We are part of the Levi’s experience this past weekend and will be part of it next weekend. There will be a Black and White Affair dj Saturday and Sunday doing a marathon set. We will be providing the vibe while folks look at the fresh Levi Gear. On Saturday we will be doing a 12 to 8 set then Sunday we will be doing a 12 to 7 set. Last year Levi did a few stores with music then this year they had more stores do it. Levi’s posted it on their social media and people knew about it. There is always something special when a do is playing at a retail store. Usually when I go to stores the music is easy listening. I remember I went to a grocery store one time and the music was super funky and I’m like wow it makes a huge difference in the store experience.

   Music wise we go with the top 40 then we also include old school plus some mass songs. Old school would include 80s. 90s, and 00s.  Its crazy to believe that 2000s is considered old school. How time flies! But the good thing about music is the younger generations are appreciating the music that their parents listened to. I am noticing that more and more at teen events when they make their requests. There are so much  new music coming   out that  some of it falls through  the cracks but the old school classics still stick around and make  the  shopping  experience a bit more enjoyable. Please go visit Levis and say what’s up to the dj! Happy Holidays!

I got to be a part of a holiday event on a Sunday. They had a lot of local vendors selling a lot of Christmas items and plus also provided a pancake breakfast. I was here at 6:15 in the morning since the event started at 7. Since their typical Santa was not available to partake in the event they suggested a Santa Dj.  I do not own a Santa Suit but they provided a hat and coat. So I was a Santa DJ. I have   no issues wearing what the  lient wants. It is all about making the client happy. We were up on stage and we were able to hook up with the house system. There is a good benefit to that since we do not need to blare the music for the back to hear and the front folks would get the loudness since   they are close. I was able to have a good volume and the halls speakers reached the whole venue. Not all venues have house systems but its nice when it is actually connected.

  It is early Sunday Morning, so what do you play for a Christmas event? Of course we go with the Christmas Classics then you throw in some covers of the classics with todays stars. I would throw in some 90s 00s 10s pop but would always return to the Christmas music. It was a good event overall and they mentioned that typically they would just play an iPod but this was a way better experience.

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.

Hey Party folks I got you covered when it comes to a latin playlist. We are going to get your toes wet into the latin music pool to get people moving to the latin beats. We are talking salsa, reggaeton, bachata, merengue, cumbia and more. Let’s break it down:

It is not about playing the same type of music the whole night. There are so many types of latin music that its good to hop  around to quench the latin music thirst. A dj would be beneficial since they can read the crowd and determine how many songs of one genre can be played. A phone on shuffle can not read the crowd and could kill the vibe when people are getting hyped up.

Marc Anthony  and Celia Cruz can get people to start to salsa dance with their jams.

Next you can  include reggaeton like Daddy Yankee, J Balvin, Maluma and Ozuna.

If one wants to slow it down then they can play some bachata to add a romantic vibe to the party. Artis that deep dive into that are Romeo Santos, Prince Royce and Aventura.

Then it maybe time to sped it up and you can throw on some Merengue with an artist like Elvis Crespo.

Cumbias are what gets everyone moving. There are a lot of classics by Fito Olivares and Los Angeles Azules and Anciento Molina.

At last, do not forget the latin cross overs and pop songs from Shakira and Enrique Iglesias.

 First and foremost you need to make sure you have a hip spot to have the holiday party. You don’t want to be the boss who has their functions at the work spot. I had a boss who had the xmas parties where we worked. Employees were encouraged to bring something for a potluck. It was so lame that I would not even attend even though it was during work hours. You don’t want to be lame as Mrs. R@#$# whoops did I almost say that outloud. Anyway my other  bosses made  the effort to find a spot so we can gather. When you are at work then it makes it hard to truly enjoy yourself at a holiday party if you are at work place. Going elsewhere brings more excitement to the staff.

 Once the place is selected then you have provide the vibe and that is set by the dj. What does the dj play? Some corporate events require all xmas songs during the dinner portion of the night. Others would want a mix of xmas music with some pop appropriate music that will get people dancing. Alcohol does help people let loose on the dance floor but its not mandatory. Its get to get a list from the party organizer so the dj can get a feel of what they are looking for.

 What is better than one birthday party is having two birthday girls celebrating at the same time. We had the party in the heart of Burbank. Loyal Studios was the location and they made a cool party scene. One cool thing about Los Angeles area is they have neat spots to have events. They are creative with their event spaces. I am used to big halls and lots of space but in this area they are creative to make a space as a fun party spot. They had different rooms to accommodate the party. One room where they served the pizza and cake. Another room where they ate and another room for photobooth. Then the coolest room had to be the room the dj was at. I am not just saying that but it truly was a cool spot. It was a green room where they film different things and they had a built in dance floor. The room was sound proof so there is no worry about the neighbors complaining about the loud noise. The teens loved Taylor Swift and Olivia Rodrigo when it came out the speaker. Overall it was a good party and we went through there playlist and were able to stream songs that were not in our catalogue. We have not issues taking requests since the party goers got a bit more excited. It was definitely a pop party with a little hip hop. Its always refreshing when young folks get down to older music. One of the biggest hits was Gangnam Style and everyone was doing that dance and Macerena was also called upon.

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.

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