Hey! I’m Mike, I go by DJ AXCESS, and I’m a DJ and public speaker based in Columbus, Ohio. I recently had an incredible opportunity to travel to New Orleans and perform at a Super Bowl LIX event for Abercrombie. Talk about a unique experience! They transformed a wedding venue into a full-fledged Abercrombie store in under eight hours, hosted a party with influencers, athletes, and shoppers, and then broke it all down the same day. It was a whirlwind of a day, to say the least.
My New Orleans adventure started on Friday. I met up with an old friend, and we immediately headed to Mr. Eds for some authentic New Orleans seafood. Fueling up with delicious local cuisine is always a priority! After dinner, we checked out a nightclub called OHM, hoping to catch Kaskade. Unfortunately, his set wasn’t until 1 am, and with early mornings ahead, we decided to play it safe and head back.
We did manage to squeeze in an invite to the Fan Duel and Spotify party, where Blink 182 was performing. They were hilariously poking fun at the decidedly corporate crowd, who seemed more interested in networking than rocking out. The energy picked up considerably when they launched into their classic hits at the end of their set. I was particularly impressed by their professionalism; it was clear one of the band members wasn’t feeling well, but he still delivered a flawless performance. It served as a powerful reminder of the importance of self-care for entertainers.
Saturday was the big day. My call time was 8 am, so I woke up at 6 am to create some content and ensure I arrived 30 minutes early. Walking in, I was amazed by the transformation. The Abercrombie team had been working since 2 am to build the entire store – it wasn’t just a pop-up; most customers had no idea it hadn’t been there the day before. I spent some time outside filming content until it was time to set up.
The production team, while a bit flustered, had everything I needed for a smooth performance. Sound check went quickly, giving me an extra 45 minutes to grab a surprisingly delicious breakfast wrap. Fuel is essential for an eight-hour DJ set!
Back at the venue, I practiced some Djembe. I had completely forgotten to mention that I brought it! Flying Southwest allowed me to check a bag for free, which was a game-changer. I wanted to add something special to my performance, something beyond just background music for shoppers. With influencers, photographers, and filmmakers in attendance, I wanted to give them something interesting to capture. The Djembe is a medium-sized drum, easy to travel with, and it’ll definitely be joining me on future travel shows.
Knowing they wanted a diverse musical experience, choosing the opening genre was a challenge. I opted for disco house – energetic but not too jarring for those nursing a hangover. I didn’t want to linger in that style too long, as it’s more associated with Abercrombie’s past. Throughout the day, I played a mix of pop, afrobeats, Latin, disco, New Orleans bounce, EDM, and house, sprinkling in some Djembe accents when the cameras were rolling.
Eight hours of DJing, no bathroom breaks, no food. That was entirely my doing; I was so focused on the music and content creation that I completely forgot. By 6 pm, I was starving! I felt for the team that had set up the store at 2 am and was now preparing for the teardown.
I grabbed a shrimp po’ boy and some gumbo at Zesty Creole, visited a family member who works for the NFL for a quick drink, and then promptly crashed. I had planned to go out on Saturday night, but it just didn’t happen. I don’t regret skipping the nightlife, but I do regret not giving myself an extra day of travel to explore.
Sunday morning started with some delicious King Cake, more content creation, and then brunch. We stumbled upon a gem: Besamé, a Latin brunch spot. While I loved all the Creole food, Besamé blew me away. I’m a sucker for churrasco, and their Latin cauliflower dish was unexpectedly amazing. Every meal I had in New Orleans was incredible. With each visit, I fall more in love with the city. After brunch, I headed to the airport, marking the end of my New Orleans adventure.
A huge thank you to Abercrombie for having me! It’s amazing how our relationship has evolved, from in-store sets to their company music festival and now a Super Bowl event. If you need a travel DJ for your next dance party or corporate event, reach out to me at djaxcess.com/contact. When it comes to travel corporate shows, I make it look easy.
