Today we’d like to introduce you to Amy Sasfai Petroff aka DJ Amy Sas.
Hi Amy, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I have always had a love for music. I knew I wanted to make a career out of it, but I just wasn’t sure how. When I went to Westminster College in New Wilmington, PA I fell in love with radio broadcasting. I was a Broadcast Communications Major there. Shortly after graduating, I found myself as a full-time radio news broadcaster in Meadville, PA. I also did personality work on the weekends for one of the stations. Being in the local media, a local non-profit organization, Big Brothers and Sisters of Crawford County, recruited me to be on their Board of Directions as their media liaison. I would help organize and promote fundraisers. One fundraiser in particular put me in contact with a local mobile DJ who was able to donate some of his time to provide entertainment at our yearly fundraising event. Upon meeting him, he expressed the need to hire help for his DJ business. Eager to improve my financial situation, I told him I was interested. I went with him to a few events, and we both realized I had a natural ability to select and play the music people wanted to hear. Quickly I became a staple on his “wedding circuit” for the year. After about a year, I felt something nagging at me to do more. I wanted to open my own company. I called a meeting with my boss and told him I was branching out. I’m not sure how I expected him to react, but he was extremely supportive – even flattered that he had helped me find my passion in life. That was 11 years ago.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
There are struggles in any business, and mobile DJing is no different. There are SO many options for equipment and software to purchase. Some purchases were fantastic, others not so much.
When I first started, I majorly undercharged my clients because I wasn’t yet sure of my self worth. I was looking to book anyone who would take me rather than be selective about my clients. As a result, I ended up in situations where I was losing money.
Also, many venues are not built for DJ entertainment. Cramped spaces, improper air flow, bad placement, far away loading docks – are just some of the problems DJs struggle with frequently. These situations are often agitated by extreme temperatures and excessively long days.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am the Owner/DJ of Lake Shore DJ Service, a mobile DJ company that specializes in formal events, namely weddings. I am known for coordinating high-end events in Erie, PA, and the surrounding areas. I am most proud of my ability to connect a room of people together with music. I take pride in providing the soundtrack to some of the most important days in people’s lives. I have an uncanny ability to play music that can shift the mood in a room. That’s what makes me different.
What makes you happy?
Music makes me happy. From as far back as I can remember, I carried around a little blue radio. I always wanted to be connected to music. And all kinds of music at that. My taste ranges all over the place, from pop to rap to showtunes and EDM. If I think it’s good, then I will listen to it. I also love sharing new music that I find with others. Music lets you escape the normal confines of everyday life. It’s like magic.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.lakeshoredjservice.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lakeshoredjservice/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lakeshoredjservice
Image Credits
Jennifer Dworek Portraits
