The DJC Experience

The DJC Recharge is built around a simple idea: the best education doesn’t always happen from a stage. Across a few days in Raleigh, you’ll move between main-stage sessions, small-group connection conversations, attendee-led Recharge Circles, live podcast recordings, music, parties, and plenty of opportunities to spend time with the people around you. Some moments are built to teach. Some are built to start conversations. And some are simply an excuse to grab a drink, hear great DJs, and hang out with people who understand this business.

It’s all part of the DJC Recharge. And it’s all right here.

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 15

SUNDAY SOCIAL

CLOCKWORK

*TOTALLY OPTIONAL / HIGHLY RECOMMENDED*
You made it to Raleigh. Now what? Sunday is officially an arrival day, so there’s nothing you have to be at. Get checked in, grab dinner, explore a little, and get ready for Monday. But if you're looking for us, we'll be at Clockwork. Come by anytime between 8–11 PM for a drink, say hello to some familiar faces, and start meeting the people you'll be spending the next couple of days with. DJ Mark T and a rotating crew of DJs will be on the decks throughout the night. And our friends Drew & Fuse have a little sponsored surprise planned for the evening that we're keeping under wraps for now. There are also plenty of restaurants nearby, so grab dinner beforehand and wander over when you're ready. **No agenda. No official kickoff. Just a really good excuse to start Recharge a night early.**

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 16

9:00AM - 12:00AM

THE WARM UP

**PRE-FUNCTION SPACE / FOYER | COFFEE / MUSIC / FIRST HELLOS**
Get checked in, grab your credentials and a few things from us, then grab a coffee, find some familiar faces, and meet a few new ones before we officially get underway. We know most DJs aren't exactly morning people. And Monday mornings? That's asking a lot. So we're doing everything we can to help with your case of the Mondays. DJ Chelli will be on the decks, the coffee will be hot, and we'll have something sweet waiting for you that we're probably more excited about than we should be.
You've got 45 minutes. Caffeinate accordingly.
**Music by DJ Chelli · Presented by RCF**

Welcome to Recharge

BRIAN B · JOE BUNN · JASON JANI

HERE'S HOW THIS IS GOING TO WORK

DJ Nick Nystrom turns it up and we officially get Recharge underway. Brian B, Joe Bunn, and Jason Jani will set up the next two days: how the Recharge works, what we've built differently this year, and how to get the most out of everything that's about to happen. Nothing lengthy. Nothing ceremonial. Just what you need to know before we get into it.

THE STATE OF THE INDUSTRY

**BRIAN B · JOE BUNN · JASON JANI**
*THREE PERSPECTIVES / ONE INDUSTRY / WHAT'S NEXT*
Every year, we start Recharge by asking the same big question: Where is the DJ industry headed next? It's our annual opening Stool Session - a DJC format that's pretty literal: three guys, three stools, three individual takes. Brian B, Joe Bunn, and Jason Jani each get 10 minutes to share what they're seeing, what they think is changing, and where DJs should be putting their attention in the year ahead. No shared notes. No coordinated answers. And usually, three very different takes. Is it partly looking into a crystal ball? Sure. But after years of doing this session, our track record isn't too shabby. Then we'll open it up for 30 minutes of questions, challenges, and conversation.
**Three takes on where we're headed and what might be worth doing about it.**

THE LONG GAME

**TOM GAMBUZZA**
*BUSINESS / MONEY / LEADERSHIP*
**Decisions That Define Your DJ Business**
What would you do if you had to make the decision before knowing how the story ends? In this interactive, case-based session, you'll step inside the pivotal decisions of a growing entertainment company—from pricing pressure and hiring to reinvestment, cash flow, and the tension between growth and stability. At each turning point, you'll decide what you would do before discovering what actually happened. This isn't a finance lecture. It's a look at how seemingly small decisions compound over time and what changes when you start thinking like a CEO, not just a DJ.

FROM DJ TO EVENT CREATOR

**DJ HAMPSTERDANCE + BRIAN B**
*FIRESIDE CHAT / OWNED EVENTS / NEW REVENUE*
What if the weddings and private events weren't the core of your business but the gravy? DJ HampsterDance has built a business model that looks very different from most in our industry: he creates and promotes his own monthly events, regularly putting 800–1,000+ people through the doors. In this fireside chat, Brian B gets under the hood of how he's built it. From why he started throwing his own events and how he markets them to execution, financials, and extending the life of each event through content, they'll dig into what's worked, what hasn't, and what a DJ in another market would need to consider before trying it themselves. It's a look at what can happen when you stop waiting to be booked for the event and start creating the event yourself.

THE BOOKING AFTER THE BOOKING

**CP HEDA · ESSTART.COM**
*REVENUE / CLIENT VALUE / SPONSORED SESSION*
You've already done the hard part: you booked the client. But that doesn't have to be where the opportunity ends. In this fast-paced session, CP Heda shares practical ways DJs can generate additional revenue from clients already on their calendar without finding another lead or booking another event. He'll also introduce a new approach to generating more client reviews, creating value that can continue working for your business long after the event is over. Because sometimes the next opportunity isn't another client. It's the one you already have. **Presented by EsStart.com**

LUNCH

**GOOD GRUB. GOOD PEOPLE.**
Lunch is included.
Grab some food, meet somebody new, and enjoy a little time away from the stage.
And yes, we have a little something planned for where you sit.
**It'll make sense when lunch starts.**

TWO SHOWS ONE STAGE

**BEYOND THE DJ BOOTH × DREW & FUSE SHOW**
*LIVE PODCAST / MUSIC / AUDIENCE Q+A*
Two podcasts. Four DJs. Back-to-back live recordings and this time, the audience is part of the show. Beyond the DJ Booth and the Drew & Fuse Show take over the Recharge stage for two live episodes featuring some of the segments listeners know best, plenty of conversation about the music we're actually playing, and questions taken straight from the audience.Each show will bring something a little different. There will be a few surprises. And unlike your normal podcast listening experience, yelling your opinion at this one might actually get you an answer. **Featuring Brian B, Joe Bunn, Drew Pierce + Fusemania**

GETTING BRANDED

**JACK KRISTIAN**
*BRAND PARTNERSHIPS / POSITIONING / OPPORTUNITY*
Free gear is nice. A real brand partnership is something entirely different. Jack Kristian has built relationships with recognizable brands by understanding how to make himself valuable beyond the DJ booth. In this session, he'll break down what companies actually look for, how to position yourself for the right opportunities, and what it takes to turn a one-off collaboration into a meaningful partnership. And yes, at one point this involved a mustache brand. Because there may be companies willing to invest in what you've built, you just need to give them a reason to notice.

MAKING IT WITHOUT LOSING IT

**JESS EKSTROM · KEYNOTE**
*AMBITION / FULFILLMENT / SUCCESS*
There's always another goal to chase, another level to reach, another thing that needs your attention. But what happens when the drive that helped build your success starts making it harder to actually enjoy it? Drawing from her new book, Making It Without Losing It, Jess Ekstrom explores how ambitious people can keep pursuing meaningful work without letting the pursuit consume them. She'll unpack the patterns that keep us constantly chasing "what's next," how to rethink our relationship with achievement, and how to stay motivated while actually enjoying where we are right now. It's a conversation about ambition, fulfillment, and building a version of success you actually want to live inside. PLUS: Every DJC Recharge attendee will receive a complimentary copy of Jess's new book to take home.

THREE PERSPECTIVES

**BRIAN B · JOE BUNN · JASON JANI**
*ONE TOPIC / THREE TAKES / NO SCRIPT*
Why hear one answer when you can hear three? It's our Stool Session format: three guys, three stools, and three individual takes on a topic DJC attendees have told us they want to hear about. Brian B, Joe Bunn, and Jason Jani each get 10 minutes to give their take with no idea what the other two are going to say. And that's kind of the point. Three successful DJ company owners. Three different businesses, experiences, and ways of thinking. We don't always agree, and there's no attempt to manufacture a single "right" answer. After all three takes, we'll open it up for 30 minutes of questions, pushback, and follow-ups. One topic. Three takes. You decide what you take from it.

CONNECTION SESSION #1

**DJC-CURATED CONVERSATION**
*NEW PEOPLE / FRESH IDEAS / REAL CONVERSATION*
**Same event. New voices.** We'll break into smaller groups, each hosted by a moderator selected by DJC and each tackling the same DJC-curated topic. The topic stays under wraps until the session begins. The goal is simple: hear how other DJs think, share what's worked for you, challenge an idea or two, and connect with people you might not have crossed paths with otherwise. We'll provide the topic and the moderator. **You bring the conversation.**

BEATS & BEVIES

**FEATURING DJ PINKE**
*MUSIC / DRINKS / DAY ONE WIND-DOWN*
Day One education is officially done. Before everyone scatters for dinner, we're hanging for another hour. DJ Pinke takes over the music while we crack open the Topo Chicos, White Claws, Coronas, anIPA or two, plus plenty of non-alcoholic options. Grab a drink, catch up with someone you met during the day, and give your brain a minute before heading out for dinner and **Sundaes on a Monday** later that night. Weather permitting, we'll be outside under the café lights. If Raleigh has other ideas, we'll pivot. **Beats by Pinke. Bevies on us. Dinner is up to you.**

SUNDAES ON A MONDAY

**8:30 PM–12:00 AM · WILCO**
*MUSIC / ICE CREAM / MONDAY NIGHT DONE RIGHT*
Sundaes on a Monday? Sure. Why not. After dinner, meet us at Wilco as our friends from the Drew & Fuse Show take over Monday night with DJs, drinks, and legit ice cream sundaes on them. We'll kick things off with one lucky DJ selected through the Drew & Fuse Show getting a 30-minute opening set. From there, the decks get handed over to DJ JD, Matt Fly, and Drew &Fuse themselves for a DAFS B2B set. Come for the music. Stay for the sundae. Or come for the sundae and accidentally stay for the music. We're not judging. We're starting late enough for you to grab dinner first and wrapping at midnight because Tuesday morning is still very much a thing. Four sets. Ice cream on DAFS. Sundaes on a Monday. Presented by the Drew & Fuse Show

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17

9:00AM - 12:00AM

RECHARGE CIRCLES

**ATTENDEE-LED CONVERSATIONS**
*SHARED KNOWLEDGE / SMALL GROUPS / PICK YOUR TOPICS*
**Some of the best stuff at Recharge won't come from the stage.** There's a lot of experience coming to Raleigh and everyone has something they know, something they're figuring out, or something worth talking about. Recharge Circles turn that collective knowledge into small-group conversations hosted by people attending DJC. The topics come directly from attendee submissions: things someone can help others with, questions they want to explore, and conversations they think are worth having. Ahead of the Recharge, you'll select the Circles you want to be part of. Then Tuesday morning, you'll jump into two of those conversations back-to-back. No presentations. No slide decks. Just people sharing what they know, asking better questions, and learning from each other.
**RECHARGE CIRCLES — ROUND 1**
Your first conversation of the morning.
**RECHARGE CIRCLES — ROUND 2**
New topic. New group. Go again.

CONNECTION SESSION #2

**DJC-CURATED CONVERSATION**
*NEW PEOPLE / FRESH IDEAS / REAL CONVERSATION*
**New day. New voices. New topic.** We're mixing things up again. You'll join a new small group hosted by a moderator selected by DJC, with everyone tackling the same DJC-curated topic. Just like Monday, we're keeping the topic under wraps until the session begins. Hear how other DJs think. Share what's worked for you. Challenge an idea or two. And connect with another group of people you might not have crossed paths with otherwise. We'll provide the topic and the moderator. You bring the conversation.

BACK TOGETHER

**BRIAN B · JOE BUNN · JASON JANI**
*DAY TWO / QUICK RESET / WHAT'S AHEAD*
After a morning spent in smaller groups, DJ Nick Nystrom brings us back together and we get the main stage rolling again. Brian B, Joe Bunn, and Jason Jani will hit a few highlights from Day One, check in on what came out of the morning's conversations, and tee up what's ahead for the rest of Recharge. Nothing lengthy. We still have plenty to get to.
**Day Two. Let's keep it moving.**

BETWEEN THE CONFERENCES

**JOHN ROACH · THE DJ'S VAULT**
*CONTINUING EDUCATION / COMMUNITY / SPONSORED SESSION*
You come to a conference. You take notes. You get inspired. You head home ready to change everything. Then Wednesday happens. In this short session, John Roach looks at what it takes to keep learning once the conference badge comes off - from continually sharpening your skills to staying connected in a business that can sometimes feel surprisingly isolating. He'll also share how The DJ's Vault is building a place for that learning, accountability, and community to continue throughout the year, including a first look at its newly redesigned platform. **Because the best idea you hear at Recharge only matters if you do something with it after the Recharge. Presented by The DJ's Vault**

THE FIRST REPLY IS ONLY THE BEGINNING

**CRAIG LOFTIS + NATE ACOSTA + LOGAN SMITH**
*LEAD FOLLOW-UP / SALES / SPONSORED SESSION*
Getting the lead isn't always the problem. It's everything that happens after the first reply. For established multi-ops, the questions, follow-up, back-and-forth, and chasing can quickly land right back on the owner's plate and good leads can get lost along the way. Craig Loftis of LeadExcess sits down with Nate Acosta and Logan Smith to unpack what they changed, what worked, what didn't, and what the numbers look like now. No hypothetical sales funnel. Two working DJ companies sharing what actually happened and what they'd do differently knowing what they know now. **Because sometimes you don't need more leads. You need to do more with the ones you already have.** **Presented by LeadExcess**

LUNCH

**GOOD GRUB. GOOD COMPANY.**
Grab some food, pull up a chair, and spend some time with whoever you want. Catch up with an old friend. Keep a conversation going from the morning. Sit with somebody you just met. Or finally connect with someone you've been meaning to track down since you got here.
**No agenda. Just lunch and good people.**

BEYOND THE PROMPT

**NATE ACOSTA · JOHN BUYCKS · ERIC JAEGER Hosted by Jason Jani**
*AI / WORKFLOWS / AUTOMATION*
Yes, we know AI can write your Instagram caption. We're not talking about that. Nate Acosta, John Buycks, and Eric Jaeger are using AI in very different (and much deeper) ways to rethink how work actually gets done. Different tools. Different platforms. Different problems they're solving. Each will get 10 minutes to show what they're actually using, how it fits into their workflow, and what it's allowing them to do more intentionally, efficiently, and at a level that simply wasn't practical before. And we're intentionally spending very little time on ChatGPT. You've probably heard that session already. After all three demos, Jason Jani will open it up for questions. **Less "look what AI can do." More "here's what I'm actually doing with it.**

LIGHTS AT FULL

**BRENT SCHMIDT + BRIAN SMITH**
*LIGHTING / DESIGN / EXECUTION*
Lighting tends to get the short end of the stick at DJ education events.
We're fixing that. Brent Schmidt and Brian Smith, the working DJs behind the Lights At Full podcast, are bringing lighting back into the conversation - from design and practical application to the decisions that can completely change how an event looks, feels, and comes to life. This won't just be about fixtures and gear. It's about thinking more intentionally about lighting, understanding what actually works, and recognizing the difference between simply having lights and using them well. **Because great lighting shouldn't be an afterthought.**

TAKE 15

**CHECK OUT FOR A MINUTE**
Check the email. Return the text. Stretch your legs. Refill the coffee. Hit the bathroom. Call home. Stare at a wall if that's what you need. You've got 15 minutes.
**We'll see you back here when the clock runs out.**

REVENUE IS VANITY. CASH FLOW IS REALITY.

**RICH CRANSTON**
*FINANCE / CASH FLOW / BUILDING WEALTH*
You just booked a $3,000 wedding. Cool. Now where does that money actually go? Before you can answer that, you have to understand how one booking fits into the bigger financial picture of your business. Rich Cranston will break down a practical system for giving every dollar a job. From taxes and operating expenses to profit, equipment, savings, investing and showing how once you understand your annual cash flow, it can change the decisions you make event by event. Because what you book and what you actually keep are two very different numbers. **The goal isn't just to make more money. It's to know what to do with it when you do.**

NOT DONE YET: BUILT TO FAIL. DESIGNED TO SUCCEED.

**ASHLEY LIU KIRKMAN**
*GOALS / RESILIENCE / ADAPTABILITY*
Plans fail. That doesn’t mean you have to. Ashley Liu Kirkman knows both sides of the business world - as a corporate executive and a small business owner. And she’s learned that even the best-laid plans rarely survive exactly as intended. In this session, Ashley will challenge the idea that success comes from simply setting the right goal and following a rigid roadmap to get there. Instead, she’ll share a more dynamic approach built around knowing where you’re going, adapting when things inevitably change, and resetting when something doesn’t go according to plan. Because **the goal isn’t to build a plan that can’t fail. It’s to become someone who knows what to do when it does.**

DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE

**DOMINICK PIRONE**
*AI / BUILDING / AUTOMATION / DEEP DIVE*
We already showed you that AI goes a lot further than writing captions. Now we're going deeper. Dominick Pirone has spent a lot of time experimenting with where this technology is headed and, more importantly, figuring out how DJs can actually put it to work. From smarter workflows and automation to building tools that previously would have required a developer, this is where AI starts becoming less of an assistant and more of an operating system for how you work. We're giving Dominick nearly 45 minutes for a reason. This isn't AI 101. It's a deeper look at what's possible right now, what he's actually building and using, and where he believes DJs should be paying attention next. **Bring your laptop. Bring your questions. And maybe buckle up a little.**

THREE PERSPECTIVES

**BRIAN B · JOE BUNN · JASON JANI**
*ONE TOPIC / THREE TAKES / NO SCRIPT*
One more topic. Three more takes. For our final Stool Session of this year’s Recharge, Brian B, Joe Bunn, and Jason Jani each get 10 minutes to tackle one last attendee-driven topic with no shared notes and no idea where the other two are going with it. Three businesses. Three different ways of thinking. And probably three different answers. Then we'll open it up for questions, pushback, and follow-ups. **One last topic. Three takes. No need to agree.**

ASK US ANYTHING

**BRIAN B · JOE BUNN · JASON JANI**
*YOUR QUESTIONS / OUR ANSWERS / NOTHING OFF THE TABLE*
Two days. A lot of ideas. There's probably still something you want to ask. So before we call the education portion of Recharge complete, we're handing the conversation over to you. Business. Music. Clients. Pricing. Hiring. Events. DJC. Something you heard over the last two days that you want us to go deeper on. Or something we somehow never got to at all. No prepared topic. No presentation. **If there's something you want to leave this year’s DJC Recharge knowing, this is your chance to ask.**

CLOSING NIGHT PARTY

**THE GROVE AT CITY MARKET · 9:00–11:00 PM**
*MUSIC / DANCE FLOOR / ONE LAST NIGHT*
The notebooks are closed. Now we do what we do. Meet us at The Grove at City Market for one last night together and this time, the only thing on the agenda is music. Two DJs. Two sets. Two hours to dance, hang, and put a proper exclamation point on Recharge. **Featuring DJ HampsterDance + Andrew Hypes (Justin Timberlake’s Tour DJ).** Grab dinner before you come - there are plenty of great spots within walking distance of The Grove. Then meet us at 9. Drinks will be available for purchase at the bar. **We spent two days talking about DJing. Seems only right that we end by actually doing it.**

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 18

9:00AM - 12:00PM

ONE MORE CUP

**COFFEE WITH VIBO · 9:00 AM**
*COFFEE / CONVERSATION / ONE LAST HANG*
Not quite ready to say goodbye? Neither are we. Before everyone starts heading home, VIBO is picking up the coffee at Iris Coffee Lab. Grab a cup, recap the last couple of days, continue a conversation you didn't quite finish, or just hang with the crew one more time before everyone starts scattering. It's casual. Come when you can. Stay as long as your travel plans allow. **One more coffee before we call it a Recharge.** **Coffee provided by VIBO**

SAFE TRAVELS

DEPARTURES THROUGHOUT THE DAY

That's officially a wrap.

Some of you have flights. Some have road trips. Some will inevitably be standing in a hotel lobby saying goodbye for 45 minutes after already saying goodbye three times. However you're getting home, travel safe. Take the ideas with you. Keep the conversations going. Stay connected to the people you met.

Thanks for coming to Raleigh. We'll see you down the road.

The DJC Experience

Welcome to Recharge

SAFE TRAVELS

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The DJ Collective 2025