Today we’d like to introduce you to Peter Kiesel.
GE Productions is a full-service production company for audio, visual and lighting based in San Diego and servicing the larger Southern California region. GE Productions was created in 2015 by longtime music lover and professional DJ, Peter Kiesel, who is better known in the music industry as DJ Jimmy Grizzley. A New York Native and DJ since 1996, Peter brought his musical style and skill to a San Diego in 2008.
Peter realized the demand for high-quality music, attention to detail and event planning needed to be transitioned from an individual service basis to a full production company. Peter then formed GE Productions which caters to large-scale events from corporate parties and upscale weddings to private, intimate events that call for a professional to ensure the client’s vision becomes a reality.
Today, GE Productions is one of the highest rated companies in San Diego. They have received Best Of Weddings awards from several companies such as The Knot, and are on recommended vendor lists on multiple venues including the prestigious Hotel Del Coronado.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Dedication to your craft, commitment to your client and a willingness to adapt and learn to go a long way in any business and even more so in the music industry. San Diego is a very small “Big City,” and everyone seemed to know everyone in the music business.
Therefore, I had to go above and beyond to develop relationships and get my foot in the door with venues and music management, and when the opportunity arose for an event, I had to go above and beyond what was promised to ensure an unparalleled success which would result in great future referrals.
In order to get those opportunities, there had to be a huge investment in advertisement and promotion, as well as the purchase of the brand new state of the art equipment. In the beginning, it was difficult without a top-notch client list and reputation to fall back upon. Often we had to be the lowest bidder to secure the event when clients had budget as their number one priority.
However this was an investment in the future, as the more clients we secured, the more events we could have on record, and in turn, their reviews of our company to build our reputation. In the music world, quality often correlates to price, and it was difficult to persuade clients who had higher budgets at the beginning stages of the company, however that is no longer the story today.
GE Productions – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Today GE Productions employs three of Southern California’s most talented and musically diverse DJs: Jimmy Grizzley, Nathan Shane and 70 West. All three DJs have a vast array of musical background and have been involved with their craft with almost 50 years of combined experience. Although GE Productions is a high end corporate and wedding event company, all three of our DJs are still active on the local San Diego nightclub circuit.
DJs often tend to be boxed into a mobile DJ or club DJ skill set, however, our trio is the best of both worlds, and therefore they bring a unique experience to every interaction. GE Productions is known for creating some of the best corporate and wedding events in San Diego, yet they are not limited to that alone. GE Productions has its own day party event series in San Diego titled Champagne Sessions.
The Champagne Sessions brand had four events in 2018, at four different locations where we created an “Ibiza Type Deep House Day Party” featuring different deep house DJs and day parties including fine champagne and brunch with dancing to some great tunes.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
At GE Productions we are all about, and we define each event differently. Our goal is ultimate satisfaction in our clients. If its a wedding, we want to make sure the wedding couple had the exact vision they expected. If it’s a corporate event, we want to ensure every minute detail was taken care of.
We are personally invested in every client and give them 100% commitment to their event. We measure our success from our professional events by the reviews that are left, the referrals that are given, and the repeat clients. When we hear from someone that they were referred to us, and chose to come to us without searching Yelp or another review site it speaks volumes about our level of service.
In contrast for our Champagne Sessions events, the success is measured in the exponential growth and success of the events. Our first event of 2018 was 85 people at a park, and we had no following to speak of. Our final event of 2018 had over 250 attendees and was on a gorgeous rooftop in Little Italy. Today we have a Facebook Group of over 2500 people, an Instagram Following over 5500 followers and a solid team of DJs.
Each of our events I talked to attendees who discussed how refreshing the vibe was and seeing attendees at follow up events is the truest measure you are doing amazing things.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.geproductionsinc.com champagnesessionsusa.com
- Phone: 7605622429
- Email: info@geproductionsinc.com champagnesessionsusa@gmail.com
- Instagram: geproductionsinci champagnesessionsSD
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/353656198472628/about/
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