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

 This is the 3rd year we are doing this event. Gymnasts in the area get a chance to let lose by an event thrown by USA Gymnastics. We knew it was a 90s theme so that is easy. We also knew it was a teen ager party so we pulled out our playlists from our proms and homecoming events we had recently.

  Double Tree hotel has been the venue all three times and they can host a cool party. We were in the courtyard so we were able to outside to have the party.

  So how do you prepare for a party like this? We figured that we will be outside so we can use a little sounder so we decided to bring the (big boy) 3 way speakers to make sure it reaches everyone and they can feel it. Plus, young folks want to feel the music.  So it was a 90s theme so we would do a quick mix of the 90s music but at the same time had to read to room to see if they needed more current hits.  And of course we listen to requests. Some ds do not listen to requests but we take them and consider them. Its funny since sometimes they make a request and the song is in the prepare list ready to go. I feel that happens a lot.

Again another fun party for USA gymnastics. We love the energy and how folks are able to get loose.

Schools should hire reputable DJs for their events for several reasons:

1.         Professionalism: Established DJs bring a high level of professionalism to school events. They are experienced in managing large groups of students and can handle the technical aspects of sound and lighting, ensuring that everything runs smoothly. Djs should be used to students coming in asking for requests and being prepared by having the latest jams.

2.         Experience with School Events: DJs who specialize in school events understand the unique dynamics and needs of a school environment. They know how to engage students, keep the atmosphere positive, and navigate any challenges that may come up. They know they have to keep the party going but at the same time not to upset the vice principal!

3.         Safety and Appropriateness: Experienced DJs are well-versed in selecting age-appropriate music and content. They ensure that the playlist aligns with the school's values and guidelines, creating a fun yet respectful environment for students. Some songs maybe labeled clean but the content may not be so they know not to play that.

4.         Customization and Flexibility: Established DJs are used to customizing their performance to suit specific themes and preferences. They work closely with school organizers to tailor the music and entertainment to fit the event’s purpose, whether it's a dance, pep rally, or graduation ceremony.

5.         Reliable Equipment and Setup: Professional DJs come equipped with high-quality sound and lighting systems, which are essential for creating a vibrant and engaging atmosphere. They are prepared with back up gear just in case.  They also handle the setup and teardown efficiently, minimizing disruptions and ensuring that everything works correctly during the event.

  Weddings are not the same ole weddings from before. Back in the day everyone used the same venues and now that is not the case. People are now using Airbnbs as their unique venue. These locations can be more affordable than a typical wedding venue. It can provide an intimate place for family and friends for your special wedding day. A typical wedding venue has strict rules on how to décor your location but with airbnbs there is way more flexibility. Also with multiple rooms guests can have access to a place to stay and you have a place to hold the after party.

  I was part of a wedding in San Jose. It was a hot day and I was under a canopy. I was playing instrumental covers of the preceremony music. The bride had a surprise while her partner walked the aisle and sang the processional song as she entered. It was a beautiful ceremony then we all went   inside the house during cocktail hour since it was super hot. When it was time for dinner we ate outside while we played Spanish music.

 We did the grand entrance and first dance right after dinner. Then it was the dance part of the night. We did a lot of fun Mexican dance music and there were some great singers who wanted to serenade the couple with karaoke. The Brides had a great night and the intimate wedding was a really memorable moment. It was so intimate and it seemed like everyone really got to know everyone.

Lots of Spanish hits and lots of great memories.

  Birthday girl needed to have festive Spanish music but most of the night would be English. I was notified that I would be able to drive up the unload then drive back down to park. I made sure I left really early to avoid rushing anything. I was able to park down the street and climbed the driveway which was a long as a football field. It only took me 3 trips to bring everything up. It was hot but we were able to set up by the shaded area. I started up with old school and kept it old school till it was dance time.  I did play one track that was too danceable and the planner said not yet then I quickly changed out of it. Maybe I was too eager to get the party started but I just did quick mixing with old school classics. When it was dance time, it was time to play the Spanish music. In the middle of that we had to cut the cake and then it was speech time. There were numerous speeches of appreciation. Birthday girl had a 4-page letter thanking all the people who she wanted to acknowledge.

  My favorite part of the night was the 90s booty bass portion. MC Hammer and Ghost Town Djs. It seemed like the crowd was re living their college years! The guests were very appreciative and it was an overall good night. The hostess made me feel like a guest by always checking on me to see if I needed anything.

Audio for Graduation in Gilroy and going to a Los Angeles Graduation (Bay Area Dj serving San Jose, Gilroy, and Morgan Hill) (Los Angeles Dj serving Hollywood, Glendale and Burbank)

 We love doing sound for graduations. We find out who our audience is and we prep the playlist. Of course we listen to the must plays and we do play them. Most often time we have free reign in what to play for the audience. Typically, we have an hour before the ceremony to set the mood. We have been doing a high school graduation in graduation for years. We did it before the pandemic then we took a few years off then it was back open for business. They have their function at Christmas Hill Park They have a built in stage so its an easy set up. The majority of the guests are Latinos. So we play Latino music. Most places try to stay safe and play English music. We are the opposite, since we want to create a memorable experience. We want to create a joyous experience for the celebration. We don’t want to play English music that the guests don’t typically listen to.

I was a guest at a nice venue in downtown Los Angeles. Just to rent the venue it runs about 20k. It is a really really nice venue where top musicians play. This was another graduation with 96 percent of the graduates being Latino. I was a guest and not the dj for this event. They played all English music and alternative music. I am pretty sure most of the folks have never heard the music before. The ceremony was a beautiful one but what was missing was music that moved the crowd before the ceremony and at the end. It is so important to have that for the audience. You have to really know the crowd. The crazy thing about the expensive venue was they were given the songs by us and they did not even play it. Expensive does not necessarily mean better in this case.

Latin Party in East San Jose (Bay Area Latin Spanish Dj serving San Jose, Sunnyvale, Milpitas, San Martin, Gilroy and Morgan Hill)

  We got a call from a person looking for a dj for a graduation in San Jose. They had call us before for a dj for the daughters 16-year-old birthday party but opted to go with another dj a few years back. I do remember them since they were like a block away from the house I owned at the time. In my head I was like yes, they are a few minutes away and they want Latin music so I was excited for it. Of course, we thanked them for considering us. Recently they called us again but this time they were like we want to book you. If one looks up Latin or Spanish dj we pop up on google. It is what we do and love doing it. We love doing these events since Latin music brings out all the dancers I never asked how the other event went but we were available on their date. His daughter was graduating high school and they wanted a Spanish music as their soundtrack to their event.  They gave us a great list of regional Mexican Music. We supplemented it with cumbia music and some reggaeton.

 The guests were so nice and they were dancing the whole night. It was a great party with a great vibe. For your Latin (Spanish) Party, please call Black and White Affair dj!

We had two SJSU graduates throw a celebration in San Jose. I arrived an hour early and I was all set up and ready to go with 20 minutes to spare. So what do I do? I start playing the jams. I did notice a lot of older latinos there so I went with the old school Spanish music. We went with the cumbia classics. When it my true time to play, I started with their playlist. It was a lot of reggaeton plus with some hip hop. I was playing as many of their songs as I could since I want it to be as custom as can be.

They were good hosts and multiple people were asking me if I ate or needed a drink. I felt at home with the crowd. They were into the same music that I was into. I felt I was with my right crowd. I was playing hits from the 2000s and 2010s. The folks were singing along with the songs. I felt I had them when I was playing bay area anthems and I felt the energy. We. were hitting hard with the cumbias then going to 2000s sing-along pop then hitting up with some bay area classics. I loved the energy in the room plus I was playing like a minute of a half per song.

They had a mechanical bull that got a lot of attention. I have never seen a mechanical bull at a private party but it was a huge hit. It was just funny seeing if people can get on it themselves without any help and to see how long they will last on the bull.