Tag Archives: DJ Guarantee

All weddings are awesome — not just mine | Offbeat Bride

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As I have mentioned before, I love Offbeat Bride! I think they are amazing and do a great job of offering Brides diverse and creative ideas, concepts and perspectives on Weddings and everything that goes into your Wedding. The Wedding industry can sometimes be embarrassment to be a participant in the process. There are many vendors, venues and Wedding DJs that lie, cheat and manipulate Brides and Grooms. They play on their insecurities and fears to buy buy buy. I realize it is corny, but I love Weddings. The whole process is fun and inspiring to me. Like the article below states; all Weddings are awesome. It does not matter how much you spend or don’t, they are great experiences and celebrate marriage. I am equally thrilled when a Bride tells me she hired another Wedding DJ thats is perfect for her. I am not worried about getting  booked, many Brides and many Weddings. The fact that I am a small business that survives off of Weddings does not matter to me. I will get work. I want you to be happy and have a great Wedding that you, your friends and family will always remember. I am not the only excellent Wedding DJ and I am not the right Wedding DJ for every Bride and Groom. Let me know what you think about this piece on Brides and Weddings from Offbeat Bride.

All weddings are awesome — not just mine | Offbeat Bride with Rhode Island Wedding DJ

All weddings are awesome — not just mine | Offbeat Bride

“I am confused.

I am confused by the attitude that surrounds weddings and costs and ideas and things. Maybe that’s what makes me offbeat — I have this habit of loving everyone and being insanely optimisic even when it’s probably not warranted. I give second chances. I love and trust until given reason not to. Every new person I meet, and can carry at least a five minute conversation, I say is my new best friend. I write a daily blog about something happy that happened to me that day.

My problem lies in all the intense bitchiness that lives in the wedding world. “My wedding is better than yours because of such-and-such” and all of the things that go into such a feeling.

I was reading a blog where a woman commented that she had a courtroom wedding and blames opulent weddings for the high divorce rate.

Then there are the haters on both sides of the world. My wedding (and marriage) are better than yours because I chose to have a BBQ instead of a five course sit down meal. [At Offbeat Bride, we call this “one-lowsmanship” -Eds] My wedding (and marriage) are better than yours because I paid for three party rooms and the ghost of Louis Armstrong to sing our first song.

Can we all just chill the fuck out and be nice to each other for like… five and a half seconds?

If I was rich, I can’t say that I wouldn’t spend $50,000 on a wedding. I’d like to say I wouldn’t, but ideas change when disposable income does. My beautiful made of honor will be in our less-than-$10,000 celebration and was recently the maid of honor at a $50,000 celebration. They did the whole spiel: Catholic mass ceremony in a church with friends, family, family friends, parent’s business friends, people they’ve never known, country club, five course sit-down meal, uplighting, etc., etc. And you know what?

That wedding? … Absolutely beautiful.

The couple has been together for nearly ten years, and they earned every second of that celebration. Just because they did things differently than me doesn’t make them any better or worse. It’s just different.

We’re all awesome, beautiful, wonderful brides planning celebrations. We’re not all that different — we’re just throwing different parties.

The wedding industrial complex that tells us we need to lose weight, invite people we hate, and buybuybuybuybuy is slightly evil, yes. But it’s not all evil, and the women who don’t read Offbeat Bride are brides too. We all are. We’re all awesome, beautiful, wonderful brides planning celebrations. There are bad apples in every bunch but mostly, we’re not all that different — we’re just throwing different parties.

So I guess my issue is that everyone on every spectrum needs to realize that we can all get along. I promise. We really can. I love your wedding. Whoever you are. I love it. Whether it had all the bells and whistles or was private vows at the top of a mountain. Whether it had a DJ or an iPod. Whether it cost $200 or $200,000. It’s one of most beautiful days in the history of ever. We don’t need to be subtracting from other people’s celebrations to help make ourselves feel better. We can appreciate everything even if it’s nothing we would ever do in a million years.

The girl with the big poofy dress, the fancy dinner, the expensive wine, the 14 bridesmaids? That’s not me. But you know what? Her wedding is going to kick just as much ass as mine will because that’s her celebration. If you can stand in that ceremony and say that the person across from you is the person that you’re supposed to be across from on your wedding day — then nothing else matters.”

via All weddings are awesome — not just mine | Offbeat Bride.

What do you think about appreciating all Brides and all Weddings?

DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & Boston DJ

Ask about my Rhode Island Wedding DJ & Rhode Island Party DJ Guarantee!

Marvin Gaye Born Today, Died Yesterday

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There are few musicians that have held my attention and appreciation from childhood, teens, college, adulthood and today, Marvin Gaye is one of them. His sweet music, soulful lyrics and need to grow and experiment still impress me today. In some respects, he is a professional DJ dream artist because his music crosses so many genres and demographics to reach diverse audiences and environments. His activism for equality, poverty, politics, discrimination, war and the environments as well as his own bout with drug addiction, were pioneering, especially for a Person of Color producing many Billboard Hits at that time. Like Stevie Wonder, he was able to integrate political and socially conscious messages into Pop and Dance songs like few others have or can. I have missed him since his death and am reminded of this today, the anniversary of his birth and yesterday being the memorial of his death.

‘I think I’ve got a real thing going. I love people. I love life and I love nature, and I can’t see why other people can’t be like that.’  Marvin Gaye

 

Marvin Gaye What’s Going On Music Video

http://youtu.be/Dzs1K3caXJk

The Marvin Gaye  Story

“Marvin Gaye (April 2, 1939 – April 1, 1984), born Marvin Pentz Gay, Jr., was an American singer-songwriter and musician. Gaye helped to shape the sound of Motown Records in the 1960s with a string of hits including “How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)” and “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” and duet recordings with Mary Wells and Tammi Terrell, later earning the titles, “Prince of Motown” and “Prince of Soul”. During the 1970s, Gaye recorded the concept albums What’s Going On and Let’s Get It On and became among the first artists in Motown to break away from the reins of its production company. Gaye’s later recordings influenced several R&B subgenres such as quiet storm and neo-soul. Following a period in Europe under a tax exile in the early1980s, Gaye released the 1982 Grammy Award-winning hit, “Sexual Healing” and the Midnight Love album. Following his death in 1984, Gaye has been posthumously honored by many institutions including the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.”

Marvin Gaye Let’s Get It On Performance on Soul Train

http://youtu.be/yhBAJHzIkQk

“As one of the pioneers of Motown, singer-songwriter and producer Marvin Gaye helped shape the sound of R & B music and is considered one of the greatest artists of all time.” The Marvin Gaye Page

Marvin Pentz Gay, Jr. was born to Marvin Gay, Sr., a preacher, and Alberta Gay, a housewife and schoolteacher. The middle child of three children, Marvin Gaye’s childhood can be characterized by developing an early love of music in the face of an abusive relationship with his father. Marvin Gaye’s introduction to music began by singing in his father’s church choir when he was only three years old. He expanded his musical abilities by learning how to play the piano and drums. To escape the repeated beatings he endured at the hands of his father, Marvin Gaye dropped out of high school and enlisted in the Air Force.

Marvin Gaye Let’s Get It On Music Video

http://youtu.be/e6wEPtBzLLM

Never losing his love of music, he began singing in doo-wop groups when he was honorably discharged from the Air Force. He joined a local Washington D.C. band, and their song, “Wyatt Earp”, recorded with Okeh Records, led to an invitation to join Harvey Fuqua’s group, The Moonglows, in 1958. The group moved to Chicago and began recording for Chess Records. Marvin Gaye then caught the attention of Barry Gordy Jr. during a Motown Christmas party where Gaye played the piano. Gordy signed him to Motown Records in 1961.

The great Marvin Gaye on Motown Records with Rhode Island DJ
Gaye’s career began slowly with Motown, working as a session drummer while trying to build a solo career. He played drums with such artists as The Miracles, The Contours, and Martha and the Vandellas.

Marvin Gaye Sexual Healing Music Video

With the release of 1969’s “Too Busy Thinking About My Baby” and “That’s the Way Love Is”, Gaye became increasingly frustrated with the type of music he was making with Motown, even though his songs kept making the charts. He wanted to make more socially relevant music, so in 1971 What’s Going On was released; the first song Marvin Gaye produced himself. The album explored topics such as poverty, discrimination, politics, drug abuse and the environment. Barry Gordy was reluctant to release the album because he doubted its potential commercial success. Despite the reservations, What’s Going On was an instant hit and groundbreaking work in the soul music genre.

Marvin Gaye Mercy Mercy Me Live at Montreaux

The last two years of Marvin Gaye’s life were filled with a combination of successful music and increasing drug problems. He signed with Columbia Records in 1982 and released Midnight Love. It included the hit “Sexual Healing” which earned him his only Grammy Award and topped the charts in the United States, Canada, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. Then in 1983 he reconciled with Barry Gordy on a televised appearance celebrating Motown’s 50th anniversary. His last public appearance was in 1983 when he sang his memorable rendition of “The Star Spangled Banner” at the NBA All-Star game.

Marvin Gaye Got to Give It Up

http://youtu.be/wRcVQDELAd4

Cocaine addiction forced Marvin Gaye to move in with his parents to try to straighten out his life. His strained relationship with his father, though, led him to sink even deeper into depression and thoughts of suicide. During an intense argument on April 1, 1984, Marvin Gaye was shot in the head by his father, only hours before his 45th birthday. Claiming self-defense, Marvin Gay Sr. plead no contest to voluntary manslaughter. He was cremated and his ashes were scattered across the Pacific Ocean.

Marvin Gaye I Heard It Through The Grapevine (A Capella)

Thank you Brother Marvin for the Love, Vision and Grooves.

DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & Boston DJ

973.908.8147

Fun Teen Party DJ – Rhode Island Teen Party DJ

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The weather is getting warmer here in New Jersey, slowly but getting warmer. Sp[ring is giving us that freshness we all look forward to that coincides the shift i weather. And time for the Teen Party DJ to be ready to rock the Spring and Summer seasons! Here comes the Sweet Sixteens, Teen Birthdays and Graduation Parties!

Fun Teen Party DJ Music

I know many professional DJs in New Jersey not to look forward to working Teen Parties but I do! Being a Teen Party DJ means you get to play all the current hits to an audience that really appreciates what a good Teen Party DJ can do. As a subscriber to Prime Cuts Music, I am weekly refreshed with all the new hits songs and the songs about to be hits before they are released publically.

Fun Teen Party DJ with Fun Rhode Island Teen Party DJ

“For over 30 years, TM Studios has delivered great music to industry professionals. Over 10 years ago, PrimeCuts was developed to bring that same service to mobile DJs, nightclubs & bars, sports teams, internet radio stations, & entertainment venues.


Here’s why PrimeCuts is considered by many to be the #1 choice for new music:

  • All the hits in various formats
  • Over 25 genres of music–every song from every service we offer
  • Subscriptions include UNLIMITED downloads
  • High quality MP3 files–320kbps with complete ID3 tags

TM Studios’ HitDiscs® are the music service of choice among radio professionals….including American Top 40 with Ryan Seacrest, every major network, thousands of radio stations worldwide and most major webcasters. You can enjoy the same superior quality and service that broadcasters have come to depend on from TM Studios.

PrimeCuts features radio edit hits that crack the Top 30 Charts of Adult Contemporary, Hot AC, Top 40/CHR, Urban, Country, Rock and Alternative. PrimeCuts also includes Dance and Christian cuts. PrimeCuts is shipped every week, 52 weeks a year!

If it’s a hit, it’s on PrimeCuts!”

Fun Teen Party DJ with Fun Rhode Island Teen Party DJ

Having the right music for Teens is critical. A good Teen Party DJ is ready and never shows up without all the music needed for a great party with lots of dancing and partying! And of course, good Teen party DJs have fun party lights for the dance floor too.

Fun Teen Party DJ with Fun Rhode Island Teen Party DJ

DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & Boston DJ

973.908.8147

Fun 50th Birthday Party with Fun Rhode Island DJ

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Last weekend I had a really fun 50th Birthday Party in Newark New Jersey at Iberia Restaurant. It was actually at Iberia Peninsula Restaurant across the street.

Iberia Restaurant Fun 50th Birthday Party with Fun Rhode Island DJ

“Requiring more room  to accommodate the crowds that flock to their sister restaurant, Iberia, the owners have realized their dream of building a palatial Portuguese / Spanish restaurant.

Iberia Peninsula is one of the most spectacular restaurants ever to be constructed in New Jersey.  Cathedral ceilings, stainless steel topped bar stretching as far as the eye can see, brick, marble, and large barbeque pits make up this enormous restaurant.  There are two large dining rooms.  Both above and below the main restaurant are several beautifully decorated rooms of varying sizes for private parties.”

Fun 50th Birthday Party with Fun Rhode Island DJ

Fun 50th Birthday Party with Fun Rhode Island DJ

It is not often that I get the opportunity to  provide Music, DJ & MC services for a Rutgers Professor who is also an Interfaith Minister. In this case, she is actually an even better person than her professional accomplishments. I can see why anybody would want Reverend Dámaris M. Otero-Torres  to facilitate their special moments and life’s Blessings. her site, Epiphanies of the Heart, states her perspective;

“Life is a river of unlimited opportunities that invite us to explore the depths of joy, gratitude, beauty, love, intimacy and purpose. 

Whether you are blessing the arrival of a new life, initiating the journey of marriage, renewing your wedding vows, or honoring the memory of a loved one, your ceremony is crafted with utmost care and reverence to crystallize that special moment in memories that will last for a lifetime.”

Fun 50th Birthday Party with Fun Rhode Island DJ

Damaris is a special woman, as is her husband Paul. I am so grateful to have been part of their wonderful night of celebration with more than one hundred friends and family eating, singing, talking and most of all, dancing! They wet a mixed crowd form New Jersey and NYC and represented many demographics and cultures collectively. Along with being really fun and caring people at the 50th Birthday Party, I always cherish being a Multicultural DJ. It is one of the things I do best as a Rhode Island DJ; mixing music and cultures seamlessly with respect and inclusion. At this 50th Birthday Party, there was a musical focus on Vocal Classics, 80’s Dance Music and lots of Salsa and Merengue. Her mother wanted a few Waltzes mixed in that she danced like a trained professional! They were beautiful to watch.

Fun 50th Birthday Party with Fun Rhode Island DJ

I always feel funny when I write this, but I love my job as a DJ of events like Weddings, Sweet Sixteens, Graduations and of course, Damaris 50th Birthday Party. I am grateful that I have the skills and training to excel as a DJ to offer my services for others. This is one of the reasons I offer a guarantee.

Fun 50th Birthday Party with Fun Rhode Island DJ

DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & Boston DJ

973.908.8147

Crash Test Dummies Superman’s Song

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I love Crash Test Dummies Superman’s Song! It is such a unique song with all kinds of fun and curious pieces. Crash Test Dummies Superman’s Song was the first single of the Canadian folk-rock group Crash Test Dummies and came from their 1991 debut album The Ghosts That Haunt Me. The single was the group’s first hit, charting in both Canada (#4) and the United States (#56). It was also featured in the pilot of the Canadian TV series Due South and appeared on the first Due South soundtrack album.

The song was covered by Lucy Wainwright Roche, daughter of Loudon Wainwright III and Suzzy Roche of The Roches, on her second EP “8 More.” It also has been covered by Nataly Dawn.

Crash Test Dummies Superman’s Song Music Video

Crash Test Dummies Superman’s Song Story

Crash Test Dummies Superman’s Song is a slow funeral dirge, mournfully telling the story of Clark Kent/Superman, as if he had recently died. The central theme is the death of the selfless hero. The song notes that Superman had the power to commit great evil and bring himself unfathomable riches, but instead chose to use his powers for good, while expecting no payment for his deeds.

The chorus emphasizes this theme:

Superman never made any money
For saving the world from Solomon Grundy
And sometimes I despair the world will never see
Another man like him

Throughout the song, Crash Test Dummies Superman’s Song, Brad Roberts contrasts Superman and Tarzan, whom he considers a crude, rough, and uncivilized antihero.

This tribute to the Man of Steel predates his eventual death and his replacement by four new heroes claiming to be the “new” Superman.

Crash Test Dummies Superman's Song with Rhode Island Wedding DJ

Crash Test Dummies Superman’s Song Video Story

The music video for the song was directed by Dale Heslip and features the band singing at a funeral for Superman attended by various aging superheroes. Some depicted are a middle aged Wonder Woman-like character, The Green Hornet, and possibly Green Lantern (Alan Scott). It won the MuchMusic Video Award for Best Video in 1991.

There is no mistaking Brad Roberts’ voice. He may look like an average guy, now in his mid- 40s, but then he opens his mouth and his majestic baritone voice immediately conjures fond memories of such Crash Test Dummies hits at “Mmm, Mmm, Mmm, Mmm” and “Superman.” Perhaps best remembered for the acerbic folk rock sound of 1991’s The Ghosts That Haunt Me and 1993’s God Shuffled His Feet, there have nonetheless been enough hits for the band over the years to merit a couple of greatest hits packages. Through it all, the band with Roberts at the helm has touched on funk and soul, folk, electronic music and even Christmas tunes. Yet it is Roberts’ voice and offbeat lyrical sensibility that have been this beloved band’s calling cards since their founding twenty years ago.” Crash Test Dummies Official Site

Where did the Crash Test Dummies get their name?

“Crash Test Dummies was adopted initially as a joke, at the suggestion of a friend in medical school. Apparently through constant use, the name stuck. Among other monikers considered were Skin Graft and the Chemotherapists.”

Crash Test Dummies Superman's Song with Rhode Island Wedding DJ

“I think that when you are dealing with popular music, unless you have a strong melody, sympathetic chords, and a good set of lyrics you ain’t got nothing,” Roberts points out. Foreshadowing the highly entertaining shows for which he is so well known, Roberts adds “I want to have a little room to digress into an anecdote while Stuart strums the guitar, if that’s what I feel like doing.”

I think Crash Test Dummies Superman’s Song is such a compelling and interesting tune. Somehow the somber elements contrast so nicely with Roberts Baritone voice and superhero tone and lyrics. It is a fun song for a DJ to play in unique situations.

Crash Test Dummies Superman's Song with Rhode Island Wedding DJ

 

It has been suggested that Crash Test Dummies Superman’s Song would also be a fun ad interesting Father-Daughter Dance at a Wedding for a Bride that wants a song about she feels about her father. Most Father-Daughter Dance Songs are typically about how he feels about the daughter. Crash Test Dummies Superman’s Song makes for a nice change of pace if you feel moved to do so. I invite you to contact me about other unique Father-Daughter Dance Songs or any special songs you need ideas.

What do you find most compelling about Crash Test Dummies Superman’s Song?

DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & Boston DJ

973.908.8147

Save on Wedding Music – Cut Wedding Music Costs | Wedding Planning, Ideas & Etiquette | Bridal Guide Magazine

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How to Save on Wedding Music

It is always fun to see yourself quoted in articles for a magazine like Bridal Guide. This is a great blog on saving money on Wedding Music. Let me know what you think of the various ideas for Wedding Music!

How To Save on Wedding Music By:  Sharon Naylor

From first dance to last call — budget-friendly ways to entertain your guests in high style.

Great entertainment can really make your wedding unforgettable. A fabulous DJ or a live band keeps your dance floor packed and the energy up. Those ultra-special moments like your first dances and your cake-cutting become even more special with a stellar introduction. And surprise live performances are sure to wow your crowd.

Entertainment can be one of the most expensive parts of the wedding budget, however, and it’s not always the easiest place to cut corners. But fear not, there’s definitely wiggle room when it comes to number crunching — and we’re here to give you the scoop. Plus, get wedding song recommendations here!

Bride Dancing to Great Wedding Music by Rhode Island Wedding DJ
Photo Credit: Kathryn Krueger Photography

The Number-One Question: DJ Vs. Band

You’ve always heard that DJs are less expensive than live bands. After all, there’s only one person to hire and feed, so that has to be less, right? Not always. According to the American Disc Jockey Association, rates can soar to $5,000 and beyond for top-tier master-blasters. But yes, in most cases, DJs can be less expensive than bands since there are fewer people to book and feed.

And yet: “Think about the experience you want to have at your wedding,” says planner Courtney Hammons of A Magical Affair in Brentwood, Tennessee. You may be aiming for the energy that fills the room when a live band plays hit songs. Or it may be that you really prefer the original artists’ renditions of songs, as played by a DJ. You may want the festive look of a nine-piece orchestra, versus the tech-heavy presence of a deejay.

And of course, you might be among the many couples that choose both. They’ll have a band play for the dinner hour and the start of the reception, then have a DJ step in and rev up the energy with club music. And—surprise—this can save money. Read on to see how.

Typical Costs

  • DJ: $525 to $1,400
  • Live band: $1,200 to $3,000-plus
  • Specialty musicians, soloists and ensembles: $400 to $1,000-plus

These are national averages. Depending on your reception entertainment choices, such as a 12-piece orchestra, you could be looking at prices double these, if not more.

*Source: industry survey site costofwedding.com.

Great Wedding Music by Fun Rhode Island Wedding DJ

Budget Basics

Professional entertainment will cost less during the off-peak months of October through March, and at non-peak times such as a Sunday wedding, a Saturday afternoon wedding or on a Friday, with prices dipping 20 to 40 percent or more for these less in-demand times.

Avoid booking for too few hours. Andy Kushner of Andy Kushner Entertainment in Rockville, Maryland says, “Four hours is the standard length, and anything else will go too quickly.” Overtime fees can be very expensive, often hundreds of dollars.

Booking a DJ and band to split the time can add up to less. Michael Swerdloff, AKA DJ Mystical Michael of the New York tri-state area says, “I have performed in between the band’s sets and then did the last hours of the reception, which can save 25 to 75 percent over hiring a band for the whole event.”

Ask your wedding planner and additional wedding vendors for recommendations. Katherine Stimson, entertainment specialist with Suman Entertainment Group in Miami says that some vendors offer package deals among “friends” in their vendor circle, saving you 10 to 20 percent.

Ask your entertainer if you can get a discount for paying your entire fee in advance. Some experts will give you 5 to 10 percent off a package price if you pay everything up front.

Ask about specialty discounts. DJ Mystical Michael granted a 50 percent discount to a military couple, and reports that he often gives a discount for last-minute planners just to book the date.

Check entertainers’ social media sites for discounts, says Gregg Hollman of Ambient DJ Service in Princeton, New Jersey. These special online offers will typically save you 10 to 15 percent.

Get more out of your dj by having him take a break during the dinner hour, says Kushner. “Then negotiate for him to play non-stop during the dancing hours.”

Choose a one-man dj operation, rather than paying for a two- or three-member team. This can save you 15 to 25 percent depending on the agency, says Swerdloff.

Look for multi-tasking band members who play more than one instrument to get even more bang for your buck. See if one of your reception band’s musicians will also play at your ceremony, and negotiate a percentage off what it would cost to book a separate musical act.

Don’t be afraid to go big: “It’s always best to negotiate with an established entertainment company rather than go to a lesser-known agency,” Kushner says. Larger agencies often have a greater ability to meet your budget needs.

Great Wedding Music by Fun Rhode Island Wedding DJ

Save By Going Off The Beaten Track

“Check with local colleges’ music departments to find student musicians who need the credits and additional live experience, and may not charge anything,” says Hammons. (Do give them a nice gratuity after the show.) Some students do charge, but far less. Mark Kingsdorf, director of The Queen of Hearts Wedding Consultants in Philadelphia agrees, saying that music school student entertainment can cost one-third less than pro musicians.

Hammons also suggests checking with your church’s musical director, who can suggest excellent pianists and other musicians they use during services, who you can hire for 30 to 40 percent less than the prevailing professional rates.

Professional entertainment companies keep a roster of specialty musicians and dancers, who you may be able to add onto your music package for a 10 percent discount.

Look to venues like Irish pubs or Indian restaurants for specialty entertainment options such as fiddlers, step- or belly dancers. Hammons says she has found stellar entertainers through local restaurant owners, saving her clients 40 to 60 percent.

Contact local cultural associations to book singers, musicians and dance troupes for 25 to 50 percent less than the going professional rates. This is a great way to add global flair to your reception. If you hear a great musician at a local club or coffee shop, always ask if he or she does weddings. These artists often charge a low per-hour rate that can save you hundreds of dollars. Bonus: you already know their sound, which may be perfect for your cocktail-hour music, if not your ceremony.

Great Wedding Music by Fun Rhode Island Wedding DJ

Hot Tip: Many DJs and bands offer specialty lighting effects as part of their package; often their basic lighting accents are gratis, with customized lighting for an added fee. Ask if you can use non-custom effects such as light projected in a snowflake pattern on your dance floor at no charge—rather than commission lighting effects with your names.

via Save on Wedding Music – Cut Wedding Music Costs | Wedding Planning, Ideas & Etiquette | Bridal Guide Magazine. by Sharon Naylor

What do you think of the mopey-saving ideas for Wedding Music?

Was this article helpful for Wedding Music planning?

Ask about my Rhode Island Wedding DJ & Rhode Island Party DJ Guarantee!

Trivia Host and DJ at O’Reilly’s Bar and Grill

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I continue to have fun and enjoy my experience as Trivia Host and DJ at O’Reilly’s Bar and Grill in Newton, NJ on Tuesday Nights.We have lots of fun and everybody learns a thing or two, even the Trivia Host and DJ! We gets tarted somewhere between 9:30-10:00 and play till we finish, about two hours later. They give out great prizes and the competition is stiff but casual and playful.

 

Now that I have been a Trivia Host for over a year now and feel like I am actually getting good at it, or at least decent!  For those who don’t know, we play Bar Busters Pub Trivia. The game consists of seven Rounds or Categories; General Knowledge, Pictures, Sports, Music, Geography/History, Entertainment and a General Knowledge Bonus Round. The game is diverse enough that every team and player have a chance to do good, since we have questions that cover many different forms of trivia. One of the aspects of this particular trivia game I like best is the fact that you don’t have to shout out answers. In fact, nobody can shout out answers, they are all written down without anybody else knowing what you guessed! Great for people who want to have fun, test their brain a little and not want to make a fool of themselves in the process.

 

I enjoy Being a Trivia Host because it integrates some of my favorite character traits, excellent DJ and music, entertaining and sharpening up my brain while have lots of fun in the process. Of course, I can be a bit of a ‘ham’ at times but not too over-the-top.

Trivia Host and DJ with Rhode Island Wedding DJ Mystical Michael\

What is Pub Trivia and A Trivia Host?

Here is what Wikipedia defines a Pub Quiz Game with a Trivia Host:

“A pub quiz is a quiz held in a public house. These events are also called quiz nights  or trivia nights and may be held in other settings. Pub quizzes may attract customers to a pub who are not found there on other days. The pub quiz is a modern example of a pub game. Though different pub quizzes can cover a range of formats and topics, they have many features in common. A 2009 study put the number of regular weekly pub quizzes in the UK at 22,445, and one website has counted approximately 2,000 regular weekly quizzes in the United States. The largest pub quiz, according to the Guinness Book of Records, was the “Quiz for Life”, held at the Flanders Expo Halls in Ghent, Belgium, on 11 December 2010 with 2,280 participants.”

Come join me Trivia Host and DJ at O’Reilly’s every Tuesday Night at 9:30!

 

Wedding Day Mistakes And How To Avoid Them

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This article is taken from Wedding Day Mistakes And How To Avoid Them. I thought you would appreciate what Scott has to say, very helpful and informative stuff!

Wedding Day Music Mistakes And How To Avoid Them

by Scott Susor, Your DJ, Houston, TX

Getting Married? Planning for Musical Entertainment at the Reception?
The Top Eight Mistakes Wedding Day Mistakes Brides Make in Choosing A Wedding
Disc Jockey Service (And How To Avoid Them)

These days, almost everybody has been to a wedding reception where a mobile DJ was performing. National magazine surveys show that today, over 70% of wedding receptions that include entertainment feature a mobile DJ in the role of providing that musical entertainment. As recently as 10 years ago, bands commanded the lion’s share of the wedding reception entertainment industry. But, for several reasons, the Wedding DJ has replaced the band as the favorite form of musical entertainment at wedding receptions.

The first reason is the decline in both the number and quality of bands that are able to perform for the typical wide range of age groups attending the average wedding. The second reason is that many bands simply priced themselves out of the wedding reception market. The third, and possibly most significant reason is the rise in stature and quality of the mobile DJ. In the past 10 to 20 years, the perception of the mobile DJ has undergone a transformation. No longer thought of as only appropriate for high school sock hops, the mobile DJ has become, not only appropriate, but preferred for wedding receptions.

So why do we often hear of consumer complaints concerning Wedding DJs? Why do we hear so many tales of woe from brides and grooms concerning the Wedding DJ that they had for their wedding? Why do we hear so many negative comments concerning the music from guests at weddings where a mobile DJ performed? Are all Wedding DJs unethical, incompetent, and/or lousy? Why all the Wedding Day Mistakes with Wedding DJs? 

Of course they aren’t. As in any relatively young industry, there are those who know what they’re doing and there are those who don’t. The fact is, there are quite a few fantastic mobile DJs. However, because the best of them operate almost entirely on referrals, and are booked so far in advance, they are frequently unavailable to accept an event booking from a new client who perhaps has waited too long to find that high quality mobile DJ they want and need. In an effort to help you avoid ending up with an unethical, incompetent, and/or lousy mobile DJ, presented below are the top eight mistakes that brides make in choosing a mobile disc jockey service and how to avoid them.

Wedding Day Mistakes And How To Avoid Them with Rhode Island Wedding DJ

Top 8 Wedding Day Mistakes And How To Avoid Them

1) Plan ahead, way ahead. Most brides begin planning their wedding nine months to a year in advance. Frequently however, the reception entertainment issue gets shuffled to the bottom of the deck in terms of planning. Of all eight mistakes, this is the biggest one. Why? The best mobile DJs book their dates six months to a year in advance. If you don’t book a great mobile DJ early, and lock in one of the best, what does that leave you with to choose from later on?

2) Shop for quality. Sometimes that’s easier said than done, especially when the typical bride might not fully understand what quality in a mobile DJ service truly represents. Some of the other top eight mistakes deal with detail issues of quality and how to identify it. Here, the idea is to generally see and evaluate mobile DJs in exactly the same light as you see and evaluate things like hotels, automobiles, home re-modelers, and doctors. Do not assume that all mobile DJ companies are alike. Do assume that high quality will cost more than low quality.

Wedding Day Mistakes And How To Avoid Them with Rhode Island Wedding DJ

3) Realize the importance of the DJ to your wedding reception’s success. National magazine surveys report that happy brides consistently say that the DJ was most responsible for their wedding reception’s success. The average percentage of importance they’ve assigned to the DJ is 70%. Some people will remember your gorgeous wedding dress. Some people will remember the great food. Some people will remember the beautiful cake. Everybody will remember whether they had a good time or not.

4) Get to know your DJ personally before the wedding. Always request a personal meeting with the mobile DJ company owner AND with the specific DJ who’ll be performing at your wedding reception. In many cases, the owner is the DJ himself/herself; this is known as a “single-op” mobile DJ service. Mobile DJ services where the owner has employees and/or subcontractors who do the actual gigs are called “multi-ops”. Beware of mobile DJ company owners who resist or discourage in-person meetings with you. Beware of multi-op owners who will not guarantee in writing the specific DJ who will perform at your wedding reception. In any case, get to know your DJ to ensure a good working relationship.

Wedding Day Mistakes And How To Avoid Them with Rhode Island Wedding DJ

5) Insist on use of a pre-planned, written agenda. Most mobile DJs simply want to show up and play music. That may be fine for high school sock hops but not for wedding receptions. A truly professional mobile DJ company understands this, and will require advance planning with the bride, resulting in an approved written agenda for the event. Nobody is in a better position to assist in planning the agenda, and to coordinate everything at the wedding reception, than the mobile DJ service. Make sure they do not refuse to accept this important responsibility.

6) Get and check references. Talking to those who have worked with a company before is the best way to verify that the company does what it promises and does it well. If you’re dealing with a “multi-op” make sure the references are for the specific DJ who will be performing at your event, and not for other DJs working for that company nor “generic” references. You decide how many references to check, but the minimum should be five, and all should be from weddings within the past year.

Wedding Day Mistakes And How To Avoid Them with Rhode Island Wedding DJ

7) Verify the “basics” of mobile DJ quality. The “basics” include a variety of items and issues that you might not immediately think of, but which are very important. First, does the company provide backup equipment on site? Second, is the company insured for property loss and liability? Third, does the company have an adequate and appropriate music library? Fourth, will the DJ(s) be attired appropriately? Fifth, will the DJ(s) be interactive, semi-interactive, or non-interactive according to your wishes? Sixth, will the DJ(s) manage the music effectively, reading the crowd, taking requests, and avoiding songs with potentially offensive lyrics? Seventh, does the company offer additional options/services such as secondary sound systems, wedding music and coordination, and nightclub-style lighting?

8) Ensure that your vision of your wedding day becomes reality. If those happy brides are even close to right that the entertainment was 70% responsible for their wedding reception’s success, then it appears that the DJ’s responsibility goes quite a bit further than ‘just playing music’. And without question, it does. The best ones understand this, and they have taken mobile DJ entertainment from a job to an art. That’s why they’re constantly referred, and are booked six months to a year in advance. Don’t try to use only your leftover time, and try to spend only your leftover money, or you’ll probably end up with a leftover DJ.

CREDITS

Scott Susor is the co-owner of “Your DJ” Professional Entertainment Services in Houston, Texas. Scott and his wife Doreen are a husband and wife DJ entertainment team, specializing in wedding receptions. For a free information packet, phone 713-467-7392 or find them on the web at www.yourdjhouston.com

 Wedding Day Mistakes And How To Avoid Them with Rhode Island Wedding DJ

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Wedding Day Mistakes And How To Avoid Them with Rhode Island Wedding DJ

DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & Boston DJ

973.908.8147

Celia Cruz – Cuban Musical Legend and Queen of Salsa

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For more than half a century, Celia Cruz, the Queen of Salsa carried her title with class and distinction. Her powerful voice and electrifying rhythm garnered more than 100 worldwide recognitions, multiple platinum and gold records, three GRAMMY awards and four Latin GRAMMY awards, as well as a star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame. Her boundless enthusiasm, genuine warmth, and deep-seated humanitarianism made Celia Cruz the music industry’s most accomplished and revered performer … and the world’s most notable ambassador of Hispanic culture. Celia Cruz Website

On Saturday Night, I was the DJ & MC for a very fun 50th Birthday Party at Iberia Peninsula      Restaurant in Newark, New Jersey. Of course, the music was fabulous with the diverse party guests from New Jersey and New York City from all cultures and walks of life. I find it such a fun challenge to provide music for dancing for diverse audiences that don’t all enjoy the same music. It reminds if my days as a community organizer bringing groups together to create a common positive goal as one.

The playlist we created in advance included lots of Frank Sinatra, Rod Stewart, 80’s Dance Music, Thrift Shop and a significant chunk of Salsa, Merengue and Flamenco songs. Of course, Celia Cruz La Vida Es Un Carnaval was near the top of the DJ song list, in the “must-play” category, and we did. As usual, the response was great and the dance floor was packed with dancers smiling with joy. I thought it was time for me to pay tribute to Celia Cruz and her greatness, especially since she is somewhat of a local legend living many years in New Jersey.

Celia Cruz – La Vida Es Un Carnaval Music Video

http://youtu.be/lArGoRhFr4E

“I feel very fortunate to have called Celia Cruz my friend. She was an inspiration not only as an artist but as a woman and a remarkable human being.” Gloria Estefan
 

(Celia Cruz) Úrsula Hilaria Celia de la Caridad Cruz Alfonso de la Santísima Trinidad (October 21, 1925 – July 16, 2003) was a Cuban-American salsa performer. One of the most popular salsa artists of the 20th century, she earned twenty-three gold albums and was renowned internationally as the “Queen of Salsa” as well as “La Guarachera de Cuba.”

She spent much of her career living in New Jersey, and working in the United States and several Latin American countries. Leila Cobo of Billboard Magazine once said “Cruz is indisputably the best known and most influential female figure in the history of Cuban music.”

“Celia Cruz was an absolute pillar as a human being and one of the most unselfish humanitarians I have ever met and am sure I will ever have known.” Marc Anthony

Celia Cruz Legacy

In February 2004, Celia Cruz last album, Regalo del Alma, won a posthumous award at the Premios Lo Nuestro for best Salsa release of the year. It was announced in December 2005 that a musical called “Assuca” would open in Tenerife before touring the world. The name comes from Cruz’s well-known catch phrase of “¡Azúcar!”

Celia Cruz Park Union City New Jersey with Rhode Island Wedding DJ

On June 4, 2004, the heavily Cuban-American community of Union City, New Jersey heralded its annual Cuban Day Parade by dedicating its new Celia Cruz Park (also known as Celia Cruz Plaza), which features a sidewalk star in her honor, at 31st Street and Bergenline Avenue, with Celia Cruz’s widower, Pedro Knight, present. There are four other similar dedications to Cruz around the world. Celia Cruz’s star has expanded into Union City’s “Walk of Fame”, as new marble stars are added each spring to honor Latin entertainment and media personalities, such as merengue singer Joseíto Mateo, salsa singer La India, Cuban musician Israel “Cachao” Lopez, Cuban tenor Beny Moré, Tito Puente, Spanish language television news anchor Rafael Pineda, salsa pioneer Johnny Pacheco, singer/bandleader Gilberto Santa Rosa and music promoter Ralph Mercado.

Fun Rhode Island Multicultural DJ plays Celia Cruz at Party

On May 18, 2005, the National Museum of American History, administered by the Smithsonian Institution and located in Washington, D.C., opened “¡Azúcar!”, an exhibit celebrating the life and music of Celia Cruz. The exhibit highlights important moments in Cruz’s life and career through photographs, personal documents, costumes, videos, and music.

On September 26, 2007, through May 25, 2008, Celia, a musical based on the life of Celia Cruz, played at the off-Broadway venue, New World Stages. Some performances were in Spanish and some in English. The show won four 2008 HOLA awards from the Hispanic Organization of Latin Actors.

Fun Rhode Island DJ plays Celia Cruz

“I had the honor and pleasure of photographing Celia for twelve years. I’ll never forget her smile and her amazing energy. The biggest thing about Celia is that she never knew how great she truly was. She always made me feel so proud to be Cuban.”

Alexis Rodriguez-Duarte

DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & Boston DJ

973.908.8147

“Here Comes the Bride” alternatives for ALL kinds of processionals | Offbeat Bride

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“Here Comes the Bride” alternatives for ALL kinds of processionals

I saw this post, “Here Comes the Bride” alternatives for ALL kinds of processionals, earlier today and wanted to share it with you. If you have not visited  Offbeat Bride yet, I invite you to do so. They are by far my favorite Bridal or Wedding Site on the Internet.  I encourage you to use them as a resource for unique and alternative Wedding ideas and forums. They are smart and lots of fun, while making sure you get all kinds of neat Wedding advice and recommendations!

Many of the songs they have listed for “Here Comes the Bride” alternatives for ALL kinds of processionals, I have had requested by my Brides as well, and they have been perfect for them. I think that is the key to finding the right Wedding Processional Songs, or any songs for that matter for your Wedding; they have to be the prefect songs for you.

"Here Comes the Bride" alternatives for ALL kinds of processionals with New jersey Wedding DJ

“Here Comes the Bride” alternatives for ALL kinds of processionals | Offbeat Bride

“My fiancee and I are going to be walking into the ceremony together and then meeting in the middle, so the traditional “Here Comes the Bride” wouldn’t really fit us too well.

That being said, does anyone know of any alternatives to that song?”

-Shell

Here we go! We’ve already rounded up AWESOME first dance songs and non-sappy father/daughter dance songs, now it’s time to put our Offbeat Bride spin on the processional. Here are our favorite Here Comes the Bride alternatives, ranging from the classic, the modern, and the totally nerdy (of course).

Classical Alternatives

Satie’s “Gymnopédie No. 1”

Gustav Holst’s “Jupiter, The Bringer Of Jollity”

“Ode to Joy” from Beethoven’s Symphony 9

Vivaldi’s “Spring Allegro”

Handel’s Air From “Water Music”

Mussorgsky’s “Pictures At An Exhibition: Promenade”

"Here Comes the Bride" alternatives for ALL kinds of processionals with New jersey Wedding DJ

Variations on a Theme of Traditional

Queen’s wedding march — I had to!

Canon In D Remix by Ronald Jenkees

Etta James’ At Last

"Here Comes the Bride" alternatives for ALL kinds of processionals with New jersey Wedding DJ

Subtly (and sometimes nerdy) Alternatives

“Concerning Hobbits”

The Princess Bride’s “Storybook Love”

The Turret Opera from Portal 2

“The Shape of Things to Come” from Battlestar Galactica

Sigur Rós’ “Hoppípolla”

“Romantic Flight” from the movie How to Train Your Dragon

“Neville’s Waltz” from Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire

The Skyrim theme

The theme from Braveheart

Triumphal March from Aida

Game of Thrones theme

"Here Comes the Bride" alternatives for ALL kinds of processionals with New jersey Wedding DJ

Goth and Metal

Amhran by Leaves’ Eyes — an operatic metal band from Norway

Apocalyptica’s version of “Nothing Else Matters”

Suite Gothique by Leon Boellmann

Anything from Gothic Wedding Collection by Vitamin String Quartet

"Here Comes the Bride" alternatives for ALL kinds of processionals with New jersey Wedding DJ

Silly

The theme from James Bond

The theme from the Pink Panther

The theme from Mission impossible

“A Cadence to Arms” by Dropkick Murphy

The Jurassic Park theme

The Throne Room/End Title song from Star Wars

The Muppets’ Somebody’s Getting Married/He’ll Make Me Happy

Europe’s “The Final Countdown”

"Here Comes the Bride" alternatives for ALL kinds of processionals with New jersey Wedding DJ

Pop and Rock

Somewhere Over the Rainbow

Colbie Caillat’s “I Do”

Adele’s “One and only”

The Beatles’ “In My Life”

Pearl Jam’s “Just Breathe”

Cat Power’s version of “Sea of Love”

Tesla’s Love Song

"Here Comes the Bride" alternatives for ALL kinds of processionals with New jersey Wedding DJ

Indie

Thirteen by Elliot Smith

Phone Call by Jon Brion from Eternal Sunshine

Jeff Buckley’s Hallelujah

We Are Gonna Be Friends by the White Stripes

About Megan Finley

Megan Finley is the Associate Publisher for the Offbeat Empire. When she’s not slaving away for the Empire, she’s sharing her dork side on her own blog and on Twitter @meganfinley.

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Your turn! What was or will be your “Here Comes the Bride” alternatives?

Jeff Buckley’s “Hallelujah” is one of my favorite songs of all music and a great alternative for those who find equal enjoyment inits words, melody and beauty.

DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & Boston DJ

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