A Wedding DJ Helps A Bride and Groom In A Pinch

I have been a Counselor and Social Worker since 1993. When I decided to focus my attention and energy to being a full-time Wedding DJ, I was concerned that I would not get the opportunities to support others the way I have professionally for such a long time. I still am a Program Director part-time but a professional Wedding DJ is a different animal. It has surprised me how wrong I was. I feel  like sometimes I am more helpful as a professional Wedding DJ than as a social worker because I am able to affect change directly when the situation calls for someone to be flexible, creative and willing to manage a crisis. Tonight was one of those nights.

I am fortunate that I never get hired by the co-called ‘bridezillas’. They don’t hire me for some reason. What I do get are Brides and Grooms looking for someone who is willing to work with them to create an event that is theirs. Tonight I was contacted by a Bride whose Wedding DJ did not work out and her wedding is in a few weeks! The date she was needing, I am already booked. I quickly contaced one of our best MC/DJs and checked to see if he could make it work for her. He could!

I called the Bride and we found a way to get everything perfect in a matter of an hour! It was like it was meant to be for us to connect and make sure she has an amazing wedding. I know it made her night, but mine too! I feel so good to have been able to support her and get her set for her wedding so quickly.

I know most Wedding DJs will raise the price due to last minute gigs, especially weddings, but I offered her a discount since we wanted to make sure she was happy and relieve her stress about her music for her Ceremony, Cocktail Hour and Reception.

Tonight was a good night for this Wedding DJ.

Bride and Groom Firs Dance with Wedding DJ Mystical Michael

DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & NY DJ

Every Wedding is Unique For The Professional Wedding DJ

I keep thinking that one day I am going to show-up for a wedding and it will be like the others. It seems like the odds are in favor of at least two weddings to be the same as a  Professional Wedding DJ, right?

 

Wrong.

 

No matter how similar they seem in the planning and coordination, each wedding is a unique and singular event. I guess that is the way it is supposed to be since it is such an important event. I guess weddings for this Professional Wedding DJ are like people; no two will ever be exactly the same.

 

On the outside, if you attend one or two a year they may seem to be similar since the basic components appear alike; Bridal Party Introductions, First Dance, Mother-Son Dance, Father-Daughter dance, Cake Cutting, Bouquet Toss and often a Garter Removal and Toss as well. There are typically friends and family and a shared meal. There is usually dancing and celebration, which can be dictated by family, religious and cultural traditions. These pieces may feel the same on the surface but they are not for any Professional Wedding DJ worth their salt. We work together to create something that expresses The Bride and Groom uniquely. Again, it may appear the same but is not for this Professional Wedding DJ.

 

An example last summer I think illustrates this perfectly. I had two weddings in a row where the Bridal Party was being introduced to Black Eyed Peas “I Gotta Feeling” and The Bouquet Toss was highlighted by Beyonce’s “Single Ladies”. The Brides had chosen these songs independently of each other but as often is the case, the songs were the same but believe me they had little else in common.

 

At the first wedding, The Bridal Party came out with the Groomsmen carrying the Bridesmaids in their arms as if crossing the threshold with new Brides themselves. The second wedding had them dancing as pairs that was choreographed earlier that day. Same song but completely different experiences for the Professional Wedding DJ.

 

First wedding had close to twenty-five women ranging in age from late teens to late thirties vying for the Bouquet aggressively with almost a fight between two ladies in peach colored gowns. The second wedding was twelve young women all different shapes, sizes and colors respectfully allowing the oldest one to catch the bouquet and feel good about herself. They all hugged and kissed her as she held it high in the air beaming.

 

What was also the same at both of these amazing weddings was the simple, elegant and fun energy of the venue and event. That is what is my job – to make sure the wedding is simple, elegant and fun. As a professional Wedding DJ, I am responsible for creating a fantastic space for the Bride, Groom, friends and family. That is my job.

 

What was unique at yesterday’s wedding, as all of my weddings, are how the elegance, simplicity and fun manifest. It is not always what I define as fun or elegant, it is the Bride and Groom that are in charge and they decide what they want and I make certain it happens. Last night that meant the Groom’s parents, who are in their late sixties, specifically asked for the music to be soft enough to allow regular conversation. The Bride and Groom had already had their ‘fun’ wedding in Florida where they live in May and his parents wanted them to celebrate with their friends and family here in New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania together. It was a simple, elegant and fun affair but not the way one typically thinks of when they plan their wedding. Everybody had great time, especially Michael and Maureen. I don’t think I saw her smile leave her face once during the whole day! That is what I took with me on my drive north on The Garden State Parkway leaving Manahawkin, next to Long Beach Island.

 

Like people, no two weddings are the same for this Professional Wedding DJ.

Beautiful Couple Dancing with Professional Wedding DJ

DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & NY DJ

An Amazing Wedding With DJ Mystical Michael

I enjoy all the Weddings I am hired as professional amazing Wedding DJ. I am fortunate to be hired by awesome Brides and Grooms. I think it may have something to do with my website being focused on Brides and Grooms who want a simple and elegant Wedding with their own imprint on every aspect of their day. It is how it should be. Some Weddings are even more amazing than others, this past Saturday Night was one of the most fun and amazing Weddings I have participated.

Bride and Groom First Dance at Amazing Wedding with DJ Mystical Michael

Meghan and Steven were a pleasure to work with from the first time we spoke on the phone. Her father hired me and we worked out the functional details together. When I was able to speak to the Bride and Groom directly, we hit it off from the beginning and continued to do so all along the way.

Fun Bride Dancing at Amazing Wedding  with DJ Mystical Michael

It is such a treat to experience a couple that is warm, loving, wholesome and fun, and their friends and family mirrored them from beginning to end.  It is easy to feel good about their future after spending time with them and their friends and family after an Amazing Wedding .

Fun Groom Dancing at Amazing Wedding with DJ Mystical Michael

DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & NY DJ

Bride and Groom with Friends and Family on Dance Floor at Amazing Wedding  with DJ Mystical Michael

Why do you offer a Guarantee?

I know I excel as a DJ and MC. I want you to have that same confidence so you can focus your attention and energy into other areas of your wedding or event. You worry about getting your guests there and feeding them. I will take care of making sure they have a great time and remember your wedding or party long after. They will have fun and I know that, so I can offer a guarantee since I am certain you will want to pay me. You are investing in me by hiring me and sending me a deposit. I invest in your wedding or event by offering aguarantee that states if you are not happy with my performance, you do not have to pay the remainder of the balance. Period.

Dancer To DJ: “I Want Your Job!”

Last night while taking a quick break between sets at a NYC DJ dance event, one of the dancers came up to me, “I want your job!”

 

I laughed and smiled. I gave her the usual response about all jobs have their strengths and challenges but smiled very large while trying to keep a straight face. I am well aware how much I enjoy what I do as a professional DJ.  There have been many great people that have stated in various ways something, “If you have a vocation you love, you will never work a day in your life”. I agree completely but know too that I have put my time in and it is not all play and good times, ask any of my Brides and Grooms about my attention to detail and calm, supportive presence.

 

I have worked hard to market my professional DJ business here in the NJ/NY/PA area to have a page rank near the top of Page One of Google searches for ‘Rhode Island DJ’, Page Two for ‘Rhode Island Wedding DJ’, ‘NJ Professional Wedding DJ’ and ‘Rhode Island Professional DJ’. Creating a strong online presence is not easy and takes commitment.

 

Making sure I have such a diverse music library of high quality songs is not a thing you do once and are done. It takes another commitment to stay current plus know what you need to add to collections from the past as tastes and trends shift.

 

Owning the highest rated DJ equipment helps but there also needs to be a commitment to replacing old wires, updating software and keeping knowledgeable of the latest equipment. I am fortunate that I used to work at a recording studio and was mentored by a tech genius on what gear to use. He recommended and uses the same BOSE L1 System with Bass, MacBook and djay software as I do. I learned from him that buying the best once and not having to upgrade to every new trend is the only way to go and to not get fooled by new marketing campaigns that confuse professional DJs and audiophiles with deceptive claims. “Buy the best; BOSE & Mac and don’t worry about your gear again. The best stands the test of time,” he said to me regularly.

 

Yes I do have a great job. Being a full-time professional DJ is prefect for me because it combines several of my natural skills to understand music and technology, entertain and discern what people need and be the calm, positive presence in any situation that brings fun and excitement to everything I am passionate about. It is good to be reminded that I am good at what I do and that it is the right profession for me to be committed for those who hire me for their Weddings, Parties and Events.

DJ Having Fun at benefit Dance Party in NYC

DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & NY DJ

DJ Mystical Michael Moves To Prime Cuts Music

I have wanted to make the move for a while but had some obstacles before doing so. I have finally made the shift to Prime Cuts Music as my primary distributor of music as a professional DJ! Prime Cuts Music is the best music distribution channel for professional DJs and Entertainers around. They supply music for most radio stations including American Top 40 with Ryan Seacrest. Their service is only for professionals in the music industry and typically need someone in the industry to refer you to be accepted.

primecuts Music - Providence Wedding DJ - Rhode Island Wedding DJ

One of the benefits of Prime Cuts Music is all their music is legal and they receive tracks before they are released to the public on a weekly basis. This is helpful in staying current and since they serve all major musical genre, I will now no longer have to work so hard to gather music that just came out. I chose Prime Cuts Music service that includes all the major genres like Pop, Dance, Rock, Urban, Country and Adult Contemporary but also made sure I was covered for the latest tunes in Latin and Jazz as well. Since being a professional DJ here in the Rhode Island and Massachusetts area we have such a diverse population, it is essential for any good professional DJ to continue to work on expanding their musical library to include all genres for all our clients. I am fortunate that I get hired by such fun and interesting customers. My Brides and Grooms have such eclectic and diverse tastes that it keeps me on my toes and is so much fun to be part of their weddings!

Another great part of Prime Cuts Music is they offer high quality songs that are always downloaded at a high bit rate.  I do not have to worry about playing poor quality music at a wedding, birthday party, anniversary or sweet sixteen or party!

I have to confess, I was a little late for my Wednesday Night Trivia Show in Hackettetsown last night.  I was so busy adding new music to my library. I couldn’t get myself to stop! I am like a kid in a candy store that doesn’t get cavities, so I have no reason to stop playing. If you could not tell, I am really excited!

 

DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & Boston DJ

Ask abut my Rhode Island Wedding DJ and Rhode Island Party DJ Guarantee!

Professional DJs Need To Stay Current Musically

Digital music has created many shifts in the music industry in recent years for professional DJs. As we gain more access to music, we have the ability to listen to music that we would not have heard otherwise. This has produced a more diverse group of genre in the Top 40. We can have songs from Rock, Dance, R&B, Country, Pop, Hip Hop, Rap and artists from around the globe all at the top of the charts in the same week.

 

Let’s take a look at this week’s Billboard Top Ten. We have “Call Me Maybe”, Gotye, Fun., Usher, David Guetta, Maroon 5, Nicki Minaj, Ellie Goulding, Rihanna and Katy Perry all in the Top Ten. Flo Rida, Luke Bryan, Eric Church and Kanye West are not far behind.

 

As professional DJs, now more than ever it takes commitment and discipline to make certain we always have what our clients want ready for last minute gigs when they come up.  If not, what do we do when someone requests a song we don’t have because we were not diligent in keeping our music library current?

 

I try my best to go through the current music charts weekly to make sure I stay on top of what is new and hot. Another unique aspect of the digital music industry is that a song can make its debut one week and be on the top of the charts the following week. If not paying attention, a professional DJ may miss what some of our client’s want and what their guests may request. I have learned through experience as a professional DJ that regardless of the music the Bride and Groom choose before their wedding, there will always be someone who wants to hear some new popular songs. Good professional DJs will be prepared and done their ‘homework’. This is part of what makes a professional Wedding DJ here in the New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania area’s commitment to the craft of being professional DJs more challenging. Our listeners and clients have more diverse taste in music than most of the country due to our extremely diverse populations. I thrive in this environment and would not enjoy my work nearly as much if I lived in an area that was not as diverse in its musical taste and choices to dance to! I would think any true professional DJ feels the same way.

Professional DJs and Beautiful Dancers on the Dance Floor with DJ Mystical Michael

DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & NY DJ

DJ Mystical Michael Trivia Host at O’Reilly’s Pub in Newton, NJ

I can’t lie, I have really grown to love being a Trivia Host! When I was first in discussions with National Trivia Association, I was skeptical but willing to give it a try and see how it went. Well, two months and three venues later I can’t imagine not being a Trivia Host. It is fun, exciting, interesting and I learn all kinds of fun facts and bits of trivia.

A Trivia Host allows me to share my skills as a professional DJ, MC, Improvisational Actor and good-old-fashioned center of attention. The latest venue to add to my weekly Trivia Host schedule is O’Reilly’s Pub in Newton, NJ. I am there with trivia and music every Tuesday Night beginning at 9:30.  O’Reilly’s Pub is a fun place with great staff and clients. Everybody there has been very receptive and we really have started to get a nice crowd joining the Quiz Show weekly now. Come join us!

DJ Mystical Michael on The Microphone as Trivia Host

DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & NY DJ

 

Another Fun DJ Family Celebration

I get excited before every Fun DJ gig, not sure how, but I do. The excitement begins to rise as the guests for the party or wedding start arriving with their smiles and anticipation. This Saturday was an example of just that. While me and our DJ Assistant were playing some simple background music for entering guests, I could feel the energy grow in myself, her and each friend and family member. With each hug and handshake, I could see that we were in for an afternoon of fun with a closely connected family celebrating a boy’s special day.

They danced together in the beginning to Fun DJ

Fun Family Dancing Together with DJ Mystical Michael

The kids took over for a little while in the middle with  Fun DJ

Kids Dancing at Party with Fun DJ Mystical Michael

And they let the adults join them again at the end with  Fun DJ

 Fun DJ Family Dancing Together at Party with DJ Mystical Michael

What a  Fun DJ day!

DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & NY DJ

Back To Back Teen and Family Parties Today!

Today is one of the rare days that I will perform as professional DJ twice. This afternoon I get the opportunity to DJ, MC and lead games for a Bar Mitzvah celebration in Highland Park, NJ. They are a really nice family and I know this will be a fun party.They are open-minded and respectful people who are not fans of the ridiculous over-the-top celebrations many Bar Mitzvahs Bat and Mitzvahs have become today. This is why I agreed to work with them. Back to back teen and family parties!

 

This evening we will be in Bayonne, NJ as DJ and MC for a High School Graduation party, always a good time.  This is another nice family that the Mother and I have had several enjoyable conversations, with her son making sure I am clear on the music he prefers for later at night, after many of the older people will be gone. He recognizes that the music he listens to, Hardcore Rap, might offend or be harsh to some of his Grandparents and other family members. Back to back teen and family parties!

 

Two great parties and a full day! This week will end up to be five gigs in one week! I am fortunate that I am getting hired as often as I am. I know some professional DJs and MCs are having trouble filling their calendar these days. I guess all the time and effort to create a strong Internet presence, high Google ranking and such positive references and reviews from my clients are bearing fruit. Time to get today started! Back to back teen and family parties!

Great Fun Teen and Family Parties with DJ Mystical Michael

Back to back teen and family parties!

DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & NY DJ

Two Things The DJ Can Count On At A Wedding

As many different weddings as I have been hired as professional Wedding DJ, there are two things I can count on for each one. It would seem with all the different couples, cultures, ages, styles and personalities that nothing would be the same for sure except a Bride and a Groom get married right? Wrong.

 

The first thing you can count on is that there will always be something that is not as planned, no matter how much planning and coordination is put into the wedding. You can pay the best planner, hire a great day-of coordinator and be obsessive about the details but there will always be something that demands a quick change in plans. Sometimes is an Uncle who can’t make it due to health. It may be a storm that keeps one entire family detained because of cancelled flights. An Aunt you haven’t seen in ten years may demand that her son of eight years be part of the Bridal Party without taking no for answer and making even a bigger scene than she has already. It doesn’t matter what it is but there is always something that requires the professional Wedding DJ to switch gears and smoothly transition to whatever needs to be adjusted without anybody else knowing there was a shift in the program. An experienced professional wedding DJ can do this seamlessly. It is what you pay us more money to do. You want that confidence and security to know it will be OK no matter what and that we will make it work without adding to the excitement that already exists.

 

The good news is that the second thing you can count on as a professional Wedding DJ is that everything will be amazing! I do not know how it happens but it does. Every wedding somehow is remarkably exceptional. I wish I could take credit for this but I can’t. It seems as if there is a force that directs the wedding toward amazing in spite of all of us involved. In spite of the crazy Aunt, the drunk Cousin, the always late Brother and the rain on the day that the weathermen promised no rain with a zero chance of precipitation. It ends up amazing.

 

I can’t tell you how many times it was raining les than an hour before an outdoor ceremony and stopped till ten minutes after the Vows and photos! It is uncanny. Last summer I had a wedding that the weatherman predicted one hundred percent chance of rain and not a drop! I was hired as Wedding DJ the weekend of Hurricane Irene and the venue canceled the day before. Somehow the Bride’s Mother was able to find an alternative venue in three hours and the next day all but a handful of people were seated at the Chapel eagerly anticipating The Bride and Groom. It was amzing!

Groomsman preparing for Wedding Ceremony on NJ side of Hudson River looking at NYC

Somehow it all works out. It is the one thing that I can count on besides organized chaos at every wedding. Couples get married. Families sparkle. Friends celebrate. How they get married, what makes the family sparkle and the style of celebration are as different as the couples themselves but it happens. Trust me it happens. You will get married and it will be amazing. Count on it!

DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & NY DJ