GenerationNOW Entertainment

What GenerationNOW Entertainment does

GenerationNOW Entertainment is a Twin Cities-based DJ entertainment company founded in 2010 (with origins traceable to 2004) that delivers live DJ performances, MC services, and event-production packages for weddings, corporate events, sports venues, and nightclubs. The company's product surface spans four core service lines (Wedding DJs, Party & Event DJs, Sports DJs, Night Club DJs) bundled with modular add-ons such as photobooths, CO2 cannons, cold sparklers, audio guest books, and an internal Wedding Music Planner tool. Technically, its differentiation rests on live-mixing and scratching expertise developed under founder DJ Mad Mardigan, plus equipment-redundancy practices (full backups of every cord, hard drive, speaker, and bulb) and custom DJ booth installations at venues like Target Field.

The business operates on a per-event, pay-as-you-go pricing model with wedding packages disclosed in a $1,000–$5,000+ band (entry-level, mid-tier professional, headliner/elite tiers) and travel fees for locations beyond 45 minutes from Minneapolis. GenerationNOW monetizes sports-venue relationships through multi-season enterprise contracts (16 seasons with the Minnesota Timberwolves, 7+ seasons with the Minnesota Twins, plus Lynx and MN United FC engagements) and recurring charity-gala engagements (Wishes & More, Special Olympics Minnesota, Chad Greenway Lead the Way Foundation). Distribution mixes direct-to-consumer booking via the website with a strong preferred-vendor channel network spanning 12+ wedding planners, marquee venues (Hutton House, Hewing Hotel, Crowne Plaza, Four Seasons), and wedding marketplaces (The Knot Hall of Fame, Wedding Wire, Minnesota Bride Best of 2024).

Ownership is founder-controlled: Nicholas Dircz (DJ Mad Mardigan) is Owner & Creator; Ryan Kulka and Devin Johnson are co-founders; Tim Miller serves as V.P. of Marketing & Sales and Twins Music Director; Charlie Tornquist operates the affiliated production partner Eklipse Productions. The firm is a bootstrapped, privately held LLC with no disclosed institutional capital, M&A, or restructuring activity.

Name

GenerationNOW Entertainment

Legal name

GenerationNOW Entertainment LLC

Website

https://generationnowdjs.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

GenerationNOW Entertainment is a Minneapolis-based boutique DJ entertainment company providing live DJ and MC services, plus event-production add-ons, for weddings, corporate events, professional sports venues, and nightclubs in the Twin Cities and broader Midwest.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Event Entertainment Services

NAICS

Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (711310), Other Performing Arts Companies (71119)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Party DJ, Music & Audio Services (HSACACAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

DJ & Electronic Music Venues (MPAGAIAE)

Keywords

• Wedding dj services
• Event entertainment
• Sports arena dj
• Corporate event dj
• Nightclub dj services

Headquarters

HQ city

Plymouth

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Wedding DJ Services: Per-event DJ services for wedding ceremonies, receptions, and related events. Includes sound systems, lighting, and experienced DJs. Wedding prices range from $1,000 to $5,000+ in Twin Cities market.
2. Party and Event DJ Services: Per-event DJ services for corporate events, birthday parties, charity galas, and community events.
3. Sports Arena DJ Services: Music and entertainment services for professional sports venues including Target Center (Timberwolves, Lynx), Target Field (Twins), and other sports facilities.
4. Add-on Services: Additional services including photobooths, live ceremony and cocktail musicians, CO2 cannons, cold sparklers, and audio guest book telephone.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

GenerationNOW Entertainment is a boutique DJ entertainment company that provides professional disc jockey services for weddings, corporate events, parties, nightclubs, and professional sports arena productions in the Twin Cities Minneapolis-St. Paul market and broader Midwest. Services include sound systems, lighting, MC hosting, photobooths, CO2 cannons, cold sparklers, audio guest books, and event-day music direction, delivered by a vetted roster of DJs trained by founder DJ Mad Mardigan.

Product overview

GenerationNOW Entertainment is a boutique DJ entertainment company operating in the Minneapolis/Twin Cities area, offering four core service lines: Wedding DJs, Party & Event DJs, Sports DJs, and Night Club DJs. The company provides tiered DJ offerings (Headliner and Elite DJs for high-profile events) alongside a suite of modular add-ons including MC services, a Wedding Music Planner online tool, Ceremony Packages with optional live musicians, and supplementary enhancements such as photobooths, CO2 cannons, cold sparklers, and audio guest books. Specialized offerings for LGBTQ+ events are also available, with a portion of proceeds supporting LGBTQ+ causes. All packages include sound systems, lighting, setup/teardown, and an experienced DJ, with full customization available.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Wedding DJ Services

Named customers10 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Eklipse ProductionscoreTechnology or IntegrationCharlie Tornquist, a GenNOW DJ and team member, owns and operates Eklipse Productions. Specializes in cutting-edge event lighting, video walls, lasers, and stage design. Provides custom DJ booth designs like the one at Target Field.
• Gray Duck SpiritsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial Beverage provider of GenNOW. Provides vodka, seltzers, and THC products for events. Gray Duck Vodka partnered with DJ Mad Mardigan for a COVID-era Happy Hour Stream fundraiser.
• Hutton HousecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPreferred vendor at this luxurious event venue located west of downtown Minneapolis in Medicine Lake. Offers breathtaking surroundings and impeccable service for events.
• Minnesota BridecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal Minnesota wedding publication and platform where GenNOW is listed as a preferred vendor
• The KnotcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor wedding planning marketplace where GenNOW holds Hall of Fame status and is a preferred vendor
• Wedding WireminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWedding planning marketplace listing for customer acquisition
• Wishes & MorecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial DJ company for Wishes & More Annual Gala for 10 years. Children's charity granting wishes to children with life-threatening conditions. Partnership includes fundraising support.
• Special Olympics MinnesotacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing partnership for State Basketball Tournament at Target Center and other Special Olympics events
• Chad Greenway Lead the Way FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual Celebrity Golf Tournament partnership raising over $325,000 for seriously ill and physically challenged children. DJ services for 5th Annual event.
• TB1F (Team Brax)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharity partnership supporting pediatric cancer patients. Events include Putt Fore Patients raising $57,000 and monthly DJ showcases at MN Fairview Children's Hospital.
• FraserminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit partner for annual benefit events
• vraniCUREminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit partner for metastatic breast cancer research. 2025 vraniCURE Bash featured DJ Munya.
• Minnesota TimberwolvescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial DJ Company for 16 seasons. Team provides music directors, in-arena DJs, club DJs, and upper level DJs for Target Center home games.
• Minnesota TwinscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMusic Directors, DJ Mixes and LIVE DJs for In-Game experience at Target Field. 7+ year partnership.
• Minnesota LynxcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn-Arena Host and DJ services for WNBA team at Target Center. Hosted 2018 WNBA All-Star Game.
• Minnesota United FCminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHome opener entertainment and ongoing relationship with MLS team at Allianz Field
• Super Bowl Host CommitteecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExclusive entertainment vendor for Super Bowl LII. Provided entertainment at volunteer orientation, 10-day Super Bowl Live concert series, Polar Plunge, and in-stadium entertainment.
• Event Planners (All of the Above Weddings + Events, Ashley Skeie, Bloom Designs, etc.)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNetwork of 12+ wedding planners as preferred partners who refer clients to GenNOW for wedding DJ services
• Venue Partners (Hotels, Golf Courses, Unique Venues)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExtensive network of venue partners including Courtyard Marriott Downtown, Crowne Plaza, Four Seasons, Hilton, Hewing Hotel, and multiple golf courses and unique event venues

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• The Knot / WeddingWire Marketplace: Wedding vendor marketplace where GenNOW holds Hall of Fame status. Not a direct competitor but a critical distribution and customer-acquisition channel for the wedding DJ category.

Broad incumbents

• BVTLive!: Larger, multi-market event entertainment company with wedding DJs, photo booths, lighting, and event production. Overlapping capabilities with GenNOW's add-on ecosystem at a more national scale.

Direct peers

• Elite Entertainment: Multi-state wedding DJ and entertainment company. Comparable premium-tier DJ service offerings targeting weddings and upscale events across the Midwest.
• Affairs to Remember DJs: Wedding and event DJ company offering comparable service tiers, MC support, and lighting packages. Competes in the same premium-wedding segment.
• Bellagala: Minneapolis-based wedding and event services company offering DJs, photography, and videography. Direct competitor in the Twin Cities wedding DJ market with overlapping customer base and venue partnerships.
• Midwest Sound DJ Entertainment: Upper Midwest wedding and event DJ company. Comparable service model targeting weddings and corporate events in overlapping Minnesota/Wisconsin territory.
• Instant Request DJs: Minneapolis-based wedding and event DJ company serving the Twin Cities and broader Upper Midwest. Directly comparable service offerings (weddings, corporate, private events) in the same geographic footprint.
• Admit One Events: Minneapolis-area DJ and event entertainment company. Directly competes for wedding, corporate, and private event bookings in the Twin Cities market.
• Showtime Entertainment: Wedding and event DJ entertainment company with comparable service tiers, add-ons (lighting, photo booths), and event-driven GTM motion.

Regional players

• Scratch Weddings: Premium wedding DJ company based outside the Midwest with comparable open-format mixing style and boutique service positioning. Comparable offering to GenNOW's Elite/Headliner tier.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/GenerationNOWdjs
• Xx.com/gennowdjs
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gennow

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about GenerationNOW Entertainment