Danbury Small Business Spotlight: Premier Entertainment

Every local business has a story worth sharing with the community. And that’s the belief behind this exciting series we’ve kicked off at Patch — to shine the spotlight on all our favorite local businesses, and to learn a little about the ones we may not know that well.

Business: Premier Entertainment

Owners: Alan and Lika Kohn
Website: www.premieerentertainment.org & www.thecowboybeat.com
Address: 124 Coalpit Hill Road Unit 93, Danbury, CT. 06810

How did you start playing for Country events?

I was DJ’ing at a wedding at the Ramada Inn in Southbury in September 1991. I was given an assignment from the general manager at El Torito in Danbury to come up with a new promotion for the club. The guests had asked me for “Friend’s In Low Places” by Garth Brooks. I told them I didn’t have the song. They ran out to their car and got a cassette tape of it, I played it. When I played the song, at least 35 couples did a country partner dance called the El Paso. I thought, there could be something to this. I asked some questions and found out there was a country venue called Ellery’s in Milford that did country. I went there the following week, took some notes and presented my idea to El Torito. El Torito gave me 30 days to show results. The first night we had 450 customers. That was my start into country.

Why choose that location? Why start a business in this town?

I lived in Danbury since 1980. Premier Entertainment DJ service started in 1983. Our DJ events at the time were weddings, anniversaries, Bar and Bat Mitzvahs and clubs.

Briefly, what business are you in?

I am in the Disc Jockey/Entertainment /Marketing business. Premier Entertainment supplies Disc Jockeys and dancers/dance instructors to the Tri-State area.

What’s the most difficult moment or challenge you’ve faced as a business owner?

Running an entertainment business means a lot of competition-- always trying to be one step ahead. Plus Premier Entertainment went into a different direction than a normal DJ company would. We decided to go as a country DJ service in 2011 first as a primary, supplying country DJs and dancers and instructors to the area. In 2012 my wife and I formed a dance team-- PREMIER ENTERTAINMENT DANCE TEAM. Under our leadership this super energetic and fun group with a keen sense of harmony and rhythm has been teaching and dancing in various clubs and also at Premier Entertainment’s private functions in CT and NY States. Almost everyone in this group has a music or dance major as well as acting background ranging from NYC Rockette to dance and music teachers in schools and performances in musicals. Our team has its own Cable TV weekly show. They have been also featured on SKY TV in Europe. The future of country is in good hands! Nobody else has ever done that. Ninety-nine percent of DJ services are into clubs, weddings, Bar and Bat Mitzvahs first as their primary source of income. Not many DJs are into the country music dance world, but that is changing fast as country music has gone mainstream.

What’s been your favorite moment or proudest achievement since opening?

There have been quite a few achievements in my career. Working at Denim and Diamonds in NYC in 1997, being at the Garth Brooks press conference in NYC with my newspaper the “Cowboy Beat,” having an article written about me in DJ Times and hosting two Country Dance and DJ seminars in Atlantic City, for DJ Times. DJ’ing at ESPN’s first Holiday Party, and DJing Ed and Lorraine Warren’s 50 wedding anniversary.

What’s the most innovative idea your employees or customers have had that you put into practice?

Forming our Dance Team which basically answered an ongoing demand out there.

How do you deal with difficult customers?

Mostly the difficult customers are people who drink to much and get unruly. Security usually takes care of these problems.

How does your business give back or get involved in the community?

Premier Entertainment has contributed its services to a quite a few fund raisers over the years and is currently working with the Raging Knights Motorcycle Club on their fundraisers.

Would you like to see your small business showcased in this series? Email wendy.mitchell@ patch.com.

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