User:Djmaine
My name is Jim Casey and I have lived in the Portland, Maine area my entire life. My career as a DJ had its origins at a small AM radio station in Portland while I was a Sophomore at Westbrook High School in 1985.
From there, I worked my way through many Southern Maine radio stations like WTHT (Thunder 107), WLAM AM 1470, Kiss 99.9 FM in Portland/Auburn, and 93.1 WMGX in Portland.
In 1992, I became the co-host of a morning show at WHYR 95.9 FM (now RED HOT 95) in Saco. My partner Suni (real name!) and I were successful as the station, with its new Top 40 music format helped put 95.9 FM on the map.
Almost overnight we went from total obscurity to a Top 10 station in Portland radio. After becoming completely frustrated making only $5.25 an hour (Yes, $5.25 an hour), with early morning schedules and management, I decided I had enough. I left radio behind for 2 1/2 years.
In 1995, I made a comeback as a DJ at 99.9 Kiss FM in Auburn. I produced a show called Kiss Club Night which was broadcast LIVE by DJ Stan Manning. I also took a job with WCSH-TV Channel 6 in Portland.
About a year later, I started to fill-in as host for Stan and eventually became the permanent host of Kiss Club Night at the Portland Ramada. I helped take that show to new heights and during one ratings period was ranked #2 for total listeners on Saturday nights.
Soon thereafter, people started asking me if I would DJ their wedding reception. At first I thought they were crazy. Then, in March 1997, the Portland Ramada was sold and closed, I started Jim Casey's DJ Services and decided to make weddings the focus of my business.
I booked six weddings in 1997. After the 5th one, I decided I really liked the challenge of producing a perfect wedding reception. At the same time, I was moonlighting with WCSH-TV as a morning show editor three days a week with my shifts starting at 3am.
I did this for almost four years and it took a toll on me personally and my DJ service. I was at a crossroads and felt that I needed to make a choice between TV and DJing. My TV career was going absolutely nowhere and I didn't enjoy my job and the awful hours. On Independence Day 2001, I decided that it was time to create my own independence and go full-time as a Disc Jockey. I felt that I could give my clients the full-time service they deserve. I have not looked back since.
Since going full-time in 2001, I have spearheaded a Disc Jockey Association called the Maine Disc Jockey Network as well as having been the Regional Network Leader for the National Association of Mobile Entertainers for Northern New England from 2002 until 2004. I am also a founding executive member of the Professional Disc Jockeys of New England.
In 2003, I also launched a wedding portal to enable brides to find wedding professionals in Maine called the Maine Wedding Planner.
Finally for 2005, I decided it was time to change the name of my business to reflect what I truly set out to do, Entertain with elegance. The resulting name is Jim Casey Entertainment.
In addition to the work I do here in New England, I network with DJs from across North America on several DJ Bulletin Boards including the one I co-own called DJ Source Online. This helps me to keep on the cutting edge of the DJ industry and also gives me ideas of how I can better serve my clientele here.
Recently, I have been featured or published in several publications such as Mobile Beat for my website, DJ Times and many local newspapers such as the Suburban News (now Lake Region Suburban Weekly) Newspaper, Village Soup, American Journal, WCSH-TVs Wedding Guide, and more in Maine for my expertise and Pins For Postage program, and NAME's magazine called "National Entertainer"
I have entertained at over 250 private parties as well as over 500 public events as of November 1, 2005