Bringing Chicago's Best of DJs with Live Musicians to One Stage
Your DJ Experience Just Got An Upgrade
Imagine your DJ dropping a beat while a live saxophonist roams the dance floor soloing over the mix. That's DJ Hybrid, Chicago's only entertainment company dedicated to the art of combining live musicians with expert DJs for a seamless, nonstop, unforgettable experience that your guests have never seen before.
Half DJ. Half Band.
Completely Unforgettable.
DJ Hybrid Chicago is the best of both worlds: We bring the unmatched energy of live music to your event, combined with the versatility of a DJ who can move from Motown to Kendrick to the Hora without dropping the beat. Every DJ and musician on our roster plays and works in Chicago at your favorite clubs and venues, meaning the DJs know how to keep the party going and the musicians know how to play with the DJ, not just play over them.
That chemistry is what elevates a good event into the DJ Hybrid Chicago experience that your guests won't stop talking about any time soon.
Amplify Your Event
Your ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception — all covered by one team from start to finish. Every package includes full sound coverage, MC services, wireless mics for your officiant and toasts, a DJ matched to your wedding vision, and live musician(s) to create a night that sounds like nothing your guests have ever heard before.
Weddings
Corporate
Not every corporate event needs a 15-piece band, and not every guest shows up ready to hit the dance floor. That's exactly what makes DJ Hybrid the perfect fit for corporate events. Our DJ and musician combos create a low-pressure shift from sophisticated background music to celebratory energy, letting the vibe build naturally without forcing anyone onto the floor. Live solos keep guests engaged whether they're dancing or just enjoying the music, smooth transitions keep the night flowing, and the whole thing feels polished enough for the C-suite and exciting enough for those who actually want to dance.
The Ultimate Music Experience
DJ Hybrid Chicago was born out of Funktastic Productions — one of Chicago's most sought-after live wedding bands. Marisa and Mike Zabrin had a game-changing idea to pair their world-class musicians with expert DJs for a smaller, more flexible, continuous entertainment experience. What started as a niche idea became its own revolutionary concept entirely — a high-energy hybrid enmeshment of DJ plus live musicianship that couples and corporate clients alike were hooked on. As people continued asking for the DJ Hybrid experience by name, it was officially launched as its own brand. And the rest, as they say, is history.
“We were torn between a band and a DJ and it truly was the best of both worlds with the upbeat hype of a DJ and amazing instrument accompaniment.”
-Jessica Henkel
Meet The Team Behind The Turntable
Marisa and Mike Zabrin, Founders
Mike is a bassist, bandleader, and the creative mind behind both Funktastic Productions and DJ Hybrid Chicago. His own music features collaborations with members of Kool & The Gang and Fishbone, he's been featured in Bass Player Magazine, and his entertainment industry-focused podcast Funktastic Chats has featured guests from Zola, PartySlate, and WeddingPro. Marisa is the operational force who makes everything work. With a background in sales and large-scale corporate event planning, she ensures the experience of working with DJ Hybrid is as polished as the performance itself.
Mike and Marisa created DJ Hybrid because they saw what was missing: Couples didn't want to choose between a band or a DJ. They wanted both.
Here’s What Makes Us Often Imitated, But Never Duplicated
Every musician is thoroughly vetted to our standards.
We don’t do blind booking here. We work with only 4-5 musicians per instrument, all of whom actively play Chicago's top clubs and venues. That chemistry and professional resume is the difference between background music and an experience your guests feel.
All-inclusive means all-inclusive.
Sound system, MC services, wireless mics, ceremony audio, stage lighting; it's all in the price we quote you up front. No gotchas, no overtime charges, no hidden equipment fees, no surprise add-ons after the fact. What we quote is what you pay.
We’re there to play music from start to finish.
No set breaks or dead air. No switching to a Spotify playlist for a quick break. Music is who we are down to our core, and that deep love for what we do is reflected in every set. The DJ holds the beat while the musician solos, the musician holds the vibe while the DJ transitions. In short, we never give an excuse for the dance floor to be empty.
-Jessica Henkel
We had the saxophone accompany us during our grand entrance into the reception and it truly made the entrance! Our guests are still talking about it. Marisa and the entire team were so great and easy to work with, I would 100% recommend DJ Hybrid for anyone looking for a band or DJ for a wedding or event! We were torn between a band and a DJ and it truly was the best of both worlds with the upbeat hype of a DJ and amazing instrument accompaniment.”
“I am so glad we used DJ Hybrid for our wedding! The DJ and musicians did an amazing job, and the dance floor was buzzing the entire night.
- Jazmin Jones-Oliver
The team I worked with was amazing and kept everyone on the dance floor all night. They were very responsive to emails and asked all the right questions during the planning process. 10/10 I look forward to working with them again!”
“As a Wedding Coordinator, one of the most important things is the right music to set the vibes for the big day.
- Mary Hoffman
HIGHLY recommend this vendor for a reliable, stress-free and absolutely electric experience!!!!”
“DJ Hybrid exceeded every expectation! All of our guests were raving about the DJ/live sax combo and there was not a single moment of the night without a packed dance floor.
Let Us Bring Your Event to Life
Want a dance floor that’s packed from beginning to end? Reach out and tell us all about your event, your vision, your budget, and your timeline, and we’ll handle the rest.
