Meet Bud Fleisher | DJ and Event Business Owner and Deal Maker

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

Hi Bud, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
Early on, I realized that most of us spend a large portion of our lives working—our waking hours are often devoted to contributing to the world in one way or another. I’d had a few jobs, and I was good at them. I was always hired, no matter the role, and that gave me confidence in my ability to take on almost anything I set my mind to. But I also noticed a recurring pattern: no matter how capable I was, there were often external factors—organizational shifts, leadership changes, decisions made above or below me—that could impact the work in ways I couldn’t control. Sometimes those changes helped, but often, they didn’t

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I wear a lot of hats in my business. While DJ Buddy and Let’s Party! DJs and Events has been my main brand for decades, it’s really been the launchpad for everything else I do. There are plenty of people out there who are “just” a DJ or “just” a photographer, and as I mentioned, any work done well is dignified—but I’ve always been the type to say “yes” first and figure it out after. That mindset has opened doors and allowed me to build custom packages, partner with great independent professionals, and offer services beyond just music and entertainment.

I’ve learned that working with people who choose to do what they do—whether that’s DJs, photographers, planners, or venues—almost always delivers better results than relying on people who are just “there for the paycheck.” No shade—it’s just a different mindset. I’ve seen it firsthand. I’ve even partnered in a venue for 7 years, no money down, helped fund it later, got paid back, and we all did well.

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned? The value of my time. I’m not out here trying to “sell myself” anymore. I’ve already done that. I’m grateful and really happy to service people. I LOVE my work. But, those times I’m home on a Saturday, I’ll enjoy family time or help another client or partner in a way that still builds value. I’m not just lounging poolside sipping margaritas.

What I’m proud of? Two things:

I’ve built a career that’s lasted nearly 40 years without looking back.

People still want me.

I know folks who’ve spent their entire work lives counting down to “retirement”—and honestly, it shows. That’s just not how I think. I’m still having fun, and as long as people keep calling, I’ll keep showing up.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
LOL — great question, but truthfully, I’m not that guy at all. My wife and I are big on cooking, and spending time with our kid. We love entertaining at home and bringing friends together—but going out? Not really our thing.

We don’t eat out much because, honestly, the food at home is better. Sure, chefs can make something fancy (and even tasty), but there’s nothing like a meal made with love. When friends want to go out and party, we’re happy to connect them with others who are into that scene—but we’re more of the hang-out-in-the-kitchen-no booze types.

When someone says, “We should go out to dinner sometime,” both of us kind of cringe. If you’re down for an easy, laid-back hang at home, we’re in. Otherwise… probably not.

Besides, I’m in the party business. That’s enough partying for me.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I was fortunate to have some incredible mentors along the way. In business, the most influential was a man named Helmut Kerker. He fled Germany shortly after World War II, not knowing a word of English—but he learned it fluently, and thanks to his accent, everything he said somehow sounded more intelligent. I trained under him in his air conditioning and refrigeration company. While some might consider it ‘dirty work,’ Helmut had a deep respect for any job done ethically and done well. He believed there was dignity in all honest work, and he surrounded himself with people who reflected that same mindset. Not everyone appreciated it—some resented ‘the boss,’ which I’ve found is common. Many people don’t fully grasp what it takes to run a business and, for whatever reason, develop a bias against the person who signs their paycheck.

I also had a remarkable literature teacher in high school, Robert Doyle. He did everything with a kind of wink and a smile, as if he was in on a private joke about life. I instinctively connected with that—it’s a mindset that recognizes things can be both deeply important and utterly meaningless, all at the same time.

Website: https://letspartydjs.net/

Instagram: @djbuddyletsparty

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

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/djbuddy97

Other: These websites are really just the tip of the iceberg.

I run South Florida’s largest wedding group on Facebook: SoFloWeds, and I also manage the top local Google-ranked site for wedding and event services: SoFloWeds.com. On top of that, I’m a licensed Wedding Officiant—check out BuddyWeds.com.

And like I said… there’s a lot more where that came from. 😄

Image Credits
Professional Photos by So Flo Photographers https://soflophotographers.com/
All Others by Me & My Amazing Friends, Clients, Relatives, and Associates!