In the days when DJs used turntables, young printing and graphics apprentice Ray Good discovered a career that had him travelling the world for 15 years.

"I was really into music and a couple of my friends in Sydney were high-profile DJs. I thought, 'That's a great life'," Good says of his decision to ditch his fledgling graphic-reproduction career for life as a DJ.

"Two of my best friends were DJs, so they gave me lessons. We used turntables; it's not like now where it's all done on computers. You had to learn how to operate a turntable, slow down one record and speed another up so that they mix seamlessly together - there's an art form to it."

But breaking into the field proved tough. "I couldn't get a DJ-ing gig, so decided to put on my own club nights," he says. "I invented a DJ name [Sugar Ray] and never looked back."

As Sugar Ray, Good threw himself into the life of a high-flying DJ, working in Sydney, Los Angeles and London.

"When I came back to Australia, I brought the rave culture back to Sydney; I was in the right place at the right time," he says.

The next few years were hectic, as Sugar Ray eventually became known as one of the top 100 DJs in the world.

"For 10 years from 1990-2000 it was the most amazing life you could imagine, playing at my own club for 600-700 people, touring the world, playing Russia and London," he says. "But come 2000, the scene changed. I wasn't inspired and I'd fallen out of love with it."

He also butted up against a common hurdle for DJs: age. "It's a dilemma many DJs realise," he says. "As they hit their mid- to late 30s, they ask if they really want to be in nightclubs till 5am."

After taking time off to work out what was next, British-born Good made a surprising decision. "When I was a child in England, we'd go to the coast on holidays and my dad would work in his brother's fish-and-chip store," he says.

"I'm into eating healthy food, so I realised someone needed to start a healthy fish-and-chip shop in Melbourne."

With no experience of working in restaurants, Good opened Hooked, which now has two stores serving healthy fish and chips to Melburnians.

"During the first six months, I learnt a lot - the hard way," he says, laughing. "I was doing the cash register and I had a falling-out with a head chef and he walked out on me, so I had to learn cooking."

Perseverance paid off and now Good spends time in the office working on his business, rather than behind the counter working in it. His passion for healthy living is a key driver. "When I was a DJ, I looked after myself and was very health-conscious," he says.

"I was vegetarian for a long time and I didn't get into the drug side of things."

He says running a food business is not easy. "It's very consuming and there's not much financial reward. I still work one night a week in one of the kitchens to monitor the food and the quality, and to keep in contact with the front line of the business."

Today, Good is proud of what he has created.

"I'm proud of the staff, of the culture, of the products and the food," he says.

THEN
Salary: $200,000 at the peak of his DJ career.
Work-life balance:  "Pretty good but I was putting on parties and big events so there was a lot of money on the line, which was stressful."
Hours: As a DJ, four to six hours a week. "But I worked a full week as I also had a record shop in Sydney, a club night and put on parties."

NOW
Salary:  $50,000 a year. "I've only recently started paying myself."
Work-life balance:  "It's pretty good. I earn a lot less money but I really enjoy what I do."
Hours:  9am to 6pm, Monday to Friday (in the office), plus the occasional Saturday morning and a couple of hours in a store one night a week. "When I opened five years ago, I worked 70 to 80 hours a week in the shop."
Miss:  "Honestly? Nothing. I often get asked to DJ in Sydney. It was an amazing time but it's in the past. I've never felt happier."
Challenges:  "It's a very competitive industry. The biggest challenge is dealing with staff. Half are great; they stick around and you have a great relationship. The other half come and go."

LINK:hooked.net.au