Life & Work with Gusto Funk

Today we’d like to introduce you to Gusto Funk.

Hi Gusto, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story? 
I got started early; I have to shout out my late uncle, who exposed me to DJing for the first time. My family is from New York, and whenever I’d go visit, he always had crates of records out and would show me techniques, and that started for me as a kid. He’s been a big influence on my life from the DJ standpoint. 

It was during high school that I really started taking DJing seriously. Me and my friends made our own group where we would throw parties. We put money together to get speakers and amps; it was Project-X style parties. I’d spin until the cops game. 

Through the years, it evolved, and I would DJ bars and clubs. That turned into TV shows, events, and sporting events. It brought me all the way to Dodgers home games, where I’m the pre-game DJ and was even the in-game DJ for one of the playoff games. Go Dodgers! 

Simultaneously, I was also making a name for myself in film and TV. My first production job was at Entertainment Tonight. The day that really shaped my career is one that I’m not proud of. It was the day Farrah Faucet and Michael Jackson had died. My boss was out of the office, and my assignment was to find a photo proving that he had passed away. ET had a huge contact list of paparazzi that I was calling. One person I called said he was physically on the bumper of the ambulance, saw MJ dead, and had a photo. He sent me the watermarked photo that was up for purchase. I found the shot of MJ dead in the back of the ambulance. Leadership offered me a higher position, and I couldn’t bear to continue doing that, so I asked to be moved to postproduction. 

Postproduction took me to TV shows like Survivor Host The Jeff Probst Show, Arsenio Hall came back with a reboot, but TV pulls the rug out from under you when the season is done, or when you get cancelled, so I transitioned to digital where I joined the Buzzfeed team with the Try Guys and Quinta Brunson. It allowed me to also act, produce, and it felt like film school all over again. Next, I became the Head of Post at Spotify. Spotify was cool because they respected my DJ career as well. They didn’t mind that I was DJing for multiple shows, Wonderland, where Lizzo was the host, and The Keke Palmer Show. It was a really great fit to work there. 

Currently, I’m Head of Postproduction at LiveNation’s marketing team. 

It feels really full circle to be able to connect my music passion with my career at LiveNation. I’ve DJed for 14 years, I’ve been doing production for around the same amount of time, and I feel like I’m just getting started again. 

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Coming up in this industry, agencies hold the line for most of the places you want to perform at so it’s tough being an independent creative going against corporate companies that provide talent, but I’ve always been able to find my way through success through hard work and consistency 

It wasn’t easy. Nothing is easy. On the DJ side, it wasn’t easy; it’s still not easy to this day. Coming up in this industry, agencies hold the line for most of the places you want to perform at. It’s tough being an independent creative going against corporate companies that provide talent. 

I have DJed so many random gigs across LA just to get the one gig that made me feel I was getting somewhere, you know? I had to be relentless in terms of where I got as a DJ. I would act like I was my own manager and use a different name, saying this DJ is really good, and you should bring them in. I had to do whatever I could to get in the door. So that wasn’t easy, 

On the other side, the TV and film industry is not as sweet and glamorous as people see it on TV. It is a grind, its long hours, weekends, it’s a never-ending train. It’s been tough, even today. I’m doing great things, we’re working on great shows, and I’m so thankful, but at times, I could use a break. 

I overcame challenges on both sides, DJing and content production, by having a guiding light of where I always wanted to be. I’m never satisfied. Even when I’m discouraged, I never want to fully stop because I knew where I wanted to be career-wise and that’s what has helped me overcome the challenges. If something happens, I tell myself it’s part of the journey, and I’ll be in a better place if I keep going. It’s a mindset that has helped me overcome this stuff. 

Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m a DJ, producer, filmmaker. I’m known for being consistent in everything I do. I’m a reliable, hardworking creative that can blend the art of DJing with professionalism. 

I specialize in bringing the vibes to every party, premium, and sporting event that I do by understanding the client’s vision of what they want their atmosphere to be. I’m known to bring the funk! 

As corny as it sounds, I’m most proud of not giving up when I thought I would. If I had, I wouldn’t have the opportunities that I do now. This industry brings you down, and a lot of the time, you feel like quitting, but I didn’t, and I’m really proud to have made it this far. 

What would you say has been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
One of the most important lessons I’ve learned along the way is ensure you’re making genuine relationships with people versus transactional ones. I’m a big believer in just being genuine and having real connections versus the “optics” of having friends or followers. You need people that can vouch for you and trust you, and believe in you in a genuine way. When people are only interested in the way you interact with them from an exterior perspective, perspective doesn’t last long. It may seem cool in the moment, but it’s not usually long-term. That’s just what I’ve learned. 

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.gustofunk.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegustofunk/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rodney-mcmahon-ii-85b5b5a5
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Thegustofunk
• SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/gusto-funk
• Other: https://youtu.be/aUK4zLjv0h0?si=ApZlLKiJcK3XJVyo

Image Credits
Getty Images