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DJ Kanoya Productions | San Diego Wedding DJ | Yoga DJ | Fitness DJ | Corporate Event DJ

DJ Services

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DJ Justin Kanoya

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DJ Kanoya Productions, San Diego, United States760-809-6951justin@djkanoya.com

Copyright DJ Kanoya Productions

July 2018 was, without a doubt, the most active month myself and my family have ever endured. It began with the death of my father-in-law.
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As many know, there are so many logistics that go into handling the aftermath of the loss of a close family member. So it just added to an already packed schedule, which included a week long trip overseas, attending Comic Con, and my normal DJ duties.
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In total, there were only five days where we didn't have something "out of the ordinary" going on. Ironically, in losing a close family member, we spent more time as a family than we probably ever have.
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In that sense, it was a great month.

When I was getting started as a DJ I spent a lot of time brainstorming on a "real" DJ name. For the interim, I just filled in DJ Kanoya.
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This went on for quite a while, and like many projects I start, the naming of my alter ego fizzled. So hence DJ Kanoya it is, and it's likely here to stay.
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At least it's a unique last name, I've never met another Kanoya (outside of my family).
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Who else out there has opted for DJ "insert your name here?"

Yes it's over played. And yes it's total manufactured pop. But "The Middle" has a great message.
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Relationships, society and our sanity are nothing without compromise. You gotta give a little to get a little.
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So why don't you just meet me in the middle?

I just watched the Bo Burnham film, Eighth Grade. .
While it does hit a few of the cliche, coming of age, tween/teen story lines, it’s a great look at how much the Internet and social media plays such a major part in adolescence.
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It’s interesting to think about how much content is on Instagram or YouTube and the large percentage of that content that we’ll never see. Probably 99% of what is out there has less than 100 views, and yet it’s the viral stars and influencers that we are familiar with.
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But if you are rarely seen, it shouldn’t mean stop putting yourself out there (if you choose to). It’s the whole quantity vs. quality debate.
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Put out great stuff and you’ll find your people.
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There’s an inspiring script that was made famous in the decades old “Think Different" Apple campaign.
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It says, in part, “Here's to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently … You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing you can't do is ignore them. Because they change things … Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do.”
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This is my rewritten version.
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Here’s to the difference makers. The Instagram users with 10 likes on a photo. The YouTube users with 12 subscribers. The Facebook Group creators with 22 members. You can be discouraged by your minuscule numbers, quit before even getting started or make up another excuse.
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Or, you can listen to the yearning inside you. Because you are a difference maker, “crazy enough to think (you) can change the world.”

When a nights is so perfect it feels dreamy. Kind of the way I felt after seeming Haim live.

Sometimes there's no time for nerves or planning.
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Last week I was contacted around 4 p.m. on Thursday to DJ an event at San Diego Comic Con. On Friday around 2 p.m. I was confirmed.
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At 8 p.m. on Saturday I dropped the needle and jammed out a private function for @nbc personnel, clients and talent. A few hundred, packed into the recreated set of "The Good Place." @nbcthegoodplace
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It was another reminder to always be present, answer the phone and deliver a professional and polished service every time.
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At the end of the night, I asked Lauren (the event producer and shown in the second photo) if we could take a photo in front of the NBC peacock.
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She replied, "With me? You're the celebrity here."
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Ironic as there were actual celebrities all around.

I did a lot of traveling this month, by foot (with a running race) and by car (out of town gigs and a roadtrip to one of the world's most beautiful places.
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Here's a look at June 2018.

Getting together with this crazy yogi once again to DJ an hour @corepoweryoga Yoga Sculpt class at the revamped Point Loma studio.
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Classes with @katiebhappy are the most fun, and I can't promise you'll be smiling this much during the workout, but I keep the beats going to motivate you through and you'll definitely smile and be proud at the end.

Feeling some Paul Simon vibes today. "Graceland" was the title track from Simon's 1986 album and also won record of the year in 1988.
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The music on it feels timeless. Give it a listen.

Is this what your "to do" list looks like ... Overwhelming?
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The news of yet another tragic death to suicide has me looking at this artwork much differently than when I first saw it 24 hours ago.
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While we cannot all relate to having symptoms of mental illness, we can relate to the sense of being overwhelmed. We can relate to overcommitment. We can relate to a wall, filled with thousands of 3-inch-by-3-inch Post-It notes, written with stuff to get done, people to see, bills to pay and everything else that fills our 24 hours.
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But I'm looking this wall in a new perspective. I don't see all the paper. I see two colors. .
We can either do or not do. We can try or not try. We can ask for help or suffer alone. We can reach out or keep the status quo.
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The best option will also be "to do."

Go be free Anthony. You engaged our senses by showing us the world. Thank you.

“Why?” It’s a question my daughter asks me regularly.
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As adults we eye roll after this question is asked repeatedly, often because it’s the first in a series of “why” questions and the more it’s asked, the more the answer is not easy to come up with.
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Something else that I get asked is “why do you enjoy DJing?” Many times it’s being asked because the person cannot fathom why I’d rather be working at a party vs. actually attending and having fun at the party.
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For many the image of the DJ is the “what.” It’s the guy up on stage pressing buttons, pushing a jog wheel or record back and forth. Furiously typing on a computer and aggressively turning knobs.
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And yes, at various times, that is what I am doing.
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But the “why” I DJ is everything else that most do not see.
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I am more than just the “what.”
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I love inspiring change, whether that is through music at an event I am spinning at or helping other DJs and entrepreneurs find their own path to success. I love to tinker with gear. I love researching music. And why do I do all of that? Because I get to do be a DJ.
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It’s not about what I do. It’s about why I do it.

Here's a look at a few of the things I was up to in the month of May.

For some reason this classic song from the 80s has made a comeback. It's even being requested at high school proms. And I'm totally okay with that because it's iconic and I love playing it.
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Weezer recently covered it, and while it's enjoyable, its nothing like the melody of the original.
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Do you love this song too?

Just rocking a party with a very large (Great White?) shark above. That's me on the bottom.
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Mobile DJ life ... you never know where you're going to be setting up; or what may be hanging above you.

And if you don't know, now you know.
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I was recently listening to Juicy, you know for like the third time this week. Because let's face it, we all listen to a Biggie track at least three times a week.
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But I digress ... the flow on this part of the song is soooo good. A far cry from today's mumble rap.
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Here's hoping you can keep turning negatives into positives.

When your sock game needs to be as strong as everything else in your DJ kit.

Nine gigs and other life things. That was a crazy month. And here comes summer!

People that are planning an event all NEED a DJ. But my ideal client does just NEED one. They both NEED and WANT me. Someone that can rock a party underneath a dino skeleton, for instance. .
Every time someone responds "we booked someone else" after only seeing my pricing and not asking anything else (and I'm certain they didn't book one any of my close and qualified DJ colleagues), I can't help but think, "You have no idea what you are missing out on."
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And that's the truth. They don't know, and in a way, that is my fault and my shortcoming in the sales process.
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That becomes the challenge to myself ... Finding a way to convey the experience I create at an event so I find the people that NEED and WANT me.
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Taking suggestions ....