Day 1 - Monday 12/11/23 Schedule

Day 1
8:00a – 9:55a

Registration & Badge Pickup

It’s time to pick up your tickets, or if you haven’t registered yet to sign up and be part of the action. The sooner you get your tickets, the bigger the savings.

Day 1
All Day

SHOW HOST: Chris Washburn

Chris's Biography

Chris is a passionate superhero fan nerd that also loves Céline Dion, Korean barbecue, golden retrievers and occasionally his wife. He won 16 intramural championships while attending Ithaca College in an array of sports, including ping-pong, flag football softball, and coed volleyball. Speaking of winning, Chris is also a notable player in the high stakes poker world as he regularly plays on some of the world’s most popular televised poker shows. Things Chris despises are inauthenticity, conversational narcissists, tofu, and snakes. If you wanna know more about his DJ career, there’s plenty of content and press kit material on his social media and only fans. You can also Google or ask ChatGPT.

Meet the founders Lou, Tyler, and Chris on stage

Day 1
9:55a – 10:00a

Opening Remarks

Join Tyler, Chris, and Lou as we embark on our 2023 expo!

Day 1
10:00a – 11:00a

KEYNOTE: Tori Vee - You’re Not Your F*cking Khakis

If you get the reference… you know you are in for one hell of a keynote.

Tori's Biography

Tori Vee seamlessly transitions from the turntables to the conference stage, bringing authenticity and heartfelt insight as a featured speaker. Drawing from her eclectic experiences, Tori discusses the profound connections we make through shared moments, be it a song or a story. Away from the limelight, her affection for animals, her dedication to motivation as an Orange Theory Coach, and her love for nerdy passions make her relatable and down-to-earth. With a genuine approach to storytelling and a warmth evident in her legendary hugs, Tori Vee speaks to the heart from the heart, resonating with audiences and leaving a lasting impact.

Day 1
11:00a – 12:00p

Mike Walter: Lessons From My 35 Years As A Mobile DJ

Mike began his career at a very successful multi-op, Star DJs, and after 5 years there, he went on to own and operate his own business, Elite Entertainment. Along the way, he’s experienced a lot and learned even more, and in this seminar he will be sharing some tips about sales and marketing, training and managing talent, and staying relevant to have a decades-long career in the business.

Mike's Biography

Mike Walter is the proud owner of Elite Entertainment, a Multi-System DJ Company in New Jersey that has been selected by TheKnot.com and WeddingWire.com as a top Entertainment company in the country. For over 30 years, he has MCed events from weddings to fashion shows and beauty pageants and his public speaking experience and acumen have served him well as a presenter. He began to offer seminars in 1998, at first specifically to the DJ Industry, then he expanded to speaking to event groups and finally to any and all audiences.

Mike has published three books, Running Your Multi-Op which is widely consider the most comprehensive book for anyone interested in expanding their DJ business, the self-help primer, Ten Things You Can Do to Have a Better Day and the music history compendium: On This Date in Music. He’s also released a number of education videos to help his fellow DJs and business owners. In 2014 he partnered with Joe Bunn to start the PhDJ Workshop and in 2017 the two began a weekly podcast called the PhDJ Podcast. For more information head to DJMikeWalter.com and OnThisDateInMusic.com

Day 1
12:00p-12:20p

EV Highlight Performance

Day 1
12:20p-3:00p

The Harvest Of Sound Speaker Shootout

The Speaker Shootout, shepherded by Ben Stowe and Lou Paris, is unlike anything in the industry. It gives you the opportunity to not only see actual measurements in the room, but to also hear each speaker side by side under real world conditions. No other expo has this level of approachability to hearding sound in a real world environment and you are able to ask two experts in the industry the most technical questions you can muster.

Day 1
3:00p – 4:00p

Cleveland Terry: TBD

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Cleveland's Biography

Cleveland Terry is a renowned DJ, YouTube influencer, and the founder of CheckOne2 Enterprises. With a deep passion for music and an innate ability to read a crowd, Cleveland has become a sought-after DJ in the industry. His DJ sets are known for their seamless mix of genres and contagious energy, making every event he performs at an unforgettable experience.

With his magnetic personality and undeniable talent, Cleveland Terry has made a significant impact on both the YouTube community and the DJing scene. Whether through his captivating dj tech & business videos or his electrifying DJ sets, Cleveland continues to inspire and entertain people around the world with his love for music and his commitment to his craft.

Day 1
4:00p – 5:00p

Tony Fernandez: Sound Reinforcement

We all do it. Let’s do it better. Let’s talk about the right size rig for the gig. Decibel levels and what they REALLY mean and how they work in the real world. Watts and what the real numbers are. Manage the expectations of your clients and what you want to deliver. We’ll talk about not what’s best, but what’s best FOR YOU.

Tony's Biography

Born and raised in NYC gave Tony his foundation for the love of music. He carried that passion to Virginia where he established himself in high school, college and the greater Richmond area. Whether working mobile events, corporate events, weddings, college events, nightclubs or festivals, he’s always ready for the party at hand. The passion for music has also led to a passion of sound reinforcement. Doing events for 75 people, 275 people or 5,275 people, Tony will ensure that every patron comes away with the best experience. Presenter at DJ Times / DJX since 2018

Day 1
5:00p – 5:30p

Ben Stowe: TBD

Something very geeky is coming to this slot of the schedule.

Ben's Biography

Ben serves the industry as the President of NLFX Professional, an industry leading supplier of sound, lighting and video systems, a role he has maintained since founding the company in 1993. His love for electronics and technology were inspired from the age of 5. Encouraged by a neighbor who ran a TV repair shop, Ben’s enthusiasm flourished into his education in Electricity, Electronics, Robotics, and Lasers. His relentless passion for education has led to a numerous certifications and accreditations, handling massive critical environments like NCAA Division 1 Football, large scale concerts, and even training various US Armed Forces branches and more. In 2023 Ben was inducted into the inaugural class of the Mobile Entertainment Hall of Fame. His technical writings, lectures, presentations, are globally known as well as research and development assistance with a number of manufacturers for industry-wide products.

Oh yeah, he likes Star Wars too. 🙂

Day 1
5:30p – 6:30p

Josh Staley: Time To Upgrade Your Website

Is your website a sales powerhouse or a client repellent? In today’s hyper-evolving digital sphere, client expectations evolve at warp speed. Fall behind, and your sales suffer. Uncover the secrets to rapidly elevate your site, simplifying future updates, and crafting a website that’s the ultimate embodiment of your brand.

Josh's Biography

Josh Staley, the Owner & Lead DJ of Josh Staley Productions, the visionary behind Turn Up Columbus & Turn Up Nashville, and the founder of Faction DJ Bootcamp, co-founder of the Multi-op Mastermind. What began as casual Spotify tracks with college buddies has since evolved into a powerhouse team of skilled DJs across three companies, rocking over 500 events annually. Residing in Granville, Ohio, with his wife and two kids, Josh passionately DJs on weekends. He’s now channeling significant resources into grooming the next DJ generation while championing equality and reshaping DJ standards.

Day 1
6:30p – 7:30p

Richard Post: Wireless - From Zero To Hero

Wireless microphones in our sound solutions are critical as they are the first impression many have of us as professionals. We will look at radio frequency selection and execution tips along with touching on some live sound audio issues.

Richard's Biography

With over two decades of experience in the DJ industry, embodies a successful blend of passion, dedication, and an unwavering commitment to making every event unforgettable. With over 300 weddings under his belt, Rich’s journey has been a continuous learning experience, emphasizing the value of preparation, dedication, and always striving for improvement. Rich is passionate about sharing his collected experience and knowledge to inspire and guide the next generation on their own journey in the world of DJing.

Night 1
9:00p – 12:00a

PARTY! Karaoke w/ Stephanie Rivkin

It’s time to let loose and enjoy the night with some fun karaoke. Let your guard down and belt some vocals!