Looking to hire a retro, vinyl spinning event DJ in North Carolina?
Don Play is North Carolina’s disco mixer, host of “The Dance Megamix with Don Play” on 103.5 FM, frequent club DJ, and a “mobile” vinyl DJ serving Chapel Hill, Raleigh, and Durham (North Carolina’s Research Triangle).
He is available to spin records (yes, actual vinyl records) as an event DJ at private events, weddings, schools, and corporate functions.
100% Vinyl DJ, mixing since 1997
When it comes to live events, Don’s motto is “If it don’t weigh, it don’t play.”
For this reason, Don insists on staying true to the roots of the original mobile disco deejays — and that means hauling his beloved turntables and massive record collection to each and every gig, no matter how much ibuprofen it takes.
For you, the client, this means several things:
- No distracting laptop screens killing the vibe of the party
- No pre-programmed Top 40 sequences, air horn sirens, or corny mashups
- No “jukebox churn” where the song changes every 30 seconds
- Music curated based on your specific requests and preferences
- Attention to sound quality and seamless blending that gets guests dancing
- Full length 12″ mixes of the songs you love, as they were meant to be heard
- A unique analog experience that stands out from the generic corporate DJ
Are you looking for a wedding DJ who plays vinyl records?
Let’s be honest: planning a wedding is super stressful. For couples who care deeply about music, and for whom music is a big part of their identity — it’s even more stressful!
Don knows this firsthand, so he offers something unique, personalized, and completely customized for weddings.
Unlike corporate DJs who will bring their standard Top 40 playlist hard drive to any gig, Don only takes on a handful of weddings and special occasions throughout the high season. This allows him to offer a level of personalization that is no longer common in the DJ world today, for those special events where the music is truly important to the hosts and guests. The key difference is that the majority of work happens preparing before the event, rather than performing during the day of the event.
First, Don will meet with you either in person or virtually to make sure that a vinyl DJ is the right choice for you, the client. He will try to get a sense of your tastes and sensibilities, and then build out a list of records and artists that fit your vibe while also appealing to a broader audience. You know — like, actual DJ stuff that people used to do… before we began relying on boring algorithms to serve us more of the same stuff over and over again! Don also loves researching and expanding his musical knowledge, so he’s happy to go down any particular rabbit holes you may have in mind.
You’ll review all of the key moments that need to be addressed throughout the event, and make sure that all of the right records are packed in the crates before the day of your event. The last part is easy — just dance and have fun.
Analog liquid light show
If you are looking for something truly unique, Don Play now also offers a retro, analog liquid light show featuring moving projections that light up a room or outdoor space.
How does it work? Well, think of a colorful, moving lava lamp or a hypnotic psychedelic pattern. Now imagine those vibrant moving colors and organic patterns projected at scale onto your physical environment — on surfaces such as walls, ceilings, or screens. Custom gobo designs and liquid wheels can be produced with advance notice.
About Don Play
Don has spun records at nightclubs, private events, weddings, universities and high schools, and corporate functions since 1997. He is an avid record collector and radio host, in addition to producing live events in his other professional life.
Some of Don’s private event highlights include:
- He has played at popular nightclub venues in Boston, Detroit, New York, and North Carolina
- DJed multiple 3,000+ person corporate events, opening for En Vogue and Morris Day and The Time
- Performed at fundraisers and non-profit organizations such as Planned Parenthood South Atlantic and the Detroit Derby Girls
- DJed numerous weddings from Cape Cod to Chicago to Paris, including one wedding where he inspired the Governor of the State of New York to dance to Q-Tip
- Performing at private events with multicultural music priorities — Dominican Republic (merengue, salsa), Algeria (räi, French-Algerian hip-hop), Germany (new wave), Serbia (Serbian pop), Mexico (Mexican 80’s pop), etc.
Book Don Play as your event DJ