Hey!... What’s the Big Idea?

In April 2001, Mike Fernino of Music In Motion in Connecticut had a dilemma...how could he motivate his staff to get together to share and learn new techniques, interactive dances and deal with other performance related issues? He wanted to develop a situation where his DJs could learn and become the best that they could be.
His answer came in the first ever DJ Idea Sharing night that was held at Testa’s Restaurant in Southington, Connecticut on April 26, 2001. His original idea of training his own company spread to other companies that were “allied” with Music In Motion. The result was about 50 DJs from Connecticut, Massachusetts and New York who got together to share concepts, including demonstrations of the then popular “Wild Wild West” interactive dance, two technical “Q & A” style workshops focusing on equipment issues and wireless technology integration, and an open forum with discussion and demonstrations relevant to weddings. Attendees were also invited to have their portraits taken by a professional photographer for their individual companies.

“The first Idea Sharing was where I wanted my company training to go,” says Mike Fernino, founder and organizer of DJ Idea Sharing. “I saw that this concept was educational and fun, which allowed people to retain information better than having the owner sit behind a desk and provide their staff with education by preaching to their employees. This hands on approach involving my staff and other allied companies added value because it brought in outside perspectives.”

A Great Idea Takes Flight

The second Idea Sharing was held in November of 2001, where Mike extended the invitation to members of the Connecticut Professional Disc Jockey Association. The event also brought in support from SureGlow and product demonstrations including ProWood Products and DJ Manager, and even included a powered speaker showdown.

“At the time of DJIS 2, I was serving on the board of the Connecticut Professional Disc Jockey Association,” Mike recalls. “I saw this concept as an opportunity to expand education beyond just a little group of friendly DJ affiliates, and to invite and involve other DJs throughout the state to take advantage of learning from one another. I have always believed in power of numbers.”

Impacting the Industry

By Idea Sharing 3 in April 2002, word about this popular event had spread throughout New England, and attendance grew, with DJs as far as Maine in attendance. Those who traveled up to over 250 miles were treated to a Sunday afternoon of education and camaraderie. The event included open forum discussions about performance-related topics, instruction on several interactive routines and product demonstrations.

Mike recalls: “When the day began, I was disappointed because we tried to do DJIS3 on Sunday, and the attendance was lower than expected. By the end of the event, I was more encouraged because I had forged relationships with people outside of my market and throughout the New England region. I realized that DJ Idea Sharing was more than just a training program for my DJs, it was a grassroots movement that could improve the industry on a national level.” Mike’s brother and co-organizer, Steve, adds, “DJ Idea Sharing 3 was the true beginning of DJ Idea Sharing as we know it today.”

By DJ Idea Sharing 5, Mike began to see the opportunity for change. Through working with Boston’s DJ Rob Peters, DJ Idea Sharing welcomed a standing room only audience to the DJ World store in Swansea, Massachusetts. DJs from Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island, and Maine experienced networking, product demonstrations and even an open forum discussion with members of WEVA (Wedding and Event Videographers Association) to discuss good working relationships. Roxanna Greene from Miami Florida was featured as the first ever keynote speaker.

“After DJ Idea Sharing 5, Mike and I realized that we might be onto something that was bigger than he ever thought,” recalls Rob Peters. “We began to see that we could work with DJ suppliers to help with the success of this event by using their stores as venues, as well as through joint marketing to their customers. We saw potential in that there was a need for this style of education on a local level where attendees can help each other, as well as themselves.”

Associated Growth

DJ Idea Sharing has also become a springboard for developing the PDJNE (Professional Disc Jockeys of New England), a local association for DJs throughout New England. Started by Steve Fernino and colleague Sal Fusco, the PDJNE was introduced at DJ Idea Sharing 4 (an event they actually organized) in November of 2002. DJ Idea Sharing 4 was the first time that the event was moved from its original home in Southington, Connecticut to a larger venue in Windsor Locks.

In 2004, DJ Idea Sharing was invited to be part of the Mid America DJ Conference in Louisville, Kentucky. Mike and Steve Fernino and Rob Peters were invited to this event to present and moderate an open forum discussion about various DJ-related topics. This was a first for DJ Idea Sharing and has led to many other opportunities to take DJ Idea Sharing to a national audience, including presentations at Mobile Beat Conferences in Las Vegas, Niagara Falls and Connecticut and the Computer DJ Summit in Tampa, Florida.

Perfect Fit

From that first night in 2001 to now, DJ Idea Sharing has grown into a concept that has been experienced by hundreds of DJs nationally. From involvement at several Mobile Beat Conferences, to local seminars in New England, and now a podcast network and forum, DJ Idea Sharing has taken the concept of education to a level that allows attendees to train one another. But all along, the goal has not been to grow into a large production, but to keep an intimate atmosphere where personal interaction is the key to education. Basically, it has been, and continues to be, about Idea Sharing—period.

Portions of the above article appeared in the March 2007 issue of “Mobile Beat Magazine.”
To read the original, un-cut article, go to the Mobile Beat Magazine issue 106 archives.