Very recently we were contacted by a family that had some unique circumstances going on in their life, and their daughters 15th birthday party was only a few months away. Once we learned the particulars of the situation, we knew exactly what needed to be done; any and everything we could to make this lovely young lady’s Quinceanera a very special one. After all, our love for people is the reason we do what we do.
We provided music mixed live by Thomas Dean the DJ, MC, lighting, custom image projection, special effects and photography for this event and it all took place at the Double Tree in Tucson by Reid Park.
This Quinceanera was very unique and while it didn’t follow every tradition in the book, it was extremely special. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house when mother and daughter shared their special dance together, and the guests were in awe when the birthday girl and her dad danced together on a cloud. This event is definitely one of our favorites. See our facebook and instagram for more pictures. Have a question? Let us know!
Recently we did a Quinceanera at Quail Creek Country Club in Green Valley, AZ and this time around we came through with a full array of services to throw an amazing party for some amazing people. The theme was under the sea and the colors were teal and ivory.
This time around we did teal uplighting around the room perimeter, a custom designed teal name gobo with the Quinceanera’s name below a tiara, and shells around the design to help it suit the under the sea theme. We also provided special effects for one of the “wow” moments of the night during a father/daughter dance on a cloud. Also features id our premium dance floor light setup complete with aluminum trussing, spectacular high end light fixtures controlled in real time via lighting software, lasers, blacklights and a spectacular mirror ball. We didn’t stop there as our photographer created a custom backdrop complete with props and lighting for guests to enjoy throughout the event. To cap it all off, we made sure all of the tunes came through crystal clear and powerful via our high end QSC audio system complete with monitors, tower speakers and subwoofers. The family was kind enough to leave us a review also. See it here, or on our facebook page.
We were pretty busy having a great time but we managed to squeeze in a few photos during the event. Enjoy!
Custom Name Lighting photo by: Reina Dean Photography
This past weekend the crew and I had the chance to provide music and lighting services for a lovely young lady celebrating her 14th birthday at a beautiful home in Chandler, AZ. This party was full of good music, dancing, singing along, and much more. Destination events are so much fun in general since we get to go places we probably wouldn’t have gone otherwise, and meet some really awesome people. This event was no exception. Our set up was in full effect once it was time to turn up! The QSC sound system sounded amazing, and the lighting was spectacular (if I do say so myself). Take a look!
Let’s be honest, even though your wedding day is all about you and your new husband or wife, the quality of that day and the memories that you and your guests take with you are in the hands of the DJ.
Did you chose your flower arrangement without looking at samples from your florist? Would you choose your cake maker or caterer without first doing a taste test? Or better yet, would you buy your dress or rent your tuxedo without trying them on? Of course not! Then why in the world would you chose a DJ without asking for an audition?
Any DJ that’s worth having will be willing to audition for you, show you their gear, and give you a sound sample. If they aren’t willing to do this, ask yourself, or better yet, ask them “why not“? Are they cutting corners on music or equipmemt? What else will they cut corners on? The DJ and their equipment will be the main sight and sound focal points of the evening and will be representing you on your big day. Wouldn’t it be nice to see and hear what they have to offer? What if that Tucson wedding DJ was great on the phone, nice in person, then when you walk into your wedding reception venue you see this . . . .
Yikes!!
In today’s world, technology has made it easier than ever for joe blow to pose as a DJ. Music is readily available almost everywhere, and cheap sound systems are a dime a dozen. Because of this, hobbyists buy some equipment and have driven the average price of wedding dj services down like crazy but because they have invested a little time and money they call themselves DJ’s or Dee Jays (DJ stands for disk jockey guys, if the call themselves a Dee Jay, well that’s another rant for another day) when really, they are just a guy with a music library and a couple of lights and speakers. Last I checked, just because I can go to the store and buy some tools doesn’t mean I have the right to call myself a mechanic, no more than buying some pots and pans gives me the right to call myself a chef. Well guess what, that’s what many “DJ’s” are doing these days.
Cheaper isn’t always better!
If the success of your day means anything to you, you should want to interview and audition your DJ. This will go much further than looking at a picture library because even though I can show you a picture of a Rolls Royce doesn’t mean that I have one. A DJ is an entertainer, not just a person that shows up to manage a list of songs. That’s what an mp3 player is for. A meeting or consultation is ok, but an audition is better. See and hear what you are about to pay for before you make a decision. Ask the DJ what they will do to prepare for your event. Ask him what his plan is incase there is a power outage, or if his computer malfunctions, etc. You will be glad you did. for live events like yours, there are no do overs. Know what you’re getting, and hire someone that will represent you well.
I had so much fun rockin’ the GWECHS 2016 Prom at The Wright House in Mesa, AZ
The GateWay students and staff were amazing, and they danced right up until the last minute. Can’t say enough about how much fun was had, and can’t wait to do it again.
You love to hear them and we love to play them!! Many many genres available in our music library, this is just a sample of some popular recent requests. Enjoy!
Go check out photos of some recent events in our gallery! Use this link or click on “gallery” up above if you are already on our site. Thank you and enjoy!
This guy does weddings for a super low price! He even brings surround sound and decorations! I bet you he bid lower than several quality DJ’s and got the job because he had the lowest price.
Ok, ok, in all serious now that we’ve had a laugh. Your wedding, quinceanera or other formal event is right around the corner. You’ve found your dress, your tuxedo, you’ve picked the perfect bridesmaids dresses and you have your venue booked. The pieces that make up the puzzle of your perfect day are coming together.
So how did you go about choosing your DJ? Did you interview them? Did you ask for references? Do they specialize in weddings, or backyard barbecues? What kind of equipment do they use? Is the gear in their pictures really theirs? Surprisingly most potential customers don’t ask those questions. The first thing consumers ask is “how much do you charge” but most of the time when price shopping you are comparing apples to steak. No worries, I can help educate you so that you don’t end up paying someone to make your day a disaster.
Many folks seeking DJ services will Google or Bing search “Tucson wedding DJ” or “Tucson quinceanera DJ” or some just search for “mobile DJ in Tucson” and get a few phone numbers and email addresses. Nothing is wrong with that so far. The couples then send out a text or email saying something like “how much would you charge for a 4 hour wedding on (insert event date here)” then lo and behold here come the replies.
First warning flag that the “DJ” that just replied with a quote, regardless of the price, has a good chance of ruining your event is that they didn’t ask any questions about your event. A professional knows that there is far more than just how many hours of music you want that goes into giving you a fair price. Did they ask if your event is indoors or out, what is the location, do you need ceremony services separate from reception, how many guests, what services are you seeking etc.
I keep using 4 hours as an example because it is a pretty common time frame for wedding or quinceanera receptions. And let’s be realistic, for 4 hours of work, $200 or $250 is a pretty good wage. I mean, after all $50 a hour is a pretty fair price to pay to ensure that your day goes just how you want it and to be sure that there are no unpleasant surprises that could have been easily avoided right? What if I told you that I charge much less than $50 an hour for my services, but a $250 wedding is unrealistic? Keep reading.
Now let’s think about something else. If your event is 4, 5, or 6 hours long, do you think that your event will go well if you only get that many hours of your DJ’s time? Who’s going to plan out your reception timeline, make sure that all of the songs are available for your first dance, introductions, cake cutting, or that your names will be pronounced correctly and that the timing will all be just right? That sort of thing takes practice ahead of time so that the day of your event it looks organized and you are happy with the outcome.
When you hire me for a reception I spend many hours consulting back and forth with you to make sure everything will go just how you want it. I create and organize play lists for your special songs, program music for dance time, and rehearse announcements and song transitions etc. I visit the event site and survey the layout and electrical system, introduce myself to the maintenance staff, find out where the breaker panels are etc. I also spend time programming light shows if lighting is in your budget. We haven’t even talked about travel time, set up and take down. I take good care of my equipment before during and after each event so that everything functions and looks as great at your event as it did the last. This all doesn’t just happen, it takes a lot of time and hard work from my crew and I. We easily spend a MINIMUM of 15 to 20 hours ahead of time, and a combined 10 – 20 hours on the day of to make your 4 hour reception flow like it should. So now applying what we agreed on previously, at $50 bucks an hour that 4 hour reception comes out to between $1,250 and $2,000. I am not saying that I don’t do weddings cheaper than that, but what I am saying is that no 2 events are exactly alike, and I put nothing less than my best effort into each and every one so the question “hey DJ, how much do you charge” is not valid without knowing some specifics.
You could of course pay the lowest bidder and keep your fingers crossed like this bride did. Take a look at the her face towards the end of the video. Do you think the DJ’s actions were acceptable since she hired one of the lowest bidders for her wedding, or does Aldo Gucci’s quote from over 150 years ago hold true here?
I created this site to share some of my most recent experiences with you. There is more coming soon, please check out the links above for answers to frequently asked questions, more about me, services we offer and more. Thank you for stopping by!!
