Art of the Table Event....

sponsored by:

The Association of Bridal Consultants
New Mexico Branch


Coming together to share a meal is one of our most treasured traditions. The setting of the table creates an atmosphere that enhances the experience. Art of the Table is a delightful afternoon of artfully appointed table displays by Albuquerque’s best event designers and florists.

Local wedding businesses have created
exquisite tables for inspiration for your upcoming wedding, bridal shower,
rehearsal dinner, or other social event.

To benefit:
the ALS Foundation (Lou Gehrig’s Disease),
the ABC Miss Dorothy Scholarship Fund,
and the Barrett Foundation.

Sunday, December 5, 2010

12:00-4:00 p.m.



Albuquerque Hilton Hotel

1901 University Boulevard NE

Albuquerque, NM


Take this opportunity to meet our members at an enjoyable gathering for a good cause.

Reserve your ticket in advance for $10.00 at yourspecialdaynm@comcast.net or

$12.00 at the door. Plan to attend and bring a friend. There will be door prizes
and refreshments. Info: 296.7402

Photos courtsey of Bryan's Photography

New DJLM Plates....

They finally came in and.... well... I just couldn't sleep. So amidst my insomnia, I walked outside during the wee hours of the morning, pulled up the truck, rolled open the doors, pulled out my tool-bag, and changed the plates..... Sigh..... Perhaps now I can sleep .....zzzzzzZZZZZ....

DJLM stands for DJ Light & Magic; which was the name of my DJ Company when I first started well over 20 years ago :-).

Can't wait to take it out on the road to see if I get any second looks :-)

James A. Naranjo

Christopher "Kiefer" & Jessica Vetsch....

I love this family. Christopher (aka. "Kiefer") and Jessica Vetsch are a young couple who have been together for six years; which means they started dating when they were about 15 years of age!!! There is definitely more than meets the eye with this young couple. I am absolutely convinced, that after having spent some time with each of them in preparation for their special day, that they are indeed soul mates. You take a look at our groom, and he looks like the all-American clean cut kid... full of energy and extremely witty. Jessica, though a bit reserved at first, had an incredible creative side to her. She was always willing to give, and eventually she opened up to Daniel and I during their interview process. It was during our interview that we found out how much these two young lovebirds have been through during their lifetimes. They have seen their share of tragedies, they have experienced things no young person should have had to experience, and they both have run the gamut of hardships, yet despite all this, there is a lightness and happiness that they both emanate. I believe on a very personal level, that this is due to their love and kinship to one another. They are two peas in a pod and it was my honor to serve as their Wedding Entertainment Host. I had the fortune of meeting both sides of family, and I was immediately made to feel a part of it. I know that I know that I know that these two will overcome any obstacle that will come their way, and will grow old together. This is rare, but I had the chance to witness the beginning of an amazing and long-standing relationship. I can hardly wait to celebrate their 10, 20, and 30+ anniversary together :-)

WEDDING DATE: Friday, 9/24/10

LOCATION: American Legion Post 99. Albuqeurque, NM

BB King & Buddy Guy Concert...

Just back from a very long weekend in Albuquerque... and phew, I am just now catching my breath. On Friday evening, I was what we call a lighting 2nd for the Eli Young Band at the NM Expo State Fair. You can read about my experience there below at the next blog posting. Then I was off to do video at the Sandia Casino Amphitheater for the B.B. King & Buddy Guy Concert. It was an excellent concert! BB just celebrated his 85th birthday, and he's still going strong on the road. I can't imagine how many shows he has done on the road during his lifetime, but he makes each one seem like his first. I love his facial expressions when he plays his guitar... They are so animated and you can almost tell what he is thinking. All around enjoyable experience... Weather was beautiful.... There was a downfall to this gig though. I was robbed!!! No joke. I was robbed... that is, my stuff was stolen ;-(. My entire backpack, complete with Apple Powerbook, iPod, cell phone, car keys, bluetooth headset, appointment calendar, and Wedding Portfolio (for one of my clients)..... POOF.... gone..... just like that. It was a terrible feeling. The worst part of it was that it had to be one of the employees as it was taken well after the concert when the amphitheater was cleared of all audience members.

Lesson lived, lesson learned. ... I'm trying to shake it all off. There was nothing in that bag that wasn't irreplaceable.... (that is with the exception of my wedding portfolio and some keys). Deep breath.... - goose frabba..... goose frabba- ..... deep breath.

Well, it's almost midnight on Sunday night and I have to be up bright and early at 5:45 am to do my 8.4 mile run in the morning... and then I am off to the beautiful Truth or Consequences, NM for a training service.... Fun! Here are some pics of the Buddy Guy / BB King Concert:

Eli Young Band Concert...

Wow, it's been several weeks since I've been in the field. Seems like I've been spending these last several weeks behind a desk working and planning. I love it when I get the chance to get my hands dirty... and yesterday was no exception. Worked lighting rig at Tingly Coliseum yesterday for the Eli Young Band. It is the second week of the New Mexico State Fair, and everything went fairly smoothly. The crew utilized four upright stage banners (pictured below) that had printed on it the logo of the E.Y.B. The first banner had the "E," the second the "Y," etc..... What was cool about these stage set pieces was that behind the mesh banner was an L.E.D. net underlay. This basically means that there was a virtual video monitor hidden under the guise of the banner. The video dude produced some really cool effects with these props. Four relatively small props produced a really large impression. I was thoroughly impressed! I asked the production manager about these banners, and was able to get the inside scoop. Got me to thinking how I could utilize this type of technology in my own wedding entertainment business. Got my creative juices going, and though I was delighted to be up in the catwalks and trussing, working with various lighting gear (about 60' above everyone's heads), I am excited about getting back to the office and putting down some of what I learned on paper. I think it would be cool to offer some ostensibly simple set pieces behind the wedding party's head table, but when it's time to get down on the dance floor to dance, BAM!!!! Flashy surprises.... I'm excited about this :-). James

Wonderful Quote....

The moment you claim your ability to co-create with the Spirit, your human mind begins to dissolve the false boundaries that previously kept you from doing so. Peace -- Michael B. Beckwith

Just came across this quote from an online friend, and I cannot seem to shake it from my psyche :-):

I love this quote because of its profound truth and simplicity. I share this because I have been training for the Denver Rock n Roll Marathon taking place on October 17th, 2010. Every morning when I go for a run, I am shattering that self-limiting belief that, "I am not a runner". For the last several weeks, I have averaged 6 - 8 miles of running per day. I am actually beginning to (... and I cannot believe I'm about to say this) enjoy the act of running. I am on the cusp of shedding my 100th pound of body weight, and each day I get stronger and more alive.... If you haven't watched the documentary titled, "The Secret" I encourage you to go out and purchase or rent it tonight. It features Michael Beckwith [pictured here]. It's worth a watch... I watch a piece of it each morning :-). Santiago (James) A. Naranjo

Newest Addition to the DJLM / WC Family...

Man, it has been an amazing week!!!! One of the most significant issues in this industry has to do with logistics. You see, one can invest in a myriad of state-of-the-art lighting, sound, and / or video equipment; however, if you don't have a way to effectively transport it, then setting up for an event can be a cumbersome ordeal. These last several weeks, we have been looking around for a new mode of transport. Late yesterday afternoon, we closed on a very nice 14' box truck. It's a 1999 Ford E450 with a V10 engine!!! Powerful and boy is it roomy!!!! My dad drove it home late last night as I stayed in Albuquerque to attend some meetings. I didn't get home until pretty late, and I found myself standing inside the box of our new truck in awe :-). Was even tempted to break out the roller skates and start skating inside the cargo bay of thing ;-). Again, I'm a bit flabbergasted and absolutely excited about our latest investment!!! We can literally travel anywhere within the Continental United States and take all our gear with us!!! EXCITING!!!!

My Big Fat New Mexican Wedding...

Came across this blog written in the Fall of 2008. Funny stuff, but yet so completely accurate. The original blog was written by Adelita from the Duke City Fix. Hope you enjoy this article as much as I did :-). -James

It’s wedding season – dresses are being altered, flowers are being ordered, and bands are being booked. Some old traditions will be observed and some new traditions will be started. I was married for eight years and much like my marriage, my non-traditional wedding was short and sweet. If I ever do it again, it will be entirely different.

So many of the weddings I’ve been to lately are very hip affairs with trendy color schemes, the who’s who of guests, and extremely tasteful, well, everything. As I get a satiny and swirly script invitation to another “wedding of the year” - I wonder, where’s the soul? Where’s the fun?

Damn it, where’s the baby blue tuxedo with ruffles?

Here are some things that must occur should ever I take the plunge again:

1. La Marcha - Is there anything cooler than going to a wedding reception at a VFW Post and watching the unfolding of La Marcha? La Marcha is a wedding march danced by couples who separate into lines, circle around and come back together in a kind of tunnel made by raising and holding hands for the newlyweds to pass through. How did all those bridesmaids with their huge pastel dresses maneuver under the arms of the guests in the marcha line?

2. The Dollar Dance or Pin the Money on the Bride - Maybe inflation has taken it's toll, but it’s been far too long since I’ve seen someone pay a dollar to dance with the bride. As big as my family is, I could’ve really cashed in! I remember as a little girl seeing what I thought was hundreds of dollar bills pinned to a bride until it looked like her dress was green.

3. Decorated Car - Where are all the cars with tissue paper flowers and streamers honking all the way to the church or reception? I loved making those flowers and it was a real art spacing them exactly right on the car and having it look beautiful.

4. Kidnapping the Bride - Do families’ still kidnap brides from their grooms? I found the sweetest storyfrom the Albuquerque Tribune about kidnapping the bride. Get me a wheelbarrow and an old blanket and I’ll be ready to go.

5. Real Food – I once saw mashed potatoes dyed to match the colors of the bridesmaid’s dresses – an array of pastel blues and greens. Now that’s classy! Can chicharrones be dyed to match too?

6. Bad-ass band – That’s right, nothing less than the Godfather of New Mexican music – Al Hurricane!

7. A fight! – What good New Mexican wedding doesn’t have a fight between family members? Note to self: make sure there’s plenty of ice packs…and tequila!

So getting married again is not exactly a high priority on my list of things to do. I’ve done it once and it was good while it lasted. Now that I’ve come up with this list, what should I do with it? I think I’ll save these fabulous ideas for my daughter. I know she’ll be happy that her future wedding is already planned!

86 Year Old Bride Interview....

I just received this little posting of an interview with an 84 year old newlywed. I found it hilarious and thought you'd get a big kick out of it too :-). Make sure to click the photo to enlarge (easier to read the type this way). Thanks for forwarding this Daniel!!!! -James

Boyle Wedding. Saturday, June 19, 2010. Courtyard Marriot, Albuquerque, NM

This wedding took place this Saturday (June 19th) at the Courtyard Marriot in Albuquerque. It was a special wedding for several reasons and reminded me why I love this business so much. I really had a blast working with our newlyweds friends, family, and guests before and during the wedding reception and really focused much of my creative energy on the entertainment itself. It was back to the basics as we broke the wedding down into its component parts (ceremony, grand entrance, first dance, cutting cake, toasts, etc...) and came up with creative fun ideas for each part. I especially enjoyed watching this couple dance their first dance together as husband and wife. We preceded their dance together with a Love Story....that is, we broadcasted bits and pieces of recording we made of our couple well before the wedding date and put those recordings together into a montage which told their story...how they met, their first date, what they were thinking and feeling, and how they feel about one another now. It was the perfect segue that lead directly into their first dance together. They chose Lonestar's, "Amazed". We even inserted short sound bites of the couple processing their love for one another during the dance. I was pleased how it turned out. The one thing I worked on was being able to narrate their Love Story LIVE over a bed of music, weaving in out out of their prerecorded interview clips. Some powerful stuff and really evoked a heart-felt response from the guests. It was a crafty way of bringing everyone together and celebrating the formation of this new family.