Meet Michael Waldron | DJ Lil Joe

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

Hi Michael, what role has risk played in your life or career?
No one that has ever been successful has become successful by being comfortable in where they are at. I have taken a ton of risks throughout my 25 year career. Some of the risks I have been forced into by changes or directions I was going, but all of the risks have turned out for the better. I look at risks & changes as a chance to reinvent myself & it gives me so much drive to be successful in that venture.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am an engaging entertainer. I am a DJ, a world class Emcee, Host, Hype guy, all of it. I take people on musical journey when I am DJing, regardless of the format. I do my absolute best to invoke emotion out of people, because then they remember it. I am proud of literally all of my accomplishments in my career. I have DJ’d for the World Series, Super Bowl, MLB All Star Week in Denver & LA, 10 years as the Denver Broncos & Bud Light Tailgate DJ, Country & Rock Music Festivals in Mexico. I have had the opportunity to interview a lot of incredibly talented & touring artists. I have voiced commercial for the Harlem Globe Trotters, McDonald’s, KIA & Madison Square Garden to name a few.

I got to where I am today by hard work, learning from my mistakes, hustling, consistency & making and fostering the connections that I have. It hasn’t always been easy. The biggest challenge I have had was still being a full time DJ during Covid when everything was shut down. I was going live on FB & getting tips, with people telling me how the music was an escape from the craziness going on. I was setting up in parking lots while restaurants were doing drive through liquor service & DJing for tips. I was getting hired to do block parties on residential streets while people had fun and got entertained in their driveways. It was a tough time, but I truly love what I do for a living & to help people forget about the craziness that was going on & see them smile again, was pretty rewarding in itself.

The biggest lesson I have learned along the way is don’t burn bridges. Especially not in the business as it spreads like wildfire. At the same time I have also learned you can’t stay in toxic situations as it will burn you out & you will stop moving forward in your career.

I want people to know that hard work does pay off. I am living proof of that. I have entertained over 4,000 crowds locally, nationally & internationally and the thing that they all have in common is people all want to be entertained & entertaining people is like a natural high for me. There is no other feeling like it.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
This one is going to be tough for me. I literally spent over 10 years of my life out in nightclubs working full time. So I rarely go out anymore unless it’s for dinner or something if I’m not working.

I recently just went to Perry’s Steakhouse & that was amazing, so that would definitely be on the list. Going to an escape room, do some axe throwing, Top Golf & have to get in a rage room as well. It would also be fun to do the indoor sky diving.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My brother Chris Waldron (DJ Chris Diablo) was in the game long before I was, but it is safe to say I followed in his footsteps. I got my start in the nightclub/bar world thanks to Jerry & Eileen Shaffer who owned the White Buffalo. I got started in the mobile world thank to Mike Randleman who owned A DJ For Hire. Thank You to George King for my start in the radio world & to Beano who showed me the ropes. Thank You to Kyle with Mile High DJ Supply for all that you do for the industry & what you have done for me. Thank You to Steve Smith & Beau Sanchez for pushing me to start my own business! There are a ton of DJs that I worked with &/or respect in the industry: DJ Sanchez, DJ Ever Lee, DJ Groove, DJ Nunez, DJ Naka G, DJ Justin Kada, DJ Eric Hovey, DJ Matt Kays, DJ Brian Howe, DJ Big Styles, DJ Notch, DJ Khaleezi, DJ TJ Hernandez, DJ Zimbo, DJ Triple T, DJ Bedz, DJ Tony Cummins, DJ Big Styles, DJ Rockstar Aaron, DJ Triz, DJ Matt Kenfield, DJ Rob Meagher, DJ Big Rob, DJ Dazzler to name a few. I’m sure I am missing a few, but Thank You to all I have worked with! Thank You to The Pineapple Agency, Sandra Watts with Live at Jacks & Becky Taylor. Thank You to all the clients that I have worked with!

Website: https://djliljoeofficial.com

Instagram: djliljoeofficial

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelhwaldron/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michaeldjliljoewaldron

Other: Tiktok: djliljoeofficial