A year or so later I moved back to Ft. Lauderdale to work for the same company I worked at during College. The first night I went out to karaoke after moving back, I met Tommy Boombotz in a seedy little joint called The Alehouse Rock Cafe. The Karaoke host was terrible, but Tommy and I became fast friends.
From there we went on to form Old Skool Sound LLC, which started with a karaoke show in another seedy beer joint in the Ft. Lauderdale area. DJ Botz branched off in to spinning, and engineering, while I took more to the live entertainment and Emceeing duties.
I eventually was offered a gig at a Club inside the largest mall in south Florida, which I took. This proved to be a great success, and with three concurrent gigs, I quit my day job to concentrate on music.
With a background in Emceeing, Current Rock, Classic Rock, Country, Hip Hop, R&B, Rap, FreeStyle, Oldies, and more, I took the next logical step. I became a Strip-Club DJ.
Working at the worst/busiest Hole-in-the-Wall Bar in the area, I learned from my fellow DJ's about how to work older crowds, and entertain more diverse audiences. A favorite of the dancers and customers, for my witty remarks, down to earth style, and the fun atmosphere I encouraged, I didn't fare as well with management, due to my strict "once per hour" rule, regarding how often a dancer should be made to dance on stage. When a manager told me "you put her on stage or your f'ing fired" regarding one of only three dancers on a slow shift, I yanked the music wire, jumped on top of the DJ booth and announced in to the Microphone, "Oh yeah, killer, well I quit!" This prompted a rather abrupt removal from the club. I include it here because I learned alot from that incident. It wasn't my best moment, but I now know how to handle those situations like an adult.
I eventually went on to DJ for the hottest Strip Club in West Palm Beach!
I fronted the band "Where's Joey D?", and Tommy and I formed the "Good Ole Blues Brothers Boys Tribute" which played at sold-out local night clubs, all the way to Tampa, and was even booked for Atlantic City! (We were bumped when Dan Akroyd and Jim Belushi did a charity event within a week of the scheduled date. Those bastards!)
I've been on the Front Page of the Sun-Sentinel with an accompanying story on September 17, 2006. I have been on TV twice for my work with the Blues Brothers Tribute Show, as well as write-ups in several other local magazines/papers, both for my work as a DJ, and with local charities. I've been involved with fund raisers for Transplant Patients, the Motorcycle Toy Run, Toys for Tots, Joe Dimaggio's Children's Fund, and more!
In 2007, I Moved back to Palm Bay, FL, and had a blast playing clubs like the County Line Saloon, Shady Oaks, Kelly's Irish, and more. I also had a great time on 107.9 WNRG as part of "Local Grooves" a Radio Talk show that showcased local musicians.
Currently, I'm flat-broke, singing for loose change in an airport cafe. Well, maybe it's not that bad. After a four month vacation in Charlotte, NC, I just moved back to Long Island, NY to bring a bit of southern charm to all you yankees!
If you are looking for a drunken crazy person to entertain at your nightclub or bar, please call me anytime after 2 pm (should be awake by then) to schedule a meeting. |
