Damon DeGraff remembers watching from across the street while clubgoers queued to get into New York’s Palladium.

He’d moved to the city “to be in the music business” and admired Angie Martinez, the radio personality who hosted huge parties there.

“I would get dressed up and go, but the lines were super long,” he said. “I would just look and say, ‘One day somebody’s going to open up the ropes for me to walk in, but until then I refuse to line up’.”

He told Ms Martinez that story when he spotted her at his own event a few years ago.

“Maybe that was pride, maybe ignorance, but I use that story as motivation for myself for wanting to work harder and wanting to gain more,” he said.

The 41-year-old cut his teeth at Cheeba Sound; the group managed D’Angelo and Mark Ronson. Fifteen years ago he started his own company, dGI Management, representing DJs, artists, producers and photographers. He just signed two artists to Columbia Records, Quinn XCii and Ayokay. Their song Kings of Summer reached number one worldwide on Spotify in December. Mr DeGraff is also producing new-age R & B group BC Kingdom’s debut EP. He’s also working with a Bermudian act, Noise Cans, who he signed to Steve Aoki’s Dim Mak label.

“That’s very exciting, even more so for me, because it’s a Bermudian artist who’s looking to do something a little different but still tie in reggae, Caribbean and soca elements into a new electronic sound,” he said.

His clients run the gamut — Oprah, Nike, Google, US President Barack Obama and Cartier are all part of a long list.

“[We did] two of J Lo’s weddings,” he added. “We do pretty much every major celebrity or corporate client; movies, you name it. When you’re grinding at the stone you’re not really thinking about the accomplishments, but I’ve had to take a step back and think, here’s this kid that moved from Bermuda that knew one person. I’m at a point in my life when I’m taking time for myself. Before it was work, work, work every day, all day. I look at things a little differently now. You’ve got to take time to enjoy the fruits of your labour as they say.”

His DJs are prominent in the club scene, with residencies in grand venues: Bugatta in Los Angeles, LIV in Miami and Marquee and Hakkasan in Las Vegas.

Mr DeGraff is also working on a music series for American designer Marc Jacobs, that will begin in August. “[It] will be a quarterly music series, where we will take new acts that are on the verge, more so than getting people that are already established,” he explained. “You have to have some traction, but you don’t have to be Kanye.

“It’s pretty exciting to be able to launch something that we’ve created with such a major powerhouse — that’s the reason that I need a vacation. I would say I’m a creative manager — it’s not just numbers and connecting dots — I think the artists do appreciate it because sometimes you need that. You need someone to lean on or give you a bit of perspective.”

Music has always been a part of his life. His grandmother Cecily Caisey taught him to play the piano as a child and he played in the school band at Bermuda Institute.

“[In Bermuda] you would hear reggae going out to parties, but on FM89 you would hear Phil Collins,” he said. “You’ve got soul that your parents might be playing, and soca. With all that within you, I think you kind of craft this ear for various genres. Music, to me, is music. If you can create a good song, no matter what genre, I gravitate towards it.”

He knows exactly what he’s looking for when he meets an artist. “The biggest thing is confidence for me. The majority of artists have huge insecurities, but within that you still have to have the confidence in what you’re doing.

“I’ve found some artists that I had never even heard them play or do anything, it was kind of just a vibe and energy about them that I felt was special and I took the gamble and it worked. Sometimes it’s rolling the dice, but my biggest thing is confidence.”

Aside from his work with dGi, Mr DeGraff has helped the Bermuda Tourism Authority promote the island in America.

“I guess I could say I’m kind of an unofficial ambassador,” he said. “There is a new traveller, a new explorer, they’re actively looking to tap into, so I want to help them with that initiative.”

Why not check out duo’s classic Cup Match kit?

Damon DeGraff isn’t just into music. He and fellow Bermudian Alexandra Outerbridge have created a range of Bermuda-centred merchandise.

First up are classic caps in Cup Match colours. Check them out at Somerset Cricket Club tomorrow and Friday.

On paper, the pair are unlikely collaborators.

Ms Outerbridge is a jewellery designer, Mr DeGraff manages artists; he lives on the east coast, her home is in LA.

They also will be rooting for opposing teams: she’s an unapologetic Somerset fan; he’s a diehard St George’s supporter.

Buy their caps for $25 at the match or at Whitter’s International Barber Shop in Crawl.

You can also find them online: outerbridgejewelry.us/products/cup-match-hats.