Today we’d like to introduce you to Daniel Kelly.
Hi Daniel, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My early career was in retail management, followed by marketing. I eventually decided to change direction and returned to college. While studying business management, I trained as a DJ and A/V technician with Sights & Sounds Creedmoor and built a name for myself in the local event industry. That led to a role managing the DJ and lighting department of Raleigh Dream Events. When they relocated out of state, I purchased the department and launched my own company, Perfect Event Entertainment, in 2011. We focused on weddings, corporate events, and galas, while also providing weekly DJ and karaoke entertainment across the Triangle.
Over time, we invested in additional professional-grade equipment and décor and expanded into full event production under our Raleigh Event Production and Triangle Uplighting brands. We grew from a DJ service into a comprehensive company offering lighting, video projection, wireless audio, and more.
Then COVID hit in 2020, and the event industry came to a standstill. With public gatherings canceled, I knew that there was a great need for people to still be able to have fun together. That’s when I launched Karaoke Night. If our clients could not gather in venues for celebrations, then we would deliver karaoke to their homes and offices! At first, I expected a crowded market of competitors but instead found very few options for karaoke rentals. Those that were available were outdated and terribly limited. I built better systems with quality speakers, lighting, and huge song catalogs. It was an instant hit!
Since then, we’ve upgraded to sleek all-in-one karaoke units with modern touch screens and wireless microphones, added over 54,000 commercially licensed tracks, and even started shipping smaller systems across North and South Carolina and Virginia. Our goal is to expand Karaoke Night’s “Karaoke-to-Go” service to cover the east coast as well as expand our full-size rentals in Raleigh and the Triangle area as a whole.
Today, I love that our work brings people joy in so many forms. Our production team delivers seamless galas and conferences. Our lighting transforms venues and elevates presentation. Our DJs make weddings and parties unforgettable experiences. Our karaoke rentals bring friends and family together to sing the night away! At the end of the day, making people happy is what drives me. What could be better?
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
As any entrepreneur will tell you, starting a business is hard work, and maintaining and growing one to become fully self-sustaining is even harder. It has been a journey of constant learning and staying current with evolving industry trends and standards. The COVID era was particularly challenging; many of my peers in the industry did not make it through. I was fortunate to have savings set aside and to launch Karaoke Night at just the right time, which helped us weather the storm. Today, business has come roaring back, and we are firing on all cylinders!
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Karaoke Night?
Karaoke Night is one of the brands under my original company, Perfect Event Entertainment. Together with Raleigh Event Production and Triangle Uplighting, we provide a wide range of entertainment and production services. Here is a breakdown:
Perfect Event Entertainment provides professional and fun DJ service for weddings, corporate functions, and private celebrations.
Raleigh Event Production delivers video projection, wireless audio, lectern/podium rentals, and other event production essentials.
Triangle Uplighting specializes in beautiful lighting, including uplighting, gobo projection, dance floor lighting, black lights for glow parties, wash lighting, and intelligent lighting with DMX programming.
Karaoke Night offers modern, intuitive karaoke machine rentals with exciting features and a massive, up-to-date library of commercially licensed tracks. They are available for local pickup or delivery.
What sets us apart is our proven track record of outstanding quality and customer service. Our services consistently maintain a 5-star average across all review platforms. We are fully insured, backed by over fourteen years in business, and we treat every client with the kind of personal care that only a dedicated local company can provide.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
The number one characteristic that has enabled me to work for myself is dedication. I worked for various companies for many years and made the decision that for the rest of my life, I will be my own boss. That is easier said than done. There were times when there just wasn’t enough money coming in. There were times when I did not want to work endless hours at back-to-back events. I certainly did not enjoy spending most of my profit on new equipment! Without absolute dedication to this path, I would never have made it to this point.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://nckaraoke.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/perfectevententertainment
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/nckaraoke
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@perfectevententertainment6967
- Other: www.raleigheventproduction.com
