SPEAKER_00 0:00

This is gonna sound funny, but if I'm in a conversation with someone I'm getting to know on a social level, and you know this conversation comes up hey, what do you do for a living? The last thing I want to do is tell anyone what I do for a living because it instantly changes the dynamics of what the conversation could have naturally been.

SPEAKER_02 0:22

All right, everybody, welcome to another episode of Connections That Matter, where we have amazing conversations with Northern Colorado's best local businesses and the best networkers. And today I have a legend, uh internationally renowned DJ Brian Howe in the house. Welcome. How much more are we?

SPEAKER_00 0:41

Hold on a second.

SPEAKER_02 0:43

I I I say that it's somewhat in jest, but uh but honestly though, you you're uh you're a pretty big deal. I've seen you in some big stages dealing with some uh some big events, but share a little bit about your background.

SPEAKER_00 0:55

Uh well, uh she, I don't even know where to start from that one. Um, it is a job. It's a job. So I always say, you know, if you're gonna do a job for a long time, you should be really good at it, right? So uh we'll start with that one. Um, in terms of my professional career, I am a DJ. That's what probably most people know me for. Um, if you go down the rabbit hole a little deeper, what's actually bigger than that is music production. That has actually been my full-time job. The DJ has been a byproduct of producing music. Um, the reason why I would say most people don't know that is because um I found a niche market a long time ago. And that niche market was instead of trying to produce music for the masses, which is what kind of everyone tries to do when they think of music production, get out there, get on tour, get on stage, sell a bunch of records. Uh, I found that there was a fairly smaller, underserved market that pays pretty darn well, um, where I actually produce the music for the other producers. I produce music for other DJs. I basically am the guy behind the scenes, and I found that there was a big market and a big demand for people who are good at it. And a lot of artists and labels are looking for those kind of people to license that music from for their hit artists. So that's kind of the direction I went. So I guess DJ producer, it's a catchphrase now everyone uses, but that's been my title since God, the mid-90s. Uh yeah.

SPEAKER_02 2:20

Well, we'll get to where you are now in a bit, but when you're producing music, uh I mean, a lot of people see the DJs that are up on the stage, spinning lots of lights and sound. Uh, but is it just a lot of like listening to specific sounds at your computer, or when you're producing, what is that like?

SPEAKER_00 2:37

Aaron Powell So if you want to get the technical side of it, you always see a DJ with headphones. That's synonymous, right? Doctor, it's the cross, it's in your brand. Yeah, exactly. A DJ, the mark is the headphones, right? Well, they actually serve a really important purpose. So being a DJ, what the crowd hears and what the DJ hears are two different things. Interesting. So as the music is being presented to the crowds and they're dancing to it, the DJ's got his headphones on listening to the next song or possibly auditioning whatever possible song might go. Personally, I've, you know, I had my mind, oh, I think I want to play this next song next. And I get in there and I start listening to it. I was like, man, it just doesn't flow right. I'm not feeling the flow. It's not blending well with what's going on. And I'll switch it up. And so that's where the eyes, especially nowadays, look down at their screen. Um, a lot of us older, I call the OG, old guy. Old guy is what I am. But um, I call it, we call it uh computer face, basically, or you know, they also, the the inside term is called Serato face. It's a platform a lot of DJs use, but they're stuck staring at their screen. Um, I don't like it, but basically what happens is they're looking for the next song to line up. And if it doesn't work, they're looking for the next song to line up. If you're really good, you should kind of already have an idea of your flow. But the headphones um are letting him hear what he's about to play versus what is being played and how to put it together. So when it's delivered, you know, for the most part, it should be blended seamlessly.

SPEAKER_02 4:06

How do you learn how to do that, Brian? Is it just uh is is in your brain just a library of music and beats and energies and I would say it's well, it depends generationally.

SPEAKER_00 4:18

So today it's not as important because a lot of the software and a lot of the uh tools that are provided, and I'm not against tools, I'm all about technology, but it does change the the culture a lot. So some of the priorities that I had when I was younger was you really had to know your music. Like you you couldn't just you know download all the latest tracks every single day. You had to spend time going to the record stores, listening to the records, listening to the radio stations, being in tune with what the hot charts are saying. Um, where today there's so much music out there now, it's hard to keep track of it. But what happens is the DJs are now using these tools to kind of help see the wave patterns. Like a kick drum has a very predominant wave pattern when you see it, a snare. They're very poppy, they're very predominant, so you could see it. So is it if you can match up this wave with this wave, get them lined up. For the most part, you should be on cue, but you still have to listen with your ear to make sure you're right. Is the snare and the kick matched up, or is the kick and the kick matched up? And that's really important. Um, so I'd say from my days, I really had to listen to the music, really, really listen to the music and understand beat counts. Eight count, 16 count, 32 count, things like that going into some other things that we know about. Yeah. Um, today you can almost see it visually. I know some DJs who don't even wear headphones because they literally just see what's on the computer screens. Nothing wrong with that. Um, it's just all about using your tools and using what delivers the product to your crowds.

SPEAKER_02 5:42

And and I I love how you you say that, deliver the product to the crowd, because yeah, it's the songs and but it's it's energy, it's memories, it's the way you put it together. It's it's not just the one song, it's how they all fit together. Um, and I think there's probably something to learn from you, Brian, as a business owner. I mean, a lot of business owners are trying to create a set list for their clients or for their future clients, but maybe they're not picking the right song or it to use this metaphor. So, any tips you would from a DJ, how to pick the right song, how to have the right message in your business?

SPEAKER_00 6:19

Just like with any industry and anything, uh, and I'm actually gonna use something different. So let's just pretend food, okay? So, because it's easy for me to say DJ, right? But it's also easier to say food because everyone eats and everyone goes out to eat somewhere, right? You could be the best cook in the world. You can make amazing meals. It doesn't make you a good business owner.

SPEAKER_01 6:37

That's right.

SPEAKER_00 6:37

You could be a really good business owner and then know nothing about food, and you might not have a great restaurant. So, really, I think the playlist should be um, you know, follow your passion. If you're good at something, go for it, but also be open and ready to understand the other aspects that maybe you don't know about. And it doesn't mean you have to be a master of all of them, but you should at least know how to find the and surround yourself around the people who know more than you do and bring them in. So I would say the great playlist is, you know, figure out your message. What's your thing? What are you shooting for? For example, food, you know, that's a big, vague thing. So maybe it's steak, maybe it's pasta, maybe it's stir fry. Um, you don't want to just be a smorgasborg, you know, you kind of want to go forward. And do you want a 20-page menu or do you want a two-page menu? Do you want to be a special item or do you want to just kind of serve, you know, the masses and just have a big food haul? So I think that's the first message is you know, what are you delivering on the music side? What kind of a DJ are you? What kind of music do you want to play for your crowd? So I'd say the playlist is know your product, know how to find the people who want your product, and then figure out how to go towards delivering the message of what you have to that demographic that is looking for your product.

SPEAKER_02 7:53

Let's talk about networking uh because I'm curious how networking played a role as you were growing, how eventful. And then now that you've left how eventful, how has networking played a role in that offboarding plan?

SPEAKER_00 8:08

Yeah, it's that's actually really important because I think networking is the biggest success of my former businesses. How eventful, pure energy events, uh big beat music. I could go down the line. I've started and sold probably over a dozen different businesses from zero to full sale. Um, and I would say, other than one, which was back in the mid-90s, uh every company I've started, I've started with zero dollars. And it was based on what I just said, figuring out what my product is, what the demographic is, and figuring out how to get to it. And networking was the biggest part of it. Um, I do believe that in networking, there's two ways to do it there's a right way and there was a wrong way. And we've talked about this before. I've never gone into a networking scenario with the objective to network. I've gone into a network scenario with the uh wish to just form connections. And I do firmly believe, and I'm not just talking about business, I'm talking about personal, romantic business. You should click with that person. You should click with them naturally. If if you don't vibe, you know, how are you gonna do business together? And you know, if if you go in with this object object, not objection, uh, with the objective, um if you go in with the objective of saying, okay, I'm gonna get 12 leads, I'm gonna give out 20 business cards, I'm going to do my 30-second elevator speech, I'm gonna rehearse my my my spiel or my my whatever you want to call it, I think people are gonna see that a mile away. And I think it's not real. I don't think that, you know, if someone approached me that way, I'd I'd be turned off in a second. Um, so you know, in terms of networking, it has massively helped my businesses, but it's also I've gone in with the intent not to sell a product, but just form relationships naturally and organically. Sometimes, you know, you meet someone, it just doesn't work out. Um, maybe they like someone better than you, or maybe they've already have a relationship in the industry that you're in as well. I'm not gonna tell them to change their mind. You know, maybe I'll see them at for at dinner some point, maybe I'll see them at another thing. We'll shake hands. I'm good with that. I think the world's big enough. I think the pie is big enough that everyone can have a slice, everyone can eat it at the same table or at different tables, but I think everyone can eat.

SPEAKER_02 10:22

Well, and when you show up that way, um you seem to attract other people who are very similar. Um but we were talking earlier, you have some great connections of people that you can imagine doing business. Um give a shout out to some of your uh key uh alliances that you've made along the way.

SPEAKER_00 10:39

Well, I wouldn't say I'd made I made the alliances. I feel like I'm gonna just say this a lot today is organic and real. Because that's I really believe that that's how uh a long-lasting relationship is formed. And so I think about people locally in northern Colorado, uh, definitely Desk Chair. You know, Desk Chair, you're there. We're both we're both there. Um, I think a lot of the the relationships I forged with a lot of people come from that particular location, the people within Desk Chair. Uh I've got I've had a long-lasting relationship with Jesse Rule, the Rural Events, amazing people. Just a little bit outside of Northern Colorado, kind of going into the Denver metro area. There's a uh, I would call it a group, maybe it's a service. It's called Venue Hub. It's a list, it's basically a referral type website. Uh the lady who started that and ran that, her name is Dawn Williams, and um we clicked right away. And she honestly, I've got to say, she is probably more responsible for the growth of my last company I sold than anyone else. And it was all organic, it was all real, it was friendship. Um, she believed in our services, she loved our team, and she just wanted to present us to her world. And we didn't ask for this. Um, and she asked for nothing in return. But the relationship grew to a point where we were really helping each other out. And to this day, uh I just produced new music for her uh her 2026 um promotional campaign, all of her videos and all that. Uh, I did a free of charge because we've had such a good relationship. She's helped my company so much that I felt like, man, what can I do for you? What can I do for you? You've done so much for me. But I would definitely say um those two entities, including Jesse being part of it, and Jesse also being separate as a planner, have really been big, I'd say pivotal relationships uh currently.

SPEAKER_02 12:33

Well, and I think you and I get it, Brian, of of showing up, build organic, actual, real relationships is is the best way to turn into what a lot of business owners want. But um unpack that a little bit more. Like, how do you how do you how do you talk about the relationship without talking about your business?

SPEAKER_00 12:52

Whew. Well, for me it's easy because you know, I don't, you know what this is gonna sound funny, but if I'm in a conversation with someone I'm getting to know on a social level, and you know this conversation comes up, hey, what do you do for a living? The last thing I want to do is tell anyone what I do for a living because it instantly changes the dynamics of what the conversation could have naturally been. Now it's like, oh, you produce music, you're a DJ. Well, tell me about some of your now. It it it if I feel like they're more interested in knowing about the glamorous side of the business. And that's it's all good, but I really want to just get to know someone.

SPEAKER_02 13:29

So for the people who don't quite get that, Brian, of like, I want to build a relationship with you, but I'm at a networking event, and it's so like natural just to be like, what do you do with your business? Yes. What are some ways that you like not make it about that, but make it about like, are you and I as a human being a good fit for each other? There we go.

SPEAKER_00 13:47

Uh, I would say you would kind of get a feel based on right away. Like, um, it sounds funny, but how do you shake hands? How do you bump fists? How do you how do you look at each other? Um, what's the physical body language saying? Um, I like to use the word vibe. I got that from someone a while ago, and now it's become my keyword I use like crazy. And you should instantly feel like a vibe with someone. Like you feel, is there a level of tension physically? You know, you should be able to feel that right away. Number two is how does the discussion start? Um, where are we going with this? Is it good jump right into business, or can we talk about something else, maybe volleyball or going out to the lake, or you know, where do you like to hang out, or you know, where, you know, what area do you live in and stuff like that? You know, it's it's getting to know a human being versus a person with a product. Um, number two, who do you know? Do who do who's in the circles? How are we associated with each other? Um, it says a lot about who they're already working with and then their level of integrity in with that. Um, I've you know, I found that, you know, if I'm talking to someone who's worked with three or four other people that I've personally worked with or is somewhat in that inner circle, I'm more apt to trust them right away versus uh someone that's not in the inner circle that I would already have done business with. You know, would you refer someone that you've never seen do a single thing? Would you would you give your word to somebody that their services are ideal if you've never seen their services? I wouldn't. And so, you know, I definitely want to get to know someone. And again, going back to organics and to kind of a real, you know, long-term process if they're in business over the long haul, you're in the business over the long haul, don't look for right now. Look for the right fit, period. It could be a year before you start doing business together. But when that happens, it who knows where it goes from there. But if you're trying for right now, that's too forced. And I think it's unnatural. And it doesn't, again, it doesn't go back to what I believe in, which is organics and real. Just, you know, make it feel natural.

SPEAKER_02 15:46

Well, and as uh as somebody who just builds relationships, as someone who's like started and sold many businesses, the network stays with you though, the relationships stay with you. Um you know, how has that helped from one one to the next to the next to where you are now?

SPEAKER_00 16:05

Well, I'll be I'll be honest with you. Um I don't believe in any of that right there. And here's where I'm gonna disagree with you, okay? Is if you there's a difference between a boss and a leader, someone who owns a business and someone who owns a job. Yeah. I've never wanted to own a job. I've always wanted to own a business. And the only way you could set your business up for success is to promote the success of your team. Period. Love that. And so if your conversation always starts with I, me, and my and mine, okay, you are talking about yourself, us, we, our, very differently. And so when I pass the torch right now, how eventful is owned by one of my, I will use my top guys who developed our team together. And every single relationship that I have formed through building up that company completely, fully loves and trusts him. Because every step of the way, when there was a success, I made sure that that success was spread. Like, look what we did, look what they brought. Uh, because I don't think any company could be individual, unless you're just a sole proprietor and that's what you want, then you own a job. But if you have a team, your team is what basically becomes your success. You have to have the right people in place. Quarterback on a football team is only as good as his receivers, as good as his coach, as good as his O-line. We know this. Okay. You got a weak O-line, you got a weak receiver, uh, you have a coach who calls bad plays, quarterback's probably not going to look too good.

SPEAKER_02 17:41

Right. Well, I l I think that's really uh great that you highlight your team and uh as somebody who networks to to have it not just land on you to to amplify your your network and whether it's event to event or business to business. Um Yeah, I think really well subbed, Brian.

SPEAKER_00 17:58

Thank you.

SPEAKER_02 17:59

Um so talk to me about where you are now. Uh and the decisions made to um sell how eventful to be where you are. What is what does it feel like in your heart is the right place for you?

SPEAKER_00 18:15

I don't know if you know this, but I've tried to retire probably six times over the last 15 years.

SPEAKER_01 18:20

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 18:20

And I think this is the right time to retire. The other times were the wrong time and the wrong reasons. So the first couple times I the well, the first major time I tried to retire, I thought I was too old for the business. I was reaching 25 years old or something like that. And I thought, yeah, nobody wants a 26-year-old DJ. That's for the youngins. And so I was trying to get out of the business for the wrong reasons. And I realized I still loved being a DJ. Um so that obviously didn't work out too long. I think I took a couple years off and got back into it. Uh, I hit 30, 35. I mean, you can kind of see the milestones, right? But a lot of it evolved around the age. I felt that the industry wouldn't accept a person at that particular age at that particular time. Um my older company, Pure Energy Events, which was one of the previous companies I had sold before I started How Eventful, I thought that was it. I thought I was done. And a lot of it was, I'll be honest with you, I was burnt out. I was I was just kind of over it. Um, I just felt like I've, you know, I've I've rode the the, you know, I've rode the, what I don't even know what the word is, but you know, I rode the wave. I enjoyed it. It was awesome, but it was time to move on to something else. I was getting older, uh, you know, it was getting the the industry was changing, and I just felt like, you know, I've done my time. It's time for the next generation to take over. And I was out for probably about five, six years. The industry pulled me back in. So how eventful was created exactly. So now here I am, I sold how eventful. This is the right time to retire for me for multiple of reasons. Is I am almost a senior citizen. Like I am literally 54 going on 55 in a couple months. So there is that part, right? But I don't want to give up. I am still going to stay in doing the thing I love the most. We'll talk about that, I'm sure, in a minute. Um, but the reason why now is the right time is because the industry has really changed. I have given everything I have to it. I kind of want to relax a little bit now. I'm kind of over the hustle. I'm over, you know, the grind, the work, the, you know, all the work that has to go into keep keeping your business on the straight and narrow, growing it correctly, properly, building a team. Um, I just feel like the next generation, it is the right time now. Yeah. Um, and I'm really looking forward to just relaxing a lot more.

SPEAKER_02 20:33

Yeah. Yeah. Uh what does that look like for you? What is what is because you say the industry keeps trying to pull you back in, Brad. And here you are on a podcast where they're gonna get some more eyeballs on it. But but what does that look like uh in the next two years or so?

SPEAKER_00 20:49

Well, and I am getting pulled in constantly. I'd say multiple times a day, you know, someone's trying to reach out to me with it. I got this great opportunity, you gotta jump in on this, or you can't be retired yet because I've got this thing going on. And I love that, and I am so appreciative of that. But then I have to correct them and say, do you really want an old guy doing your 20-something-year-old wedding? I mean, come on, like let's let's get a really cool, young, hip, good-looking DJ in there who's in tune with all the new music and all that. For me, I would say the next couple years, I would still like to DJ, but I'm only going to DJ the type of events that uh feed my soul. It sounds selfish, but I think at this point in my career and in my life, I'm okay with that. I'm fine. Because I also know that of because I've done this for so long, I know that there's an entire demographic of people who like what I like. And those people are coming to my events. You know that. You've seen it. Uh, the rooftop parties, the throwback parties, there's specific events, uh, the downtown festivals. Um, I connect with those people that are there. The people that don't like that, that's okay. There's a lot of options. You don't have to come to my parties. So I would see myself DJing a lot less. Um, I would definitely be in the studio more because I absolutely love the studio. Remember what I said. That was my primary job, music production. DJing was a byproduct. DJing started to take over. And that was the other reason why I had to retire is because I was losing a major part of what I was prior to DJing in the studio, producing the content that uh other DJs and other producers liked to use. It was my bread and butter. So I'd like to see myself going back in the studio a lot more, doing a lot more personal projects, um, being more creative in the music. And then here's the biggest one having a personal life.

SPEAKER_01 22:30

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 22:31

Having a personal life. You know, go for a motorcycle ride, go play get back into volleyball, go out to the lake. I don't know, sit on my front porch.

SPEAKER_02 22:39

I don't know. I love all that. Yeah. I love that. Uh what have thought? Normally at the end of the episodes, Brian, we give the guests a chance to like, you know, put out their contact information. How can they get in touch? Uh for you, I think it'd be more apropos to you know, highlight some people that have made an impact on your career that you think do it do it the right way. And um, you know, who should people be networking with and and hanging out with?

SPEAKER_00 23:05

Well, it depends on, I guess, the business you're in. I think of a couple people off the top of my head, in northern Colorado specifically. Uh, obviously, how eventful is still a five-star service. Did you know that they're the only entertainment company in northern Colorado that's uh um Better Business Bureau uh Accredited? Cool. Um, they've got a 99.9% five-star rating. Um, and so even though I am no longer the owner, I still fully endorse them. John Ski, the new owner, um, amazing guy. He's he's going on his own path. Uh, definitely, if you're into co-working, I can't say enough about Desk or what they've done for me. Um, a couple people outside of that, though, is a couple people that I've had relationships. If you know, everyone is looking for, you know, at some point to buy or sell a home. You know this, you're in real estate. Two people that I've known for over, I'd say, 16 years. Um, one gentleman's name is George Gintoli. Um, we met in the industry. He was a bartender. Oh, wow. And so we met professionally that way. Then my company DJ'd his wedding a long time ago. But again, natural organic connections. We've stayed in contact as friends ever since, and we see each other all the time. And when it was time for me to refinance my house, who do you think I went to? Sure. Mortgage broker, Blas Estrada. I think he's a fixture in the northern Colorado area. We've we've never done business together, believe it or not, but we have in the sense that his company has hired how eventful for their annual holiday parties. And we literally have hung out together multiple times, like all the time we see each other in love, and you know, and he's just someone I would fully and thoroughly trust in in that realm of real estate. Um, those are probably people right there. I would highly recommend that.

SPEAKER_02 24:53

I love that. Yeah. Well, Brian, thanks so much for coming on, sharing lessons from your journey and uh being a part of my story. You've been a part of uh my story for quite a bit, and yeah, uh really appreciate that. And uh we'll see you around Dust Chair or see you around Northern Colorado.

SPEAKER_00 25:06

I appreciate it.

SPEAKER_02 25:07

Boom. Hey all, thanks for watching. I love networking and building relationships with other Northern Colorado business leaders. So if you want to come meet some of these podcast guests, meet me or meet some other amazing entrepreneurs in Northern Colorado, I would love to have you attend one of our next events. Uh, go in the podcast description. There's a way so that you can see our upcoming schedule, and maybe you could be a future podcast guest as well. Thanks.