ST. PETERSBURG, FL — When Linda Bak began working as a DJ last year, she jokingly called herself “DJ 4 p.m.”
“Because that’s when people my age are going out,” the 57-year-old told Patch. “They don’t want to be out all night.”
Instead, she settled on the stage name, “DJ GenVieve,” a play on her middle name, when performing in the St. Petersburg area at nonprofit fundraisers, art shows, The Ball for sapphic night and other “early-bird” dance parties.
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The longtime lover of music is equally passionate about animals. Now, Bak combines these two loves for a new initiative, DJ for Paws, to help raise money for animals in need.
Her first event under this name is April 12, 4 to 8 p.m., at Bayboro Brewing, following the artist reception for “Caterwalls,” an art show fundraiser for Friends of Strays.
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The reception for the show, featuring art by Chad Mize, BASK, Crit and others, will take place from 1 to 4 p.m. that day.
Forty percent of sales will benefit the organization’s Meow Now initiative, a trap-neuter-vaccinate-return program. The art will be on display at the brewery from April 3 through May 1.
Bak has organized the DJs for the fundraiser. Luce Kanon, Lunaroo and M.s0lea will also perform.
Much of her life has been driven by her passion for music and animals.
Born in Philadelphia, Bak’s parents moved to the Bradenton area while she was in college.
In her 20s, when she ran a nightclub, she “got really into music,” she said. “I was exposed to all different kinds.”
She went on to become a securities broker. Though she was successful, she found the work unfulfilling.
“That just really made me realize what’s important in life. Money doesn’t buy you happiness,” Bak said. “I did a 180 and went into the nonprofit sector.”
She spent a decade in California working as a fundraising director for two different animal shelters there.
She returned to Florida in 2017, moving to St. Petersburg to care for her mother, who was paralyzed after a stroke.
For a time, Bak worked in fundraising part-time for Friends of Strays. Eventually, she realized that both the nonprofit and her mother required full-time attention, so she stepped away from the organization.
While a full-time caregiver for her mother, animals remain an important part of her life. She volunteers for Friends of Strays and feeds about a dozen stray cats in her Palmetto Park neighborhood every day.
“They’re the sweetest little things,” she said.
Bak told her partner that she had always dreamed of becoming a music producer or DJ.
She received her first piece of DJ equipment as a birthday gift a couple of years ago.
“Just a little board, almost like a toy,” she said.
After learning about an 80-year-old Japanese woman who taught herself how to DJ, she began thinking that she might be able to book some gigs for herself in St. Petersburg.
“I started playing places and built a niche for myself playing for people my age,” Bak said. “I’m not trying to keep up with the 20-year-olds and I’m not trying to play after midnight. I saw these older DJs and thought, ‘Alright, I’ll find my people.’ I want to get the daytime dance party off the ground.”
As people age, it’s important to keep moving and dancing – and important to have a comfortable space to do so, she added.
“Dancing is so good for brain activity, physical activity and dopamine; it releases that feel-good feeling,” Bak said. “One thing as a DJ, too, as I get older is, I used to love to dance. I would go to raves in my 20s, clubs, and as I get older, I don’t feel like I belong there anymore. It’s so important to keep dancing and it makes you happy. People my age want to do an early dance party. They want to be in bed before midnight. So, let’s give it to them.”
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