‘My love of music built my business’
Sound engineering set DJ on current course
Otto B Letsholo, who is known for his silky skills on the turntables, is also the owner of sound business, Global Net World Wide Trading.
Driven by his love of music, Letsholo completed a course in sound engineering.
“I studied sound engineering at Parktown College, Johannesburg, from 2003 to 2005,” Letsholo said.
Global Net World Wide Trading offers support services for live events.
“We ensure that events have sound, stage and lighting. We do concerts that cater for upto10 000people.
“We are responsible for the audio visual elements as well. Clients would give us a spec as to whether it is a corporate event or a concert. Then a performer like rapper AKA would [do the same], then we’ll come up with the appropriate structure and set.
“I normally do the administration work myself, but I sometimes ask my wife and her friend to assist me when I am overbooked,” he said.
Letsholo, who manages a staff of 12, also manages all the equipment needed for events.
“Once the stage has been set up and before the event starts I check that it is secure and that equipment is ready to be used.”
Letsholo recalled how his journey started. “When I wanted to become a professional DJ after finishing school in 1999 in Hebron near Garankuwa in North West, I realised that I did not have the equipment.
“I sold my car to buy the equipment. A few friends also invested in my project and that is how I raised the initial R50 000 to start my business.
“Later on Cappellos started hiring my equipment for their events,” he added.
The DJ said being the owner of this kind of business was very challenging because he has to do almost everything because he has no fixed job description.
“When you are self employed, you have to do everything that needs to be done. But this also allowed me a lot of time which I spend with my sons,” said Letsholo, a married father of three boys.
Letsholo’s biggest complaint was that “the technical side of the industry is still white male-dominated. So I still can’t compete for jobs with these guys because my assets are about R3-million while these guys have equipment costing more than R5-million.”
Letsholo said he always tried to offer his services far cheaper rates than his white competitors.
“I also make sure that I know whom I’m competing against in the different areas I do business in, but I never compromise on the quality of the services I offer.
To make sure that he does not place all his eggs in one basket, Letsholo also has three minibuses that transport tourists.
This also allows me a lot of spare time on my hands which I spend with my three sons