Meet O’Ryan Barron of Events by O’Ryan in Woodland Hills

Today we’d like to introduce you to O’Ryan Barron.

O’Ryan, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
The last 7 years I’ve been working as a DJ/MC & Coordinator creating my business and working for large Wedding & Event Entertainment companies. More than just a job, I’ve always connected to music. It creates the atmosphere which in turn makes the party! As a kid, I would make mix tapes for friend’s parties, be the first on the dance floor, played in bands and never got out of the car until the song was over! I can’t really pinpoint where it all started. I was always a DJ! Well before I was making a living out of it. I owe a lot to my mother who had a wide range of interest in music. From R&B to Classic Rock to Alternative, Funk, Pop, Soul, you name it! Music was our life and we loved to dance!

Professionally, I started DJ’ing by word of mouth. Some friend needed music and I was the “music” friend with the speakers. I imagine most DJ’s have a similar origin. A random house party turns into a bar or club night, followed by a referral for a wedding and so on. I mostly fell in love with the professional side of DJ and MC work. Helping a Bride and Groom figure out their perfect song and music for the night to hosting amazing Corporate functions.

The idea of creating a fun environment as a business was perfect for my personality so I decided to start my own Entertainment company dedicated to delivering great energy with a professional MC presence. Now I like to say “I take fun seriously”.

Events by O’Ryan now does about 200+ events annually including Weddings, Corporate, Celebrations, Karaoke and other miscellaneous activities that require sound, music and lighting.

We love working with the planners and finding the right energy for their night and delivering a great time! I construct a new playlist for EVERY single event. There is no “standard” music or feel for every occasion. They say “do what you love” and I feel bad even calling this work. The future is looking great for Events by O’Ryan.
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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?
I believe everything good takes some struggle and hard work. I had a single mother who did everything she could to raise me with a roof and food in my belly. We didn’t come from money so it was already hard figuring out the next few days, let alone the future. I just knew I had to have music in my life at some point and figure out how to make a living from it.

For almost a decade I would work 2 jobs a day, 7 days a week and try to fit in events as I could. There are not always events every single day, so you need to do what works. I’ve been fortunate enough to have a great reputation that has led to tons of referrals and positive feedback.

Financially, the struggle days are behind the business but you never want to get too comfortable and lose the drive to be even greater than the last event. I’m always taking notes and I set my bar higher every time I reach my goals and focus on making the business better and the clients happier.

So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Events by O’Ryan story. Tell us more about the business.
Events by O’Ryan started 3 years ago with the ambition to make a mark on an industry I felt wasn’t watered down yet. People are always going to throw parties, get married and we’re always gonna love music, so I thought as long as I give it my all, there would be a future.

I’m known for having a high energy and excitement for whatever I’m doing. Outside of the business I like to edit videos, create mashup tracks, play guitar and do graphic design work to keep building up my “Swiss Army Knife” like knowledge and experience. My number one is music but I love to grab as many memories and skills as I can.

I’m proud of my company for keeping high standards to every event and the employees that keep the ship floating and looking great. We like to engage the client personally. Some companies have you book with them, discuss a few details with one person but then send out someone you’ve never met who has your paperwork. It doesn’t feel personable and lacks care. At Events by O’Ryan we discover what can bring the most out of the event by building a relationship with the clients and getting excited for their celebration. We’ve often built a friendship that has lasts well after their event and have been invited to birthdays, weddings and dinners to continue to stay in touch. We work together but that shouldn’t be where it ends.

Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I would say luck has definitely had a part in my success. I do put in the hard work but even getting the chance to feels like the stars aligned for me to get this job that lead to that connection which lead to that gig and on and on. I guess I go with the philosophy of making your own luck. You get the energy you give. We all have bad and good days and sometimes it’s within our control and sometimes life wants to see if you’ll sink or swim. I’m a swimmer!

Pricing:

• Wedding Packages – Start @ $1100 and up (6 hours)
• Corporate Events – Start @ $100/hr and up
• Lighting Packages – Start @ $250-$550/rental & setup

Contact Info:

• Website: www.eventsbyoryan.com
• Phone: 8188542640
• Email: [email protected]
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/eventsbyoryan

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.