Santa Cruz Prom for a San Jose High School: (Bay Area Dj Serving San Jose, Palo Alto, Sunnyvale, Gilroy and Morgan Hill)

  We did homecoming for Independence in the fall and we were called to do their prom. They choose a nice venue in Santa Cruz. During homecoming they had a boatload of energy so we were excited to do their  prom. As they did before they gave us a lot of good hits on their playlist so it was easy to get their party going. The venue was called the Coconut Grove. They   had a place for dancing and a play to play video games. The students had to a chance to play some video arcade or go dancing with their friends.

 Its nice to venture outside of the bay area to try different nice spots. There are so many places to chose from and this venue was very professional that they contacted me before to give me a number to call and also give us information on how to load.

 It is prom season so go to a dj company that knows high school music. This is prom number 1 of 4 this season and we are ready for them. Call Bwadj.com for your epic high school event.

 We have been fortunate to play for the Decathalon After Party the past two years. Decathalon students are ones from across California who compete in educational competitions. They spend a lot of time studying for these competitions that sometimes they got to let loose. We have been fortunate to be the dj for them the last two years. Smart kids and another other kind of kid if you play good music then they are going to dance. Most of the times we get a playlist to play but this time we did not since students were too busy studying but we still made party happen.

 We have done a lot of homecomings and we are set to do a lot of proms this year so our high school playlist is pretty solid. We do play pop and hip hop and some old school tracks to set the vibe for the night. What we notice is a lot of tracks that were popular like 10 years ago are coming back. At a dance you have to be able to read the crowd and know how long to play track before it hurts the dance floor. If the song isn’t getting the proper attention then it would be best to try a different song that will build excitement. Appreciate the Decathalon kids that brought the energy to the party and we will see you next you. Remember to call Black and White Affair for your high school events.

  We are up for anything. We had a last minute event (anything 2 weeks or less is considered a last minute event) and we had a dj available and what made it perfect was it was our latin dj so it was a latin party in Gilroy.  The weather has not been the greatest so we had to figure out if we needed a tent or if the party was going to be inside. We kept in communication with the client to see what the status was going to be.  The party was at a ranch with a lot of room but it was outside inside a tent. When the dj got there there was a mariachi playing and the dj was the dessert of the evening.  There was a lot of Ozuna and Maluma on the playlist. Definitely a lot of reggaeton. It was like 95 percent Spanish and 5 percent English.  It was a lot of   dance music that did a good job of covering the aspect that it was raining. It just proves that when enough planning you can still have an event or a plan B.

 They did have a piñata there too. The kids and adults had a shot at it! Even though there was rain it still was a happening party. It was so fun the police came to visit. So there was loud music going on with mariachi and early on the police did visit but they did not come again once we adjusted the volume. I did speak with the client and he was happy with the night. 

  A lot has to deal with what time of day the dj is playing. Like the weekend can have more of the festive vibe while the morning during the weekday can be more chill.

It’s the djs duty to rotate some new jams in the rotation so the workers are not hearing the same songs over and over again. Every time I do a retail event I create a new playlist so no one can say I play the same songs over and over again. Why play the original song that everyone knows? Play a song everybody knows but with a new beat and feel to it. Find out what the theme that the store is focused on. Also keep in mind that it is not a night club and keep the volume at a modest level. You do not want the patrons to be screaming over the blissful beats that you are playing.

When I do play people love the diversity of the music. It is about seeing who is in the crowd and feeding them. When I mention feeding them, I mean keep on giving them what they want. I like to go disco, then maybe funk, Motown, then some 80s 90s and 2000s. Its not all about playing the same things you hear on the radio but playing songs folks can appreciate it. Just make sure you are keeping tabs with management on what they want plus keep an eye on the workers and patrons to keep on giving them what they want and that’s the vibe!

  New Years Eve is a popular night and djs are being called left and right. I already had a few inquiries for two different locations. There are different factors to consider. Is the dj bringing their gear or tapping in the house system. Djs what will have to bring their own gear will have to charge more since they have to set up and take down the gear as opposed to a dj who uses the house system would only need to bring usb sticks or a laptop to the show.

Our business has two locations in California. In the Bay Area, we can easily do a mobile event for 300 dollars an hour for New Years Eve while in the Los Angeles area last year we booked a last minute private 4-hour event for 150 dollars an hour. Wait!  Its California and why the big price difference? Supply and demand. There are so many djs in the SoCal area that people can pay less to get a dj. That is the way it is. I mean there are different tiers of djs. There are the local djs who can charge more then there are the established djs who have a big social media following and there are the high end djs who maybe turntablist or producers will be in a whole other level. Different price points may include more lighting and sound quality such as how many speakers are needed. There is a vast diversity of djs in California and they are available based on your budget.

This is the second year we are doing this law firms xmas party. It was located at the Capital Club so there was a lot of traffic on the street due to Christmas in the Park in downtown San Jose so a lot of folks came late. I came 2 hours early since I know I have to take my gear up 17 floors. It is a lot of work to get all the gear up there but the views make it worth it. The first two hours it was all Christmas classics. Everything people would hear when they were young then at the tail end I would do the covers of todays stars of doing of the classics.  During that time the staff was serving appetizers and cocktails were being served. Then we made the annoucent for dinner;

Then it was game time! Game contest was to get whip cream in their mouth. Participants would put whip cream on their wrist and slap their forearm then try to catch the whip cream with their mouth. They had a few rounds of that.  On the spot, I was able to find the jeopardy sound and a drum roll with limite internet access but made it happen.

After it was dance time. We were all about the 80s, funk and disco. This was my 3rd time being a Capital Club and the staff was very helpful and super nice. Capital Club has one of the best views of the city plus a great staff and fabulous food so it’s a good place to have a function.

To throw a big corporate event there has to be collaboration. You have to have the main point person then you have to delegate responsibilities. I was able to work with a team from Lockeed Martin. We had constant communication and everything ran smooth.

  They located a big venue downtown San Jose, the Guild House. Its huge and it is a creative space. There were tables so people can play board games and then different areas to play video games. Also for this event there was a photo booth.  Guild House had folks passing out delicious appetizers. Dinner was picked up by the side tables and they had choices of tamales and tostadas and chips and salsa/guacamole.

  I gave them a playlist to cover many genres. We decided to move out the country songs and replace them with Christmas songs.  We were mostly playing 80s and 90s and 00s pop music. The first hour or so we went for background music and then later we got a little more aggressive with danceable music. We did get a little louder to get folks on the dance floor and it worked. It seemed like the Latin music is what got folks ready for the dance floor. 85 percent of the music was English but the Spanish music was got the ants in the pants.  For 600 folks we brought 2 -3 way speakers and 4 tops. It was more than enough for the space.

  Overall it was a successful event with good food, a nice venue, and good people who made it a good time for all.

From the first announcement to the last, wedding music planning  plays an instrumental role in making a wedding memorable. With many weddings under our belt, we understand how essential it is to have the perfect music plan on your special day. That’s why we want to give you with knowledge: the top 10 mistakes wedding DJs often make, so you can be confident in making the right choice for your wedding dj.

1. Bad Equipment Setup:

One of the most common mistakes is not bringing appropriate equipment. It’s vital that the DJ’s setup is professional, with backups for essential gear. You wouldn’t want the music to stop due to technical glitches. It can happen and the professional DJs know this. They are fully prepared and have backup equipment ready to go, just in case. I believe in back ups to your back ups.

2. Ignoring The Couple’s Playlist:

Every couple is unique, and so is their wedding playlist. A DJ should never ignore the bride and groom’s music preferences or play songs that have been on the doo not playlist. Many DJs will often ignore the playlist and play what they think works. This is only okay if YOU are okay with that.

Remember, this is YOUR wedding and you should be in charge of what is played on your big day, not the DJ. I know this may sound weird, but we truly believe this. Yes, we’re experts and know what to play to keep people dancing. However, we want to fulfill your vision of your wedding day, so we let you decide what we play. All pro DJs should do this (but they don’t).

3. Poor Volume:

Whether it’s blasting music during dinner or a too-soft first dance song, improper volume levels can mess up the mood. It’s crucial for a DJ to understand and adjust to the venue’s acoustics and adjust the volume throughout the evening. This is done with proper sound checks through out the night.

4. Lack of Interaction with the Crowd:

A good DJ and MC does more than just play songs; they engage with the guests. From reading the room’s energy to making announcements, an MC and DJ’s interaction can make or break the wedding vibe.

It’s important to note that, again, we believe that every event is about the couple, and not the DJ. So we’re never going to be obnoxious and talk too much on the microphone, or try to steal the show. You are the star of the show, not us!

5. Not Being Adaptable:

No matter how well-planned out things may be, weddings can be unpredictable. A top-notch DJ should be flexible, whether it’s handling last-minute song requests or adjusting to schedule changes.

A good DJ is also going to know exactly how to handle a situation where the schedule is off. They should be able to know what to do to get back on track and save time, as needed. Professionals should always look at your tentative timeline and see where adjustments may be needed, and suggest any changes that may be helpful. Some examples could be dinner being too long for the amount of guests you’re expecting, or starting the pre-ceremony too early, etc.

6. Playing Overly Explicit Songs:

Weddings typically have guests of all ages. It’s a significant misstep to play explicit songs, especially without the couple’s consent. Clean versions or more family-friendly tracks are always a safer bet.

If you want to hear the explicit songs, a good idea would be to perhaps wait until later during the dance, when the older relatives or those with kids are gone.

7. Lack of Professionalism:

Arriving late, dressing inappropriately, or being unprepared are signs of unprofessionalism. Couples should seek DJs who treat their wedding day with the seriousness and respect it deserves.

Your wedding day is every bit as important to us as it is to you. This should be the case for EVERY vendor you hire.

8. Not Coordinating with Other Vendors:

Your DJ should be in sync with the photographer, caterer, and event planner/coordinator. For instance, they need to know when it’s time for the bouquet toss or cake cutting to ensure they play the right song and create the desired ambiance.

We always make sure everyone is aware of what’s happening before it happens. This helps your vendors and you know what’s happening throughout the evening. Vendor communication is key.

9. Missing Pre-Wedding calls:

A pre-wedding consultation is essential. It’s an opportunity for the DJ to understand the couple’s vision, discuss song choices, and get a sense of the wedding’s timeline.

It is absolutely critical for you to talk with your DJ before your wedding. It can be online or in-person, but it definitely needs to happen. If you have a hard time reaching your DJ, or he/she is slow to respond, even before you book, be careful hiring this DJ!

10. Not Having a Diverse Playlist:

A diverse guest list means a variety of musical tastes. It’s not a good idea to stick strictly to one genre or era. A diverse playlist ensures everyone gets on the dance floor at some point.

Of course, if you absolutely want to hear only one genre, you can ask the DJ to do this and he/she should accommodate your request.

In a Nutshell:

Your wedding day is one of the most memorable days of your life, and the right music plays a significant part in that. By being aware of these common mistakes, you can make informed decisions and ensure that the music at your wedding is nothing short of perfect.

If you’re looking for a DJ who avoids these pitfalls and prioritizes your vision, Black and White Affair is here to help. With our years of experience and dedication to excellence, we promise to make your wedding soundtrack unforgettable. Call us today and let’s make it memorable.