No two weddings are ever the same. Each wedding we do is costumed for the couple. When planning my latest wedding then we found out the wedding was a non dance wedding. I have never done one before but I was willing to take it on. As a dj you are trained to build a dance floor and keep on building it with the progression of playing good dance music. But then again every wedding is a custom wedding and I wanted to be a part of it.

  Typically, when you work on a wedding you have 2 to 3 hours of open dancing. But when you are not having dancing at all period you have to schedule other activities. I was in charge of finding out some fun games for the wedding. I did share some ideas with the couple and they opted to do family feud and some music trivia. So I went to find some really good family feud questions and saw some episodes to remind me how the game went and went over the rules. As for the game trivia I looked at the top hits for a certain decade and also got come classic TV show theme songs. It would bring back the good ole days.

 I was prepared for the game activities. During the actual wedding, the couple spent a lot of time in the photo booth. We ended up doing the bouquet toss. We did have a sparkler exit. There were two lines of guests with sparklers and the couple walks down. It wasn’t too dark yet but it still looked nice.

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If you don't have a good mix of Latin songs when you're throwing a Spanish party in LA, your party will be homogenous and blend with every other Spanish party. Rather than seeming like a curated experience with the help of your bilingual emcee, your party will feel like you simply put on a Spotify playlist and press play. Don't let that be the case. Choose some of these popular — and less well-known songs to make your party a memorable experience.

'Congo Mulence' by Machito

Allow guests to mingle with this sultry Latin jazz number. This song sets the mood and can be used during the portion of your Los Angeles party where guests are entering, making their introduction, or grabbing drinks before hitting the dance floor.

'Lo Que Paso Paso' by Daddy Yankee

Now, invite your guests to the dance floor. This Reggaeton song has become an instant classic because of its fascinating composition and electric beat while still being a brilliant reflection of Daddy Yankee's Puerto Rican vibes.

'Tributo al Niño Rivera' by Afro-Cuban All Stars

Think of your Spanish party in LA like a decadently layered dessert or fun Starbucks drink, with every bite — or sip — tantalizing your tastebuds.

Although you may have started with some cool Brazilian jazz, it's time to spark some serious dance moves with this Cuban salsa tune. The most elegant arrangement of instruments including the flute and tres, make this the perfect song to dance and listen to, providing six minutes of pure bliss.

'Mujer Celosa' by El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico

This song doesn't need an introduction as it's arguably one of the best songs to emerge from the premier group in Puerto Rican salsa. Guests will enjoy dancing to this track.

'Procura' by Chichi Peralta

Keep the dance mood going with this high-energy Dominican song that has an intoxicating fusion of tropical sounds — a staple for any Spanish party.

'Woman del Callao' by Juan Luis Guerra

A true Spanish party isn't complete unless you play music from Latin music legend Juan Luis Guerra. This merengue song will ensure the dancing continues unabated. You may even be able to twist your DJ's arm to get a slick remix to the song accompanied by an enticing introduction from your bilingual emcee.

'Guallando' by Fulanito

Another merengue song, Gullando is a classic Spanish party song with an intoxicating uptempo beat, only enhanced by the enchanting accordion in the background.

'Antes de Perderte' by Duki

In the right mix, this Latin urban song can help keep the party going, reinvigorating guests with its electric beat and rhythmic tempo. It also helps that the song has become popular, so bound to be enjoyed and appreciated by partygoers. Your bilingual emcee will also do a great job introducing this 2022 hit.

'Otro Atardecer' by Bad Bunny & The Marias

Bring the vibes down again with this Bad Bunny hit that shows his versatility as an artist.

Consider this an outro to get guests to talk, catch up, or wind down before heading home.

Now is also the time for your bilingual emcee to make his or her final announcements, before inviting guests to slow down from the fast pace.

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They had an event at SCU and they asked if we can dj it. Of course we obliged. Then they mentioned we will be adding silent disco to our set up. We have seen it on Instagram but never had used it till this day. We brought our gear and set it up but didn’t not set up the speakers. Even though I knew we did not need speakers, I brought them for plan b but it worked perfectly so we didn’t need a back up plan

   SCU put out all these headphones and we had a transmitter hooked up to our system. The headphones had 3 channels with each one with a selected color. It would be possible to set up 3 djs with 3 transmitters and listeners can decide which dj to listen to. There was no latency. If the dj scrathed But all we had today was one dj. We went with new hip hop and some reggaeton.

The rec center was separated into three areas. One for the silent disco, one for ping pong and corn hole and the last area to shoot hoops. People could get involved with the music and get involved in the other activities.

 Silent disco is a cool concept. It seems to be way easier on the ears. One can adjust the volume of each headphone. One can do different activities while listening to headphone.

 They had a cool 360 photo booth students were able to use.

Music can totally change the vibe of a store. I lived the majority of my life in the bay area. Recently I have moved to Southern California and I noticed a few differences. I noticed the lines are longer in Southern California and they are a little more adventurous with their music selection.  I noticed it at a Trader Joes. I saw people lip syncing to the words and grooving to Young Michael Jackson and played Hey Jealousy by the Gin Blossoms. Music does enhance the customer experience and that is what Retailers should strive for.

 First and foremost, you have to know your clientele. If your clients are over 40 then you can do 80s and 90s music. Thanks to the popularity of Tic Tok and lot of the younger generation has been influenced by older music. Some managers of retail stores may make the mistake of suggesting music that they like but what is important is that the dj is playing music for the shoppers. They want to feed into the brand.

  Different stores require different playlists. The dj should know about the shoppers to create a playlist. This playlist is used as a base but at the same time they can add songs on the fly at the event.

 Not every store would want wedding dance music, but the dj should be an open format dj which means they have expertise in different genres of music. Maybe it is an indie vibe and the dj can play covers of popular songs. Maybe the store would benefit from some electronic music (house music). The dj should have an idea in mind but may need to change songs in the playlist.

Also a store does not need subwoofers but the dj can bring some 8inch to 15 inch speakers would suffice. Music does not need to be loud where the customers have to raise their voice to talk.  

If people are bobbing their head or smiling when a transition takes place the dj is doing a good job.

Consider Black and White Affair (www.bwadj.com)  as your retail dj. We play all sorts of music and would provide a custom playlist for each event. If Spanish Latin hits are needed, then we have all those songs up our sleeve. We do love old school and setting cool vibes for all retail stores we play at.

DIY Versus Hiring a Pro DJ

Anyone with a phone and a Bluetooth speaker has the potential to be appointed a DIY DJ at your next event. But being a DJ is more than simply playing music. That's why when you are choosing between a DIY DJ or hiring a pro DJ, you should consider the pros and cons.

Pros of Being a DIY DJ

There are numerous advantages to being a DIY DJ. Those benefits primarily revolve around saving time and money, but only a limited amount of time and money.

Save Money

To hire a Los Angeles DJ, you'll need to fork over approximately $750 for a four-hour event. If you decide to take the reigns, you can save money, as you'll only have to rent audio-visual equipment.

You could get a subwoofer for about $140 per day and a portable speaker for $60 per day, saving you nearly $550 for the day. Then, you'd save time looking for and vetting a DJ but not much time on the day of the event as you'd need to control the music and the AV equipment you've rented, leaving little time to enjoy the show.

Save Time Vetting DJs

Regardless of the event, you'll typically have to spend a few hours vetting DJs you've shortlisted before you hire someone.

Vetting DJs requires listening to their portfolio, calling previous clients for testimonials, and creating a contract agreeable for you and the DJ.

Cons of Being a DIY DJ

Despite the pros, there are far more cons, but we'll only focus on three of the most significant drawbacks.

The Moment isn't Memorable

Since DJs are the most significant entertainment for most events, their impact on the event extends far beyond music selection. Instead, they shape the event with music that dictates the mood and atmosphere. This mood can make moments within the event memorable and far more enjoyable for guests.

As a DIY DJ, you have zero experience shaping an atmosphere or environment to get a crowd — drunk, sometimes hostile, often tired or disinterested — to get engaged in the event and entertainment.

Music Becomes Monotonous

DJs have to enjoy a variety of music and genres. If you're controlling the music, the tracklist becomes monotonous. The music will reflect your taste with a likelihood of some trendy songs. Even if your music taste is more eclectic or trendy a DJ will always know more songs and how to incorporate these songs to add to the kind of event you're hosting.

There's an obvious line between tasteless and tacky placement and selection that's far more appropriate. A professional DJ represents the latter.

There's No Room for Last-Minute Changes

If the playlist isn't drawing the response you want, as a DIY DJ, you likely won't be able to make a last-minute change to your playlist without ruining it. A DJ can make necessary changes to the playlist and often uses the response from the audience to determine the direction the playlist should take.

Unless you want your event to be the but of any joke, don't skimp on your entertainment budget. Because the nominal savings you make on doing it yourself will lead to a lackluster event. The better choice is to hire a pro DJ. You're guaranteeing your guests — and yourself — a great time.