He began doing weddings, bars, skating rinks, and local events to increase his exposure. Although teen parties seemed to be the biggest deal at the time, with experience Shay D began to expand into bigger markets. At the age of 19 DJ Shay D got his first sizable gig at a local night club, Club Fuel (Ybor City). Soon after nightclub promoters took interest in his unique sound and he was later granted a residency at Club Prana, the only five level premier nightclub in Ybor City, Florida. Shay D has spent the last three years spinning for crowds of 2000+ people on any given night at Club Prana. While spinning at Club Prana he built a legacy based on his blends, club presence, scratching technique and vibrant microphone skills. During this time period he was also featured in the cities newspapers (Tampa Bay Times and St. Petersburg Times). The local radio station, WBTP 95.7 The Beat (Clear-Channel Radio), later acquired DJ Shay D as a holiday mix show DJ.