Tag Archive for: aaron demarest

school dance dj in ct, prom dj in ct, homecoming djs in ct

Prom advisor tips – Hiring the right prom dj

Prom advisor tips – Hiring the right prom dj

Being a prom advisor can be a daunting task. You’ve got a budget to figure out, students to make happy, and the administration’s microscope on every decision you make. So how do you pick the right entertainment for your school?

The $300 dilema.
Three Hundred Dollars seems to be the number that is carelessly tossed about in conversation when it comes to disc jockeys. Why is that? It all depends on who you ask. $300 won’t get you very far. The old adage “Good things aren’t cheap and cheap things aren’t good.” is very appropriate when it comes to hiring entertainment. So what should you look for?

Your prom DJ should be professional through and through. They should have commercial liability insurance to protect your school and themselves should an emergency arise. They should have experience with students and a clean track record. They should use a music subscription service like ‘PrimeCuts’ that updates their music library weekly with CLEAN and Radio Friendly music. They should have ample equipment to facilitate 500 students or more and not use things like iPods or consumer grade equipment. They should offer lighting that is event appropriate. And last but not least, the should have references.

All of these items mentioned are crucial to the success of your prom. And by the same token, those things come with a price tag. In the end, it’s all about value and how much your peace of mind is worth. When it comes to proms, remember one thing. It’s one night. You get one shot. There are no do overs. It’s got to be PERFECT.

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dj playlist, wedding playlist, wedding music, wedding dj, club dj, connecticut dj, wedding djs in ct

THE GREAT DEBATE: Band or Wedding DJ and how much?

From the WeddingWire Forums Kim Writes:

Band or Wedding DJ and how much?

“So I’m struggling with either having a band or dj. Do bands cost more? Do people think wedding bands are cheesy?
We were originally going to use FH’s co-worker, who does DJ’s on the side, but that fell through. When I started to look in to them, I was pretty bummed to see how much they actually cost and that may just put our entire a wedding a tad over budget now. This is one of the last things I need to book and is causing the most trouble!”Kim,The expression “The early bird gets the worm” is very useful here. When planning your wedding reception, the most important factor of finding vendors is that they are a good fit. Now in terms of the decision to go with live music or a dj… There are several things to consider.If you enjoy live music and you want more of a ‘SHOW’ where your guests can sit and watch a band play, this may be the right choice for you. You know your guests and what they like. Not to say that all bands are incapable of filling a dancefloor but, most people want to hear the original artists in a dancing environment. Also, you’re limited to the set list of songs that the band knows.  You also have to take into account that the band is full of people. And people need breaks. So expect to have 5 or 6 songs followed by a break and then back again.

When you use a DJ, they will have tens of thousands of selections for music covering just about everyone’s tastes and can easily switch things up to get people on the floor. Also, DJs don’t take breaks. If you’re having a 5 hour reception, expect that music will be playing throughout the length of the reception from start to finish.

A seasoned wedding DJ will have plenty of experience as well doing intros where as your bands have more experience with playing in bars and festivals. A DJ can also help to guide you and your guests through the events of the day giving you peace of mind keeping everything running smoothly for the catering, photography, videography, and reception staff.

Prices for DJs and bands and the requirements for each are miles apart. A DJ can comfortably be put into just about any 12×6 space and use a minimum of 2 dedicated circuits where as a band will need much more space and power not to mention food and drink. From a cost factor, DJs are typically more economical. A polished wedding band could cost anywhere between $6-$20K depending on their experience and ability. Wedding DJ prices vary and average between $1000-$3000. Sometimes with lighting included. You could always go with the family friend but, as you found out, sometimes things are best left to a professional.

Which ever way you choose, it’s up to you. It’s your special day. Make it whatever you want it to be.

 

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LGBT Wedding Help

LGBT Wedding Help

LGBT Wedding Help

From the WeddingWire forums Crystal writes:

“i need alot of help and ideas planning a lesbian wedding is there anysites to go to to get more help and ideas… any ideas or help from anyone is very much helpful and appreciated. thanks in advance”

Hi Crystal!

Congratulations on your engagement! You must be excited.
I’ve done several LGBT weddings this year and I can say with a great deal of certainty, there’s no difference between a heterosexual wedding and a lesbian wedding. That is, unless you want it to be. Now in speaking with some of my lesbian couples, they had said that they had a difficult time finding LGBT specific vendors and decor. But let me ask you this, do you want it to be different? The only significant difference that I saw was the cake topper. Other than that, everything else was the same. Food was delicious, tables and centerpieces were tasteful and exquisite, lightscaping was colorful and vibrant, and the guests danced all night long.

As it is with any wedding we do… Every wedding. Every time. It’s all about you.

To get ideas, share stories with other LGBT couples, visit the CT LGBT Wedding Forum on Facebook by visiting www.facebook.com/CTLGBTWEDDINGFORUM

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seating chart, wedding seating chart, wedding seating arrangements, wedding arrangements, wedding decor

Wedding Seating Arrangements

Wedding Seating Arrangements

As if planning a wedding wasn’t tricky enough, one of the hardest parts of the planning is the wedding seating arrangements. You want those closest to you to be near your head table and then fill in with friends, co-workers, & acquaintances. Makes sense right?

Think about this for a moment. You love your grandparents and your parents. And they love you. They are ecstatic to be a part of your celebration. Do them a solid and put them as far away from the dance floor as possible.  Why?

The dance floor is a lively place to be. Full of music, and in some cases bright lights. If you remember from your childhood your parents or grandparents yelling up to you, “TURN THAT DOWN”, then being next to the DJ or his speakers is probably not the best place for grandparents. If you put them towards the rear of the room, they’ll be able to mingle with guests and chat with each other a lot easier if they are further away from the music.

“Can’t I just tell the DJ to turn it down?”

Sure you can. And they should oblige that request. But by the same token, a speaker is just that, a speaker. And it has to be loud enough to reach the far ends of the room. Not uncomfortable but, audible.

So when you’re starting to plan your seating arrangement, remember this little tip and keep guests young and old happy.

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no dj at wedding, bad wedding dj, ipod dj, ipod wedding

Wedding Reception with no DJ?

Wedding Reception with no DJ?

Fatimah writes:

Reception with no DJ ?

“Me and the hubby to be are trying to cut costs as much as possible.we want background music but no DJ. I think it’s a waste b/c I really don’t think people will dance much. Anybody having or been to a reception without a DJ!”
A wedding reception without entertainment is just dinner. You can get that at Red Lobster.The picture above tells a lot about this topic. But one question comes to mind. Why do you think that your guests will not dance at your wedding? Are they ultra conservative and don’t like being the center of attention? Are they so immersed in playing Candy Crush on Facebook to enjoy the festivities?What is a dancing crowd exactly? When people refer to a ‘dancing crowd’ they are best described as self starters. When large groups congregate, the social butterflies of the crowd are usually the first ones to the floor. Once they are up there, others join in and the party begins. But how do you get to that point if no one is dancing?SLOW DANCES:

Anyone who has ever been to prom knows how to slow dance. For some, it’s all they know how to do. To stand with your partner and rock gently like a leaf on a tree giving a squeeze to that special someone. That’s a great way to get as many people on the floor to start the night. Once they’re out there, kick it into 5th gear and they’ll be begging for more.ICE BREAKERS:

Songs like YMCA, The Macarena, The Cha Cha Slide, and more are great ice breaker dances. they are easy enough for people to follow along and in some cases, very goofy. When you get that one person who has no fear to start it off, again, others will follow because they aren’t the center of attention. It’s a great way to get even the most conservative of guests moving. BRIDAL PARTY DANCE:

This is a great way to include your guests in the festivities and get the ball rolling. Lead by example. Invite your wedding party up to dance a slow dance with you. And then halfway through, invite the rest of your guests to join you. This will ensure the maximum amount of guests on the floor. From that point, your DJ can bounce around a few genres to see what works and keep the energy up.But what if I’m on a budget?
There is a DJ for everyone out there. In CT, DJs range from $300 to $3000 for weddings. More importantly than getting the cheapest one is finding one that is a good fit for your personality. If your DJ gets your non-dancing crowd up and running, you and he will look like a hero and you will have a wedding people will talk about and remember for ever. The choice is yours.
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wedding traditions, bouquet toss, cake cutting, garter toss, something old, something new, something used, something blue, anniversary dance

What wedding traditions are you having at your wedding?

Wedding Traditions – What traditions are you having at your wedding?

From the WeddingWire Forums Almost Mrs. G Writes:

“Does anyone else’s FH want to do EVERYTHING that they’ve ever seen at a wedding? It’s driving me nuts. I *really* don’t want to do the garter toss. Or the bouquet toss. We really don’t have many guests who are single and every wedding I’ve been to it’s awkward. On top of it all…I *really* don’t want him to have his head up my dress in front of my entire family. We’re still at a stand still with that because he does and I don’t. He does because it’s “traditional”. I want to change a few things about our wedding and he just has no idea that there are no “set” rules for a wedding…we can do what we want. It’s driving me mad. How do you all deal with it?”

Well Mrs G, You’ve found yourself wound up in one of the most common wedding conundrums. Weddings have various traditions. Indian weddings have the Jaimala or ‘Exchange of the Garlands’ Moroccan weddings do hena. And in North America, it’s the bouquet toss.

Traditions are much like fads. They come and they go. They go more so now in recent years. One of the reasons is that the wedding receptions have been shaved down quite a bit from 8 hours down to 5. To do every single formality would take much more time than allotted. So what do you do? How do you choose?

Knowing your guests is half the battle. If the majority of your guests aren’t single, then maybe the bouquet and garter toss isn’t a good idea. But if you want something in it’s place to break up the time, consider things like an anniversary dance or newlywed game. If done properly, these formalities will break up the day a little bit and allow for your caterers to reset in between courses and leave your guests entertained.

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Alcohol Free Dry Wedding

The Alcohol Free Dry Wedding

The Alcohol Free Dry Wedding

Drinking is one of America’s favorite pastimes. There are MILLIONS of watering holes across the nation with only one purpose in mind… Social networking. They are the original facebook.

Weddings typically are no exception. It’s a gathering of family, friends, and co-workers who are all looking for a good time and alcohol helps with that when it’s enjoyed responsibly. But what if you don’t want to serve alcohol at your wedding? We all have that Uncle Bob that has one too many or the friend from your husband’s fraternity that never grew up. It happens. But fear not, there is hope in your DJ.

A wedding entertainers job is to make sure that you and your guests are happy, comfortable, and enjoying themselves throughout your special day. There’s a DJ for everyone out there and they all bring something different to the table. If you hired a DJ who works hard at making sure that your guests are on the dancefloor, chances are, they will forget that there even is a bar in the room. They will have fun without becoming intoxicated.

What’s the one thing that guests will remember from a wedding? Is it the free drinks or is it the entertainment? 9 times out of 10, they always remember if they danced. Still not convinced? Check out a video from a 100% alcohol free, daytime wedding with only 60 guests by clicking the link below. Having the right entertainment for your special day trumps every other detail.

The Alcohol Free Dry Wedding

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DJ Equipment

It’s all about the dj equipment.

DJs – It’s all about the dj equipment.

As an entertainment industry veteran who talks to DJs around the country, one thing is crystal clear to me. It’s all about the dj equipment.

If you’re a bride reading this, you’re probably thinking, “I don’t care about DJ equipment.” and you would be right. You shouldn’t. DJ equipment is big business and manufacturers are always pushing the envelope to create new and dazzling effects for DJs in regards to lighting, pyrotechnics, and other goodies.

So when should DJ gear be important to a bride? The answer is this.
If you’re meeting with a wedding DJ and he does all the talking about his gear and what it is capable of and the specs, he’s not listening to you and what you want. He’s trying to sell you every piece of equipment in his arsenal to make extra money.

Now in my case, when a bride sits down with me, the first words out of my mouth are, what would you like to see? From there, I can learn about my couple’s  likes,  dislikes, and everything I need to know to give them the wedding they want. At the end of the day, it’s all about our clients. They are the ones who put food on our table. They are our boss. We work for them.

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unforgettable weddings, unconventional weddings, wedding theme ideas, chocolate fountains, cheese sclupture, chair bows

5 Things that Every Bride Books but noone remembers.

5 Things that Every Bride Books but noone remembers.

So, you’ve just got engaged and immediately start planning out in your head of what your perfect wedding would be like. You drive quickly to the supermarket to grab several bridal magazines and begin calling friends to ask them to be a part of your bridal party. In the magazines, you see pictures of beautiful dresses, regal looking venues, and an ambiance fit for royalty. This is your wedding. It’s all about you. There are so many choices that you really would love to have them all but, your budget quickly dwindles to pennies and you haven’t even chosen your DJ, Photographer, or Videographer yet.

You’ve never planned a wedding before. So how do you know what services and options to book for your wedding? Here are the 5 things that EVERY bride books but noone remembers.

1. The Chocolate Fountain.

Who doesn’t like chocolate? People in formal attire. This sticky sweet treat is a great addition to sweet 16’s and house parties but for weddings, it’s a costly addition and very messy.

2. The overdone tables, centerpieces, & upholstered chairs with matching bows.

Choosing the right decor is a difficult task. There are so many choices. Pick one. After the 4 ft centerpieces, pleated luxurious fabric table and chair covers with matching bows, and enough candles to stay warm on a cold winters night. Where will you eat your dinner? This is one of the most common conundrums of wedding planning. Remember, sometimes less is more.

3. The abomidable cheese display.

It’s not secret. Cheese is just about everyone’s favorite food. Most people like what they like and are less likely to try an artisan cheese that only Andrew Zimmer from Bizarre Foods would try. If you’re going to have this option, keep it simple. You’ll get what you pay for and your guests will enjoy their favorite cheeses.

4. Parting gifts.

How tasty was that trendy baggie of cookies you got at the last wedding you attended? I bet they’re still in your car’s backseat cup holder waiting to be eaten for when you’re stranded in traffic.
It’s normal to send your guests home with something as a thank you for being a part of your special day. They’ve already enjoyed a meal fit for a king, the open bar, and a night out. Now I’m not saying to be cheap but, think about it. Cookies, candles, fridge magnets, and nippers typically end up in the kitchen junk drawer. Be practical.

5. Last but not least is the disposable camera.

In the interest of being budget friendly, we’ve left the duty of getting quality wedding photography to your wedding guests. We’ve all seen them. The picture with the finger half over the lense, the over exposed group shot that turns even the most tanned guests into albinos. You get the idea.

By being smart with your wedding budget, you can all that you want and none of what you don’t.

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What kind of DJ are you?

What kind of DJ are you???

I often get asked at a meeting, what kind or style of DJ are you?

If you watch TV or surf YouTube long enough, you’ll see there are so many different types. The most notable DJs are not the ones that you see at a wedding. The tiestos, skrillexs, oakenfolds, and benassis of the world sell out arenas while playing techno & electronica.
The Funkmaster Flexs, the DJ Jazzy Jeffs, and Biz Markies of the world, you might find in a NYC hip hop spot or on the radio. And DJ Pauly D from the Jersey Shore… well you get the idea.

Those are just a few examples of different ‘style’ djs. But what about you? What about your wedding, school dance, or corporate event? What should you expect?

A mobile dj is just that.. Mobile. He travels from event to event specializing in many different musical tastes and styles and in order to make your event a success, he must be a master music programmer. He has to know what will make your 88 year old grand mother cut a rug and what will make your 16 year old cousin drop it low. He has to know where each song fits and in what order to keep your party going all night long.

So if you ask, what style DJ are you? The answer you will get is…

Any style you want.

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