Venue! This has to be the most important decision of prom. You have to make sure the venue an accommodate your guest count.

Theme and Decorations! Make sure the leadership team agree on the theme and how to decorate. A prom is made great by a great leadership collaboration. They have to decorate the venue or hire a company that will abide by they taste.

Entertainment! Gone are the days that schools hire bands. They go with djs since they can play all sorts of genres. It is always risky to hire a dj that never played for your school before. Make sure the dj played for you during homecoming and if you never had them play for you then ask the neighboring schools for recommendations. A lot of the same music is played in certain areas of the city so you want someone who knows the crowd. Why not add a photobooth to the mix!

Catering! Often times the venues can provide their own catering but as a class you should look at their menu and see if there are other 3rd party options. Also keep in mind not everyone can get everything. There are vegans and folks who cannot eat diary or bread. It is good to have alternative options.

Promotion! Offer a discount on early ticket sales and increase the ticket prices as it gets closer.

Safety Measures: You want to make sure kids are sober and ready to have a good time and you do not want to deal with drunk party goers so its good to have plenty of chaperones around.

 What is better than one birthday party is having two birthday girls celebrating at the same time. We had the party in the heart of Burbank. Loyal Studios was the location and they made a cool party scene. One cool thing about Los Angeles area is they have neat spots to have events. They are creative with their event spaces. I am used to big halls and lots of space but in this area they are creative to make a space as a fun party spot. They had different rooms to accommodate the party. One room where they served the pizza and cake. Another room where they ate and another room for photobooth. Then the coolest room had to be the room the dj was at. I am not just saying that but it truly was a cool spot. It was a green room where they film different things and they had a built in dance floor. The room was sound proof so there is no worry about the neighbors complaining about the loud noise. The teens loved Taylor Swift and Olivia Rodrigo when it came out the speaker. Overall it was a good party and we went through there playlist and were able to stream songs that were not in our catalogue. We have not issues taking requests since the party goers got a bit more excited. It was definitely a pop party with a little hip hop. Its always refreshing when young folks get down to older music. One of the biggest hits was Gangnam Style and everyone was doing that dance and Macerena was also called upon.

Planning a wedding is no easy feat, especially when it comes to finding the perfect venue. With so many options available in Burbank, it can feel overwhelming deciding which one is best for you and your special day. We’ve done the hard work for you and rounded up some of the best wedding venues in Burbank that are sure to wow your guests and make your day truly memorable.

Burbank Marriott Convention Center Hotel – As one of the top hotels in Burbank, this venue offers a variety of packages that ensure all aspects of your special day are taken care of. From their experienced wedding planners who will guide you through every step of the process, to their elegant ballrooms with breathtaking views, they have everything you need for a memorable experience.

The Castaway – This historic landmark is perched on a hilltop overlooking both Los Angeles and Burbank, providing spectacular views from every angle. Whether you’re looking for an indoor or outdoor ceremony location, The Castaway has something for everyone with its unique blend of modern elegance mixed with classic charm.

The Glendale Women’s Club – Located just minutes away from downtown Los Angeles and Hollywood, this hidden gem is sure to impress. Featuring beautiful gardens and stunning architecture, this venue provides a picturesque backdrop perfect for any event. Plus, there’s plenty of room inside if you need an indoor space as well!

No matter what kind of wedding you envision, there are plenty of great venues in Burbank that can accommodate your needs. From luxurious hotels to breathtaking outdoor locales, these venues offer something special for each couple’s special day. Whether you opt for The Castaway or Glendale Women’s Club or any other venue mentioned here, we guarantee your experience will be nothing short of amazing! Take a look at our list today and start planning your big day!

Friday night we were hanging out with local business owners at Mrs. Robinsons Irish Pub in Toluca Lake. Black and White Affair recently joined the Toluca Lake Chamber of Commerce and it was the first event I could attend and I was invited to do the music.  They provided drink tickets and appetizers for their members.  When people showed up they were greeted by board members. They gave out raffle tickets and members won nice prizes. We were upstairs in our own private room with bar. I was able to set up on the stage where they have bands and Karaoke events.

 When I got there I had to go old school. I started off with 60s, then moved to 70s, then I hung out with the 80s for a long time. You cannot go wrong with the 80s.

  Later in the night they had a speech but one of the top real estate agents in the area and a few new chamber members spoke about their business. It was a warm and charming event. Everyone was friendly and the room was full of smiles. I look forward to doing more events for Toluca Lake Chamber of commerce. They are doing good things around the community. The next day they were doing a city clean up where volunteers help clean up the neighborhood.

One of the next events, I am interested to partake in is a parade in September. Toluca Lake is a wonderful town and I look forward to the fun events that take place here.

The end of the year is a stressful time. Holiday parties can either add to or distract from these stressors. For this reason, thought and consideration should go into holiday party ideas for work.

Corporate holiday parties are often considered the most dreadful part of the holiday season. But a well-organized corporate party can change that sentiment and make your colleagues yearn for next year's party.

If that sounds appealing to you, consider this list of corporate holiday party ideas.

Organize a Restorative Team Wellness Session

After spending the year working, a restorative wellness session may be what employees need to end the year on a high note.

A holistic yoga or meditation session can help relieve 12 months of pent-up stress. If you're searching for holiday corporate party ideas, renting a venue and hiring a yogi is all you need to have a relaxing party in Los Angeles or Burbank for a company of fewer than 50 employees.

Host a Masquerade Ball

If you want a corporate holiday party your entire company can enjoy, a masquerade party is a perfect solution. Masquerade balls are a black tie event where attendees attempt to hide their identities. They're a classic way to end the year, especially for entertainment companies.

Typically, a company would throw this holiday party for clients and the executive suite to encourage networking.

But networking can be just as effective among colleagues as it improves collaboration.

To achieve a memorable masquerade ball, you should hire a Los Angeles or Burbank DJ that understands the assignment — classy and prestigious — and curates a playlist that elevates the event.

Rent a Luxury Mansion for a Destination Getaway

If you're searching for small company holiday party ideas, a destination getaway to the Bay Area is the perfect way to spoil your staff or an executive suite.

Renting a mansion for the weekend ensures every team member has privacy while allowing you to have an event-filled weekend where you can do one or more of the corporate holiday party ideas on this list.

Visit a Winery

Burbank has a host of wineries and breweries you can visit to host a wine or beer tasting. Once again, this works best for smaller companies hoping to achieve an intimate event where colleagues can interact freely outside the confines of the office.

Throw an End-of-Year Bash

Nothing ends off the year like a bash. You can decide to throw a themed affair like a masquerade or 70s party or opt for a simple revel with a Los Angeles DJ leading the vibe of the bash. In the case of the latter, it works best if you have a younger company with employees looking to dress up for any occasion.

When hosting a corporate holiday party that needs a DJ, don't give the role to so-and-so from HR. If you do, the event will be memorable for all the wrong reasons. Instead, consider BWADJ.com for your DJ needs. You'll get an expertly curated playlist that suits the theme of your party and elevates the atmosphere.

Music can totally change the vibe of a store. I lived the majority of my life in the bay area. Recently I have moved to Southern California and I noticed a few differences. I noticed the lines are longer in Southern California and they are a little more adventurous with their music selection.  I noticed it at a Trader Joes. I saw people lip syncing to the words and grooving to Young Michael Jackson and played Hey Jealousy by the Gin Blossoms. Music does enhance the customer experience and that is what Retailers should strive for.

 First and foremost, you have to know your clientele. If your clients are over 40 then you can do 80s and 90s music. Thanks to the popularity of Tic Tok and lot of the younger generation has been influenced by older music. Some managers of retail stores may make the mistake of suggesting music that they like but what is important is that the dj is playing music for the shoppers. They want to feed into the brand.

  Different stores require different playlists. The dj should know about the shoppers to create a playlist. This playlist is used as a base but at the same time they can add songs on the fly at the event.

 Not every store would want wedding dance music, but the dj should be an open format dj which means they have expertise in different genres of music. Maybe it is an indie vibe and the dj can play covers of popular songs. Maybe the store would benefit from some electronic music (house music). The dj should have an idea in mind but may need to change songs in the playlist.

Also a store does not need subwoofers but the dj can bring some 8inch to 15 inch speakers would suffice. Music does not need to be loud where the customers have to raise their voice to talk.  

If people are bobbing their head or smiling when a transition takes place the dj is doing a good job.

Consider Black and White Affair (www.bwadj.com)  as your retail dj. We play all sorts of music and would provide a custom playlist for each event. If Spanish Latin hits are needed, then we have all those songs up our sleeve. We do love old school and setting cool vibes for all retail stores we play at.

Recently I have been getting inquiries for Corporate events in the middle of the day. Before this year I would get the calls to do the Holiday party and they had an agenda to follow. Usually at these events employees get recognized and often times they have a raffle to build excitement. The bosses would give some motivational speeches and the folks would have a good time.

These new inquiries recently are for shorter amount of time so about 2 to 3 hours in the middle of the day. I believe more and more companies are doing this. Since the pandemic shut down a lot of activities companies are now having more events to show appreciation to their staff. It does make a huge difference when companies have network and social events for their staff. I worked a day job where my principals would do a lot to bring us together and celebrate us. But the last principal (I am away from that now and ten times happier I may add)  had never showed any appreciation and work was not as fun anymore as it was when we had more functions as a staff.

These corporate events do not need to be fancy. Simple does work. Why not have a catered lunch with a guest speaker with music. Or make it a fun team event and compete for prizes to build up team with an upbeat soundtrack.  It does not need to be fancy or expensive. It makes the work day fun and festive and your staff will appreciate it.

Please call Black and White Affair for your Corporate needs.

Djs can provide the ceremony sound for weddings if needed. They can provide the service of setting up the speakers and having the microphones to work correctly. They can also be behind the mixing board to adjust volumes and in case of feedback or if someone needs a boast or reduced in volume based on their voice is soft or too loud. The dj can also cue up the music for the pre-ceremony music and entrance music for everyone to come in. 

Or the couple can do it DIY. Some djs only bring one speaker but I always bring two for the ceremony. It has a good balanced sound to it. A smart phone or tablet can be connected to the speaker via Bluetooth or a cable. You would still need someone to man the music to push play at the appropriate times. If it’s a small gathering then you would not need microphones or if it’s a chapel that has their own microphones then you set. But if you want to diy microphones, its crucial to have someone overseeing the volumes. 

So, which is better between getting a dj to do your sound versus diy? A diy rental would run about 150 to 300 dollars and you would have to pick it up and set it up or you would have it set up for you. The question is who ever is working it are they going to know how to use the gear correctly. A dj will be using their own equipment so they know how to use it. The cost for a dj to do the ceremony can range 300 to 500 dollars.