What The DJ Firm does

The DJ Firm is a privately held, founder-owned event entertainment company headquartered in Niles, Illinois, serving the Chicago metropolitan area, Milwaukee, and greater Wisconsin. Founded in 2014 by Eric Sampson (DJ Jem) and Carlington Young, the company delivers professional DJ services for weddings, corporate events, and private functions, supported by a curated roster of 15+ vetted DJs and live musicians. The core product includes sound, lighting, wireless microphones, an on-site event manager, and a proprietary planning app that integrates with Spotify for client-driven music curation. The company operates a wholly-owned subsidiary, TDF Events, which provides full A/V and lighting design services, and runs TDF Mobile, a proprietary mobile DJ van for outdoor events.

Revenue is generated through one-time, per-event bookings with pricing that scales by event type: wedding packages start at $3,000, corporate and private events at $1,750 (3-hour minimum), and South Asian wedding packages at $6,000+. A 50% deposit is collected at signing, with the balance settled via QuickBooks invoicing. The company has served 1,650+ weddings since founding and has built a roster of 300+ corporate clients including Fortune 500 brands such as AT&T, ESPN, Fox, PayPal, Salesforce, American Airlines, Red Bull, the Chicago Bulls, and the Chicago Blackhawks. Go-to-market combines a consultative sales motion (discovery call, custom proposal, digital contract) with inbound demand from The Knot marketplace, Google My Business, Yelp, and a network of venue and planner referral partners in Chicago and Milwaukee.

The company's competitive positioning rests on a 12+ year operating history, 450+ 5-star reviews across major platforms, multi-vertical expertise (South Asian weddings, corporate events, private celebrations), and a differentiated physical asset (Chicago's only mobile DJ van). Expansion has been organic and incremental, with no disclosed funding rounds, no external investors, and no M&A activity.

Name

The DJ Firm

Legal name

The DJ Firm

Website

https://thedjfirm.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The DJ Firm is a Chicago-based, founder-owned event entertainment company founded in 2014 that provides DJ, live musician, and production services for weddings, corporate events, and private functions across Chicago, Milwaukee, and Wisconsin, supported by a proprietary planning app, TDF Mobile DJ van, and wholly-owned TDF Events production subsidiary.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Event Entertainment Services

NAICS

Musical Groups and Artists (711130)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Party DJ, Music & Audio Services (HSACACAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Live Music Booking (Bands, Soloists, DJs) (HSACAHAA)

Keywords

• Wedding DJ services
• Corporate event entertainment
• Live music booking
• Mobile DJ rental
• Event production services

Headquarters

HQ city

Niles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Wedding DJ Services: Premium DJ services for weddings including 6 hours of entertainment, main room audio system, dance floor lighting, 2 wireless microphones, dedicated event manager, DJ Firm planning app, on-site technician, setup & breakdown, and travel. Wedding packages start at $3,000.
2. Corporate & Private Event DJ Services: Event DJ services starting at $1,750 with 3-hour minimum. Base package includes 3 hours entertainment, professional sound equipment for up to 150 guests, one wireless microphone, and dedicated event manager. 50% deposit required at signing.
3. South Asian Wedding Packages: Specialized wedding packages for South Asian ceremonies starting at $6,000, featuring custom proposal process and DJs experienced with multicultural and bilingual announcements.
4. Add-on Services: Additional revenue from supplementary services including club lighting, club cannon CO2 effects, 360 video booth, photobooth with customizable templates, uplighting, LED screens, custom gobo projections, custom DJ booths, LED lighting tubes, and full stage production.
5. TDF Mobile DJ Van Rental: Mobile DJ van rental for outdoor events including block parties, corporate events, tailgating, and outdoor activities. Features 4 self-powered speakers, 18-inch subwoofer, wireless microphone, 7-foot awning, and 75-inch LED TV.
6. Live Ensemble Booking: Booking of live musicians including string trios, quartets, jazz combos, solo violinists, electric violinists, saxophonists, drummers, and guitarists for weddings and events.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The DJ Firm provides premium DJ entertainment services for weddings, corporate events, and private functions across Chicago, Milwaukee, and Wisconsin. The core offering is performed by 15+ vetted DJs and includes professional sound, wireless microphones, dance floor lighting, a dedicated event manager, and access to a proprietary planning app for music curation. The portfolio is extended via live musicians, ensembles, photobooths, the TDF Mobile DJ van, and full A/V production through the TDF Events sub-brand.

Product overview

The DJ Firm is a full-scale entertainment company offering premium DJ services as its core product, supplemented by a comprehensive portfolio of add-on modules and a production sub-brand. The core offering consists of professional DJ services for weddings (Chicago, Milwaukee, South Asian), corporate events, and private functions, featuring 15+ vetted DJ talent. Additional product modules include live musicians (solo violinists, saxophonists, drummers), string and jazz ensembles, the TDF Mobile DJ van for outdoor events, and various entertainment add-ons such as photobooths, 360 video booths, club lighting, CO2 cannons, uplighting, LED screens, and custom stage production. TDF Events serves as a separate sub-brand for full A/V and lighting design services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• TDF Mobile: Chicago's only mobile DJ van service for outdoor events, featuring self-contained, self-powered unit with professional audio equipment
• TDF Events

Products and services

• Wedding DJ Services Premium DJ services for weddings including 6 hours of entertainment, main room audio system, dance floor lighting, 2 wireless microphones, dedicated event manager, DJ Firm exclusive planning app, on-site technician, setup and breakdown, and travel to the greater Milwaukee area. Wedding packages start at $3,000.
• Corporate & Private Event DJ Services Event DJ services for corporate and private functions starting at $1,750 with a 3-hour minimum. Base package includes 3 hours of entertainment, professional sound equipment for up to 150 guests, one wireless microphone, and a dedicated event manager. 50% deposit required at signing.
• South Asian Wedding DJ Services Specialized DJ services for South Asian weddings with cultural ceremony support and bilingual announcements, starting at $6,000. Includes DJs experienced with multicultural music and bilingual MC capabilities, and the option to combine live musicians with DJ sets.
• Solo Musicians Live solo musicians available for weddings and events, including electric violinists (Adia, Jinty McTavish, Kelly Jozwiak, Josh Burca), saxophonists (DG Sax, Alex Kelsh, Patrick Jasper, Derrick Tate), acoustic/electric guitar, and drummers.
• String & Jazz Ensembles Live string trios, quartets, and jazz combos featuring pop strings, classical, jazz, R&B, and other genres available for weddings and events through The DJ Firm.
• TDF Mobile DJ Van Rental Mobile DJ van rental for outdoor events including block parties, corporate events, tailgating, and outdoor activities. Chicago's only mobile DJ van, fully self-contained and self-powered, featuring 4 self-powered speakers, 18-inch subwoofer, wireless microphone, 7-foot awning, interior LED lighting, and a 75-inch LED mounted TV. Includes audio technician and driver.
• TDF Photobooth Open-air modern photobooth with customizable photo strip templates, attended staff option, full color QR code scan, white sequin backdrop, GIF option, photo filters, and digital photo delivery.
• TDF 360 Booth Open-air 360-degree video booth with photo video overlays, unlimited spins for 3 hours, and digital video delivery after the event. Requires a 10x10 foot area for operation.
• Club Lighting Four large intelligent movers for dance floor lighting, operated live for a club-style, non-generic atmosphere at events.
• Club Cannon Handheld CO2 cannon producing 20-30ft plumes of ice cold fog for high-energy party moments. Package includes the cannon and 2 filled CO2 tanks.
• Additional Event Add-ons Supplementary production services including uplighting, LED screens and concepts, custom gobo designs, custom DJ booths, LED lighting tubes, and full stage production.
• TDF Events (Full A/V and Lighting Production) Full-scale event production company offering A/V and lighting design services through tdfevents.com. Sister company to The DJ Firm, providing comprehensive production experiences for clients seeking to transform event spaces with visual production capabilities.

Quantifiable outcome

• 450+ 5-star reviews across platforms
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers24 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• TDF EventscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTDF Events is a sister company providing full A/V and lighting design services. The DJ Firm refers clients needing full production experiences to TDF Events, creating a comprehensive entertainment solution for transforming event spaces with visual production capabilities.
• Evenement PlanningminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWisconsin-based event planning company that refers wedding clients to The DJ Firm for Milwaukee and Wisconsin wedding entertainment services.
• Your Invited WIminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWisconsin wedding planning service that partners with The DJ Firm for entertainment at Wisconsin weddings.
• Olive Branch EventsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEvent planning company that refers clients to The DJ Firm for wedding entertainment services in the Milwaukee area.
• Elevate EventsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEvent planning partner that coordinates with The DJ Firm for wedding entertainment at Milwaukee and Wisconsin venues.
• Story Hill FirehouseminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMilwaukee wedding venue that recommends The DJ Firm to couples booking their space.
• St. James 1868minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHistoric Milwaukee wedding venue partnered with The DJ Firm for entertainment services.
• Scratch DJ Academy ChicagominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDJ training institution that mentors emerging DJ talent. DJ Cavanaugh Myles began his career at Scratch DJ Academy Chicago in 2016, indicating a talent pipeline partnership.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• The Bash (formerly GigMasters): Online marketplace for booking live entertainment — DJs, musicians, and event vendors. Competes indirectly with The DJ Firm for inbound consumer demand and provides a benchmark for marketplace-style customer acquisition.
• The Knot Worldwide (XO Group): Wedding vendor marketplace and planning platform where The DJ Firm maintains a vendor listing. Not a competitor but the dominant top-of-funnel discovery channel for premium wedding DJs in the U.S.
• Cvent: Enterprise event management platform used by corporate event planners. Not a direct entertainment competitor but shapes the procurement and RFP dynamics for the corporate event segment where The DJ Firm serves Fortune 500 clients.
• Scratch DJ Academy: Chicago-based DJ training institution that has served as a talent pipeline for The DJ Firm (per partnership record). Not a competitor but a labor-supply partner influencing The DJ Firm's access to vetted emerging DJ talent.
• WeddingWire: Wedding vendor marketplace that competes with The Knot for vendor discovery and consumer reviews. Acts as a marketing channel and indirect benchmark for The DJ Firm's pricing and review strategy.

Direct peers

• Elan Artists: Event entertainment company providing DJs, live musicians, and production services for weddings, corporate events, and private functions. Directly comparable in offering mix (DJs + ensembles + production) and premium pricing posture.
• Beat Train Productions: Premium wedding and corporate event DJ company in the U.S. Northeast offering curated DJ rosters, MC services, and lighting/production add-ons. Directly comparable to The DJ Firm in service model, pricing tier, and target customers (wedding couples and enterprise clients).
• BVT Events (Beyond Visual Trends): Event entertainment and production company serving weddings, corporate events, and private parties with DJs, lighting, and A/V services. Comparable service breadth and mid-market/enterprise customer overlap with The DJ Firm.

Broad incumbents

• AEG Presents: One of the largest live entertainment and event production companies globally, operating festivals, arenas, and corporate events. Competes for the largest corporate event budgets where The DJ Firm also plays, but at a vastly larger scale and broader portfolio.
• Live Nation Entertainment: World's largest live entertainment company, owning Ticketmaster and major concert/event promotion. Overlaps with The DJ Firm on large-format corporate and branded entertainment work but operates at incomparably greater scale and asset base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/joshandtheviolin
• Xx.com/thedjfirm
• Facebookfacebook.com/thedjfirm

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 The DJ Firm