Sound Choice Events Blog

Liar Liar Fogs on Fire!!.....

2011-09-01T21:00:00.000-07:00

That’s right…here we go. It has so been too long & so much has been going on that it’s hard to stop and “smell the gerberas" (everyone says roses) and catch up! We sure smelled something on one of our most recent BIG jobs, where we did an eight foot light truss, took care of the A/V & had our way with a fog machine!

It was actually a pretty challenging night, as we began setup approximately eight and a half hours before show time, and two of the three pieces of equipment we rented decided to take a break and not work!! This is why we get to jobs earl y & have back-up equipment options, so we can deal with any unforeseen issues—both of these items should’ve worked and it’s extremely unusual for two major pieces of equipment to go haywire at the same job. Fortunately, we called the company for the FOG machine (because it was electrocuting the event staff) and they delivered a new machine, arriving just in time (with none to spare) for us to start the fog when the guests of honor entered the party. The other piece of equipment that kicked the bucket was also replaced with just minutes to spare by a very kind venue that was willing to loan us their projector…ugh!!

While we were scrambling behind the scenes, the clients never became aware of the problems, because we delivered right in time & it wound up being an excellent night that ended with a Marilyn Monroe drag performer jumping out of a cake and surprising the guests of honor!!

Yet again, we’ve been busy little bees and having so much fun taking photos of ourselves...in.. our… new…PHOTOBOOTH! Oh Yeah, Sound Choice Events is now the proud owner of a brand new shiny photo-booth and everyone from Wedding clients to Sweet Sixteen clients are eating it up! What better way for your guests to take home a little bit of your celebration as a memory (and even leaves one for you)?! And, we’ve even got props to boot; funky hats, outrageous sunglasses and beads galore to give your guests a chance to yuck it up and have a little more fun! It’s definitely been a great addition to our already kickin collection of equipment & such a blast to watch everyone enjoying it!!

Jobs have been plenty recently and all over the map, literally and figuratively. We’ve been everywhere from New Hampshire to Rhode Island & in-between doing weddings, mitzvahs, corporate parties and birthdays.

Speaking of the map, Sound Choice attended the DJ Expo in Atlantic City just a few weeks ago & picked up some really good information AND some new fun things to play with (new equipment yay!).

Our office as well has been busier than a go-go dancer (how busy is that?) as we continue with our Social Media push and updating the Sound Choice website to make it easy as pie for you to locate all the fantastic services we offer!

Signing off for tonight…remember to check out our Facebook page to see photos of all our most recent jobs!

"It’s Friday, Friday, Gotta get down on Friday…"

2011-06-02T10:16:00.000-07:00

Not only is it Friday (and we are so shamefully playing that song right now), it’s Memorial Day weekend and we are pumpin’ out the music for another great prom crowd here in Tewksbury. We’ve been as busy as beavers and have a packed schedule for the next ten plus days straight (or forward-however you like to travel)!

We’ve got every DJ we know going strong on events such as our weekly trivia, a new karaoke night, birthday parties, corporate functions, after-prom parties and wedding, weddings and more weddings!!…and it’s been like this for a few months now! Our FB friends may be able to attest to this, as this entry is the first blog we’ve done since April!!

A few “notables’ over the past two months have been:

We did a wedding ‘taster’ at the Publick House in Sturbridge for couples having their ceremonies & receptions at their venue. We did our first ever Boston Marathon gig, playing music atop Heartbreak Hill (and now I have that Elvis song in my head!).

We’ve also done a number of college and high school formals, corporate events and fundraisers, including some huge light shows and our ever infamous game show (another plug for one of my favorite little toys!).

Back in the SCE office….we’re continuing to update the Sound Choice Events website with new package options, language and features to make it more user friendly or just plain old easier to find all of our better than bubble gum services (nooo-you’re right, I really didn’t just write that—admit it though, bubble gum has a lot to offer!). Our FB is also taking off, adding new fans like hotcakes since making the decision to post all party photos taken by SCE right onto our FB site (shameless plug)!

Bringing it around to the equipment side of the world, this month saw us buying a new laptop, returning said laptop and saving our original laptop from the brink of extinction –thank you Costco! To keep up the fun, we replaced two subwoofers and an amp after a very large party where it seems the plugs were dancing to their own beat--meaning, jiggling loose overworking every bit of electricity they could and then for the grand finale-blowing (or smoking some of the kids like to call it these days—ha ha)! I know, we said it too, “really”? Apparently, a rare occurrence, it has been known to happen to novice and professional alike. While the subs did blow during the show, we had backup equipment that let us keep the music going without interruption …..“never let em see you sweat” yada yada!

As we leave you this fine Friday evening, we want to share a little current event music talk-- mostly because we were so trying to figure out which one of us owes the other money--ha ha! Our team of DJ’s had been in a furious little debate recently (ok, and for about all of five minutes) about the validity of those funny little rumors that Bob Dylan was the original creator of the song Friday, recently released by Rebecca Black, especially with the sudden appearance of “a lost recording from Bob Dylan’s Basement Tapes”. Check out the “Dylan” version of the song and click HERE to read the article about how that ‘Dylan’ recording came into existence.

Yes, of course, we realize that this is a ridiculous conversation, but so many people have been talking about and sending around this so-called “lost” Dylan song that we just had to put it out there. I’m not sure if the SCE team will ever agree on this issue, but we sure are trying!! Well, actually, since those in question have now been docked one gig's pay for even thinking that this was an actual Dylan song, I think we got it settled!

--Signing off from Tewksbury, goodnight Boston (wherever you are—which we assume is the same place all of our sleep has gone!).

Boston Globe checking us out.....!!

2011-04-10T18:37:00.000-07:00

The Boston Globe interviewed us about Mobile DJs in 2009.....check out the article!!!!

Highly requested: Despite the poor economy, mobile DJs are in demand..

Having unloaded his speakers, two CD players, and two fat books filled with 5,000 CDs, Jason Bohanon is ready to get the party started at the Elks Lodge in Melrose.

"OK, we're going to power up the dance floor," says Bohanon, the 35-year-old owner of A True Family Affair DeeJay Service, based in Lynn. "There is a request book up here."

As Bohanon played Beyoncé's "Irreplaceable" and Kanye West's "Heartless" at the Sweet Sixteen celebration for twins Barbara and Sasha Valliere, six teens surrounded his laptop, which listed the songs in his CD arsenal. Before there is a lull in the action, Bohanon turns on the fog machine and takes to the dance floor to teach the teens the Cotton-Eyed Joe line dance, the first of four dances he would teach that night. At the end of the four-hour gig, Bohanon had earned $400 plus a $60 tip.

Mobile DJs - those who play at weddings, bar mitzvahs, birthday parties, school dances, and corporate events - work in one of the most lucrative areas of the field. They may not acquire the fame of a radio DJ, but the money is good. The average rate for mobile DJs nationally ranges from $600 to $900 for a four-hour event, according to the National Association of Mobile Entertainers (NAME). That's substantially more than the $25-per-hour rate that entry-level club DJs earn (though famous club DJs can earn as much as $5,000 an hour).

The mobile DJ business is holding up despite the recession. Some DJs have seen business rise compared to a year ago. Some of the increased work is the result of DJs hustling more for jobs, but some of it reflects consumers' reluctance to hire bands, which are usually more expensive. At the same time, DJs face new competition these days from people who have lost their jobs or are trying to make extra money on the side, as digital music has made it easier for people to get into the industry.

"We're now competing with iPods and bottom feeders," says Raffi Kebabjian owner of DJ Raffi in Watertown. "People with full-time jobs who will go out for $500 or $600, because that's what they make after taxes for the whole week." Ostensibly, no training is necessary to become a DJ, but all the DJs interviewed started their careers at their college radio stations. Although amateur DJs may use an iPod, the basic equipment of a professional DJ includes an amplifier, two speakers, a music player, a wired and wireless microphone, and a basic lighting system, says Robb Smith, owner of the FAME DJ School in the Tampa Bay area.

That set up may cost $1,200 to $1,500 for an entry-level DJ has seen its membership double to 10,000 compared to five years ago, says Steve Gomez, director of membership and marketing. "Weddings, bar mitzvahs, private parties have really picked up," he says.

Peter Hallisey, owner of Boston Sound Choice Events in Waltham, says work is up about 10 percent as a result of him doubling his advertising and promotional efforts. Tom Bruhl, a mobile DJ who sings and plays sax, flute, and guitar, thinks his eponymous business based in Raynham is a little bit better or at least as good as last year's. As an instrumentalist and DJ, he's able to satisfy clients who want live music but can't afford a band.

The job offers a lot of variety. Hallisey has worked an erotic film festival. Bohanon fills his calendar with weddings in the spring and summer, then does school functions in the fall and winter to get some respite from the adults. As a result, says Bohanon, "I don't burn out as easy."

During the busy spring and summer season, DJs often have to scramble. Hallisey has done 13 parties in a week, he says, "including a triple on one day. That beats you up." The DJs often have freelancers to call upon for help when a lot of clients are booked.

Weddings constitute 90 percent of Kebabjian's business. And the wedding genre is doing well.
"We have not really felt the economy as much," Kebabjian says, "because people are still getting married. They're still spending money. We do have clients who want to go with smaller packaging."

Unlike radio DJing or club DJing, these DJs cater to the happiness of their clients, which means they sometimes don't have the musical freedom their peers have. Some of Kebabjian's clients give him a list of songs and ask him not to stray from it. Others provide more latitude.

"The most successful weddings are when I'm given some direction but yet given the freedom," he says. "When I'm locked into a crowd and when I get into that groove, it's the most amazing feeling. The adrenaline flows, and I start playing from the heart. And when I do that you get the most amazing experience."

© Copyright 2009 Globe Newspaper Company.
　Vanessa E. Jones March 7, 2009

Mark Wahlberg called and he wants his karaoke host back!!...

2011-04-07T22:49:00.000-07:00

So, the Federal government may shut down and Donald Trump wants to run for President...Ok, the mentionof him is no endorsement, but really...talk about things that make ya go hmmm....

Anyway, it's been just a few short weeks since our last blog and it already feels like months! We have been incredibly busy --the phone has been ringing off the hook for bookings...and we mean literally! This is rush season people!

The past few weeks have been a blur of fun filled events, meetings and some new adventures! First off, we were nominated for 2 Best of Boston's from the Boston Phoenix, one for Best Ladies Night and the other for Best Karaoke. We've won several in the past and hope to add to that this year!

We were excited to do tables at a few Bridal and Mitzvah shows recently, highlighting our incredibly talented DJ's and unique and awesome services (we are so not beyond the cheesy plug!). The Mitzvah show was fun because we got to set up the game show and run a few rounds with the kids and parents that attended and got some solid leads! And, I don't know how it happened, but it looks to be Prom season, as we have already started the formals and have many more to go over the next month or two.

Let's see....hmmm..what to share next....well, speaking of cool--owner and lead DJ of Sound Choice Events, DJ Peter, was contacted by Boston casting last week and asked to audtion for a part in an upcoming Mark Wahlberg film as a Karaoke host. We knew it was a stretch, but he went for it anyway (ha ha)! Well, he made it through the audtion, giggles in hand and reading the lines of something like "up next, we have Mary so and so...."..Oh how he's made Sound Choice proud! The casting company is going to do call backs shortly and we'll keep you updated.

In the office, we've been doing a lot of contracts and working on the Sound Choice Events website making changes to everything from the font size to the layout! We're also working hard to build up the social media end of our world on places like Facebook and Twitter to get the word out about the company and our services. We've even started putting event photos right on to our Facebook page!

We also can't forget to tell you that Sound Choice is now doing trivia every Sunday night at one of the local British Beer Company hotspots. This is not your family trivia, we're kickin' it with video clues and all! It's getting a great response and we're lovin' it!

Lastly, we are here tonight at Queeraoke rockin it out with all the ladies and watching some of the most dedicated karaoke gals around!

Until next time, goodnight Boston!

Springing Forward makes 'em go "Oh, oh, oh!"………

2011-03-16T12:58:00.000-07:00

Right now we’re coming to you live from a local girls high school in Boston (yes, yes…this is a private client-top secret!) We’re working their Mardi Gras dance for prospective students and Katy Perry is helping us light up the dance floor with Firework..ok, ok that was cheesy, but more than true! It seems that no matter who the crowd is lately, Firework gets everyone jumpin!

There’s some rumor going around that we are all supposed to spring forward tomorrow, taking away an hour of valuable time but adding some much needed sunshine. We could use a little more of both here at Sound Choice, especially because we’ve got a lot of doubles booked over the next few weeks with everything from game show Mitzvahs (ha-I just said game show…you know you want it!) to Standard Weddings. It’s all hands on deck!

We were also struck with a little extra karaoke this week as we did a fill in and became “not Eric’ the karaoke DJ at Cityside Bar in Cleveland Circle. We acquired this name as so many of the regulars entered the room and promptly said this, “hey, that’s not Eric”. Everyone was great and we were even able to do a sing-off to name another semi finalist for the bar’s upcoming Finale . In true “not Eric” the DJ spirit, the winner of our sing off was decided with a dance off and had the crowd pick their winner by their raucous applause. Good times!

Our always beloved Queeraoke at Midway Café was rockin again this week! Another week with a packed house and ladies (and a few guys) singing their hearts out to the likes of Madonna, the Beatles, Katy Perry and so much more!

***Queeraoke has been nominated for the Boston Phoenix's Best of Boston in two categories this year, Best Lesbian night & Best Karaoke!!! Please click on the links and vote for us and help make us Best of Boston again! You can vote once per day, per category until Thursday, March 17, 2011 at 11:59pm!

At the very same time, we were over at the Walker Memorial Hall in Cambridge working with the SE Asian group from the MIT Sloan business school’s C-Function. It was an incredible night of awesome performances, excellent food and a fantastic dancing crowd. We’re always excited to work with this group and can’t wait to work with them again soon. We have worked with the folks over at Sloan helping with their C-functions for the past six years or so- always a great time!

On the office-y side of the world, we’ve been plugging along answering inquiries, meeting with current and potential clients, as well as working on our blog and some of our other social media efforts.

Don’t forget to “Like” our Sound Choice Events Facebook page where we’re posting our blog, event photos & updates.

We are slated for a very busy spring and hope to see you at your next party or one of ours!!

Game Show Says What?!!

2011-02-15T09:36:00.000-08:00

I keep seeing people posting this on Facebook: “I got out of work today and it was still light out!”…is that true? We wouldn’t know much about that this weekend, as we’ve had a few doubles that have left us less than knowing whether it’s light or dark out, never mind what time it is!

No complaints here-being busy is excellent!

Tonight we’re celebrating with Mark at his 50^th Birthday party here at the Weston Community Center. It’s been an awesome night of game show mania and dancing! If you haven’t seen the game show in action, you’ve definitely got to check it out…it’s like having the Price is Right and Jeopardy wrapped into one! We come along with game show podiums, buzzers and trivia covering everything from Family Guy to Astronomy. Ok, yes…a little bit of a sell there, but the ramble was more because I think it’s such a cool system and great way to get a party energized!

Speaking of energizing a party, specifically a wedding, we wanted to share a tip for all our upcoming wedding clients about choosing music for your wedding reception:

Creating a list of your favorites to hear at your wedding is a great idea!

Who wouldn’t want all of their most memorable songs humming away in the background during dinner or while your bustin’ a move on the dance floor (sorry-had to go there), but remember an important piece of information… Your taste may be slightly different than that of your wedding guests..OR ..your guests may be in the mood to hear/dance to something you didn’t anticipate them liking…

So, what happens when the music on your “must play” list isn’t getting the crowd jumping? Well, this is where we come in! During consultation meetings or conversations with couples, we always try to discuss this topic and learn what you want us to do if your music selections are sounding sweeter to you than your guests.

There’s a couple of things you can do in this situation:

Give your DJ a little flexibility to read the crowd during dancing. Meaning that we will play your music and change gears with other songs/types of music if/when guests seem not to be responding. Rest assured, we will return to your list and test it out throughout the night again, unless you request us not to do so.
If dancing is not the most important part of your reception and you just want to hear your favorites, you got it! Just let us know and that’s what we’ll play!
If after discussing the options with your DJ it seems that your music may be a little less danceable, we can lean more heavily on your music during the cocktail and/or dinner music.

For us, it’s all about your vision and doing what’s most important to you! We will always check in throughout to be sure the music matches your expectations, make any last minute changes and to let you know about requests from guests.

Even if this type of issue never arises, it’s best to be proactive so you can spend your reception time enjoying friends, family and one another!

Well, that is it for now…until next time..

That’s Groundhog Day to you….

2011-02-07T07:04:00.000-08:00

So, the news is in……the little (or not so little) guy or gal groundhog saw it’s shadow the other day and you know what some say that means….early Spring! And Sound Choice is already prepping for what that means in our world…work, work, work! Fantastic!

We join you tonight from Weston at the Henderson House, where Integrity Interactive is holding their winter party and it’s been an awesome crowd! They’ve hired a sketch artist to do caricatures, which are hysterical and mmm…who can resist the yummy smell of magic markers…J. They’ve also hired a Tarot Card Reader…and of course, us! The dance floor is on fire with James Brown’s Get Up Offa That Thing and they are just eating up the Motown tonight!

So, what have we been up to this week you ask….

We continue to be busy little worker bees not only DJ’ing, but also taking care of the lighting for several parties, including, most recently lighting it up for one of Salva Regina’s parties. That’s right folks, you heard it, we do lighting too!

We also rocked it out at Queeraoke this week and saw a number of new faces in the crowd that came along with new songs and energy…adding to the already excellent energy of our regular crowd! A highlight of the night was a threesome singing Pat Benetar’s Hit Me with Your Best Shot as they acted out the whole music video…so fun!

Anywho, we are continuing to meet with potential clients and book weddings, mitzvahs, and large numbers of general parties like birthdays and corporate events.

It’s busy and can sometimes be a hectic schedule, but we LOVE what we do and wouldn’t want to be doing anything else!

Until next time….dance, dance, dance!

2011 says what…..

2011-01-20T19:22:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year to all and hello from inside Union Station in Worcester where Otis Day and the Knights has this wedding crowd jumpin’ to “Shout”. Everything looks amazing, highlighted in blue( uplights), giving the room a perfect glow! The energy of the crowd is fantastic and guests are requesting everything from the Beatles to Coolio.

On the office side of the world, it’s been a busy week here with client meetings, bookings and a full schedule of gigs! Friday night was an amazing night as we got the chance to help a community celebrate one of their own, Keith (aka Squeaky), a Woburn firefighter, who is soon to be deployed to Iraq. Two hundred people showed up to the Woburn Sons of Italy to help send him off with lots of love and support!

Well, back to the show we go…and as we leave you this fine Sunday evening, remember this tip:

Having a smaller dance floor space makes for a wicked good time! Ha ha

All kidding aside, did you know that a smaller dance floor maintains higher energy for longer periods of time? Whether a large or a small crowd, you want the dance floor bubbling over with people! Now, we’re not suggesting cramming everyone into a tiny space—well maybe just a little—but just be sure that if you are using a larger venue, remember not to have the dance floor be too big! Believe us, you’ll see the difference!

Well, that is all from us for now…until next time..

Goodnight Boston-- and all the great places we continue to work, large and small!

Olly olly oxen free.....

2010-12-16T19:25:00.001-08:00

Red Rover, Red Rover, send 2010 right over--before it ends!

Well, as you can see 2009 got little attention here, but not because we had nothing to say...more because we were incredibly busy and we are just starting to catch up now!

Where to begin...we are alive and kickin' at Queeraoke tonight at the Midway Cafe, where it is ladies night and fitting that someone is now belting out a rendition of the Talking Heads song, "Once in a Lifetime". It's a great relief after a hectic couple of weeks that had us part of am elaborate sweet 16 party in Rhode Island, where we set up a kick @!% light show and opened (meaning yes, DJ'd) for the infamous Pauly D from MTV's Jersey Shore. The article from the link was the first of many and people have said everything from "that was so cool" to "how could parents spend so much money on a sixteenth birthday DJ (no no not us, Pauly D)"!

Ok, ok....he's not on everyone's favorite list and he is high on others, but what we know for sure from this end is that there was an incredible amount of planning and work that went into making the night a successm including by our own Sound Choice team!

This last week saw us hanging out with the folks from the Spina Bifida Association of MA. with the also famous, Santa Claus at the annual sbaMass Holiday Party. You may remember Santa from classic hits like "Here comes Santa Claus" and other fantastic holiday hits . Anyway, we worked their Walk-m-Roll earlier this year and are excited about joining them again for next year's event!

Woven between those events have been a number of amazing weddings and corporate parties where we've been asked to play everything from the Beastie Boys to Michael Bolton. Yes, that's right, I said Michael Bolton (no offense intended-should you choose this for us to play, we will happily). Admittedly, that was my own little flashback of music to play, but that's a story for another day! No, really...

Well, that's all for now...don't forget to check out the website for www.bostonsoundchoice.com for the latest in event packages and photos.