Hurricane Instructional Dance: Apache-Slide

Hurricane Productions proudly presents the Apache-Slide, an original interactive line dance created by combining the best of two existing dances:

DJ Casper - The Mississippi Slide
Sugarhill Gang - Apache



This track/dance has shown high demand since first airing in August 2007. We've decided to sell our idea for $4.99

If any emcees or DJ's would like to add this to their repertoire, please follow the PayPal button below and we will send the MP3 directly to the email address you provide.

If you need it in a different format (wav, m4a, etc) just mention that in the notes section when you submit payment. ENJOY.

$4.99 USD - Apache-Slide.mp3

Some insight on customer service

So I guess you've been reading this blog as saying "Wow that Strato really knows what he's talking about when it comes to technology." And when you read one of my posts you're probably thinking that I carry no expertise whatsoever.

But that is not true. Besides the fact that I am the human checklist, what I bring to the table is a unique theory on customer service that has helped grow this company.

In today's post I'll let you into a little secret about the Hurricane/client relationship:

Treat 'em like family!

Too often in this business, it's lost in translation that we, the entertainers, are here to share a night and a memory with a family. It's not my party ... it's theirs.

I think about this all the time ... do I really want that responsibility?

The first dance, the last dance, the dedications, candles, specials songs, speeches, toasts...even the cocktail hour -- all our responsibility. Oh, and not to mention that all the dancing and entertainment is on us too. There's no room for error.

If the food is bad, well, blame the caterer, but if anything else goes wrong ... blame the DJ.

The reason why I personally went into this business is because when I'd be a party, whether it'd be for a family friend or my own family, the DJ just showed up, played some music, collected his money and called it a day.

Not here. Not at Hurricane. We pay careful attention to each party. Whether we're doing a charity event for free or a wedding that is costing the client $5000.00, the same detail is taken into consideration.

As a master of ceremonies or DJ, you should KNOW the client. For one night, you're expected to know Uncle Johnny just as well as the guest of honor. Uncle Johnny is going to request a song at some point, he's going to share a drink with you, and you never know ... he could be your next client. On the same note, the guest of honor is the star, the reason why the family is there and for one night, you're there to cater to his/her needs.

Now, there are some secrets that will go to the grave with me and my business partner, but overall, the planning process at our company is similar to a first and second date. On the first date, you learn all you can about the family - likes, dislikes, history. Our second date is the party. We dance a little, sing a little and smile a lot. And in the end, you always keep them wanting more.

One thing I've learned through all the references we get from our past clients and the e-mails that fill our inbox:

Treat 'em like family and they'll become friends forever.

Always Classy, Always Fun,
Vin DJ

Fast Forward: Upcoming Technology

Once in a while I come across a new piece of technology and suddenly feel the urge to tell everyone I know about it. Ok, so here are 3 new pieces of technology which I think are awesome.

1.) Cell Phone Projector (DLP Pico-Projector)

If anyone doubted Texas Instruments' sincerity in taking the mobile projection world by storm, now would probably be a good time to start boiling some crow. Making good on its wishes to cram DLP into even the most minuscule of locations, the company will be demonstrating its newfangled DLP pico-projector to select media groups, and apparently, those interested in taking a peek better have a front row seat. The mini projector will supposedly "fit in your fingertips," but beyond that vague descriptor, we're not exactly sure about the hard measurements. Notably, it appears that TI's wee PJ could act as a standalone unit "or as an integrated component in a mobile device," which would definitely spruce up current smartphone offerings. Sadly, there wasn't an estimated timeframe as to when we'd (barely) see these devices crammed into cellphone enclosures, but it's just a matter of time before we're streaming live television shows and simultaneously beaming 'em up for all of the subway car to see.

I love this idea because we, as mobile DJs, get asked OFTEN if we own projector / screens. We've thought about investing into a projector many a time but we've always just rented them from third parties. If we had projectors built into our cell-phones we could show presentations at any moment anywhere. AND for meetings / consultations, what better way to sell a product then display our services in full color on the client's living room wall. I love it.

2.) Project Epoc

Mad scientists at Emotic Systems have come up with a way for gamers to

control on-screen action using only a player's thoughts and emotions. The helmet has sensors that monitor neural activity that can turn that electrical data into fireballs and dragon punches. Users can get a hang of the braintoy in only a few hours so once developers start embracing the unit, it will make the Wiimote look like the powerglove.

I'm a big video game fan and the idea of controlling a game entirely through thought seems really futuristic and belongs in some distant time like... 3026 but those engineers in Japan are making alot of "head-way" [HAH now whose the master of puns vin] and we could potentially see this technology in production within the next 8-10 years.

Project Epoc is a headset that uses a set of sensors to tune into electric signals naturally produced by the brain to detect player thoughts, feelings and expression. It connects wirelessly with all game platforms from consoles to PCs. Project Epoc now makes it possible for games to be controlled and influenced by the player's mind.

Engaging, immersive, and nuanced, Emotiv-inspired game-play will be like nothing ever seen before.

3.) 3-D LCD TV

As part of its "extensive" coverage of this year's International Meeting on Information Display in Korea, AVING has a brief write-up on a 42-inch LCD monitor from LG that can switch between 2D and 3D modes at the touch of a button. These LCD TVs exploit your depth perception by sending a different image to each eye tricking your brain into thinking Michael Jackson is actually in your living room.

A 3-D filter sends light in 25 different directions so images are viewable from almost any angle with no distortion. You can actually walk around the images on your TV! Hello holograms!

-Shadow

A dry-cleaned security blanket

I think emcees tend to have a special connection to certain things in this business. Yeah, those DJ's won't let you go near the mixer (Strato has good reason to keep me away from his) but I have two things I'm particular about - my microphone and my suit.

Only MY microphone can project my voice the way I want it and only my suit fits the way I want myself to look in front of 100 new faces every night. It's like a dry-cleaned security blanket.

Before my purchase of a new suit today, my old pinstriped black one had been through a lot.

Let's see...its been through a few wedding receptions, countless Sweet 16's, plenty of dinner dates (that includes two break-ups), first communions, confirmations and hell...I even fell asleep in that suit a few times.

Every time I'd suit up (once again, pun intended) for a gig or a family function, those memories would come rushing back. Glance into the mirror, spike up the hair and I'd remember the first time I entertained at a wedding, my grandma's funeral, when my sister made confirmation, the time Strato lost my tie at a Sweet 16, and of course - my favorite first date.

And just like going to confession, getting a suit dry-cleaned was like starting over again every week. (if you get the Bronx Tale reference in that sentence, you're alright in my book)

But sometimes you gotta let go and go for a new look. Half-inspired by a new Hurricane Productions website and blog, I figured it was time to let go and buy a new suit.

So out with the old (not to say those pinstripes won't see another performance) but in with my new gray pinstripe look for now, at least. Time to make new memories.

Always Classy, Always Fun,
Vin DJ

Shadow's Weekly Picks: Upbeat Endings

Welcome to the first weekly addition of...
Shadow's Weekly Picks.


In these weekly segments I'll be sharing any music which I have come across and enjoyed for whatever reason(s) or have implemented into our mobile entertainment.

To start it off I'll share some of my favorite songs that I like to end upbeat parties with:

1.
Song: Sweet Caroline (Techno Remix)
Artist: Angelo Venuto



This is a great song to pull out at the end of any family oriented party. It's a song that everyone knows the words to and satisfies both the tastes of young and older guests. Some adult guests prefer the original version but unless specifically asked to play the original, I like to play the remix.

2.
Song: The Perculator
Artist: Baltimore Club Music


The Perculator has always been a Hurricane Productions favorite. We like to get all the guests up out of their chairs and into a big circle on the dance floor and just have fun with the song. During the first chorus, usually just the emcee and dancers dance in the middle of the circle. After that, we start pulling guests into the center to dance. Everyone has a lot fun with this song and its a great way to throw some spotlight on the guest of honor. The perculator has always been a song/routine which has given us a creative edge and helped us to standout among other DJ companies.

3.
Song: Like a Prayer (Remix)
Artist: Madonna




This song is always great to throw in at the end of a good dance set. It slows everyone down for about half a minute and the girls usually really get into singing this classic. I'm noticing this song is becoming less well-known with the younger crowds now-a-days but it still always gets a good crowd response.

4.
Song: Love Like This (Remix)
Artist: Faith Evans, Fatman Scoop, Crooklyn Clan




I like to pull this song out at the end of an upbeat Sweet 16 or Mitzvah. It's got a lot of energy and some key points for crowd interaction to raise the energy level even higher. "When I say uhh, you say ahh."


There are few more songs that I cycle through (including the old stand-by, Donna Summer's Last Dance) but those are my top four favorites that I like to end upbeat parties with. Next week I'll be featuring my top favorite Multicultural Folk Music selections... just kidding.

-Shadow

Technorati Profile

A bilingual beauty

At last week’s DJ Expo in Atlantic City, I saw something I like. Something I really like — a bilingual female emcee. Now there already has been a movement in the mobile DJ industry to incorporate female master of ceremonies into parties. Personally, I’ve only seen a handful of females who can get out there and wow a crowd (no offense ladies). But the market isn't too big and the talent pool is small.

But what really got me going was the idea of having a bilingual female emcee on staff. Think about the markets you can hit with that talent — a female who is not only well spoken, but in two languages!

Obviously there is a huge Latin market that has infiltrated the DJ business and its added value to the overall product. The music is great and the parties are even better.

Not only that, you gain the experience of working with a female emcee which enhances value and production to no end.

So if you’re interested or know of anyone who may be interested, Hurricane Productions is always looking for something new and fresh!

Workin' for the weekend

All we do is party for the weekend, right? I mean what could an MC and DJ possibly do on Monday-Thursday?

Family always comes first at HP but other than that we have part-time jobs and like to maintain some semblance of a social life---ladies, Strato and I are single by the way, (some of us by choice, some of us because we’re stuck that way) so please let us know if you’re available for any dinner dates.

On a serious note, let me run through what this week will look like for Hurricane Productions:

Sunday – Blog of course. I mean that’s what I’m doing right now. Just kidding. We are currently setting up our schedule for the remainder of the week.
It will include the following:

Monday-Thursday:

• Client meetings that range from parties for Sweet 16’s and a wedding coming up in two weeks
• Working with a new lighting system that we recently purchased at the DJ Expo.
• Rebuilding HurricaneProductions.com for a September 1 relaunch.
• Building DJN9NE.hurricaneproductions.com for our newest edition, Ed Romani, who is our hip-hop DJ.
• Building a web site as a favor for a company that performs live music at wedding cocktail hours and other events (awesome concept)
• Promoting Ed’s appearance at Colosseum in Sayreville, NJ Friday August 31. All you readers better be there!

Oh, did I mention that Strato and I have part-time jobs? Strato works at his family-owned business, L&J Motors. As for myself I work at the Star-Ledger in Newark.

We both work those jobs during the day but unlike people who are told to keep their day jobs…we prefer the ones we have at night.

Those dinner dates are hard to squeeze in, huh? But seriously, let us know.

Always Classy, Always fun,
Vin DJ

Sweet 16 Tip #2: Invitations

The invitation to any party is the first impression your guests will receive of the evening you have planned for them. If you are throwing a Sweet Sixteen party, it is especially important to convey the party's theme and tone by selecting the right invitations.

Picking Sweet Sixteen Party Invitations

Step One

Know that the tone of your party helps determine the formality of invitations you should select. If you are hosting a Sweet Sixteen party that features a formal sit-down dinner or buffet as well as dancing and expect your guests to attend in formal attire, your invitation should reflect that. By employing more calligraphic fonts in the text of your invitation and a fine stock of paper, you will let your guests know what to expect on the night of the party.

Step Two

Pick an invitation which reflects the theme of your party. If you are hosting a '50s theme Sweet Sixteen, complete with poodle skirts and a soda fountain, try to find an invitation with a rock-n-roll design. Die-cut guitars or even an invitation with illustrations of sock-hopping couples would make a great choice.

Step Three

Select an engraved invitation for a more formal Sweet Sixteen party. Your local stationer or companies online can engrave your invitation details in the most formal language on high quality paper to create an elegant invitation for your guests. These invitations should be accompanied stamped reply cards and the art of a skilled calligrapher should be employed to address each.

Step Four

If your not looking to drop a big chunk your budget on invitations then check out an online invitation company such as Evite. They have many different templates to choose from and can help you manage the replies that come in once the invitation is sent. Use an online invitation for only the most informal of Sweet Sixteen parties.

Step Five

Pick a stamp which reflects the party mood before you mail your invitations. Just as for weddings and holiday cards, an invitation to a Sweet Sixteen party looks even better when addressed with a well-designed and fitting postage stamp. If you are enclosing reply cards, make sure that the stamps match.

Tips & Warnings

• If you are on a budget, stay away from oversized invitations that require additional postage. Another cost cutting measure could include setting up an RSVP hotline on your home voicemail or cell phone to avoid having to enclose reply cards in your invitations.

Magnified LED Lighting, unimpressive

So I've highlighted what blew me away at this year's DJ expo, the following was one of the letdowns:

One thing I was seriously unimpressed with was the new line of L.E.D. DJ lighting specifically from Chauvet. I haven't been too crazy about L.E.D. DJ lighting since the beginning but I was excited to hear that lighting companies were experimenting and trying new things with L.E.D. to make their fixtures more appealing. I really wish they held off until 2008 and put some more time into refining the new line of L.E.D. lighting. The simple fact is that L.E.D. technology, in the DJ lighting industry, is just not ready to do the things they are trying to do. I'm happy that they're trying new things, I just think they unnecessarily rushed production.

Vue III	Vue II	Vue I

The light-output and coverage is very lacking, even with haze/fog you don't get much "beamage". The smaller Vue 1 is a little better when it comes to beaming but you get these blurry magnified circles on the ground that in my opinion aren't very attractive. DJ Lighting should be fluid and crisp, not blurry and . . . awkward.

American DJ Also came out with a similar line. They look better than the Chauvet Vue series but I'm still unimpressed and would never buy them for my own light show. The only positive I see about these lights is that, like all LEDs, the bulbs will last nearly forever. But when it comes to the aesthetics of my light show, I don't mind replacing a bulb every 8000 hours if it means my light will look incredible.

Here is a piece from the American DJ LED FX Seiries:

From a distance I could hear the excitement coming from the American DJ booth. A sales rep was on the mic building up to some "AMAZING light show using LED like never before!" Naturally I rushed over thinking that they had accomplished something that Chauvet failed to accomplish. Again, I was not impressed. The showcased lights were more impressive than Chauvet's new LEDs but still nothing to get excited over.

From the above picture, the effect looks pretty interesting but in person I don't find anything attractive about this effect. I don't see any of these products doing very well in the mobile or club DJ market. I wouldn't have minded seeing these lights so much in the ADJ booth if American DJ had brought some OTHER lights! All they showcased were the new L.E.D. line! What a let-down.

All in all, I'm happy companies are trying new things wit LED, I just think it needs some more time before the technology becomes widely appealing.

-Shadow

New Stuff! DJ Expo 2007

Hey everyone, Shadow here.

There were a few things that really wowed me this year at the International DJ Expo 2007. There weren't as many jaw-droppers this year as there have been in the past but here are a few REALLY cool things we saw.


Number one on my list is a brand-new lighting effect from a small company unaffiliated with any larger lighting company (such as martin, american dj, chauvet, etc). The lighting effect is called The StarMaze and this is the only piece of lighting this company produces.

#1 StarMaze Lighting System

This small purple box can transform any space into a planetarium. It really provides a magical atmosphere not found with ANY other piece of lighting I have ever seen. With it's twinkling and shooting stars and an ever-transforming nebula cloud, its really an awesome piece of eye candy. I first got a glimpse of this unit when we entered the opening DJ Expo party in the biggest conference room at the convention center. This room is probably about 200x200ft and the ceiling is at least 50ft high. A couple of these small units filled the ENTIRE room with crisp nebula & star effects. I wasn't sure what was making the effect when I first walked in, I thought the walls and ceilings had fiber-optic pinpoints throughout the entire room. Then I realized everything was moving and changing.. I was blown away. The dazzling effects that the StarMaze is capable of, must be experienced with your own eyes to fully appreciate it. Below is a video that can be found on the company's website, http://starmazelaser.com/.






#2 Serato & Rane TTM 57SL

By combining the latest version of Serato and the newest mixer from Rane, the TTM 57SL, a digital DJ can now access all of his music from a hard-drive or computer and basically toss them into his Digital Turntables seamlessly. Serato is nothing brand-new to the DJ industry however this new version plus the new mixer from Rane are VERY new. With this new Mixer connected into a USB port on a laptop computer DJs can now navigate through their music touching ONLY the mixer. That means a DJs hands can spend less time clicking and dragging and more time mixing, scratching, eqing and everything else they should be focusing on!! I have not yet upgraded my system to Serato but seeing this newest version has convinced me completely to make the switch.


Here is some more info about the Rane TTM 57SL and the new version of Serato. All of this information can be found at http://www.rane.com/

General Description (TTM 57SL)

The TTM 57SL combines the best Rane and Serato have to offer in a single, high performance mixer. Finally a mixer that fully integrates mixer hardware, software and software controls in one powerful package. The TTM 57SL combines all the performance and features of the Rane TTM 56 with Serato Scratch LIVE software. We didn't stop there -- we also included internal effects with six stereo insert points.

The TTM 57SL comes with two pieces of control vinyl, two control CDs, Scratch LIVE software and an extensive color manual.

Simultaneously:

• Play a combination of digital and analog sources.
• Play up to two digital files controlled by vinyl or CD while recording your mix.
• Or, record two stereo sources when not using vinyl or CD control.
• Cue analog and digital sources.
• Operate standalone as a no-compromise performance mixer.

Applications

• Battle / Live Performance DJ
• Night Club
• Mobile DJ
• Radio / Broadcast DJ
• Mixtape DJ
• Podcasting
• Remix Project Studio / Post Production

System Requirements

The minimum operating system requirements are either a 800 MHz Mac G4 with OSX 10.3, or a 1 GHz PC running Windows XP with Service Pack 2, either with 512M of ram or more. Intel Macs must use Scratch LIVE version 1.5 or higher, downloadable from the Scratch LIVE forum.

The downloadable 1.7.2 version of Scratch LIVE includes support for the Microsoft Vista operating system. Note that we recommend Windows XP over Vista, most notably for performance reasons. You will be able to run XP at a lower USB buffer setting, meaning lower latency and better performance using XP than is achievable with Vista.

Screen shot - Click for larger image.

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Front and Rear Panels

Click on the images for a close-up. Right-click to zoom and pan.

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TTM 57SL Example System

Any combination of up to four turntables or CD players, any two of which may be used with control vinyl / CDs.

General Description (Serato Scratch Live)

Scratch LIVE is the ultimate software and hardware solution for bridging the analog world of vinyl and the digital world of computer audio files. Using regular turntables or CD players, you can scratch and mix files from your Mac or Windows computer's CD or hard drive, add in a live mic input for scratching, and even bypass to standard vinyl if you wish. Scratch LIVE is the complete digital solution for the vinyl junkie -- take your entire collection wherever you go and leave your precious vinyl at home!

The SL 1 interface connects one or two standard vinyl or CD turntables to your computer. This extremely rugged, portable, high quality, bus-powered USB interface features two switchable phono or line inputs, a microphone input, two line outputs, and pass thru outputs for the phono/line and mic.

The included 12" vinyl records each have a Serato exclusive and unique control signal which allows Scratch LIVE to track the motion of the record, simulating the same movement with digital audio. Due to Serato's proprietary control scheme, the result is a feel and sound indistinguishable from playing vinyl. As a producer and DJ, the track you finished today can be played on a real turntable tonight. You'll never have to cut a dubplate again!

• Scratch LIVE supports all these file formats: Fixed and Variable Bit Rate MP3, AIFF, WAV, OGG Vorbis, CD Audio and direct from the mic input.
• Easily import your playlists and iTunes library.
• Import files easily by dragging from Explorer (Windows) or the Finder (Mac) into the Scratch LIVE library.
• You can play and scratch tracks direct from CD and CD-ROM.
• Includes extensive keyboard shortcuts for fast access to key functions.
• Built-in help and tips in multiple languages are accessible anytime.
• It even gives you a low power warning when running off a laptop battery.
• No preprocessing of MP3 files is required except to use the auto-BPM and auto-gain functions.
• For tracks with no BPM information, a tap tempo button is displayed for entering your own.
• Scratch LIVE includes hardware interface, USB cable, 4 stereo RCA cables, printed manual, keyboard shortcut page, two vinyl records, two CDs, and software install disc in a display box.

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Scratch LIVE easily connects with either your turntables or CD players.

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New Vinyl

• Black vinyl comes with Scratch LIVE, but we all know vinyl wears out with use. US customers can purchase new second edition vinyl from your dealer, or at the Rane Online Store. People in other countries should contact their distributor.

#3 Of course, QSC

The QSC booth always makes me drool. Hurricane Productions plans to be 100% QSC by summer 2008.

There's really not much I can say about QSC except you just have to hear them. QSC, in my opinion, is the BOSE of DJ loudspeakers.

We are interested in investing into the HPR series:

The new HPR Series offers performers the power, technology and legendary reliability of QSC amplification combined with the simplicity and convenience of powered loudspeaker systems. Whether your application is vocal reinforcement, dance music or full-tilt rock and roll sound, there's an HPR speaker configuration for you.

Why choose powered loudspeakers?

The powered speaker has become a staple for mobile DJs, musicians and AV professionals alike. The simplicity and scalability of these systems is the big draw. After all, what could be easier than just connecting the output of your DJ or live sound mixer directly to the speaker and turning everything on? For those who have been reluctant to join the powered speaker party because you felt that powered speaker amplification fell short of rack-mount amp quality, you are officially out of excuses.




There is always a lot of awesome stuff to see at the expo, but those are my top 3 picks from the DJ expo 2007.

-Shadow

The music sounds better with you

Hurricane Productions just returned home from the DJ Times International DJ Expo in Atlantic City. Strato, Ed, and myself headed down to AC for a week filled of seminars, dancing and, as one of our peers would say, “just fun.”

Eddie, an accomplished DJ and better known as DJ N9NE, definitely showed his entertainment potential. He jumped on stage with us and represented Jersey DJ’s in a dance routine. I would say that Hurricane along with MMP Entertainment out danced Johnny K and his Boston crew…cough, cough. At least we were better than Philly.

I think we could use Dominic, Kyle and Samantha down there next year (you had your chance!) Except if they were there, the round of drinks at Jay Z's 40/40 would have been $84 for six instead of the discount $42 we got for three drinks.

Eddie even helped during the Mitzvah game seminar. He led our team to a blowout victory in a game called “Horse balls.” Well, that’s the street term for it anyway. And on a serious note, he's going to help this company move into the digital DJ era...and learn 'rap tunes.'

On the expo floor, I continue to be wowed by QSC speakers. We set a goal for our company to finance and purchase a new sound system for 2008 and I can’t wait to get out on the dance floor and hear my voice over that system. Not to mention, Strato sounds good on anything, even a boombox, so the QSC system will definitely elevate his game.

We did pick up some DMX lighting. No, it has nothing to do with the rapper, but these lighting effects do help the crowd “Party up.” Pun intended, get used to it. We are officially an intelligent lighting company, with lighting effects focused on creating a “show.” From strobes, colored, and white lights, we can say we do it all.

Before I forget, if you get a chance, either Google this song or look for it on whatever program you kids are stealing music from these days—Sexx Me produced by Mr. Moore. This hip-hop artist in the Sheraton hotel lobby approached the three of us on separate occasions. He gave us his demo CD and said if we liked his track, to promote it, and in the interest of fairness…it was pretty damn good.

As for our company, the biggest benefit is to go to this convention and learn from some of the industries best entertainers, including Marcello Padelino, Johnny K, Randi Rae and a Hurricane Productions favorite—Big Daddy and his ‘family.’

I recommend checking out the website of the convention’s Keynote speaker, Brian Dodge. He truly inspires and helped me refocus my energy for a new year. He is in no way connected to the DJ or entertainment business and that’s why he was a kickass speaker.

Every year I walk away a better person from this experience, and Strato knows that one for a fact. (We broke the curse!) But from all of this I did realize one important thing, and as cheesy as it may sound, it inspires every one at our company on a daily basis:

We aren’t in this business because of the money or the ego. As entertainers, we’ve been blessed with the gift to make people’s lives better. It is our responsibility to create memories for families that help them smile, laugh, heal, and live happy lives.

Strato and Ed would be upset if I didn’t add this: Shoutout to Flunk and company.

Always Classy, Always Fun,
Vin DJ

Mitzvah Planning Tips

Hints for Successful Bar/Bat Mitzvah Planning:

2-3 Years Before the Event:
1. Contact a synagogue or temple when your child is less than ten years old. Learn about the process and timeframe required to prepare your child for the event. Formal Bar/Bat Mitzvah lessons usually begin one year prior to the scheduled date.

2. Decide on the style of the event- one that suits your lifestyle and budget

3. Contact potential service providers, caterers and entertainers. Word of mouth is usually the most reliable source for narrowing down your choices. Decide if you want to use a party planner who will coordinate all of the service providers for you.

One Year Before Event:
1. Book location, entertainment, photographer/videographer, and party decorator (florist). All will require non- refundable deposits so make sure that you are certain about your choices.

2. Select a "theme" and/or color scheme for the event. Include your child in this aspect of the planning- keeping his or her preferences in mind.

3. Help your child decide on a community service or bar/bat mitzvah project idea. Many families find that the meaningfulness of the event is enhanced when a "tzedakah" project is established.

6 Months Before Event:
1. Develop a guest list with current addresses.

2. Select and order invitations. Order thank you notes, direction cards (if needed), napkins and guest towels at this time. Always order more invitations than you think you are going to need. Reprints of small quantities can be costly.

3. Keep your eyes open for interesting stamps-they add a nice touch to the envelope and reply card.

4. Decide on centerpieces for tables and any other decorations. "Sign in boards" are a popular bar/bat mitzvah element and should be ordered at this time (usually through the florist/decorator).

5. Choose party favors for guests. These are usually theme and color related and are given to the younger guests at the celebration.

6. Arrange out-of-town guest accommodations . Many hotels offer special rates for large blocks of rooms; so inquire in your area.

7. Stay in close contact with your child's Bar/Bat Mitzvah tutor to keep abreast of your child's progress. Keep a calm encouraging attitude towards your child as he or she progresses through the course of study.

8. Decide if you will be offering other events throughout the weekend. Many families invite close friends and family to a Friday Evening Shabbat Dinner before the big event and a Sunday brunch.

Three months Before Event:
1. Finalize all party selections such as menu, centerpieces, and decorations.

2. Make appointments for hair stylists, barbers, and manicurists as needed.

3. Order personalized yarmulkes.

Two months before Event:
1. Mail invitations- number the back of the response cards to correspond to your guest list to ensure accuracy.

2. Create Candle-Lighting Ceremony. Work with your child to ensure that you are writing something that he or she feels comfortable reciting at the big event.

3. Coordinate the entertainers and caterers to ensure that "time frames" match. Develop a time-line for the event that includes formalities, horas/dances and food services.

4. Encourage your child to practice his or her service out loud.

One month before Event:
1. Reconfirm all service providers

2. Develop a seating plan

3. Coordinate a rehearsal time with your temple. Many temples allow you to video this event in lieu of the actual service.

4. Arrange hospitality baskets for out-of-town guests. Include a schedule of events and detailed directions.

5. Coordinate out-of-town guest transportation to and from airports and events.

One week before Event:
1. Confirm final guest count with caterer. Remember that once you have guaranteed a number, this is what you will be responsible to pay for even if fewer guests show up.

2. Adjust seating arrangements

3. Pack an "emergency kit" to keep handy- sewing kit, extra makeup, hairbrushes, stockings etc.

These tips and many more can be found at: Karen's Kreations

Sweet 16 Tip #1: Candle Lighting

One of the most important parts of a young lady's Sweet 16 is her candle ceremony. Despite it's importance, it does not have to be the most stressful part of planning. The task of assigning family and friends to each of 16 candles may seem like a monumental feat, but once you start and complete candle one you'll be amazed at how easily the remaining candles fall into place. The following are some helpful tips and general guidelines to make candle lighting preparation easier.

The guest of honor may light a memory candle for deceased relative(s). Typically, this is announced by the Guest of Honor, and is done either before the first candle is announced, or before the parents’ candle is announced. Alternatively, one of the candles on the cake can be lit as a memory candle—this would be announced at the time of that candle.

It is important to make an organized list which includes the names of people who will be coming to the cake. Write the names as the Guest of Honor calls them (like “Aunt Rose and Uncle Bob,” etc.). The usual order for candle lighting is:

(the following is just a guideline to help you with the ceremony, by no means must the ceremony be arranged in this order)

1. Grandparents

2. Aunts

3. Uncles

4. Cousins

5. Older relatives

6. Younger relatives

7. Friends of parents

8. Friends of Guest of Honor

9. Parents

10. Siblings

11. Guest of Honor

The usual number of candles is 17 (16 for age, one for good luck). Try to group relatives and friends together to keep the amount of candles to this number as best as possible. You can have interesting tidbits of information announced as the individuals come up to light the candles.

You will also need to choose music to be played while people come up and light the candles. You can have one piece of music serve as background to all of the candles, or you may want to match a specific song to each person or group of people lighting the candle. The total ceremony takes about 15-20 minutes.

10 Wedding Tips:

1) CANDLE LIGHTING CEREMONY: If you do a candle lighting during the ceremony, you might want to select a short interlude song to be played during it. Dead air for a minute or two will seem awkward but too long a song can drag out the ceremony. A classical song such as Pachabel's Cannon is a nice choice, but you can also select any appropriate love song and play a snippet of it.

2) BEST TIME TO TAKE PICTURES: Tradition says the Bride and Groom should not see each other until the ceremony. If you don't mind disregarding this, taking pictures before the ceremony can be a very convenient time. You can shorten the gap between the ceremony and the reception for your guests, and the photographer will not be rushed to get all his shots. Plus make up, hair and clothing will look fresher in photos.

3) LEAVE ENOUGH TIME FOR PHOTOS: Whenever you take your formal pictures, between the ceremony and reception, or before the ceremony, it is important to allow adequate time. The suggestion is to plan 3-4 minutes for each person in the bridal party, including parents and grandparents. For example, let say that you have a maid-of-honor, a best man, two bridesmaids, two groomsmen, a flower girl, four parents, two grandparents and yourselves, a total of fifteen people. Allow for 45 to 60 minutes for your formal pictures. Of course, you should check with your own photographer before finalizing the times.

4) YOUR FIRST DANCE AS HUSBAND AND WIFE: Try to pick a wedding song that has meaning between you and your fiancé. If you choose something that just happens to be popular today, you may not even remember it when your fifth anniversary comes up. But if you choose a song that is special to you both, maybe something that was "your song" when you first started dating or a ballad that has significance to you as a couple, then you will never forget it.

5) CHILDREN AT THE WEDDING? When deciding to include children at the ceremony and reception, the bride and groom should examine the atmosphere they envision. Children can provide a great deal of charm and levity and they often look precious in formal wear. Since a wedding is a family event it may seem appropriate to have the entire family in attendance, but the bride and groom need to feel comfortable with the "spontaneity" of children. Children can have a very short attention span and may lose patience in the middle of the ceremony. If you plan to have children attend the reception, their parents might want to bring toys and books to keep them busy. Children can bring magic to the wedding or added stress - it depends on your personalities and the atmosphere you would like to create.

6) THE WEDDING RECEPTION: Enjoy yourself at the reception. Don't let the night go by without dancing and having a goodtime. Every one of your guests will want to chat with you and tell you how great you look and this is important but if you are not careful, the reception will be over before you know it. If you like to dance and want to be a part of celebration, make a conscious effort to get out there and ENJOY!

7) THOSE "PLAYED OUT" WEDDING SONGS: Many people are sick of songs like "Celebration" and "Mony Mony" and if you definitely can't stand songs like that, by all means, tell your Disc Jockey and insist that they not be played. There are hundreds of awesome party songs and four hours is a short time; you shouldn't have to sit through something you hate during your own wedding. If you don't care either way, give your DJ some leeway because sometimes songs like that will do wonders to get a party kick started. And finally, if you love these songs, play 'em all! We always say, Celebration got "played out" for one reason and one reason only, it's a fun party song!

8) PROPS AND GIVEAWAYS: Many DJs offer giveaways for your party (leis, sunglasses, hats, etc) If you have a very elegant and classy vision for your wedding, consider saying no to this, even if they are included in the price. But if you lean towards a more fun and interactive style for your reception, giveaways are definitely the way to go. Any Disc Jockey’s worth their salt will know how to incorporate these things without losing the formality of your wedding day.

9) THE LAST DANCE: Ending a party is sometimes just as important as how you begin. And many couples like to select and personalize this moment to leave the right "last impression." If you select a slow song, the party will wind down with a romantic tone and many brides and grooms want it that way. Some couples select a nice slow song and some others ask us to replay their wedding song. Either way is appropriate and will leave an impression that your party was all about the love between the newlyweds. Going out the door with an upbeat song is the other option and if you want to leave your guests with the impression that the "Celebration" went on all night, that's the way to do it. Donna Summer's "Last Dance" is an obvious choice, but we've everything here from Green Day's "Time of your life" to Otis Day's "Shout."

10) THE HONEYMOON: Try to avoid leaving for your honeymoon immediately after the reception. This can invite disappointment and ill feelings since both of you will be extremely exhausted right after the wedding. Give yourselves a day or two to open gifts, sleep late and slow down from the stress and pressure of your wedding day. Plus, you don't need the added burden of packing for your honeymoon before your wedding. That can be done after the big day.

DJ Hiring Tips

The average person will hire a DJ once or twice in their lifetime. We strongly recommend that you ask the following questions when thinking about hiring a DJ for your event.

1. Are you insured? Can you supply me with proof of liability?
   Many responsible business owners carry liability insurance to protect their businesses and the consumer. Many locations are beginning to require proof of liability. Ask for proof of liability insurance. Disc Jockey's receive a Certificate of Liability which can be used as proof.
   
   
2. Will you be willing to play requests and discuss music ahead of time?
   A versatile Disc Jockey is willing to listen to your suggestions, give you feedback and play from your desired song list. A professional Disc Jockey will also accept the fact you may not want certain songs played. A professional Disc Jockey cannot know everything about your musical preferences and entertainment needs without communication.
   
   
3. Do you use Professional Equipment?
   Ask whether your prospective Disc Jockey works with professional audio equipment. If you are not sure, ask for their equipment list and check with a local music dealer to verify they are using professional-grade sound gear. Remember that professional gear does not guarantee an entertainer's talent or service level, but is simply a tool for building an exceptional event.
   
   
4. Do you provide backup equipment at my event?
   Although equipment failure is rare, do you really want your special occasion ruined because your Disc Jockey did not come prepared? It is also important to know if your Disc Jockey has a back-up plan in case of illness or an accident. Members of our company have many resources available to them in case of an emergency.
   
   
5. Does the Disc Jockey know the proper etiquette for your type of party?
   A professional Disc Jockey will assist you with the planning of your special day. Most professional entertainers will coordinate, emcee and provide the music that you desire. Ask if they have experience with your type of event. We feel it is necessary to meet several times with our clients before the big day because we want to make sure everything runs as it should and that our clients can actually ENJOY the party they are paying so much for. We accomplish this by making sure the client has absolutely no worries on the entertainment end of the event.
   
   
6. How much time do you allow for set-up?
   Punctuality is a necessity. Most Disc Jockey's arrive at least one hour prior to the start time you've given them. Your entertainer should ideally be setup and in-place before your first guest walks through the door.
   
   
7. Do you provide a written contract?
   It is extremely important to have your booking confirmed in writing. Ask for a written agreement, especially if you are paying an initial retainer. The standard initial payment for entertainment services is 20-50%. If you are expecting a specific entertainer, make sure you get it in writing as well.
   
   
8. Will you be suitably dressed for our occasion?
   Specify the type of apparel that your Disc Jockey is expected to wear for your occasion. Formal attire or coat & tie are the most popular forms of attire. If you are having a "themed" event, make sure your entertainer is informed.
   
   
9. Do you belong to a professional organization or trade group?
   Although belonging to an organization or trade group does not guarantee the talent or professionalism of a disc jockey, it may indicate the companies willingness to network, learn and grow. Disc jockeys can learn through local chapter meetings, national DJ conventions and seminars geared toward the entertainment professional.

Other Items to Note
Disc Jockey rates vary based on talent, experience, emcee ability, service, coordination, equipment needed, music knowledge, mixing ability and personality.

Rates for the DJ industry vary greatly, ranging from $350.00 to $3,500.00 with an average of $1,200.00 for a 4 hour booking. The best price is not always the best deal, especially if you are planning a wedding. As a matter of fact, surveys conclude that nearly 100% of brides would have spent more money on their entertainment and made it their #1 priority in hindsight.

A full-service disc jockey company will normally invest 12 to 30 hours to your special event but it may appear that you are only paying for "4 hours". Consultations, music purchasing & editing, preparation, set-up and tear-down, education and other business related endeavors add up to the overall success of your special occasion.