Our Story...
Nelson Entertainment (Formerly Sound Advice DJs and One Night Stand DJs) was founded  by career DJ and Voice Over Actor: Tom Nelson, who began his career at age 11 making mixed tapes of popular tunes of the day for himself and his friends. Arranging music in a particular order can create excitement as one song builds momentum for the next! Tom soon discovered.

 7 years later  (1987) he brought that philosophy to the San Francisco Night Clubs. Tom branched out to mobile DJ service in the Summer 1987 as a partner with Sound Advice Mobile DJs and founded One Night Stand Mobile DJs; performing their first show New Years Eve 1987-88. We merged with VIP Productions (1994-2004) when we formed an alliance with East Bay DJ Brent Anderson, who became a great partner from 1994-2004 (retired) and friend to this day.

One Night Stand-VIP became Nelson Entertainment in 2004 when we expanded into the San Diego market and began to focus mostly on weddings. We continue to serve the Bay Area (office in San Mateo) and San Diego, still including Napa Valley, Monterey & Orange County, Las Vegas & beyond!

WHY? I started this company because I saw a bunch of "cheesy DJs" performing at most of my school dances and I knew that it could be done technically better, with better customer service and a business approach, not a hobbyist mentality. I wanted to share my love for music and dancing with others who enjoyed it too. And I had a knack for stringing together music that insights dancing and fun!

Challenges along the way: Well about 2 years into my career, which was still part time, I was injured in an industrial accident and it almost ended my career before it truly started. I was working at a sheet metal company in South San Francisco, on the morning of April 5, 1989, when a brake press crushed my hands in half - 80% amputating them. I was told Id never use them again, in fact the first doctor (HMO) wanted to amputate my left away said right awaysaid it was useless to save it due to the extensive damage.

Long 2 year recovery saga short; I resumed DJing with the help of a roadie at first, within 18 months of the accident. By 1992 I was fully recovered with 80% use of both my hands. Today I DJ, play drums, guitar and golf. None of which I was supposed to be able to do Ive gone PPO since then!

Failure was never an option, I never even considered the possibility; which is the blessing of nave youth. Over the years we have employed many great DJs, most stayed on for 4-5 years, some 10 years and one, my buddy Mike, just retired after 15 years with me and 20 in the biz. This job (sometimes) retires DJs when spouses and kids and mortgages enter the picture. Others, like myself, love it too much and make it a beneficial cog in our wheel of life. I know other guys 10-15 years my senior who still do it, it just gets in your blood.

Our market and the the market trends have changed so much over the years. We have caused some of those changes and rolled with others. Nelson Entertainment is about having fun, so we never work an event or a market that we cant get into and enjoy and hence bring fun and joy to those that hire us.