On April 27, 2001 a gathering of 50 DJs in Connecticut was organized by Mike Fernino as a training session to share ideas as a group. Not competition but colleagues all working together to raise the bar and grow as a group. The event was held in Southington Ct at a little catering hall called Testa’s. The DJs in attendance had dinner followed by a few hours of spirited “shop talk.” There was even a photographer on site to take professional head shots for websites. It was a great evening of accomplishment and would set the stage for something no one could imagine at that time!
The event was so successful that it inspired an encore later that same year with the local DJ association invited to participate. This time over 90 DJs came and there was a real understanding that instead of competing with each other, local DJs could work with each other and benefit from the relationships forged. Guest presenters gave seminars, line dances were taught and there was a real focus on sharing. So, the event was given a name for the first time. “DJ Idea Sharing!”
The following year, 2002 there were more gatherings at the restaurant but quickly the event had outgrown the location. So, the idea of holding these DJ gatherings in local DJ stores was suggested and adopted. Future events were held at DJ World in Swansea Mass, Electronic Bargains in Brockton Mass and Sam Ash in New Haven Ct. The concept of free education in a DJ store with toys all discounted as event specials was the secret sauce that made DJ Idea Sharing the flavor of the month.
And these DJ Store events went on for several years. Remember that these events were before social media, so getting information was done live and NOT online until chat forums came into the fold. In 2005 DJ Idea Sharing was given our very own chat group as part of a much larger chat forum hosted by Ryan Burger. The focus was on the same formula that made the live events such a success. The chat group really was the first transition from live interaction to digital interaction. And it would not stop there. Mike Fernino, Steve Fernino and Rob Peters Difazio banded together to create the DJ Idea Sharing Podcast which would thrust us even deeper into the digital realm. The podcast would run as part of Ryan Burger’s Mobile Beat Radio. Ryan had just purchased Mobile Beat Magazine in 2006 and had BIG plans for the Las Vegas DJ show which was the crown jewel of the magazine.
In 2007, Ryan Burger held his first Mobile Beat Las Vegas show at the Southpoint casino hotel and DJ Idea Sharing was asked to play a large role in the production including live podcasts and seminars. It was at this show that the Rock n Roll Legend, Chubby Checker performed for the 1200 DJs in attendance and also agreed to a podcast interview with Mike Fernino and Rob Peters. The episode with Chubby was crude, but a milestone and a proud achievement. The podcast was off and running and the next few years would see DJIS deeply involved with the convention scene. We not only presented seminars called “The Fishbowl” where attendees would pull out questions from a bowl and have a group discussion, but DJIS even produced Camp Mobile Beat in Sturbridge Mass. A off the grid style intimate DJ convention designed to be a expo and a vacation wrapped into one!
But the biggest evolution would happen on October 6, 2010 when Facebook created the group page feature. And on the very first day, DJ Idea Sharing created our group page starting out with invitations to about 500 DJs to join. DJ Idea Sharing was the very first Facebook group for DJs and needless to say, the Chat forum was closed as this new digital medium was embraced as a way to reach more DJs from all over the world like never before. The group exploded in popularity causing founder Mike Fernino to ask several trusted members to be promoted into moderator status. The goal was to keep the group professional and beneficial. A tradition still in effect today as we have 36 dedicated moderators.
The DJIS Facebook group has remained a constant centerpiece of the movement, even as new groups were added over time along with other social media platforms like Youtube. During the pandemic of 2020 Mike decided to create a website which would tie everything together into one distribution hub for DJIS. Now, the user can access all of our facebook groups ( all 8 of them) along with Youtube, a Blog and the Podcast Network! We even have several sponsors and supporters who allow the website to be maintained and hosted. The website is DJIdeaSharing.com
Looking back, after 25 years the DJ Idea Sharing movement has helped tens of thousands of DJs become better versions of themselves and elevated their businesses to next level status, because of the sharing of ideas. And isn’t that how anything great starts out. As a single idea…………. Happy 25th Anniversary to DJIS!