Connect
To Top

Meet Lee Smith of WFE Consulting in South Central

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lee Smith.

Lee, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I was working in corporate America at a rental car agency and DJing on the side. I wasn’t all that good, but I was booking gigs and had other DJs perform while I learned and collected the bag. Eventually, I started booking other DJs for gigs that I was unable to attend and collected a percentage from those gigs. At the same time, a friend of mine started selling tacos, and I would bring him with me to cook at events.

After years of cooking at events with me and cooking out of his house, my friend purchased a food truck that is now known as All Flavor No Grease. He was my first food truck client, and now I provide consulting, public relations, and booking management services for food trucks and restaurants in LA. I also started my own hat store known as The Kool Kid Store where we specialize in kool accessories that reflect LA lingo.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Of course not! The thing is that people don’t book you to DJ until someone else gives you a shot. LA is a place of “who knows you” not “who you know”.  So, oftentimes you can be very skillful in what you do, but not get booked because you’re not a part of a certain clique.

Of course, I experienced financial hardships after I left my corporate job in May of 2017, but I haven’t looked back. From DJ gigs to booking catering gigs, and selling merch at pop-up shops, it’s literally a different struggle every day. However, I’m very thankful for the opportunities that are before me.

So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the WFE Consulting story. Tell us more about the business.
WFE Consulting is a management and consulting group for DJs and food trucks/restaurants. I literally do every f***ing thing from curating social media posts to booking gigs to negotiating contracts to handling travel logistics to attending weekly meetings with business owners to marketing and implementing ideas to paying for everything out-of-pocket to booking interviews for clients to designing merchandise to going downtown to picking up merch and shipping it and then DJing events!

I’m mostly known as a DJ and for being the plug and the outlet. I’m probably the most resourceful person I know in the entire city! I’m very good with networking and building relationships. I’ve had the same phone number since 2004, which should say something right there lol.

I’m most proud to know that I’m in a position to put others on. I’m a firm believer that teamwork makes the dream work, and it’s no point in having all of these connections if I’m not putting the homies on to be in a position to win and provide for their families. I, especially, look out for the ones who have looked out for me in some capacity.

What sets me apart is that I’m authentic, I’m resourceful, and I’m very very very professional. Honestly, anyone can DJ, anyone can handle catering bookings, anyone can make hats, but they don’t have the professionalism and charisma that I have and can’t compete with the musical experience that I provide when I’m DJing.

Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?

I don’t think luck has had much to do with it. I think my faith and hard work get the job done. Honestly, I just kept on grinding and kept running into the right people at events. When you’re in certain spaces around certain people, the work will speak for itself and that’s when the bigger opportunities come along.
As far as “luck” in life, I think it all comes from being a good decision-maker. I am where I am in life by decisions I made for myself 10 to 15 years ago. Trust it’s very hard to be the bigger person especially when you were right in a situation or expecting others to handle situations as you would. Everyone was raised differently and some people just don’t have the moral compass or that edge you get from growing up in South Central LA. So, naturally they aren’t going to do things as you would or understand why you move the way you do.

Pricing:

  • Dad hats $25
  • Sweatshirts $48

Contact Info:

Image Credit:
Milan Carter

Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

More in

  • Portraits of the Valley

    It’s more important to understand someone than to judge them. We think the first step to understanding someone is asking them...

    Local StoriesApril 28, 2025
  • Portraits of Hollywood

    It’s more important to understand someone than to judge them. We think the first step to understanding someone is asking them...

    Local StoriesApril 28, 2025
  • LA’s Most Inspiring Stories

    Every neighborhood in LA has its own vibe, style, culture and history, but what consistently amazes us is not what differentiates...

    Local StoriesApril 28, 2025
  • Hidden Gems: Local Businesses & Creatives You Should Know

    Every day we have a choice. We can support an up and coming podcaster, try a new family-run restaurant, join a...

    Local StoriesApril 28, 2025
  • Portraits of LA

    It’s more important to understand someone than to judge them. We think the first step to understanding someone is asking them...

    Local StoriesApril 18, 2025
  • VoyageLA Gift Guide: Services Spotlights

    Our goal as a publication is to encourage more folks to spend their dollars with small businesses, artists and creatives.  Our...

    Local StoriesDecember 15, 2024
  • VoyageLA Gift Guide: Experiences to Consider

    Our goal as a publication is to encourage more folks to spend their dollars with small businesses, artists and creatives.  Our...

    Local StoriesDecember 15, 2024
  • VoyageLA Gift Guide: Products from the Community

    Our goal as a publication is to encourage more folks to spend their dollars with small businesses, artists and creatives.  Our...

    Local StoriesDecember 14, 2024
  • Podcast: Your Journey As An Actress

    We’re so lucky to have a great guest with us today to discuss your journey as an actress and so much...

    Partner SeriesOctober 22, 2024