In the bay, we do many holiday parties. In these parties they serve food then do some games then the dancing begins. This past Saturday we were in Capital Club. It’s a beautiful venue in the heart of downtown San Jose. It is a unique venue that stays on the 17th floor. One of the bonuses, once you need to take a break from dancing is to go to the balcony area to see the views outside. The corporate event was a nice event that provided a great playlist. They asked for the classic Christmas songs and a little bit of everything else. We like getting list like that so we can touch a little bit of everything like 70s, 80s, 90s and the 2000s. It’s a beautiful thing to have that wide array to choose from and you just have to read the crowd.

A few days later we were back at it again at the Double Tree Hotel. This event was a bigger event since the guest list was at 300 people. We made sure we brought our normal set up and the big boy speakers. We did have a little less guidance with the playlist. They wanted Christmas music then some the the popular dance music with some Spanish mixed in. Again it was another opportunity to read the crowd and give folks what they wanted. We were also open to take instant requests. Its all about making the folks happy at their events.

One of our favorite spots to eat is Chick Fila and this is the second time we did the company party. Last year it was Newark and this year it was in Fremont Mariott. So what happens at these events?

 We did a gift wrapping game, musical chairs, dance, xmas bingo, raffles, more dancing and some speeches and then give out company swag. These games you try to get as many people involved. We always connect a few microphones so you can have multiple hosts and you have the music ready to go with the flip of a switch. These xmas events are all about celebrating the hard work that goes through the long year and it gives the employees something to look forward to. Corporate events are a good way to build company culture and make employees happy. I can tell that management truly appreciates their employees and truly want to celebrate them. We do like doing parties for other folks in the industry since they are done on the off days. The store is closed on Sundays so there is no excuse to not to go.

I do like setting up for the same company events since you know what they like already and it makes it easy to set up their playlist. Last year we incorporated a lot of Spanish hits and this year we made sure they were lined up with some hot Spanish tracks. Its not all Spanish tracks but you always got to have a little of Christmas songs handy but not all xmas events call for Christmas songs. Some people just want to have party songs which is fine for us.

Black and White Affair were in Sunnyvale and San Jose the first week of November to celebrate Homecoming with two different high schools. Both playlists were way different but both parties were way fun!

 The Kings Academy has always been a fun place to dj at.  The coordinator shared their approved playlist and we followed it to a t. We did their homecoming last year and their prom and this year we are up again for their homecoming. This is our latest homecoming as timewise. It started around 9 15 and it went till 11:45 pm. They actually play the game Friday then straight after the game its party time. We find the students to be very respectful and overall well mannered folks. It was again a fun night in Sunnyvale.

  The next day we were at down town and played at a local high school. We had a list we worked off but we had more to work with and had their list as the baseline and we incorporated other songs that fit the vibe we were feeling.  Everyone was dressed nice and they were ready to party. We have a little more flexibility with the playlist so we read the crowd and gave them what they wanted. From the vibes, students wanted latin music so we gave them latin music. We also played the current hip hop but it was a good night downtown.

  There is something special when you can dj at a retail store. It just adds a party vibe. People are singing the lyrics of fun songs and a new song just builds up on top of the other cool song.

 What do you play at a retail store? It all depends on the clientele. You can play some cool house songs that no one really knows or dive into the classics that everyone knows and the latter is what I strive for.

The store is called the Halloween Store and it is open during the Halloween Season. You can find customes and decorations here. They have plenty for all ages. But once the season is over it becomes a party venue, Cielito Lindo. It is a nice spot to hold a social function.

Flash Cat media was in the house taking dynamite photos. They also do cool music videos. Aaron is a master of his craft! I was very happy with his awesome photos.

  Our first round we were in a gym rocking the silent disco. For the second round we were out by the steps by the mission. We were outside playing for the masses. The first time around we were playing on one channel and this time around we were notified we can do multiple channels. All we needed was another transmitter to send it to the headphones.

In the first channel we were playing more the the current music (even did a small Bollywood set) (always got to be prepared to play anything)  and on channel two we were playing more for the folks who like old school. We had our djs lined up next to each other mixing.

  Silent disco is the coolest thing since you can have multiple djs right next to each other and the music won’t conflict with each other. If we wanted to we could have 3 djs playing right next to each other. The set up of the silent disco took a few minutes. And another cool thing was the people were not even close and they can receive the music in their headphones.

It was neat to see the different color headphones in the dark. The color determined what channel the folks were listening to.

Love playing at Santa Clara University! We were playing for multiple ages and everyone seemed to be having a good time. Thank you Santa Clara for setting up a fun event for everyone.

Top Questions to Ask Your Los Angeles DJ

Despite the hundreds of Los Angeles DJs online, finding the right one is a challenge. Hiring a Los Angeles DJ with the trifecta (experience, style, and professionalism) often means you'll have to extensively vet your potential choices. Conducting your vetting doesn't need to be an inconvenience. Instead, your vetting can be limited to the following questions, which you can ask your DJ via Zoom or in person.

The 8 Questions to Ask Your Los Angeles DJ

The answers to these eight questions will be most revealing of the type of DJ you could be hiring, allowing you to make your decisions.

Are You Willing to Have a Meeting Before Booking?

Availability is important. Many DJs may over-extend themselves, meaning they won't be available for a meeting. Therefore, if you want to know — honestly — whether your DJ will avail themselves after you've hired them, see if they'll make themselves available before booking.

How Much Time Do You Need to Set Up?

Depending on your event, knowing how long your Los Angeles DJ will take to set up can help with scheduling and coordinating the event. If the setup is one hour, and the event starts at 8 p.m., your DJ should have the space to set up for the event and should be scheduled for 7 p.m.

If a prospective DJ isn't giving a clear response on setup time, they may not have as much experience.

Do You Have Insurance?

With any business, insurance is essential for Los Angeles DJs. You'd be surprised how litigious Los Angeles venues can be and how quickly accidents can escalate. Rather than waiting to see what would happen if a DJ doesn't have insurance, confirm that they have it.

What Type of Music Do You Typically Play?

Most DJs flourish in the genre they've perfected. Being a DJ is a full-time job requiring research, testing, and development alongside serious marketing, known as self-promotion. As a result, most good DJs will have a genre of music they've been perfecting ever since they knew what career they would pursue.

Do You Have References?

Any DJ worth their salt should be able to provide at least three references and a sample of their mixes.

How Long Have You Been Spinning?

Experience is more important than expertise when hiring a Los Angeles DJ. Anyone can learn what a DJ does, but it takes years to learn to read a crowd, get — and keep — them engaged, and make last-minute changes to the set.

How Do You Keep Your Music Up-to-date?

With the frequency of music releases, having a current playlist can be exceptionally time-consuming. But, if you know you'll have an audience that will revel in new music — which, let's face it, in Los Angeles is everyone — understanding your Dj's process for finding and using new releases in their mixes is essential.

Can I Be Involved in the Selection?

If you're searching for a Los Angeles wedding DJ, for example, you may want to be involved in some of the song choices. Confirm with any prospective DJ if they — not only take your suggestions but — implement your song choices and where or when they'd insert it into their mix.

These eight questions to ask your Los Angeles DJ will help save your event from disaster.

At Black and White Affair, the purpose of the work being done is to meet your vision. We understand communication is a two-way street. Therefore, if you decide to book BWADJ as your Los Angeles DJ, expect us to ask you — and answer — questions, guaranteeing your event goes off without a hitch.

Plan a Silent Disco Los Angeles Partygoers Will Enjoy

Hosting a party in Los Angeles is challenging. Not because there's a shortage of partygoers looking to let off steam on a Friday night, but because of the city's stringent noise ordinances.

Silent discos help you circumvent these strict rules that limit "noisy" hours to between 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Now, you can host a party at any of Los Angeles' premium venues by planning a silent party Los Angeles night owls will enjoy.

Benefits of Hosting a Silent Party in the Los Angeles Area

Los Angeles isn't the only city where silent parties are overtaking event planning. They've become a go-to in most major cities because they're so beneficial and convenient.

1. Get Access to Preferred Venues

Because of LA's stringent noise ordinances, most venues and spaces choose not to rent to promoters, event planners, or individuals who intend to use the space to host a disco. This often means you'll have to find the most out-of-the-way locations when planning a party in Los Angeles. You can solve that issue with a silent party. You can get access to

2. Save on Costs

Besides ensuring you avoid the $500 fine for noise complaints or being promptly shut down at 9 p.m., you also don't have to

3. Attract More Attendees

You may not realize it, but the average silent party attendee may not be your typical nightlife prowler. Silent parties allow you to tap into a new demographic when planning a disco or get more of your friends to RSVP if you're hosting a party. That's because silent parties help attendees control the level of social interaction they feel comfortable having. Some don't enjoy parties because of anxieties when striking up a conversation.

4 Steps to Plan a Silent Disco Los Angeles Partygoers Enjoy

If you're convinced your next event should be a silent disco, this is what you need to do to get that going.

Find a Venue Suitable for a Silent Party

Space matters. If you haven't attended a silent party before, you may not know that attendees love to dance. Unlike your typical nightclub, where socializing and being seen is the purpose of the event, letting loose is the reason most attendees go to silent discos.

Try to allocate two to four feet of space to each attendee and use that as a gauge when hiring a venue.

Hire a Silent Party DJ

Throwing a silent party Los Angeles partygoers will enjoy is contingent on the DJ you're hiring. Like any dance or disco party, the DJ is the sole entertainment, and his mix matters. You want a DJ who can play to the crowd and read cues even though the party is silent.

You still want your silent disco partygoers to have a blast. If your budget allows, you could consider getting two or three DJs.

Rent Headsets from Reputable Rental Companies

The most important silent disco rental is the headsets. Your silent disco headsets should be noise canceling but also allow users to connect and maintain the connection at a distance. Sound quality is critical.

The headsets should suit the sound of the DJ and their mix, with crisp audio that adds to the experience.

Set Ground Rules for Attendees

If you're looking forward to avoiding the $500 in fines you can receive from going 5 decibels above the ambient noise, you need to relay a set of rules for your silent disco. The primary one should be silence. Talking is fine. But singing along at the top of your lungs should be avoided.

If you're planning a silent party disco in Los Angeles, Burbank or Glendale, consider hiring Black and White Affairs DJ as your silent party DJ. www.bwadj.com

How to Find a Bilingual DJ for Your Wedding or Event

Your bilingual DJ should be both a talented DJ and a fluent speaker with a strong understanding of Latin culture. To help find this sort of DJ, there are three things you need to consider.

Assess If Your DJ is Fluent in Spanish

Your wedding DJ will most likely act as an emcee, introducing guests and making announcements. Speech is going to be critical to the performance. Therefore, you need to ascertain their fluency, as this will determine if they can convey emotional depth, warmth, and professionalism.

But your DJ shouldn't only be fluent in Spanish. He or she should also be able to translate in instances where they may need to make a statement in both English and Spanish.

Extensive Knowledge of Music Genres

Here's where you can make a clear distinction between the kind of DJ you would like at your wedding. Your DJ should know every genre of music — particularly Latin music — that would fit seamlessly into your playlist. While some DJs may be fluent in Spanish, they may not have as much depth in Latin music genres, limiting your DJ's ability to make a captivating playlist unique to your taste and vision for your wedding.

Reviews from Others Who've Hired Them for a Bilingual Event

Your wedding SHOULD NOT be the first bilingual event a DJ is hosting. Because while it may seem easy for someone bilingual, there's more to creating a playlist and emceeing an event than understanding Spanish. To avoid embarrassment or hiccups, ask your bilingual DJ about any bilingual or Latin events they've hosted before.

What to Look for in a Bilingual Wedding DJ

Beyond the aforementioned aspects to consider when finding a bilingual wedding DJ, you should also be sure you find out whether your

A Bilingual Wedding DJ Must Understands Your Culture

A bilingual DJ can either sound professional or tacky. If someone doesn't understand Latin culture, they are going to be tacky and distasteful. With an understanding of culture, a DJ can make appropriate music choices for different traditions within the ceremony so they hold their importance.

A Bilingual Wedding DJ Must Have Emcee Experience

To keep your wedding guests entertained, a DJ should have experience emceeing weddings or Latin events in both English and Spanish, which means they can easily transition between both languages and has the quick-thinking capabilities to translate speech.

A Bilingual Wedding DJ Must Have Plenty of Experience DJing at Latin Events

This has been mentioned before, but the experience is one thing couples can overlook when hiring a bilingual DJ. They may find a Spanish-speaking DJ or a DJ of Latin heritage and think that's fine. But, unless a DJ has specific experience hosting a bilingual event, your wedding essentially serves as an experiment.

At Black and White Affair DJ Services  (www.bwadj.com) in Los Angeles, you'll find the best bilingual wedding DJ to play all your latin Spanish hits too.