Mr. Thrill DJ PLUS

Name: Mr. Thrill DJ PLUS
Address: 2403 Creek Bend Cir, Round Rock, TX, 78681, US
Telephone: +15128798466
Price range: $$
Rating: 4.7

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Mr. Thrill DJ PLUS

This is Mr. Thrill DJ PLUS Facebook site. "My name is Bill Harris. I am the owner of Mr. Thrill DJ PLUS. I named the company Mr. I love what I do.
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Thrill DJ PLUS because I am more than a wedding DJ. I offer multiple entertainment options, lighting options, and referral services. I am a professional entertainer and know what is needed for different events, how to get people dancing, laughing, and just having a good time. Many times at an event, an entertainer is not needed but someone who can follow directions, speak clearly, and honor the wi

shes of those who have contracted his/her services. I strive to do the best job possible for my clients, meeting with them ahead of time, before the event, working with them online, and interacting with them on the day of the reception or party to make a great event! I play publically around once a month doing a lounge act.I generally DJ/MC 4-6 events a month. Also offering virtual performances throughout the country.”

10/26/2024

Living with Cancer as Elvis 10.26.24

This blog is about finances and cancer. I do experience some anxiety as I’m not sure how I am going to make ends meet but somehow it all works out and I trust the universe, god, higher power to meet my needs, and I trust myself that I will do what I need to do. God helps those who help themselves, and he helps those who can’t help themselves too.

I started this cancer journey in August 2022. I was applying for life insurance and was denied because my blood work showed signs of cancer. I was uninsurable, and still am, though I have a $100k policy that was already in place before my diagnosis.

I had a really good cancer policy that I had bought years ago but I cancelled it during Covid. It was a $100 a month. It was a really good policy and I regret cancelling it.

I had a friend who said you should set up a go fund me account as people would love to help you. I never did because I don’t feel like asking for monetary help when I have income, savings and a working business that brings in income.

If anyone wants to help me financially, come to one of my shows and drop something in the tip jar. If I was homeless on a street corner, I would be a little more creative than some homeless I’ve seen, and sing and dance, or sell flowers rather than just wait for a handout. So many people have helped more than I know by their loving responses on Facebook and in person. My community and support groups have been amazing.

The expense of living with cancer was not in my financial plan. My insurance is pretty good, and so far I have a $7000 max out of pocket deductible. I have done this three times starting in 2022 and will pay out $7000 in 2025. It is a hit on my budget and I did not plan to have this expense, but my business has continued to thrive, and along with that we travel here and there and still enjoy a wonderful retirement.

I consider my entertainment business part time. Some weeks and months are busier than others and some some are more lucrative. I try to average $4-$5k a month so there is a little faith as many of the gigs that come in come in 1 -3 months ahead of time. But it’s interesting that as long as I’ve been doing this it has been a steady source of income except for during the height of covid, and during that time I delivered Door Dash.

I meditate a lot on Psalm 23. The Lord is my Shepard, I shall not want.

Most of my worries are first world problems. I have never known hunger and never been without a roof over my head even if I didn’t own that roof.

I have not been sick most of my life, but now I am, but I have medicine and doctors who have great expertise. I am very fortunate.

I don’t know how long I can continue to perform and not just because of my illness; I’m getting older and the day will come that I will put on that white jumpsuit a last time, but hopefully that’s a few years away.

One day at a time

10/05/2024

Living with Cancer as Elvis 10.5.24

Today I’m doing a wedding. My company is Mr. Thrill DJ PLUS, and I was djing weddings before I was an Elvis tribute, in fact for a few years I was doing 30-40 weddings a year. This year I have probably only DJed 5 or 6.

Part of the reason I am doing fewer weddings is I’m not really target marketing weddings. Today’s wedding is a referral from a family I’ve done multiple events over the years, including weddings, anniversaries, and birthdays with djing and

Another reason I’m not doing as many weddings is I’m making more hourly as an Elvis tribute versus djing, so I’ve kind of priced myself out of DJ gigs.

Today is a full blown wedding. I will not be a part of the ceremony, but I will emcee the special dances, and then give an Elvis show during dinner, and then DJ the reception as Elvis.

Some weddings I officiate the ceremony, sing the special dance songs, but many weddings, I just show up as Elvis, sing a few songs, and take pictures.

October is a busy month and I look forward to weddings, anniversaries, birthdays, clubs, restaurants, and more.

One day at a time

10/03/2024

Living with Cancer as Elvis 10.3.24

October is generally one of my busiest months. Last night I booked a last minute surprise Elvis for a young lady in Austin. Her husband had arranged the party and wanted it to be a surprise.

I told him what I could do; create the surprise and that is come in with a portable pa, and just walk in and sing which is what I do for shorter singing telegrams; just a big splash, sing a couple of songs, pics, and Elvis is gone.

I also told him I could set up a pa discreetly, and then we surprise the birthday girl.

He said he wanted both, that is come with portable pa, to create surprise inside house, and then set up pa on patio, and have a show. He also wanted his wife to sing “Don’t Stop Believing,” and “Hit Me with Your Best Shot,” karaoke.

I didn’t know how all that was going to work out but I said I would do what he asked. I didn’t know how it would all turn out. I created a play list for the setting, not knowing how it would work or not work.

I’ve been doing this a long time and I think preaching and teaching in former lives helped me prepare for what I do now. In teaching, you have to change gears a lot. What you planned sometimes doesn’t work, and you have to improvise.

Francine helps me and we did a lot of prep for this gig. I was going to walk in and surprise the party with the portable pa, while Francine was out back at the patio setting up a small louder pa for a small show. The day before we got the small ready to for a quick set up, with speaker, microphone, and lap top. We troubleshoot for what could or could not happen as best as we could. Francine labeled the mixer and sorted the cords for a quick 5 minute set up.

I’ve done this so many times that I kind of know what does and doesn’t work. I also know what can go wrong with mics, music, cords, power, etc.

This wasn’t as stressful as a wedding where you want no technical glitches but a seamless flow of music and announcements. This would be more laid back, but I know that technical problems can take away some of the fun and spontaneity.

When I go to perform there can be a certain nervousness. On this one, it was waiting til the end of the day to do the show at 8pm. It was 45 minute drive and again a lot of variables, but we were prepared.

We get to the house and see there is an easy entrance to the back patio where Francine can set up simply while I am inside. The husband comes and greets us and gives us the lowdown. Francine goes to set up and I put on my suit by my car. I just slip it over my shorts so I’m not standing in my un**es though I have done it. I can get in the suit, belt and boots in a couple of minutes if needed.

Francine is ready. I go to the front door. Another husband of one of the wives at the party tells me he told his wife that they hired a stripper, so some of the women would be waiting for me to take off some clothes. lol.

Well that put me at ease. I put on “In Da Club,” and walked into a warm group of women wearing pajamas and drinking wine, screaming at Elvis. I gave the birthday girl a scarf seductively and proceeded to my best white boy dancing to 50 Cent.

It was a wonderful party. It was really humid, but everything went great including the birthday girl singing “Don’t Stop Believing.”

At the end of a short gig like this, I am exhausted, partly because of the heat in an insulated jumpsuit at 70% humidity and 80 degrees, but also because I get a huge adrenaline rush as I perform.

It was awesome.

10/03/2024

Big shout out to my newest top fans! 💎

Troy Farnham, Chhaya Foncannon, Lisa Gross Gilman

10/01/2024

Living with Cancer as Elvis 10.1.24

I have done several tributes over the past 20 years. I do a great Engelbert Humperdinck and there was a time I had a promoter in New York, who said, “your wallet is talking to you, and it is saying Engelbert Humperdinck.” I got a few well paying gigs, including a show in Saratoga Springs, New York, a party for the Lt. Governor’s mother and an offer to do a six month European cruise doing the Humpy tribute. I turned it down. I was eight years from retiring from teaching along with my DJ business was matching my teaching salary so I wasn’t willing to stop what I had built, along with being married and having two children. I didn’t like teaching but I needed to get the pension that would give me some stability.

Still I did a great Humperdinck, but it was such a niche market, that I didn’t see it working. I also helped with a Doors Tribute for four years, emulating Jim Morrison, and accelerating my alcoholism.

This blog is about Elvis with Cancer, but I share my whole journey and part of it is my struggle with alcoholism. People understand cancer and are compassionate but alcoholism is sometimes a different story. We all know someone with cancer and it wasn’t their fault that a disease came and disrupted their life, but alcoholism seems to be a choice and really just a mental weakness in the eyes of many. Just quit drinking or don’t drink so much. Is alcoholism really disease that we had no choice? Or is it a just a bad habit, that can get out of control but it’s really up to the individual. Well I think it’s a little bit of both, but for sure trying to do tributes to Elvis and Jim Morrison at the same time did some mental tricks on me for sure. I studied Jim Morrison the same way I did Elvis. I also found that the Doors was a limited catalogue. The music was dark, and though Jim Morrison seemed cool and interesting, he was not a good role model for upcoming functional alcoholic.

To be continued

09/28/2024

Living with Cancer as Elvis 9.28.24

I started doing this Elvis Tribute almost 20 years ago.

I didn’t know much about the Elvis phenomenon. The idea that someone dressed in a white jumpsuit, with a wig or jet black colored hair, singing with a southern baritone mix of rock, gospel, and pop, could ignite so much excitement was a true American novelty that influenced movies, pop culture, and a marketing for Elvis wannabees who varied in skill, looks, and motivation.

Again my motivation was monetary. I was trying to supplement my teaching career with part time work, from throwing newspapers, coaching, tutoring, summer school, getting a masters to become a principal, and on and on. At age 40, I started playing music with some guys for fun, and soon realized that there was opportunity to make more money than throwing newspapers singing cover music, DJing, and eventually the Elvis tribute phenomenon.

I had never seen an Elvis impersonator before 2003 or so. In Austin, Chuy’s, a local Mexican restaurant, had Elvis tributes at all of their restaurants on Elvis birthday, January 8th. This is where I saw my first Elvis Imersonator almost 20 years ago.

I will discuss my own progression as an entertainer. A lot of people will tell you, that you are great. They will say you were awesome, better than Elvis. Now I realize many of them are just being nice and encouraging. But I know I’m pretty good, but I’m not better than Elvis, and I’m not the best ETA out there. I’ve looked, listened, compared, and tried to compete, not in competitions, but in the local level, the drive to get gigs. Getting gigs is more than looking and sounding like Elvis. It requires marketing, salesmanship, and a little bit of talent doesn’t hurt either. As I explored the ETAs, no matter how good they were, they didn’t look just like Elvis or sound just like Elvis. But certainly some were better than others.

As I researched there were fat, skinny, female, mixed races, traditional, non traditional, great, average and awful vocalists, but they were all out there and 20 years with the arrival of the internet I was able to enter the market and compete. It was a lot of work, and lot of great stories on the way.

I admit I got better and sometimes it went to your head. People continued to say how great your show was and you think maybe I am good, maybe I’m one of the best. It wasn’t for long, that is the feeling tha I was the best or great by any means.

To be continued

09/21/2024

Living with Cancer as Elvis 9.21.24

Bad news is sometimes not as bad as it seems.

I was diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer two years ago. It was on my 59th birthday that I got a call from my doctor driving back from a great night with my wife on Lake Travis.

My primary physician for over 20 years has never callled me. He said, “Is Francine there? I don’t have good news.” He said I had pancreatic cancer. I knew what it meant. I was most likely a dead man. It hit me like a shot to the stomach. Francine and I went from enjoying a wonderful weekend to knowing that our lives were forever changed.

I will never forget it. He said, Do you know an Oncologist?”; which I didn’t.

Fast forward, a few weeks later, after a biopsy, cat scan, and pet scan, it was clear I had a different type of cancer called pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor, the same cancer that Steve Jobs was diagnosed in 2003. The difference in surrvival rates was measured in years versus months.

It has been and is a journey living with cancer as Elvis. I have been an Elvis tribute artist for almost twenty years. I decided after my diagnosis to just keep doing what I was doing. I had gigs to do, and some wondered if I would cancel, but I didn’t.

Friends and family gathered in support to Francine and I. People didn’t know what to expect but I just kept going and performing with the same energy as I did before I thought my life was being cut short. I determined I would keep doing what I loved one day at a time, and each day I woke feeling good, I would continue to live with cancer.

I have had treatments that have led to a stable, unremarkable, boring diagnosis of my cancer for almost two years. In August, I had a cat scan that showed the cancer had grown again.

The news hit me again more like a punch in the stomach. I was scared. Again I was left not knowing what treatment I faced and if I would begin to be sick. I admit I was depressed, and I cancelled some outdoor gigs because of the heat of August and I was not sure how my body would hold up.

Knowledge is power. I have a team of some of the best doctors in the world. After listening to their diagnosis and suggestions, I determined I was not in emergency mode but this was an unfortunate part of my journey, that is the cancer would grow and I would have to adjust treatments, make decisions, and move forward.

I had a slow September and I think it has been good for me to reflect and consider what I wanted to do. There is a difference in living with cancer and thinking you have 3-6 months, versus the chance of living 1-5 years, and 5-10 years with proper treatment.

It is a mental battle still and I face it one day at a time. I am fortunate to still be able to entertain, to play tennis, to live my best life. I am enjoying life more than I ever have.

I have multiple events in October and booking into 2025. I have trips planned for 2025 and I am energized

One day at a time

09/21/2024

Wordle 1,189 3/6

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09/11/2024

Living with Cancer as Elvis Blog 9.11.24

I’ve got a few weeks off. It just worked out that way. October looks pretty busy, but I’m not worried about it.

I was thinking today how I not only live with cancer but I also live with another disease, alcoholism.

I have had problems with drugs and alcohol in my lifetime. I am currently sober for over 7 years. During this bout of sobriety I received my cancer diagnosis. I used the tools that I honed to get sober in facing cancer.

I really was already drinking regularly when I started doing Elvis. It was a part of the fun, and people bought you drinks when you performed, and wanted you to be a part of the party at many events. It was fun till it wasn’t fun anymore.

I’ve studied the life of Elvis, and he didn’t seem to struggle with alcohol but certainly he was addicted to pills and other addictions came into play. As I understand his mother was an alcoholic, and sadly his daughter and grandson were victims of addiction.

It is really sad. I have family members who have struggled with addiction also and it’s not a thing that families like to talk about but many families have these types of problems.

Cancer is different. It is understandable and in many cases the victim did not cause it, whereas with with alcoholism and addiction it is often considered a weakness and a form of mental illness that our society has been prone to keep behind closed doors, though it has gotten better at bringing these issues to the public.

Elvis’s story is the American dream and the American tragedy.

I do not consider myself a great Elvis impersonator but a pretty good entertainer. I realize there are impersonators whose objective is to do the moves of Elvis identical, and capture the voice as close as possible, and some even do surgery to look like Elvis.

I have tried to sound like Elvis, and it seems the more I try to sound like Elvis the more unnatural it is. So instead I capture some inflections and use a pleasant voice to entertain fans of Elvis. Those in search of the perfect look alike and sound alike may be disappointed. My costumes are professional and very close to the originals, but I don’t wear the jewelry of Elvis as I lose it and find it interferes with my performances.

I do a vocal impression and have fun with it, and it seems some impersonators do not, and possibly they find it disrespectful to the memory of Elvis, but I do not. It’s part of the show and I try to find a balance of being Elvis and representing Elvis. I’m sure I don’t please everyone and really not trying.

One day at a time

09/01/2024

Living with Cancer as Elvis Blog 9.1.24

I’m not sure how many Elvis gigs I’ve done over the last 20 years, but I will guess a 1000 which would be 50 a year or 4 a month average. That sounds about right. Now gigs have increased in recent years to a 100 a year or so, so it’s an estimate or rounding off.

Many of the Elvis shows are one hour shows at a retirement home, and many are weddings, birthdays, private parties, corporate parties, clubs and restaurants.

Over the years I’ve done a few funerals. People always seem to be amused by this. I don’t really advertise to get funerals, but when they pop up I place a bid, and sometimes land a celebration of life where they want an Elvis. I’ve only done a handful of funerals but each of them were noteworthy.

I remember the first funeral I did. It was done for a lawyer who had suffered from a long illness, and the story is she didn’t like Elvis and had a good sense of humor. So I just sat in the crowd, and may have sung a song, but really I was just there for humor. They also asked me to play “Amarillo by Morning,” as she also hated Amarillo too. The brother who organized it also had door prizes for guests. He had placed numbers under seats and those who had a winning ticket got different prizes. OK it was pretty weird, but probably the deceased was a little strange too.

The next funeral I remember doing was a for a guys mother who had died. He called me and wanted me to sing at a graveside service, “Blue Christmas,” “ Hard Headed Woman,” and “My Way.” I said I would do this but I asked if he was sure he wanted me to sing “Hard Headed Woman.” He said yes and explained she was very stubborn and had died because she wouldn’t to go to the doctor.

Well we discussed details, and he wanted me to set up ahead of time at the graveside. Well I did. There was a tent covering the casket and chairs set up. I set up a small pa, so I could walk up and start singing.

I was set up and waited in my car, and the funeral procession came from the church. The hearse and multiple cars lined up on the circular drive and mourners took their places, family seated under the tent and others standing.

I had a black coat over my white jumpsuit and I walked up behind the event and no one saw me as I was in the back. I was watching and it seemed to be a pretty sober event. I was beginning to question if this was a good idea as the minister threw dirt on the casket, and chanted, “ashes to ashes, dust to dust.”

Well the time came for me to sing. Only the son and the minister knew I was coming. I got the cue and went to casket near my PA, took off the black coat, hit the music for “Blue Christmas.” The song took on new meaning to me as I sang, “I’ll have a blue Christmas without you.” I sang the other songs and ended with a high note on “My Way.”

The crowd was seemingly quiet with no reaction, and then the son stood up suddenly and said, “ what was that?” And the crowd broke out in laughter.

He then explained that his mother loved Elvis and if anyone wanted a picture with Elvis, it was a good time for that.

The funeral director came to me and said, “This is my first Elvis funeral. “Can you get a picture with my staff by the hearse.” We lined up for a photo shoot next to long white hearse.

I have done other funerals since. Most times the deceased was a fan and it brought good memories and comfort at a difficult to family and friends.

I’ll be writing about different gigs that stick out in my memories. It certainly has been fun being an Elvis Tribute.

08/17/2024

Living with Cancer as Elvis Blog 5 8.17.24

I started doing Elvis about twenty years ago. I was playing in a cover band, the Kopy Kats, at around age 40 and excited to be playing classic rock hits like Hotel California, Feeebird, and others. I had never played in a band before and I was excited to be singing.It was a total new experience for me. Believe it or not I was pretty reserved as I had mostly only sang in church and choirs.

We started out playing for fun and then we decided to try to play out and make a little money. A guy in the band knew an agent and they said learn four hours of material and get back with us. Well we started learning songs and because we didn’t have clear direction we ended up with a mix of classic rock, acoustic, and some dance music. Still we had a long way to go and without knowing it we were creating a variety band, so you had to play a little bit of everything. We practiced in the garage of a member and his wife wanted us to do a few Elvis songs. We reluctantly did; we learned Heartbreak Hotel and Jailhouse rock. I put on some Elvis glasses with sideburns and when we played these songs, we got a pretty good response.

Well I worked on trying to book the band, and that wasn’t easy. It seemed there were plenty of bands in the Austin area. I called around and we played some dive bars and I was just happy to be doing it.

After awhile we realized wedding bands did pretty good, and we did a few here and there, but I was seeking more contacts, so I hit the wedding market and networking events. I met a guy who owned a DJ company, and he told me they were booking 100s of weddings a year. I was impressed because I was starting to want to make a little more money and playing for $50 for a lot of work was getting old fast.

I contacted the guy, trained to be a wedding DJ, and within a few months I was DJing weddings. I quit the DJ company and started my own company and within a few months I was making more by myself than the band did for most gigs. I still sang with the band, but the money became a factor for me. You could say greed, but I call it a capitalistic spirit. That is trying to to make more and work less. Now I wasn’t getting rich as a DJ, but I was getting close to matching my teaching salary Djing, bands, and singing.

A teacher should always had to have a side hustle. I always did, whether tutoring, coaching, summer school, delivering newspapers, phone books; I always did whatever I needed to. With two young children and foreign expenses, we always needed more money. I didn’t complain about my teacher salary I created my own raise.

Doing Elvis grew out of these experiences. I saw what Elvis Impersonators were making in an hour was equal or more than what I was making a day teaching. I decided to figure it out.

I had never seen an Elvis impersonator, but I saw a local Elvis guy at Chuy’s in Round Rock, Victor Solimine. Chuy’s for years had Elvis Impersonators at each of their locations. I went to see this guy and I thought I could do it to. I had already been singing; I had learned to use a basic pa, cordless mic and musical tracks playing in a band and DJing.

I’ll stop there and get back with you on my next blog.

Address

2403 Creek Bend Cir
Round Rock, TX
78681

Telephone

+15128798466

Website

http://www.elvistributeaustin.com/

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