140. Nostalgia 101: Adventures of a DJ w/ Ryan McKenzie

Dan & Manny welcome Ryan McKenzie, DJ & owner of Music Makes You Move to talk all about what it takes to be a killer DJ.

“My number one priority is that people are having a good time.”
-Ryan McKenzie

Ryan McKenzie tells Dan & Manny about the journey from waiting tables at P.F. Chang's to DJing on cruise ships and eventually running a successful DJ business. He talks about what the difference is between having good musical taste and being a good DJ, learning from some of the greatest DJs at Scratch DJ Academy, the transition to being a business owner and the power of great customer service, and how some songs are just timeless. Then the guys put some of the most popular group dance songs to the ultimate test—THE NOSTALGIA TEST!

Email us (thenostalgiatest@gmail.com) your thoughts and opinions about this episode and we'll talk about them on a future episode.

 

APPROXIMATE RUN OF SHOW:

00:00 Introduction to Nostalgia 101

00:30 Dancing Through the Decades

02:33 Ryan McKenzie's DJ Journey Begins

03:23 From Waiter to DJ

05:07 Cruise Ship DJ Adventures

11:33 Starting a DJ Business

14:26 Managing Talent and Business Growth

23:01 Evolving DJ Equipment and Techniques

26:56 Nostalgic Music Trends

31:58 Versatile Songs for Any Event

32:34 The Role of Iconic Songs in Weddings

34:01 DJ's Perspective on Popular Songs

34:27 The Awkwardness of Group Dances

35:17 Retail PTSD and Music Associations

36:06 Balancing Work and Personal Life

38:13 Hiring the Right DJ

42:38 Staying Current with Music Trends

45:26 Country Music's Growing Popularity

47:35 Evaluating Group Dance Songs

01:00:33 Nostalgic Music Memories

01:01:08 Group Dance Songs

01:03:07 Regional Music Preferences

01:05:31 The Return of YMCA

01:09:34 Emo and Alternative Rock Sets

01:13:09 EDM and Nostalgia

01:16:14 The Impact of Movie Soundtracks

01:18:05 The Problem with Remakes and Sequels

01:20:01 DJing and Party Music

01:22:13 Conclusion and Farewell

 

Spinning vibes, igniting dance floors & elevating events, I’m Ryan from Music Makes You Move. 

As the proud owner of MMYM, I've turned my passion for mixing beats into a thriving small business in Los Angeles. 

As DJs & KJs, our team is crazy about bringing people together through the magic of music. 

Let the rhythm guide your events and take your celebrations to the next level! 

Let the Music Make You Move! 

@musicmakesyoumove
https://musicmakesyoumove.com

 

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The intro and outro music ('Neon Attack 80s') is by Emanmusic.

The Lithology Brewing ad music ("Red, White, Black, & Blue") is by PEG and the Rejected