right? Because what you're trying to do it you're trying to clear your head and get rid of all the distractions.
00:18:19
Speaker
So that way I know that, okay, so today's wedding is Sarah and Lucas and today's wedding is going to be from 4.30 to 10. I got all the things in my head and except, you know, but I'm not worried about, okay, hey, it was hard waking my kid up this morning or it was, you know, me and my wife, we're not vibing right now or whatever, you right? So I'm clearing my head of everything. yeah And now I'm able to focus and show up and be a hundred percent who I need to be.
00:18:47
Speaker
Yeah, by the way, where did you meet your wife?
Personal Life and Supportive Relationships
00:18:50
Speaker
So, an interesting story. Me and my wife, we met at a gas station. Oh, there's no way. Yeah, yeah. We met at a gas station and in L.A. Whoa. Yeah, yeah. I shot my shot, and it worked.
00:19:03
Speaker
Yay, that's so crazy. I haven't heard that one ever. Yeah, interesting. It's an interesting story. Yeah, yeah. We met at a gas station, and you know um ah like I said, I'm not a go-up-and-talk-to-a-girl type person. Yeah, yeah.
00:19:16
Speaker
You know, so I just kind of I'll give a look and we just vibe or talk. But this time i was like, you know what? I was feeling good. It's my sister's birthday. And I was like, you know, hey, she looks cute. So I went up.
00:19:28
Speaker
I talked to her. as You know, I said I said something like, oh, no, here's what i said. I said, hey, is that your car? She said, yeah, it is. I told her, said, hey, you know what? We're going to look good going out on a date in it. Dang. She laughed. She smiled. And I gave her my number and I said, nice to meet you.
00:19:44
Speaker
Walked away. She called me that night and now we're still married. Dang. If that's not to the point, then I don't know what is. Yeah, yeah. So, you know, that's it. But, you know, that's just kind of who I am. I'm a to the point, you know, kind of person. And, you know.
00:19:59
Speaker
And you have one one daughter? Yeah. No, no, no. We have we have we have four kids. oh yeah Four kids. Yeah, no, no. Yeah. Yeah, yeah, exactly. No, you guys are spooky together. I feel like you have... Thank you. You guys are like power couple, so... Yeah, and you know what? That's key also. Having a partner in your life who is supportive.
00:20:18
Speaker
You support them and they support you. Yes. So what works for us is we're able to be 100% who we are individually so that we can be better together.
00:20:29
Speaker
Yeah, and she's like a therapist, so I'm sure she helps you with some stuff. My wife is the number one therapist and in in Southern California and Seattle now. Damn! Okay, so speaking of like being there for each other, let's talk about like systems.
Business Systems and Client Satisfaction
00:20:43
Speaker
um yeah You mentioned ah you need systems to show up who you are for your clients. So what are your best top-notch systems that you have in your business?
00:20:53
Speaker
So I use three things. So I use Dubsado. which may in that you I automate that and it makes life so much easier. and I use Vibo, which is a music planning app built by my friend Michael.
00:21:08
Speaker
And it's amazing. And it's for music planning. So easy. And then the third thing that I use is my a Notability on my iPad. Right.
00:21:19
Speaker
And so I keep my processes streamlined and simple so that it makes it easy for my clients to make a decision. Right. And so I build trust in my clients from the minute they inquiry, inquire on our website.
00:21:31
Speaker
Wow. What is a notable one? What do you do? Is that like all like tasks? Yeah. So notable is for tasks, is for note taking. You can download all like the like the wedding timeline. You can download the photographer shot list if you want.
00:21:44
Speaker
And so I have all those things in there. So it keeps on the day of I have everything already in one spot. OK. And then how do you use Dubsado? So Dubsado.
00:21:54
Speaker
Yeah. So Dubsado for the booking process. As soon as they click the inquiry on my link, it goes straight to Dubsado and they get go through a workflow. So from initial inquiry all the way to booking and review, I have the workflow in there and it just makes it nice and easy and it's us all automated.
00:22:12
Speaker
Wow. Yeah, I've worked with a this designer for my brand and she used Upsado and I was very impressed with like all the questionnaires and like, what do you think about this? And I was like, oh, that's very like streamlined. So I really dig that. and Yeah, and I don't know if I'm getting ahead of myself here, but you know to for my clients to say, heck yes, that's what makes it so easy.
00:22:34
Speaker
So for them to see it, so I give them all the information. I'll be i'm transparent. I'm honest. On our phone call, during the meetings, I show up as who I am. I'm reliable, and i feel and I'm relatable, right?
00:22:45
Speaker
So and one of the things about me is I'm able to connect really fast with people. Do you have any like tips and tricks for connecting fast?
00:22:57
Speaker
So for me, it's a gift. So, you you know, but what I do is I've honed on on that honed in on that gift, right? So for instance, so no one right now, like, so no and no one's you.
00:23:09
Speaker
So right, the first time we met, so I heard you speak. at, well, I forgot where it was. I think it was in Orange County. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Orange County. So heard you speak. I'm like, wow, she's really, and she's really into, what was it? she so She's really into this, like helping people.
00:23:26
Speaker
Yeah. That's what it was. And so now I'm like, you know what? I want to connect with her on a helping people level. Right? Interesting. Yeah. So maybe it's a smile. Maybe it's just like your eyes. Maybe it's like the way we kind of just are, the energy.
00:23:40
Speaker
Yeah. Right. Energy is big. So I connected with your energy. And then we started to talk about, you know, family and my wife. And then I brought my wife to an event. You met my wife. And so that way, you know, it's so we it just connected that way.
00:23:53
Speaker
Yeah. Right. So I don't, it's not really a tip, but the tip is to be present. I think that's key. I think we're always so busy doing things. Yeah. Right. When we're at an event, we're on our phone, we're trying to capture content now. Right. Right.
00:24:08
Speaker
And we're trying to do all these things. But I think the biggest tip is being in the moment. Right. And being present. Yeah. That's what like people would ask me. Oh, do you still get scared to like do these podcasts? I'm like, all I have to do is be present and listen and then everything will be fine.
00:24:27
Speaker
Yeah, exactly. Yep. Just be present. that's that That's a major key
Creating an Unforgettable Wedding Atmosphere
00:24:31
Speaker
in everything. So even when during the wedding. So I'm there. So I'm not looking. I don't have my phone out. I don't have my tablet out. It's out so I can actually look at notability for when it's time.
00:24:41
Speaker
But when you see my videos on Instagram where I'm connecting with the bridal party, that's my first time ever meeting any of the bridal parties. In fact, the yesterday, that was my first time meeting the bride and groom in person. I met had one phone call with them.
00:24:58
Speaker
But the way, as soon as I get there, they see my energy. They see my smile. They see that I am ready to go. So that energy translates to them.
00:25:08
Speaker
And then we create a video. We create content. Now they're ready to go. And all this, they can hear inside. The guests can hear it as well. Yeah. now the guests, yeah, the guests hear excitement as well. Yes. Do you know what my pet peeve is?
00:25:21
Speaker
What's that? weddings When the DJ doesn't do that. Right. Because I feel like i am the hype girl like throughout the day. So I shift that to the DJ for the reception. And if they don't do it, then they walk in like, you know, like it's so sad, right? Like they're just like walking to their seat like all awkwardly. But then if the DJ like hypes them up, which is like 10% of the time, it's like a whole different vibe of the party. Like the energy just like raises, like, I don't elevates to the sky. and People are just buzzing.
00:25:53
Speaker
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Speaker
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00:26:55
Speaker
AfterShoot, I can't thank you enough for giving me back my time to focus on this podcast. Oh yeah, back to the podcast. question for you though so can you tell when the dj is doing that authentically or when and when the dj is like pushing to mimic somebody else or kind of trying to be something different that's a good question i mean i i try to get people the benefit of the doubt so um i'm not like really a shit talker so even if they put like some sort of effort in i'm like good job like i've heard people say names wrong um
00:27:30
Speaker
just you know whatever like shit hits the fan where like the music goes off but i feel like if the dj is at least trying and giving some effort to like get the the wedding party like you know energized and kudos to them yeah question for you do you know the sweetest sound to a person's ears their name.
00:27:53
Speaker
Exactly. So, right. So getting somebody's name wrong, that's why it's such a big deal. Yeah. Right. So when you see, sometimes we, I see, I explain this to my DJs, like especially newer DJs, because newer DJs get this wrong a lot.
00:28:07
Speaker
Right. Especially when they start to do more weddings. Yeah. Right. They go from doing, you know, two weddings a week to three weddings a week. Now it's like say October. Now they're doing in a month, they could be doing 10 weddings.
00:28:19
Speaker
You know what I mean? So yeah, I explained this to newer DJs. Hey, the sweetest sound to a person's ears is their name. Right? So don't worry about the last name, just the first name.
00:28:32
Speaker
Yeah. Right? And again, so before you start to grant introductions, again, deep breath, clear your head. read the names, go out to them, go out to the bridal party, yep and you go through the names. All right, we have Tasha and Kevin. We have Richard and Monica, right?
00:28:50
Speaker
And so when they hear their names right there, they're like, okay, cool. And let's say if you got, we have Tarei and Nia. Oh, she goes, oh no, Nia. Okay, great. So now you spell it phonetically right there.
00:29:02
Speaker
And so Now, when the grand entrance comes and they hear their name with your excitement behind it. Yeah. Oh, man, that energy flows throughout the whole night.
00:29:12
Speaker
Yeah. It's the little things, right? It's the it's the little things that are really big. Yeah, I think um one of my best friends, she got married like way before everyone else. And the photographer, her photographer that she hired, ah they spelled her name wrong on the CD.
00:29:27
Speaker
This is back when like, okay. They were like, so pissed about that. So I always remembered. yeah, just that. And I'm like, the pictures like fine, you know, for that day and age. But they're always like, Oh, that's so crazy. Like photographer, like, like messed up her name. So I was like, I always like make sure know, don't don't mess up their name.
00:29:47
Speaker
Yeah. and interesting thing about that, Shavonna, she's like more wifes a therapist but is an author also. So in her book, she talks about the name, you know, the power of your name, because her name, Shavonna, is sometimes ah really hard to pronounce for people.
00:30:00
Speaker
Yeah. So the power of a person's name is, I guess, crucial. Nice. OK, so I think you have one more thing to yeah talk about for ah consistency. Yeah. So one more thing for consistency I had. The last thing I had was feed what works and starve what doesn't.
00:30:18
Speaker
Talk about So let's talk about that. So earlier in my career, I tried to do so many things, right? Because we hear all the things that we're supposed to be doing in our industry.
00:30:30
Speaker
Right. So we're supposed to be content creators. We're supposed to make sure that we connect with our couples. Make sure you do a deep dive on their Instagram or Facebook. You know, we use Facebook so much.
00:30:41
Speaker
Um, And so, and then also with your processes, it was, you know, hey, listen, I remember five, 10 years ago, the process was, hey, we need to have two or three touch points.
00:30:53
Speaker
We need to have a conversation with our client, with their client before you can even, if you want it in a book, then it needs to be a back and forth conversation with all these things, right? And remembering that, so what I realized was that when i heard it from I heard it from my clients, they said, you know, we have so much to do.
00:31:11
Speaker
we got a We have the photographer shot list like I talked about. We have the wedding planner that we need to talk to and get with. We have the cake. We have flowers. We have all these things. So I want to be, so for my for me and my DJs, I want to be the easiest part of your process but the most fun.
00:31:29
Speaker
So what that is is making it a three-step process. I said, you know what? len I took my processes from... five to seven steps to three steps now. Wow. Right? And those and now what I did was I made those three steps impactful.
00:31:43
Speaker
Right? Yeah. so Now, I took a bit took had a video inside my my process. I took the video out because now what you're doing is you're sending to them to another link that they have to click on. Then they have to watch the video. Then they have to come back, right?
00:32:00
Speaker
Wow. And so, yeah, so all those things. So I eliminate that and I make my three steps in impactful. And the process has been amazing. Okay, we have some time. So what are the three steps? Okay.
00:32:11
Speaker
So the three steps for what? The three impactful steps to the for the client process. Oh, from so the three impactful steps for my mike for my client process is first, it's the initial consult. Let me start initial um and the inquiry.
00:32:27
Speaker
So they see the website, they click on it, boom, they get an automatic email. Great. Now, from that email, they've already seen, you know, they've seen video. They've seen ah price. My price is on my website. It's transparent. and It's clear. And it's there.
00:32:42
Speaker
Yeah. Right. So that's my first step. Then the second step is the the like that we get on the phone and we talk, we have the conversation. And then the third step is they make a decision in book.
00:32:55
Speaker
Wow. Nice easy. so pretty much everything that Tom Chilinik from The Knot said, like, you were already doing it tenfold. Yeah, you know, and but it was it was good confirmation, but it also, you know, it
Success Through Consistency and Networking
00:33:06
Speaker
was a... um i'm not a I'm a big proponent of doing what works best for your company and your process.
00:33:12
Speaker
Yeah, yeah. Right? So your process may be a 10-step process. Yeah. Right? um But here's what I tell you. once you Here's what I have learned. Once you get over a certain dollar amount, those processes need to be impactful, informative, informative, sorry, knowledgeable, and you know easy to make a decision.
00:33:33
Speaker
Yeah. you know, they don't yeah they don't want to have to go a whole lot of places. OK, can I pay with a credit card? Great. Can you take Venmo? Yes. yeah Can you take with this? Whatever. um Thinking about the a lot of my clients own their own business as well.
00:33:47
Speaker
So they may want to pay in through Venmo or Zelle or Cash App or something like that. So having all those things available and easily ready. Yeah, this girl, um they emailed me yesterday at Inquiry and I like hopped on the phone with them like right away. And she said she went on my Karisawu Photography Instagram and couldn't even find my website because I had Linktree and then the top ones were like and um some of my side hustle like affiliates.
00:34:16
Speaker
yeah And she was almost going to book another photographer if I didn't respond because she didn't and know how to get a hold of me. And I'm like, oh my God, like... Thank you for telling me because I spend so much time on my Instagram just for you not to find my website. That's so crazy.
00:34:31
Speaker
Yeah, I got, you know, interesting story. we have time? Yeah, yeah, yeah. Interesting story. I belong to a a group, like a ah like a networking group. Not a networking group, sorry. It was a business coaching group, right?
00:34:43
Speaker
I belong to this business coaching networking group. I'm not going the name because everybody knows who this person is. But I was part of their networking group. This was 20... and twenty In 2018, I started this.
00:34:56
Speaker
I started kind of learning and my processes and all this stuff. is They helped me out so much. But one thing they kept saying was, hey, Instagram, you know you're not going to get clients from Instagram.
00:35:07
Speaker
Right. This was in twenty eighteen. wow And so this is when I was still doing the videos with um with ah with the bridal party out front. And I first started doing it.
00:35:19
Speaker
And so I'm doing these videos and everyone's like, man. And what I'm noticing is that couples are liking it. And they're really like that. That connection just in that little that 30 seconds was amazing.
00:35:31
Speaker
And so on Instagram, people start started commenting. And I would get an inquiry. Hey, you know what? Love your energy. Are you booked on May 12th? Love your energy. Are you booked on... Right? So I kept getting these. But in the group, they were telling us to spend more time putting our resources into Google.
00:35:53
Speaker
Yeah. Putting our resources into... um see kind yeah SEO, right? And being top of the list. And be putting our resources into Wedding Pro and The Knot. Yeah. Right? So...
00:36:06
Speaker
I started putting resources into my my energy, into all these things that he was telling me. But as I'm spending this money, most of my clients are coming from Instagram. Whoa, crazy. Right.
00:36:18
Speaker
So my point is do what works best for your business. Yeah. You can learn and you can get educated, but also find out what's working and keep doing more of that until it stops working. Then do something different.
00:36:32
Speaker
Yeah. Wow. That's a good advice. I think I should copy you because I hype up the wedding party as well. So I need to get my assistant to take video of it. Yeah. And then if you want to about consistency, I do all the weddings my company does for a company called Serendipity Garden Weddings.
00:36:48
Speaker
I shot there. So, yeah, exactly. So we do all there. We've been doing all of their weddings since 2015. Wow. fifteen wow Right. And I myself. So I so i was the main DJ company grew. and i started bringing other DJs in. ye And now we're consistently providing some like great experiences for all their clients.
00:37:10
Speaker
Right. Right. But again, i was being told by a lot of people that, hey, you're never going to grow if you stay with this one wedding venue.
00:37:21
Speaker
You're never going to grow if yeah yeah you got to get out of there. You got to get out of there. But now it's not just not about, you know, the money that we're making there, but we got a relationship. Now we're I'm like a fan like they're like family. Yeah. I know the owners. I know the venue manager, you know, everybody. But my point to that is the power of consistency.
00:37:42
Speaker
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00:37:55
Speaker
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00:38:05
Speaker
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00:38:23
Speaker
So every year i do something different at that venue. Every year we have a new, every two or three years, I have i bring on a new DJ and we consistently provide these amazing experiences so that we can, you know, we want to make sure that we can repeat it.
00:38:37
Speaker
Yeah. Right. And also we're making pretty, we're actually really good money just know off off being one of the vendors at this venue. So, you know, the power of consistency is key, but you got to show up 100% you and you got to show up as your best every single time.
00:38:54
Speaker
Yeah. I mean, you're such a hustler and very business savvy. Two more questions. We have seven seven more minutes. um I was going to say consistency in your brand. Talk about your brand, your style. um Your Instagram is very consistent. and so tell the audience like any tips and tricks about that.
00:39:15
Speaker
So a lot of things that I get, I get from um my DJ friends in my network. Right. um The one of the best branding people I know is DJ Malik from Curate out of Florida.
00:39:29
Speaker
So he's a really, really good friend, actually a brother to me. But, you know, with your brand, you've got to figure out what you are selling. Right. So for Malik, he sells joy. For me, I sell energy and coolness.
00:39:43
Speaker
Right. So everything you see on my page is going to be about energy. It's about being cool and it's about being relatable. So that's what that's what I'm selling. So as far as my brand goes, I keep my brand colors, my colors consistent. Right. So the color behind me and the color of my hat right now, it's that auburn and orange kind of kind of color and black.
00:40:05
Speaker
Yeah. That's what I do. So from the way I dress to the Instagram, to the website, everything stays consistent. wow But, you know, for me, I am telling the story of being a light in this world.
00:40:16
Speaker
Wow. So I want to be a light energy to to everybody. So everybody that I come into contact with, I want them to be their best when I'm done with them. Right. When I'm done interacting with them, you know, even if it's continuous.
00:40:30
Speaker
So I'm always rooting for everyone to be their best. Yeah, I feel that from you for sure. um i guess last question and then take it away with like people to tell people
Final Thoughts and How to Connect with Kevro
00:40:40
Speaker
how to work with you. But last question is speak to the hearts of wedding pros. A lot of wedding pros are listening right now and they're maybe feeling a little bit discouraged.
00:40:52
Speaker
um What would you tell them to do today to like inspire them to, because you do it like a ton of weddings, um, inspire them to just kind of get their calendar full.
00:41:06
Speaker
So inspire to get their calendar full. So here's my advice. And this is you non-bias or anything. Keep going. So keep going, keep creating, keep doing the things that make you, you.
00:41:21
Speaker
So as a photographer, if you want to you know, get more bookings, you know, get out there, get out of your comfort zone, right? So for me, my goal this year was to be at more events. So that's WIPA events, NACE events.
00:41:34
Speaker
um You know, I wanted to go to BSAGE, but I couldn't make it. I couldn't, you know, do it at the time. But go do those things. Go network. So get out of your comfort zone. So, With that, also talk to your talk to your closest relatives, right? So husband, wives, brothers, sisters, partners, right?
00:41:54
Speaker
Discuss things with them because they have ideas that you won't even think about because they're not even in your industry, right? They hear about all the things that when you come home and about all the ah wedding, the greatness, but then the wedding, worseness also, right?
00:42:08
Speaker
Worseness is our new word, but they hear about all those things. So Keep going and do the thing, do things that you typically wouldn't do. Right. And when you see those things working, keep doing them again.
00:42:21
Speaker
Feed what works and starve what doesn't. Oh, I love that. That is a perfect way to end. And where can everyone find you, work with you and feel your energy? So the best way to work with me or find me is going to be on Instagram and TikTok at DJKevro, the curator.
00:42:40
Speaker
Also, my company on Instagram is Musical Functions Entertainment. That's Musical Functions. Functions with a P-H-U-N-K, entertainment. And obviously my ah website at www.musicalfunctions.com. So but the best way to find my energy and kind of interact, and I would love to connect just to kind of, you know,
00:43:01
Speaker
talk and answer any questions or it get some knowledge and kind of feed off of each other and connect. You can ask Instagram at DJ Kevro, the curator. Thank you, Kevro.
00:43:14
Speaker
Thanks for joining me this week on Get a Heck Yes with Carissa Wu. Make sure to follow, subscribe, leave a review, or tell a friend about the show. Take a screenshot and post to IG. Tag me. Also, don't forget to download my free guide on how to become a lead generating machine.
00:43:30
Speaker
See you next time, wedding pros.