Today we’d like to introduce you to Dj Choko Loco
Hi DJ Choko Loco, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I started Deejaying because when I was in High School the PROM DJ called out. The principal asked one of my friends if he could help the school with the event since he knew a little bit about hooking up audio equipment.
My friend asked me If I could go with him so I did. We played music for the whole night and at the end of the night we got so many compliments. From that night I was super surprised about the whole experience, about us being able to make people dance, to be able to keep the party going, etc.
Weeks laters my friend actually called me saying he had something for me, I went to his house and he told me the school actually gave him some money so he divided it and I got paid $56 dollars. that’s when it blew my mind I was like whaaats? you get paid to do this??In my mind I just remember thinking I’m going to work so I can live from it. and 10 years later I am a full time DJ trying to live the dream in the music industry.
Iām sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It definitely hasn’t been easy. This story about the PROM DJ calling out was in 2014, I didn’t DJ at all after that for like 4 or 5 years. I got married, I started shifting my life a bit.
It wasn’t until I told this story to my wife, and I told her how I thought I could actually became a DJ. that year for Christmas my wife actually gave me a mini DJ controller, I got supper happy, she kind of brought the dream back. I remember I would get home from work at midnight, and then hook up the dj controller and practice, practice, and practice, have super late sessions, we are talking that I didn’t know anything about mixing, I didn’t know how to beat match two songs, I didn’t know any affects, I was terrible on the microphone, nothing I started at 0.
I put so much work, energy, into learning how to DJ. I started getting my first gigs, pretty much because I would offer to play music at any friends or family gathering not because they actually wanted a DJ. I had to buy speakers, and more equipment that you need just to be able to have music going, cables, mixers, stands, tables, cases, etc.
Once I started doing more gigs, the struggles came when you have situations that come up and due to me not having too much experience I had to work around situations that maybe weren’t my fault, maybe situations that I was supposed to know how to deal with, etc.
It makes me proud that I was able to teach myself how to DJ alone. of course after that once I had some skills, I started meeting more people in the industry and that’s when my perspective took a big change and got more knowledge from other djs.
Up till today I keep learning, keep sharing my experience, my knowledge to new people that want to start on this awesome journey of being a DJ.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Gala Entertainment?
In 2022 I created Gala Entertainment. Gala Entertainment is a company that provides entertainment to mainly weddings and corporate events. We also added party rental items in 2023 such as tables, chairs, tents, yard games, etc. In 2024 we added floral arrangements, My wife takes care of the floral arrangements so now its like we are coworkers š
I am the main DJ and emcee, I take care of the planning/timeline of the events, the production aspect of it as well and of course the execution. My wife takes care of the flowers, and center pieces arrangements, the bridesmaids and bride bouquets, boutonnieres, etc.
We do team bonding actitivites for corporation holiday parties, we do pool parties, weddings and quinceaneras, I DJ the Forward Madison FC home games, I also do charity events for school, students trying to get funds to go as exchange students to other countries, etc.
What set us apart is that we are one stop to get multiple services. as you can get your entertainment, you can get your flowers, and soon brides will be able to book spa with us as well as my wife is currently going to school to became a nail technician. and maybe soon we add barbering too. our goal is to actually be a ONE STOP for brides and grooms.
We are very proud of see the progress of Gala Entertainment not just in the DJ skill and talent but also in the business owner side.
What were you like growing up?
I had a very fun childhood. My parents were present all the time, my Dad was a car painter and my mom was a stay home mom. We had our small business decorating parties with balloon, flowers, fabrics, etc. so my mom would take care of that.
I was an introvert kid at first, as I grew I started being more extrovert. I was into sports, I played semi pro soccer, went to a couple of try outs but nothing concrete happen, I think I was good, but comparing to other kids I was average, there is a lot of talent out there!
I remember my childhood with a big smile on my face and lot of that is thank you to my parents, that let me live it at its full.
Very hard working people, they gave us everything they could. I am so thankful for that.
Pricing:
- For weddings and corporate event usually our services start at $2400
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.galaentertainment.net
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/djchokoloco_/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GalaEntertainmentLLC
