Professional Partiers
How Heart and Hustle Define a Local Entertainment Empire
PHOTOS BY JORDAN RANDALL AND PROVIDED BY GRAINGERTAINMENT | DEVELOPED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH GRAINGERTAINMENT
A good musical prelude is just the warmup for a powerful chorus that leaves people bobbing their heads and wanting more.
For Chris Grainger the prelude looked like this: DJ gigs he picked up from Craigslist for wedding receptions in gymnasiums where KFC was the main course. In fact, the first wedding he provided entertainment for back in 2009 he DJ’ed for free, and the tip for a job well done was a Ponderosa gift card.
He remembers being a guest at parties where DJs would inflate blow-up guitars for entertainment and there was a high “cheesiness” factor present. Deep down, he knew there was a market for reliable, skillful entertainers who would connect with people, so he started taking on more gigs, honing his craft and putting in the effort while working a full-time job to pay the bills.
The hustle that helped the Sonrise Christian School and Polk State College graduate go from Red Lobster bartender to the owner of a Polk County entertainment empire is alive and well. You’ll still see that if you catch the 39-year-old flashing a genuine grin in his trademark round John-Lennon style shades at midnight as another event winds down—but his hustle is now matched by expertise and a customer-centric approach that has catapulted Graingertainment to the top of the billboards, so to speak.
The affable and approachable owner loves talking about using cold sparklers to light up a grand entrance or exit, and he still gets excited every time he turns a dance floor into a full-on fog room by blasting a CO2 cannon. Yet his measuring stick for success remains quite simple: was the celebration everything the couple dreamed it would be?
“Our mission is to give you the best day of your life,” he says. “At the end of the night, I want you to look at me and give me a hug and just be like, ‘Our wedding would’ve sucked without you.’”
Humble beginnings often lead to humble acknowledgments of success, and Grainger is quick to thank God for every accolade earned by his company that now employs roughly 15 DJs at any given time and serves Polk County, Tampa, Sarasota and beyond.
When sitting down with Chris at Hillcrest Coffee, his quasi-office and preferred daily pick-me-up provider, you quickly learn it’s about so much more than having hot playlists and fun mixes to spin to establish and maintain a brand that boasts a 5-star rating on Google, Wedding Wire and The Knot, to name a few.
A customer’s perfect event begins when they answer questions in a client portal that sets the stage for everything from the right songs at the right time to incorporating toasts and special announcements for the celebration.
Part of Graingertainment’s recipe for success is its wide array of talented DJs who offer their own distinctive style to hit just the right mark for each wedding, corporate event or party.
“DJ Dylan,” aka Dylan Sechrest, prides himself on bringing equal parts “professionalism and party” to each gig, and he’s up for everything from country line dancing to mixing 80s hits to Lil Wayne and Drake. Sechrest, who is the head coach of the Winter Haven High School girls volleyball team, has been DJ’ing with Graingertainment for more than 10 years, and he’s always pushing the envelope to go bigger and better for clients.
Graingertainment is always leading the way for clients with new options, including a hybrid music experience that adds live musicians to the mix alongside the DJ. Team photos by Evoke Photo and Film. Photo of saxophonist by Stephanie Lanni Photography.
“Probably three years ago, Dylan was like, ‘Man, we are losing money by not having cold sparks,’” Chris recalls, sitting next to Sechrest, clearly one of his best friends.
Dylan finishes the story emphatically, saying: “So I told Chris, ‘I have to be honest with you, I already sold someone on the sparks, so we’re going to have to buy a machine because they’re counting on us!’”
Cold sparklers, pyrotechnic devices that create a fountain of bright sparks without intense heat or safety concerns, are just one of the trends they offer to keep moments modern and memorable. An affordable upgrade that can enhance many elements of an event are uplights, including color changing kits that can adapt and create different vibes throughout the night. CO2 cannons infuse energy and atmosphere into a space, and Chris said the old tried and true photobooth is as popular as ever—both digital and print versions.
One addition to their collection of 100,000 songs that blast through premium speakers that has been increasingly popular is the option of adding live music to the mix.
“Our hybrid package is where we bring in a live saxophonist and a live drummer to play with the DJ,” Sechrest said. “...a violinist or keys at the ceremony, we’ve got that. If you want a sax at your cocktail hour, we’ve got that. If you want a hybrid during a dance set—not just Stevie Wonder, but someone playing a sax along to Lil Jon—that’s something we offer.”
When Grainger is asked to get serious for a moment and reflect on the challenges of building a successful business, he goes straight to people to illustrate his point.
“Hiring employees is an ultimate decision, and it’s definitely the hardest one because it can backfire [if they don’t represent the company well.]”
Thankfully his track record is pretty strong as a hiring manager. His lineup of DJs is diverse and represents a broad range of cultural influences, and as he positions Graingertainment for future growth he is especially pleased with two more recent hires who don’t make a living behind soundboards but are helping fine tune the company.
Chris hired Office Manager Carrie Rodgers several years ago to “offer a softer approach when a bride reaches out” and to manage the consistent flow of inquiries from digital platforms, email and phone calls more effectively. He estimates that business has nearly tripled since bringing her on board.
Last year he hired Kaf Nelson (Southeastern University Alum) as Director of Marketing Operations in hopes of utilizing her extensive event planning and development experience to help guide the company’s growth.
Kaf has enjoyed immersing herself in the Graingertainment culture, and noted how one of Chris’s strengths is his desire to hire people with giftings and thought processes different from his own.
“He knows who he is. He’s very relaxed and really he’s pretty old school, but he’ll hire someone who challenges him,” she said.
When it comes to challenging the status quo, Chris, Dylan and company are hungry to establish a reputation that sets the bar so high for entertainment in Central Florida that people don’t want to look anywhere else.
“At the end of the night, I want you to look at me and give me a hug and just be like, ‘Our wedding would’ve sucked without you.’”
“I see myself being one of the biggest DJs in Central Florida…and see us all keep improving and growing,” Sechrest said about the future. “Rome wasn’t built in a day, you know? But we can keep scaling this and go as high
as possible.”
Chris is prepared to invest in the technology and people necessary, and stay at the forefront of industry trends, as long as it aligns with exactly what his customers want.
“For all of our DJs, the best moment is when the bride or groom comes up to you and tells you, ‘You killed it tonight! Seriously thank you so much,’” he reflects. “It doesn’t matter what happened—they could have put drinks on my speakers at one point (a big no-no)—but if we’re part of the reason you have such a good time, that’s what it’s all about.”
Graingertainment
info@graingertainment.com
socials: @Grangertainment
844.933.5001