Five questions with DJ Rockin’ Rob, aka Robert Spera

DJ Rockin’ Rob is a special events DJ in Lubbock, Texas who has over a decade of experience entertaining guests at weddings, corporate events, birthday parties, school dances and pool parties.  He started out with one CHAUVET® strobe light and now his entire setup is comprised of 60 CHAUVET® fixtures.

We asked him these five questions for our DJ profile.

1. How did you get started as a DJ?
In 1998, I joined the U.S. Navy and was stationed on a base in Connecticut that had an onsite bowling alley which hosted “Rock-N-Glow” parties on Thursday nights. I quickly made friends with the DJ who was playing music and interacting with the crowd, and if that DJ couldn’t make it, they would call me to fill in. That DJ taught me the true fundamentals of being a mobile DJ and his lessons stay with me every single gig I play. In 2009, I registered my company, 100% Entertainment.

2. Is this a full-time job or something you do on the side?
Being a mobile DJ and running 100% Entertainment is currently a part-time venture, but hopefully not for long. I’m also a host on That DJ Podcast which is a prerecorded show by DJs for DJs. During the day I am an exhibit technician at the Science Spectrum Museum. We make a lot of things, break a lot of things and fix a lot of things. It’s amazing how much science it takes to demonstrate science.

3. What fixtures are included in your setup? What are you looking to add?
I am the proud owner of six LED Techno Strobe RGB strobe lights, two LED Shadow blacklights, two Intimidator 1.2 scanners, 30 LED Pinspot , 10 LEDrain 38T, five LEDrain 38C, three LEDrain 38 and two Vue 1.1.

I would really like to add a full band of COLORtube 3.0 EQ. On a more realistic note, I have my sights set on two Scorpion Storm FX lasers, two Vue 3.1 effect lights and a few moving heads.

4. What is your favorite fixture and why?
My favorite fixture in my arsenal is the LED Techno Strobe RGB. Its flexibility has been the back bone of my mobile light show for almost four years. I can use it as a flood, wash or accent light and it communicates perfectly with my Vue 1.1 and Vue 3.1 fixtures.

5. Best advice you can give someone just getting started in the DJ industry?
It’s not about you and it’s not YOUR party. It’s theirs. Give them the party they want, not the party you think they should have. Don’t treat the event as an advertising opportunity, let your work speak for itself. If you do a good job, people will want you for their party too. Don’t beat your audience over the head with who you are and what you do, let them ask you.