Today we’d like to introduce you to Alissa Marie Saccomanno.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Music has been a part of my life ever since birth! I started out classically trained and composing on the piano at a very young age, while later dabbling with the clarinet, guitar and drums throughout high school. I began college with a major in music business and composition, but later hit a fork in the road after freshman year. It’s no secret that making a living as a musician or composer is an easy one. I felt that perhaps if I just got my business degree it would leave me with more options once I graduated. I always knew music would play a part in my life. I just didn’t know how, when or where it would fit in.
Not too long after graduating from the University of Louisville, I landed my first big job at Colliers International, a worldwide commercial real estate company and am still working there today as an executive assistant. I just celebrated my 10-year anniversary! Working in a fast-paced environment like real estate can be a little crazy at times, so coming home to play or listen to music is how I decompress.
Yes, I’m a DJ and I still work a full-time job in real estate! But I didn’t catch a true interest in DJ’ing until 2012. I was literally flipping through a Guitar Center catalog with a friend and got inspired to buy some cool gear. I thought why not! I had always been fascinated with the art of blending different songs together and knew I had a good ear for it. With the birth of iTunes, my library of MP3’s had already been organized with folders upon folders of different genres of music so I was ready to experiment and start mixing.
Within a few weeks after playing around, a friend of mine and aspiring rapper, asked if I would DJ a hip-hop showcase. Fear immediately stepped in and I suddenly felt a lack of confidence and unprepared for what seemed like a big deal! My initial thought was this was just for fun and not really something to go public with, but my friend encouraged me and thought it would be a cool opportunity. It most certainly was!
This little hobby of mine quickly turned into the brainstorming of a DJ name, the creation of business cards, a Soundcloud account and a Facebook fan page. Parts of me were excited yet uncertain, but I thought let’s just see where this goes! It didn’t take long to realize that each gig I did would lead to the next, and to the next and so on. It really has all been word of mouth!
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I think finding my inner confidence was difficult at first. Being a female in a male-dominated industry felt pretty intimidating, but I think my background of working with male powerhouses in the real estate field prepped me with just the right amount of thick skin and ability to walk through any door with a little extra pep in my step.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
I would say my specialty is focused more on DJ’ing corporate, retail and special events but I definitely don’t limit myself. If the gig feels right and I’m available, I’ll do it. I have quite the repertoire and like mixing up the kinds of events I do. Fundraisers, black tie galas, school functions, summer rooftop and pool parties, fashion and art shows, grand openings, birthdays and anniversaries. I’ve done some smaller, more intimate weddings. Playing at a variety of locations is fun for me too. You can find me in different department stores and fitness centers, setting sail on cruise ships or fashion runways.
I’m proud to say 2018 marks my 5th year as the resident DJ for RAW Artists, a worldwide independent arts organization whose mission is to create a platform for local artists, musicians, performers, makeup, hair and fashion designers to showcase their work. In addition to DJ’ing the local shows here in Chicago, I’ve now expanded playing at the showcases in Indianapolis, Columbus, San Diego and Los Angeles. I’ve been really blessed to travel around the country with RAW.
They’ve opened up a lot of doors and I’ve been able to connect with some really fascinating people in addition to playing in some pretty cool venues. The showcases in Chicago are usually once a season and held at the Metro. People can visit www.rawartists.org to learn more about how to become a RAW artist and for more information about the shows. My upcoming DJ mix I’m entitling “The RAW Experience” is set to be released summer 2018. I will keep followers updated on my Facebook and Instagram.
I think what sets me apart is my down to earth personality. I just keep it real and keep things fair with my clients, it’s that simple. I’m easy going and create lasting relationships wherever I go. I keep things light and fun yet professional and expect nothing less from the people I work and surround myself with. I think the fact that I’m female is also an obvious advantage. There aren’t a lot of us female DJ’s out there so I believe our presence alone can bring a little extra light to any party! 😉
My proudest accomplishment, aside from my work as a DJ, real estate assistant and becoming a Certified Angel Intuitive and Reiki Practitioner (but we can save that for a separate interview), was the official release of my first solo piano album entitled Piano Covers: Volume 1, which is now available on iTunes, Amazon and Spotify! It’s a compilation of some of my favorite songs that I’ve covered on the piano displaying my own personal style. Creating this album has been a dream of mine for quite some time.
This was a very special project to work on and I’m very proud to finally share it with the rest of the world. It’s amazing the life you can live when you follow your passions. I hope to continue playing and sharing the gift of music with others for a very long time!
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/piano-covers-vol-1/1298145702?app=itunes&ign-itsct=1298145702-1298145702&ign-itscg=0177&ign-mpt=uo%3D4
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B076JQ5M35/ref=dm_ws_sp_ps_dp
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/5kwh3tvz62pbjmhUz0oy6k
What were you like growing up?
I grew up a happy-go-lucky kid. My parents had me involved in everything. Between music lessons, being a 3-sport athlete and keeping up with academics I was a busy gal. It was a balancing act for sure, but a fun one. Not much has changed. I’m still involved in so many things that I feel passionate about. I just want to keep doing it all!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.deejaysaccs.com
- Email: deejaysaccs@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deejaysaccs/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/deejaysaccs1/
- Other: https://soundcloud.com/deejay-saccs/tracks
Getting in touch: VoyageChicago is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
