Best load in in the business! It is so easy for outside vendors to park in 20 feet way you can unload everything. Staff is on it and make sure they get the door open and they are always readily available in case I needed anything. Recently we had a birthday celebration. The Birthday girl wanted the night club theme with karaoke. Dave and Busters catered the event buffet style. The main venue area had a nice bar area also The karaoke was available the whole night and folks were able to partake on it. Behind the Dj area there is a huge screen with a projector up high so in case the dj wanted to mix videos or show the karaoke above that could be an option. There is a good size stage and a good sized dance floor. They had these tall round tables on the side of the dance floor so guests can leave their drinks there and they did have some party games they can get involved in. What was cool was the tables were not there then someone told staff in within in 3 minutes all the tables were out. That is what I call service.

This is a great place to throw a party. You have you own private area then guests can go outside to the main arcade area and shoot free-throws, take out zombies, or race your fellow party goer in a race car. It is the best of both worlds.

Great staff and many options for fun at Dave and Busters in Milpitas.

These venues are www.bwadj.com favorites I have played the past year or so. I based it on how awesome the venue is and how fabulous the staff is. 

Favorite Bay Area Venues I have been a Dj At 

Los Gatos Lodge (Los Gatos)

They are my most favorite spot. They can provide an outside venue for a ceremony and also have a nice outside area to have cocktail hour. They do have multiple rooms for events. The staff rocks and do a great job taking care of guests. A great place for birthday parties and high school reunions. 

Dave and Busters (Milpitas)

D and Bs is close to my home and close to my heart. Staff is super fun. Before the guests showed up they were dancing while working. Fun group. Staff helped me take my gear. Packages can include catered meals and game cards for guests. 

Gilroy Gardens (Gilroy)

Gilroy Gardens is a huge venue. They do offer two big venues for weddings. They can offer rides and games to guests as part of a package.  Its so big that I lost a dj table and staff told me if they found it they can drive it to me. What service!

Alexander by the Sea ( Palo Alto) 

Best food I have had in a long time. Everything just melts in your mouth. Staff did help me with my gear which was a good help since we had to go down stairs. Good place for small events or corporate functions. 

Vinyl Room (Burlingame)

The past two new years I have played there. It has a good fun atmosphere.  The biggest decision of the night is to play the biggest song of the year right after the countdown. Last year it was G- Eazy No Limit and this year it was They can hold private events there.

Double Tree San Jose (San Jose) https://doubletree3.hilton.com/en/hotels/california/doubletree-by-hilton-hotel-san-jose-JOSE-DT/index.html

Very nice staff and able to hold huge events.

SF Marathon (2 street locations)

I played at two different spots in the city but the best was by the bridge. I was able to go as loud as I want and the runners would get down when they ran by. 

Westin Hotel San Jose (San Jose)

Centrally located downtown. Very nice décor and staff actually helped me unload equipment. 

Mama Mia (Morgan Hill)

They have a nice outside area with a water fountain and a nice indoor venue space. Staff is accommodating. 

Palo Alto Country Club (Palo Alto)  

Very nice golf course. Staff took care of me when it started sprinkling and saved my equipment. 

It is easier to find a Dj that plays English music. If you do find a good Spanish dj make sure you do not lose their number since they are harder to find. Some djs do play Spanish but it is not their strong point. They cannot tell the difference between a banda song or a cumbia. They have the know what type of Spanish music you need for the dinner portion of the night. 

With the newer Spanish music, the one that gets people moving is raggaeton.  Artists like Bad Bunny and J Balvin are filling up the airwaves. 

A good Spanish DJ can put a little of different kinds of Spanish music. They can have a classic merengue song by Elvis Crespo, Suavemente. Then they can eventually throw in a Salsa song by the Salsa Queen Celia Cruz such as La Vida Es Un Carnaval. One of my favorite cumbia artists is La Sonora Dinamita.

It also makes a difference where the guests come from. If the Spanish folks were from Miami then they would want more Salsa. If a lot of the people were from Texas then they would like the artist Selena. It makes a huge difference if the dj knows where the guests come from so they can prepare. 

A favorite for all parties would be the line dance Payaso De Rodeo and No Rompas Mas Mi Pobre Corazon which is a Spanish Version of Billy Ray Cyrus Achy Breaky Heart. 

A lot of the people who appreciate the classic Spanish Music would love Vincente Fernandez, Jenni Rivera, Juan Gabriel and Mark Anthony.

If you are looking for a Latin/ Spanish dj then go to www.bwadj.com or

call 408-768-4904 for your fiesta!

Maverick Event Center in Half Moon Bay (https://maverickseventcenter.com)

This is one of the most beautiful ceremonies visually I ever been a part of.  The ceremony area is close to the reception area. The grass is well kept. You can actually hear the cute otters in the ocean. From the looks of it, one can have a wedding with 60 to 80 guests in the grass area. 

It was a wee bit windy so we opted to use the wireless microphone since the lapel would pick up too much of it.  I also included a wired microphone next to the officiant. Two days early I got my hands on QSC CP speakers. They are way lighter than the other qsc speakers I have but makes it convenient for ceremonies since it does not require super loud music. I like having two speakers than one in ceremonies. I know it is not necessary but it just sounds so much better.  The officiant did an excellent job with the ceremony. Alison (www.ceremoniesbyalison.com) was an awesome storyteller and it seemed like she knew the bride and groom personally from how well she told their story. 

The reception area was well decorated. They had a candy area for guests to stock up on sweets. The staff was nice. We were able to play music at a good volume. It is good to watch the volume because to be considerate of neighbors. 

Overall, Mavericks Event Center is a nice venue to have events at in Half Moon Bay. Keep in mind during the summer months beware of beach goers so allow yourself more time to get to the destination. But the view of the ocean and the ambiance is worth the extra drive. 

  I did a wedding this past Saturday in Gilroy. Based on the weather predictions, it was suppose to rain all day Saturday. My wedding clients were prepared and ordered a tent to protect against the elements. 

  When I got there, it was not raining so unloading and setting up was not difficult. The tent kept my equipment dry for the most part. It is ideal to keep some towels handy when the event when rain is involved. Electronics and water do not mix. It can be a little stressful when a speaker is getting wet without being dried. 

  The wedding folks were very prepared. They made sure they had other people to help setting up the party and be there for anything. We were provided with towels for the wet dance floor. At the beginning of the event, someone brought another canopy to add to the tent. It would be ideal to bring extra canopies just in case more ground has to be covered during a wedding. 

 For the ceremony, I had a wireless lapel for the officiant and a wireless microphone on a stand to hear the wedding couple to do their vows. I tested all wireless equipment and it sounded perfect. Then finally I put on a wired microphone close by and let everyone know its there just in case. It is always good to be prepared. 

 Although it was raining the whole time, the party was a huge success. Everyone was dancing even though it was raining cats and dogs. By being prepared made it a great as it was. It takes a team to make it happen and knowing who is in charge of what.

The Sea by Alexander Steakhouse in Palo Alto (https://theseausa.com/home/)

Last Wednesday, I had a corporate event at the Sea by Alexander Steakhouse. This restaurant can hold multiple events at one time. (https://theseausa.com/privatedining/) My group were able to hang out in the outside patio then came in to our room. They also had a trivia team that led the group with a trivia session. I was able to hook up the trivia team into my system so everyone could hear their questions and their music. Once they were done with their trivia session, I had a karaoke machine hooked up to my system. I made sure I brought my 14 channel mixer to plug in my dj controller, two wireless microphones, two wired microphones and a channel for the trivia music.

Let me talk about the beauty of this location. I was able to have dinner during the trivia session and the food was the best I had at any venue. The food just melted in my mouth. The salmon and the roast beef were so perfect. The dessert was picture perfect and it was as good as it looked. At the end of the night a staff member helped me load up my suv with my dj equipment. We even had to take a flight of stairs! The best food and the most helpful staff at the Sea by Alexander Steakhouse in Palo Alto make it an easy choice in the peninsula area. It is a no brainer to have your corporate event (in house sound system and a built in projector) or private event at this venue. 

Rule 1: If you want to throw a fun party then you have to really know your audience. When you send out the invites make sure you use terms that would excite them. Be very detailed and specific so your guests know the deal from the start. 

Rule 2: Make sure your venue is easily accessible. People want it to be a piece of cake to get there so find a cool place with lots of parking. If it’s a formal event then you have a better understanding of the people that are going to the event and you know how many tables and chairs will be needed. Also make sure you have great communication with your venue. It is awesome when you call them or email them they get back to you right away. Nothing is more frustrating than an absentee venue manager. Some venues are all inclusive so that means they can do it all and less worry for the host. They can decorate and or host an open bar. Best ways to find venues is to ask other folks who secured venues before or you can trust strangers on Yelp. 

Rule 3: Find the right dj.It is good to secure the venue first so you know the date and times you need a dj and you have to see if the dj is available. So rule 1 is to know the audience and Rule 3 is to find the right dj. You would want a dj that fits the occasion. Find the right dj to do the event and call or email him or her to get a vibe from them

Sycamore Vineyards in Morgan Hill

I was fortunate enough to play at Sycamore Vineyards in Morgan Hill. They are able to host ceremonies, receptions and private events. They were able to accommodate an inside ceremony or an outside in no time. I was set up inside then the weather cleared and within 15 minutes they were able to make the outside area ready and they were professional and made it happen!

The staff was very helpful. They did everything to make the event as enjoyable as possible. They let me know if there was anything I needed be sure to ask. They were easy to work with and kept me in contact before the wedding. During the wedding we were in constant communication to make sure the wedding went smooth as possible.

The outside ceremony area has a view of pretty vineyards. For the cocktail area people can play bocce ball that they offer at no cost while other venues charge to play the game. Inside the reception area was many wine barrels to give a nice touch. The venue offers their own food menu and I give it two thumbs up. The place offers their own djs and if other djs are brought it they have to have insurance and have to sign an agreement to follow the venues rules (such as professional attire and not having subwoofers). The manager was helpful with helping me find the right insurance.

Overall a very beautiful venue to have an event. They have everything inhouse and it best to go that route to keep it nice and easy. It is a good  all in one venue.