Last Saturday we entertained for the first half of Nancy and James Rigas wedding reception @ the Detroit Marriott Renaissance Center . They are a really laid back couple, so I have been looking forward to the big day for quite sometime. Since they had hor dourves in the foyer we setup remote sound in a secondary location so that guests could hear lite cocktail style music when arriving. Now I wish I really took a picture of their hor dourves table because there was this Greek style finger food that tasted phenomenal. It was shaped like a samosa and was covered in phyllo dough. The filling was a mixture of spinach and cheese.



What I thought was really cool, was that for each table they had a card with a word on it (Motown, BEER!, Flying Toasters, Greece, International, GM Employees) and basically whatever name/area that resembled you, designated your table. I have a picture of one of the cards above.

Greek Style Wedding Reception

Since Nancy and James family was from Greece, we played traditional Greek style wedding reception music (I have a video link below to one of the Greek dances). And for those of you wondering, Flying Toasters is the name of the band from Indiana that played during the second portion of the reception. They did a great job! Congrats Nancy and James and enjoy your honeymoon in Greece!

 

We actually just got these pictures in from Basel of Precious Memories Photography in Canton. The pictures we have are from Ray and Alinas wedding reception which was held @ Burton Manor last Saturday. We work a handful of events with Basel and his staff every year, and we recommend him to all of our brides. They take a very personal approach with their clients, which means that your photos will be as stunning as you are! So if you are looking for extraordinary wedding photography, then contact Precious Memories directly @ 734.927.1200.

Classy Wedding DJs in Livonia Michigan

Last night we celebrated with Ray and Alina @ Burton Manor in Livonia. We got some great requests from all the guests and the shots turned out nice for their Glam Cam Photo Album. It was really smooth flowing working with Rick of Precious Memories and they took stellar photos (as usual). I should be getting back a couple of the pictures he took to post on here shortly, so that you can see just how good their work is. We got some video clips below of the party train done to a remix of Bon Jovi - Livin on a Prayer, do we have any Bon Jovi fans out there? Honestly, I have that same remix jamming in my car (CD 3 Track 6)! Congratulations Alina and Ray, enjoy your cruise and thanks for choosing us over that other company =)

A majority of our business comes from previous clients. So why not take advantage of our Encore Rewards Program? The best compliment that you can give us, is referring us to your family and friends. For every booked client that you send us, we will mail you a $25 gift card to your store of choice. For more information about our rewards program, visit our refer a friend page. We are looking forward to seeing you on their dance floor!


Dedicated to your very important party,


Entertainment Director

It is that time of the year! Before you know it, companies will start planning their corporate event parties for the coming holidays. These parties are usually done on behalf of the employees to spark moral and teamwork. So how does a good employee plan a corporate event party? Well, a good rule of thumb is to start the planning stages 4-6 months prior to the date. If you are anticipating over 125 guests, then you will require more resources and this timeframe should be stretched from 6-9 months instead. Depending on your corporate culture will determine the way you go about planning a unique corporate bash.

Location Location Location

Going back to the guest list, you will first need to figure out how many guests will be in attendance. This will limit you with choices for a venue. If you are a larger regional or global corporation then you may need audio, visual, and hotel meeting space. If this is a less complex company, then a celebration at your local banquet facility might do the trick. If you have any out of town guests (CEOs, board members, honorary or distinguished guests) then you might want to locate your corporate event party near an airport for ease of logistics. The location should be allocated towards the largest portion of your budget; however there are other factors that are equally important.

Hire the Right Team

A team of professional vendors will be able to execute your vision without hesitation. A good question to ask your self is, 'how am I trying to leave an impact on at this party'? Regardless of the answer, your vendors including caterer, guest speakers, and entertainment are an extension of your reputation. A poor selection of vendors may leave a bad impression on your guests including those in management. This is the second most important area to invest your time and energy because it is the small details that can make or break a corporate event.

Pick a Spontaneous Theme

Do you remember your last past at your company from any of the previous years? If you have to think for more than ten seconds, then the planning committee did not do their job. When you sell or market a product, you have to establish an identity for your brand, and likewise when you plan and execute a successful party, you need to create a theme centered on your company. This theme should be different from past years. Try to implement your companies history and short term vision into the theme. There are many places to start and a good way to do this is to brainstorm with some of your co-workers to get some great ideas.

Get Guests Involved

We all know that one of the main purposes behind the company party is to ignite team building skills and employee moral. So how do you plan a corporate event party? Ask your guests, the employees. A great way to get instant feedback is with a newsletter addressed to all the employees. You can also mass e-mail a link to a survey for specific requests to all the employees. You might want to get an idea of the type of entrees guests might want. They will be able to tell you fun ways to promote team spirit and what type of vibe they are expecting from the party. The more you center the company party around your employees the more successful the event will be.

Finally be Creative

After you have read the above tips on how to plan the perfect corporate party, the final advice is to be creative. There are many stresses associated with being responsible for the company party, do not let this limit ideas. Many times people will not try creative ideas because they are afraid it will flop and management will put the blame on them. Just because it is a company party does not mean that waltz music will be played the entire evening. Just because it is a company party does not mean your guests should expect the traditional format with speeches and dinner selections. You will be surprised with the compliments you will receive if you think outside of the box. For example get a sushi bar, use Accent Lighting, or have an all white party. As you can tell the possibilities are endless. So if you want to leave a lasting impression on your guests keep them in mind and choose a theme that will surprise everyone including yourself!

Fun Retirement Parties in Michigan

We DJed Ernies retirement party in Wyandotte Michigan over the weekend. This was a smaller more casual event with about 30 people and we played a variety of music. Something really crazy, was that Christina and Dominique were guests at the retirement party and they recognized me right off the bat. They were guests @ the Rob and Amy Peters wedding reception in Frankenmuth two months prior which is like 3 1/2 hours away from Wyandotte (man we are everywhere!). They said the reception was a blast, from what they could remember lol.

A couple of fun things that we did at Ernies retirement party was a twist contest, and line dancing. For vids and pics of the guests in action visit their Glam Cam photo album.

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I said in a post last month that our new target goal for traffic was 10,000. Great news, our michigan wedding blog just broke that with visitors this morning, yey us! I have a screenshot below of the graph from google analytics. 

We hope that you enjoy our blog the same place where you can find helpful articles, fun videos, michigan banquet hall reviews, glam cam pics, and weekly event highlights. In addition, there is a music player to the right, so feel free to listen to songs while browsing the hundreds of post that we have on our blog. Thanks for stopping by and do not forget to check our availability if you are looking for Michigans best source for DJs and lighting! 11,000 here we come!


Dedicated to your very important party,


Entertainment Director

 
 

1.) Friends don't let friends DJ their wedding

Before we get into pricing, I just wanted to let everybody know that friends do not let their friends DJ their wedding. Instead, you should have your friend attend the wedding as a guest or even in the bridal party. Just because they are your friend does not mean that you have to let them DJ your wedding. They may give you a killer deal on the DJ package, but are they really professional DJ material? I am sure there are many people who know pro wedding DJs out there that would be the perfect match for your wedding. However, I have heard the stories many times where brides wished they would have spent $300.00 more instead of having their cousins friend ruin the reception with blowup guitars, rap, and cheesy announcements. A professional wedding DJ company will go over all the details with you ahead of time, so that there are no surprises.

2.) See Your DJ in Action

Honestly, most wedding DJ companies that you might consider hiring will not allow you to attend a private function such as a wedding reception. When you really think about it, would like to have some guest come uninvited to your wedding just to get free drinks and eat your appetizers? A reputable company will focus all their attention on the client for that day instead of the next one being booked. To fix this problem online video demos come in handy. You can see event highlights of your DJ in action, and get a feel for how they will coordinate your wedding day while working with your vendors.

3.) Type of DJ/Personality

This will make or break the DJ company that you hire for your wedding. No two DJs are the same and with that said not every DJ is created equally. Some DJs will do any and every type of event, while others specialize in weddings. When you first talk to the DJ over the phone, get a feel for how they present themselves during the conversation. Are they energetic? Are they passionate? This is what you can expect from them on your wedding day. Some DJs spend 30 seconds on the phone while others take the time to understand what you are looking for so they meet your expectations. When you hire a wedding DJ you are also hiring the master of ceremonies. They will be your spokesperson for the evening representing both of your families. It is a wise idea to go with a company that has good chemistry with you and your fiance.

4.) What Does Price Really Mean

Every couple wants their wedding day to be perfect, and they also want to save as much money as possible. So what does price really mean when hiring a wedding DJ? I am sure you have heard the old saying you get what you pay for, but quality entertainment does not cost it pays. If you skimp a couple of hundred dollars on the entertainment your guests might not stay long enough to get your moneys worth from the hall, your photographer might not take above average photos, and that late night snack tray might go to waste as well. When guests look back on your wedding day 10, 15, even 20 years from now, do you know what they will remember... if they had fun or not!

So we know that going with the cheapest might cost you the most stress, but the most expensive does not mean the best either. Sometimes you are charged for setup and teardown, online planning, travel, and the list goes on. It is best to work with a company that can compromise with your budget. A company that does not have any hidden costs and gives you the most bang for your buck This typical price range will usually fall between $795-$1295. Sometimes pricing can go over this range if you factor in custom options including Wall Accent Lighting, custom name monogram, and remote sound.

5.) References References References!

By far one of the most important areas to spend your time when figuring out how to hire a wedding DJ is feedback and testimonials. References should be recent, from within the past 6-12 months, and you should be given an adequate amount of them for the type of event you are considering (EX. you should not be given a list of corporate referrals for a wedding reception they are completely different). If you are given a list of over 15 satisfaction surveys, contact 3 or 4 random brides and really listen to what they say. Ask them why they hired the DJ company, how the wedding DJ did at their wedding, and their overall impression. Any wedding DJ that is serious about your business will have nothing to hide and will provide references upon request.

6.) Talk with Several Companies

So you talked with one wedding DJ company now guess what? Talk with another and another. The best piece of advice is to consult with several wedding DJs before making a decision on which one to hire. This will also give you a better understand of what you are looking for immediately! You will be surprised at the way some entertainers carry themselves. Just imagine how they will handle your ONE wedding! Keep notes of all conversations and prices quoted for your wedding. Narrow your selection down to 2 or 3 ideal companies and make your decision from there.

7.) What about the contract and payments

Finally after you have your sights on a particular wedding DJ, enforce what you want with a contract. All the stipulations should be discussed before hand and all the important details should be included (location, date, time, # of guests, names, and phone number). When going over the contract, also talk about how are payments made. Most wedding DJ companies accept a 50% retainer at the time the contract is signed to reserve your date. Usually the outstanding balance is due the night off. Majority of the time, payments can be made in advance if you are more comfortable with that. Will your DJ accept a personal check, if so who is it made out to? Small things like this will tell you how flexible a wedding DJ is, (this is a biggie when it comes to weddings). At most weddings the timeline will jump around plus or minus 10-15 minutes. Your wedding DJ will have to adjust to these changes without hesitation.

How do You Hire a Wedding DJ

This all depends on how you take the advice from this article. Every bride and groom is different and this means that they are looking for different qualities in a wedding DJ. The best approach to take when interviewing wedding DJs is to get a vibe of how they view you as a person and a client. Wedding receptions should not be done in a cookie cutter fashion. When weddings are personalized to what the bride and groom want, then this means that they hired the best wedding DJ available.

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Wedding DJs in Madison Heights

I have been looking forward to Buzz and Jenifers wedding reception since they booked with us. They live in Chicago, so our VIP Planning helped them organize all the details for their wedding day online. Now they had their reception @ Madison Place Banquet Hall which has been recently renovated to host weddings, and Cranks did the catering. Since the family is Irish, their grand entrance included a piper and the entire bridal party was decked out in kelts and plaid. For a video clip of the piper and photos from the entire reception check out their Glam Cam Photo Album.





I would have to say, that the highlight of the evening was the garter removal. It was probably the most energetic garter removal that I have seen before. Buzz even got the guests involved in it; huge thumbs up Buzz! Feel free to check out a video clip of the garter removal in action and thank you so much for making us a part of your special day!

Fun Wedding DJs in Jackson

Matt & Jane had there wedding reception @ Jackson Country Club. I have to say that even though I was unable to be the DJ for their wedding, it was still a blast helping them plan it! Their DJ John took some great pictures for their Glam Cam. No small detail was overlooked on their wedding day, the cake was gorgeous and we also provided a custom name monogram to be displayed on the dance floor. They provided the design for us and it turned out very nicely. Click the video below for some fun highlights from their reception. Once again, a huge thank you and congratulations to Matt and Jane!

DJ Company in Michigan that is Hiring

We have been very busy over that past month with speical events and parties. I just wanted to let everyone that is looking for a DJ company in Michigan that is hiring to know that we are still accepting applications for entertainers and DJs. Currently, we have a well rounded staff of seasoned professionals. However, we are always looking for new talent to our add to our team. If you think that you have what it takes, then feel free to visit our webpage for more information about joining our team. There you will learn about the excellent opportunties and training topics including with our program. Our entertainers have a direct influence on every parties success, help us leave a lasting impression on our clients by giving 110%!



Dedicated to your very important party,



Entertainment Director
Robert Reno  
734.626.2715
Encore Entertainment & Productions  

 
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Bruce and Krystyna went all out on their wedding day, and they could not have asked for better weather for their ceremony. We helped them for the ceremony by providing ceremony song selection, music playback, and wireless technology so that everyone could hear them exchange their vows. For more info please click the link Going to the Chapel Package.

Wedding DJs in Houghton Lake

We actually were not in Houghton Lake, but just down the street in Prundenville Michigan. The reception was really cool and were got some really great shots in for their Glam Cam. Now this was a first for me, and I have done a countless amount of fun classy weddings. Before the dollar dance, the bride and grooms friend auctioned off the first dance. Their friend owns an auctioning company so it was pretty interesting when people were yelling and calling bets. I could never speak that fast!

One of the highlights of the night was the custom Wall Accent Lighting that covered every wall in the reception hall. Bruce and Krystyna got 20 accent lights so that their walls were a deep purple during dinner cocktail. During the dancing portion the endless combination of colors was limitless (hence any wall any color). Click the video below to see what accent lighting can look like at your next celebration.

providing wedding DJs in Houghton Lake

Todd and Andrea had a gorgeous outdoor ceremony and wedding reception last weekend @ Fox Hills Country Club . They were actually referred to us from Jenna and Joe's wedding last month. For those of you wondering we have the solution for your ceremony sounds need. We provide couples with wireless technology, ceremony song selection, and music playback during the ceremony. For more info please click the link Going to the Chapel Package .

Wedding DJs in Plymouth

Going back to the party, the couple requested some really cool songs. Andrea and Todd walked into the reception with Van Halen - Hot For Teacher and requested a variety of the classics throughout the night. Word of advice for brides looking to book Fox Hills Country Club... they have AMAZING seafood pasta (mussels, crab, jumbo shrimp WOW). To add that personalized touch to their evening, they added some Accent Lighting to have their walls match with the color of their decor. Seriously, the best part of the night was the ending when the all the guests were in giant circle singing Piano Man together. Actually, it was a circle within a circle, with the bride and groom in the center of it (photo above). Congratulations and thanks for making us a part of your special day!

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