Wedding Improv = Fun….well at least for me – The DJ

Last nights wedding reception was totally improved form the start to finish. No timeline, no special dances for the bridal party, or any of the events like the cutting and, etc. Yet, as a wedding dj, it was one the most fun times I had.

The B/G arrive: No grand entrance, a quick introduction and on to their first dance.

First Dance: What? song I had maybe a minute to pick one of the most important songs at a wedding. All I knew is the bride liked to play guitar.

My selection: More than Words ~ Extreme.

After: Was there going to be a father/daughter or mother/groom dance????? yikes! I didn’t know. I knew the family like Frank Sinatra.

My Selection: Young at Heart ~ Frank Sinatra

You can’t go wrong, worked out well for the father and mother dance

Well, we went right into a dinner and I picked some all time favorites for the dinner mix.

Now, to kick off the dance???

My Selection: Marry you ~ Bruno Mars

The rest of the night was awesome, lots of fun music and dancing! Oh! the cake cutting song…ummmm, ok I go this

Love my job

~ Pete

Thanks from Five Star Productions.

I Love This Job #DJ #Music – A personal perspective

Wow what a night! 8th Grade graduation, played all of the Top-40 tunes and some of the old favorites like the Cupid Shuffle and some new stuff like Cat Daddy which I saved for last. As a DJ I play music for the majority (school dances), and when I saw a request on my note pad for Free Bird ~ Lynyrd Skynyrd, I joked and announced “it must have been a teacher request” but I knew it was one kid that kept writing down that one song.

One kid that is a little different, dresses different, and does not follow the “in” crowd, and doesn’t normally go to social functions. I thought to myself that kid was me at that age! So guess what? the last song of the night………..I played Free Bird by Lynyrd Skynyrd.

Hopefully, he will remember that night forever, because I will.

Determining Customer Needs – 5 Simple Steps (blog post)

I was recently revising some presenations for the company I work and came across a simle process that we often forget.

How do you determine customer needs? Afterall, your customers are the most important part to any business………period.

Here is an easy 5 step process that I often come back to from time to time.

1. Listen: The customer will usually define their own needs if you take the time to listen.

2. If not, Ask. If the needs are not clearly expressed, then you must ask questions to find out what the customer really wants.

3. Repeat: Once the needs are clear, repeat what the customer stated to you and make sure you have understood correctly.

4. Inquire: Next step is to inquire if the customer has any other needs.

5. Present: The final step is to present the product or service that best meet the customer’s needs.

Works everytime, whether you are in small business or Fortune 500 company.

Simple J

Thank you ~ Pete

Five Star Productions

Mobile DJ Entertainment & Events

520-982-0070

Merry Christmas – #Tucson Events 2010

What an great end to an awesome year!

7 Holiday Parties kept us busy this holiday season. Here are some pics of some of the events. Visit our facebook fan page for all the pics, as well as other information and useful information.

From Phoenix, Arizona to Ft. Huachuaca, Arizona Army Base, there was a lot of traveling, but we had so much fun at all of our events.

(Pictured):

Hilton East Holiday Party 2010

Grace Inn Ahwatukee, Arizona – Holiday Party 2010

Sol Casinos Christmas Party 2010

Westin La Paloma Holday Parties 2010

Thanks and Happy Holidays ~ Pete & Jovi

#Top-10 tips for planning a successful event! – #Tucson

Planning a Successful Event

1. VISUALIZE IT! *Tip: The more senses you engage, the more memorable the experience will be.
2. SEE: Decorations, colors, venue, lights, and signage.
3. HEAR: Music, sounds, laughter, and conversations.
4. TOUCH: Gifts, venue, and decorations.
5. SMELL: Food, candles, flowers, and the venue.
6. TASTE: Food and drinks.
7. THEME: A theme will help generate specifics: decorations, invitations, games, venue, and colors!
8. VENUE: Matching the theme with the venue will contribute to the experience. Unique venue ideas: Museums, Resorts, Lodge, Dude Ranch, Parks, and Local Attractions.
9. PLAN: Date: *Tip: most vendors/venues have discounted rates for off-peak days/dates (weekdays, non-holiday, and Sunday). Budget: *Tip: Food & beverages are usually the most expensive followed by venue, and all other expenses.
10. TIMELINE: Creating a timeline will help you keep track of the days events. Also create monthly timeline to keep track of priorities.

THEME IDEAS:

• Vegas
• Mardi Gras
• Cruise
• Era (50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s)
• Hollywood
• Luau/Beach

When it come to budgeting your event, “do it your self” will save you money on decorations, food, and beverage service. *Tip: Entertainment, photography, and videography should be done by professionals, if you need to cut back on expenses choose other items in your budget.

Thank you from Pete & Jovi, and good luck with your event planning!

We have specific online planners custom-made for our clients: Anniversaries – Birthday Parties – Corporate Parties – Reunions – Proms – Weddings – Quinceanera’s – Holiday Parties.

If you would like a general planner, with a budget calculator included, please contact us via email or phone.

*Update – I will have the planner/budget calculator link available soon here for download!

Thank you ~ Pete

http://www.fivestar-productions.com/

#Tucson #Holiday Parties – Winter Formals 2010 (blog post)

As the Holidays are approaching, many companies and schools are planning their holiday parties! The key is to plan early. There are only 2 weeks left in November and most top venues and vendors around town are already booked! There is still time to plan a great holiday party for your staff and company, and we can help. Here are some suggestions for venue locations:

Resort - Hotel - Banquet Hall – Home – Museum – Park – Mansion – Theme Park – Lodge – Restaurant – Dude Ranch – Farm – Casino

We have full online planners to help you plan the perfect event. We have only a couple of available days left for December. Contact us if you would like to book a Five Star event,  or if you have any questions, please feel free to add a comment or contact us via e-mail.

Thanks from Five Star Productions.

Keep it Clean Mr. #DJ!

Keep it clean Mr. #DJ

We have heard many concerns lately from administrators and parents about the music and the type of dancing that is done at various teen dances and school events throughout the year. At Five Star Productions we work closely with the students and faculty to make sure the music is exactly what they requested. One of the methods we make sure is by supplying the faculty and even the parents with a playlist that has to be approved by the school.

We also carefully suggest songs that are fun and appropriate for teen dances. Keep it clean Mr. DJ!

ZERO TOLERANCE: Suggestive, Drugs, Inappropriate, Violence, and Vulgar Language.

We also have a NO playlist suggestion list of music that we use as a tool for parents, teachers, and faculty to use when planning a school function or teen dance.

Here is a “thank you” note from one of our returning clients: Immaculate Heart Catholic High School.

Dear Mr. & Mrs. Rodriguez

“On behalf of the sophomore class of Immaculate Heart High School, I would like to thank you & your company Five Star Productions. We are truly blessed by your kindness. May God continue to bless your daily endeavors?” ~ Daniel Ethridge, Principal

Keep Clean Mr. DJ!  for over 10 years!

Top 10 “do NOT’s” when hiring a wedding #DJ – A checklist for finding the best DJ for your event!

“I never hired a DJ”

Often this is the case with many of our clients, and we are here to help YOU.

There are plenty of “how to hire a DJ” advice online everywhere, but we are going to make what we feel are the most important reasons NOT to hire just any DJ and choose the best DJ for your event. I condensed the most important points to save you time, but still get the most information.

1. Do NOT hire a DJ based on price. You really get what you paid for in this industry.  The average price for a professional wedding DJ on 2010 is *$800.00 to $1000.00+ depending on who & what you include. (theweddingreport.com) Remember, 80% of the success of your wedding or special event is on the ENTERTAINMENT! It seems that the DJ service is often the last service chosen, and this often backfires when holding out for the lowest price.
2. Do NOT wait to hire a DJ at the last-minute. Most popular & professional DJ’s are booked months, even years in advance. There is a reason why……..because they are in high demand. You will also be able to: Guarantee your date, more time to budget, more time to plan, and have more time to select the right DJ for your event.
3. Do NOT hire a DJ for your special event that cannot provide you with proof of liability insurance. A professional DJ carries at least 1M of liability insurance, and can provide proof on demand. In fact, most banquet facilities and major hotels require proof of insurance from professional mobile DJs. No insurance, no DJ.
4. Do NOT hire a DJ without a written contract. Don’t ever hire a DJ over a phone conversation or a verbal agreement. Ask for a written contract, especially if you are paying a deposit or retainer fee to book the DJ services. Read the contract carefully and make sure that everything is correct and you know exactly what the services you have just contracted.
5. Do NOT hire a DJ without meeting with them first. Make an appointment to meet via e-mail or phone call. If a phone call or e-mail is not returned within a reasonable time………look somewhere else. A professional will return a call or e-mail within one business day. Once the call or e-mail is returned or made, set a meeting either at their place of business, your location, or somewhere mutual. (long distance? make sure you go through all the other 9 steps before signing anything)
6. Do NOT assume the DJ you spoke with and meet with is going to be the same person that shows up to your event. Ask, plus this allows  you to get a feel for their personalities.
7. Do NOT hire a DJ that does not have a professional music library. Professionals use original CD’s or MP3s and not illegally downloaded music or copied library’s. A versatile Disc Jockey is willing to listen to your suggestions, give you feedback and play from YOUR desired song list. The key is to find a DJ with a large selection of music.
8. Do NOT hire a DJ that does not use professional equipment. Ask whether you’re prospective DJ works with professional audio equipment. If you are not sure, ask for their equipment list and check with a local music dealer or do a little research. Also, ask if the DJ has back-up equipment.
9. Do NOT hire a DJ without EXPERIENCE. You should always opt for the DJ with experience in performing weddings, quinceañeras, or special events. An experienced DJ will be familiar with how a reception or event will proceed, knowledge of music, traditions, and will have references.
10. Do NOT hire a DJ that is not willing to LISTEN to your needs. Most importantly, a professional will always be willing to listen to your ideas, your vision, musical tastes and preferences, and what you are planning.

Thanks from Five Star Productions.

If you have any questions, please feel free to add a comment or contact us via e-mail.

Southern Arizona #Wedding Venue – Amado, Arizona

Hello,

We recently entertained for a wedding at Amado Territory Inn.

It located only about 30-40 minutes South of Tucson, and it is a wonderful place for weddings. Me and my wife work at many venues all over Southern Arizona, and we were very impressed by how professional and friendly the entire staff was. The Ranch is gorgeous! it is a beautiful place for a perfect wedding or quinceanera. We would recommend this location for any of our clients looking for a unique place to hold their special event. Please visit their website for additional information.

Thank you ~ Pete & Jovi – Five Star Productions DJ

Amado Territory Ranch – Weddings

#Wedding Cost Increased in 2010

Very interesting report for the wedding industry I ran across today. The average cost for a wedding for the 1st quarter of 2010 increased by 21.9% for 2009. (theweddingreport.com)

Wedding entertainment remained steady, with a Wedding DJ around the $800.00 mark. (wedding report)

Planning and coordinating increased in all categories!

A professional full service DJ company usually takes on the role of a planner and coordinator at a wedding. A wedding dj may spend up to 20+ hours planning the agenda, timelines, events, and all of the music for day!

Thank you for reading, and remember to always trust a professional for your memories.