Today we’d like to introduce you to Robert Royal.
Robert, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I have always had a love for music growing up as a kid. It’s safe to say that my Stepdad, Ronald Johnson, had a HUGE impact with my love for music. My Dad had an extensive record collection that he kept in the “Music Room” of our home that was filled with posters of artists, a small sofa, a record player, headphones and speaker system. I would find myself going thru those records and listening to them as a kid. My Dad bought me my first vinyl record at the age of 10, which was Eazy E’s “Eazy-Duz-It”, the clean version of course in 1988.
From this point on, I would try to get a new record every month until I was able to save money up to buy my own. I would try to imitate scratches from some of my favorite DJ’s at the time like DJ Jazzy Jeff. I began to really pay attention to the art of dj’ing when the movie “Juice” came out in 1992. I was determined to learn how to DJ and what it took to perform in front of an audience. I remember in junior high school, some of my friends would make jokes about how I would walk around with a cd player and headphones on making scratch sounds…lol.
Fast-forwarding to the age of 19 in 1998, I enlisted into the U.S. Air Force just as my Dad did during the Vietnam Era. When I arrived to my first duty assignment at Travis Air Force Base, I met one of my good friends, Greg Brown, who happened to be a DJ. He would let me practice/use his turntables anytime he wasn’t busy. This turned out to be one of the most influential moments of my life.
I always wanted to be a DJ, but I never really had a chance to use a real dj setup before. He had everything such as Technic 1200 turntables, a Numark Mixer and a large record collection. Greg showed me the basics of djing and where to get new gear and records. We made the hour long drive to Guitar Center to purchase my own dj set up. From this point, I would spend all of my off time from my job (Security Forces) in the Air Force to practice blending songs together and scratching techniques.
Greg and I started to host small parties in the dorms, which led me to dj’ing on base at the NCO Club on Saturdays for Hip Hop night. This was something that I always wanted to do. I was literally living my dream of performing as a DJ.
Today, Royal Sound & Entertainment service clients from all backgrounds. I have invested financially for knowledge, dj skills and customer service in my business to ensure my clients receive the most professional, but fun experience that will last a lifetime. Our motto is “Making Life Experiences Memorable”. We look forward to another successful year with God’s blessing.
Has it been a smooth road?
Honestly, being a DJ or performer has many challenges. As for me, I was serving in the U.S. Air Force during my journey as a DJ. It all came to a halt in 2001 when the September 11th attacks happened. I was deployed to a classified location for about seven months, ten days after the attacks. My job in the Air Force started to get heavy deployment taskings for the next three years. During the four deployments I had after 9/11, I was still buying records online while deployed overseas to grow my record collection. Not having the ability to practice while deployed was a big challenge. I filled my off time by taking college courses. With all of the deployments and training locations I had, I finally finished my first college degree in 2009. Thanks to Uncle Sam, I was able to complete four college degree programs.
Another challenge I faced was when I switched jobs in the Air Force and began working as an Enlisted Recruiter in 2005 (Dallas, TX). Working as a military recruiter was stressful but fun. During this time, I only worked on becoming better as a DJ and not actually pursuing any DJ opportunities, plus I was mainly focused on college and work. My wife, Natasha and I got married in 2006. She was also in the Air Force and still stationed in California while I was living in Dallas.
Additionally in 2010, I moved again to Minot Air Base, North Dakota. This is when I began to re-focus on being a DJ. While stationed there, I began to start taking a few events here and there to get back into dj’ing live. I retired from the U.S. Air Force in 2013 and moved back to Dallas with the intention of starting Royal Sound & Entertainment, which is exactly what I did.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Royal Sound & Entertainment (DJ Royalism) – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of and what sets you apart from others.
I go by the name of DJ Royalism. Royal Sound & Entertainment specializes in DJ/MC hosting for weddings, corporate events, private events, school dances/events and just about anything with music involved. I also specialize in karaoke, “Dancing on A Cloud”, event lighting, photo booth, and large marquee letters “LOVE/MR & MRS”.
I’m most proud to have had the pleasure of working with all of my clients and especially:
The League DJ’s, Hot Wheels, Inc., T-Mobile, 97.9 The Beat (DFW), Bath & Body Works, Connect Personnel, Forever Faded Hair Lounge, Favoritz Restaurant & Lounge
What sets Royal Sound & Entertainment apart from others is my professionalism, customer service and DJ talent. I am very thorough when it comes to planning based on our client’s preferences. I spend a great deal of time learning more about performing as a DJ. There is so much to do as a DJ that a lot of people are not aware of.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I LOVE the diversity we have in Dallas. I believe having people from different backgrounds is what makes this city so unique. There are so many options based on what you’re interested in.
One thing that I like least is the traffic….lol. I’m sure that’s the case in every city across the world…lol. We don’t have it as bad as others, I will tell you that…lol.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.royalsound-ent.com
- Phone: 214-937-9048
- Email: info@royalsound-ent.com
- Instagram: @djroyalism & @royalsoundent
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RoyalSoundEntDFW/ & https://www.facebook.com/djroyalism/
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