Feet First Eventertainment

Co-founder Kevin Cloutier says that Feet First’s goal at every wedding is to find the perfect mix of professionalism, energy and, most importantly, FUN. According to local professionals who have worked with them, absolute fun is what this company delivers best. Whether they’re playing swing, salsa, pop or disco, “they entice everyone to get into the spirit of the event,” says one videographer. “You know the guests are having a blast because the dance floor is always packed. And, these guys avoid being cheesy because they are real.”

Two of the “real” guys are brothers Kevin and David Cloutier, who got their start spinning tunes at UCLA in 1988. “Students always need money,” explains Kevin, “and this seemed like a great way to make some extra cash.” Over the years, they’ve parlayed their love of music and performing into a full-time enterprise. In fact, this is the only job either brother has had since graduating from college. “I feel extremely lucky to be doing something that I enjoy so much,” Kevin admits.

Today, Feet First runs offices in both Southern California and the San Francisco Bay Area. The company’s music library includes hundreds of thousands of songs spanning all musical styles and tastes. “We built our library on requests—by playing what our clients ask for,” states Dave. Their system seems to be working: an estimated 80 percent of their business comes from referrals and repeats. “The Mayor of Los Angeles personally asked to have Feet First back after a successful event,” recalls a local event coordinator. “That kind of thing happens all the time when I do events with these guys.”

Clients come back to Feet First time and time again because they know that the company will create the perfect atmosphere in any situation. “This can be a fly-by-night industry, but we’re trying to take the guesswork out of it and turn DJ-ing into a professional business,” Kevin says. “With Feet First, you know the DJ will be there on time, with the appropriate music and attire, ready to go.” And you know you’re going to get the DJ you expect, because Feet First doesn’t subcontract work out to other DJ companies. “All of our DJs and MCs are trained by us, so our clients can be confident that they’ll do a great job,” he adds. Each DJ/MC also does his homework. He meets with the bride and groom in advance to set the schedule and discuss musical preferences, and in addition to playing their musical requests, he works behind the scenes at the wedding to ensure everything goes according to the plan!

In addition to acting as an on-site coordinator and MC, each Feet First DJ prides himself on his ability to read a crowd. “Knowing when to turn it up, lay it on, or tone it down is critical to a successful event,” Kevin says. “We’ll adjust the level of energy, and we’ll make sure that everyone is having a fantastic time—without overselling ourselves,” he promises. “After all, the party is not about the music or the DJ—it’s about the bride and groom, their friends and family. We don’t want your guests to leave saying, ‘What a great DJ.’ We want them to leave saying, ‘Wow, what a great party!’”