Inspiring Conversations with Michael Duke

Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael Duke.

Hi Michael, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Growing up, my mom was a music teacher. Being the youngest of eight children it was her mission to ensure that all of us had a love of music. As such, we were all required to play a musical instrument at some point in our lives. I started in fourth grade playing the violin. I moved to trombone in fifth. Finally, I landed on the upright bass, where I played through college and obtained a music degree at the University of Arizona. In addition, I have performed as a bass guitarist in various bands throughout the years.

Coming out of college, I was low on cash and looking for ways to make money. This landed me in an office job where I would remain for many years. There was a pivotal moment in 2021 that had me questioning if this is how I wanted to spend my life. If I could do ANYTHING, what would it be? I always have had a passion for music, and the entertainment industry is something that I gravitated towards. I reached out to a few local DJs and Trego, the DJ took me under his wing for a season. I owe nearly all my success to this point to that man. He taught me the most about being a professional DJ.

As a business, I like to pride myself on a few things. First, I am very transparent. My pricing is on my website and I lay out my whole process in the first meeting. Second, I am responsive. Unless I am at a wedding or the response requires a lot more research, I will typically respond to couples within the hour. I do my best to always be available to them. Lastly, I am trustworthy. If someone asks me a question about my experience or my opinion on a way to do something, I will be straightforward.

Here we are at the end of 2022 and I will have DJ’d over 70 weddings for the year including weddings for YouTube influencers and a member of the MLB. Unfortunately, my mother passed a few months ago in July, but I know that if she were here today, she would be proud of what I’ve accomplished over the last year.

On a personal note, I have been married for nine years. I found the love of my life, Amelia, at the age of 15 and never looked back. Together we have two children, Logan (7) and Serena (3). I am a huge fan of all things superhero-related, movies, TV, and video games. Also, I call myself a seasonal runner. I’ll run from September to March and hibernate. As a runner, I have completed 2 marathons and a half marathon.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I have a bit of a mixed answer here. There are many things that I struggle with, not the least of which is marketing on social media. I tried to break out of my shell here in July by posting a new reel every day. I have marketed through several Facebook groups including Doskanale Wed and other bridal groups. I also have been maintaining an account on the Knot throughout 2022. One of the largest struggles that I have as a business owner is having a feeling that I’m not doing everything I can, when in fact, business is going very well.

On the personal side, it was an adjustment to go into this line of work. Having worked a day job for years, being away from my family every Saturday night is a huge change. We have to schedule our vacations a year in advance now. It requires a lot more communication as a married couple.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
I am a DJ that specializes in weddings, but has done all kinds of events from school, sweet 16, corporate and private parties. I think what sets any DJ apart from another DJ is the personality and professionalism they bring to the table. I am fully aware that I am not the right DJ for every party and I want to make sure that no one goes into an agreement with me unless they are fully confident in their decision to do so. That’s why I always provide a seven-day soft hold period on my events to give people the opportunity to decide if I’m the right guy for them. High-pressure sales have never been my thing.

If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
It may sound cliche, but I’m a hard worker and I am laser focused when it comes to completing a task. I am super competitive and in this space the only person I need to compete with is myself.

Contact Info:

• Website: djmcduke.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/djmcduke
• Facebook: facebook.com/djmcduke

Image Credits
Nadine Eliza Photography
Memory Lane Productions AZ