Everybody knows someone who “is a DJ.” This is a frequent topic among professional entertainers, and has been discussed in this Blog before.
We even used a photo of a chimpanzee DJ once:
Never let an amateur monkey with your special event!
But I found a new one on vacation, when we toured the Texas State Aquarium:
DJ the Dolphin!
My new favorite marine mammal!
I’ll bet he likes better music than the Chimp.
On Google:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmjvJlM0iBI]Finding experienced, professional DJ entertainment is as easy as calling the Party Machine at 817-688-2665.
The Party Machine is a full-service entertainment company providing sound systems, lighting design and decor, DJ and MC services, video production and event planning and coordination.
Psychologists tell us that speaking in public is one of our biggest fears, second only to visiting the dentist.
But it doesn’t have to be. While it’s natural to be nervous about speaking before a group of people, a few simple tips can make it much easier.
Incredibly obvious Rule # 1: Don’t Get Drunk
This advice seems like it should be unnecessary, but the worst toasts at events seem to be alcohol induced. If you need a drink to calm your nerves, save it for afterward.
Second: Use the microphone properly.
People unaccustomed to microphones will often speak into the mic, and get scared by the sound of their own voice over the PA system – so they hold it farther away so they don’t hear their amplified voice. Unfortunately, neither can anyone else, and making your voice louder is sort of the whole point.
Here is a list of simple tips from our Party Machine Entertainment Facebook page, followed by a few comments:
Using a Microphone is easy.
Third: Plan what you will say.
This is one of the Microphone rules above, but bears repeating. There is nothing wrong with having notes to refer to. 3″ x 5″ cards are perfect. A recent Best Man at a wedding had his toast on his iPhone:
It's OK to use notes on your phone!
And finally: Brief is best.
Long toasts are boring, no matter how eloquent. Get ‘er done, while their drinks are still cold!
For more information on how to write a good toast, call me at Party Machine Celebrations at 817-688-2665. Much has been written about toasting and public speaking, and we have an extensive library.
Kenneth Wayne Hall
I first met Ken in college, when we were both hired as DJs for the new on-campus nightclub in 1978.
Ken learned basic DJ skills in radio during his Junior College days, and honed them as a dance DJ with the college crowd in UTA’s pub in the Student Center basement.
We became good friends and started working parties together in the Party Machine‘s early years.
Ken's byline photo for the Corsicana Daily Sun, where he wrote a popular column
When asked to do our first 30-Hour Dance-A-Thon for the American Cancer Society, Ken was quick to step up, and volunteer to DJ for multiple shifts. We did Dance-A-Thons for 14 years, and Ken continued to volunteer for the cause of Cancer Control every year.
Ironically, it was cancer that ended his life prematurely.
In addition to being a DJ, Ken was a musician, a comedian, a writer, a scholar and a gentleman. He played the baritone sax, and could tell a joke better than anyone. At parties, people would actually request that Ken re-tell their favorite jokes.
After earning his bachelor’s degree in Psychology, Ken moved back to his hometown of Corsicana to care for his aging parents. He worked for the local newspaper, writing a column on various topics, from sports to local history. Ken was a quick study, and became an expert in whatever caught his interest. He loved sports and science fiction, and was a source of local history knowledge, especially Black History in Navarro County, which was often the subject of his column in the Daily Sun. Ken was comfortable in a conversation about almost any topic.
Ken was the best friend I ever had who was African American. I learned from him that life is too short to tolerate prejudice, and that friendship is the true treasure of life.
We will meet again in the great DJ Booth in the sky. Until then…you came in style, you came with class…
The first time I saw one, I thought it was clever.
Then I learned that lots of people have had one.
We’re talking about the Aggie Bonfire groom’s cake. In the years since the bonfire disaster, many good Ags who have never been to an official Bonfire, could at least have one at their wedding.
A properly engineered Bonfire Cake
History of the Aggie Bonfire (courtesy of the Texas A & M Traditions Council)
“The first Aggie Bonfire began in the early 1900’s as a pile of wood and trash next to the train station. The cadets decided to make a Bonfire to congratulate the football team on their win. Although this first Bonfire was held in the early morning hours of November 18, 1907, the first on-campus Aggie Bonfire was not held until 1909.
“Bonfire grew immensely through the years. The largest Bonfire was in 1969 and stood 109ft., which is only one foot shorter than Rudder tower. After that, the administration decided to regulate the Bonfire height to 55ft.
“There have been two years that Bonfire did not burn. First, in 1963, following the death of President John F. Kennedy, the senior class made one of the most difficult decisions of their time at Texas A&M. In honor of their president, they decided to dismantle the Bonfire, which had recently been completed. The head yell leader at the time, Mike Marlowe, was quoted as saying, “It is the most we have and the least we can give.”
“The second time that Bonfire was built and did not burn was in 1999. On November 18th, Bonfire fell, taking 12 of our fellow Aggies with it. This day was one of the most trying days for Aggies everywhere. At this time, Bonfire has been postponed indefinitely and no one knows if Bonfire will return. The Aggie Spirit has created the Aggie Traditions and that Aggie Spirit will thrive through the trying times.”
Lots of good bakeries can make an Aggie Bonfire cake. Call PM Celebrations to find one in your area.
It was one of those things I had for so long, I forget it was there.
Back in the Party Machine days of vinyl records, I had a DJ console that was removed from one of my old night clubs when it was remodeled into a Mexican restaurant. We used it for a few years, and then retired it as mobile DJ technology got smaller and lighter. It was hauled up into the attic, where it stayed collecting dust for many years.
We decided to restore it and use it when we booked not one, but two Disco Theme parties in February, for which we planned to go all-out with authenticity, and play vinyl records.
Only slightly updated from 1978!
Our first event on the 6th was a birthday party for an old DJ friend, who also used to DJ at the club where the booth was, so it seemed only appropriate. What was cool was when we removed the cover, and showed it to his young son, and explained that Daddy used to use this before he was born!
The DJ Booth only sat idle for 3 weeks, until its appearance at the Fort Worth Boat Club 60th Annual Commodore’s Party. Party Machine Celebrations provided entertainment in two rooms, a 50s and 60s crooner-style lounge band in the Ballroom, and a 70s Disco in the downstairs Bar, where I was the DJ.
I forgot how much fun it was to beat-match records on vinyl, manually, without computers, and how cool some of the old music was for dancing and just getting crazy!
I have concluded that “50 is the new 30,” and Disco dancing will always be fun for the generation that lived it the first time around.
And The Party Machine will always have the BEST Disco parties. Some things never change.
It’s that time of year again, when every weekend someone is hosting “The Biggest, Bestest Bridal Show In The Universe!” At least, until next weekend’s show.
There is no shortage of vendors scrambling for the attention of brides.
All your wedding needs are under one roof: 12 florists, 18 wedding planners, 9 travel agents, 37 caterers, 15 decorators, 8 tuxedo shops, 20 banquet halls, 6 limousine services, 12 hotels, 8 rental companies, 10 country clubs, 9 cake bakeries, 7 photo booths, 12 bridal boutiques, 8 make-up artists, 2 jewelers…and 5,280 photographers.
5,280 Photographers under one roof!
Then there are a handful of rent-a-preachers, a massage therapist, a dentist who does teeth whitening, a tacky lingerie shop, some dance instructors, chocolate fountains, chair cover rentals, a cosmetic surgeon, and the people who do those cool animated “Pic-flip” books.
And there are 8 assorted DJ entertainers, only one or two of which are professionals. The rest are hobby DJs. Many experienced wedding MCs opt out of the big shows.
There are also the perpetual trade show booths, the ones that are not only in Bridal Shows, but also every car show, boat show, home show, travel show and gun show that comes to town. You can sign up to win a Hawaiian vacation, golf clubs, a Jeep Cherokee, or a set of designer kitchenware.
Sign up to WIN! Hint: If the form asks your income, run away. It's a mailing list scam.
These booths are operated by nationwide mailing list sellers, and they do award prizes – one person in America will win a Jeep Cherokee this year – but all of the 4.6 million people who sign up get their names and addresses sold to telemarketers.
Experienced wedding professionals call these shows “cattle calls.” And brides often tell us they feel like livestock when they attend. Many shows have them wear a button or a sticker declaring “Bride-To-Be” to the world, sort of like branding the herd on a cattle drive. I have witnessed brides in the crowded aisles of such a show actually “Moo!”
Brides should not be treated like cattle!
And they all stampede to the Fashion Show, where runway models parade the latest styles. This year’s hot trend: white bridal gowns! Who would have guessed?
White bridal gowns are a hot trend!
Some of the more creative shows provide an activity for the grooms who tag along, like a cake decorating contest. One show featured a “man cave” with beer, cigars and ESPN Sports on the big screen, and even a putting green.
Party Machine Celebrations has exhibited in our share of these “Cattle Call” shows.
We have chosen not to exhibit at the big arena shows this year.
Brides tell us that these shows make them feel overwhelmed.
It’s “input overload,” too much information to be useful or helpful. They want a choice, but 5,280 photographers makes it harder, not easier – even for the photographers.
This year, Party Machine Celebrations will be appearing frequently at small boutique shows and venues, with participation limited to preferred vendors.
Brides have more time to talk with individual vendors, gather useful information, and get good answers.
The smaller displays are less crowded, less noisy, and parking is not a problem. Many of them do not charge admission, and have free food tasting. And the vendors are top professionals chosen for their consistent reputation for quality and reliability. Unlike the big “Cattle Call” shows, only experienced vendors participate.
We have recently done such shows for Al’s Formal Wear, Best In Bridal, Alfred Angelo, Fort Worth Community Arts Center, the Granbury Bridal Circle, and David’s Bridal.
We are listening to what our Brides want – and we are hearing that you want to meet vendors of quality, in a place where it’s quiet enough to listen.
And I am always available by appointment, day or evening, to listen to your wedding ideas. 817-688-2665.
Both the Bride and the Groom were second-generation Texas Aggies. Both parents of both families were Texas A & M graduates, as were most of the 250 wedding guests.
I knew they had something cooking when I was contacted before the wedding by both the Best Man and the groom’s mother. The big prank? They wanted me to play the “Aggie War Hymn.”
It’s not as if I hadn’t done this at numerous Aggie weddings before, but they wanted the timing to be just perfect. The groom was the chosen victim.
Step 2 fell into place in the Bride’s Room at the church before the ceremony, when the Maid of Honor showed her Texas Aggie boxer shorts to the bridesmaids. The Bride insisted on wearing the boxers beneath her gown for the ceremony.
En route to the Reception, the Groom started taking inventory: “Something Old, check, Something New, got it…what do you have that’s Borrowed?” The Bride just smiled and answered, “You’ll see!” No doubt the groom envisioned something a little different from what he would encounter.
The evening progressed and the dancing was fierce and hand-to-hand, until time for the Bouquet and Garter toss. Both the Best Man and the groom’s mother had put me on notice to have the Aggie War Hymn cued up, and to start it on the Best Man’s signal.
As the groom started moving to remove the garter, our Aggie bride stood up, jumped on top of the chair, and raised her dress over her head, exposing the Aggie boxers for all to see!
What every Aggie bride should wear!
That was when the “WHOOP” of the War Hymn kicked in, and over 200 Aggie wedding guests all joined in, rattling the windows of the Fort Worth Club.
The groom’s face was a deep shade of Maroon.
I’ve always had a fascination with lasers.
Lasers have given me perfect eyesight without glasses. Lasers have put digital Compact Disc technology in our homes and cars. Lasers have made our TV screens amazingly sharp and clear.
But I love lasers because they make an awesome light show!
[wpvideo EloueWTB]The Party Machine was experimenting with lasers for event lighting as early as 1978. But early lasers were not safe enough, nor visually impressive, until robotic mirrors and computer control made them the showpieces that they are now.
Lasers can not only make a wild, kinetic light show like the one above, they can also project a romantic field of stars on the ceiling. We recently used this effect for a church Valentine’s Day dance for their “55 and Better” group, and they loved dancing beneath the stars!
Laser Starfield projection on the ceiling is beautiful, romantic, and very easy to do. This unit also projects clouds!
Laser Effect lighting is not for every event, but if you want your Prom, Disco theme party, or fund-raiser to make your guests gasp in awe, there is no better way than a laser show.
Lasers ROCK!
Call me at 817-688-2665 to discuss how Party Machine Lasers can rock your next event!
One of my favorite events in recent memory was Bill and DeeDee Whittle’s wedding at the Petroleum Club of Fort Worth. Loyal Blog readers may remember DeeDee for being child number 18 out of 20 siblings in the Jack Joachim family.
Not only was this family big, but there was plenty of talent to go around on both sides, and the wedding guests were the beneficiaries.
I introduced Bill and DeeDee as they made their Grand Entrance to thunderous applause, and walked onto the dance floor. But instead of beginning their first dance, DeeDee grabbed a microphone and sang “Wedding Bell Blues” with custom lyrics to her new husband Bill.
We specialize in doing unique Grand Entrances when we introduce the wedding party, but it’s rare to have a singing bride. And there was an issue with the song, because the woman singing is sad that Bill refuses to marry her. DeeDee re-wrote the lyrics to say, “So Glad You Married Me, Bill,” and I made her an edited background track with vocals removed. This bit of showbiz prep was well worth the effort. DeeDee (whose given name is Mary, but she says she didn’t find out until she was 12) has a magnificent voice, and belted it out with style and grace.
The reception events continued as planned, and after dinner it was Bill’s turn to entertain. He sings in the Sentimental Journey quartet, and the other three singers were all present, so…
Rocky Willett, H J Schmidt, Doug Williamson, and Bill Whittle
Bill jokingly refers to the quartet as “The Four Stages of Male Pattern Baldness,” and they sang the old doo-wop hit Blue Moon, also with modified lyrics. The harmony of barbershop singing required two men to keep repeating the two-note background chorus, which came out, “DeeDee, DeeDee, DeeDee.” The result was hilarious.
As their performance ended, a young boy came up to them with a request written on a napkin. H J said he wasn’t sure if they knew “Low” by Flo-Rida, but I did, so we kicked off the dancing and Shawty got low, low, low, low…and DeeDee showed ’em how it’s done.
But we’re still not done with this talented family, and the next generation got to strut their stuff when DeeDee’s son Joséph showed his Michael Jackson impression. You just have to see it:
[wpvideo PYR0fZIA]That is DeeDee’s other son Mathias who tries to swipe the credit card. The two brothers are roommates at Texas A & M, and avoided discussing football after the Aggies got whooped earlier on the wedding day, but they seemed to enjoy themselves anyway. Special thanks to “Video Keith” Mathis for this footage, who also produced their photo montage.
I look forward to more fun events with this family!
