Today we’d like to introduce you to Micheale “Shelly” Washington.
Micheale, before we jump into specific questions about your work, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I started off working in Human Resources and Event Planning about 15 years ago. Although I had transitioned into corporate America and left my hardcore partying days back in college, I noticed those few times that I did step out for a night on the town, I never quite enjoyed the parties the Vibe was either too old or too young and I missed the days where a DJ would have you in a musical trance for five or six hours straight. I knew there was a specific group of folks like me that loved the music from my college years (the nineties) and music from my parent’s era (70s and 80s funk soul) with some of today’s fire hits sprinkled on top. I wanted to find those kindred spirits and relive the nostalgia of my youth. Five years ago, DJ Shelly Rockstar was born.
Five years ago, I had my first child so becoming a DJ was not high on my list of priorities. But maternity leave left me a little stir crazy with tons of cabin fever. I managed to get out of the house for one hour a week to learn the basics of DJing. I not only loved good music, but I also wanted to learn the craft. Scratch Academy helped me do just that. After graduating from the Academy a few of my friends started to book me. I used my HR background to target corporations and small business, and pretty soon I started to make a local name for myself.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has not always been a smooth road for me. As a female DJ, there is more pressure to do well. I’m being judged as a woman in a male dominated the industry so my skills, talent and overall musical knowledge are constantly being tested. When I’m booked I have to deal with ageism, sexism and racism as soon as I step foot into a room. A 5’11 bald black woman is kind of hard to miss. The thing about music though, it is a great connector. Whatever prejudices or bias that swirl around before I touch the decks melt away once I start playing. I am confident in my skills as a DJ and performer but it was not always that way. I have been booed, I’ve played to empty rooms, I’ve cried many nights wondering why do I do this? But the nights where the dance floor is packed, the rhythm lifts all cares away, hands are up in the air, and one or two people come up to me and tell me I killed it, makes up for it all.
Tell us about your work.
I started Shelly Rockstar LLC to create events and experiences that I would want to attend. Events that were rooted in music, beauty and fashion, but in a way that was welcoming and not pretentious. Events that highlighted what I represented, A powerful woman, a black woman a proud woman. Events that were not typical but different just like the girl on the 1’s and 2’s. Events that would encourage other women and girls to do things outside of the box. I’ve been able to do just that. I am the official DJ for ICESquad Entertainment. A hip hop band that refrains from profanity and sexually suggestive lyrics. I operate a podcast The Ladies First Mix show that promotes independent female artists of all genres. I created The Black Girl Beach Party, a huge south Florida Beach Party celebrating and appreciating all that is the Black Woman.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
I feel that persistence is crucial to anything you want to do in life. There will be lots of NO’s. There will be lots of doors slammed in your face. You have to, even after rejection, find a way to refocus on your goals. You have to pull it from the depths of your soul when you have those really bad days and everything is going wrong. But being persistent has opened more doors than me that I ever could have imagined. Persistence is not just about not taking NO for an answer. It’s not about being annoying or a pest. Persistence is really about having impeccable follow up and follow through. Persistence is about being the person still standing when everyone has given up.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.djshellyrockstar.com
- Phone: 754-816-2163
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @shellyrockstar
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/shellyrockstar
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/shellyrockstar
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