Saturday, February 3, 2018.
Gameday at the Denver Coliseum.
The Colorado Blizzard, a professional indoor soccer team based in Denver, battles against the visiting San Diego Sockers 2. It’s early in the first quarter when Cody Stratton buries one in the back of the net.
As the Blizzard embraces on the field, a song begins to pump through the speakers. The Blizzard’s in-house DJ, “DJ E”, bobs his head to the beat. After taking a quick pull from his breathing tube, he eyes someone in the crowd dancing along to the song.
It’s his favorite part of the job – seeing someone enjoy his music and it brings a smile to his face.
As the game resumes, Beaudoin fades out the music and queues up his next big hit.
We all must overcome battles in our life – big and small.
For Ethan Beaudoin, he overcomes challenges daily without a single complaint.
The 22-year-old Evergreen native was born with a severe case of Mitochondrial Myopathy, a genetic disorder that cause a wide range of muscular issues. In Beaudoin’s case, he requires the use of wheelchair and oxygen 24-7. He has limited use of his hands and his voice is so soft, he uses a PA system to help others hear him. He also needs help getting dressed in the morning and someone to drive him to and from Regis University, where he’s a junior studying business communication.
Despite these limitations, a smile never leaves his face, especially when he’s at a sporting event.
“I love sports,” Beaudoin explains as he and his friend, Sam, finish setting up his DJing equipment. “I grew up going to sporting events and such and so whenever I went to a game I always enjoyed the music that the DJ’s played over the speakers."
It was four years ago that Beaudoin fell in love with DJing. He would spend hours researching genres, organizing playlists and adding in new features like transitions and mixes. And thanks to technology, Beaudoin quickly mastered the craft.
“For DJing, I have an iPad, that is touch screen, and so it limits having to twist buttons and stuff.”
After four years of practicing at social events, Beaudoin craved a bigger stage with an even bigger crowd. Around the same time, the Blizzard had just relocated from Colorado Springs to Denver. Beaudoin saw this as the perfect opportunity to take that next big step in his DJing career and reached out to Gary Faircloth, the Blizzard’s general manager.
“So Ethan sent me an email with his resume and reached out and said he goes to Regis University and he’s a student and he’s passionate about DJing,” Faircloth recalled. “And he was excited to hear about our club and wanted to get involved. And then he ended it with, “Oh by the way, I’m disabled.” And I didn’t want to hold that back. I wanted him part of the team.”
The positive response shocked the young DJ.
“I’m 22 years old, I’ve been DJing for not even 4 years and I get a chance to DJ at a professional game? Wow.”
It’s an opportunity that Beaudoin hasn’t taken for granted, calling it his “dream job”.
“I just really enjoy entertaining people, putting on a good show and also just creating memories. If I play a song and watch people dance and have a good time, I’ve done my job.”
As for what advice he would give to others in a similar situation like his, he says to constantly ask questions, regardless of the fear of being rejected based on your physical and mental conditions.
“Just follow your dreams, your passions. Anything can happen,” Beaudoin said, adding in one of his favorite quotes. “If you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life.”
