Easy Street and Carson City Saloon

Are you looking for a unique place to hold your small gathering, of blowing off some steam before your big day? Well I have two for you! Carson City Saloon and Easy Street bar & restaurant. I love these two legendary Pittsburgh hot-spots. You can host your bachelor/bachelorette party in the private room at Carson City, or run a muck with with the crowd, in one of the nation’s best sports bars!!
Easy Street (Brought to you from the Carson City brain-trust) is a nice venue for your smaller wedding receptions, or special celebrations, but don’t let me tell the story….

Whether you’re in something borrowed and blue, turning the big 4-0 or landing a new account at work. Easy Street can provide the perfect setting for you! With our outside patio and family style seating, we provide a welcoming atmosphere and friendly staff to set the mood for any occasion large or small. Our patio can accommodate up to 150 people and our entire bar/restaurant can accommodate up to 300 people. We customize every event to ensure we deliver exactly what you need. Join us, roll your windows down, relax and take a ride down Easy Street.

Our event planning is perfect for: Corporate Functions, Wedding Receptions, Rehearsal Dinners, Bridal Showers and much more.
Contact our event coordinator Laura Wilcox today by email easystreetpghevents@yahoo.com or by phone at

412-235-7984 or 724-554-5488
to book your next private event.

http://www.easystreetpittsburgh.com
http://www.carsoncitysaloon.com/

How do you feel about uplighting?: I choose ADS

As the trend of uplighting is growing ever more popular, I’ve noticed a lot of my fellow entertainers expanding their services to include uplighting.

I think it’s a nice idea, but I also believe I should stick to what I’m good at. I operate best as an entertainer, and my focus remains to provide a memorable show. Besides, I’ve also noticed complaints from other DJs, that the venues are getting all the credit for setting up the room so nicely! Such a shame that the hard work is credited to someone else, even if you are making a good return.

My belief is: Leave the work to those to whom it is intended!
Would you hire a photographer to DJ your wedding? How about getting your florist to shoot video? See what I mean?

As far as monogram, and dance lighting, I do offer those, but uplighting should be handled by people that specialize in lighting. I would feel horrible, if I had charged someone for uplighting, and something went wrong that would cause me to spend time troubleshooting a faulty fixture, or a program failing, thus pulling me away from my responsibility as an entertainer!

This is why all my referrals for lighting will go to ADS Lighting & Staging. They are very good at what they do, because that’s all they do! ADS is the exclusive vendor for event uplighting at The Pennsylvanian on Penn Ave. in Pittsburgh, PA. Andy Shick, the owner, is a very nice person, and really easy to work with. For more information about ADS, click the link below.

http://www.adslighting.com/services

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

As I take time to reflect on on the things I am thankful for, I also realize that giving thanks is not only about the holiday.

I would like to thank the creator for giving me the ability and personality to do what I love to do. I am also thankful to all my past clients for allowing me to be a part of their lives, and my future clients as well.

Business this was not the greatest this year, but we all found a way to make due. As 2010 rolls around, things are picking up and I am looking forward to all the wonderful experiences that await me, and NAMELESS ENTERTAINMENT! This job, to me, is more than just being a DJ at someone’s event. It gives me the opportunity to make new friends all over the place! And that’s a lot to be thankful for.

I want to wish everyone a happy Thanksgiving, in what ever way you celebrate, kiss your loved ones, and remember what makes you thankful.

Stirring things up: Different ideas for wedding reception formalities

By now, everyone in America has seen, or heard of the wedding video featuring the bridal party doing their entrance to the Chris Brown song “Forever”
This routine was very creative, but not entirely new.

Many brides and grooms are shying away from the “traditional” formalities, and going with anything that comes up in their heads, and with the help of a flexible entertainer, these ideas can become a reality

ENTRANCES:
The aforementioned video was the church entrance, but the same idea can be applied to the reception as well. I’ve had a few wedding receptions where the bride and groom wanted to set the tempo with their grand entrances, and here’s what happened…..

About 5 years ago, this was the first, and only time I’ve done this – The bridal party was divided by parents, groomsmen and ring bearer, bridesmaids and flower girl, then the bride and groom. Each group had their own song, and the intros doubled as a chance for the photographer to get some unique extra shots.
Some other ideas for intros, have been each couple in the bridal party had their own song, and did a little skit upon entering the room. These entrances bring an uptempo atmosphere to the party, and lets everyone in attendance know, that the mood will be high energy for the entire evening.

Looking for a new twist on your dances?
Doing your own version of “The Evolution Of Dance” is always a neat idea! (You can see my link to Jason and Kayla’s wedding)

On this particular occasion, the members of the bridal party didn’t know each other very well, so the B&G decided to do something really fun. Instead of the awkwardness of having to dance with strangers, the bridal party did the “Cupid Shuffle”. It was a unique way to start the party, and the audience got a good laugh! I stopped the music, and had them each go out and bring back someone to the dance floor, and everyone was ready to go.

If you don’t want to get too emotional, but still want to dance with your parents, perhaps you may want to incorporate a swing dance, or something more upbeat for the bride/father, groom/mother dance.
A really nice idea a former client of mine had. The groom’s mother didn’t want to do a slow song, because she knew she would cry. So, they choreographed a routine to “Ice, Ice, Baby”, that was pretty awesome!

The great thing about your wedding day is, it’s your day. Whatever you are looking for, to implement new ideas to make your reception more memorable, the sky is the limit. And of course, you can always call me!

Smoodz – Smooth Mood Essentials

If you are looking for some nice gifts for your bridal party, or something for the holidays, I would recommend Smoodz!

I have used the services of this company for a few years, and the products are really nice. I have given gift bags away at some of my events, including charity events, and wedding receptions. Smoodz offers a nice selection of bath and body products, candles, and floral designs.

For more information, visit the website:

http://www.smoodz.com/

Event Planner – Divine Celebrations

Generally, we DJs don’t normally endorse event/wedding planners because of a history of less than favorable differences of opinions. But, in recent years, I have had the pleasure of meeting a group of planners that have a better understanding of the entertainer’s role in wedding receptions.

My focus, in particular, is Erin Calvimontes, owner of Divine Celebrations.

Erin is a very detailed individual. She has an outstanding background in event planning, and a very good friend of mine. She has eased my mind about working with bridal planners, and has provided me with the insight of what her job is all about, while understanding mine as well. She is an absolute pleasure to work with, and I would definitely recommend her services! Here is an excerpt from her website:

Erin Calvimontes PBC™- Owner/President, Co-Director ABC-WPA is a certified, Professional Bridal Consultant™ through the Association of Bridal Consultants and the co-director of ABC-WPA. She has been in the wedding and event industry for over 25 years with a background as a professional wedding photographer, corporate / special events planner and event management back in her home town of Chicago. Erin has extensive on-going education in this field including courses in World Religions, attending vendor information trainings, as well as seminars and conferences around the country through out the year. She is also a member of the International Women’s Association of Pittsburgh- IWAP.

Erin and her staff want to help others truly enjoy their weddings and events. They fully enjoy giving clients the opportunity to have their event “their way” working clients dreams into their budget and watching clients enjoy their event that was created just for them.

Divine Celebrations is committed to their client’s full time. They take their clients ideas and visions and help make their event dreams a reality while working within their budget. The Divine Celebrations team has spent countless hours interviewing vendors and venues from the surrounding Pittsburgh area so their clients have the benefit of saving time and money, while reducing stress during the planning of their big day. Erin is one of the only “Professional Bridal Consultant™ ” in the city of Pittsburgh trained to help with as much or as little as her clients need. From proper etiquette and traditions to proper placement of the Chuppah, Divine Celebrations has hundreds of resources for their clients to help make their wedding day and event day un-forgettable.

Our team has worked on events such as; A Glimmer of Hope- Bid for Hope, along with hosts Julie and Allen Faneca (#66 of the Pittsburgh Steelers) along with the support from many of the Steelers players helping to raise funds for breast cancer research. Our team also brought joy to many families of the Golf Coast Connection, an organization who assists displaced families after the Katrina disaster. We organized their holiday party- “Home for the Holidays” transforming office space into a winter wonderland and a good old fashioned New Orleans style Christmas Extravaganza!

http://www.divinecelebrations-events.com/

Heart or Wallet? (how would you choose your wedding entertainment?)

I’ve pondered many times, how to approach this subject without sounding self-important, or coming off as offensive. I also have come to an understanding, that different people have different opinions of what the most important part of their event is. With that being said, here goes…

If you believe entertainment is the most important part of your event (Outside of yourself, of course), read on. If not, stop here, I do not want to offend you.
I believe entertainment is one of the most important factors of an event. Not because I am an entertainer, but from my experience as a consumer as well.

I was once single, and my future wife and I both read the same books and magazines that you are probably reading right now. You know, the ones that give you tips on how to skimp as much as you can on your limited budget, and the 52 step questionnaire you should use to interview your potential DJ for your reception?
Here is one tip that can be of unquestionable value: THROW THAT BOOK AWAY!!!
Chances are, if you are meeting with a true professional, the answers to those questions are going to be exactly what you want to hear, thus wasting a good 10-15 minutes of your meeting.

Let me tell you something you haven’t already heard. I am a personable man, and I like to get to know who I’m working for, I also want to present who I am, instead of telling you how many songs I have. An interview goes both ways, a professional will not only want to get to know you, but will also determine whether or not they want to work for you. Believe it or not, I don’t see potential clients as walking dollar signs, but future friends. I want to make sure our personalities are compatible.

I will not try to dictate how much you pay for your DJ, pricing is another subject. What I will tell you, is that your hiring of wedding entertainer, hinges on how much you value your event. I like to see wedding receptions as an investment in your memories, and you want to protect that investment, correct? Think of how you would buy a car, would you just jump into the first thing you see, just because you need a ride now? I would look the thing over, see how it would be practical in my everyday use, and hopefully test drive the thing, before I made my decision. I would hope my potential clients would take the same measures before hiring me.

In closing, the main focus of hiring your entertainer, is that you are comfortable with them. Look for someone that will LISTEN to what you want, and not TELL you about how great they think they are (and bombard you with all their “extras”)! Shopping by price alone can burn you, so be careful.

Happy shopping

A welcome change

This is a story I would like to repeat a thousand times!

I recently met a couple that are getting married soon, and could have sworn they read a page from a book I haven’t written yet.
The future bride and groom were very excited to talk about what they wanted for their reception, and, more importantly, wanted to get to know me!

For the first time in my career, I had a couple actually tell me how annoying it was, to hear from DJs telling them about what speakers they used, how many songs they had, and what kind of lights they used. I found it quite refreshing, they were more interested in my personality, and what I would do for their wedding reception, as a performer, as opposed to asking how many speakers I would bring. They were confident enough with my professionalism, to know I would have the appropriate equipment necessary to do my job.

The fact that this couple was comfortable with me as a person, and happy to meet me, made the experience enjoyable for both sides, and we booked the reception without hesitation. Things go much smoother with informed consumers.

I wish they could all be like that

And your DJ is…

How concerned are you with knowing who will be the entertainment for your event?

This post is not meant to bash multi-operational companies, just to shed some light on some of their practices.

Do you believe it is important to meet, or at least speak with the DJ/entertainer that will handle your event? Or, would you rather wait until the day of your event to meet this person? As a single operator, I have found that the less than honorable intentions of multi-ops, somewhat tarnish the reputations of us all.

Meeting with your DJ not only helps you feel more comfortable with your decision, but also removes the element of surprise, and perhaps the unpleasant experience of someone fumbling through your event, because they don’t really have an idea what you want for your party. Another problem you could face is watching a video, featuring a DJ you may want to book, only to be disappointed, when someone else shows up. I call that, selling a Cadillac, and showing up with a Yugo.

Another practice of these companies, would be to book your event, and not tell you at all who would be available for your date. Why? Because they haven’t even got a DJ to cover the date yet! This is a fact. Do you really want a total stranger handling your event, or someone you somewhat know??

Just a question.

If you value your entertainment, and want to be able to get to know your entertainer before your event, make it a point to meet the person that will actually be performing at your event. There are still companies out there that operate like this. You can find the DJ/entertainer you are looking for with no surprises, the information is available to you, if you just ask.

Jason and Kayla McConnell – 30 May 2009

I met Jason and Kayla, and immediately connected with them. They were determined to have the best party their guests had ever seen, and it was my responsibility!

What made their reception one of the most unique events I’ve ever done, is I had the opportunity to put together a custom mix of the popular “Evolution Of Dance” song list (which was not available anywhere). It was especially rewarding to watch them pull it off almost flawlessly. They practiced really hard, and opened the reception with their product, needless to say the guests at the reception, were very anxious to get the party going! I bought a video camera, just for this night to preserve the memory.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CYTOH51MJvc

The reception was held at Futules’ Harmar House, in Cheswick, PA. http://www.harmarhouse.com/default.shtml

Despite the fact, that the day of the wedding was the same day as the first game of the Stanley Cup Championship, we were able to keep a handle on the crowd, and everyone had a great time!!

I couldn’t thank Jason and Kayla enough for making me a part of their day. Not that I don’t appreciate all my clients, but this particular event makes me especially proud, because we worked as a team to put together a reception that their guests and families will never forget!