LAWTON - Being a DJ “is still one of my favorite things to do,” said Reynolds. “But I discovered I couldn’t make a living just doing that.”
LAWTON - Being a DJ “is still one of my favorite things to do,” said Reynolds. “But I discovered I couldn’t make a living just doing that.”
During a 30’x60’ tent setup for an outdoor event, a sweat-soaked Pat Reynolds, owner of Journey Productions, stops for a minute under the 100 degree Oklahoma sun to look back on how it all began and where his production company has taken him over the past four decades.
Although Reynolds was covered in sweat and the windblown red dirt at the time, he says he attributes much of the company’s success to his parents.
“I grew up with a family of self-employed and entrepreneurial people, so it was easy for me to transition right into something,” he said. “My parents were always looking for things to do.”
In 1979, loaded down with sound equipment and lots of vinyl records, Pat Reynolds and former business partner Mike Leal were DJs for local high school dances and parties.
Eventually, Leal chose a different career path. But Reynolds says he is not one for a 9-to-5 job; he enjoys the flexibility of the entertainment industry.
So how does a DJ in southwestern Oklahoma capitalize on his love for music and entertainment?
During the early ’90s, Reynolds said he received a phone call that ultimately changed the future of the business.
Through a family friend, his father had heard about some entertainment inventory a soon-to-be retiree was looking to sell. He and his father checked out the equipment and soon after, Journey Productions added tens, lighting, rigging and other A/V equipment as well as wedding décor and catering equipment to the list of provisions.
In the early 2000s, Reynolds joined the American Rental Association. As a board member and former vice president for the Oklahoma chapter of the ARA, he is able to collaborate with others in the industry to learn new ways to create successful venues. In March, he flew to Washington D.C. to attend an ARA conference to discuss governmental affairs and other issues that affect the industry.
When asked what sets his business apart from other production companies, without hesitation, Journey Productions owner Pat Reynolds replies, “customer service.” While many in the industry are part timers looking to supplement their income, he explains that by devoting his full attention to the business, customers know they can depend on him to deliver the right goods and services on time.
Journey Productions’ reputation for delivering quality entertainment has earned Reynolds several contracts with local, national and international events. The company has traveled to Kansas, New Mexico and Texas, but normally work within a 60-mile radius of Lawton. They have provided services for the City of Lawton and Cameron University as well as Cancer Centers of Southwest Oklahoma and the Spirit of the Survival Race held in October.
Whether he’s flying to Washington, D.C. for an American Rental Association conference, programing a new playlist in a nice air conditioned room or out in the middle of a red dirt job site driving stakes for an event tent in the heat of the day, Reynolds enjoys knowing customers appreciate the work he has done over the past 40 years.
While he gives his parents a lot of credit for the business’ overall success, Reynolds’ constant striving to provide entertainment and products for clients says a lot about the dedication of the business owner.