Digital Social Hour
From $200 Gigs to Global Tours: My DJ Success Story | Cedric Gervais DSH #1378
Tue, 20 May 2025
🎧 From $200 gigs to headlining global tours, this is the ultimate DJ success story you don’t want to miss! 🚀 Join us as world-renowned DJ and producer, Cedric Gervais, shares his incredible journey—from humble beginnings in Miami clubs to rocking massive festivals like Coachella and earning his first Grammy for "Summertime Sadness." 🌟 In this candid conversation with Sean Kelly on the Digital Social Hour, you’ll get an inside look at the highs and lows of life as a top DJ. Discover how he built his career step by step, navigated challenges like brutal travel schedules, and embraced tools like AI and social media to stay ahead in the game. 🎵 From unforgettable moments on stage to the secrets of testing new tracks live, this episode is packed with valuable insights for music lovers, creators, and dreamers alike. 🎶✨ But it doesn’t stop there—he’s also making waves off the stage with successful restaurants and even appearances in blockbuster movies! 🎥🔥 Whether you’re an aspiring artist, entrepreneur, or just love a good success story, this episode has something for everyone. Tune in now and join the conversation! 🗣 Watch now and subscribe for more insider secrets. 📺 Hit that subscribe button and stay tuned for more eye-opening stories on the Digital Social Hour with Sean Kelly! 🚀 CHAPTERS: 00:00 - Intro 00:28 - Cedric Gervais Interview 04:58 - Importance of Real Rest 05:59 - Miami Real Estate Market Insights 06:42 - New York Market Trends 07:31 - Winning First Grammy 11:02 - Concerns About AI in Music 13:13 - Impact of TikTok on Music Industry 15:29 - Traveling to France Frequently 16:18 - Attending Cannes Film Festival 16:48 - Life in Los Angeles 19:25 - Upcoming Projects and Collaborations 20:10 - Composing Music for Movies 23:12 - Journey in Miami's Music Scene 25:16 - Role of Social Media in Success 27:14 - Most Memorable Performance 30:11 - Performing Sober Experience 30:37 - Closing Thoughts and Reflections APPLY TO BE ON THE PODCAST: https://www.digitalsocialhour.com/application BUSINESS INQUIRIES/SPONSORS: [email protected] GUEST: Cedric Gervais https://www.instagram.com/cedricgervais/ SPONSORS: SAMRBOSA: https://sambrosa.com/ LISTEN ON: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/digital-social-hour/id1676846015 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5Jn7LXarRlI8Hc0GtTn759 Sean Kelly Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seanmikekelly/ The views and opinions expressed by guests on Digital Social Hour are solely those of the individuals appearing on the podcast and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the host, Sean Kelly, or the Digital Social Hour team. While we encourage open and honest conversations, Sean Kelly is not legally responsible for any statements, claims, or opinions made by guests during the show. Listeners are encouraged to form their own opinions and consult professionals for advice where appropriate. Content on this podcast is for entertainment and informational purposes only and should not be considered legal, medical, financial, or professional advice. #gdjb #globaldjbroadcast #digitaldjtips #musicindustryjourney #lasvegas
Chapter 1: What is Cedric Gervais's journey from small gigs to global success?
You bought a ticket to come see me and you're insulting me. I mean, it's like... They're just hating no matter what. No matter what song you put on, they're going to be hating. Well, yeah, whatever. All right, guys, out here in Miami with Cedric. My man, how late were you out last night? Not that late. 12 o'clock. Oh, that's not bad at all. Yeah, not bad.
Because I know you live a pretty crazy lifestyle.
Chapter 2: How does Cedric manage the challenges of a DJ lifestyle?
Yeah. Usually you're out much later, right? Usually I go to bed. I mean, when I don't work, I go to bed like 9 o'clock at night. Yeah. So I try to live a very healthy lifestyle, but when I work, it's like, I don't get any sleep. Like on the weekend, I'll play until two and then I have a flight at 6am in the morning. So I sleep like two hours. Oh my gosh. To get to the next city.
Does that ever take a toll on you? Like burnout? A little bit. I mean, I've been doing this for like close to 20 years now. So it's like, you know, the traveling takes a lot out of me. Yeah. Have you slowed down at all? Do you think you'll keep doing another 20 more years? I don't know. The thing is, I love doing what I do. You know what I mean? So it's like, I haven't thought about slowing down.
Chapter 3: What are the insights on the Miami and New York music markets?
it's just traveling gets harder and harder on me. That's the only thing that's sad. And you do a lot of international traveling too. Yeah, international travel. But even in the United States, I mean, I compare, when I tour in the summer in Europe, The countries are so close to each other. So it's an hour flight, two hour flight, three hour flight.
When in America, when I'm in Miami, I got to go to Vegas six hours. You know what I mean? You cross the country all the time. And sometime I do Vegas and then I have to go to New York the next day. It's, it's, it's long flights. Yeah. That Vegas to Miami flight is brutal. Cause it's brutal. Then you lose three hours too. It's brutal. And I do it twice a month. I have my residency.
Chapter 4: What was the story behind winning the first Grammy?
So it's like really brutal. That's nuts. How's the Vegas market been lately? It's great. I mean, it's been, it's been amazing for me. It's been 15 years in Vegas. Yeah. You know, resident hotel group and, uh, I'm playing this incredible venues, uh, Tal Beach, Omnia, Akasan, Marquee. So, and, um, I mean, I've seen, I've seen Vegas.
To be honest, I, the first show I ever done in Vegas was at Umpire Ballroom. I don't know if you remember that club. I never heard of it. It was a club off the strip. And at the time there was no house music. There was no DJs playing in Vegas. It was Celine Dion performing, a bunch of promoters. So I remember I did the show on Empire Ballroom.
Gino, which is the owner of Eleven now, used to own Empire Ballroom. So they flew me over there and I'm playing there. Nobody, house music, dance music was not big at the time. So I show up there and there was like, 10 people in front of me. But the funny thing is Chuck Liddell was hanging out with me in the DJ booth with his girlfriend. He was high as fuck behind me. I love that.
And I was like, what am I doing here? This market sucks. It's like, what is this? And then you fast forward later, DJs on billboard everywhere. I got my own billboard in Vegas and then it's like DJs everywhere blowing up pool parties and it's like, it's crazy. So I really seen Vegas going from
Chapter 5: How is AI transforming the music industry?
Massive performer like Celine Dion being the headliners that now Steve Aoki, Fisher, you know, like Alesso, myself, like everybody headlining the big hotels. That's crazy. Yeah.
And you said earlier Omnia is like one of your favorite spots, right?
Chapter 6: What role does TikTok play in promoting music today?
To me, Omnia is one of the best clubs in the world. I mean, the design, the chandelier that they have, the sound system, the crowd. I mean, I love that club.
It's one of the best. Wow. Damn, I didn't know Vegas was dead like that 15 years ago. Yeah, Vegas is amazing. Holy crap. How's Miami market been?
Miami market is amazing. I mean, you know, I'm from here 25 years. I've seen it grow as well. When I came here... none of the building that you see in downtown, the skyline of Miami existed. It was very dangerous to go cross the bridge from Miami Beach. All the clubs were in Miami Beach at the time that I got here.
And they would tell you, if you cross the bridge and go downtown, you're going to get shot. Damn. That's when I got to Miami. So what you're seeing right now, Brickell, Midtown, Design District, nothing. I actually got robbed, almost got robbed in Design District. Damn. There was one plumbing company
store that was in the design district and i i went there and i parked my car and i stopped walking two guys with guns like start following me because i was wearing a rolex at the time yeah and i and i called it right away ran back to my my car i left and this is the design district now that you have air mass gucci and everybody's walking around i almost got robbed over there like 15 years ago holy crap yeah well there's certain parts even today that are kind of dangerous out here right
Yeah, but I mean, it's safe. Miami is a safe city. I mean, if you play around, you know what I mean? And I don't think there's robbery everywhere, but it's pretty safe. I mean, our mayor is amazing. Francis Suarez is an amazing...
If you're building something, doesn't matter if it's a business, a brand, or just a better version of yourself, then you already know the work never really stops. Your brain is always on. Ideas at 2 a.m., problems at 3, plans at 4. But here's the truth. If you never shut down, you're going to crash fast. That's why I use Sambrosa. It's not hype. It's not some trendy sleep hack.
It's a legit syrup that helps you fall asleep when your brain won't let you. You take it, and 20 to 30 minutes later, you're out. Not groggy, not jogged up, just to sleep like you're supposed to be. Then you wake up clear with no brain fog, no dragging yourself out of bed. You get your hours in and you actually feel like you slept. Sleep isn't optional. It's not self-care. It's strategy.
If you're not getting it right, you're leaving energy, focus, and money on the table. Sambrosa helps me sleep. It helps me execute. That's the only reason I talk about it. If you want to get ahead, start by getting real rest. Check out the link below in their website, www.sambrosasambrosa.com.
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Chapter 7: How does Cedric test new tracks live during performances?
Chapter 8: What are Cedric's upcoming projects and collaborations?
If you're building something, doesn't matter if it's a business, a brand, or just a better version of yourself, then you already know the work never really stops. Your brain is always on. Ideas at 2 a.m., problems at 3, plans at 4. But here's the truth. If you never shut down, you're going to crash fast. That's why I use Sambrosa. It's not hype. It's not some trendy sleep hack.
It's a legit syrup that helps you fall asleep when your brain won't let you. You take it, and 20 to 30 minutes later, you're out. Not groggy, not jogged up, just to sleep like you're supposed to be. Then you wake up clear with no brain fog, no dragging yourself out of bed. You get your hours in and you actually feel like you slept. Sleep isn't optional. It's not self-care. It's strategy.
If you're not getting it right, you're leaving energy, focus, and money on the table. Sambrosa helps me sleep. It helps me execute. That's the only reason I talk about it. If you want to get ahead, start by getting real rest. Check out the link below in their website, www.sambrosasambrosa.com.
mayor and uh the the cops here are like keeping the city safe yeah and i i don't think there's any problem in the city i mean this problem is everywhere but it's it's a great city yeah the energy out here is just amazing yeah it's amazing everyone's in a good mood business out here is phenomenal business is phenomenal everybody's in a good mood
I mean, the weather, you can beat the weather all year long. I mean, the summer gets very hot and humid, as everybody knows. But the weather, it's a very healthy city. I mean, as you can see, everybody's into the gym. Everybody has a healthy lifestyle here. Yeah.
uh it's it's it's it's a party city this thing going on all the time and then you know our basil miami music week now f1 miami yeah it's crazy yeah it's not you you still performing in new york too yeah i do i perform in new york as well uh marquee um uh it's uh one of my residency um in new york i've been performing in new york i love the city in new york Yeah, really.
Actually, two of my biggest songs, I made them in Harlem in a studio there. In Harlem? Yeah, Harlem. I swear to God. It was actually the studio Mustard. DJ Mustard? Yeah, DJ Mustard. It was a studio. I didn't know. I was working in that studio in Harlem and somebody told me, you know, this is like the DJ Mustard room. So I made Summertime Sadness and Molly in that studio. Wow. That's nuts.
The whole vibe of Harlem was like I love New York. I love the energy of New York. Yeah. Yeah. That was your first Grammy, right? Summertime Sadness? Summertime Sadness was my first Grammy. Yeah. That's nuts. That must have been the craziest year of your life. That was crazy. Yeah. That was a crazy feeling.
It was, um, like I explained to everybody when I did this song, it was like, I was actually on the way finishing it. I was on the way from Miami to Orlando to play EDC Orlando. And, um, I just finished it, putting the final touch in the car, was driving my tour manager to EDC Orlando, and I played it that night. And I was like, wow, like the social media response of it was crazy, right?
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