Today we’d like to introduce you to Chris Socha & Justin Pruim.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Chris: My mom started me as a musician playing the piano and I played the trumpet starting in 4th grade. I would find myself listening to all different genres of music, and each appealed to me in its own way. The properties of sound also fascinated me and I was constantly acquiring bigger, better, and of course, louder stereo systems. In 1999, I helped run the soundboard for my church’s youth group band and loved it. At the same time, I had become a frequent listener of the B96 street mixes and was intrigued by their DJ’s ability to blend and mix music together so seamlessly. Between my passion for sound design and love of music, I thought DJing was the perfect avenue to fuse those passions. In 2000, I went to Guitar Center and bought my first DJ rig with the money I made working at a florist, and the adventure began. I had no idea what I was doing, and I had a lot to learn. For months, I practiced whenever I could. I DJed for whoever would have me at their event, most of the time for free. My first gigs, I used my parents ‘94 Candy Apple Red Chevy Caprice Station Wagon to transport the gear. When the time came that I got my first wedding inquiry from my brother in law’s sister, I felt ready and was so excited! I can still remember it. I DJed it for $100, but it was my first chance to experience being a wedding DJ and I couldn’t have felt more blessed to be a part of it. I spent the next few years DJing all types of events while I attended school.
Justin: I’ve always been a tech-savvy guy, but music has always been by creative outlet. I wrote my first song when I was 8 years old – It was a whole sixteen measures long. I had been playing on my grandmother’s upright piano from the time my arms were long enough to reach the keys, and took private lessons throughout elementary school and junior high. I picked up the trombone for the next few years, but halfway through high school I put music education on the sideline while exploring other interests. After graduation, I coasted through a few too many years of community college studying everything from business and accounting to automotive service, welding, and design while trying to find something that sparked my interest. Then I met Chris.
Chris: My parents were out of town, so of course I took the opportunity to set up DJ equipment and have a few friends over. Justin was among those to attend. We were hanging out by the equipment and I was showing him some of what it could do, and I saw his interest for it growing. Kind of joking, we said we should form a company and call it SoPrime Entertainment, a play on our last names. We spent almost every night getting together to work on the business and a few months later, November 2008, the company and partnership was officially formed.
Every year we have fine-tuned and continually improved upon our core DJ & MC service, while adding other new services or building on existing ones. We have an office and studio in Downers Grove and have an awesome team that continues to grow. We are fortunate to often book multiple events in the same weekend. We are excited to see SoPrime Entertainment get to be a part of special moments and celebrations for so many people and look forward to the future.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Chris: In 2009, I was working as a Pharmacy Technician and was planning to attend Pharmacy School, but a part of me had always wanted to be a business owner. Although, I wanted a business that I could call my career and purpose. I was convinced anything is possible with hard work, so I quit my job way before I was “ready to” and said goodbye to Pharmacy. I still can remember how many times I was told I should go back to it. Then, I was scared, but I felt like I had made the right choice. The next couple years weren’t easy though, and I had to make sacrifices. When I wasn’t making enough money, I sold every single possession of value that I didn’t need. However, I’ve learned a lot and grown, and I’m glad for everything I’ve experienced along the journey.
Justin: We have always been super focused on growth. We have not yet taken cash out of our business profits, and instead pay ourselves just like the other guys on our team. Because we keep reinvesting our profits and carry no debt, it keeps the business out of any financial trouble and helps secure our future. Our personal stories are a bit different. I did hold onto my full-time job for a few years longer than Chris, but soon realized I couldn’t have everything. If our business was ever going to be as successful as we dreamed it would be I needed to commit more than just my spare time, but I had a lot to balance. I bought a new home, quit my full-time job, and got married all within 8 weeks! I had some growing pains in both my personal and professional life for a while after that, but I’m so happy to have followed my heart.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about SoPrime Entertainment – what should we know?
We founded SoPrime Entertainment under the philosophy that music has the power to move and inspire people and is a commonality among us all. However, we understand every audience is different and musical tastes are unique to the individual. Our goal is to adapt to the style of the listeners and deliver a musical performance that everyone attending can appreciate.
We have had the pleasure of providing entertainment for weddings, school dances, private and corporate parties, cruise ships, clubs, lounges, and many other venues.
Our business was established with DJ & MC entertainment as its core product and service, but many other great services have been gaining popularity. We have adapted to offer our clients Photobooth, Uplighting, Video Projection, Monogram Lighting and other things to create a customized entertainment package to help them have a unique and memorable event.
SoPrime Entertainment strives to provide the best VALUE in mobile DJ & MC entertainment. We love what we do. We’re motivated. We’re experienced. We love helping people. We want our clients to feel comfortable with us. We offer our professional advice with no commitment to use our services.
When we create a custom DJ package for each event, we embrace our client’s creativity and personal style and ensure no detail is overlooked. We focus on the event’s specific needs, and develop a plan for ultimate success. Our ultimate goal is our client’s complete satisfaction and for everyone attending the event to have an unforgettable experience.
We truly believed that two heads are better than one. We built the company around partnership, people coming together with shared passions and common goals. This has allowed us to learn from, motivate, and inspire each other to become far better as a team than we could be individually.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
Chris: Even though early on my dad saw DJing as a hobby and a way to earn extra money, my parents have always supported me over the years in the venture. Justin & I were on our way to Detroit, Michigan when our van broke down. It was 12:00am and we were stranded, with 4 hours of driving ahead and a wedding to DJ the next day for a very good friend. My parents drove out separately, so we could stuff their SUV full of gear. It was about 3:00am when we had finished moving the equipment from the van to the SUV, so we could continue on our way and they could finally drive back to Chicago. Just one example of their support and I really appreciate all they have done!
I also greatly appreciate the rest of my family and friends for all their encouragement and support. Our team is absolutely amazing and they work so hard to go above and beyond. I can’t thank enough all of the clients that have allowed me to be a part of their special events and recommending me to their family and friends. Without them, I’d still be a DJing in my bedroom.
Justin: Everyone who has been a part of this journey deserves credit. To those that have been our biggest cheerleaders, thank you, you keep us reaching higher. To those that have discouraged us, thank you, you give us the fire to keep going when times are tough. To everyone else who has helped out in any way, thank you, we would not be as successful without you!
Pricing:
- Wedding DJ & MC – Starting @ $700
- School Dance DJ – Starting @ $500
- Party DJ – Starting @ $300
Contact Info:
- Address: 2333 Wisconsin Ave
Downers Grove, IL 60515 - Website: www.SoPrimeEntertainment.com
- Phone: 630-344-9551
- Email: info@soprimeentertainment.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/soprimeentertainment
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/SoPrimeEntertainment
- Twitter: www.Twitter.com/SoPrimeDJ
- Yelp: www.yelp.com/biz/soprime-entertainment-naperville
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.
