Today we’d like to introduce you to Tyler Varnell
Hi Tyler, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
The journey to becoming one of the most sought-after Saxophone-DJ’s in Southern California has been a wild one! I graduated with a finance degree, worked in the startup space, then in commercial real estate and felt overworked and under-appreciated. So I left the corporate world and decided to become a professional saxophonist! I had no idea what I was doing.
I started performing on saxophone with a few bands in bars and clubs, then performed for my first few weddings and was totally hooked. There was something so magical about weddings. All of your favorite people are all gathered in the same place with the same purpose – celebrating and partying and having a great time on the most special day of your life.
So I got hooked on creating amazing experiences for people on their big day, and thankfully, demand has grown significantly to where 8 years later I’m performing for celebrities, being published in magazines, and creating epic Saxophone-DJ experiences that I’m really proud of.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It took time to find my lane. And I pivoted several times. At first, I just offered Saxophone. Then I added piano performances, and people really liked that I could alternate between Saxophone and Piano and offer value throughout the full-day – ceremony, cocktail hour, reception, and of course my surprise saxophone appearances out on the dancefloor. Then I added DJing and Emceeing and that’s when things really came alive. I built out a production team and now we provide all sound equipment, event lighting, and fully programmed dance lighting in one full-day experience.
Along the way, every event has had its unique challenges from lighting, to acoustics and noise regulations, to electricity, to tricky event layouts. It’s always fascinating how many non-music factors go into creating an amazing, life-changing musical experience, and a huge part of the difficulty and growth that I’ve experienced is learning how to ensure that the musical performance always has maximum impact, despite all of the variables!
Another challenge was once performing on saxophone while wake surfing. Definitely a core workout!
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
To give you an overview, I perform as one of the most sought-after Saxophone-DJ’s in Southern California, as seen in People Magazine, Brides Magazine, The Knot Magazine, and Sports Illustrated. Specializing in luxury and celebrity events, recent performances include Disneyland, Ferrari, Aston Martin, Mercedes Benz, Pelican Hill Resort, Ritz Carlton Laguna Beach, Four Seasons Beverly Hills, and internationally at luxury resorts throughout Mexico.
Most people hire me for the epic Saxophone-DJ experience. From the DJ Booth, I mix top 40, EDM, hip hop, tropical house, and virtually every genre, while jumping out on the dancefloor wirelessly on Saxophone and getting everyone amped. With our professional light show, people come up all the time saying that was a ‘festival’ or ‘concert’ experience. Every moment, from pre-ceremony music as guests arrive to the very last song on the dancefloor, is meticulously curated and produced to each couple’s unique vibe. Being obsessed with the smallest of details is what helps me and my team consistently create those unforgettably epic ‘wow’ moments week after week.
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
From the outside, this year has been marked by an incredible amount of what I would call ‘external’ success. I was published in the The Knot magazine as one of 2024’s most notable emerging wedding pros in the US. I was voted the #1 DJ in Orange County by California Wedding Day Magazine. I have four destination weddings booked this year in Seattle, Phoenix, and two in Mexico. A celebrity wedding I DJ’d in April was featured in People Magazine.
It would appear that there is an abundance of external success. But to me, the truest success is always internal, not external. True success is fulfilling the same core mission that I’ve had since the very beginning: to love and serve others by creating unforgettable experiences through music. This is my heart and my guiding light.
Constantly chasing being the most recognized or most expensive or most luxury performer can lead to burn out, constant comparison to others, and emotional exhaustion. One thing that helps me is constantly shifting my focus away from that and instead focusing on loving and serving each couple by going all out on every tiny detail to create an amazing, unforgettable experience for them. With that as my end goal, it helps me enjoy the process and feel like I’m hitting my goal, instead of only being satisfied when I “reach the top” – especially when it feels like the “top” keeps moving.
Pricing:
- 2024-2025 bookings have ranged $5,000 – $12,000+ and include Tyler Varnell performing on Saxophone + Piano + DJ/Emceeing + professional grade sound systems, uplighting, and dance lighting, fully covering your event for up to 1,000 guests. For an official quote, email [email protected] with your date + venue.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.tylervarnell.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tylervarnell/
Image Credits
Honey Photographs, Katrina Jayne Photography, Cheers Babe Photo, Kate Noelle Photography, Chard Photo, The Big Affair Photography, Valorie Darling Collective
