We had the good fortune of connecting with Baker (BK Willy) Wiles and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Baker (BK Willy), what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
My father was an actor, and my mother is an artist of many varieties, so it’s in my blood. I’ve been a performer since I was a child. I started in theater and eventually made my way into music, singing in the choir and with bands through high school and college. In college, I was always fighting to control the stereo at house parties and, at the same time, was being introduced to raves in the Midwest, so that led to me wanting to pursue DJing. I moved to Los Angeles to pursue acting in 2009, bought my first DJ equipment in 2010, and haven’t looked back. Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of playing many West Coast festivals, including EDC Las Vegas, Burning Man, Lightning in a Bottle, Boogaloo, and Lucidity. I enjoy being in front of a crowd. It gives me energy that I can’t find anywhere else. Just a sucker for attention I guess. I like to make people laugh and dance.

What should our readers know about your business?
We started as a private 30-person after-hours in Los Angeles. We ran from 2 am to 7 am every Friday in a small theater near Sunset and La Brea in Hollywood. We quickly expanded and extended our hours, throwing monthly vs. weekly shows at bigger venues. In 2012 we incorporated and established a resale license for pro audio equipment. We were now a full-scale production company armed with a cargo van, some speakers, and a passion for partying past the sunrise. Over the next six years, our events became an arm for local non-profits to raise awareness for their causes. We partnered with groups like P.S. Arts and No Kid Hungry California, throwing unique experiential events in their honor. These events were featured in LA Weekly and on the news (ABC7). In 2018 we launched our retail website, TBTN Pro Audio and Lighting, and have been offering the public great discounts on professional audio equipment ever since. We serve a nationwide area, are based in Los Angeles, and maintain global shipping capabilities. A portion of our annual profits is donated to P.S. Arts or one of our other charitable partner organizations.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I don’t have enough experience to answer this question about Atlanta, but I can tell you where some great Korean BBQ is in Los Angeles. 😉

If you’re in Douglasville, GA, however, and want cheap drinks, you should head over to Highlanders. Ha!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
The foresight of my father and the freedom of expression allowed by my mother influenced me and continue to influence me today. My father exposed me to wonderful and classic music like Glen Miller and Frank Sinatra. My mother made sure I lived in the theater world and exposed me to film sets, even allowing me to skip school to do so. She would tell me to “never let school get in the way of my education” if it was in the pursuit of art. I was shown improv and stand-up comedy at a very young age. My mother took me to my first audition for my first professional theater performance. She has always been there, and on days I want to give it all up, she will just say, “Keep it up. Let me know when I need a dress for the red carpet.” Other than my parents, along the way, there were countless girlfriends, a wife, business partners, employees, volunteers, friends, and foes to help motivate and support me. I owe them everything I have.

Website: www.tbtnproaudio.com AND www.tbtnproductions.com

Instagram: @djbkwilly

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bakerwiles/

Facebook: www.facebook.com/djbkwilly

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkNrs6dc4DiRTX4w0fSDiVw

Other: bkwilly.com soundcloud.com/djbkwilly

Image Credits
Tae Sam Do and Tiffany Min

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