Stories From New York - Part 1

For a few days, Justin Kanoya traded in the title of San Diego DJ, for New York DJ.

After spending a few days in New York I completely understand why Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David, creators of “Seinfeld”, one of the most successful TV sitcoms of all time, had no shortage of material. Being in New York was like being in an episode of Seinfeld.

It was like nothing, but still everything. And I really can't make this stuff up. 

Mutual Job Love
“You have the best job in the world.”

I've heard these words before, usually coming from a person who works the average 9-5 job that keeps them within the comforts of a cubicle. But this time those eight words were coming from someone who arguably has a way cooler job than me.

They were coming from Anita Patrickson. A wardrobe stylist. But not just any stylist … a celebrity stylist. The type of person whose job is to suggest to Hillary Duff which piece of statement jewerly she should wear to the MTV Video Music Awards; confirm to Julianne Hough that her “boyfriend blazer” is just right for that Super Bowl party; and to let Chrissy Tiegen know that yes, indeed, her ensemble for the Golden Globes looks perfect because, well, she’s a supermodel and basically she looks good in everything.

And I only know the term “boyfriend blazer” because I saw it on Anita's Instagram.

I play the music of today’s hottest stars. Anita hangs out and dresses them.

I guess “best job” is all relative. I only had one response as she took a stab at scratching on my Techincs 1200s.

“Your job is pretty cool too.”

Celebrity stylist Anita Patrickson took a shot at DJing during the launch event for Fitbit Alta.

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This is the 'Shroom Burger at Shake Shack. Looks delicious and is delicious. But there's no meat.

Shake Shake Fail
This was my first journey into New York since the existence of Shake Shack, the popular burger and milkshake joint. I was excited to finally try this burger, and the stars lined up as I found myself in close proximity to one as my friends and I were deciding on a dinner spot.

In fact, we were at the original location located in Union Square. After a quick scan of the menu, I had committed to the SmokeShack, a cheeseburger topped with bacon and chopped cherry peppers. We waited in a relatively short line and just as it was my turn to walk up to the counter, I hear my friends discussing about the ’Shroom burger and the ’Shack Stack. I see the ’Shroom has something to do with a fried mushroom and as all of this is happening and I wanted to ask them what the difference in the two were, I get called up to the window.

Without knowing the difference between the ’Shroom and Shack Stack, I idiotically switch my SmokeShack order to the ’Shroom, assuming I was in for a taste of a meaty and fried mushroomy goodness.

I would soon find out the difference. For those not in the know either, the ’Shroom is simply a friend mushroom patty. No meat. What vegetarians order at Shake Shack.

I left New York, without having the chance to get back to a Shake Shack and have yet to taste one of these burgers.

HashtagFAIL. #shakeshackfail

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Is it Too Late To Say I'm Sorry
Generally when pedestrians bump into each other, they will apologize and move on. This is especially true in San Diego and something I noticed in my recent travels in San Francisco and, of course, Vancouver.

But, oh New York.

As I was walking among a throng of people on a subway platform, a man, looking to be in his late 50s/early 60s, with a rolling suitcase was approaching and about to cross my path. One of his wheels ended up rolling over the foot of the guy walking next to me, slightly tripping him up.

A stare down ensued. The man, also appearing to be about the same age as they guy who just had his foot rolled over, had a look of disgust.

What does the man who had just committed this understandable accident say? Does he apologize? Nope.

He simply uttered with equal disgust and that New York accent: "Maybe you should pay better attention."

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Jumping The Turnstile
November Project is the free fitness group I am a part of in San Diego, and there are tribes all over the country that welcome visiting members with open arms. I was excited when I realized my New York trip was overlapping with a 6:30, Wednesday morning, the day and time NP meets all over the U.S., Canada and Europe.

I Uber'd to the workout, because guiding my noob self on the MTA at 5:30 a.m. just seemed like a recipe for disaster. But after the workout, knowing I had time to spare and new friends (NP-NYC peeps) to help me  guide me to the nearest subway station. When we arrived at the ticketing area we were met with two very long lines to purchase tickets. I said my goodbyes to them as I got into line and they scanned their transit passes and headed to their respective platforms.

And I began to wait.

After about one minute, I hear someone yell my name, "JUSTIN!" I look over toward where I thought I heard it coming from, trying to make out a familiar face through a crowd of New York commuters. And I see Tammy, on the other side of the fence, motioning me to come over.

She opens the emergency exit door, the one exiting passengers use when they don't want to use the turnstile exit. Technically you're only supposed to use this in an emergency, but when's the last time a New Yorker followed rules.

With the door swinging open, she motions me toward her, and enter through this exit, without a ticket.

“That line is ridiculous.”

“You're gonna get me arrested,” I say. To which she replied, “Whatever, I'll get arrested for you.”

Want more? Here is Stories From New York, Part 2.

Stop Hating On The Super Bowl Halftime Show

Because you probably could not do it any better

Beyonce, Coldplay and Bruno Mars perform at the Super Bowl 50 Pepsi halftime show. 

Bruno Mars and crew perform Uptown Funk at the Super Bowl Pepsi Halftime Show.

Have you heard the term, “Monday morning quarterback?” It’s the guy, the one that played second string JV defensive linebacker in high school, telling everyone on Monday morning what the professional football team he watches should have done, what calls the coach should have made and what tackles should have been completed.

All of this, despite the fact he’s never competed past that junior varsity level and has no clue what it’s really like.

The Super Bowl brings another Monday morning person ... actually a few different types. It’s The Monday Morning Hair Stylist, Wardrobe Stylist, Music Critic, Performance Judge and Advertising Executive.

It’s people who don’t do any of these things for a living, but yet feel the need to criticize what people on TV are wearing or singing about; how they dance or that the commercials they are watching suck because it didn't make them laugh. 

These two types of people collide today, the day after the Super Bowl. The morning QB's whine about missed opportunities, and that other group of people is a critic to everything else non-football related.

In particular is the much anticipated half time show. Every year, it’s the same thing. If the chosen entertainment is some “older” act, like the Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney or Bruce Springsteen than the Millennial crowd will cry “who dis.”

And when it’s a “younger” act, like, oh I don’t know, Beyonce, Bruno Mars and Coldplay, the late Gen X’ers and Baby Boomers will shout about how awful music is becoming.

And what’s worse, because they don’t like the music, these people are attacking with unnecessary, racially hateful barbs as well as attacks on personal appearance, political stance and ethnicity.

This is a sample if screen shots from the Breitbart Facebook Page, specifically attacking Beyonce.

It’s Nirvana’s lyrics coming to life .... “here we are now, entertain us.”

But what this comes down to is people are disliking a piece of art, and because of that, the artist is fat pig or an ungrateful, spoiled rich brat. This way of thinking is awful and a sad glimpse into the minds of Americans.

People are deducing that they don’t like the way Beyonce dances to a few seconds of Crazy In Love, so now she is uglier than Michelle Obama.

W.T.F.?????

As someone that plays music for diverse audiences all the time, I know a thing or two about music tastes. I also know that the term “good music” is subjective.

So stop criticizing others. Stop with the vicious attacks. Just because you don’t like the way something sounds, doesn’t mean the person creating that sound is “ugly.”

Because in the end, all of this complaining means nothing. As my friend Matt says, “Let it be known, no one cares about what you think you are so sure of. You are not a politician, you don't know anything about political science or you'd be wise enough to not share idiotic political memes every five seconds.”

And further, you are likely not a hair or wardrobe stylist or a music critic or performance judge. It's time to put and end to the Monday morning bitch sessions. Either that or get up off that couch and make it to the Super Bowl halftime show and show us how you could make it better.

Because all this whining, complaining and being hateful only brings those similar hateful people into your life. A life that, for you, will likely wind up being unhappy and unfilled.

**Photos courtesy of The New York Times.

San Diego Wedding & Event Vendors: You’re Invited to Flow

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Yoga Flow for Event Pros is a yoga event combined with goal coaching tailored for San Diego's special event and wedding professionals. 

It was almost a year ago that I DJ'd my first yoga event. It took place at Parq, a swanky nightclub in downtown San Diego. I teamed up with Helen Cloots and Sheri Matthews for a night that would combine yoga with goal setting. Since then I've DJ'd other yoga sessions, including a few with Fitbit. 

While promoting the Do Mo Yoga event I DJ'd in November, a fellow San Diego wedding vendor mentioned his dismay that he was unable to attend since he had a wedding to work the same day. I told him not to worry, because there would surely be another opportunity in the future.

That's when it hit me. Why not create an event for event and wedding professionals in San Diego, using the model from the Parq event? Yoga with goal setting seems like the perfect recipe for event vendors who are diving into 2016 with business goals to achieve.

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The presenters, Helen Cloots, Justin Kanoya and Sheri Matthews. 

So here it is: Yoga Flow for Event Pros. A detour from the typical event industry networking event. There will not be signature drinks and shrimp cocktails at this one. And most importantly, no business casual dress code.

It takes place Tuesday, February 16 at 4 p.m. at Brick in Liberty Station.

And you can attend this event in your yoga pants. I know, it's like the event dress code you've always dreamed of. 

Join me and my friends Helen and Sheri and spend time doing yoga with a live beats -- spun by me -- and get started on setting those personal and business goals for 2016.

We'll have great attendance prizes as well as treats from local health food companies. I can't wait to see you all out there. Please register today!

Register for Yoga Flow for Event Pros by clicking the image above.

The Time I Almost Cried While Playing a Sam Smith Song

That sweet voice was singing through my headphones and into my ears.

“You say I’m crazy, cause you don’t think I know what you’ve done …. But when you call me baby, I know I’m not the only one.”

And I got emotional, right in my DJ booth. “Why the eff was I about to lose it over a Sam Smith song?”

Did I really almost cry while listening to a Sam Smith song?

There are many reasons why we cry. But ultimately, it’s when that emotional switch is flipped inside our head. Crying happens when we hurt, physically or emotionally; or when we are moved or inspired; or when we empathize with someone’s somber or euphoric emotions. We also cry when we cut a white onion, but that’s not what this is about.

I was recently watching this video about they key factors in finding your perfect job. It’s worth the 5 minutes, so watch it before you proceed with this article ... and yeah the guy does get a bit annoying so if you want to skip ahead, go to the four minute mark.  

Okay, hopefully you actually watched it and would agree that the key takeaway was this powerful statement:

Everyone should have a dream so deep, that when accomplished, the only response are tears of joy.

Have you dreamt that deep?

I can truly only reflect on one time in my life this has happened to me. It was back in early 1995, I was halfway through college and I had written a letter to Beckett Publications asking for an internship that summer

Beckett published magazines that covered the sports collectibles industry and I was a longtime subscriber. With a hopeful future in journalism it was a dream of mine to work at the company and write about sports, especially about sports collectibles (baseball cards, autographs, etc.)

When I sent the letter, I was not answering an open call for interns, or responding to any type of job bulletin board. It was just a shot in the dark, just a total dream of mine and one of those, “I’ve got nothing to lose, so might as well try moments.”

The initial letter was sent to Dr. Beckett himself, and naturally was met with no response. And after a few weeks, gave up on that dream. But all was resurrected when a chance phone call to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch led me to chat with Tom Wheatley, whose name  I remembered from bylines in Beckett articles. As a freelance writer for the magazines, I figured he might have a better idea of whose name should be on that second letter. My dream was rekindled.

Approximately one month after that second request was sent, I received a phone call from the guy I sent that letter to. He was inviting me to Dallas to spend the summer as an intern in the editorial department.

I hung up the phone, walked toward my mom and started to cry.

I hadn’t experienced happiness like that before. And more so, I certainly hadn’t dreamed like that. I had did not have an “in” at Beckett.

The realization of a dream, one that I had worked relatively hard to achieve made my emotions completely overflow.

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For many of you following along, you know that I recently left my day-to-day job to devote myself to building my business and become a top San Diego wedding DJ.The decision was less a “dream realized” and more about honing in on what was important in my life and eliminating things that were no longer sparking joy.

I’ve quickly experience what so many others who have made similar moves before me have said, the more joy you allow into your life, the more joy will naturally find you.

Back in August when I wrote that blog post that got shared more than 12,000 times I didn’t have a dream attached to it. I wasn’t asking for anything. But it resulted in a similar situation as described above ...  phone call, like the I got 20 years ago, asking me to fly to another city to contribute and share my talent with a group of people.

This time I hung up the phone -- well, tapped “end call”, since we don’t hang up phones anymore -- walked toward my wife, and this time I didn’t cry.

You see, I didn’t have a dream of DJing a worldwide conference for Lululemon. In fact, with the trip just three weeks out, I didn’t really emotionally process what was happening. I was just excited and so grateful for the people around me that were happy for me and knew how “big” the opportunity was.

Fast forward to the first day of the conference and 15 songs into my first set.

It hit me.

As alluded to earlier, it was Sam Smith’s “Not the Only One.” This song is emotional enough if you really focus in on the lyrics. And at approximately 7 a.m., with just about 100 people in the lounge focused on their conversations and breakfast, I had this moment of solitude as the music was playing in my headphones.

That moment, realizing I was DJing in Vancouver, for a clothing brand I adore and have worn for many years, coupled with the music got to me.

DJing for Lululemon was not the dream, but DJing and doing things on my own terms was. I was living that moment. And I almost cried … okay my eyes welled up for approximately four seconds.

It was one of those situations where I had to purse my lips and stop focusing on the music, think of something happy and move on. Otherwise I would have looked like some awkward dude standing in the corner crying.

At the beginning, I mentioned that hurt, joy and inspiration is what makes us cry … or at least makes me cry. And if achieving a dream so deep also makes us cry, are we crying because we are happy at a dream realized, or sad because a dream realized means it’s no longer a dream and we’ve reached the end of a journey.

I’m not sure. But what I do know it’s amazing to want something so bad and finally get it.

Go ahead, dream big. Dream deep. And then have a good cry at the end.