Daily Inspiration: Meet Johnny Hill

Today we’d like to introduce you to Johnny Hill.

Johnny, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I started DJing in 2010 in Mansfield, Ohio. At the time, I was working as a manager at McDonald’s and was still college-aged, but I was already completely obsessed with DJing. I started throwing parties at my house, buying equipment, learning how to DJ, and using those parties as a way to build experience. One of my earliest opportunities was DJing a wedding, which gave me a taste of where this could eventually take me.

Eventually, those parties grew enough that a local nightclub, Kosta’s, reached out to me to DJ their events. From there, I was asked to DJ a college night at Park Lanes, a local bowling alley, and eventually landed an opportunity at Snow Trails Ski Resort. I worked there as a snowboard instructor for several years, but I also became heavily involved in their seasonal events. For a while, I was essentially DJing Thursday through Sunday while working my day job during the week. That period taught me how to work with very different crowds and adapt to different types of events.

In 2015, I started putting my mixes and work online through Mixcloud, which opened a completely different door. A Columbus-based entertainment company, Beatsquad Entertainment, reached out to me, and I still work with them today. Through that relationship, I’ve had the opportunity to work with major corporate and sports organizations, including the Columbus Crew and Ohio State Athletics.

That connection also brought me further into the Columbus nightlife scene, including an opportunity to audition at Big Bar near campus. The networking that came from those experiences eventually connected me with DJ Gonzo from WNCI, which led to additional opportunities in radio and larger events.

Over the years, I learned that being a DJ is about much more than playing music. Weddings, corporate events, nightlife, college events, and radio all require completely different approaches. I’ve spent years learning how to read a room, program music, work with clients, manage events, and build relationships. A lot of what I’ve built has come through word of mouth and the people I’ve met along the way.

After more than a decade of doing this, I officially launched my own brand, Devise Records Entertainment, in 2024. What started as a passion project in Mansfield has grown into a Columbus-based, full-service entertainment company specializing in weddings and events.

Today, our wedding services typically fall in the $2,500–$3,000 range, with larger productions and additional enhancements taking things even further. Devise Records has also expanded beyond DJ and MC services to offer professional photobooth experiences, uplighting, cold sparks, CO2 effects, dancing on the clouds, dance floors, and other event enhancements. My fiancée is also a huge part of the business and runs our photobooth side of the company.

One of the things I’m most proud of is how much this has evolved. I went from working a day job and building my DJ career on the side to running a professional entertainment company with a team, a growing client base, and the ability to produce high-end weddings and corporate events. I still work with many of the people and companies I’ve met throughout my career while continuing to build Devise Records into something of my own.

It’s been a 15+ year journey, and the biggest lesson for me has been that you never really know which opportunity is going to lead to the next one. The house parties, ski resort, nightclubs, radio, corporate events, and all the relationships in between eventually became the foundation for what Devise Records is today.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. For most of my journey, I was building my DJ career while working a completely separate full-time job. I spent nine years at FedEx while continuing to DJ nights and weekends, and there were plenty of times when I was exhausted trying to balance both careers.

Eventually, I reached a point where I had to decide whether I was going to continue treating DJing as something I did on the side or take a real chance on myself. After more than a decade of building experience, relationships, and a reputation in the industry, I decided to leave my full-time job and pursue this as a career.

That transition came with a completely different set of challenges. Being a great DJ and running a successful entertainment company are two very different things. I had to learn the business side of the industry—sales, marketing, pricing, contracts, finances, branding, client management, and making smart investments in equipment and production.

There have been plenty of setbacks and moments of uncertainty along the way. I’ve made mistakes, changed strategies, and had to learn things through experience rather than having someone teach me. But those challenges have probably contributed just as much to the growth of the business as the successes have.

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that building a business requires you to constantly adapt. The things that worked when I was starting out aren’t necessarily the things that work today, and I’m always looking for ways to improve the client experience, strengthen the brand, and raise the level of what we offer.

Today, I’m fortunate to be able to do this full-time and continue building Devise Records into something that is truly my own. The road hasn’t been easy, but taking that risk has been worth it. I wanted to build a career where I could create something of my own, have more control over my time, and ultimately build a business that could grow beyond just me being the person behind the DJ booth.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m a professional DJ and entertainer specializing primarily in weddings, but my experience spans nearly every side of the industry, including nightlife, college events, corporate events, radio, and large-scale productions.

At the core of what I do is reading the room. I don’t believe in walking into an event with a predetermined playlist and simply pressing play. Every crowd is different, and I enjoy figuring out what people respond to, adjusting in real time, and building the energy throughout the event. My experience working in so many different environments has taught me how to adapt quickly and make decisions in the moment.

Music knowledge is another area where I think I have a real advantage. I’ve spent years building an extensive library of music, DJ edits, remixes, and specialty material, including collections from services such as X-Mix, Ultimix, Funky Mix, and Wicked Mix. I also have a lot of older and out-of-print material that isn’t necessarily easy to find anymore. Having that depth of music gives me more options when I’m programming a dance floor and helps keep my sets from feeling predictable.

I’m also very intentional about the overall experience. I want the music, MCing, timing, transitions, and production to feel cohesive rather than like a collection of separate services. My goal is to create an environment where guests are having a great time while my clients can relax knowing that someone experienced is in control of the room.

And I definitely don’t take myself too seriously. I’ve become known for some pretty ridiculous headphones that I use while DJing, including a pair designed like an old-school telephone receiver and an oversized AirPod-style set. It’s a small thing, but it’s become part of my personality and something people remember.

What I’m most proud of is the reputation I’ve built through years of working with completely different types of audiences and clients. I’ve been able to take everything I’ve learned from those experiences and bring it together through Devise Records Entertainment.

I think what ultimately sets me apart is the combination of music knowledge, crowd reading, personality, and experience. I take the business and production side seriously, but I also genuinely love what I’m doing. After all these years, I’ve learned that being a great DJ isn’t just about knowing music—it’s about knowing people, understanding the moment, and knowing what to do next.

Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
One thing I’d really like to share with readers is that success in this industry is about much more than being a good DJ. There are a lot of people who can buy equipment and call themselves a DJ, but building a sustainable career requires learning the business, understanding how professional events are produced, and earning the trust of the people you work with.

A lot of what I’ve learned came from being around people who were already doing this at a high level. Throughout my career, I’ve tried to take advantage of opportunities to learn, whether that meant working alongside more experienced professionals, taking on events outside of my comfort zone, or simply paying attention to how successful people operated.

I’ve also learned how important relationships are. Some of the biggest opportunities I’ve had came from people who were willing to give me a chance because they knew I would show up, do the job right, and represent them well. Those relationships aren’t built overnight. They’re built by being reliable, professional, and consistently delivering on what you promise.

I’m especially grateful for the people who opened doors for me throughout my career. Those opportunities helped shape where I am today, and they’ve also influenced how I want to operate my own company. I want Devise Records to be a place where other talented people can find opportunities, learn, and continue growing.

If there’s one piece of advice I’d give someone trying to build a career in this industry, it’s to look beyond the DJ booth. Become a student of the entire business. Learn how events are produced, understand the client experience, surround yourself with people who are better than you, and most importantly, become someone that other professionals can trust.

Talent can get you noticed, but relationships, professionalism, and consistency are what can turn an opportunity into a career.

Pricing:

• $$$-$$$$

Contact Info:

• Website: https://DeviseRecords.com
• Instagram: https://Instagram.com/Devise_Records.com
• Other: https://www.mixcloud.com/DjJuanLeon/ or https://www.weddingwire.com/biz/devise-records/3c1a6bd76108818c.html