Today we’d like to introduce you to Mike Hogan.
Mike, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I started my DJ career the summer out of high school when I got a lucky break. I was working as a bartender in the only disco in Mason City, IA and one night the DJ didn’t show, I knew how to turn on the gear and the owner asked me to step in, I ended up spending the summer as the head DJ at the Disco Den! I headed off in the fall to go to Arizona State University and I was lucky enough to get a job as a DJ for a nightclub chain called The Original Bobby McGee’s Conglomeration.
We had some of the most popular clubs in the country and were featured in Night Club and Bar magazine on many occasions. I was blessed to work and learn from some of the best DJ’s int he country. Once I left ASU, I went to work full time for Bobby McGees as a DJ for the next 12 years. I spun in clubs in Scottsdale and Tuscon, AZ., Newport Beach, Brea, Long Beach, Mission Viejo and Sacramento, I finally ended up in San Diego when we opened up a new club in La Mesa and that was it. They asked me to open another new club in Burbank the next year but I had fallen in love with San Diego and that was it.
At the time the nightclub DJ’s looked down our nose at those that hauled there gear to weddings and private parties but I finally got asked to do it enough I decided to give it a shot. While it was totally different than a club and schlepping gear around was a lot of work I ended up liking the variety and left Bobby McGees to start a mobile DJ company. I never looked back. I started off doing whatever came along but after a couple of years, I decided corporate events and weddings were what I really liked and that is where I focused my attention.
I was blessed to do well and I’ve never had to get a real job. I’ve been very active in the industry and have served on the board of the National Association of Catering Executives and was a founding board member of the Wedding Industry Professionals Association. I am proud to have been on the preferred vendor list of every major hotel in San Diego and to be referred by some of the top meeting planners in the city. I have traveled throughout the country as both a DJ, emcee and game show host for many fortune 500 companies. I started my auctioneer career in the 90’s selling women’s dresses at auction in nightclubs during happy hour.
The auctioneer career fell by the wayside as the DJ business grew but about 12 years ago I was asked to be the auctioneer for the Girl Scouts Urban Campout Gala and I realized how much I enjoyed that as well. If I was going to do it professionally, I wanted to make sure I knew what I was doing so I went to the World Wide College of Auctioneering for some training and then I got certified as a professional benefit auctioneer by the National Auctioneers Association.
I am a member of that association as well. I have been blessed to help raise over 100 million dollars for some amazing charities. Auctions are primarily spring and fall so that still leaves plenty of time to DJ. In terms of a total number of events in my career, I’d guess I’m well over 3000 but I really never kept count. I also hosted “The Wedding Show” in San Diego on KCBQ 1170 for about a year.
I also founded Sensational Treats with my partner Sheri Karpinski in 2010, I sold my percentage of the business to her about a year ago to focus on what I do best. She’s the specialist in catering and treats! Along with working as a DJ, Corporate Emcee and Auctioneer I have two game shows that I host, one is a Family Feud, and the other is a Jeopardy show. I have a full inventory of lighting and sound for groups up to about 1000, anything bigger than that and I bring in one of my a/v partners.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It’s been smooth, I’ve been blessed!
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
I couldn’t have gotten a better start than working for Bobby McGee’s, I was trained by some of the best DJ’s in the business.
I am also grateful to all the other DJ’s, Auctioneers and event professionals of every type that I have learned from over the years. Being involved in many industry associations has also been worth every dime as well. Thanks to NACE, ISES, WIPA and the NAA.
I firmly believe if you are good at what you do, charge a fair and reasonable price (not cheap but fair and reasonable) and act in a professional and ethical manner you will do well in the events business. I’m also a big believer in giving back, Finally, if you want to be looked at as a pro, do what the pros do.
Contact Info:
- Address: 5173 Waring Road 3 # San Diego, CA. 92120
- Website: www.djmikehogan.com/www.fundraisersonly.com
- Phone: 858-565-8600
- Email: mike@djmikehogan.com/mike@fundraisersonly.com
- Instagram: mp_hogan
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Mike-Hogan-Enterprises-Inc-103606339680504/
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