A Dream 13 Years in the Making 4


December has been crazy! I have been meaning to write a post for a while now, and I just could not find the time to put something coherent together. I wanted to write about some of the exciting events that have happened, but I had no idea that one of the most exciting events in my DJ career would happen on Friday, December 18, 2015. This was the night that a 13-year dream of mine finally came true!

When I started my DJ career in 2002, I had no idea where it would lead me. I just knew that I loved music enough to want to be a part of it and share it with the world. I’ve had some great gigs over the years including the Florida Music Festival, Adobe Gila’s Fantasy Night, and the Lagoon stage at CityWalk but nothing to quite fulfill the dream of playing an upscale nightclub. Ultimately, I wanted to be a world-famous DJ like the big names you’d see on the flyers for the most amazing events worldwide. Okay, so that dream hasn’t come true, but there’s still time! Scale that back a bit and what I really wanted was to spin music at an upscale nightclub. That is precisely what happened on Friday, December 18, 2015!

I’m not exactly sure what chain of events occurred landing me at Universal’s Red Coconut, but I received a call late in the day to perform that same night. The short notice was inconvenient and a bit nerve wracking, but performing on a Friday night at a great nightclub was not something I could easily refuse…not to mention giving up the opportunity to cash in on a dream 13 years in the making.

Red Coconut is seen as an alternative to The Groove. Earlier on in the evening there is a live band (who is great btw) accompanied by a DJ (small 15 minute sets), and from 11PM-1:45AM it’s full-on DJ mode! I played a mix of 80s, 90s, Latin, and Top 40 remix. The crazy thing is I had to play everything on the pre-installed equipment of which I had never used a day in my life! I had about 20 minutes to learn all that I could before my first 15 minute set. Then I had another hour to learn everything else while the band was playing.

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This is what $6,000 worth of equipment looks like!

 

Considering the short notice and the new equipment, I was very pleased with how the night turned out. The dance floor was crowded and I saw some of the same faces all night. Check it out!

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Nailed it!

 

I’m so thankful to have had an opportunity to FINALLY fulfill one of my life’s dreams/goals and am so thankful to everyone along the way for their support. This just goes to show you, dreams don’t have an expiration and no matter what…never give up!

Here are a few more pics I snapped throughout the night…

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The glow from the DJ booth

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Getting things started…

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Double exposure picture in picture photo

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View from outside Red Coconut

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Someone was feelin’ it.

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The amazing band!

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View from the booth

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Keepin’ it going!


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4 thoughts on “A Dream 13 Years in the Making

  • Carol Breslin

    I am so proud of you and so is Larry. I remember when we interviewed you that was on your radar and I told Larry that I was afraid you would not stay with us very long because I knew music was really where your heart was……..well low and behold……..look who left!!! Congratulations Matt……well deserved!

    • mrothlein Post author

      Thanks Carol! I will always be grateful for you and Larry. Because of you, I have been able to continue doing what I enjoy most.