We do all sorts of events. We can do weddings properly in which we can also mc. You want a dj who can do a grand entrance correctly and be able to work with a timeline. No timeline ever sticks with the exact time so the dj should be able to work with it and prioritize to cover all the events in the time allowed. A dj should meet with the bride and groom either in person or virtually to make sure they are on the same page one to two times at least to cover details. A wedding is serious business so details are the utmost importance.

 We love doing birthday parties. They are mostly people eating then having the dance portion taking most of the night. Usually not too many announcements are made. If it’s a Spanish party, just remember to have the Mananitas on stand by after the crowd sings happy birthday.

School dances keeps us on our toes with the latest music. I love getting lists from students then putting it on the playlist. A lot of music comes out locally so it’s good to be up to date with that. Now with school events they are outside so we make sure we have enough sound to cover more ground.

Corporate events are so much fun. Folks can let loose on the dance floor. They are made of announcements and good dinner music and then the fun dance music at the end. Its ideal to have multiple wireless microphones for the event for the corporate hosts to handle.

We had a homecoming event at Independence High School. For homecoming this year we it has been out door events. Independence is a big school so we were in a large area. I had to make sure there was enough sound and light for the area. Sound was easily covered. I brought my (2)3 way speakers plus my other speakers I bring to all my events. My smaller speakers can actually fill up a small gym. I also set up my lights to cover the dance area. 

It was the day before Halloween so I only snuck in two Halloween songs. One was thriller which the students enjoyed but also threw in Ghostbusters since I saw one guy wearing a ghost busters outfit. But the vibe was definitely hip hop and we played a lot of the current songs and a lot of the classic mainstays. I was able to go deep with 00s music then go do a few Spanish Songs then back to the newer stuff. I do like the fact that older house music is popular. Songs by Calvin Harris and Pitbull were popular. Those songs are over 10 years old but they were still hitting. I did notice that at some dances the djs play only one genre but I like to put a lot of different genres there so more folks can get more into. I even went with Taylor Swift and that did hit pretty hard. 

They had food trucks and boba drinks. There was a good vibe happening and the weather was cooperative. There is always the question if the weather is going to be an issue but it was a good feel outside. I love working with schools. 

Do it Yourself Music versus a DJ

Weddings are not cheap. It is one of the most special days of a bride and grooms life and they want to share it with the special folks around them. Weddings can be very intimate and have under 50 guests or they can be extravagant and have over 200 guests. The hosts have to provide the food, the venue and the entertainment. Location is something people can not skip on since it’s a must to have the physical reception. All these guests got to eat so food has to be in the wedding budget.

After everything has been paid for its time to see if there is budget for the entertainment. Oh brother Steve has an awesome cd collection and he likes the same kind music that we have. Or maybe someone can stream music off their phone.

A dj is more than just a dj and a button pusher. They follow a timeline and make announcements to keep the guests in the know.  They see the crowd and keep feeding them what they want to hear to keep the dancefloor filled.

 Maybe you don’t want to have a dance party then having a friend play off their system. If one goes that route then make sure you have a timeline. A wedding planner can get you one or if you reach out to a dj then they can give you a sample template.

Which is better to have a friend doing music or having a professional dj?

In the South county area one has wineries to choose from for big spaces. But in Morgan Hill there is a restaurant that can boast that it has two areas to have parties. I was able to be part of a company party.

Mama Mia always had a big banquet room where I have djed a few times before. They also had a smaller room for small private dinners. Mama Mia did a genius thing and expanded that small room so it can hold bigger parties. On Saturday they had a band in their bigger room and they had me the dj in their newer room. They were able to add some flowers to the room to add a little color to the room. The party was served buffet style. The staff was on it in serving the party and keeping the space clutter free.

 They do have a private bathroom close to the back venue area but there are also the main bathrooms in the front that have more availability.

 One neat factor was even though a band was playing in the same restaurant I did not even hear any of their music. We were able to have two parties at one in close vicinity without the music interfering with each other. Another perk of the back room is that the back parking lot is only a few steps away so to decorate with flowers or to set up dj equipment is really easy.

 So now Mama Mia’s has two nice inside areas to host events and lets not forget their nice outside area so now it’s a triple threat in hosting nice events.

 San Jose is a big city with lots of people living close by to each other. I had an event this past Saturday and you never know if the party will be cut off early due to sound restrictions. My clients have been smart people when it comes to having big functions at their house. This is what they do.

They give their neighbors a heads up. One can invite them to the function or at least let them know that it maybe louder than usual and you will keep quiet after a certain time. It always good to have a good relationship with your neighbors because they can make life more difficult in general.

They make a good guest list. They do not invite everyone and their mom on their social media. They are selective on who they invite because one person who was not invited can totally destroy a party if they do not behave correctly.

They do not overindulge in beverages. It is great to have a good time but one has to be aware of what is happening to be a good host.

Make sure the dj does not have too much sound. The party is not for 400 people but rather under a 75. A dj can do a fabulous job with a couple of 8 inch to 12 inch speakers.

If you are throwing an event in San Jose, its good to have neighbors in the loop and have a good guest list of people you know and a dj who know what they are doing.

The idea of a corporate event is to step away from the office and create an atmosphere for coworker bonding and building company culture. Often times the party is held outside of work hours and workers are encouraged to participate in the festivities.

 Being part of the Bay Area, there are so many choices to find a rare location. The first step is to book the venue then select the theme for your corporate event.

After the venue has been secured it is best to search for the vendors quickly. The good vendors may have an event so it is good to secure.  The longer you procrastinate the higher chance the vendor may not be available.

Also consider the theme of the event and the message that you want to share at the event.

Finally, you may think about the add ons such as food, and drinks and transportation for your guests. Providing transportation to the event and back will make it convenient for the guests in case they do not like driving to San Francisco for example or deal with parking situation.

Some Corporate events are similar to the year before and change is good. With the Bay Area as your venue to choose from, there are many options for cool activities.  A lot of time the major of the responsibilities is bestowed on one person which can be a bit stressful but with a team it can be easier to handle. Some venues can be all inclusive which can include a coordinator who can secure fun activities for your company to do.

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.

I had a  quincenera event in Saratoga this past Saturday at a banquet Hall (http://ilcsaratoga.org/hall-rental/). I have done all Spanish parties before but a quincenera is very similar to a wedding. Like the grand entrance for the wedding party and the bride and groom, thequincenera court and the quincenera are announced. Like a wedding, a quincenera does not have mandatory events. It is all based what was planned. We did not do the crowning of the quincenera since she already had a crown. During the party, the queincenera was presented with a doll. We had cake cutting on the timeline. One of the biggest event is the waltz by the court. Usually it takes months of practice. They have a formal waltz then often they have a surprise dance which is more modern and hip. There is an event called the changing of the shoes. This is when the dad gives his daughter new shoes as a symbol of the daughter going through a transition. Then after we had the father daughter dance. Just like a wedding, we had toasts and thank you speeches planned out. Our last event was the Last song meant for the Dad, Mom and special people. 

The banquet hall was attached to a church. It was decorated with nice drapery. I had a very good playlist that the quincenera gave me. On the list there was not too many spaniish songs. A good tip is to have Spanish music ready for the quincenera. I had a lot of cumbia, and banda for the night. Overall it was a fun night. A mariachi started the night then I was able to finish it.