Today we’d like to introduce you to Ben Nordquist.
Hi Ben, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Absolutely! I’m a Minneapolis guy born and raised. I grew up attending all Minneapolis Public Schools. I graduated from Luther College with a degree in Political Science and Religion and a minor in International Studies. Following College, I worked for a Minnesota-based non-profit as a Public Speaker, traveling to various schools and speaking on timeless character values through high-impact engaging programs. As I got older and saw friends get married, I started thinking I could learn to MC weddings with my background as a speaker. I’ve been doing it ever since! While initially I learned how to DJ weddings and private events alongside my full-time job as a speaker, in November 2019 DJing became my full-time career and passion.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Just like anything worth doing, it took some work and dedication — and it was not a straight line to get to where I am now. Late 2019 is a terrible time to go all in on events! When 2020 hit and I watched just about every event I had planned shift, punt, or outright cancel, I started working on getting creative to make ends meet. I feel incredibly grateful for the network of support I had from friends and family during that year as I pivoted to live streaming music and trivia. And a variety of other content to try to offer value to my community as we all navigated the challenging road ahead. As events slowly started coming back, it has felt much like all the work I put in behind the scenes in 2020 to stay sharp has paid off as 2021 was my busiest year to date, and 2022 is on pace to top that with even more events.
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
As I’ve learned much more about the Entertainment Industry, specifically about DJ Culture, I’ve started challenging myself to grow as an artist. Having cut my teeth in the wedding industry, it has required intentionality to step outside of that bubble to figure out how I can bring something new and fresh to my dance floors. Whether spinning tunes at college bars, clubs, pre-game brewery sets before Twins or Vikings games, and just about everything in between, I’ve challenged myself to stretch what it means to be ‘Open Format.’ To be an open-format DJ means to go beyond playing a single genre or style. AAs an artist, I spend countless hours behind the scenes before I perform looking to find the best versions of different tracks for the venues I get to play at. I work to creatively weave together an evening full of moments where folks keep catching themselves saying, ‘whoa, I forgot how much I loved this song. Creating a pop-up dance night, Fresh Takes, along with some of my other talented colleagues, is easily a career highlight. It helps that we aim to host Fresh Takes at a different venue every time! It has also driven my artistry forward to create sets that inspire and engage folks wanting to go deeper than what they hear at the typical ‘party bar.’
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
Don’t do it alone. Being an entertainer and performer can be an isolating thing at times. Events can be long, and many wild things can happen throughout the evening. Having someone there to be present with you makes a world of difference. At Harmony DJ Entertainment, I’m so grateful that we often send out seconds with our lead DJs to ensure they feel supported throughout the process. Taking that and extending it to life — it can be easy to tell ourselves we have to go at it all alone, believing that we alone know what we’re dealing with. Finding and leaning into a support network has been one of my greatest lessons. In many ways, I’m grateful for the challenges that 2020 presented to the event industry because it forced me to team up with talented colleagues and band together to get through the turbulence ahead. Reminding yourself, your friends, and your family that they’re not in it alone is something we could all do a little more.
Contact Info:
- Website: bennordquist.com
- Instagram: @bennynord
Image Credits
Kira Savage Photo Ester Knowlen Photography Lindsey White Photo Willis G Photography
