Meet Katie Granados | DJ & Event Host

We had the good fortune of connecting with Katie Granados and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Katie, can you tell us more about your background and the role it’s played in shaping who you are today?
I’m from Orland Park, a southern suburb of Chicago. I grew up with parents who filled our home with a lot of rock and pop music. They never caved to playing kiddie tunes, which I’m grateful for.
Dad especially loved the Beatles and by the age of six would quiz me on the lead vocalist on any given track, so it gave me a sort of reverence for pop music.
I started playing percussion in the band during 5th grade, then graduated to jazz band a couple years later. It was around that time Dad surprised me with a vintage Ludwig 5-piece drum kit in champagne sparkle, just like Ringo’s.
I would go on to play drums and percussion throughout high school and later ventured out into various bands in Chicago.
My dad traded his sales career to become a mobile DJ while during my high school days, and I began DJing gigs using his equipment on the side of my civil engineering career after graduating from the university of Illinois.
Later I would invest in my own gear, and thanks to my background in percussion and live performance, I quickly got the hang of beat matching and mixing. Whether behind the drums or the decks, I have always loved performing and hyping up a crowd, but stealing the spotlight has never been my style.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
In Denver, we’ve got some incredible female DJs, but let’s be real, we’re still a bit of a rarity in the mobile DJ scene. Every seasoned wedding DJ knows that the key to packing the dance floor is to play to the ladies in the crowd. I’m a girl who loves to hit the dance floor, so who better to curate the bangers than a someone who understands what we want to hear?

I’m also a recent bride, coming up on my fourth wedding anniversary, so I understand how stressful weddings can be to plan. It’s so important to me to make sure the big day matches your dream vision. I’m constantly tweaking my setup to bring that extra sparkle, and I always knew I wanted to offer disco ball centered dance floor lighting. Maybe it’s not the most compact option out there but the timeless and romantic effect it brings to the venue makes it totally worth it.

My photo booth backdrops are bespoke, with florals and fairy lights, which you don’t often see. I also use classic laser-cut wooden props and floral crowns to keep it cute as opposed to cheesy.

My own business here in Colorado is still in its early days. With one toddler and another baby on the way, finding time to focus on DJing and marketing can be a juggle. But none of this growth would’ve been possible without support of my amazing husband.

Along the journey, I’ve learned some valuable lessons—listen and learn from others, and go out of your way to work with the other wedding vendors as we are all a team! Reading a crowd is second nature to me now. Learning how to gracefully handle interesting song requests. Pro tip: bridesmaids usually know what’s up when it comes to the best requests.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
My best friends are also moms with little ones so we’d go to the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in Colorado Springs. We visited for the first time recently and I was blown away by how beautiful and interactive it is. The Wild Animal Sanctuary also has a special place in my heart as an animal lover. Cherry Creek Dog Park is another great spot that feels unique in its kind.

The Denver area has some awesome playgrounds but my favorite is probably Robert F clement Park in Littleton. My favorite indoor places are Kids Dig which is basically a giant sandbox, and Kids Wonder in Centennial.

Keeping it family friendly, I’d try to get us a reservation at Casa Bonita but more realistically we’d end up at Los Dos Portrillos. Being from Chicago, it’s not easy to find what I consider to be good pizza around here but I love the Detroit style pizza from Blue Pan. Tupelo Honey and Snooze are favorites for breakfast.

If we were kid free for the evening, I would surprise them with how good the sushi restaurants are in Denver, like Sushi Den/Izakaya Den and Hapa Sushi.

I’d try to take them to a show at red rocks, or do some hikes around that area. Dinosaur ridge is a must if we have kids in tow. Other favorites place to hike are Chautauqua Park and St. Mary’s glacier for a short one with a great payoff at the end.
I’d spend a night or 2 at the YMCA of Estes park to enjoy the craft center there and then visit RMNP and hike the emerald lake trail. In that area I’d also book a ghost tour of the Stanley hotel and enjoy some cocktails at the bar there.

Finally, if we could get away for a spa experience, Izbushka Spa in Parker is a unique experience that includes soaking tubs and a steam room.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My dad, for teaching me how to host fun and memorable weddings.

Website: https://www.rmfunmachine.com

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Image Credits
Jamie Scrivner, Katie Ellison