DJ Services
I first started DJing in Ann Arbor, Michigan in 2008 as a way to justify — and offset the costs of — the incredible amount of vinyl I had been accumulating while working as a clerk at Encore Records. What started as casually spinning records between bands at rock shows turned into wedding gigs, charity events, and recurring nights at popular cocktail lounges. Eventually, the work at the record store became a side hustle to the DJ work!
During my last stint in Portland, Oregon from 2013-2020, DJing became a primary source of income. I did so mostly under the name Golden Feelings DJ Services, and I’m just now wrapping up a year of trying to do it under the name Rutabaga Pie DJ Services (after my old radio show on Freeform Portland, which itself was named after one of my favorite later Dizzy Gillespie songs) but now I think I might just be using my own name. Better SEO, y’know?
It is my intention as of this writing that my Djing goes back to being a hobby that pays for itself. However, life is surely full of twists and turns, so it’s fully possible that I will be hustling hard again one of these days…
SERVICE OPTIONS
Now booking Portland, Oregon and the surrounding area for summer 2026!
DIGITAL ● $1500
Your best choice for weddings and anywhere there’s likely to be lots of requests! I’m always happy to accommodate large amounts of advance requests for digital clients, so get those playlists ready.
PACKAGE INCLUDES:
- Up to 5 hours of music from a massive digital library
- PA System with two handheld mics for clients and guests
- Standard party lighting (Chauvet Gig Bar)
- MC Services throughout event
- Travel within 100 miles (round trip) of zip code 97211
VINYL ● $1700
A bespoke experience ideal for work parties, grand openings, cocktail hours, and anywhere that the music “sets the vibe”! We cannot accommodate real-time requests with this option, making it ill-advised for weddings.
PACKAGE INCLUDES:
- Up to 5 hours of music from our carefully curated vinyl library of classic soul, jazz, and rock & roll
- PA System with two handheld mics for clients and guests
- Standard party lighting (Chauvet Gig Bar)
- MC Services throughout event
- Travel within 100 miles (round trip) of zip code 97211
HYBRID ● $3000
The best of both worlds! This is for when you need the look and feel of a vinyl DJ, but still want to be able to put in some of your favorite requests (both in advance and in real time).
PACKAGE INCLUDES:
- Up to 5 hours of music from both our vinyl and digital libraries
- PA System with two handheld mics for clients and guests
- Standard party lighting (Chauvet Gig Bar)
- MC Services throughout event
- Travel within 100 miles (round trip) of zip code 97211
MICS ● $400
- Equipment setup and teardown
- Dedicated sound engineer staffing for up to two hours (additional time: $50/hr)
- Four microphones (two wireless, two wired)
- Basic PA System: line array powered speaker
- Background music over PA system (selected by me at no extra charge, or by the client)
- Travel within 100 miles (round trip) of zip code 97211
Please note that there is a $100 discount for weddings where we are also DJing the reception!
ADD-ONS
- Additional music (over 5 hrs): $100/hr
- Travel beyond 50 miles (round trip): Add $5 for each additional five miles of total travel (estimated using Google Maps before event)
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q: WHAT GENRES OF MUSIC ARE YOUR DJ SPECIALITIES?
A: My goal is to provide an elegant, classic DJ alternative that can be fun for all ages. My carefully selected vinyl library encompasses classic soul, jazz, and rock & roll, music I love and know like the back of my hand!
My massive digital library is also thick with that kind of music. However, it also encompasses a much broader range of eras and musics, including modern and millennial pop, indie/alternative rock (including currently-trendy ’00s “indie sleaze”), rap/hip hop, new age, ambient music, blues, and more!
Looking for a DJ set dominated by EDM, house music, the latest popular rap, or “adult alternative”? Sad to say, but I am probably not your best bet. I could pull it together in a pinch (I have 15 years of experience and challenges under my belt!), but your money would be better spent on other DJs who know that world more than we do.
Q: I'm interested in booking a DJ for my restaurant, boutique hotel, selfie museum, etc. Where are some of the places and events you've DJed in the past?
A: I have provided DJ services for these highly regarded institutions. This list is definitely partial, and always growing!
KEYS LOUNGE
[PORTLAND, OR]
HEY LOVE
[PORTLAND, OR]
YORK FOOD & DRINK
[ANN ARBOR, MI]
ZIGGY’S
[YPSILANTI, MI]
PERIDOT
[ANN ARBOR, MI]
XPORT BAR AT THE PORTER HOTEL
[PORTLAND, OR]
THE DUNIWAY HOTEL
[PORTLAND, OR]
THE SOCIETY HOTEL
[PORTLAND, OR]
DREAM HOUSE BAR
[PORTLAND, OR]
SEE EYEWEAR
[ANN ARBOR, MI + PORTLAND, OR]
SAM HILL
[ANN ARBOR, MI]
THE LAST WORD
[ANN ARBOR, MI]
MOTT CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL
[ANN ARBOR, MI]
ANN ARBOR FILM FESTIVAL
[ANN ARBOR, MI]
INDEPENDENT FILM FESTIVAL YPSILANTI
[YPSILANTI, MI]
Q: WHERE'S YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA? INSTAGRAM, TIKTOK, LINKEDIN, FRIENDSTER, MYSPACE...?
A: As of right now, I have no social media other than Bluesky. Studies have shown that social media is terrible for your mental and emotional health, it has been a disaster for world politics in the last 15 years, and it’s not even that good for advertising anymore! Please see Cory Doctorow’s The Internet Con if you need convincing.
With that in mind: I count on good ol’ word of mouth for our business, so please help spread the word!
Q: WHY IS THE DIGITAL/VINYL HYBRID DJ OPTION SO MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE THAN THE OTHERS?
A: This option requires lots of extra equipment and setup, a lot more focus at the decks, cargo vehicle rental, and paying an assistant to help with any extra sound/lighting setup. Also, for most situations, these two options each generate an entirely different vibe, so it rarely makes sense to combine the two techniques.
That said, I’ll do it! Sadly, it just won’t come cheap.
Photo © 2025 Dr. Peter S. Larson.