NEW YEAR WISHES :-)

James A. Naranjo

& Team....

Surprise Ceremony Processional...

Just came across this utube video clip earlier this morning..... I could not believe my eyes!

Tanoan Bridal Show....

Well, we have another successful bridal show under our belts. The Tanoan Country Club sponsored their first biannual bridal show on Sunday, October 25th. A handful of Albuquerque's finest wedding vendors participated in this small, yet exclusive event. We had the opportunity to revisit several vendors we've seen around the bridal show circuit, as well as several newcomers (ourselves included) that are up-and-coming in the Albuquerque area. Want to send a special thanks to Ms. Elizabeth Smoake from Tanoan for working extra hard to make this event a success. Also to Shauna Pointer of the Perfect Wedding Guide who did a magnificent job (as usual) in welcoming the new brides-to-be :-).

Pictured below: Eric Ramos [Wedding Entertainment Host & Multimedia Guru], Daniel Ramirez [Wedding Entertainment Specialist], and Santiago (James) A. Naranjo [Wedding Enterainment Specialist].

Eight Songs to REconsider at your Wedding...

1. "YMCA" -- Village People

Why to Skip It: The fact that everyone knows the words, everyone knows the dance, and that this song fits lots of occasions -- between innings at a baseball game, for instance -- does not automatically qualify it as a must at your wedding.

2. "Chicken Dance"

Why to Skip It: At a wedding, everyone's dressed to the nines and feeling festive. Is this really the best time to flap your arms like a chicken in front of that cute bridesmaid/groomsman/new spouse? Didn't think so.

3. "Stayin' Alive" -- Bee Gees

Why to Skip It: There aren't too many people who know more than one line and one dance move to this song -- leave "Stayin' Alive" to the Saturday Night Fever reruns.

4. "Every Breath You Take" -- The Police

Why to Skip It: The Police are legendary, but the tune is a little high school dance-ish, and the line "Every move you make…I'll be watching you" is a little stalker-ish.

5. "Total Eclipse of the Heart" -- Bonnie Tyler

Why to Skip It: This song is worth skipping if only to avoid any guest from reenacting the profanity-laced rendition made famous from Will Ferrell's wedding in Old School.

6. "Macarena" -- Los Del Rio

Why to Skip It: You may know how to do the dance -- but do you really want to? Besides, everyone has a few certain relatives they'd rather not see get down with that hip swivel move.

7. "My Heart Will Go On" -- Celine Dion

Why to Skip It: We're not passing judgment on Celine Dion, but Titanic propelled this song into the realm of romance cliche. Besides, remember that Leo died in the movie -- a bit tragic for a wedding.

8. "Mony Mony" -- Billy Idol

Why to Skip It: Not sure what Billy Idol is singing in this song? Most other people don't know, either, and when that's the case, a good 10 percent of sing-alongers will find a way to say something objectionable.

-- Bethany Porter: The Knot.com

Dillard's Bridal Show....

Today we had our first bridal how in Northern NM and it was EXCITING!!!! There were three of us that represented this new company.... First there is our up-and-coming new star, Mr. Eric Ramos. I have high aspirations for this chap as he came into this business eager to learn and ready for action! Then there is Daniel Ramirez. I can't say enough about Daniel other than WOW! Daniel started with us as a clean slate and has since impressed me with his ability to absorb information and make it work for him. Between the three of us, we had a terrific time meeting several brides (about 25 brides in all) and sharing with them a little about our new company. We look forward to our second bridal show coming up on October 18th! I really learned alot from this experience as the wedding industry is a bit more competitive up here than in Southern NM. Oh, by the way...I have to say it....GO AGGIES (they beat the Lobos yesterday....! I hope this didn't cost me a potential client ;-). James

Virtual Banquet Hall...

I've been working on a fun project this week, which entails creating a dance floor in the center of the ballroom. All the banquet tables, including the head table will complete surround the perimeter of the dance floor. As you can see from this virtual rendering I have quite a long way to go; however, I was excited as this was the first of several virtual rendering I will be producing for this upcoming wedding. I will hope subsequent renders of this project as I embellish them. I thought it may be cool if I take a snapshot of the actual ballroom on the day of the wedding, and do a side-by-side comparison.

Small Flourish, Big Impact....

As a mobile entertainer and wedding host, it has been my privilege to take part in a number of unforgettable weddings. One important fact that I have come to know in this industry is the smallest flourish can create the biggest impact. There have been several instances where friends or family members have approached me prior to the wedding date with a unique idea or special surprise. At one reception for instance, the bride’s brother was unable to make his sister’s wedding because he was stationed abroad, serving in the military. As a surprise, the bride’s parents and I arranged to have him call during the wedding so that we could broadcast him over the sound system. When it came time to toast the newlyweds, the bride’s brother was able to make a surprise debut (via an overseas call) to say a few special words to his little sister and her new husband. It was truly an unforgettable moment for both the wedding party and the guests. I don't believe there was a single dry eye in the room that night.

I will never forget another wedding in which I performed where we had a special moment of silence after the bride and groom's first dance. It served as a memorium to the father of the bride. You see, he passed away not long prior to his daughter's special day (a little over a year). As tradition would have it, the father is supposed to have his dance with his little girl immediately after the first dance. Instead, what the family decided to do was to honor his memory by having that moment of silence, along with a montage of streaming photos running on the two projection screens in the background. Although it was a sad moment, it had a positive outcome. The brothers of the bride (there were five) all stepped in and took turns having their dance with their sister, followed by the mother of the bride. They came together as one unit with incredible love and support from all the guests. Near the wedding cake, we kept a candle lit, the flame signifying his light present on that very special occassion.

Not all surprises are tear-jerkers though. On several occasions, the bride and groom have been surprised when their wedding party took the spotlight on the dancefloor to a choreographed musical number. In March of 2008, I made arrangements with a bride and groom to do the exact opposite. She was a banking manager, he an engineer. Albeit successful in their respective trades, the wedding party, nor the guests would have ever expected this professional couple to break out in a choreographed number three quarters of the way through their first dance. We set this up as a spoof making it seem that my CD player was skipping. The groom feigned anger as he started walking toward me. Even though I knew beforehand what was "really" taking place, I must admit it was a bit disconcerting for me to see this 6'6" man walking my way with an angry expression on his face. His performance was quite convincing! To my rescue, the song "I Can't Dance," by Genesis started playing and the bride and groom immediately began their choreographed number. When the audience realized what was happening, they went wild.!!! Everyone one was in hysterics (and I was relieved...).

The bottom line is creative input and imagination will get you everywhere. Do a little something different, what I call "that extra flourish," and I promise you that everyone will talk about your wedding celebration for years to come. A word of caution however. What may seem a spontaneous surprise will actually take a lot of rehearsal and practice to be effective. If you are planning on surprising your guests, or if you are a member of the wedding party and you want to surprise the bride and groom, make sure to assemble all members involved. Get them in-the-know well beforehand. More importantly, if a choreographed piece is what you'd like to do, make sure to plan, practice, and polish. It would be a great idea to employ the services of a professional dance instructor or choreographer to help. If you do a Google or YouTube search for "Surprising First Dances," you can see what some of these choreographed pieces look like. I have included a few of them below to check out. Good luck and remember keep it fun and practice, practice, practice....!

Wedding Party Dances to Michael Jackson's, "Thriller"

Another Michael Jackson surprise!

This is one of my favorites!!!

Check out this couple....Just found this one :-).

The iPod Wedding.....

I just came across this informative video put out by the American Disc Jockey Association (ADJA) that deals with those who are thinking about having an iPod Wedding. In today's financial climate, it is understandable that an engaged couple may want to cut down the overall cost of their wedding celebration. I truly believe that the one essential component, absolutely crucial for ensuring the success of any wedding celebration, is utilizing the services of a professional and experienced wedding entertainment host. This is a subject I feel strongly about, not just as a professional wedding entertainer myself, but as someone who has observed hundreds of weddings. I have been in the wedding industry for nearly two decades now, and have witnessed nearly every form of mishap imaginable, both first-hand and as an attendee.

I would like to invite you to take a look at the following video of an actual wedding reception that took place at what seems to be a private residence. For whatever reason, the bride and groom decided to utilize an iPod in lieu of a professional wedding host. The first half of the video highlights the wedding festivities, but the second half is more telling as it shows what really happened during those special moments like the formal introduction of the bride & groom, and their first dance together as husband & wife. After watching this video, I would also recommend reading a series of online articles written by a colleague, Peter Merry (former president of the ADJA). I've had the fortune of hearing Peter speak at a number of engagements and I consider him one of few true leaders in the wedding entertainment industry.

This video can be found at the ADJA's webite.

If you, or anyone you know has ever experienced an iPod Wedding firsthand, I would love to hear from you!

Weddings by Design...

One of the most valuable tools in an event designer's arsenal is, without a doubt, the use of C.A.D. (computer aided design) software. Within the entertainment industry, this type of software is commonly referred to as pre-visualisation software, or "pre-viz," and allows the set designer, concert promoter, and / or lighting designer to convey creative concepts onto a virtual platform. Once a venue is virtually constructed, a myriad of possibilities can begin to take shape. Staging can be configured, sets can be constructed, seating arrangements can be arranged, and lighting fixtures can be strategically placed without having to affect the actual venue.

Traditionally, C.A.D. software was reserved for architects, civil engineers and industrial drafting; however, as new innovations in design software have been made, prices have consistently dropped. C.A.D. software / hardware no longer cost tens of thousands of dollars, and greater accessibility has opened the doors to other subsidiary industries like the wedding market. The most exciting aspect of these emerging innovations is they are only beginning to hit the mainstream. Google entered into the arena of software design in 2000 with Google SketchUp , and since then several other C.A.D. companies have diversified their product lines to include event planners, concert designers, and wedding planners within their respective target markets. Although C.A.D. has been around for some time, pre-viz software is still in its infancy. Autodesk has created a program called LD Assist geared primarily toward the professional lighting designer. Vectorworks includes a program for designers aptly named Vectorworks Designer.

Example of a Vectorworks Set Design Render

Cast Software produces two C.A.D. platforms, W.Y.S.I.W.Y.G. (What You See is What You Get) and Vivien. Although the learning curve for these programs is still quite steep, the payoff for mastering these tools can prove to be quite rewarding. To give you an idea of what pre-viz software can actually do, I recommend visiting Valy Tremblay's website, Proluxon.com, and see what his team of designers have accomplished for artists like Nickelback and Sarah McLachlan.

Aside from being a small business owner, I am currently a Lighting Designer in training for a concert lighting and sound company based in Albuquerque, NM. I have had the fortune of working on site at several concerts this last year and have witnessed the benefits of utilizing pre-viz software firsthand. I was introduced to WYSIWYG a couple of years ago, and have been drawn into this virtual medium ever since.

Example of WYSIWYG Ballroom & Dancefloor Render

I have carried over my skill as a lighting designer into my wedding entertainment business and the response has been nothing less than remarkable. In the past, I could only offer my to-be brides hand-drawn sketches and diagrams of what their reception could potentially look like. With this new visual tool, I can garner my creative ideas and merge them with those of my client.... usually the bride. Then I take these ideas and create a virtual rendering of the banquet hall or ballroom. Not only are these renderings photorealistic, but they are to scale with the actual venue! This can be a godsend to a banquet manager, photographer, and event decorator. The bride and her family can get a preview of what the room will look like well before the big wedding day. I have included several of my own renderings, as well as renderings from the WYSIWYG website on my online gallery. I encourage to take a look for yourself at WeddingCelebrate.com. You'll find these renderings under the "design" tab of my main page. I would love to hear your comments and insights.

Wedding Celebrate Philosophy...

While in Las Vegas during the Mobile Beat Conference, I had the opportunity and good fortune of meeting several dj's from around the United States (and beyond). When gathering together at a conference of this magnitude, it's easy to get lost in the crowd. Since I reopened my business a little over two years ago, I really wanted to set this business apart from what I've seen out there. Granted, there are many industry leaders out there who are an inspiration to me and countless others; however, for every talented and hard-working DJ out there, there are many more of those who are hobbyists that claim loudly to be professional. I hate complacency and would hate to be thought of as just another "average dj". I say this not to badmouth any of my colleagues, but as a means to propel myself toward reaching my full potential as an entertainer, a host, and a businessman. I know there is always room for improvement, both for myself and for those who have chosen this profession.

So I have been thinking.... I want to create a unique identity for this company I call "Wedding Celebrate". Moreover, I wanted to establish a credo that I can always look to as I expand this business and improve my own skills. So I took a pen to paper and started writing. What I came up with was a business philosphy I could stand by... a standard by which I could measure my progress as I grow. Though I believe this to be a preliminary draft, I think it is sound enough to post. I hope, or rather I strive to remain ahead of the curve in this precarious industry and offer these thoughts...the Wedding Celebrate Philosophy into the blogosphere for the eyes of the world to see. A measure of self-accountability is always a good thing:

The philosophy of this company is simple: the value in what we do centers on our abilities to successfully host and entertain an audience...NOT in how much DJ gear we can accumulate. The unfortunate fact is a great number of those in this industry concentrate too much on stockpiling various pieces of equipment and not nearly enough effort honing their performance skills and talents. Just do an online search for “mobile DJ companies”. It is astounding how many of these businesses make lofty and generic claims to being “the premier” or “best” mobile DJ service around but do little more than showcase their inventory to support these claims. As entertainers, owning the right equipment is vital for what we do; however, it should never be the first or only priority of any professional mobile entertainment service. In too many instances, a DJ operator will rely solely on their equipment to carry them through a party. For various reasons, they have become accustomed to “hide” behind their console throughout an event and the value of their performance is mediocre at best. Many of these guys make the mistake of literally disconnecting themselves from the very audience they should be entertaining.

Wedding Celebrate will always utilize the latest in audio-visual technology to support talent, not replace it. It is precisely this approach that sets this company apart from [may I dare to suggest] the competition. I constantly strive to uphold the standards of those elite few who do have the insight, experience, and skill to bring together all the details of a wedding celebration into one smooth and enjoyable evening for your guests. In addition to meeting with my clients personally, my production team meets regularly to plan, rehearse, and discuss our schedule on a per-event basis. This means we will pool our creative energies and contribute to the overall success of your wedding celebration. We will be well prepared and ready to give our best the moment we arrive. Every announcement will be articulated clearly and delivered on time. The names of everyone in your wedding party will be pronounced correctly. And as host to your special day, I will never "hide" behind the console from your guests. I will always remain accessible to your guests every moment of your reception.

Well, those are a few of my thoughts. I would love to hear some insight. Perhaps I will post this on the Wedding Celebrate website as well....

Planning Makes Perfect...

     Planning your wedding is no small feat. Often I meet future brides at bridal fairs with that doe-eyed expression on their faces, seeming like they are about to burst open at the seams from an endless barrage of information that comes their way. I met one couple recently during the NM Wedding Expo at the Sandia Resort & Casino. When I asked the bride-to-be how her wedding plans were coming along, I could have sworn she was about to break down in tears. After a few choked-up moments, the groom explained that his fiance was having a rough time planning for their special day. He has been away from home for some time (armed forces) and most of her family and wedding party live outside of New Mexico. I truly empathized with how she felt as a person who has orchestrated entertainment plans for hundreds of weddings myself. 

     Needless to say, there are as many resources for wedding planning as there are wedding vendors. Sifting through all that data can be a daunting task in itself. My advice? Create a Wedding Event Portfolio. One can start with a three-ring binder and dividers, or you can use a scrapbook personalized and designed as a keepsake. The purpose of such a portfolio is to bring together all various components of your wedding preparations into one cohesive and organized collection. If you find some online photos of a particular style of chair cover that tickles your fancy, or a venue that has been brought to life with amazing decor for instance, you can easily print these photos and place them within the appropriate section of your event portfolio. Google Images is a magnificent tool for undertaking such searches. Two colleagues, Jesse Lopez of JL Exclusive Events (Las Cruces, NM) and Ryan Mennenga of Elite Chairs & Linens (Champaigne, IL) have several photo galleries on their respective websites from which one could draw much inspiration. In terms of ceremony and reception planning, Peter Merry's publication, "The Best Wedding Reception Ever," is brimming with creative ideas and helpful insights.

     Just remember, divide your wedding "To Do's" into smaller more manageable projects and incorporate these projects into your Wedding Event Portfolio. You will be amazed how quickly and efficiently your dream wedding will begin to take shape. 

Another Successful DJ Conference....

I am returning home after another week of day-long seminars, networking, and Cirque-Show watching. Sitting at gate A30 in Sky Harbor Airport, the concourse is curiously warm and the sound of a basketball game lingers from a gate several yards away. I'm hovering in a suspended state somewhere between exhaustion and inspiration. And I'm just a couple of hours of my final destination...HOME SWEET HOME. I learned a lot from this year's Mobile Beat Conference (MBLV'09). There were many new DJ faces from around the country, as well as those seasoned veterans who generously shared their time, knowledge, and experiences. My batteries are recharged ready to take on another year of Bridal Shows, Consultations, and Wedding Receptions!!! Yes, I love my job!