Today we’d like to introduce you to Ellis Wiltshire.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
In 2002, I started DJ Dutty Laundry with $600 to my name, trust me on this my first set of equipment was straight trash; two Numark turntables and mixer paid $500 for the whole rig. I tried to do the club scene in Chattanooga initially but not being from there, it was not easy getting in as an outsider. I dealt with everything from undercutting my already cheap prices to having plugs pulled out at events by other djs. SO I DIVED INTO THE MIXTAPE GAME HEADFIRST WITH NO PARACHUTE. When someone says, they started from nothing and made something out of nothing, that was clearly me. I used to drive to Atlanta back and forth from Chattanooga 3-5 days a week every week plying my mixtapes and on weekends to the other cities in Tennessee. After about three years, my mixtapes were literally everywhere that sold cds; to be honest I don’t think I made a dime in that whole three years because everything went back into the business, buying new equipment, gas, eating and sleeping in my car while on the road.
2006 I met Kaspa who was starting up the Hittmen djs and loved my grind and put me down as an original Hittman through this, I met Gucci, Zaytoven, Oj and the rest is history or google history. 2014 I stepped away from it all…I was just burnt out. The mixtapes, all the traveling, touring, holding down a radio slot, now clubs wanting me consistently, and a soon to be 2nd divorce, I stepped away from it all…I was done 2018 a former employee of mine was getting married and she wanted me to be her dj cause she pretty much had all my mixtapes since she was a little girl. I did it and actually loved it so I have spent the past four years rebranding Dutty Laundry from a trap dj to a corporate/wedding dj. I went from 6 weddings that first year to 74 weddings in 2021 and 91 in 2022 already. Keep in mind 2020 and the beginning of 2021 was a complete wash due to covid. The same energy I applied for my mixtapes I now apply at this. With a strong, committed wife, great friends and lots of networking the sky the limit.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Definitely not a smooth road.
1. Plugs pulled out.
2. Two divorces due to my focus on my career and pretty much forgetting I was actually married due to tunnel vision.
3. Covid pulling the plug on me in 2020 and 2021.
4. Smaller market but a major market in the wedding scene nationally.
5. Consistently tinkering and perfecting my craft.
6. No wedding is alike ever, and no matter what any wedding professional says, you can never and I mean never learn everything cause we are dealing with people.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I randomly joke that I’m the most educated dj ever and will be the first to get a doctorate. I have an associate’s degree in aviation management.
I have a dual BA in Marketing and General Management
I have a dual MBA in Marketing & Management
What I’m most proud of the fact that all four of my kids will have gotten to see me do something I enjoy and actually made a career of it. My two oldest sons will have seen the mixtape and touring side, the younger ones get to enjoy the corporate/wedding side.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
I started this Wirth nothing literally $600 originally
I left a 70K job to just do this wedding/corporate dj avenue at this point in my life.
I have literally spent 30 years of my life behind turntables but only 10 of it being profitable so I’d say that’s pretty risky.
Contact Info:
- Email: djduttylaundry@gmail.com
- Website: djduttylaundry.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/djduttylaundry/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/djduttylaundry/
- Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/djduttylaundry/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/djduttylaundry/
- Yelp: dj Dutty laundry
Image Credits:
IG @nelyaphotos IG @brandihorne_ IG @amberlowephoto IG @jordanroepkephotgraphy
