Meet the DJ
Boardwalk's Own DJ Shawn Cox

​When did your DJ story begin?

"I started my career in 1989 as a part-time on-air personality "Shawn O’Bryan" at WNVZ/Z104 FM in Hampton Roads. Still in high school and later in college, I was the youngest guy on local radio at the time. I hosted the popular "Hot 8 at 8," ran contests, took requests, broadcast live from fun spots like Ocean Breeze Water Park, and even interviewed artists like Vanilla Ice on the air.

 

I was spinning tracks during the peak of artists like MC Hammer, Bell Biv DeVoe, and Whitney Houston, through Tupac and Biggie’s rise, the grunge wave with Nirvana and Pearl Jam, and the unstoppable ’90s pop surge with *NSYNC, Britney Spears, the Spice Girls, and the Backstreet Boys. I got to play all those sing-along hits people still request at my events today—when they were brand new!

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Early in my radio career, I met the owner of a major local mobile DJ company who invited me to audition for an open spot. I ended up nailing it, and soon my life became a whirlwind of college classes, a full-time radio gig, and nonstop DJ performances at night. Eventually, my passion for performing live took over, and I decided to shift my focus from broadcasting to building a full-time career as a mobile DJ.

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Fast forward to today and I'm mixing classics from my radio years with the latest hits from Chappell Roan, Sabrina Carpenter, Dua Lipa, Post Malone, and more. Music trends may change, but after all these years, I know how to blend the best of every genre and decade to throw a great party."

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What’s your background outside of being a DJ?

"Other than a brief stint working at a pet store when I was 15, DJing has been my lifelong passion—it’s what I know best (along with photo booths, of course). While I did study law at ODU, I’m not a lawyer by day and DJ by night—music and events have always been my full-time focus. Boardwalk is my career, and over the past three decades, I’ve had the privilege of performing at nearly every type of event imaginable—nightclubs, corporate functions, game shows, awards banquets, anniversaries, birthday parties for all ages, and most importantly, wedding ceremonies and receptions.

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Beyond DJing, I’m also a voice actor for a well-known local production studio, lending my voice to TV and radio commercials that often air nationwide. Whether I’m mixing music or voicing a spot, my work has always been about creating energy, excitement, and unforgettable moments."

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What inspired you and Carolyn to launch Boardwalk—and how did it grow from there?

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"Back when I was part of that large mobile DJ company—where I spent 22 years and eventually became a co-owner—Carolyn and I started noticing photo booths gaining popularity at weddings across the country. She had worked with a few as a planner and thought they added something special. I got hands-on with a photo booth for the first time while DJing a wedding in 2009 and instantly loved the vibe. As a longtime fan of coin-op machines and vintage design, I could see how much fun guests were having—and I was hooked.

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At the time, photo booths were only coming from out of town—nobody in Hampton Roads was offering anything like them. I brought the idea to my partners a few times, but it just wasn’t something they were excited about. With their blessing, Carolyn and I decided to take the leap ourselves. We designed and built our first vintage-style Original Model 14 photo booth, and Boardwalk Photo Booth Company was born.

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That one booth turned into three pretty quickly, and we became the first dedicated photo booth company in Hampton Roads. Boardwalk focused on quality, great service, and doing it all with our name—and our hands—on every detail. Eventually, I stepped away from the larger company to give Boardwalk Photo Booth Company my full attention.

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After a few years, past clients started asking if I’d ever DJ again. I said yes—but this time, it was just me. No big team, no outside DJs or distractions—just Carolyn and I running the show with a fleet of ten photo booths and a small crew of close friends who host them with us.

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Naturally, that led to some confusion. “Wait…the DJ is from the photo booth company?” To clear things up (and better reflect what we actually do), we rebranded as Boardwalk Entertainment. Same heart, same quality—just a name that made more sense."

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What vibe do your friends instantly associate with you?

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"Anybody who knows me knows I’m a total 80s kid at heart. I love everything about that era—the music, the arcades, the ridiculously awesome TV shows (Knight Rider, The A-Team), hanging out with my old school friends, and spending way too much time at the roller skating rinks. There’s just something about that time that still gets me.

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One of my biggest hobbies is collecting and restoring classic arcade games. Ms. Pac-Man, Galaga, Dig Dug, Donkey Kong—I’ve got a solid collection going. And the best part? Every single one is set to free play, so there are no quarters required!"

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When the weekend isn’t booked, how do you spend it?

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"When we’re not working events, Carolyn and I love traveling in our camper. It’s our condo-on-wheels, giving us the freedom to explore new places while always having a familiar space to unwind. Whether we’re by the beach, in the mountains, on a Disney vacation, or off the grid somewhere quiet, we love cooking out, making campfires, and soaking up the scenery.

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And since I’m a DJ, you know the camper has a rocking sound system—because every adventure needs the perfect soundtrack!"

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You and Carolyn make a solid team—what’s it really like working with your wife?

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"Honestly, it’s one of the best parts of what we do. Carolyn and I have really different strengths, which is probably why we make such a good team. She’s all about the details and making sure everything looks and runs exactly the way it should. I’m focused on the energy in the room—reading the crowd, keeping things moving, and making sure everyone’s having a great time.

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Most of the time when we’re working together, she’s in planner mode through her business, Carolyn Celeste Weddings. She’s coordinating the day, running the timeline, and I’m over at the DJ booth making it all come to life. We also work a lot of weddings and events together as photo booth hosts, and it’s always fun working side by side in a different way.

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We’ve done enough events together that we don’t even have to say much—we just know how to move around each other and keep things flowing. Not every couple can work side by side for hours and still come away wanting to be friends—but we always do. I feel lucky for that."​​​

 

What’s your main goal when you’re DJing an event?

"Every event has its own unique energy, which makes this job both exciting and rewarding. My priority is always to ensure the host and their guests have an unforgettable experience—no question about it. But what matters most to me is bringing their vision to life exactly as imagined."

What's Your Specialty?

"Wedding receptions. From early on in my career, they became my favorite type of event—not just because of their significance, but because of the unique challenge each one brings. Some couples want a high-energy, wild celebration—I’m totally ready to deliver that. But most couples choose Boardwalk for both DJ and photo booth services because they want something polished and professional. They’re looking for just the right amount of crowd interaction—to be engaging without ever feeling over-the-top. At the end of the day, I let the music be the star of the show. Creating an event that’s both fun and upscale takes a certain finesse, and that’s exactly where I shine."