About me

So... Since being a kid, I've always had this weird nack for being able to pick up an instrument and make it sound (semi) acceptable within a couple of minutes. I'm probably better at reading music than normal writing, and I CONSTANTLY listen to music. So it's no surprise that since being in school, my end goal has always been to do something within the music industry.

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Believe it or not I was relatively shy growing up, so being a DJ and host was probably quite far down most people's expectations of what I'd do with my life. I started off playing in bands. Anything from rock, to jazz, function/wedding stuff or even big bands. I just wanted to play as much as possible, which is why I took myself and my big gold blowing machine over to the University of Salford to get me a degree (yes, a degree in music still counts...)

The best thing about my University experience was the people I met along the way. Obviously it's somewhere you go to 'expand the brain' but for me, it was the best networking opportunity around. I know that sounds like an excuse for spending every day in the pub, but some of the connections I made during my study years helped hugely in growing my businesses, develop as a musician, and put me in front of trustworthy people, many of who are still part of my ever growing agency, The Groove.

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A good friend and local photographer, Owen Peters asked me to run the music for a party he had organised. Not one to do things by half I went all out buying a DJ controller and started playing around with different songs and effects. From there I had found a new joy in playing, listening and mixing all of the music I'd spent years listening to. The event went really well, I got huge compliments on the music, oh and three separate bookings from guests who attended the party. It's gone from there, to where I am today in a similar fashion. I've never turned to agents to get bookings or particularly advertised like mad - I've just taken every booking seriously, worked hard behind the scenes to keep the admin and planning as simple and effortless as possible, and tried along the way to keep my website and instagram current and up-to-date!

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My aim was always to take my interests, and turn it into a full time career (somehow)... but here we are! Ultimate Productions LTD, what I call the 'umbrella' was officially born in 2020. It's the culmination of all of my projects - and for tax purposes, keeps everything in one place! I now have a second home, UPSTUDIO, which houses my office, 1000sqf recording studio with two large live rooms, mixing suite and isolation booth. It's like a massive man cave full of all of my recording equipment, but also serves multiple purposes (which is how I justified the idea to my wife, Lauren). The office is perfect to meet customers - it's nice and chilled with a kettle and comfy sofas so we can sit and discuss your big day comfortably. It also allows me to bring in fellow musicians and artists to add to packages if a slightly alternative package was something you had in mind. I can also demo some equipment and show off how all of the lights spin round when I press a button - you can even have a go if you want! It also houses Manchester Photobooths which I took over back in 2019 - meaning you can easily check out how the booths work, and whether it's something that could add to your day.

I'm also a very proud husband and a dad to Lauren (wife), Ted (son) and Bruce (french bulldog). Without their support this genuinely wouldn't be possible. Whether it's keeping me grounded with night feeds on the return home from a gig, or holding down the fort whilst I'm on my third meeting of the evening, I owe a huge gratitude to my little family behind the scenes. Lauren, as well as being an unbelievable mum, is a talented wedding co-ordinator working at a local hotel, she's fully invested in all of my weddings constantly asking for pictures and updates when I'm out and about. I think a goal/dream for both of us is to open and build our own wedding venue - we'll see how that goes! Here's us on our wedding day at one of my favourite venues, Wyresdale Park captured beautifully by our photographer Adam Tranter.

Outside of music, I'm pretty boring... I love catching up with friends, and spending spare weekends/random spontaneous weekdays with the family. I have a classic mini which I've spent the last three years maintaining and 'improving' - it's not Lauren's favourite hobby of mine. However, she did allow it to make an appearance on our big day, and even offered out her dress as a polishing cloth! I like to think of myself as a relatively normal person, just enjoying the ride and watching our little human grow into a bigger little human with my gorgeous best friend!

I hope that gives you an insight, now get back to enquiring with me - stop buying time! Hopefully I'll speak, and party with you soon - thanks for reading!

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Big love,

Shaun x