Dave The Plug: From Basement Setups to Big-Time Visionary

Every success story starts with a moment of belief—and for David Jenkins, better known as Dave The Plug, that moment came with a borrowed camera and a dream that wouldn’t let go.

His creative journey kicked off in 2017, capturing simple photos of his girlfriend using a Canon Rebel EOS T6 that didn’t even belong to him. What started as casual snapshots quickly turned into a deeper calling. As he began filming music videos for friends, a passion ignited—and in 2019, Dave made a life-altering decision: he spent his last $2,500 on a Sony A7III. His brother, working at Best Buy, raised an eyebrow, but Dave knew in his soul this was his destiny.

That leap of faith caught the attention of his tech-savvy cousin, who not only invested $1,000 into Dave’s future but became his first mentor. From camera angles to color grading, Dave soaked up knowledge like a sponge. Although he briefly enrolled in film school, a trusted industry mentor advised him to skip the debt and learn hands-on—and that’s exactly what he did.

An unexpected moment brought Dave his biggest break. His father accidentally called DJ Da Don, a respected producer in the industry. That mistake sparked a friendship, and soon enough, his dad was constantly talking about Dave’s talents behind the camera. Eventually, DJ Da Don gave Dave a shot—needing a photoshoot for a magazine. Dave turned his dad’s basement into a makeshift studio with just a white sheet and a few lights. The results? Impressive enough to earn him an official spot as DJ Da Don’s go-to cameraman.

Born in Hoffman Estates and raised between Iowa and Chicago, Dave formed Plug Promotions LLC in 2019. But the hustle was real—three years with no job, just a grind to build something meaningful from the ground up. One of his most painful moments came on January 31, 2021, at a Big 30 concert in Dayton, Ohio. After filming, Dave returned to find his car broken into—thousands in gear gone, along with unreleased content. It was a gut punch, but not a knockout. Dave doubled down instead of folding.

His motivation comes from a powerhouse list: his cousin, DJ Da Don, Nipsey Hussle, Gary Vee, Michael Rubin, his brother, and his father. They all share one thing—relentless work ethic and vision. That same energy fuels Dave’s mission: to leave behind a legacy. Not just to create content—but to tell stories, capture real-life moments, and give people visuals they’ll never forget.

From weddings and gender reveals to music videos and lifestyle content, Plug Promotions is built on quality and purpose. Dave’s creative flow is highly structured—brainstorming on his phone, organizing files on external drives, and always staying locked in on execution.

His grind never stops. Between shooting concerts, editing vlogs, filming gym content, and creating promo visuals, he still manages to juggle two jobs (7 AM – 3 PM and 4 PM – 12 AM), a landscaping and snow removal business, and weekend travel gigs.

What keeps him going? A simple mantra: Believe. Adapt. Prevail. Sustain. Dave wants others to remember: don’t let humility hold you back. Be bold enough to take chances, invest in yourself, and go all in—no matter how impossible it feels.

Check out more from Dave The Plug:

🔗 Business Website: Plug Promotions

📸 Instagram: @davetheplug__

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