Vinyl Djs are not as common as they were years ago! (Bay Area Dj serving San Jose, Morgan Hill, Palo Alto, Sunnyvale, and Gilroy)

With technology it has become very easy to become a dj. Djs do not need to carry milk crates of heavy records to an event. Now they can carry usb sticks or laptops with so much music. Newer djs never had the struggle of carrying 6 boxes of records upstairs to a venue and the worry of forgetting their needles!

Cost is a big difference. With digital djing, djs can get libraries of music by joining digital record pools. When djs in the late 90s and early 00s had to get music they had to go to stores to find tracks. Sometimes they would have to spend 50 to 300 dollars in one shopping trip.

The skills of mixing vinyl compared to mixing digitally is way different. Mixing digitally can be taught pretty quickly and you can use digital tracks that make it easy to mix and there are ways to automatically sync the beat so they are the same speed. With vinyl you have to mix by ear and it’s a more difficult skill to learn.

You can call random 20 djs to do a digital mixing and all of them could do it. But if you called the same 20 djs to do a vinyl set then maybe 1 out of the 20 may know someone who does it. It is not easy and most old school djs sold their collection. But a few still kept their collections and still want to share their love for vinyl with the world. Give Black and White Affair to do your vinyl event.

First and foremost, you need a dj who is familiar with the classic Spanish jams and with the new music that is coming out. I tend to lean toward the classics but if given a heads up then I can add the new Spanish music that to the mix. I usually get a list from the client and add that to my proven hits to add to the playlist. I want to play as much as their list I can plus adding ones I know will bring excitement to the dance floor. 

Usually for this Spanish Birthday events there is food involved. We tend to play some classic Spanish songs but save the dance Spanish songs for later for the dance floor. Some of these dinner songs can be some bachata or ranchera songs or maybe some Luis Miguel Love songs. Again, it all depends on what part of Latin America the guests are coming from. The Dinner portion of the night usually last for an hour. There may be a cocktail or appetizer portion of the night when the party starts before dinner kicks in. During cocktail/ appetizer hour the music can be more festive to get folks in the party mood. It would be ok to play dance music since folks are not sitting down having dinner. When it does become dinner time, it would be ideal to tame it a bit so folks aren’t moving too much in their seats when they are eating. 

Please contact Black and White Affair Dj Services for your Spanish Latin Events. We specialize in playing Cumbia, Banda, Salsa, Reggaeton, and Ranchera music.  Please call Black and White Affair Dj for your latin party.

Plan a Backyard Wedding Without Breaking the Bank

Your backyard. It’s the perfect wedding location. You save money from not renting out an overpriced venue that comes with a whole list of rules that cramp your style, and you have absolute creative freedom to express your own vision and show everyone a unique event they’ll never forget.

There’s just one issue: It takes a lot of preparation. Everything from the landscaping to the catering to the bartending is up to you to arrange. It may seem a bit overwhelming, but you can do it with some guidance, even on a smallish budget. Black and White Affair DJ Services offers a few suggestions on how.

Prepare Rooms for Loved Ones

You only have enough room to accommodate close family for overnight arrangements, so make them feel at home with a little attention to detail. Above all, that means putting fresh linens on the beds in the guest rooms, before adding extra comfort in the form of pillows or comforters. Consider also leaving a basket filled with items like bottled water, toiletries, ear plugs, mints, and anything else that can make their stay more comfortable. 

Start Early in the Yard

Since the most important moments will take place here, it better look its best, and that means getting started on your landscaping months in advance if you want a new bed of flowers in bloom for the occasion. Also, don’t neglect to pull up any dead plants and keep the grass well watered so it’s lush and green for the big day. In some cases, you may even need to have dead or dying trees removed, especially if they’re safety hazards or could open up necessary yard space. This isn’t a task to handle yourself, so look for local tree removal experts who can quickly cut down and dispose of these trees. Remember to get several quotes, and check online reviews and ratings first. 

Install an Arbor or Pergola

Arbors or pergolas garden structures offer your guests a place to relax without leaving the party, and you’ll enjoy the shelter it provides, along with the elegance of climbing flowers climbing up the beams. Professionally built trellises cost around $471 for materials and labor, while a DIY one will cost about $275.

Rent the Extras You Need

This could be a long list depending on how many guests you’re anticipating. You’ll almost certainly need some chairs for the ceremony itself, as well as a few tables for guests to put food and drinks on during the reception. Then there’s the sound system and a generator to power everything, including the extra refrigerator in the kitchen for all the goodies you’re serving.

Block Off a Staging Area

It all revolves around the kitchen, as there could be no reception without food. You may also want to block off an adjacent room for additional prep space, and keep it hidden with some makeshift curtains so your guests don’t catch a glimpse of the magic happening behind the scenes.

Find the Right DJ

The most contained way to provide entertainment is with a DJ service. What’s crucial will be finding the right spot for the DJ to set up, as well as enough yard space for dancing. Depending on your grass, you may want to opt for a dance floor, but dancing on the lawn in bare feet can be just as fun. 

Get Clever With the Decor

This could easily suck up thousands of dollars if you’re not smart about it. That may mean ditching the flowers, as hard as it seems. As a writer with Money Crashers points out, candles are much cheaper and more romantic. 

Don’t Skimp on Drinks

Do your wedding toast with Prosecco, and your guests won’t know that it’s cheaper than champagne. As for the rest of the occasion, you can’t go wrong with beer and wine, though Bon Appétit has some ideas for signature cocktails that don’t require too much work as they’re made from just three ingredients. Ancho Reyes daiquiri anyone?

It’s bound to be a memorable occasion, so don’t forget to enjoy it yourself. After all, this is your day.

Image via Pixabay.

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What Can We Do While the Pandemic?

Slowly places are opening up with restrictions. Eventually they will start opening wedding venues. When will it will it happen in California? We have no idea. It can be frustrating since in other states they are allowing it. California is conservative in that respect. But in the long run it just makes it safer for everyone.

Keep your guests in the loop about what is happening with your wedding and keep your vendors closer. Go over your music playlist and with all this time it will be flawless. Get your guests involved and ask them what they want to hear at the wedding and you can include the feedback on you playlist.

As your dj, I am keeping safe myself. I am home 23 hours a day. For an hour a day, I go on a run with a mask and filter on. I do see families walking without masks and I avoid them. I go through the backstreets so it is not busy. Anyone who comes to the door, I talk to them through the window. I have not mixed any households meaning I have not set foot in another house no anyone come to my house. 

 I have subscribed to a multiple music record pools to keep the music fresh and look for classics that will always be fresh. I also was pretty decent with making edits of songs but I have been honing my craft with edits by putting them out for other djs to use in their sets thus keeping editing skills up for your special song needs to be the way you like it.