We were outside for the celebration. I was prepared with many layers of clothing but the guests did have warming posts. I was surprised since some guests had short sleeve shirts. It was a disco themed party so many wanted to show their cute disco outfits. We had a very open format playlist.  A big portion of it was all dance music. We had some disco and a lot of 90s music on the list. There were a few country songs on the list so I made sure I got that on while the folks were eating. We did play some sing a longs during the dinner portion of the night. The caterers provided Mexican food. First time I saw the caterer dance and led with line dances. Anytime any 90s music came on he would jump on the dance floor and sing along with the words. It was a fun vibe through out the night. The goal was to play  as many  line dances as possible. Sometimes I only do like one to two line dances but we went through like 7 or 8 line dances. 

It was a very intimate party. The neighbors did ask to turn down the bass and we did and repositioned the speakers so it was not too loud for the neighbors.

For most locations, it is about keeping the music at a good volume till 10 then you have  to either turn it way down or take the party indoors. But the best best to have neighbors not complain is to invite the neighbors to the party or have a good relationship with them and notify them that there will be music going on.

This is the second time playing at Hot Shot Muffler in Los Angeles. This was once at muffler repair shop but now it’s a venue to have parties. The room can be separated. One part of the venue has some games folks that can play games and the other part is where they have tables so people can eat and where people can get down to the music.

  I got there plenty early since at times it can be hard to park since its close the the busy Highland Park area which has a happening night life. They have an area to unload but they had a few cars too that were unloading too. I did leave my speaker poles there over night and they were quick to respond to my messages so I was able to pick them up on a Sunday.

My guests gave me a stellar playlist of 2000s music.  They shared some songs that I truly forgot about and I have on vinyl. What was cool was there was they had some bay area music for this LA crowd. I only thought bay folks only like that kind of music but folks who truly appreciate hip hop know the beauty of bay music.

For the first hour and half I went 2000s then they wanted 80s and 90s too.

It was a good vibe with the 2000s music but throwing in the other music built up the energy   of the crowd. It was great to have that freedom to move through different time periods.

I was part of a very intimidate wedding at a residence.  It had a small bridal party.  They came in to Frank   Sinatra’s Love and Marriage (Made more famous with the Married with Children theme song)

Right after that, they wedded they took pictures in front of the house while the guests had cocktail hour. The pre-ceremony music and the cocktail music had the same kind of music which was classic r&b such as Earth Wind and Fire and the Temptations for example.

It was djs choice for wedding party entrance and the newly married couple came in to a country song.

  We did have a timeline that was pretty on cue till the reception. We made sure everything was done but it was done a bit earlier. This only can be done with communication. We had a planner who sent us the schedule but she would let the couple know what was happening next then she would tell me and I would like the photographer know what was happening next. We had the special parent dances and the garter and bouquet toss. Later we had the married couple dance and the couple shared their advice for a long lasting marriage. What the guy said something comical but probably was not appropriate as he told me but I just improvised and said something more positive.

   I stayed two hours longer and played more Spanish music for the party. Once when most of the guests left a few wanted to do Karaoke and I was able to make it happen. They asked if   it cost more and I   said I am already here all I need to do is add a cable and we   are golden. It was a fun event.

Real Life Events: Customer Appreciation Halloween Party at a Apartment Complex (Bay Area Dj serving San Jose, Campbell, Morgan Hill, and Gilroy)

  I really enjoy working with this Apartment complex located in Campbell. This is the second event we have done this year with them. They tell me what they need and give me a good list to work from. A lot of the songs were r&b songs with some being new and some older. A few country songs were sprinkled in the mix too. They did a fantastic job decorating the area. Above where I was stationed there was 6-foot black spider. The swimming pool area was decorated with spider webs and in the pool were balloons from the movie It. In the casino room the windows were blacked out and there was blood all over the place. This had to be one of the best decorated spots I ever played it.

 The taco people were there handing out tacos to the folks and they had bartenders making spooky drinks. I can tell that this Apartment complex take care of their folks. I never hear of places doing nice things like this. They had a summer party and now a Halloween party.

So they had me put a speaker in the spooky room where they had tables and another speaker toward the swimming pool. So everyone could hear the music and hear the announcements. We did have a costume contest in which we voted for the scariest, most creative and most realistic. At the end we had some dancing with 80s music. It was a fun event and loved the fact that the apartment threw it for its people.

  We did back to back homecoming dances in San Jose. We do like doing high school dances. We do like them since we have an advantage compared to most other Djs. We compile the hottest songs that we get from all the high school dances that we do and mix it with the songs that the school requested. There are a lot of good songs out there to keep students dancing but the secret sauce is to play songs to build up energy and then mix into the next one quickly. It is crazy what the power of the quick mix can do with the energy of the crowd.

   We got to do Overfelt’s Home coming a few weeks ago and we had it indoors.  They gave us a good playlist and it was a good time. The following week we did James Licks homecoming dance.  The music was outside and the party was inside and outside. Loved the energy of the students. They were loving the edam music and loved the Latin music. There was a lot of Latin music played and danced to. As a dj, you have to be able to play and mix different genres.

  Both Overfelt and James Lick are awesome. They were very easy to work with.  Both sent over a dynamite Spotify list. Then the schools sent over maps of their school so we knew where to set up. It was just a really nice process and efficient.  Love it when schools are on top of it!

Sometimes a school wants to celebrate Halloween so they throw at Trunk or Treat event. What is a Trunk or Treat event you may ask? Parents get to the event early who are participating and give out candy outside their trunk to trick and treaters. It is a safe way to go trick or treating in a secure parking lot and kids don’t have to worry about moving cars.

  So there has to be other events going on than parents giving out candy. They have to be games and maybe some dancing for kids and their parents. So to prep I look for classic Halloween songs that everyone knows. Then I look for sound effects that can add some spookiness to the   event. Sound effects like a witch cackling or a werewolf howling at the moon. We are planning to add some line dancing so students and parents can get into it.  Some games we are thinking of running are musical chairs, and follow the leader. We all know musical chairs but follow the leader is when one student leads the group with a dance and the group follows. We will have different students lead the dances and folks will get a kick out of it.

  Also it is good to have songs that are appropriate for family function events and add some Halloween classics in the mix then you cannot go wrong.  Also good to have a good mic presence to get the attention for each event.  Also it would good to cone off the dJ area and the game area since crowd tend to crowd the dj area.

 We love us some Homecoming dances. Last week we were at Westmont High School and we did homecoming dance at their gym. Their playlist was very solid. It was all older music that truly hits.  We love playing for Westmont since we played at their proms the past two years.

 The following week we were at Independence High School and they had their function outside. They had a cool low-rider van that was a  photo booth. Their list was a long list that had a lot of hard hitting hits and some current ones too. It was a very strong high school dance list. Love the fact we can use the strong old school hits of Westmont and the very current list with the hits from Independence and use that will the next homecomings that we have planned for October. We have two more homecomings happening in October that we are excited for. We love the fact that high schools call us back to do their homecomings and proms. Doing high school homecoming dances are different from doing other   events.  Most events you play background music then you go for dance music. High school homecoming events is straight energy from the start to the end.   There is no break in the action.

 Most homecoming dances are held the day after the big game. There was one school we did events for that would have the dance right after the game so it was a late night!

 Most of the weddings I do, we have a day of coordinator or I help with the planning of the events of the wedding. A lot of folks never really planned a wedding before so I give them suggestions and they listen too them and they choose what they like.  Sometimes we have a planner at weddings from the start so they are in the loop.

  I have the pleasure to work with a good wedding planner. Way in advance of the wedding she reached out and asked me if I needed anything for the wedding. She wanted to know if we had two lapels and if we needed special tables and linens. We already had everything so I thanked her for asking. I showed up the day before the wedding to check out venue layout and got to meet her in person. The next day before we set up I touched based with her with a few small music changes so she knew what was happening.

   We went over the procession of the ceremony so we had our cues in order.  There was a small change with dogs running in the ceremony so I was kept in the loop with that. Later in the reception she gathered the wedding party and it was my duty to announce them. Every time we hit an event on the timeline I checked in with the wedding planner to make sure dj and the other vendors were good to go. What was great was the good communication during the whole wedding.  I definitely recommend a wedding planner for weddings especially one that is very detailed and good with communication. Events by Nicki in case you want to find a planner who is on top of things. https://www.eventsbynicki.com