Daily Inspiration: Meet Connor Frawley

Today we’d like to introduce you to Connor Frawley.

Hi Connor, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
While I was in college at the University of Indianapolis I attended a DJ academy called Deckademics. I not only learned how to spin on turntables, but I was able to approach any DJ playing in the city and mention that I was taking classes at the academy. I would instantly be brought on stage and was able to watch how a working DJ worked a dance floor. I soon became known as a “substitute dj” in the city by serving breakfast in the morning and having every night open to fill in for anyone.

I got my start in clubs, restaurants, bars, and even my college cafeteria during lunch. It wasn’t until I DJed my cousins wedding as a gift to her that I fell in love with the private event side of the craft. I was able to see first hand how music and MCing can unite a group of people and make a night unforgettable. Soon after, I moved to LA and linked up with one of the biggest DJ companies in the area. The experience was priceless. I was DJing every day of the week up and down the coast and gaining experience across every kind of room.

When I branched out on my own as Frawleywood, I was fully equipped to handle weddings, corporate events, and private parties at the highest level. Today I work as a Los Angeles wedding DJ and MC across Southern California, with venues like Bel-Air Bay Club, Greystone Mansion, Calamigos Ranch, and Terranea Resort. I also work as a corporate DJ in Las Vegas, supporting conferences and activations at The Venetian, Caesars Palace, Aria Resort, and Mandalay Bay.

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?
There are always learning experiences. As a business owner I have to apply marketing, customer service, payroll, accounting, tech support, logistics, and sales – as well as show up as a master of my craft by making people feel comfortable, and throwing an epic party.

Preparation, focus, and communication are the keys to my success. I am fortunate to have found a way to make money doing what I love, and as that love shines through, guests, and clients feel it and want to celebrate. I always keep the door open between clients and myself. If there is ever something they see, that I don’t, I encourage them to not hesitate in letting me know. This way I can adjust in real time, and they can keep having the event they dreamed of.

After every event I drive home in silence and make voice memos about what went right, and what could have gone better. After 500 events I have learned how to make a lot of little adjustments that add up to make each event better than the last.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I could write about DJing for days on end, but I want to focus on my use of turntables.

Technic 1200’s are the original turntable that DJ’s have been using since the craft was created. I am still using the same set that was manufactured over 50 years ago. There are some new technological advances that allow me to use vinyl records of any color or with any logo, but the decks themselves are a timeless classic. Yes, they are heavy, take up more space, and require me to spend more time setting them up and tearing them down, but nothing will beat the feeling of wax under my fingers.

There is also a natural “wow” and “flutter” to the mechanical spin of the plate that very minutely makes the record spin slower or faster as it rotates. These small variations allow the song to feel organic and alive as well as keep the DJ in tune with keeping the records beat matched. As opposed to a new age DJ controller where simply pressing the “sync” button will keep the two tracks in time, playing on turntables requires more connection to the music and the audience, leading to more feeling in the sets.

Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
The one thing I’d add is that I travel anywhere at no extra cost. I’m based in Los Angeles but I work weddings and corporate events across the country with no travel fees, which is rare in this industry and a real value for couples planning destination weddings or companies hosting events outside their home city.

Some recent highlights include the iSPA Conference at The Venetian Las Vegas across four days and 1,000+ attendees, a three day national corporate conference at Caesars Palace as Master of Ceremonies, the Zones Accelerate partner summit at Aria Resort sponsored by Apple and Microsoft, and weddings at iconic Southern California venues like Bel-Air Bay Club, Greystone Mansion, Calamigos Ranch, Terranea Resort, and the Four Seasons Beverly Hills. I’ve also worked destination weddings in Maui and rehearsal dinners on Malibu Pier.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://frawleywood.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/frawleywood_/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/frawleywood/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@frawleywood

Image Credits
Mandee Johnson Photo