Business: Uptown DJ's, 1433 Wilshire Road in Haslett
Contact: www.uptowndjs.com or (517) 505-8098
Owner: John Leen
Background: Leen went to high school in Haslett, which is when he first became a disc jockey. He began Uptown DJ's while attending MSU, where he was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity.
Education: Leen graduated from MSU in 2001 with a telecommunication, information studies and media degree.
History with business: Leen started Uptown DJ's in 1998. He began by doing shows at fraternities and house parties. The company got its "big break" when it landed a weekly show doing happy hour at Rick's American Café. The company still has a DJ performing there every Friday. Now there is an Uptown DJ performing just about every night somewhere in East Lansing, Leen said.
Number of DJs: Since 1998 the company has typically had about six to 10 different DJs at a given time. There are currently eight. The company also has a manager in Detroit and is hoping to expand into the Mount Pleasant and Kalamazoo areas.
Services: Uptown DJ's does all kinds of events including parties, bar shows, weddings and other formal events throughout lower Michigan.
Prices: Uptown DJ's charges a flat rate for every show. Weddings cost $700, house parties cost between $175-$250. "(Flat fees) is one of the stories of our success," Leen said. "We have no hidden charges. We don't call the next day saying 'you owe us more because the show ran longer.'"
Other interests: Leen has always enjoyed being involved in the entertainment and marketing industry. He used his experience as a DJ and in running the company to move him into another career. He now works full-time for the Production Resource Group, which supplies lighting and other entertainment supplies. "My interests really coincide with this type of business," Leen said.
Biggest Challenge: The hardest part was getting the "first break" in East Lansing, Leen said. "The market is so oversaturated with DJs that rates are brought down," Leen said. "It was perfect timing getting into the Rick's happy hour. We did a good job and people began looking for us."
