Today we’d like to introduce you to Nelson Ortiz.
Hi Nelson, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Ivanco’s story began back in high school.
I got paired up with a classmate named Julian for a class project. The assignment was simple. We had to create a mix of songs. During that process, he casually mentioned that he owned a DJ controller. I had always been curious about DJing, but I had never actually seen the equipment up close or understood how it all worked. That project planted a seed.
After we finished, I couldn’t shake the curiosity. A couple of weeks later, I decided to go all in. I invested in a full setup and started teaching myself how to DJ. What began as curiosity quickly turned into obsession.
Early on, I realized that learning how to mix songs was only half the battle. I needed to understand the industry. So I became a club promoter. That decision completely changed my perspective on music and nightlife. Being on the promoter side taught me about crowd psychology, marketing, venue dynamics, and what truly moves people.
After working with several promotion groups and clubs, I earned my first opening set. The moment I stepped into the booth in a real club environment, I knew there was no turning back.
Over time, I built genuine relationships with local DJ’s and promoters in Miami. I stayed close to them, asked questions, observed everything, and learned as much as I could. DJs like DJ Zilla, Ariel Assault, DJ Melo, Nice Guy Erwin, and RZ Spinz were not only talented but incredibly welcoming. Mike Pricemen with Let’s Go Out Miami was also a huge part of my DJ career with his local parties and unique themes. Those friendships shaped me, and many of them are still close friends today.
As I continued freelancing across different venues, I eventually landed residencies in Brickell and Wynwood. For about seven years, I was playing regularly and performing at nearly every venue in those areas. The club scene became home.
Then everything shifted.
I met my best friend, mentor, and brother, DJ Ray Costa, in the most unexpected way. There was a pool party I wanted to attend, but none of my friends were 21 yet. So I decided to take a chance and message every DJ on the flyer. Ray was the only one who replied.
He invited me to join him that evening. He was welcoming, genuine, and introduced me to people I still connect with to this day. A few weeks later, I went to support him at a smaller pool party at a hotel. The turnout was slow, so we ended up talking for hours. We spoke about my journey, my goals, and where I saw myself going.
That conversation changed everything.
Ray gave me an opportunity to transition into private events. He trusted me with weddings and corporate events. That level of trust meant everything to me. It pushed me to evolve, to refine my professionalism, and to understand that DJing isn’t just about playing music. It’s about creating experiences. This was the beginning of DJ Ivanco at Mike Sipe Entertainment.
From high school curiosity to club residencies to private events and weddings. Eventually this led me to become one of the highest booked wedding DJ’s in South Florida. Every stage built on the last. And each step came from taking initiative, building relationships, and being willing to learn.
The rest is history.
Alright, 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 absolutely not been a smooth road.
There were many sleepless nights. A lot of unpaid gigs. Technical difficulties in the middle of parties when all eyes were on me. Those moments test you. When the music cuts out mid-set or equipment fails, there’s no hiding. You either panic or you problem-solve in real time.
At the same time, I was pursuing this passion while being a full-time student. That meant long days on campus and even longer nights practicing, promoting, or performing. There were weekends when I’d DJ until 5 a.m. and go straight to class next morning. Balancing both required discipline and sacrifice.
There were times I questioned if it was worth it. But every challenge sharpened me. The unpaid gigs taught me humility and hunger. The technical issues forced me to truly understand my equipment inside and out. The exhaustion built resilience.
Looking back, I’m grateful it wasn’t easy. The obstacles shaped my professionalism, my work ethic, and my ability to stay calm under pressure. And in this industry, that mindset is everything.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
My first job was at Miami Nautique Pro Shop, selling wakeboards and water skis. If you know me personally, you know I’m into almost every sport you can think of. I’m not the guy watching football on Sundays. You’ll catch me watching X Games, Olympic highlights, Nitro Circus. Anything extreme, I’m in.
That job made sense for me at the time. I loved being around high-energy people and performance-driven equipment. But eventually, another passion started to grow. Cars.
Like a lot of kids from my generation, the Fast and Furious saga had a huge influence on me. It wasn’t just about the cars. It was about culture, community, and adrenaline. I wanted to bring that same energy into real life.
So in 2017, I teamed up with my friend Julian — the same friend who first introduced me to DJing — and we launched our own car show company called Fresh N Miami.
The goal was simple. Create a space where anyone who shared the passion could come together. It didn’t matter what you drove. If you loved cars, you were welcome. We built something that really captured that movie-inspired culture and turned it into a real community.
For a couple of years, it grew. More friends joined the team. The events got bigger. The energy was incredible.
But as the scene expanded, it also became more reckless. A few bad decisions by a small group of people started affecting everyone. The city became stricter with permits and regulations. Costs increased. What once felt organic and exciting started becoming complicated and risky.
Eventually, we made the mature decision to pause. Then life moved forward. We all found new responsibilities, new jobs, and Fresh N Miami slowly became part of our past.
Throughout all of that, I was still DJing consistently and pursuing my degree in Business Administration and Marketing. Years later, I graduated. Looking back, that education helped me understand both the successes and the challenges of the car show business.
Even though Fresh N Miami is no longer active, it taught me something invaluable. How to build a brand. How to market an experience. How to manage logistics, partnerships, and risk. And most importantly, how to bring people together around a shared passion.
Every chapter, whether it continues or not, shaped the entrepreneur and creative I am today.
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
The most important lesson I’ve learned is patience.
Early on, I wanted everything to happen quickly. The bigger gigs, the recognition, the growth. But I realized that real progress takes time. Skills take time to master. Trust takes time to build. Reputation takes consistency.
Along the way, I also learned resilience and persistence. There were setbacks, slow seasons, and mistakes, but each one pushed me to improve. I stopped being afraid of failure and started seeing it as part of the process.
Patience keeps you grounded. Persistence keeps you moving. And resilience keeps you in the game long enough to win.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://themikesipe.com/Talent/dj-ivanco/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ivancoofficial/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nelson-ivanco-ortiz-808470125/
Image Credits
@michellelawsonphotography
@nmoment
@munozphotography
@mikesipeent
