Meet Brian Koch of Grain Valley

Today we’d like to introduce you to Brian Koch.

Hi Brian, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My love of music began early and at the age of 13 years old, I remember making a dream board with music on it. At 16 years old, I started saving and buying equipment and that same year I was the DJ for a wedding of my friends parents. I am thankful they trusted me enough to give me this experience to learn. I also started to DJ parties for my friends while gaining as much experience as I could. Around the age of 18 years old, I started surrounding myself with local concerts where I began networking with musicians which really helped me a little later in my life. I began learning to produce music and worked with a few local artists in my home. When I was 20 years old, I started doing sound in my church gaining even more experience on mixing. This led to me helping to put on events and outreaches. With me networking with local musicians the past few years, I was able to setup some great artists at these events. When these local artists came out with a new album, I would DJ for their CD release parties.

After about 25 years, I took a less active role for about 5 years, when I got married and became a step-dad to two boys; focusing on my family was where I needed to be at that time in my life. Now that the boys were more grown, my wife started helping me with more of the administrative side of things like giving quotes, talking to the customers about their needs for their event and keeping everything organized and flowing during the events and weddings. In 2022, my wife stepped in to help at the mic during weddings so that I can focus more on the music and hype. My whole family is entrepreneurs and she began to pick that up as well creating her own business, Blessed Innovations. She does craft shows and has her items in a few stores. It’s exciting for us both to be able to help each other grow our businesses. You can see more of what we do on that at https://blessedinnovations.net

God has really been blessing me with more unique events to be a part of like corporate events, pool parties, weddings and receptions as well as different cultural weddings. For the past two years, I have been doing themed ice-skating events at Cable Dahmer along with some adult events and tailgating parties. We recently were approached by a local venue to do weddings and events they have out there like the one this month being line dancing and swing dancing. We are blessed to have all these new opportunities for me to grow as a DJ.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
In the beginning, it is always difficult as a DJ because people wanted someone with experience and so many events I would volunteer my services to gain the references. Another challenge I faced was time management, especially when I had a new family and working my regular job as a cable and internet technician. That still can be a challenge today since I help with my wife’s business at festivals. Probably one of the bigger challenges is finding the happy medium of what to charge as I know events and weddings can be so expensive; I want to offer prices that does not break the bank for our customers. At the same time, my wife and I do a lot of work at home, weeks before the events, to prepare as well as always working to upgrade equipment and lights for an even better experience. The last challenge, probably the biggest challenge for me, was when my wife approached me about helping at the mic during weddings and receptions. At this point, I had been doing this on my own for over 30 years so it can be scary letting someone else step in like that. That first wedding of sharing the mic was one of the most intense weddings I had done with so many extra details during the reception so my anxiety was already a bit higher but she did a great job and it allowed me to focus more on the music. I can’t imagine not doing this as a team now-especially weddings. She is the one that talks with the customers, getting details from them, setting up appointments, typing up announcements and creating the timeline if they do not have an event coordinator. We are very blessed to be able to help each other with both of our businesses by bringing our own personal strengths to each business.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
As a DJ, I help bring the music, lights and hype to the dance floor. Along with weddings and receptions, I have done many cooperate events, pool parties, birthday parties, Christmas parties, reunions, outreaches, Night To Shine at Union Station, teamed up with a radio station outside Sprint Center/T-Mobile Center with local, live artists for the pre-entertainment to a concert, several events at Cable Dahmer Event Center, themed ice-skating events at the Independence Ice Rink, barn dances and more. With my wife now helping me, we offer more services like helping a bride & groom create their timeline and keep things flowing on schedule during the reception. I think our love for people and wanting to build relationships is something that sets us apart. Even at the festivals with my wife’s business, we take that time to talk and listen. Our cost is something else that sets us apart as we do not charge over the top prices and strive to work with the budget of our customers.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dj_koch_ent
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/djkochentertainment