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Schools

Music Business Spins St. Michael-Albertville High School Student

Taylor Allen runs his own business, "DJ'ing" school dances, weddings and other events while managing the life of a high school senior.

senior Taylor Allen has always had a thing for music. “When I was in first grade I went to my first concert, REO Speedwagon,” he said. But he admits he’ll listen to anything.

Taylor’s led a very musical life in his 18 years; listening to music, learning the trombone, playing the drums in jazz band and now running his own DJ business.

“I started DJ’ing with a company and really enjoyed it. I decided I wanted to be on my own, so I started saving money from both the DJ gigs and my job at to start buying the equipment,” he said.

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He saved the money in a completely separate, harder-to-access savings account. While most teens work and spend what they make on movies and nights out with friends, he had no problem sticking his earnings away.

”I’m a good saver,” he said.

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The initial investment was steep.“I spent $1400 on speakers.” While his parents are proud and supportive, watching him spend a chunk of money wasn’t easy.

“My mom was a little apprehensive, but once I did my first wedding, I got to show her it’s really paying off,” Taylor said.

While the weddings he's been able to DJ are a bigger deal, he’s also rather proud and honored to have the opportunity to DJ for school dances.

“I decided, to talk to the school if I could do some of the dances at the middle school and high school,” he said. They said yes.

“It’s so nice that they let me have the opportunity. They could have said, no, you’re just a kid, but they didn’t. They took a chance on me.”

He’s since had a chance to do the National Honor Society dances at the high school and also some dances, including the student council event at the middle school.

“Last year we [National Honor Society] heard that Taylor was working as a DJ for a local company and thought it would be a great idea to have one of our own students do the DJ work for our dance. Taylor did a great job last year and so we went with him again this year,” said high school teacher and NHS advisor Bob Zahler. “I was a little nervous when he told me that he was on his own this year, but he said that he now had all of his own equipment. The dances this year have gone very well. By my own calculations we had more students at the Homecoming dance than any dance in STMA history as there were about 700 kids there. He keeps the music going and he has a good variety of music."

With just a few months of high school left, Taylor has lots of plans for his future. He’s already begun the Post Secondary program at the Institute of Production and Recording called High School Advantage.

“I’m able to take one class a quarter and starting in July I’ll be full time,” he said. 

With a recent purchase of recording equipment, he’s not sure which direction he’ll choose.

“Maybe I’ll be a producer or maybe I’ll go into business/band management,” he said. “If you believe you can do it, do it,” he says with a laugh.

Regardless of which direction Taylor chooses to go, he’s already got a proven track record. “Taylor has been very professional in all respects and I would have no reservations in recommending him to others for their DJ needs,” Zahler said.

For more information on Taylor’s DJ business, Sound and Rhythm DJ, visit his website.

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