Today we’d like to introduce you to Brettly Kawaguchi.
Hi Brettly, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Someone recently said, you just like music, and well, so long as it’s good, I’ve come to believe they’re right, and I look forward to getting new music, looking for music that fits my sound and style of DJ nights, not to mention, working with couples on their wedding requests is really one of my favorite things. I’ve actually come across songs couples want that have made it into my regular sets. So yes, I do Love Music. From Chicago house, to Step, to punk and metal, country and bluegrass, There’s really not a genre of music I don’t enjoy.
Music has always been the driving passion in my life. I honestly cannot remember a time in my life that music hasn’t been the constant. As I sit here writing this out now, I can still remember being maybe 3 or 4 years old, and once a week, waiting for my dad to bring me home the 45’s that were getting taken off of the Juke in his bar, and then spinning them on my lil kids 45 player. The Spinners, Earth wind and Fire, Jah Wobble, Boz Scaggs, yeah, I still love that era of music.
My mom gave me my first guitar, and honestly, it was one of the worst playing guitars I ever put my hands on. I’m surprised I stuck with it. I kinda wish I still had that guitar, but that’s a whole other story…….
I’m a bass player actually, and played upright or double bass (depending on your musical training) in a bluegrass band out of Chicago for almost 8 pretty killer years before I moved to La Crosse. Was lucky enough to play the Van’s Warped tour and tour with my old punk band, so music has been a lifelong pursuit of some kind for me. A former band mate once said, give me something with strings, and I’ll figure out how to rock it….. as he was there when I bought my first upright bass and my first mandolin….. within about a 2 months, I was bringing the upright bass out to the rock band’s gigs, and when we went in the studio, I had the mandolin just a few months later as well…..and played it for that session too. Hmmmmmm he might have been right.
Anyway, I started off as a Record Store Clerk in Chicago, met LeRoy and Wilbur, who got me into DJ’ing when we still used 1200’s and wax, or VHS tapes from RockAmerica. Medusa’s video room was my first DJ job, and yeah, I honestly loved it and was well, hooked. I mean, really, what teenager wouldn’t love being the VJ for the biggest all ages dance club in the city of Chicago by the time I was 18? From there, at 21 when Medusa’s left Chicago, I moved on to the main strip – Division Street in down town Chicago in the 90’s (POETS, Mothers, The Hang Up and more), Club 950, and a few dates at some of Chicago’s best dance clubs, to DJing in between bands at rock shows, to coming up with the Tap’s playlists, and now I’m a full time DJ, based in La Crosse, but spinning all over the Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa and Illinois. I never thought I would be a full time DJ again, but I cannot complain, as I love it. From clubs to weddings, I love what I do.
Currently, I’m a DJ, full time, based in the La Crosse Market, however, I do travel all over the Midwest. I’ve been blessed to be able to work at some of the coolest places with some super cool folks. From the venues I’ve been at to working with some great organizations, it’s honestly a dream come true.
I’ve been nominated for the top DJ honors in La Crosse every year I’ve been a DJ here, and thinking about it leaves me with goose bumps. and I’m very fortunate that people do in fact enjoy what I do.
For me being a DJ is not a hobby. I spend countless hours working on my craft, booking, promotions, downloading music, as well as behind my decks. Basically, if I’m not DJ’ing, I’m with my daughter, and there are even exceptions to that, as I try to DJ at as many functions that I can bring her with, and my daughter is one incredible roadie, DJ, MC and Photo Booth Operator!
Some of the more notable gigs I’ve been a part of; The Special Needs Dream Team Dances, Midwest DJ’s Live – Milwaukee, MN, Mobile Entertainment Expo – Las Vegas, Social Ice – Rochester MN, The Glenwood Ave Arts Festival – Chicago, IL, Raising Cane’s Grand Opening, Panda Express’s Grand Opening, and even more!
If you would like to catch me live, here are where my current resident gigs are; La Crosse Bierhaus – La Crosse, Legends – La Crosse, Stadium View – Green Bay, Nightschool – Wausau, Icon – Stevens Point, Lucky’s on Third – Winona, as well as The Special Needs Dream Team Dances, and many more events.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Not entirely, mainly it’s required dedication, patience, along with continuing education.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
So, I’m a DJ, that handles Weddings and Clubs, and I like to think I bring the club to the wedding, within reason of course. But I also offer several variations with DJ furniture, lighting options, customization with colors, music and more, with an attention to details and customer service like no other.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
Wow, has to be from my teens, when I became the main Saturday night Video DJ at Medusa’s in Chicago.
Pricing:
- $2195 Bronze Wedding Package
- $2695.00 Silver Wedding Package
- $3195.00 Gold Wedding Package
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.djbrettly.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/djbrettly/
- Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/djbrettly
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@djbrettly
