Martin Smith, CEO, DJ Graffiti, Overflow Marketing Solutions
Since he began DJing professionally in 1997, DJ Graffiti, aka 'The Mangler', has become Detroit's go-to DJ for concerts, clubs, and corporate events. He has performed in front of audiences awaiting artists such as Jay-Z, Dave Chappelle, Eminem, Beyoncé, Snoop Dogg, Big Sean, Lupe Fiasco, J. Cole and A$AP Rocky, among others.
Over the years, he's become a celebrated fixture of Michigan's music scene. In 2010 DJ Graffiti was voted "Best DJ in Detroit" by Real Detroit Weekly. Praised for his ability to play the right music at the right time, Graffiti can be found playing DJ sets that unite even the widest spectrum of attendees.
In addition to his DJ duties, the entrepreneur formally known as Martin L. Smith is an alum of both the University of Michigan Business and Law Schools. As a marketing strategist, he specializes in helping companies increase online engagement to improve their bottom-line goals.
Out of the ashes of the COVID-19 pandemic, DJ Graffiti found a passion for DJing virtual events for attendees across the globe. Since March of 2010, he has been invited to support live-streamed events by a growing list of clients, including Google, Cisco, GitLab, Campbell's Soup, Dell and Intel. In 2001 he co-founded a marketing company that grew to manage digital marketing campaigns for companies such as TMobile, Hennessy and Toyota.
In 2015 the company re-branded as Overow, a digital agency providing a comprehensive suite of marketing services to help businesses predictably and repeatedly acquire clients. Whether music, business, or more regularly, an abundance of both, DJ Graffiti, aka Martin L. Smith, is positioned to lead while others take notes.
What is your favourite social media platform, and why?
LinkedIn, I'm focused on helping increase virtual event engagement, and that seems like the platform most linked (no pun intended) to my goals.
Tell us about you and your current role or area of interest.
My current role is both DJ Graffiti and CEO Overflow Marketing. I'm an award-winning, world travelled DJ who has shared stages with Beyonce, Snoop Dogg, Jay-Z, Eminem and Dave Chappelle. I'm focused on bringing those experiences combined to international virtual conferences and hybrid events.
Currently, I'm most interested in DJing interactive virtual events. I take requests and shout out as many people in the audience as I can. Every event is a one of one. I've performed events for Dell, Intel, GitLab, Campbell's, Cisco, Nike, Jordan & Converse in the past couple of months. It's been an amazing ride!
What do you like about your career or area of focus?
It's exhilarating to be in a high growth area (the virtual events space) that is changing people's lives. With so many employees working remotely as a result of the pandemic, it's essential to build culture by bringing people together and making them feel connected and appreciated. On top of all that, good music brings people together globally like nothing else on the planet and can be shared remotely.
What is the best advice you have ever received?
"The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing." - Stephen Covey.
What inspires you, motivates you, or helps you to move forward?
My family, God, goals and wanting to leave a legacy motivates me to keep going.
What are you proud of in your life so far?
I'm proud of my family, especially my daughter, who is fantastic! I’m proud of my wife for finding and having the courage to pursue her passion. I'm also proud that so many of my friends tell me they feel I've been influential in helping them become better people.
What is your preferred way to meet new people/network?
My preferred way to meet new people is by reaching out to people I see, doing something that I admire and compliment them. I have a friend that compliments me on something every time he sees me. It never fails to make me smile. Leading with something that makes the other person feel good about themselves is a great way to meet a new person.
What skills or qualities do you feel have helped you?
Loving others, writing, speaking, love of learning and love of music.
What do you wish you had known when you started out?
The value of my time.
Who do you most admire in business, academic or creative circles and why?
A personal friend of mine, a college professor and advertising executive, “Dr Marcus Collins”, checks all of those boxes! In general, I try to constantly surround myself with people I admire in all of those areas.
Outside of your professional/work area, what hobbies or interests do you have or what other areas of your life are of real importance to you?
Spending time with family and friends, travel, working out, and spiritual growth.
Has the pandemic had a positive or a negative effect on you and/or your business, and how have you managed it?
It's had a positive effect on my business. At my digital marketing agency, Overflow, we've decided to focus on serving only the clients we're the best fit for. The additional time freed up has allowed me as DJ Graffiti to become one of our main clients, growing in the virtual entertainment space.
Do you have a mentor, or have you ever mentored anyone?
I've had several mentors and also try always to keep someone around that I'm mentoring. Special thanks currently go out to my sales mentor Lindsay Wilson.
What advice would you have for someone looking to get into the same area of work or interests?
Once you master the basics, find out what makes you unique and invest in growing that.
What do you feel is the most common reason for people failing or giving up?
Most people fail because, throughout their lives, they have gradually learned to put limits on what they're capable of. That causes them to tell themselves subconsciously they can't do or don't deserve whatever they're after. We fail because we don't see ourselves as created in God's image.
Is there a phrase, quote or a saying that you really like?
The last question definitely inspires this one. "Whether you think you can or think you can't, you're right." - Henry Ford.
What companies, brands, or institutions do you like or do you think are getting it right?
I've always admired Red Bull for the way they support culture without smothering it. Cisco is another company that has an amazing culture. Both are companies I've been blessed to have as clients!
How do you define success, and what lessons have you learned so far that you could share with our audience/readership?
Success for me is setting and accomplishing goals, providing a healthy and happy life for my family and sharing the fruits of my success with others.