Meet Valentina Marianetti of DJ Valentina

Today we’d like to introduce you to Valentina Marianetti.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I come from a small Island called Brava in Cape Verde located on the West Coast of Africa. We lived in a quaint village called Mato Grande. Surrounded by the waters of the North Atlantic Ocean and situated on the high Mountain top where everybody knew who you were and together, worked to survive poverty. We grew up poor but I had a fairly happy childhood. My closest friends were my brothers who taught me things like walking with my hands and jumping from house roof to house roof. I quickly became a pro at out running the boys and beating them at just about any sport! This experience taught me that I could do just about anything I put my mind to. Gender meant nothing! In fact, I felt empowered to be a female who had the ability to stand against any man and challenge him. I loved a good competition and when it came to being a DJ, it was no different.

My family came to the U.S and worked extremely hard in order to help us achieve the American Dream. My uncle Joao Manel Pires, Author of the Portuguese book Outrora MANEL, immigrated to America first. He worked in a Factory at minimum wage and eventually sent for my Grandmother Nely Pires. She also worked in the same factory and together they began saving. Somehow they managed to save enough to send for 9 of her 10 children as well as my grandfather Manuel Pires and all of their grandchildren. My mother, brothers and I were the last to come.

I have been blessed with mentally and physically powerful men and women in my family who have been great role models. My favorite role model has been my mother Julia who diligently sought ways to instill good moral values in my brothers and I from a very early age. These values have helped me in everyday life situations, carrying me through the most difficult of times and always bringing me back to my core roots and values whenever I happen to stray. She is an inspiration and a God fearing woman who continues to remind me to put God first and everything else will follow.

My dad Edward Cafferky, whom I loved dearly, always told me “Val, when an opportunity comes, grab it by the B*%lls”. My dad was a man who did not mince words when he felt passionate about something! However, he believed in me more than anyone and encouraged me to pursue what made me happy. He saw me as a SuperStar when I only saw myself as a timid Island girl. He molded and shaped me into the fearless woman I am today. For that, I am eternally grateful!

After High school I worked for an Entertainment company out of Boston. I saw an opportunity to pursue a career in Music. Disc Jockey to be exact! Lucky for me, the owner Mike Amado of Entertainment Specialists was kind enough to teach me the ropes and allow me to intern with him personally. I come from a musical background so this for me was a HUGE stepping stone into my full time career as a Disc Jockey. It opened doors and provided opportunities that I never imagined possible such as being hired by Steven Tyler of Aerosmith to DJ his daughter’s party.

With each life experience I learned to branch out on my own and take chances. That is exactly what I did when I decided to venture out on my own as a Wedding and Entertainment DJ. Leaving the security of working for a top wedding planning company was a risk and a bit scary, but it was time for me to jump off that cliff and learn to fly on my own. I needed a change and I needed to grow. It took a lot of time, headaches and heartaches but in retrospect, these were all put in place in order to help me get to where I am today. I set out to build a brand that truly reflected who I was and my passion for music. I marketed my services in a way that people would easily recognize the special skill set I would bring to their event. In time, it worked!

Moral support was a huge part of my success. My husband James who also happens to be in the wedding industry as James Anthony Photography and My buddy Lee “DJ Lee Mastermind who is an incredibly talented DJ, were a great support system and acted as my mentors. With their help and after many trials and tribulations, I have created a successful business as a Disc Jockey that generates a six figure income and allows me to bring music to my life and passion to my work.

I am no different than the next person with a dream. Like most people, I have had and continue to have my own struggles. I suffer from ADD (attention deficit disorder), have endured many forms of abuse as a child and I CHOSE not to let those unfortunate circumstances define me. There are more successful people in this world who have suffered greater tragedies, but also used those same tragedies as weapons to help them get ahead in life. God gives us all a special gift. Something that comes a little more natural to us and we enjoy doing. Find your gift! Use it to bring Glory to him and to help yourself create YOUR dream career.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has been far from smooth. I didn’t have a consistent flow of income for a long time. At one point I had to work as a bank teller in order to help contribute financially to my household. It worked for a while, but I wasn’t fully satisfied. I knew I was meant to do more and meant to love what I do. I knew that if I directed my full attention and all of my energy into becoming a better DJ, I could make it. This meant less money coming in and more work for my husband while I put a plan in action. I eventually convinced my husband to trust me, that I knew I could do it, but not without his support. There were sacrifices and it tested our marriage, but this too did pass.

DJ Valentina – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
I specialize in being a wedding DJ. However, I also provide Bar/Bat Mitzvah and Corporate Entertainment. As a Disc Jockey I am responsible for bringing life and fun to a wedding or event. The music I play and how I play it will bring emotions out of people. Nostalgia, excitement and empowerment to name a few! Music speaks to all people and has a way of bringing complete strangers together. I specialize in bringing people together through the art of music. My mixes and mashups are a plus!

Integrity is something that is very important to me. I’ve learned by watching and listening to people of great character such as my grandfather and my dad. My husband has often turned down business or opportunities when he felt it would conflict with his moral values. “If I don’t have Integrity, I don’t have anything” he would say. “My integrity is worth more to me than money”. I am proud that those same values have been passed down to me and helps me to run my business in an honest and trustworthy manner.

The fact that I am one of the few professional female djs around, sets me apart. But my passion for music, love of different cultures and the ever growing need to perfect my craft, is what has helped me succeed in this competitive niche.

What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
My proudest moment is when I realized I was making enough money to support my family. Finally becoming self-sufficient was a major goal and coming to the realization that I had made this happen, was mind blowing and humbling.

Contact Info:

• Address: Based out of the Hitched Office
  1005 Reservoir Ave.
  Cranston, RI 02910
  www.hitchedne.com
• Website: www.djvalentina.com
• Phone: 401.457.5873
• Email: valentibc@gmail.com
• Instagram: @dj_valentina
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/valentinamarianetti
• Twitter: @djvalentina

Image Credit:
James Anthony Photography
Sarah Pudlo & Co. Photography
Ryan Devoll Photography

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