Tonight is the fabulous annual event of Her HRC at Town Danceboutique in DC. I've been fortunate to be one of the only Djs to participate in this event since the beginning, and that's not an honor that I take lightly. It seemed as if I wasn't going to be a part of this years festivities, (you know how the scene/rumor mill can be) but after a few convos with some key players, I was asked to join back in as the final DJ competing against 3 other great female Djs for the title of People's Choice.
The event is an annual fundraiser for the HRC. The DC version of this event has been the biggest and most successful from all of the HerHRC events across the country! I think it has a lot to do with the strength of the women's community in the DMV, especially the DC area. Not only is it filled with strong women, but women who have a desire to give back and spend time with their friends and family while doing so. Anyone who has ever attended knows that while there's a DJ battle going on, there is also a whole lot of love in the room.
As I stated today on my facebook page , this event means a lot more to me than some know. It was this exact Sunday in 2013 that I lost one of my best friends, my father, after years of him struggling with congestive heart failure. At 2:15 am, my Mom, wife, and I sat by his side, held his hand, and watched him take his last breath. It's an image that is seared into my brain and I have to force the replay out of my brain at times because it's the hardest thing I've ever done.
That same Sunday evening was HerHRC, same time, same location. I was running on no sleep because we were in the hospital all day and all night from 6am Saturday until we finally made our way home Sunday at about 9am. I remember watching the snowflakes falling out of the hospital room window and just feeling like as heartbroken as I was feeling, my Dad was not suffering anymore. He held on for the longest time, and I think it was for my family...
I remember getting text messages telling me that I didn't have to go that night if I wasn't up to it... condolences... love. I told Kris that I have to go, it will be good for me and I know my Dad would want me to be there.
So off to DC we went... red and puffy eyed but thankful. I got into the club and was given flowers and lots of hugs. I kept running into people I did know and complete strangers who were hugging me and giving me flowers. The outpouring of love continued all night long, and I think that in my heart that is what carried me through the event. The love and warmth of the people I knew and didn't know really held me up when I was so very down.
I dedicated the set to my Dad before playing and told the crowd that in all of my years of Djing, my father was not able to ever come to any of my events. I let them know this is the first party he will ever attend, and I know he'll be happy to be in the room with all of us. It was quiet as a club without a person in it when I spoke, and I can remember the feeling I had when I handed the mic over and began playing. I held back a lot of tears that night, and as I sit here typing this right now, I feel the same feeling of needing to focus on the job at hand... even while feeling sad.
I walked away with the 2013 People's Choice award that year...but really I walked away with an even greater respect and admiration for the DC community. The same community of people who have voted me in as Best DJ in the Washington Blade for 2012 and 2014. The same people supporting me and the people I work with for 7 years in the DC scene. The same community that I hope will be in the building tonight to raise money for this very worthy cause.
No matter who walks away winning tonight, I know that I've already won something that has no numeric or dollar value. I've got the memories of how an entire community lifted me up on one of my darkest days. I'll continue to be thankful for that night for as long as I live and tonight I plan to give back to all of them with music and entertainment. Please come out and support the HRC and donate as generously as you can by placing your cash donation into one of the 4 DJ Boxes that will be on stage. Whoever's set you enjoyed the most is where you should place your money. The Dj with the most donations at the end of the night win's people's choice.
I'm thankful to be winning no matter what :)
The event is an annual fundraiser for the HRC. The DC version of this event has been the biggest and most successful from all of the HerHRC events across the country! I think it has a lot to do with the strength of the women's community in the DMV, especially the DC area. Not only is it filled with strong women, but women who have a desire to give back and spend time with their friends and family while doing so. Anyone who has ever attended knows that while there's a DJ battle going on, there is also a whole lot of love in the room.
As I stated today on my facebook page , this event means a lot more to me than some know. It was this exact Sunday in 2013 that I lost one of my best friends, my father, after years of him struggling with congestive heart failure. At 2:15 am, my Mom, wife, and I sat by his side, held his hand, and watched him take his last breath. It's an image that is seared into my brain and I have to force the replay out of my brain at times because it's the hardest thing I've ever done.
That same Sunday evening was HerHRC, same time, same location. I was running on no sleep because we were in the hospital all day and all night from 6am Saturday until we finally made our way home Sunday at about 9am. I remember watching the snowflakes falling out of the hospital room window and just feeling like as heartbroken as I was feeling, my Dad was not suffering anymore. He held on for the longest time, and I think it was for my family...
I remember getting text messages telling me that I didn't have to go that night if I wasn't up to it... condolences... love. I told Kris that I have to go, it will be good for me and I know my Dad would want me to be there.
So off to DC we went... red and puffy eyed but thankful. I got into the club and was given flowers and lots of hugs. I kept running into people I did know and complete strangers who were hugging me and giving me flowers. The outpouring of love continued all night long, and I think that in my heart that is what carried me through the event. The love and warmth of the people I knew and didn't know really held me up when I was so very down.
I dedicated the set to my Dad before playing and told the crowd that in all of my years of Djing, my father was not able to ever come to any of my events. I let them know this is the first party he will ever attend, and I know he'll be happy to be in the room with all of us. It was quiet as a club without a person in it when I spoke, and I can remember the feeling I had when I handed the mic over and began playing. I held back a lot of tears that night, and as I sit here typing this right now, I feel the same feeling of needing to focus on the job at hand... even while feeling sad.
I walked away with the 2013 People's Choice award that year...but really I walked away with an even greater respect and admiration for the DC community. The same community of people who have voted me in as Best DJ in the Washington Blade for 2012 and 2014. The same people supporting me and the people I work with for 7 years in the DC scene. The same community that I hope will be in the building tonight to raise money for this very worthy cause.
No matter who walks away winning tonight, I know that I've already won something that has no numeric or dollar value. I've got the memories of how an entire community lifted me up on one of my darkest days. I'll continue to be thankful for that night for as long as I live and tonight I plan to give back to all of them with music and entertainment. Please come out and support the HRC and donate as generously as you can by placing your cash donation into one of the 4 DJ Boxes that will be on stage. Whoever's set you enjoyed the most is where you should place your money. The Dj with the most donations at the end of the night win's people's choice.
I'm thankful to be winning no matter what :)
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