We’re in the final stretch of this year’s American Idol & I thought I’d finally blog about it.  I have to admit, I wasn’t really looking forward to the season at the beginning. With Simon & Paula leaving I had a feeling it would be a bore-fest.  Luckily I realized this year, for me it’s really about the singers, not the judges.  I think no matter who they have as judges, they are going to just annoy me.  Randy needs to take vocabulary lessons; I love J.Lo, but she needs to learn when to stop talking and if Steven calls another performance ‘beautiful’ I may lose it.  I’ve learned to just look past the judges (or simply fast forward) and concentrate on the singers.  It really does seem like it’s the best batch of singers they’ve ever had, and also the most diverse. Early favorites of mine were white-teethed Paul and his raspy charm, quirky and overly talented Casey, funky Naima as well as rocker James. We’ve really seen “performers” this year and not just singers.

Now we’re down to the top 3: sweet youngster Lauren Alaina (who I predicted would win as the top 24 were announced), raspy rocker Haley who’s really come on strong lately and country crooner Scotty.  Last night was full of the predictable schlock along with some great moments.  I thought Haley sounded even better after she fell onstage and Lauren finally started sounding like the girl we met at audition with “I Hope You Dance.”  What will happen from here on out I have no idea- I’ve given up trying to figure out who’s going to win from here; it seems more like politics than who’s the better singer at this point in the competition.  (When was the last time the actual better singer won? 4 or 5 years maybe?)  If I gave it to who I think is the best singer, I’d say Haley (who I didn’t like in the beginning of the competition, but has become my favorite in the last month or so.)  With two country-styled singers left in it I think either Lauren or Scotty will go home tonight, but who do 13 year old girl like better?; the pretty boy they want to date or the girl they want to be in a few years?   I have a feeling Lauren will be sent packing with Haley & Scotty battling it out in the finals with Haley winning. (It’s just been too many years since a women won!)  Or do I just stick with my original prediction and stick with charming Lauren Alaina???????

What do you think?

-Kevin

Here are some ideas of the things you should be looking for or asking of your DJ company:

A quality DJ company should have at least five years experience and be able to provide good references. It is probably a good idea to stick with a name company that operates full-time rather than take a chance on an individual who may or may not be around when you need them. While there are certainly some good individuals out there, if something happens to them before your wedding, you’re out of luck. With a larger company, there are always backup systems in place.

A quality company should provide trained employees of their company rather than contracting out your event to a subcontractor where they will have little if any quality control. Make sure everything you are promised is presented to you in a written contract.

Call the company you are considering during off-hours. Do they have a 24-hour emergency system? If not, how can they be reached if their DJ doesn’t show up, say in the event of an accident?

You will have better luck with a locally owned and operated company. Nationally franchised companies are often less able to provide you with the personalized service so necessary for such an important and intimate event.

Be sure that your company is willing to provide personal consultations at their place of business to help you plan the details of your day. Offering to meet at your home or in some random public place should send up warning signals. A quality company should also promise to follow up with you the week of your wedding to confirm final details.

Be sure that your company is flexible in what they offer to you. It is your day and a good DJ company should be more than willing to honor your requests and handle your event the way you want it done. This sounds elementary, but it is surprising how many DJs out there do not understand this basic concept.

There are some excellent associations in Colorado like the International Special Events Society (ISES), the National Association of Catering Executives (NACE), the American Disc Jockey Association (ADJA) and the Colorado Professional DJ Association (CPDJA). Most quality companies belong to these types of organizations.

One item that is easy to overlook is insurance. A quality company must have liability and workers compensation insurance. If not, you could be held liable if something happens at an event that you are hosting.

These points are not meant to frighten or intimidate, but rather to educate. There are a few quality DJ companies in Colorado that can address each of these considerations. Being this informed about your DJ service will help you be secure that you will be pleased with their performance at your wedding.

Okay, here it is,  the list of A Music Plus’ DJs most played songs from last year.  While most are the usual suspects (a good song is a good song), most of the top songs were released in 2010.  Please still love to rock out (Def Leppard, AC/DC, Bon Jovi) and it’s amazing how much Glee has resurged Journey’s career.   I think Single Ladies & I Gotta Feeling are going to become wedding favorites for years to come…  Enjoy!

10. Michael Jackson – Billie Jean

9. Def Leppard – Pour Some Sugar On Me

8. Neil Diamond – Sweet Caroline (Good Times Never Seemed So Good)

7. AC/DC – You Shook Me All Night Long

6. Bon Jovi – Livin’ On A Prayer

5. Van Morrison -  Brown Eyed Girl

4. Lady Gaga – Just Dance

3. Beyonce – Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)

2. Journey – Don’t Stop Believin’

1. Black Eyed Peas – I Gotta Feeling

While we’ve prepared this information with the bride and groom planning their wedding in mind, most of the ideas here can be applied to selecting a DJ for any event.

First and foremost, make sure that you feel comfortable with the company representative that you talk to during your first contact. If not, move on…..there are a lot of choices out there. Remember, the DJ company you choose will play a huge part in the success or failure of your reception. You must like and feel comfortable with the people you are about to trust with your event!

Don’t be afraid to ask a lot of questions. Most people rarely hire a DJ in their lifetime, so you are not alone if you feel like you aren’t sure what to ask. Any company that isn’t more than happy to help you get what you want, and answer all of your questions, should send up a warning sign.

Another thing to look for is the responsiveness of the company you are considering. Are they easy to contact? Do they reply to messages and emails in a timely fashion?  If they are hard to contact before you sign the contract, imagine what it will be like after the paperwork is signed!  We get calls all the time from clients in a panic because they can’t contact their wedding DJ the week of their event.

Finally, try to resist shopping price. Most wedding horror stories involving a DJ start with a couple who found a cheap company or individual.  Most people budget thousands of dollars for their wedding…..ask yourself if it makes sense to save a hundred dollars on what will probably be the most important factor in determining the success of your reception.  You really do get what you pay for, and there probably isn’t a more important decision you will make than selecting your DJ service.

Coming next week: tips on the things you should be looking for & asking of your DJ company.

As the year comes to an end, I like to look back at the year in music.  This year, due to a broken CD player in my car, I ended up listening to a lot more top 40 music than usual.  Here’s some of the nuggets of wisdom I took away from that past years’ musical hits:

Ke$ha burst onto the scene from what seemed to be a trailer park.  Something in me tells me to not like her, but every single one of her hits have gotten stuck in my head…and I still enjoy singing along to all of them. One thing I like about her is how you know what you’re  getting with her: she’s not pretending to be this serious artist; she’s just here to sing about partying…or maybe I just like glitter.

Lady Gaga continued her world domination.  I guess the world really is ready for someone  a little “left of the dial” as long as they make entertaining, catchy pop songs.  Every generation needs their Madonna, right?

Taylor Swift proves once again country music can be mainstream and that people love songs that tell stories they can relate to.

Eminen- getting off drugs (and rapping about it) is a good thing for one’s career.

Rihanna- her fans like the sexy dance tracks way more than her dark ballads.

Justin Bieber- I guess there’s just always a need for a young male pop star for girls to scream about.

Glee- one of the biggest musical phenomena in a long time.  Within 2 years they have had over 100 songs in the  ! (thank you Itunes.)  One or two more episodes and they’ll overtake Elvis for the most top 100 songs in history.  They’re doing something right, we’re now getting requests for Glee versions of certain songs.

Katy Perry – I use to question her authenticity due to her christian singer beginnings, now I just enjoy her catchy songs.  This girl knows how to party (“California Gurls”) but can also pull at your heartstrings (“Firework.”)

Train- you might as well call 2010 the year of “Hey Soul Sister”.  Between TV commercials (I can think of at least 3), the radio and TV shows that played it, this had to be the most heard song of the year, if not the last 10 years.  What was a really well written song now has annoyed us all into submission.

Susan Boyle- Goes to show anyone with talent really can become a star.  Her album was the biggest seller of the year!  It sold more than Eminem.

What did you learn from 2010′s music?

-KK

It’s literally everywhere you go these days (and has been for months at some places!): Christmas music.  You know it’s the holiday season when you’ve already heard “White Christmas” 10 times while you were at the mall trying to find the right gifts for everyone on your list.  Crazy to think how much music is a part of the holidays: besides its ubiquitous presence at every store in America, you have holiday music specials, caroling, holiday musicals and theatrical performances.  How many of you had to sing songs first before you got your gifts as a kid?  It seems like every artist these days has a Christmas album: from Mariah Carey to Bob Dylan to Susan Boyle to Lady Antebellum.  Here’s a few holiday ‘gems’ that A Music Plus would like to share and hopefully put a smile on your face.

I feel like a kid again any time I hear (and sing along with)  Grandma Got Ran Over By A Reindeer.  Yeah, not the best example of holiday spirit, but I thought it was the funniest thing ever when I was 10.  (Not sure why I still get such a kick out of it as an adult…) Released in 1979 it’s now has sales of close to 1 million.

Another one that puts a smile on my face is “I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas.”  Sung by a 10 year old girl in 1953, it helped get an actual hippopotamus donated to the Oklahoma City zoo.

And purely for laughs, I had to include the “Jingle Cats” rendition of Silent night.  If you haven’t ever seen or heard, prepare to be blown away with cuteness:

 

Happy Holidays from A Music Plus Entertainment!

While you definitely want to inject your own personal taste into the music at your wedding, here are a few suggestions of songs that have become popular choices for specific wedding dances to help you out:

FATHER/DAUGHTER DANCE:

• Unforgettable- Natalie Cole
• My Girl- The Temptations
• Isn’t She Lovely- Stevie Wonder
• Because You Loved Me- Celine Dion
• Daddy’s Little Girl – Al Martino
• Through The Years – Kenny Rogers
• Butterfly Kisses – Bob Carlisle
• Daughters- John Mayer

MOTHER/SON DANCE:

• Wind Beneath My Wings- Bette Midler
• You’re The Inspiration – Chicago
• Times of Your Life – Paul Anka
• A Song For Mama – Boyz II Men
• I Am Your Child – Barry Manilow
• A Song for my Son – Mikki Viereck
• Hero – Mariah Carey
• Have I Told You Lately- Rod Stewart

UNITY CANDLE LIGHTING:

• Everything I Do – Bryan Adams
• The Wedding Song – Peter Paul & Mary
• Amazing Grace – Traditional
• Ave Maria – Traditional
• Endless Love – Diana Ross & Lionel Richie
• You Light Up My Life – Debbie Boone
• Always – Atlantic Starr

FIRST DANCE:

• What A Wonderful World – Louis Armstrong
• At Last – Etta James (or Beyoncé)
• The Way You Look Tonight – Frank Sinatra (or Michael Bublé)
• Amazed – Lonestar
• All My Life – K-Ci & Jojo
• Wonderful Tonight – Eric Clapton
• Could I Have This Dance – Anne Murray
• In Your Eyes – Peter Gabriel
• Just The Way You Are – Billy Joel
• Unchained Melody – The Righteous Brothers

INTRODUCTION SONGS:

• All You Need is Love – The Beatles
• At Last – Etta James
• Beautiful Day – U2
• Get the Party Started – Pink
• You’re The First, The Last, My Everything – Barry White
• Let’s Get it Started – Black Eyed Peas
• White Wedding – Billy Idol
• Just Dance – Lady Gaga

CAKE CUTTING:

• How Sweet It Is – James Taylor
• I Got You Babe – Sonny & Cher
• Recipe For Love – Harry Connick, Jr.
• Cut The Cake – Average White Band
• Ice Cream – Sarah McLachlan
• The Sweetest Thing – U2
• Sugar Sugar - Archies
• Buckwheat Boyz – Ice Cream and Cake (for those of you with a sense of humor)

BOUQUET TOSS:

• Girls Just Wanna Have Fun – Cyndi Lauper
• Ladies Night – Kool & The Gang
• Hey Ladies – The Beastie Boys
• Just a Girl – No Doubt
• Another One Bites The Dust – Queen
• Single Ladies (Put A Ring on it) – Beyoncé

GARTER TOSS:

• Wild Thing – Tone Loc
• You Can Leave Your Hat On – Joe Cocker
• Can’t Get Enough of Your Love – Barry White
• You Sexy Thing – Hot Chocolate
• Let’s Get it On – Marvin Gaye
• Hot Stuff – Donna Summer

LAST DANCE

•  (Good Riddance) Time of Your Life – Green Day
• Let’s Get It On – Marvin Gaye
• My Way – Frank Sinatra
• Hello, Goodbye – The Beatles
• Ain’t No Mountain High Enough – Diana Ross
• I’ve Had The Time Of My Live – Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes
• Saving the Best for Last – Vanessa Williams
• That’s What Friends Are For – Dianne Warwick

Here ares some of the most common music mistakes people make at their weddings (and how to avoid them!)

1) Starting the ceremony in silence

Whether you have a DJ playing background music, or an elegant string quartet, be sure music is playing at least 20-30 minutes before your ceremony processional begins. This way guests who arrive early don’t have to sit in silence and wonder what’s going on. Not to mention, the music you choose for the start of your ceremony sets the tone for the rest of your day.

2) Choosing a first dance song that’s way too long

Of course you want a long enough song to share your special dance together, yet you don’t want all your guests waiting 10 minutes through “Stairway to Heaven” before they get to dance as well (even if that’s the song that was playing when you met!) Also, practicing (or even choreographing in some cases) your first dance beforehand will give you comfort and ease as you slide onto the dance floor on your wedding day. Your DJ can always shorten the song for you if what you really want is too long to play the whole way through.

3) Playing explicit songs at the reception that offend your guests

We don’t always give a second thought to the words being sung in our favorite tunes, but some of them may not be appropriate for grandma or younger cousins. Though your sorority sisters would love your DJ to play the more suggestive tunes at your reception, you don’t want to risk offending other family members; they might not be so appreciative to hear “I Want Your Sex” or “Me So Horny.” Luckily all of the songs we play are radio edits, giving you one less thing to worry about!

4) Playing only one genre of music all night

The guests at your wedding will range from young to old with many different tastes in music. That being said, music selection can become a difficult thing to juggle. While you might want to hear your favorite music all night long, be sure to keep in mind the rest of your guests & what songs they want to hear. Allow your DJ to worry about pleasing your guests with a selection of songs everyone can enjoy. Not everyone will love every song, but we’ll make sure your two-steppin’ aunt and crazy little brother have their shot on the dance floor. Of course you have the final say in the music, but we always recommend a diverse selection of songs be played at your reception. 

A Music Plus will make sure you don’t run into any of these mistakes. With over 25 years of experience, we know exactly what it takes to make your wedding a success. You tell what you want musically, and we make it happen- no stress on you! 

 

As a kid I had a Halloween record that I used to play over & over again. I can’t remember most of the songs except for the classic Monster Mash (by Bobby Boris Pickett, it hit #1 on the charts in 1962.) So in honor of this upcoming holiday I thought I’d share some Halloween favorites….

For us 80′s kids, who can forget DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince’s “Nightmare on My Street?” It was their next hit after the huge “Parents Just Don’t Understand.” Playing off the popularity of the movie Nightmare on Elm Street, it definitely had a big cheese factor, but its addictive bass line and cool effects make it a treat to hear. Bet you haven’t heard it in awhile:

Probably the king of all Halloween themed tunes has to be Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” which is just iconic at this point. From the creepy Vincent Price spoken word, to the often copied zombie dance moves to its great beat, it just doesn’t get much better than this.

In the 90′s came Rob Zombie who looked like a Halloween monster himself. One of his best songs is “Dragula” which sounds like it was made for Halloween. The video clip with lots of classic horror movies is a sight to see:

One of the scariest pieces of music has to be “Tubular Bells” by Mike Oldfield. This composer & electronic music pioneer burst onto the scene in the early 70′s (his debut album sold over 16 million copies worldwide!) with this hit song. It’s better known as the theme song to the Exorcist. Gives me chills just hearing it again, although I’m not sure if it’s from the song itself or the association with the movie…

A newer entry into our lexicon of Halloween classic tunes is Danny Elfman’s “This is Halloween.” One of the most memorable songs from the Tim Burton classic Nightmare Before Xmas. I still remember seeing it in the theatres and somehow not knowing it was a musical…

What’s your favorite Halloween song?

Invest two hours of your time and get more brides next year – guaranteed!  Join some of the area’s top wedding professionals in welcoming Rick Brewer of Get More Brides.com to Denver.  Open to all Colorado wedding vendors, this is one seminar that you should not miss! As many of you know, Colorado is one of the most saturated markets for wedding professionals. To get you thinking about how to set your business apart, Rick will speak about why most wedding businesses fail and what you can do to avoid those mistakes. Rick understands that marketing to brides is a difficult proposition. Brides are (as Rick says) “the never before, never again customer.”  Marketing principles in general will not work for brides. This is why Rick has specialized his message to the wedding industry.

- About Rick Brewer -

In short, Rick is no stranger to the wedding industry. Since 1992, Rick has been involved with weddings either as a…

• Wedding Vendor

• Wedding Magazine Publisher

• Bridal Show Producer

• Editor to 5 Wedding Related Websites

• Author (Get More Brides Business Success Kit, 7 Steps to a Stress Free Wedding, Bridal Show SuccessSecrets)

• Speaker to the Wedding Industry

Learn How to Get More Brides – Now!  OCTOBER 21ST, 2010 HOSTED BY: VOWS WEDDING COLLECTIVE 6:00 – 8:00pm

$20 registration fee

Please visit www.ezregister.com/events/1945 to register and RSVP.

Plan on arriving early to network with other wedding professionals!

 VOWS Wedding Collective, 1810 Blake St., Denver, CO 80202 | 303.474.4862 | www.wedovows.com