Beyond the DJ Booth

Send us a message Every DJ lives for that moment: you drop the unexpected track and the crowd loses it. In this episode, Brian and Joe dive into the art of musical left turns ; those surprise selections and clever transitions that flip the energy of a set and burn the moment into people’s memories. Brian shares how he recently cracked an EDM-heavy wedding by dropping a custom edit of Toto’s “Afric...

Send us a message Is it time to hang up your over-ear headphones for good? In this episode, Joe and Brian dive into the growing shift toward in-ear monitoring systems and how it’s changing the way DJs mix, monitor, and show up at events. Joe shares his full switch to custom-molded in-ears ...a $1,000+ investment that’s paid off with better hearing protection, a cleaner look, and no more broken hea...

Send us a message What do you do when the beach wedding you’re DJing turns into a muddy mess… and your booth is now on the dance floor? In this episode, Joe shares a behind-the-scenes story from one of the most weather-challenged weddings he’s ever worked...a rain-soaked celebration that could’ve been a disaster but turned into one of the couple’s most epic memories. From rerouting power cables to...

Send us a message Every DJ knows the struggle of balancing personal comfort with professional standards, especially during those sweltering summer gigs. This candid conversation between Brian B and Joe Bunn tackles this head-on with Joe's controversial hot take: "grown men should only wear shorts at the beach, at the gym, or if they're a child." Whether you agree or vehemently...

Send us a message Welcome to Season 4 of Beyond the DJ Booth ,where the weddings are wild, the carbs are canceled, and we’re just trying to survive both. This week, we open with a musical quiz no one asked for: Is “You’re the Reason Our Kids Are Ugly” a real song title? (Somehow, yes. Thanks, Conway Twitty.) It spirals from there into a hall-of-fame list of song names that make you question how an...

Send us a message What happens when your DJ equipment completely fails during the peak of a wedding reception? Brian i takes us through his heart-stopping experience when his laptop froze mid-set, forcing him to create what we're now calling the "Oh S*** Playlist" - a collection of carefully selected tracks designed to keep the dance floor moving during technical emergencies. The pe...

Send us a message Would you take a celebrity wedding over your cousin’s…or DJ a full-pay gig at Chuck E. Cheese? This episode kicks off with real DJ dilemmas that blend humor, horror, and hard truths about reputation, branding, and where we draw the line in our careers. Then we flip the script and dive into something every DJ needs to master but few talk about: musical transitions. Those 30–50 sec...

Send us a message Ever wonder how to stay relevant in a rapidly evolving industry where connecting with younger clients is crucial? In our latest episode, we tackle the language barrier head-on with a fun (and slightly humbling) exploration of current Gen Z slang. From "ratioed" posts to having a "Menty B," these linguistic insights might just save you from awkward miscommunica...

Send us a message What do you do when a dream client reaches out for their big day… but you’re already booked? In this episode, Joe and Brian unpack one of the trickiest solo-op dilemmas: how to make referrals without damaging your brand . When someone hires you for your vibe, voice, and vision — is it even possible to pass the mic without losing trust? Prompted by a smart question from Jesse in C...

Send us a message Ever feel like the daily grind is getting more expensive? You're not alone. Brian B kicks off this episode sharing how he's been booking double gigs in Florida's sweltering heat to keep up with rising mortgage payments and private school tuition costs. The financial reality of today's economy has many DJs pushing their limits, forcing tough decisions about tra...

Send us a message Ever wonder which DJs have shaped today's wedding and event entertainment landscape? In this enlightening episode, Joe Bunn and Brian B pull back the curtain on their professional influences in a candid conversation about the figures who've transformed their approach to both music and business. The discussion reveals how pioneers like Mike Walter set the standard for pr...

Send us a message Grab your sombreros and questionable life choices—this is a LIVE Cinco de Mayo episode of Beyond The DJ Booth , where Joe Bunn and Brian B. celebrate the only Latin holiday they truly connect with… because, well, they both really love Mexican food. Broadcast straight from a virtual live audience session, the heat gets turned up—literally—as Brian takes on a hot sauce challenge th...

Send us a message Handshakes, heritage stories, and handling awkward reception moments take center stage as Joe Bunn and Brian B share valuable insights for DJs navigating the professional and personal side of event entertainment. The conversation kicks off with a discussion about making strong first impressions. Joe shares his father's wisdom about proper handshakes—never the dreaded "d...

Send us a message Brian B takes us back to his origin story as a teenage karaoke host with frosted tips in late-90s California, revealing how this unlikely start built the foundation for his DJ empire. With disarming honesty, he explains the perfect karaoke host paradox: "You can't suck, but you can't be so good that people are intimidated." This delicate balance created the st...

Send us a message Ever wondered what happens when the music suddenly cuts out during the most crowded moment on the dance floor? In this remarkably candid episode of Beyond the DJ Booth, Joe Bunn and Brian B pull back the curtain on the messy realities professional DJs face at high-end events. The conversation dives deep into situations rarely discussed in public forums – from Joe's recent te...

Send us a message Ready for event season? Top DJs Brian B and Joe Bunn share what they're most looking forward to as their calendars fill with diverse celebrations. Joe anticipates a beach wedding for the third sister in a family where he's already created unforgettable experiences for the other siblings. These repeat clients have become true fans, attending his events and engaging with...

Send us a message What do you do when the CEO's nephew wants to commandeer your DJ booth mid-event? How about when a client expects free services because you "have a connection"? These real-world ethical dilemmas plague professional DJs, and Brian B and Joe Bunn are tackling them head-on. Drawing from Reddit's notorious "Am I The A-hole" threads, we dissect five scena...

Send us a message Wedding cocktail hours set the tone for the entire reception, yet finding that perfect musical sweet spot between ambient background and engaging atmosphere remains an elusive challenge for many DJs. In this season opener, Joe Bunn and Brian B reveal their secret weapons: tracks that consistently make guests approach the booth asking, "What is this song?" The hosts shar...

Send us a message "What would your ultimate DJ crew look like?" We kick off our season finale with a fantasy draft where we build our dream teams – from hype men like Lil Jon and DJ Kool to security (Taylor Swift's $1.3 million bodyguard, anyone?) and tech support that could save your event from disaster. Fresh off his European adventure, Joe takes us behind the scenes of his strate...

Send us a message Step into the world of DJing with our latest episode, where we explore hilarious and relatable "Would You Rather" scenarios designed just for DJs. Join hosts Brian B. and Joe Bunn as they navigate through wild hypothetical situations, from last-minute playlist changes to handling the unconventional requests of excited wedding guests. This episode merges laughter with re...

Send us a message Ever wondered why your head starts sweating just from a splash of buffalo sauce? Join us on this entertaining episode of Beyond the DJ Booth Podcast, where Brian B and Joe Bunn Jr. take a humorous look at this peculiar phenomenon. We kick things off with a laugh-inducing game of "Who Said It?", as we try to decipher if DJ philosophies come from A-List DJs or just some r...

Send us a message Picture this: you're DJing a museum gala, trying to keep the energy high, but you have to pause for painting unveilings. Sounds like a nightmare, doesn't it? Join Joe Bunn and Brian i as they share their wild rides through the unpredictable world of private event DJing. Joe recounts his recent streak of challenging gigs, including a lackluster rehearsal dinner and that...

Send us a message Step into the vibrant world of the Beyond the DJ Booth Podcast, where we unpack the intricacies of music awards, entertainment spectacles, and the DJ business landscape. Do you think a Super Bowl performance and industry dynamics could sway Grammy winner picks? Join us as we celebrate hitting the 5,000 download milestone across 22 episodes, with heartfelt thanks to our dedicated...

Send us a message Who knew a simple Valentine's Day tradition at a pizza joint could make for such a heartwarming tale? Brian B and Joe Bunn kick off this episode of Beyond the DJ Booth Podcast by sharing their favorite February 14th rituals, from comforting slices to homemade meals with the family.  Moving on from heart-shaped pizzas to the perfect playlist, we tackle the art of selecting tu...

Send us a message What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever asked for on your tour rider? In our latest episode of Beyond the DJ Booth Podcast, we uncover the quirkiest and most practical items artists demand on their riders, from Van Halen's green M&Ms to the peculiar charm of a baby goat requested by Blink-182. We share our own rider requests, revealing the odd but essential comforts we&apo...