Vinyl Is Way Different Than Digital

Vinyl DJing is a whole different ballgame compared to digital. If you can handle vinyl, transitioning to digital is a breeze—but the reverse isn’t necessarily true. Vinyl has a distinct feel that demands more precision and skill. For instance, while using the Technics MK7 turntable, I noticed a big difference from the MK2. The MK2’s speed control button lights up at standard speed, giving you a clear indicator, but the MK7 lacks this feature. It's a small but significant adjustment.

OG Bar in San Jose: A Vinyl DJ’s Paradise

San Jose's OG bar is the perfect setup for vinyl DJs. They go above and beyond with backup headphones, their own needles, and even decorative vinyl records that double as playable backups. Their Pioneer mixer is user-friendly, although I had a brief moment of confusion with the cue buttons—they’ve got two buttons above each channel. Once I figured it out, it was smooth sailing.

The sound quality was impressive. The speakers, complete with amps, filled the room with warmth, and you could occasionally hear the classic vinyl pop, which added to the atmosphere.

A Unique Venue Experience

What sets OG bar apart is its clever layout. The front area is a vinyl haven, designed for DJs and vinyl enthusiasts. As you walk toward the restrooms, you’ll discover a second space called Alter Ego with different music and a more relaxed vibe. It’s essentially two parties under one roof, allowing guests to switch scenes without stepping outside.

OG bar isn't just a venue—it’s a testament to the artistry and culture of vinyl DJing. Whether you're a seasoned DJ or just a fan of good music, it’s worth checking out.

BWADJ had the pleasure of providing sound, entertainment, and some lighthearted comedy for a recent company party at the beautiful Silver Creek Country Club in San Jose. Serving areas like San Jose, Palo Alto, Sunnyvale, Gilroy, and Santa Clara, I brought the vibes and fun to an unforgettable company function.

A few weeks back, I was asked not only to DJ the event but also to sprinkle in some jokes and a short monologue—something most DJs might shy away from. But I was excited to go the extra mile! From fun shout-outs to the marketing team, sales team, warehouse crew, accounting, and purchasing departments, everyone felt included and celebrated.

The evening started with some Christmas music and some pop tunes during dinner, setting the festive mood. As the night progressed, the team got involved in interactive games like:

• Musical Candy Canes – A holiday twist on the classic game of Musical Chairs.

• Marshmallow Toss – Where team members tried to shoot marshmallows into buckets.

• Shake-Off Competitions – A hilarious team showdown that had everyone cheering.

To keep the energy high, they also hosted a White Elephant gift exchange.

After the games and laughs, it was time for the real fun: the dance floor! We turned up the energy with a mix of hits that got everyone on their feet. The crowd was having such a great time that we ended up going 30 minutes extra.

This corporate party was more than just a company event—it was about bringing teams together, celebrating their hard work, and creating lasting memories.

  About 5 years ago I did the 45th year reunion for Leland that we celebrated at the Los Gatos Lodge. I do remember it was a good time when I looked up their playlist from their first event I did for them. This list was a little different from the previous party since it was all old school. Last time, they had some current hits sprinkled in. This year we had the party in Villa Regusa in Campbell. Downtown Campbell is not the easiest place to park but there is first floor parking in the garage. You have the option of taking your do gear up the elevator or take it up the stairs. There was another function but it did not interfere with the function we were having. I was all set up and I was playing 30 minutes before schedule.

  So getting music for this class was a good time. I looked at 1968 19691970 1971 1972 1973 and 1974. I found the best rock hits and dance hits. I always ask for a list to make each event custom. Then I combine all the songs on my computer. I strive to play all their songs on their list while incorporating songs I feel that would enhance the event.

  The night started with some words with the host then the comedian started. Comedian was a pro who also graduated with the Leland class. He was a very funny guy who connected with the crowd who had the crowd laughing the whole time.

Black and White Affair can you do an event on a weekday? Not a problem. Can you do it at noon? We can do it. Did we mention it is for 800 people? Only 800 people will be attending in Santa Clara, we got you. That is how we do it. We were emailed recently about doing this event and we didn’t flinch. They wanted to make some announcements and play old school music. They made sure we had insurance and added them to our policy for their protection. They had 5 LLCs and we added them all. They also had invited some food trucks so it was a festive time.

 We welcome corporate events when they call us. We take pride is quick and prompt responses since we too operate like a corporation. Time is of the essence. We show up in advance and create the vibe for the event. We make sure our music is appropriate and loud enough for everyone to hear but not to loud that it disrupts people conversation if its dinner time. We judge on when to go loud or if it needs to be background music.

 The stage was small so we had the presenters be the main attraction as we spread out the speakers in front of the stage to cover more area. The dj set up behind the stage but can still see what was going on so they can read the crowd. We love events like this because the employer is showing appreciation to their employees.

  We had a fun event at the middle school. I do love playing in the South County area since I love the energy. As I drove close to the school all these young players were getting ready to play their softball games. This area takes their sports serious so it just made me happy to see the youngsters playing a fun sport.

  I pulled up by the cafeteria\ gym to unload my gear. It was so convenient since I was right by the door. Students were preparing for a play so I could not set up on the stage but I was plenty enough early to not stress about it. The students left the stage and I was able to set up with 20 minutes to spare. A few of the girls wanted to practice the Cupid Shuffle but after that I was playing all pop music before show time. As most Jr. high dances the girls were on one side and the boys were on one side. Everyone was pretty much dancing with their group of friends. I was following the playlist they gave me but students wanted specific songs so they would write them up on a notepad. (Lots of Spanish was requested) If I had it then I would play it and if I did not have it then I would make a note on the notepad. I did take a picture of the notes to see what I would bring next time. School dances are so fun for us to do please contact Black & White Affair to make your party epic.

We did a beautiful back yard wedding in Hollister which had a beatiful view of the country side. We were able to get pages of Country hits and we did mostly country the whole night with some classics thrown in the mix. During cocktail and dinner hour we did lots of country. The biggest requests had to be Morgan Wallet As the night progressed bellies full of food and glasses full of wine., Guest started getting eager for the dance portion of the night. After some emotional speeches, we let it whip with some top 40, classic funky  hits from 70s and 80s, Hits of the night included Too hot by Kool and the Gang ,Cupid shuffle by Cupid, September by Earth Wind and Fire and slow song of the night was  Waiting for a Girl like You by Foreigner. The night kept going and people danced for the last 2 hours that remained at the event non stop, up until the last minute that we had to go! Glad we could be part of such a beautiful night full of fun memories! 

What made it magical was the bride and groom. They made the party happen with their energy and their ability to host a fun party.

If you're operating a retail store, you know how important music is to a customer's experience. Hiring a DJ for your pop-up or retail store means you can benefit from a real-time response to customers' reactions. During lulls, a DJ can draw on a wealth of experience to keep customers engaged, in the evening hours an event DJ could play calming music to reduce stress.

Hiring a DJ for Your Retail Store in Three Steps

The purpose of a retail store DJ is to attract customers to your store and get them shopping. If they're not capable of doing that, then the DJ is no better than the radio or a Spotify mix.

For that reason, you should take into consideration three aspects of hiring a DJ for your retail store.

Listen to a Prospective Event DJs Mixes

To understand a DJ's knowledge of music, you should listen to sample mixes; two or three samples should give you an accurate gauge of a DJ's range.

Consider a DJ's Versatility

Hiring a retail store DJ in Los Angeles means you'll need someone who can develop ambiance that would be enjoyed by any shoppers. It also means that your DJ should be able to assess the types of crowds your store is attracting and choose songs that are appealing to that customer. In the beginning, your retail store DJ may not know shopper patterns and demographics, but over time, observant DJs will pick up on these patterns and home in on them to leverage better sales volumes.

Test their Ability to Emcee

A retail store DJ should be an excellent speaker and emcee. Using one, you can announce deals, launch new products, and even map the customer's path through the store.

If your DJ has passed the previous assessments, ask them to send a sample of a one-line phrase that includes terms and themes commonly used in your store. For example, "Today only, 25 percent off Frame jeans."

You're listening for clarity and conviction. The kind of retail store DJ that would entice you to check out the jeans.

Of course, your dialog will change to reflect your store or target demographic; alternatively, you could ask the DJ to create one.

What Type of Music Would Be Good for Retail Stores

Once you've hired a DJ, knowing the kind of music that you should be playing in your store or pop-up will give them a foundation they can use to create mixes.

80s Songs

80s pop music is often inoffensive, clean, and nostalgic. Even younger crowds appreciate some of the music as it seems vintage.

90s Songs

90s music is effective for the same reason 80s music is: it builds nostalgia, which triggers dopamine — the brain's happy hormone. Associating your store with this music will cause customers to — inadvertently — make a positive connection to your store.

Contemporary Music

If your retail store appeals to a younger audience, contemporary music will unlock dopamine in their brains when you're playing music relevant to their experiences.

Of course, there's more to being a retail store DJ than playing 80s music. You need to let the crowd — in this case, shoppers — direct the mix.

As a Los Angeles retail store DJ, I understand the impact a good mix can have on a business, and I aim to do what's best for your business. Please contact Black and White Affair. We are not a dj service but we are a Dj experience.

It maybe time to set up your Dj for your prom in the Bay Area. Proms are usually hitting at the end of the school year. I am seeing them set up Mid April till Mid May. Schools are picking those dates since they don’t want it to interfere with the ending of school. At that time the weather is getting warmer so people are setting up their parties. 

So what do you look for in a prom DJ? Make sure they have experience playing at schools. Playing at schools is a totally different animal compared to playing at private events outside of schools. The dj has to make sure the music is clean meaning that there are no profanity. Also a lot of students like having a dj that can quick mix. That means they can play a song for a short period of time and throw in another song so it blends perfectly. Long gone are the days where a dj plays the whole song from start to finish. It seems the only songs that can be played out like that would be songs to play during dinner or Spanish songs on the dance floor. 

Speaking of dinner, songs should not be slow songs to put students to sleep. They rather be songs that everybody knows and keep everyone excited and you start building it at the end of dinner so they go straight to the dance floor when its ready to party. 

I am all about playing good dance music but during proms a few slow songs need to be put in the mix spread out through the night. 

If you are looking to book your prom dj now please look no further than Black and White Affair Dj services. We have enough sound for any events and please check out our reviews.