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November 7, 2003/Cheshvan 12 5764, Vol. 56, No. 7
Local women start DJ business
JESSICA BARBER
Staff Writer
Abby Isaacson, left, and Jackie Adler have started Party Gras, a local DJ business.
Photo courtesy of Jackie Adler
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It's a man's world - unless you're Jackie Adler or Abby Isaacson.
By day, Adler is a financial consultant and Isaacson is a free-lance accountant. But by night, the pair "spins" at parties, weddings, fund-raisers and b'nai mitzah celebrations through their DJ business, Party Gras.
"We are two young women, which is very rare in this industry," says Adler.
Twenty-three-year-old Isaacson and 24-year-old Adler teamed up two months ago to offer what they call "unique interactive entertainment" to Valley party-goers.
"We're very interactive, we're always on the floor," says Isaacson. "We don't just stand there and play songs."
Isaacson grew up in the DJ business, learning how to "spin" and interact with a crowd from a young age. In fact, Party Gras is a subdivision of Isaacson's parent's DJ business, Simcha Sound.
"We set up our equipment in Abby's house and she showed me how to use it," says Adler. "But I really learned at our first event just by doing it. It was so fun. I just want to get my headphones on and start spinning."
Adler already had some experience in the entertainment world. She used to be a dancer with a local band to encourage participation at events.
"I had danced with a band here in town for four or five years, so every weekend I had a bar or bat mitzvah to dance at, and I had the best time," she recalls. "This is a chance to go back to that, except we are the MCs, the DJs, the entertainers, all in one."
The pair, who have known each other since childhood through their affiliation with Temple Chai, made their first public appearance at the Valley of the Sun Jewish Community Center's Perfect Parties Expo a few months ago.
"We really got our name out there and booked a lot of gigs from that," says Adler.
Most recently, they have performed at a Temple Chai fund-raiser and a Halloween party.
They also hope to add on to their equipment as they gain momentum and book more shows.
"We don't have the revenue right now (for lights and smoke machines), but we plan to add more along the way," says Isaacson.
Right now, however, the women charge what they call a "competitive rate."
"We're a darn good deal and we make sure everyone is having a good time," says Isaacson.
But in the end, Isaacson and Adler started the business for the fun of it.
"In life, you work so hard and you rarely find time to play," says Adler. "To me, this is all about play."
Both women are residents of Scottsdale, members of Temple Chai and members of the VOSJCC. Call 480-905-0336 or e-mail partygrasmusic@yahoo.com.
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