Today we’d like to introduce you to Matthew Novick.
Hi Matthew, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers?
I started DJing back in 2010, when my mother’s friend owned a roller-skating rink and they were looking for a substitute Disc Jockey. I was just 16 and started to learn the very basics about the art and music in general. I had always liked rock and roll music my father enjoyed, but never truly appreciated the power of music until I began to work so closely with it. Before long it became all-consuming, and I spent most of my money saved on a small DJ setup and speaker system. I still have those same speakers today and use them occasionally for shows.
After a few years went by, I was into my freshman year of college with still little to no work on my DJ resume. But I was looking for a career path and knew a field like this was something I wanted to be a part of. One day, a radio station booth was at the college for a concert they had that night. I left my class down the hall and asked about any potential opportunities there might be in the future. The very next day, I got called in for an interview which would lead to a foot in the door at Clear Channel, known today as iHeartMedia. Hard work, dedication, and an undeniable hunger proved to separate me from the pack as I would eventually gain a reputation from my work around the company, and lead me to becoming an on-air intern for one of the biggest radio shows in the city. This influence proved to be contagious, and eventually lead me to get a job as DJ at a very large private event agency, where I was immediately brought on board and booked nearly every single weekend for weddings and different events. The ball had finally started rolling and all the work I had put into this point was truly starting to pay off.
I continued to work here while I finished my degree but knew these shows were not the endgame for me. Having deep hands in the local market, and with my contact list and resume growing by the week, I eventually broke off from the agency and pursued my own work in the nightclubs downtown… An extremely competitive space but one I had been trying to get into from the beginning. The work I put in all the years prior continued to speak for itself, and I soon earned the title of “Best DJ in Cleveland” by the local Cleveland Scene Magazine in 2019. Not long after this, I was presented a full-time position as a DJ and on-air talent for a nationally-syndicated iHeartRadio morning show based out of Cleveland; A position I held for years until late 2021. I am now exclusively working to pursue my dreams on a larger level, where I hope to begin playing in other cities more frequently and doing more high-profile events.
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?
Coming from a small school there were not many friends that shared my interests in the field. It became very difficult to build a base from this, and in addition had no financial backing for my ventures from my parents. There were long periods of no work and seemingly no support that really drained me, especially while working several jobs I disliked and attending school. But the passion I felt proved to unrelenting; I couldn’t stop doing the work even if I wanted to. There are times I look back and truly can’t believe the work I had to put into the craft to get to where I am… But when it’s something you care so much about, it seems to go by faster than you think.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Working in the field for several years I have gone from just a DJ to also an MC. This has lead me to host and facilitate shows for larger brand partners, and everything from concerts to fashion shows and more. I feel discipline has played a large part in the credibility of my brand, as people who approach me with work are comfortable and confident with the service they plan to receive. I work hard to ensure I give 100% dedication to any and all shows I perform at and all the people I work with because I believe quality is key in an industry like this and I have a drive to make the best event possible, every chance I get. Every event partner is a priority, no exception. When building any brand, this consistency has proven to be crucial.
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
The pursuit of happiness. I used to define it by wealth, accolades, material things, etc. Time proved these things to not be nearly as meaningful as the relationships I’ve built along the way, the friends I’ve made, the experiences I’ve been a part of, and the ways I’ve been able to share life-changing moments with so many people. You only get ONE life, strive for greatness, and dream on. If you’re experiencing happiness when you reach the end of your road, I think you’ll find you’re more successful than many others who have come before you.
Contact Info:
- Email: yoMattitude@gmail.com
- Website: www.yoMattitude.com
- Instagram: Instagram.com/yoMattitude
- Facebook: fb.com/yoMattitude
- Twitter: twitter.com/yoMattitude
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCH1luInGqVD8lvfhULB6UPA
- SoundCloud: Soundcloud.com/yoMattitude
Image Credits
Orville McEachron Photography
Churkh
Kevin Inthavong
