Jason Jani is a renowned DJ and entertainer, founder and owner of SCE Event Group and Snapshot Photobooths, two businesses in an ever-evolving event industry, based in New Jersey. Jason curates full events for his clients, and he is known for making events exciting, memorable, and unique. SCE Event Group has over 60 employees who do over 2000 events a year, ranging from large-scale, multi-day weddings to intimate corporate events and social gatherings.
Jason is considered a pioneer in the industry and is known for having a global presence and significant following on Instagram and YouTube, among other social channels. He is on Sirius XM’s Pitbull Globalization once a month, and has a show on Fit Radio with over five million downloads in 2022 – his workout mixes are used in gyms all over the world. He has elevated event entertainment by leading with high-touch service and bringing new and exciting options to his clients including lightscaping, personalized audio, integrated live musicians, and staying ahead of the curve on the newest technology.
The last 15+ years of owning and operating SCE Event Group, as with any business, has not been without its challenges. The challenges Jason faced early in business life are different from those that come up today. From lack of support, to proving his services, to relationship-building, maintaining during unexpected times like the pandemic, and scaling the businesses, Jason has maintained a solution-oriented approach through it all.
Jason has shared three challenges that he continues to work through and offers advice that transcends industry and is valuable to any entrepreneur ready to pursue their dream.
Finding the right talent and employees
As an entrepreneur in the entertainment event industry, Jason has had challenges finding the right talent and employees as his business has grown. It’s a dynamic industry that requires dynamic professionals and natural talent and passion. Jason is fortunate to have a solid and talented team, who represent his brand, culture, and creative process while balancing performance and the expectations of being in a service-centric role – it’s not just about knowing how to perform. The added element of being a central part of an event comes with a lot of demands and personalities, and it’s crucial to have the right people on the team to deliver.
In a world where creativity is the lifeblood of the industry, discovering the perfect blend of skills, passion, professionalism, and innovation has been a constant challenge. This unique combination of abilities is what allows his teams to deliver memorable experiences that resonate with clients long after the last dance.
In his time owning SCE Event Group, Jason has learned a great deal about people, culture, and life- how to motivate people and bring out the best in them. He has three pieces of advice for anyone struggling with finding the right talent or employees:
- Always keep your eyes, ears, and mind open because you never know when someone may cross your path that could be your next rockstar team member.
- Take your time and leverage your network and the resources that are available to you. This includes social media, from Instagram to Youtube to LinkedIn, to canvas your contacts and extended network to find people that may be in search of the opportunities you have.
- If you want people to stay with you and your business, give people a chance to fly with opportunity. People want a place to thrive, to be heard, and to bring ideas. They want a supportive workplace. Be sure to take the time to listen to your team.
Learning how to say no
One of the hardest lessons in owning a business for Jason was learning how to say no. It comes with understanding that every opportunity is not the best opportunity for you and your business. It’s about evaluating the big picture, understanding if the team can support the needs of the task, or if the request is a fit for you personally, your brand, or your services, regardless of how appealing it may be or the budget it may come with.
Balancing personal and professional demands
Jason says this challenge is one that he still struggles with, and the challenges of balancing work and life, and much is dictated by time of the year. Whether it’s an especially busy time of year (wedding season!), or with things happening in his life as a father, this is an area that requires constant attention and problem solving. His candid advice to anyone struggling with work life balance is to Be in The Moment. Be sure to take time for you and for your world outside of your work, because if you do not do that, the void will catch up to you. The demands of business ownership, employee management, and the things that come with entrepreneurship change day to day – take time to celebrate that success, but make sure to take time for yourself and manage your personal happiness, too.
If you would like to get in touch with Jason Jani or his company, you can do it through his – Linkedin Page
