Today we’d like to introduce you to Jenny Pocket.
Jenny, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Like many people, I’ve always loved music. As a kid, I used to spend hours listening to music, recording songs from the radio onto cassettes and writing down lyrics to sing or rap my favorite songs. When digital music became a thing, I used to burn CDs to play in the car and at parties. Friends enjoyed my song selections and encouraged me to be a DJ.
When I got a full-time job and had some money to buy equipment, I taught myself with the guidance of friends and acquaintances. After about a year, I took my first club gig in downtown. From there, I kept learning and growing my network, which leads from one gig to the next. Over ten years later, I am so grateful that I get to DJ every week and to have played all over San Diego and even in some other cities like Las Vegas!
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I think being a woman in a male-dominated industry has been somewhat challenging. There has been a perception that women can’t DJ or that women are booked for looks, not skill. Early on, I entered in DJ competitions to challenge myself. At that point, I felt that I had a lot to prove, not just for myself but for other women DJs. In probably the last 5-10 years, there have been so many more women who are now DJs and I am here to support that growth.
Please tell us more about your work. What do you do? What do you specialize in? What sets you apart from competition?
I think what sets me apart is the variety of experiences I have had over the years and being focused on the crowd. I love the music that I love, but when I DJ, it’s not just for me. It’s for the people, the client, the people hiring me. I listen to a lot of different music, so I enjoy not only playing the current hits but being able to add a little something for everyone.
I started as a hip hop DJ for nightclubs and little by little expanded to more. Playing the same kind of music every night can get dull, so I took on other types of gigs. I play everywhere from lounges to retail stores, casinos, fitness classes, festivals, corporate events and everywhere in between.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
As I see the number of women in my industry grow, I have been working to connect us. From time to time, I will coordinate meetups to network. I am working with local DJ School and Studio, Global BPM to bring together a scratch session for women DJs in the coming months.
I’ve also been working on a couple of personal and creative projects, including a DJ and Violin duo: Pepper & Pocket. Electric Violinist, Amy Serrano and I have been collaborating for about a year now. I DJ while she jams out on the violin. We’ve even incorporated some additional instruments for a little flavor.
To continue personal growth, I have been working on the 100 days of scratching project. For 100 days, I make it a point to get on the turntables to learn and practice my scratching skills. It’s amazing how much a difference it makes when you keep yourself accountable to something for a specific period of time. Long term, I’d love to take these skills to a major DJ competition like the Redbull Three Style or Goldie Awards.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.djjennypocket.com
- Email: djpocket@rocketmail.com
- Instagram: @djjennypocket
- Facebook: facebook.com/djjennypocket
- Twitter: twitter.com/djjennypocket
Image Credit:
Main Photo Credit: Ashley Sprankles
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