When we think about DJ’s we often fantasize a life of luxury, style, and spotlight.
They don’t all get there overnight though. Every big DJ has had a coming of age moment where they needed to choose whether or not to keep pursuing music or their day jobs.
Here are six strange occupations some of the world’s greatest DJ’s had before their careers in music took off.
DIPLO, Teacher
We all know Diplo for his eccentric lifestyle and music to match, but he wasn’t always solely a DJ. Diplo taught kids in Philadelphia while working as an after school care teacher. Diplo quickly realized that he hated teaching and decided to pursued his music career. I’d say that was a good choice.
CALVIN HARRIS, Grocery Bagger
Calvin Harris, one of the industry’s richest DJ’s in both wealth and on a career standpoint didn’t always have it that good. Harris’s rags to riches story took place in a prior life as a grocery store clerk. His height made him perfect for the job because he was able to grab things off of the top shelves for elderly people.
Nina Kraviz, Dentist
Before becoming one of the most influential female DJs in the world, Nina Kraviz was a dentist. While studying in college, she found her passion for techno and started living her double life as a student and DJ and bringing that lifestyle into her career as a dentist. Now she fixes peoples smiles full time with her beats!
DEADMAU5, Peach Canner
Deadmau5 has always been a bit troubled with an expressed wild side. Before becoming an icon for EDM and being a household name known all over the world, Deadmau5 canned peaches…Yes, peaches.
KASKADE, Mormon Missionary
Kaskade, the world renown DJ is known to be devoted to his Mormon beliefs. At the age of 19, he decided to go on a two-year missionary trip to Japan and teach the Mormon religion. It was while he was a student at Brigham Young University where he discovered his love for house music.
PAUL VAN DYK, Carpenter
Paul Van Dyk had a hard childhood growing up in communist East Berlin, Germany. He always had a passion for music but wasn’t able to pursue it in such a constrictive country. It wasn’t until the fall of the Berlin Wall that he studied to become a carpenter. I guess making things out wood wasn’t as cool as making beats because he soon ditched carpentry to take on his music career.
Success stories are based on chances taken that had uncertain outcomes. These six DJ’s rags to riches stories prove it! What’s your story?
