Tag Archives: Rhode Island Professional DJ

What to Look for in A Professional Wedding DJ

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Experience. Experience is the most important aspect of choosing a quality professional Wedding DJ for your wedding. A professional  Wedding DJ needs to have experience with DJing many kinds of events, and most importantly; weddings. Weddings have a certain rhythm and flow to them that can be overwhelming when you are new at providing professional DJ services for weddings.

 

Let’s face it, the intention is to do this only once and it has to be something that you and your guests walk away feeling like having experienced a slice of heaven for a day.  One of the least thought about but often key decisions is choosing a professional Wedding DJ. Your music and Wedding MC go along way towards making this a memorable and fun event for all. An experienced professional Wedding DJ has the skills and confidence to make certain that the bride and groom, and all their guests can appreciate the honoring of tradition and this moment at the same time. The right music can do this. There is a large gap between knowing music, spinning music and being able to meet the needs of those attending your wedding.

 

An experienced professional Wedding DJ will have very high quality equipment that is well taken care-of and looks appealing for your guests and photos.  Do you want your wedding photos to look like a concert hall? Of course not. Does your Wedding DJ look like a guy off the street or someone who respects you and their profession?

 

At the end of the day, it is YOUR wedding! Make certain your wedding DJ realizes how important this is to you and your guests. It is your music, your photos, your celebration. An experienced wedding DJ knows this and is ready to honor and embrace your needs and can do so seamlessly while having fun participating in this unique event.

 

Experience is the key to finding the right professional Wedding DJ for your wedding.

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DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & NY DJ

Class Reunion Parties Professional DJ

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One of my favorite event forms to DJ have always been class reunions. I enjoy the opportunity to provide music to facilitate memories for people that have shared some part of their past together.

I started doing class reunions back in the early 80’s, by accident really.  There was a group of Police Officers in Morris County who were all big motorcyclists. They belonged to an organization named The Blue Angels. They hired me once as a professional  DJ for an Oldies (50’s & 60’s) gig, and from there I ended up doing many class reunions because I got a reputation as a good professional Oldies DJ. This was funny to me since I was not born during a large chunk of the music I played and was a little boy during the rest. In took time for me to build a solid collection of this music on vinyl (all there was back then) and more importantly know the music. Eventually, I had what I considered enough knowledge and library to do this on a regular basis. This is where all the reunions started coming from.

Class reunions are fun times. The professional DJ has a real clear direction of what selections to play, leaving some room for those who want music from other periods than high school or college. This tight playlist offers the opportunity to really dive into this period and play both what was on the top of the charts but also to play stuff that was not as popular. We can do this since we know that if you were in high school or college at the time the music was out, chances are you had some knowledge of the whole music scene. This is unique because usually we cannot play the lesser known, music from the past, people just do not know it except those who were in their teens and twenties at the time.

So if you are a professional DJ who really has an affection for music from a certain period, I encourage you to market yourself for class reunions during that period. They are such fun events and you get to jump back in time for the night along with the guests. Trust me, these are such fun events and you will want to do them all the time!

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DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & NY DJ

Professional DJ On Fire!

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I was DJ an event at Barefoot Boogie in NYC after the special dance and movement class lead by Heidi McClure. Everybody appreciated Heidi’s class and were ready when I cranked up the volume with Stevie Wonder to get things rockin’. It was a matter of minutes before everybody was totally into the music and shouting and singing while shaking and moving on the dance floor. This is what I live for as a professional DJ. It is when I know the time spent preparing and making sure I have the right music for the occasion was worth it without question.

In fact, on this night everybody was having so much fun with the old R&B, Soul and dance music that I was not able to shift the music to some of the more creative and interesting music I had selected that I only get to play at somewhere like an event of this nature where diversity and eclectic music are held in high esteem. After such an intense class as Heidi’s, dancers wanted to release energy and just have fun, I was able to honor that and we had a great time. It was hard getting people to stop at the end of the night. I even went over the allotted time by 30 minutes and people were still not ready to stop; not because they were drunk or wanted to stay out later, they were just having fun.

I have noticed that lately this is happening more and more for me. Apparently, the experiences I had as a professional DJ full-time when I was younger, the times off and on since then and now with my new perspective and use of MacBook with iTunes have been good for me. I feel like I have tuned into some form of understanding of music and people that I did not have previously.

Maybe time, practice and experience really are the keys to success!

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DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & NY DJ

Professional DJ Training

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I had the opportunity this morning to give some basic DJ training to a young man who is filling in for someone tomorrow night at a family function as DJ for the first time. It was fun to share with him the simple yet often failed process of blending styles and tempo together seamlessly. He seemed to ‘get it’ fairly easily, it is not rocket science.

Learning the art of transitioning musical styles and tempos is one of the most important skills a good professional DJ has. They have to be able to make Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson, Miley Cyrus, Michael Buble, The Police, Beyonce, Bon Jovi, RUN DMC, U2, Cotton-Eyed Joe and Frank Sinatra all fit together without taking the energy of one from the other. They have to actually fit together, not just be part of the same night.

The equally important art is that of shifting tempos from fast to slow and back again without losing the energy and dancers on the floor.

Example: You have the dance floor rockin’ with a set of Stevie Wonder, Prince, Akon, Empire State of Mind, Sly and the Family Stone and Aretha, and now you have the person who booked the event requesting some slow songs, a good thing but not what follows Respect real well nor Dance To The Music. What to do?  Slow it down over a few songs. How about Lionel Ritchie or Smokey Robinson to move towards a true slow dance tune? How do you get it back up to a fast tempo after a few slow songs? How about Marvin Gaye, Barry White, Leona Lewis or one of my favorites; 4 The Cause “Stand By Me”? Then it is easy to crank out something faster like Beyonce, Yaz or Billy Idol.

All of this keeps the event flowing naturally and does not force dancers to shift gears to quickly. Let them enjoy the gentle transitions of style, genre and tempo to support their ability to move and groove to the music without feeling lost or out of sync.

I am interested to hear about how his gig goes tomorrow night. He will be in New Jersey doing his thing while I will be in NYC doing mine!

DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & NY DJ

A Professional DJ’s Best Friend

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All experienced professional DJs have a best friend they bring with them to every gig. No, I am not talking about their buddy who helps lug in the gear and keeps an eye on things during a quick trip to the bathroom. I am speaking of the songs or artists that you know you can bring out when things need a boost to kick into high gear. It is kind-of like cheating with a stacked deck.

In different times and places, the songs and artists vary. For example; if you are the professional DJ at a Sweet Sixteen, your best friend as a professional DJ for that gig will typically be whatever the top dance songs are on the Billboard charts that week. This could be Akon, Myley Cyrus or Carrie Underwood or who knows who will top the charts next week.  If you are the professional DJ at a high school reunion for the class of 1962, then it may be The Five Satins, Elvis Presley or The Everly Brothers, and if you’re lucky, maybe even Roy Orbison.   This is nothing like what your ace in the hole would be for a college reunion from the class of 1983, which would mean Duran Duran, A Flock of Seagulls and maybe even Michael Jackson Thriller or The Clash depending on the group.

But what about a wedding? Weddings are somewhat different than other gigs because the guests can be very diverse including age, background and lifestyle.  At a wedding, an experienced professional Wedding DJ takes the songs and artists that they were requested in advance by the Bride and Groom, the requests they receive at the wedding, look at the guests age and lifestyle and throw in a dose of common sense of what is working and what is barely shaking the Jello and discern what the ‘aces in the hole’ are for that wedding.

There are the usual songs and artists that rarely fail; Michael Jackson, Prince, Madonna, Old Motown, Soul and R&B, along with a few never fail slow dance songs like Always and Forever, Ribbon in the Sky, Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra and some Elvis. In certain circles you can also can count on the Slides, Cha Cha and Electric, Macarena, Thriller or any other group dances.  But beyond that, you are successful on your ability to gauge what will work to meet the needs of the diverse guests who may not know each other well or at all.

There are tables that may have a single, middle-aged cousin, two best friends of the bride from high school, the bride’s boss and husband, his former secretary and her new boyfriend and an ex-boyfriend of the bride with his pretend girlfriend for the wedding all trying to make conversation and find a way to enjoy the reception together. They can be the ones you have to get up on the dance floor, the immediate family and friends are rarely hard to please, since they are so excited anyway. But the more distant folks are the ones that will make  or break or wedding or any important event. These are the folks that every DJ needs to identify their ‘best friends’ for that event.

A little experimentation within the scope of what the couple have requested will often give you clues what and when to release the ‘aces’.  Example; if the bride requested Barry White and Marvin Gaye and they both go over well, then it is probably safe to assume Diana Ross post-Supremes, Smokey Robinson and Earth, Wind and Fire will be effective in getting everybody up and rockin’, and of course MJ is always there when you do not know what else to do. Each time you have a success, you build on it and it produces more opportunities for expanding the playlist to meet the needs of more people while still keeping those enjoying what is going on happy.

Learning your ‘aces in the hole’ and “best friends’ are two of the ways that an experienced professional DJ adapts to the situation successfully without losing what they have already established.

What are your ‘aces in the hole’ and ‘best friends’ as a professional DJ in the NJ, MY & PA region?

 

DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & NY DJ

Professional BBQ DJ

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Over the years I have had the opportunity to be a professional DJ at some outdoor events. They are fun and simple. They have the benefit of typically being laid back parties with plenty of good food and atmosphere.  It is also different for us as professional DJs to be at events that people are dressed so casually, as opposed to a wedding or corporate event where we are all dressed more formally. But a professional BBQ DJ?

Outdoor parties give us chance to spread our wings a bit more than usual since they are typically longer and less structured than indoor events. Besides, when do you get to smell freshly cooked BBQ at an indoor event?  If you are the professional DJ at the right event, the professional DJ PA system is cranked up pretty loud and fills a backyard or park area with great music.  Nothing like corn on the cob with Marvin Gaye or The Beatles!

Choosing which music to play at an outdoor event requires a bit of a different touch. Since generally the dancing won’t get into high gear till the sun is fading and the moon is making its appearance, guests will want to hear the music that they listen to at home and with friends.  This often means a professional DJ needs to prepared to  play Bob Seger, Bob Dylan, Bob Marley, Bobby Darin, Bob Geldoff, Bobby McFerrin, The Bobs and The Bobbettes! Or Michael or Donna or Rihanna.  That can mean you may end up playing Eric Clapton, The Temptations, Sly and The Family Stone, Lauryn Hill and The Fugees, Lady GaGa, Led Zeppelin, Bruce Springsteen, Barry White and India Arie all in the same afternoon before it gets dark and the dancin’ begins!

It’s July and the summer season is in full swing here in the NJ, NY & PA area. I am excited about the one time of year we get to play music for these types of events.  Put on the charcoals and break out the baked beans because Summer and outdoor parties are here and we are ready to rock them out! Can you pass me the potato salad please?

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DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & NY DJ

What makes a Real Professional DJ, A Real Professional DJ?

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Yesterday I was reading an article in Skratchworx, a professional DJ magazine, titled “DJ? Who says so?” by Gizmo.

inMusic buys Stanton — some DJ industry analysis

 

It was an interesting to read the writer and the comments by the readers on the subject of what makes a professional DJ, a DJ versus just being someone playing songs. It is a topic I have reflected on many times. In some circles among the professional DJ community, a ‘DJ’ is only someone who works with turntables and scratches. In other segments of the community, a DJ is only a DJ if they know how to use the mic and MC. And still there are others that think a DJ is anyone who plays music and gets people to dance. The answers to these questions are not clear, nor perfect. Most of this is just opinion, and why is mine any more correct than yours?

 

I would like to take the opportunity to share my views on what makes a professional DJ, a professional DJ. I am certain if I wrote this again in a week or a month, my answers would be a little different. When I think of a professional DJ, I think of a man or woman who is using some kind of electronic equipment and playing somebody else’s recorded music through speakers for others to appreciate, dancing or just listening.  I have an image of them putting together a playlist of songs either in advance or preferably live to match the energy of the crowd. I feel them matching the beats and vibe of the music to keep the energy flowing and the audience lively. There seems to be a need for the DJ to have enough humility and respect for the people to honor their request when possible. But most of all, they need to be interested in music and its affect on people,; how people get energized, inspired, moved and pumped-up by music, sound, beats and rhythm. Music and people seem to be the keys to being a professional DJ.

 

I know there are folks out there that will disagree and say that DJing is about technical skills like scratching and beat-matching. I will not argue with them these are helpful skills to master on some level but professional DJs were professional DJs before both skills were invented and will continue to be DJs after the next set of skills are created.  I was a much better technical DJ with vinyl than I was with CDs. I never quite got the feel for CDs that I had with vinyl.  Since using a MacBook, I am less inclined to use those skills since some of them MacBook does for me, although I still do my own mixing of songs probably 95% of the time, if not more. Today I rely on my sense of what is working and what the person who booked the gig and the guests as my ‘ruler’ for what to do. Sometimes I will feel a crowd will enjoy some DJ ‘tricks’ to add some flair, others if it does not feel productive or desired I will stay away from that kind of stuff.

 

I stand by the idea that a professional DJ’s best ‘skill’ is their ability to read and respond to the crowd and the host(s) of an event. The technical skills are nice, but not the essence of what being a professional DJ is for me.

 

What do you think makes a professional DJ, a professional DJ? Is it their skills on the turntable or Vestex? How well and often they scratch? Their knowledge of music? Their willingness to honor hosts and guests? Their feel for the crowd? What makes a DJ a DJ?

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DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & NY DJ

Why djay Software for Mac for Professionals DJs?

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When at a gig, almost without exception, someone comes up and asks which professional DJ software package I use. When I tell them djay, they look surprised, especially after I tell them it is only $49 for the whole package. I think they imagine making everything work as seamless and precise as it is, I would need to buy some fancy expensive software that has all kinds of bells and whistles.  I do not think they take into account that I have been doing this for 30 years and do not need to cheat to make it sound the way it does.

There are many features about djay that I like. the first and most important is its ease of use with my MacBook and iTunes. It lets you access your entire iTunes library directly form djay, no extra downloads and exporting/importing needed. Just open djay and start spinning your music. You can drag and drop a song right from the library to the ‘turntables’ for mixing, that simple.

I also appreciate the design simplicity of the package. I figured out most of the features within a couple of hours! Everything is labeled clearly and easy to understand for pro and novice alike.

Some of the fun features it comes with are looping, scratching, reverse play, built-in equalizer for each ‘turntable’, Beats per minute sync and ID and the ability to record your mixes in real time without anything additional.  Djay has an auto-mix function that allows you to choose a playlist and then push the auto-mix button to let djay mix your songs without you doing anything! It can also alter the tempo of a song to match the beats of the song that is playing if that is something you want to do.

Truthfully, I do not use most of the features. I have known how to mix, blend, scratch and find the right beat for a long time. I do however like to use the loop feature. It is fun when the dance floor is crammed with people having fun to pick certain samples of the song playing and loop it for a few seconds to add some spice and personality to the vibe. Two of my favorite songs for this are Prince’s “Kiss’ and David Guetta’s “Sexy Chic” (clean version), especially the part where Akon sings “without being disrespectful”. I like to loop ‘disrespectful’ several times and then release it back to its natural rhythm. You can really play with this feature and shift the feel and energy of a song with little knowledge or experience.

If you are a new professional DJ or one that is switching from vinyl or CD to computer, I definitely recommend djay. You will be up and running in no time. I downloaded djay on a Wednesday night and was using live at a gig on the weekend with no screw-ups or embarrassing moments, as if I had been using it for years.

If you want to just create your own mixes and music for yourself or for a party, djay is perfect.  Have fun and enjoy learning how to be a professional DJ!

http://www.djay-software.com/

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DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & NY DJ 

How Does A Professional DJ Know It Is Working?

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Sweat. Sweat is the easiest clue to knowing that what you are doing as a professional DJ is working. When the guests at an event have sweat dripping down their faces you know you are doing your job. Saturday night was one of those nights for me. Guest after guest approached about the music or requests or just to take a break and they had sweat all over the faces and clothes. It doesn’t look good but it sure lets me as a professional DJ feel good about we are doing.

Other signs are when the person(s) who coordinated and booked the event don’t come and talk to you much, meaning they are enjoying the event and there is nothing wrong.  They smile at you when they walk by and ask you if you had enough to to eat and drink.

It was fun for me to see everybody up playing and dancing on the dance floor. Since it was outdoors under a tent, as the night got darker, the LED Quest and Scorpion Storm lights seemed to sneak up on everybody without startling them. I got some decent photos that we added to our Photo Gallery. There were actually a bunch more but didn’t want to flood the page with every fun and goofy thing I saw.  The technical part of the photos were not good but I think they captured how much fun folks were having.

I felt good after breaking down, loading up my vehicle and heading home after this event, i usually do. I find being a professional DJ is very rewarding.  How many other jobs to you get to make people happy as your job function? I remember when there was a time when people doubted that we could actually be an alternative to a live band for making great events great!

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DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & NY DJ

Professional DJs Need Good Clean Sound

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One of the things that has been a quirk of mine is the need for good clean sound when providing music at an event as the professional DJ. I grew up with a Dad who was a bit of an audiophile and this was passed on to me. I have always had at least decent, if not more than decent audio equipment at home.

As a professional DJ, in some ways it is even more important to have high-end equipment that you can count on. For me, this is why I feel so comfortable using the Bose L1 Professional DJ System. I know what I am dealing with. Bose like Apple make good stuff. Working in a recording studio, we see a lot of equipment and get to know what holds up and is supported and what isn’t, Bose and Apple are two brands that we know what we are getting, know they work and are designed well. This kind of confidence is such a plus when showing up for a professional DJ gig with maybe only 30 minutes to set-up and get the system cranked up.

 

Good, clean sound. The Bose L1 system is just so clean. I feel like I am with the musicians while in the studio! I have heard things on the Bose L1 that I did not know were part of songs that I have been listening to for 30+ years and never heard before. To be able to produce that kind of sound in a PA system is unheard of. You can get the pounding and thunder in most systems, like a huge car stereo system. But not that kind of clarity and clean sound.  I have fiddled with this a bit when setting for gigs to test the acoustics of the room or space. Each time I start out by cranking up Prince’s “When Dives Cry” first. It has that guitar, percussion and clean sound that allows me to hear what I need to hear before everybody is present. When I have the time, I ask the other folks setting up for the event; wait staff, bartenders, catering crew, event coordinators, etc, what they want to hear while we are alone. The requests are varied, which allows me to hear the system with diverse music. One night it will be Mozart’s “Moonlight Sonata”, the next it will be U2’s “The Sweetest Thing” and Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” and the next maybe they will want to hear MJ’s Thriller. It does not matter what they choose, I will have the music and more importantly, it will sound better than maybe anything they have ever heard before. Not that over-equalized, synthesized bass and treble sound that is popular with electronic systems today- it is good, clean sound that everyone will and does appreciate. You can feel it in your belly, it is that clean!

If you are a professional DJ and want the best for your events, I highly recommend the Bose L1 System with Bass and Tone Match.¨Oh yeah, I almost forgot. The L1 system also has a unique feature. It sounds equally good from all angles- front. sides and anywhere in between. This means that every table at the wedding will have the same quality of sound!   Why would we use anything else as a professional DJ?

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DJ Mystical Michael Rhode Island DJ & NY DJ