The Hartford Magazine “BEST OF HARTFORD” Readers Poll

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Best of Hartford

Best of Hartford Readers Poll

Hi Everyone!

We need your vote!
Please stop by the Hartford Magazine’s Website and VOTE for Pryme Tyme Entertainment to nominate us for the BEST OF HARTFORD readers poll! While you’re there, check out some of the other great small businesses and cast your vote for your favorite restaurant, bar, or other neighborhood business.

Visit http://hartfordmag-survey.wehaaserver.com/survey-10-best_of_hartford_magazine_2014_readersC_poll.html. and under SERVICES, click on the sub category for ‘Wedding Planner’ and ‘DJ’ and cast your vote for us! Then click ‘Finalize Ballot at the bottom and you’re all set! Thank you so much for your continued support. We REALLY appreciate it!

 

 

Weddingwire Brides Choice Award

2014 WeddingWire Couples Choice Award

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Weddingwire Couples Choice Award

2014 Weddingwire Couples Choice Award

2014 WeddingWire Couples Choice Award

For the 3rd consecutive year, Pryme Tyme Entertainment has won the prestigious WeddingWire Couples Choice Award!

This award means that Pryme Tyme Entertainment is among the TOP 5% of wedding entertainment professionals NATIONWIDE. Thank you so much to all of our couples who trusted us with their once in a lifetime celebration. It has been an honor to be a part of your special day. We absolutely love what we do for a living and have been very fortunate to have the opportunity to share our passion for music and entertainment with many couples weekend after weekend over the last 20 years since 1995.
We have one job and that is to provide a consistent positive and fun experience to all who trust us with their events. It is a pleasure to serve all of you.

timeless music, wedding music, wedding favorites

Timeless Music – A DJ’s secret weapon

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Timeless Music is the key to any packed dance floor.

Recently, we’ve been doing some late night mixes in preparation for New years Eve. The playlists have been ranging from today’s hits all the way back to 80’s club mixes. One of our listeners had said, ‘WOW! this really takes me back. I feel like a teenager again boppin’ around on the couch

That’s exactly what we were going for. As a DJ, our job is not just to have the latest and greatest but to fire up the memory time machine once in a while and take people back to those thrilling days of yesteryear in their youth. When you have a dance floor full of people of all ages, it’s important to engage the audience as a whole.

When you’re playing a set and you hit that one gem and mix it in perfectly, you see people’s eyes light up with joy. They’re instantly transported back to the age of 16. That, ‘AH HA!’ moment keeps people coming back for more and more every time.

When it comes to entertaining, there are no rules. If the beat’s alright, they will dance all night.

Pryme Tyme is Everywhere!

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Pryme Tyme is EVERYWHERE!

Looking for a disc jockey for your wedding in ct has never been easier. You can also find photographers, videographers, photo booths, and many other wedding vendors by visiting the links below.

WeddingWire

Facebook

Thumbtack

Waterbury Direct‎

DJ Aaron DeMarest

DJ Aaron DeMarest – The loveable badass..

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When I asked a fellow colleague of mine where he thought I fit into the marketplace in terms of mobile entertainers, he had this to say.
“Aaron DeMarest, you’re the loveable badass.”

Taken back by that statement and finding it quite humorous, I thought about it for a while.  He hit the nail on the head. Now before you back away with caution, let me explain what he meant…

Your impression of what a DJ is or should be may vary greatly depending on personal experience or what others have told you. What most people perceive a wedding DJ to be is the mid 40’s salt and pepper haired guy with the polished smile and a gold microphone that’s got a voice like Michael Buffer (Let’s get ready to rumble) and swaggar like the Most Interesting Man in the World. (Dos Equis)
And for the most part, based on my experience attending weddings, I’d have to agree.

But what if that’s not what you want? What if you’re looking for something different? Music trends have gotten edgier and edgier as time has gone on. The sombreros and inflatable instrument schtick that your parents enjoyed at their wedding in the 80’s and early 90’s has been laid to rest and new trends like intelligent lighting design and the dancefloor is where it’s at. .So, where does the loveable badass fit in to the equation?

When I do a wedding, it’s a highly personal experience for me and far from cookie cutter`. My Brides and Grooms are the center of my world for those 5 hours and I make sure they know it. It’s all about 2 people in love coming together as one. That’s the loveable part. I’m very passionate about what I do. I want my clients to have an experience that exceeds their expectations.

While most DJs fit the mold of the description you read about above, the badass is the big guy standing at 6’3″ tall you see wearing black & purple sporting a goatee. He’s in control and with a cool and confident smile let’s his clients know that they’re in good hands. A protector of sorts making sure that nothing stands in the way of the client and their ability to enjoy their special day.

 

DJ Equipment

It’s all about the dj equipment.

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DJs – It’s all about the dj equipment.

As an entertainment industry veteran who talks to DJs around the country, one thing is crystal clear to me. It’s all about the dj equipment.

If you’re a bride reading this, you’re probably thinking, “I don’t care about DJ equipment.” and you would be right. You shouldn’t. DJ equipment is big business and manufacturers are always pushing the envelope to create new and dazzling effects for DJs in regards to lighting, pyrotechnics, and other goodies.

So when should DJ gear be important to a bride? The answer is this.
If you’re meeting with a wedding DJ and he does all the talking about his gear and what it is capable of and the specs, he’s not listening to you and what you want. He’s trying to sell you every piece of equipment in his arsenal to make extra money.

Now in my case, when a bride sits down with me, the first words out of my mouth are, what would you like to see? From there, I can learn about my couple’s  likes,  dislikes, and everything I need to know to give them the wedding they want. At the end of the day, it’s all about our clients. They are the ones who put food on our table. They are our boss. We work for them.

What kind of DJ are you?

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What kind of DJ are you???

I often get asked at a meeting, what kind or style of DJ are you?

If you watch TV or surf YouTube long enough, you’ll see there are so many different types. The most notable DJs are not the ones that you see at a wedding. The tiestos, skrillexs, oakenfolds, and benassis of the world sell out arenas while playing techno & electronica.
The Funkmaster Flexs, the DJ Jazzy Jeffs, and Biz Markies of the world, you might find in a NYC hip hop spot or on the radio. And DJ Pauly D from the Jersey Shore… well you get the idea.

Those are just a few examples of different ‘style’ djs. But what about you? What about your wedding, school dance, or corporate event? What should you expect?

A mobile dj is just that.. Mobile. He travels from event to event specializing in many different musical tastes and styles and in order to make your event a success, he must be a master music programmer. He has to know what will make your 88 year old grand mother cut a rug and what will make your 16 year old cousin drop it low. He has to know where each song fits and in what order to keep your party going all night long.

So if you ask, what style DJ are you? The answer you will get is…

Any style you want.

How to hire a DJ

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How to hire a DJ

Engagement & Bridal show season is upon us and both brides and wedding vendors are getting ready for wedding season. So, this usually leads to the question, “Who do I choose?”

With so many options available for venues, djs, videographers, photo booths, photographers, etc… the list goes on and on. But how SHOULD you choose your wedding DJ? Let me show you how.

If you visit google and do a search for wedding djs in your area, you’ll notice a plethora of results. Hundreds and hundreds of DJs who are waiting for you to pick up the phone. You’ll see wedding specific websites, club style, and from the extravagant to the bargain basement DJ. With so many options, it’s difficult to know which one to choose. Or is it?

Think about this for a second. Your wedding reception is going to be one of the most memorable moments of your life. You want the best. Keep this in mind, what may be the best for one bride may be totally different from what you had in mind. Ask yourself, what is important to you? Who can you trust to make this reception go flawlessly?

You want experience, professionalism, class, sophistication, fun, and something that fits your budget. You want someone who will make it their mission to see that your special day is perfect. Someone who will work with the venue and other wedding vendors to make sure that the timeline transitions will be smooth. Someone who will engage your guests and keep the energy positive and the dance floor filled regardless of what age your guests are.

All of the things that I just mentioned are believe it or not a rare find. That’s why it is SO important for you to research your wedding DJ before the big day. Meet with them at an initial consultation to see what their all about. If the DJ automatically starts spewing off how much equipment they have and telling you that he does 400 weddings a year, prepare to hear a used car salesman pitch. However, if he’s laid back, cool and confident and asks YOU what you are looking for, he’s interested in how he can make your wedding reception a success.

Also, be wary of the lowest bidder. It’s tempting to go for the best deal like that shirt you found on sale on the clearance rack for just $5 that was $30 just 2 weeks ago.Keep in mind, there’s a reason why it was on the clearance rack. Noone wanted it. It’s a leftover. The same can be said for your wedding entertainment. The DJs who put a vested interest in your day will not be the least expensive option. They may also not be the most expensive either.

The most important factor of finding the right DJ for your wedding reception is that they are a good fit for you and your guests. More than the cheese tray, the colored bows on every chair back,  and the hot rolls served before dinner, your guests will remember if they enjoyed themselves and were entertained the most.

Your wedding reception will run an average of 5 hours, make them count. You get ONE opportunity to have the time of your life. Investing in your entertainment is what makes your special day a success.

Finding a DJ that fits like a glove

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Finding a DJ that fits like a glove…

A fellow DJ colleague of mine posted this picture on facebook and it prompted me to do a post in our blog. Have a look.

I learned a very important lesson while Pryme Tyme was still in it’s infancy stage. And that important lesson was, know your strengths and even more important, know your shortcomings. This is a business where visual impressions have just as great an impact as ones “skills” on the turntables.

Knowing this, my message to my potential clients is always the same. Don’t be afraid to shop around. As a business owner and entertainer, my reputation means everything. Of course I never like to turn business away but, being a good fit for a client is more important than landing the sale. That is also why Pryme Tyme offers custom services for every event we do and our pricing reflects that. So what should you be looking for in your DJ? Here’s a few questions you should ask at your consultation.

Please visit:

to see the 40 questions you should ask your DJ. You’ll be glad you did!

Hope you liked reading this post. Be sure to visit us at www.prymetymeentertainment.net

Disc Jockeys & Entertainers “There’s a difference?”

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Disc Jockeys & Entertainers “There’s a difference?”

I had recently had a consultation with a mother and daughter who were looking for disc jockeys for a sweet 16. As you might know, sweet 16′s have evolved due to the tremendous popularity of the MTV show, “My Super Sweet 16″ And it’s all about keeping up with the Jones’s.

So when my client had asked me, “So, what do you do? Do you play music or what?” I replied, “I am an entertainer.” There are many types of entertainment to choose from when it comes time to plan your event. There are disc jockeys, bands, comedians, magicians, and the list goes on. But what is the difference between disc jockeys and an entertainer? The difference is simple. Let’s take a look at what the function of a disc jockey is. This is what WikiPedia had to say.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:

“DJ” redirects here. For other uses, see DJ (disambiguation). A disc jockey, also known as DJ (or deejay), is a person who selects and plays recorded music for an audience. Originally, disk referred to phonograph records, while disc referred to the Compact Disc, and has become the more common spelling. Today, the term includes all forms of music playback, no matter the medium. There are several types of disc jockeys. Radio DJs introduce and play music that is broadcast on AM, FM, shortwave, digital, or internet radio stations. Club DJs select and play music in bars, nightclubs,discothèques, at raves, or even in a stadium. Hip hop disc jockeys select and play music using multiple turntables, often to back up one or more MCs, and they may also do turntable scratching to create percussive sounds. In reggae, the disc jockey (deejay) is a vocalist who raps, “toasts“, or chats over pre-recorded rhythm tracks while the individual choosing and playing them is referred to as a selector.[1] Mobile DJs travel with portable sound systems and play recorded music at a variety of events.

 

Ok, now that we know what a DJ is, what is an entertainer?

 

An entertainer has many functions other than just playing music. An entertainer puts on a performance and captivates an audience. By choosing the right music, wearing the right outfit, and creating the right energy for the event, an entertainer can provide hours of amusement for people of all ages, and all walks of life.

I recently went to an event on a night off to go dancing and have some fun. Of course I made it a point to meet the DJ and chat with him a bit. He was a very nice man and seemed to enjoy what he was doing. But, for some reason, the crowd seemed to look a little stale. Their faces had no expression, they were just meandering about the floor in their own worlds not really caring what was being played. For the cover charge that I paid that night, I really expected more… There was little to no interaction with the audience and kind of like a jukebox, the music played song after song from somewhere in the room…That was the perfect example of what a DJ is. Someone who plays music in a sequence at an event, club, or on the radio.

The first concern of my clients was the cost of their entertainment. They had thought that $300 was a fair price for a disc jockey for the evening. Based on the story from above, I would have to agree. But they wanted more than that. They wanted their audience to dance, to laugh, to smile, and to remember her sweet 16 as the best party they ever attended…

I told my sweet 16 clients this story to find out what they were looking for in regards to the evening’s entertainment. They understood at that point that they were working with an entertainer, not just a DJ. She chose her favorite colors to uplight the architecture in the room, the starry sky on the ceiling, and the New York City nightclub dancefloor she was looking for that she saw on TV.

Fast forward to the party, I started off the evening playing some music that went through the ages. Grandparents could be seen tapping their feet and singing to their favorite swing tunes, parents smiled as they walked in the room and felt the warmth of the ambiance created by the lighting.

Dinner was served and the words of “Sweet Caroline” (The RED SOX Theme Song) could be heard and grandparents, parents, and kids alike were swaying to the music. We haven’t even started dancing yet and they were enjoying themselves.

Once we opened the dancefloor, it filled up 3 couples at a time until they were shoulder to shoulder. The energy built over the next 3 hours until the last song “or so they thought”. By this time the crowd has lost a few shirts, their high heels, and everyone was exhausted, sore, and sweaty from dancing for so long… And just when they thought it was all over, I started to play the song, “The Time (Dirty Bit)” from the Black Eyed Peas to end the evening. The crowd erupted into a frenzy. Hands were back in the air, people were shouting the lyrics, “I…had…the time of my life……”

When the song was over, the lights went on, and people, still smiling and laughing, started to file out. The daughter and mother both came up to me and said, “You were amazing. Everything was perfect. We couldn’t have asked for more. People will remember this night for the rest of their lives. I am so glad we chose you. You were right, you are an entertainer.” And that’s the difference between a disc jockey, and an entertainer. I hope you enjoyed this story. Until next time…