EP 405: The Feeling You Hire: Consistency, Faith, And The Craft Of Celebration

What makes Ray Pinnock with Dance and Joy Entertainment a good neighbor?

Ever been at a wedding where the dance floor turns into a time machine? That’s the zone Ray Pinnock lives in. As the owner of Dance and Joy Entertainment, Ray builds nights people can feel in their bones—events that move seamlessly from elegant vows to a full-on celebration without losing heart along the way.

Ray takes us behind the scenes of what it really means to be a professional DJ and producer. It’s not about pressing play—it’s about preparation, presence, and reading the room in real time. He breaks down the “full-time DJ” myth and shares the habits that built his reputation: consistency, community involvement, and craft. From showing up at bridal shows to staying active in local chambers, Ray built a 4.9-star Google reputation and a growing following on Instagram and YouTube through word of mouth and delivering every single night.

The heart of the conversation is Ray’s consultation playbook. He listens to both partners, connects with families, and maps generational tastes into one shared journey—from ceremony to cake to club. If a line dance stalls, he steps in and teaches it. If nostalgia takes over, he blends the 70s, 80s, and 90s with modern hits so the dance floor never fractures. For Ray, pacing isn’t random—it’s storytelling.

He also shares how faith and resilience shaped his path after a serious accident, crediting his wife and life group for keeping him grounded. That foundation fuels his philosophy: set the standard, stay in your lane, and give back whenever you can—even producing theme music for others in the industry. The result is a brand built on feeling, not flash, and a promise to protect the moments that matter most.

If you’re planning a wedding or special event and want a DJ who reads the room as well as the playlist, connect with Ray Pinnock at Dance and Joy Entertainment.

If this episode resonated with you, subscribe to the show, share it with someone planning their big day, and leave a review. And tell us—what’s your forever dance-floor anthem?

To learn more about Dance and Joy Entertainment go to: https://www.danceandjoydj.com/

Dance and Joy Entertainment

(210) 518-9280

Transcript

Meet Ray Pinock, DJ Veteran

SPEAKER_00 0:00

This is the Good Neighbor Podcast, the place where local businesses and neighbors come together. Here's your host, Sophia Yvette.

SPEAKER_01 0:10

Welcome to the Good Neighbor Podcast. Are you in need of a professional entertaining DJ? Well, one may be closer than you think. Today I have the pleasure of introducing your good neighbor, Ray Pinock, with Dance and Joy Entertainment. Ray, how are you today?

SPEAKER_02 0:27

Good morning. How are you doing? Doing great.

Beyond A DJ: Services And Why

SPEAKER_01 0:31

I am doing great now. We are so excited today to learn all about you and your business. Please start off by telling our listeners just a little bit more about your company and your background.

SPEAKER_02 0:44

Well, my name is Ms. Ray Knock, uh, owner of Dance Joint Entertainment. I've been DJing since 1989. Um, been blessed to be doing this at this age. So um professional wedding, events DJ, karaoke, photo booth operator. Uh, as I say, I'm more than just a DJ. I'm the guy that you call when other people mess up. So it's like um it's that uh it's that feeling. I provide a feeling. It's that feeling where you're like, you know what, I need to call somebody else. So I'm that feeling that you have in the back of your right or your left side where something's not right. I need to call somebody else. So this is what this is what I do with my why. So again, 30 years of the business, been doing it a long time, and I just enjoy it still at this age.

SPEAKER_01 1:40

And uh one question for you, Ray, diving deeper into your business, what is that most common myth or misconception you come across on the day-to-day?

Marketing Mindset And Consistency

SPEAKER_02 1:52

Um, day-to-day is you can't do this full-time. Um, that you cannot sustain a family and children being a DJ. So uh at a young age, I told myself this is what I wanted to do. And you have to jump through hurdles and hoops and go to seminars. You can do this full time. So, therefore, I found a way. I found my own lane. In 2026, after everything that's gone on, I'm happy to say I'm at peace where I am with my business. And for me, it's not about the money, it's all about consistency, longevity, and what you provide, what you give back. So, this is my why. Just to enjoy life and just entertain people. So, this is my why.

SPEAKER_01 2:42

So, so Ray, switching gears, we know marketing is the heart of every business. Who are some of your target customers or audience? And today, how do you attract them?

SPEAKER_02 2:56

Well, for me, it's just you gotta be consistent. I target everybody. This music everywhere, this entertainment seven days a week. So, what I've what I feel is no big, no events too big or too small. Uh, word of mouth, that's very important to me. Word of mouth, I don't know you, but uh, if I were to do a gig for you, all I know is music. You tell me what I have to do, and as a DJ, you should know off the top of your head, you read the crowd. So with today's marketing, I you know, AI, you have a good spouse, you got family, you have uh again going to seminars, paying attention, going to uh grand openings, it's a lot, but uh I uh I'm trucking away. It's gotta be consistent no matter what. You have your ups and your downs, just have to keep going no matter what.

SPEAKER_01 3:50

Amazing. And so are you speaking generally, or for you, this is how you market your business?

New Market, New Momentum

SPEAKER_02 3:57

Just general. General. For me personally, it's word of mouth. Word of mouth. I've done this a long time. I live here in McKinney uh three years ago, so no one knew me. So I decided to I'm not going to settle for anything less. So 30 years of the business, we just moved from Cibolo, Texas, which is in the middle of New Broncos. So I was chamber members there uh with the mayor, with different cities. So every chamber, every bridal show, every open house. So I just transferred up here with my wife, and three years later, we are 4.9 on Google, got a thousand subscribers on uh YouTube, my Instagram is on fire. It's just all everything to God. That's my number one thing right now. God is my uh promoter.

Educating Through Podcasting

SPEAKER_01 4:51

Well, I truly do love that. Now, because you are so passionate about your business. Have you ever thought about having your own podcast just to extend your mission?

SPEAKER_02 5:04

Yes, I have for the last year, ever since podcasts is doing it, I feel that I can educate a bride or a customer on the A, B, C, D, E's of the entertainment world. Because again, I'm more than just a DJ. And I come across people who say, Where have you been? Or are you on a podcast? Are you on the radio? And I'm like, nope. I just stay in my lane, wait for my opportunity, I show up, I show out, and uh, I do have a podomatic, which is where you display your music. So I'm on a podomatic, so I'm on mixed cloud, so I'm on every platform, but I have never thought about doing a podcast to educate a new DJ or educate a person in a high school. I never thought of it ever until now.

Family Life And Recharging

SPEAKER_01 6:02

Well, the right things at the right time. Now, outside of work, what do you and your family like to do for fun?

SPEAKER_02 6:13

Um, just family outings. We go to church, we go to our vacations, whether it's Justin, Rural Beach. My son plays baseball up in Kansas, my other son's in the Navy. You know, we're we're scattered. So we enjoy just going out, going to the movies. We love church. Uh, my wife and I we like shopping. Uh, we're foodies. Uh but yeah, church, spending time together, just sitting here in the house, relaxing. When it's time to go on vacation, we go on vacation. But I still listen to music. I don't shut off music. That's my flaws. I don't shut it off. Even when it's family time, I have songs playing in my head for the next mix. So that's that that's you know, family time that's important to me.

SPEAKER_01 7:04

So, Ray, why is music in general so important to you?

SPEAKER_02 7:10

It's a feeling, excuse me, music is important because you don't know I don't know these customers, and you get them that day, and my music, my energy will take you to a place where, hey, I was on a journey, I was somewhere. Like I love playing music from the 70s, the 80s, and the 90s. And if you play MC Hammer, you can remember where you were, or if you play uh Boogie Shoes by Casey the Sunshine Man, or even the Spice Girls, everyone has a memory, they have a feeling. So that's why I do what I do because music is it will help your soul. So whether it's gospel music, so if you're having a bad day for you personally, I'll play uh for you, I don't know you, but I'll throw on uh, for example, My Humps by Black Eyes. That's gonna take you somewhere because at one point you're in the club, you're distinct with the girls, or those with Selena, or you know, those somewhere you're gonna smile or you're gonna have a good day, where that's why I do what I do. Music is important to me. So if you don't have music, then there's something wrong with the world.

SPEAKER_01 8:21

Now, question for you, Ray, at the heart of your business today, you know, what is that number one thing that you really want our listeners to take away from learning about dance and joy entertainment?

Reading Couples And Crafting Vibes

SPEAKER_02 8:35

Dance and joy entertainment, again, is more than a DJ company. We we provide a feeling, we provide consistency, we provide me behind along with my family. We we we make memories, um, we set the standard, and I'm not in competition with anybody. I just stay in my lane. Um, dance of joy again, it's entertainment. You know, we make memories. So this is why I do what I do. So when you hire Ray, owner, you hire my whole entity, my whole life, my whole DNA. So I give you everything. And whether it's MC, if you mess up the wobble, I will come from behind the DJ booth and do it right. So again, I throw everything at you to where you're like, okay, this is where I want to be. Um, for example, I did a wedding at the moon channel two weeks ago. A customer was there and said, Hey, do you travel? Sure. I thought he would just be sure. In February, I'm going to Arizona. Mesa, Arizona, because he wants me to DJ for his people for a 55 up community. I didn't know this guy, I never met him. He was like, I like your music. Would you come to Mesa, Arizona? Yes, sir. So me and my wife are going on a road trip. So that's why I do what I do. So I didn't look like I just play the music. He said, I like your energy. And then dig in, I don't know who's watching, but I gotta focus on my music, focus on my craft. The prize is you, the people. That's my prize.

SPEAKER_01 10:16

Before we close out today, Ray, one final question for you. I know you are very focused on bringing the right vibe to the environment, you know, for the couple. Now, in terms of the couple together for a wedding, how do you assess what is the right vibe for them to play at this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for them, this special moment?

SPEAKER_02 10:41

Well, in the consultation, you listen to what she says, you listen to what he says, you get their vibe versus telling them what you're gonna do. Because a lot of us, we like to tell or throw up. I'm guilty sometimes, but you have to listen to what they say, and if you're experienced, you will be able to educate them. So if you're in your 20s, you don't know what to do. So that's where I come in to educate. Even if you're 70 and you're getting remarried, you forget things. So my job is to come in to talk about your side of the family, your side of the family, let's bring it together, and then we'll create a playlist together, we'll create a journey together. I always emphasize please talk to the bridesmaids, the groomsmen, get a feel for both sides of the family. So on that day, I don't want no issues, meaning like, uh, this is boring, or that's boring. So I always suggest talk to both sides. Let's put it together. So when you leave, you're like, oh my god, he played my song, or your Uncle Bill, or your auntie comes over to hey, you remember me. So versus when you leave, you want to go to the bar, or you want to go to the club. I never want that at my weddings or any event, is when you're there, you're there to party from the so when it cakes, after you cut the cake, we go into the club. So that's what I do for the industry, whether it's a wedding, special event, a mixture, I'm coming in pop.

SPEAKER_01 12:17

Now, as a faith-based man, how do you incorporate that aspect into what you do?

SPEAKER_02 12:24

Well, my wife, we're we're a balance, like she keeps me in track. If I'm falling off the planet, I'm like, babe, or I text her, babe. So it's a constant reminder. You gotta stay in faith, you gotta stay with your circle, you gotta stay with your uh your life group. So no matter what you do, it's all that matters. Like I said, uh, I'm blessed to be sitting here talking to you after my accident. So I'm still emotional about it, but again, he gave me a chance to hey Ray, I don't take you yet, but here we are. So again, you gotta have a good foundation, which is your your spouse and your children. It's a collective, it's a collective.

SPEAKER_01 13:08

Yes, amen, amen. And there is power in covenant, I will say that.

SPEAKER_02 13:13

Yes.

Where To Find Dance And Joy

SPEAKER_01 13:14

So, Ray, final thing our listeners need to know today, and we are so glad you're alive and well with us, by the way. I will say that. Um, where can they go to learn more about dance and joy entertainment?

SPEAKER_02 13:30

Well, you can go to my Instagram, it's at Dance Enjoy Entertainment, also my YouTube channel, which is a blessing. I just got my first 1,000 subscribers. Uh also on YouTube channel at Dance Enjoy Entertainment. I'm a producer as well. I got about 50,000 500,000 views on my production. So I'm just honored to be on the show, number one. Number two is Google me. I'm not perfect, I'm not for everybody. It's at Dance and Joy Entertainment 4.9 on Google. Um, right here, McKinney. I won't be a McKinney chamber member. I can come to your chamber as well to be your chamber member. I can even provide you uh a soundtrack for your show. So again, I'm giving back. Don't charge. So your theme song, I can produce it.

SPEAKER_01 14:28

Well, Ray, I really appreciate you being on the show today, and we wish you and your business the best moving forward.

unknown 14:36

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 14:37

Bye, everybody. Thank you for listening to the Good Neighbor Podcast. To nominate your favorite local businesses to be featured on the show, go to gnpfrisco.com. That's gmpfrisco.com or call four six nine two two one nine three four five.