1. Sam Heflin
Party Cartel
At justshyof fouryearsold,Party Cartel isknownaround the JMU campus as the go-toorganizationfor
anyone lookingforupbeatdance music. ChrisVelazquez,aseniormediaartsanddesignmajor,created
the team of discjockeyswhenhe firstcame to JMU as a freshmanin2011 and metup with hisnowco-
founder,EricWalisko,afterconnectingonFacebook. The twothenmetCameronTriplett Since thenthe
grouphas expandedtoinclude other DJsandmore memberstohandle aspectssuchas photography,
promotion,andbusinessmanagement.
“I’m stokedthatithas become the go-toparty companyforJMU because whenIstartedall I knewwas
that I liked workingtogetherwithotherDJs.Ididn’thave thisvision.Ijustwantedtobringpeople
togetherbutI’mincrediblyhappywithwhere it’satnow,”saidVelazquez.
The group’sbig breakcame in March of 2012 whena videoof themperformingat withDJKap Slapat a
Greeklife event wentviral.Once the picturesandclipsfloodedthe internet,the groupbegangaining
recognitionandrequestsfromotheruniversities.PartyCartel isacrowd favorite amongnotonly
fraternitiesandsororitiesbutalsovarious sportsteamsandotherbeneficial clubs.
“Relayforlife isalwaysa personal favorite,”saidmemberDevinHogue,asophomore computer
intelligence systemsmajor,“andI’ve playedatMadiTHON twoyearsin a row.That’s alwaysa great
crowd.”
In justone short yearsince ourstaff last wrote aboutthe group,Party Cartel has become evenmore
popularamongstteenagedpartygoersandhas evenbeencontactedtoplayat out-of-stateschoolsthat
learnedaboutthe groupthroughvariousvideosandsocial media.
“I was at the Universityof Nebraskatwoweeksagosoour name isreallystartingtospreadall overthe
nation,”saidmemberAndrewCrumley,ajuniorbusinessmajor.
Chris
Gettingpaidto party andplaymusicall nightsoundslike the perfectlifestylebutthese guysdoa lot
more than that.With some formal gigsstartingat $500 for a couple hours,youreallyare payingfora full
service.
The group providestransportation,equipment,videocoverage,andall manual labor.Theyare the first
onesat the party, givingthemselvessufficienttime tosetup,and theyare oftenthe lastonesto leave.
“It’skindof hectic.I can tell youlastweekendIdidfive eventsintwodays,”saidmemberAndrew
Crumley,ajuniorbusinessmajor.“If aparty endsat 2 a.m., I won’tgethome five orsix inthe morning,”
he added.

2. Aside fromthe set-up,even the actual show itself ismuchmore thanstreamsof colorful flashinglights
and endlessfistpumping.DJsputextensive workintotheirsetandmake sure thatthe music theyplayis
appropriate andenjoyablefortheirdiffering audiencesand occasions.
“You thinkthat theyjustpushbuttonsandfistpumpthe whole time butalot of it iscountingand
knowingthe musicthatyou’re playing,”saidfreshmanBrianMarkley,aninternational affairsmajor.
“Crowdfeel isimportantandyouhave to reallyknow whoyou’re playingforif youwantto buildupthe
energy.”
Most membersare alsostudentswhohave tojuggle theirPartyCartel gigswiththeirschool course load.
As exhaustingasitgetsto studyall dayand thenworkall night,the group wholeheartedlyagreedthat
all of the prosveryeasilyoutweighanycons.
“To be able tobe part of an organizationthatisessentiallyaboutdancingandhavingagreat time with
your friendsandputtingitina positive lightisone of the mostrewardingthings,”saidVelazquez.“We
love creatinga safe partyenvironment.”
Some membersare juststartingoutwhile acouple othersare preparingtoleave andtake the nextstep
intheirlivesbutthe groupfeelsassuredthatwhattheyhave createdhere at JMU is goingto continue to
thrive andexpandforyearsto come.
“We’ve done somethingspecial thatwillbe rememberedlongafterwe graduate,”saidCrumley.“That’s
whatwe strive for,justtryingtobetterourselvesandserve ourcommunity.”
7:00 “The way we’ve structureditAndrew will still be here,aswellasDevinandBrianand there’s
anotherguynamedDaniel.Soeveryyearwe adda couple new members,eitherphotographersorDjs so
once I graduate they’ve all learnedthe ropesandknow how we dothings.They’ve shadowedeventsand
done some themselvessotheycancontinue ontheirown.” –chris
“Thispast monthwe’ve hadgigsat Mary Washington,UVA,Hampden-Sydney.We’ll getthere 2to3
hoursbefore hand”–chris
“relayfor life isalwaysfunwithreallyhighenergylevels.” -andrew