DJ Sir Force — aka Brent Ferree — is a DJ with 25 years of experience who works for Source 4 Entertainment in Frederick, MD. His DJ name is a combination of a line from “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” (where Cameron calls the principal and says, “call me sir,”) and the term force (as in I am a force to be reckoned with). Serving the Maryland, Washington D.C., northern Virginia and southern Pennsylvania areas, the company specializes in weddings, Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, special events, corporate trainings, lighting and equipment rentals. Read on and get to know more about your fellow DJ!

1. How and when did you get started as a DJ?
I have had a love for music for as long as I can remember. My family exposed me to a wide variety of music, which led to the accumulation of quite an extensive collection of vinyl and CDs. Back in 1990, an opportunity to play music at a local roller skating rink presented itself. After playing music for a crowd, I was instantly hooked. The art of the DJ has changed so much — my view of “back in the day” was strictly about the music. Today, the music is still key, but the presentation includes a highly visual experience. Consider the top DJ performers and imagine what it is like to attend their events. In addition to the sound and music you expect, their performances are complex and choreographed with stunning light shows and visual effects. Events I am most interested in attending have become complex in nature — meaning, they typically consist of big sound and lighting. As a perfectionist, I strive for the highest quality of standards and it is my goal to deliver superior service. I don’t know what the future has in store for me, but I can tell you that booking the DJ Sir Force experience will be fun and exciting.

2. Is this a full-time job or something you do on the side?
DJing has never been a full-time job for me. I am a Solutions Architect for a staffing company where I specialize in designing software and solutions on an enterprise level. It is tough for me to say that I DJ part time because I pour so much effort into my craft. I try to practice any time I have a moment — it is a passion that’s 25 years in the making. What has changed is the way I practice — it now includes working with ShowXpress to refine the art of lighting control and MIDI integration. I have yet to perfect my preferred light board and will continue on that journey. My goal is to bring an experience to the event that will leave long lasting memories and — to paraphrase Seinfeld — leave on a high note and leave them wanting more.

3. What fixtures are included in your setup?
I recently added six Intimidator Beam LED 350 moving head beams, six Intimidator Spot LED 350 moving head spots and a MotionDrape LED. There are a ton of ancillary effects including PAR uplights, strobes, haze machines and other various effects. I’m always looking for a cool effect or fixture, so it’s really tough to say what I would like to add, but it would probably be more truss and moving heads.

4. What is your favorite fixture and why?
My favorite fixture would have to be either the Intimidator Spot LED 350 or the Intimidator Beam LED 350…lighting a mirror ball. The ability to paint the room with that classic mirror ball effect, while changing colors and adding strobe effects, is simply a timeless look. Mirror ball aside, the Intimidators are just plain fun and emit a powerful beam from an energy-efficient fixture — keeping my power headaches to a minimum.

5. Best advice you can give someone just getting started in the DJ industry?
This is a very interesting and complex question. DJing is a very valid profession — treat it as such. It is very easy to find work playing music for a modest income. Playing music is the “easy” part. In my humble opinion, the work is everything leading up to the event. In addition to DJing, you are responsible for advertising, sales, meeting with clients, legally obtaining music, organizing music, practicing, managing your internet presence, accounting, taxes, equipment maintenance and event planning — not necessarily in that order. There will ALWAYS be someone who will cost less, so know your worth, know the value you provide and deliver the best service and experience possible – never stop learning!

6. What are your top three most requested songs?
Wow, my top three most requested songs — that could go any number of directions based on the type of event. For the past month, it would be “Wobble” by V.I.C., “The Fox” by Ylvis and “Gangnam Style” by Psy.