Life & Work with Nikki Webb

Today we’d like to introduce you to Nikki Webb.  

Hi Nikki, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
My father is Fred ‘The Boss,’ and he was a famous DJ in the Dayton/Cincinnati area. He had a radio show on WBLZ and also on WDAO with his partner Mack J ‘The Brother,’ and the two of them traveled all over DJing together. 

My father also DJed at Roller World Bus Stop, Skateworld, and two skating rinks in Cincinnati. Along with the rinks and the radio, my dad supplied the music for school events (he had an exclusive contract with Dayton Public Schools), weddings, parties, reunions, you name it. My brother used to be his assistant, and when he turned 12, he decided he didn’t want to do it anymore, and I took his place. I was 10 years old when I started being my dad’s assistant. I was so excited when I got the chance to work with my dad. For over 30 years, my dad and I were the “perfect partners.” He had the voice and all the catchy/funny sayings, and I had the “hands,” and we programmed music together for the many events we played music for. It got to a point where we could read each other’s minds when we played certain songs. He would pick a song and play it, and I immediately knew what should come next and vice versa. 

My brother from another mother, Mike Cooley aka “Cooley The Curator,” had a long-standing gig at The Barrel House on Third Street in Downtown Dayton. He got sick with Covid one Friday and asked me to fill in for him, and the BH team liked what I did so much that they wanted to book me for something in the new year. So, January 2022 was the first Fenom Friday, and I have been rocking the third Friday of every month ever since. I have also been getting booked to play music in various spots around the city ever since. Follow me on Spotify to get all of my playlists! I tell people to check me out on Spotify because that is the best way to decide if I’m the right DJ for you and your event. That way, we don’t waste each other’s time. Not to mention that I have pretty awesome musical taste! 

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
For the most part, the road has been smooth for me. The only bumps/challenges/struggles I have had are internal. For example, someone will talk to me about playing music for an event or events, and we work out details, and then I never hear from them again. Once the event happens, I see that they booked another DJ which doesn’t really bother me except for the fact that I feel like they wasted my time and, in my mind, I was holding a date for them that someone else could have booked. 

The other MAJOR challenge is having the courage to step out on my own after the passing of my father in October 2020. For over 30 years we were partners and now looking to my right and him not being there is very hard. I sometimes second guess myself when I’m “programming” because I was so used to him being there to give the thumbs up/thumbs down or come with another song that fit better. I miss the fun we had when we played together. We sang our hearts out, joked with the crowd, and had the MOST fun, and I truly miss that. 

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
In my day job, I am the Special Education Coordinator and the Intervention Specialist at Dayton Business Technology High School. I have two titles because I perform two jobs. As the Special Education Coordinator, my job is to provide academic and behavior support for those students who may not qualify to receive Special Education Services, either due to age (too old) or not having a diagnosed disability. As the Intervention Specialist, I have a caseload of 24 students max who qualify for special education services due to being diagnosed with a disability. I am in my 5th year at Dayton Business Technology High School. I have been in the education field for over 20 years, and I truly love it. I enjoy making a difference in the lives of my students. Watching them grow into productive adults bring great joy knowing that they are more ready for the world as a result of being in my caring classroom. 

I am most proud on graduation day. Seeing kids that I have worked with and for walk across that stage is a feeling unmatched by anything I have ever done. What sets me apart from other educators is the fact that I truly care enough to work FOR them. I take the time to design work experiences that will do more than just give them a grade, I want them to take something away from it that they can actually use and apply to some other part to their lives. I only have a short window to make a big, lasting impact, and I take full advantage. 

As far as my DJing, what sets me apart is the fact I’m a Musical Time Traveller. I play all genres, all years; there are no boundaries when it comes to great music. Good DJs play music you want to hear, great DJs play the music you didn’t know you wanted to hear. I specialize in those songs you didn’t know you wanted to hear. I like to play what feels good me, and I’m so happy that the crowds I rock for feel the same way. 

In my spare time, I also host an Award-Winning Podcast called “Fly With Us Podcast” fly is an acronym for First Love Yourself. Fly With Us is all about Self-Care, Mental Health Care and Protection, Life Lessons, Love Lessons, and everything in between. We give you no-cost to low-cost ways to take care of yourself as a whole. We talk about all 8 domains of self-care and how to achieve and live your best life. We won Dayton’s Best Podcast for 2021. The win felt really good because we were nominated by the people and the people voted us best. It has been a great pleasure to make such an impact on our listeners. We post a daily Self-Care assignment on our social media pages, and the people seem to really enjoy the simple ways to take better care of themselves. 

If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
Growing up, I was a happy kid. We grew up “poor,” but we never knew because we always had clothes, food, shelter, etc.; it wasn’t the latest brands and fashions, but we had clothes. Our parents pressed upon us “family first, family always” and the importance of an education. My parents ran a business, Magic scene Productions, my dad DJed, and my mom and sisters worked the photo booth. We all worked the family business, and that meant that we had phone manners and knew how to conduct business from an early age. We were able to talk about any subject in our house as long as it was tasteful and respectful. Music has always been at the forefront of my life, so it’s only fitting that I followed in my dad’s footsteps. 

I was always a friend to everyone, especially “the underdog.” I remember giving away my brand-new coat to a girl who did not have one, and my mom was MAD! I used to bring kids home to eat and share my lunches often until my mom made it clear that the food they were going to eat was going to be my share which meant they were gonna get my food and I would get nothing. That practice changed really quick. LOL 

I’m a fun-loving, easy-going Gemini and always have been. I am a great friend, although I don’t have that many. I usually the first to volunteer when it comes to help my community, especially the youth. I have taught Vacation Bible School, After school Tutor, After School Tutoring Coordinator, Freedom School Reading Specialist. My personality is funny, goofy, and chill for the most part, I don’t upset too often, and if do, it passes pretty quickly. I enjoy all my titles of wife, mother, sister, aunt, cousin, Godmother, educator, Podcast Host, and community activist. My personality is wrapped up in all of my titles. 

Pricing:

• $75-150 per hour depending on the event
• Fly With Us Podcast Wherever you get your favorite podcasts
• Fly With Us on all Social Media Platforms
• The Barrel House Fenom Friday 3rd Friday of every month 8-12
• Available for booking for ALL events!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://open.spotify.com/user/31fb5mmdbwymtzfmafiivydnuadm?si=8Al0W4q_TviU8RmZW7uP9g
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/fly_with_usla?igshid=17b0rzt0i2y5p
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FlyWithUsLA/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/podcast_fly
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCK2EDU2w6yW-5NQoUFRXumQ
• SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/fly_with_us
• Other: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fly-with-us/id1499891295

Image Credits
Jay Webb
Lamar Paclay