348 Miles, 58 Episodes, and Why DJ Rob Piccirillo Didn't Let AI Rewrite Who I Am

DJ Rob Piccirillo hosts episode 58 of his "Electronic Dance Music Sessions," emphasizing authenticity in a digital age and reflecting on his journey of 348 miles and personal growth.

Don't Let AI Decide Who You Are

Entrepreneurs wear a lot of hats. I'm a creator, a sound engineer, a lighting designer, an AV manager, a technician, a project manager, an integrator, an athlete, and a knowledge junkie. And sometimes, when I dive into conversations with AI, I catch myself taking its advice when it isn't necessarily the right answer.

The Feedback

Just the other day, I was talking through the business side of things, and one piece of feedback stuck with me: How are corporate companies supposed to take you seriously if they search ShowPRO and your name comes up as a DJ?

To a degree, I agreed. Picture a high-profile event with 10,000 or 20,000 people. The senior leaders making the heavy financial decisions are often 50 and above, and they might see conflicting information. Am I hiring a DJ? Or am I hiring a professional who manages technology and runs an authentic business?

So I did a full scrape of my profile. I tuned it up and got rid of old photos and content that were no longer relevant. I think everybody has to do a cleanup in life every once in a while, and it's healthy. Maybe that idea was motivated by AI.

The Question I Had to Ask Myself

But I also asked: Am I being authentic to my fans, and to who I really am?

This is the entrepreneur's lifestyle: business development, sales, relationships, managing teams, implementing systems, even training AI engines. On top of that, you still have to focus on your fitness. You grow, read, train, invent, and create. There are only so many hours in a day. And then, when is the time for family?

Sometimes an entrepreneur's life can be a lonely one, especially if you believe your vision was meant for more.

Music Is My Reset

Music has always been my iron paradise. It lets me reset and take a moment, away from high-profile events, extremely sensitive timelines, multi-day productions, and multi-day builds. Music has been my outlet. It's where I hang. Sometimes it comes in lonely times, and sometimes it's the only thing that makes you happy.

Episode 58

Fifty-eight might not mean much to many people. Follower counts zigzag. Some episodes get thousands of views and some get a few. Sometimes people react, sometimes they don't. And every once in a while, a few dollars of paid promotion sparks a little inspiration.

But to me, 58 multiplied by 6 is the number of miles I ran for each episode. That's 348 miles of running and training through this process, alongside producing the songs, original mixes, reworks, and remixes that are found exclusively on the show and aren't for sale anywhere right now.

When I'm producing in the studio, everything gets tested, and sometimes the testing becomes the fitness journey. When an episode is released, I make it a priority to listen to it, because I'm always looking for ways to improve. Plenty of times I've thought, this should have been different, or I could have mixed this better, or this master didn't come out the way I expected. But in the end, what I achieved was a six-mile run, or more.

So next time you tune in, or head out on your own run or journey, or see a number connected to this podcast, don't think of it as just an episode. Think about everything happening behind the scenes that explains who I really am.

Authenticity Over a Fake Persona

Which brings me back to the question: should I let AI decide whether a corporation hires me?

This is a lifestyle I've adapted to and tuned into, and I'm not going to shift into a fake persona for something I'm not. When I'm managing clients, they always get my 1000% focus and attention, and my team gives the same attention to everything we do.

But like anyone, people need to play chess. They need to read a book, spend time with family, and go out to enjoy a movie. And every once in a while, they might want to listen to some good music or spend time in the studio.

Listen to the show

Watch the DJ Rob Piccirillo Presents: Electronic Dance Music Sessions podcast on YouTube and go commercial-free with YouTube Premium. You can also listen ad-free on Apple Podcasts. Open the podcast app and search for DJ Rob Piccirillo Presents Electronic Dance Music Sessions.