I was so excited when I was approached to DJ at Winter Pride’s preview party, an event for media, local queer business owners, and potential sponsors to drum up excitement and participation in St. Pete’s first ever Winter Pride.

Crafting the Perfect Playlist

A few weeks before the event, I collaborated with the Winter Pride team to design a playlist that was bubbly, light-hearted, and perfect for dancing. I mixed familiar pop hits with obscure R&B and funk tracks to create a casual, fun, yet tone-appropriate vibe that got everyone loosened up.The event’s schedule included mingling, burlesque, drag performances, and presentations, so I coordinated with the performers and organizers to get all of the necessary tracks and the event itinerary well before the big night.

Prepping for the Event

A week before the party, I visited the venue to understand the space and determine the equipment I’d need for the best sound quality. Sound quality can vary greatly depending on the acoustics of a space, so this visit was an awesome way to gauge what I needed. The day before the event, I set up my gear and ran a soundcheck to ensure everything was perfect.

The Big Night

The event featured amazing drag and burlesque performances, engaging presentations, and inspiring speakers. The music kept everyone dancing and seamlessly connected the various segments of the night. The venues’ mic system stopped working mid-event, but thankfully I was able to connect wireless mics through my board and everything went off without a hitch!

Reflecting on Winter Pride

As I packed up, I felt a deep sense of pride and community. The event brought people together, and I’m grateful to have been a part of it. As a queer artist, it means a lot to me to contribute in this way and I love working with clients within the community. Big thank you to Winter Pride for trusting me with your event!