Life & Work with Tamer Abulebda AKA “DJ TMajor”

Today we’d like to introduce you to Tamer Abulebda AKA “DJ TMajor”.

Hi Tamer, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I was born and raised in NJ right outside of NYC. I moved to New York City where I went to school at Fordham University and lived for about 5 years. I was actually a science major but if there was one thing I loved more than science it was music. I grew up in the 90s in the MTV & BET era when watching nonstop music videos on TV was normal. Then you’d go onto your old computer and download all the songs you just heard so you could burn them to CDs! I grew up listening to both American and Arabic music but also lived in a very diverse community where I was introduced to Latin music and other genres as well. New York City was where my love for music grew exponentially. I discovered a lot of new music, met so many musicians and dabbled in playing guitar & hand percussion. I learned a little about music production too. I always knew I’d start my own business that was related to music in some way. Like many others, I wanted to do something I truly loved for a living, but naturally had to continue working “regular jobs” in the meantime to sustain me financially. I came from a hard working immigrant family so I worked from the age of 15. After college I was as an EMT for 5 years and then ended up working for an insurance company in 2016. That same year, I visited San Diego and knew it was a place I wanted to live and also somewhere I’d be inspired to pursue more of my goals.

In July 2017, Erica (my girlfriend of 10 years) and I moved to San Diego. Once I moved my motivation to finally start the business I had always wanted came to fruition and I felt far more inspired. Moving cross country was a big accomplishment and it definitely gave me a newfound motivation, especially in sunny San Diego! I started DJ’ing shortly after and practiced constantly while working full time and researching the ins and outs of the DJ business. I worked so hard on perfecting my skills and preparing my business. In 2018 I DJ’d a few private events including a corporate holiday party for some coworkers and friends. In 2019 I officially opened my business TMajor Entertainment! I can’t describe how amazing it felt to see my dream come to life. The sense of accomplishment was just indescribable. The growth has been amazing to witness also, and I’m happy to say that I could see my best year yet in 2021. San Diego is a beautiful place and it’s been so rewarding working with so many amazing couples here and becoming a valued small business in the community. Truly looking forward to what the future holds in store!

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?
Without a doubt there were struggles along the way. The process was definitely a valuable learning experience. I think the biggest struggle as a new business was being able to sell myself to new clients. Without a collection of client reviews, social media content, or evidence of my work, it really became about building trust and staying true to who I was. Being confident in myself really helped as well. Some of the other challenges were more logistical and mostly just growing pains. I’m a solo-operation business so it can be really challenging to wear several hats as well as work the events and take care of setup & breakdown. It teaches you to love hard work and appreciate the “BTS” which a lot of people never get to see or understand. More recently of course the COVID-19 pandemic brought on its own set of unique and difficult challenges that I’m sure many of my peers & clients can relate to. From cancellations and postponements, to restrictions and limitations, it has truly been a tough storm to weather. But I am hopeful for better days ahead!

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m a professional DJ for all types of private events and I specialize in weddings. I offer other services like lighting and custom monograms too! I’m known for my positive hard working attitude, and my smooth and clean mixing style. My favorite genres to DJ are hip-hop, R&B, 90’s, & Afrobeats to name a few! Maybe “vibe curator” is a better description? I think the title of “DJ” has become blurred or even diminished over the years. The biggest misconception is that we all do the same thing; we make a playlist, show up and press buttons to make that songs play. But it’s really so much more. You’re controlling and enhancing the collective energy of a group. People forget that some of their most memorable moments can occur to the backdrop of that one perfect song in that one perfect instance, all thanks to a good DJ that knew the right song to drop and when. A solid DJ has good technique AND soul. It’s far more intuitive than many realize. When I DJ, it’s about connecting with others so that I know what music to play to take them to that special place or invoke a certain emotion. Music is extremely powerful in that way. I’d hope to be known not just for my mixing skills, but also as a DJ who values building relationships with those I DJ for. I really take the time to get to know everyone, because I strive to curate a set of music that reflects their individuality and their vision. The same applies with other DJs and vendors within my community. We’re a collective and cohesive unit that work to create magic for the special occasions of others, so at the end of the day those relationships are priceless.

Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
Being well researched and well read on the market or industry you want to start a business in is so essential to your overall success as well as your ability to anticipate & withstand the challenges that arise. More importantly, I realized that you are likely to face obstacles no matter what kind of business you’re starting. There’s simply no such thing as “the easy way”. You have to be in it for the long haul, but that doesn’t mean you never stop to rest or take care of yourself either. It’s ok to face struggles and to be frustrated at times too because it’s part of the process. Make sure to stay true to who you are and don’t pretend to be someone you’re not; potential clients will see right through that. Remind yourself constantly that it takes time and that nothing comes fast so make sure to enjoy the process along the way! Lastly, don’t be afraid to reach out to others who are more experienced than you, or other professionals in your market/community. I cannot stress enough how important those connections are to your overall growth & development. You will learn so much!

Contact Info:

• Email: djtmajorsd@gmail.com
• Instagram: @djt_major
• Facebook: @djt_major
• Other: https://www.mixcloud.com/DJTMajor/