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music lawsuits, bmi, ascap, metallica, napster

Music lawsuits. You may want to turn off your radio after reading this.

Protect yourself from a music lawsuit. Do you have a radio playing at your place of business? You may want to turn it off after reading this.

I am writing one of the most important blog entries that I ever have today. This affects everyone.

Recently on Facebook (TM) Facebook Inc. I came across an article about a Connecticut business that was being sued by BMI TM (Broadcast Music Incorporated) for playing music at their restaurant. This business owner thought that he was abiding the law by subscribing to a music service for his business. Unfortunately, according to the law, this is not the case. Because of this oversight, this lawsuit could cost him thousands and possibly the business he worked so hard to grow.
Read the article on HartfordBusiness.com by clicking here.

Sued for a Song: Music licensing lawsuits hit CT Restaurants

Just today, a second article regarding a bar that was being sued for a cover band playing copyrighted material in their venue. The damages sought from BMI (Broadcast Music Incorporated) could potentially reach $1.5 million dollars. For a small business, this is impossible to withstand.

You can read the article at OnStage Magazine here.

BMI Sues Bar For Cover Band Show, seeks $1.5M

In addition to music licensing lawsuits, all media is subject to copyright law. What that means is, if you are promoting an event using a picture that you have found on the internet, you could possibly be infringing on a copyright. Companies like Getty Images TM are having a field day with small businesses by sending settlement demand letters to people that they have baited with enticing images to be used in business.

So protect yourself, ask permission. Get familiar with copyright law and music licensing. It may turn out to be the best thing you do for your business.

 

aqua turf, aria, candlewood inn, hawks landing, tower ridge, fox hill inn, owenego inn, barns at wesleyan, society room, pryme tyme entertainment, fritz photography

10 Reasons Why CONNECTICUT is the Wedding Capitol of New England

 

When most people think of CT (who don’t live in CT), they envision a yuppie paradise full of cul de sac neighborhoods, BMWs in every parking spot, and everyone resembles Barbie & Ken. Believe it or not, that only accounts for 1% of Connecticut. The rest of Connecticut is very diverse and a melting pot of culture, ethnicity, and music. That would explain why Connecticut is the Wedding Capitol of New England.

Being the 2nd smallest state in the Union has it’s benefits. In the heart of Connecticut, you are only about an hour and a half from New York City and two hours from Boston. You can imagine the baseball rivalries that happen here. But what about weddings?

Here are the 10 reasons why Connecticut is the Wedding Capitol of New England.

1. Wedding and event Venues

Connecticut was one of the first states incorporated in the nation. Because of that, there are many historic properties that host weddings. Places like the Wadsworth Mansion, Saint Clements, and Gillette castle are just a few places that hold historical significance. So if you’re looking to enjoy sophistication and old world charm, these might be some great choices for you.

If marble, gold, and architecture is your thing, Connecticut is the place for you. With the highest concentration of Italian-American citizens in the United States, they’ve brought their passion for fine masonry and lavish decor. Venues such as The Aqua Turf, Farmington Club, The Riverview, Waterview, La Bella Vista, Grand Oak Villa and Connecticut’s newest addition, Aria, the possibilities are endless. The mediterranean influenced cuisine paired with the stunning marble architecture and sculptures are the perfect setting for the most regal of occasions.

If you’re a country bumpkin or appreciate the simpler things in life and love a venue with rustic charm, Connecticut has some great country and barn wedding venues to choose from. Venues like Bill Miller’s Castle, Wood Acres Farm, The Barns at Wesleyan and Winvian are a must see.

One of Connecticut’s best features is it’s waterfront property. From the Litchfield Hills to the shoreline, theres a perfect wedding destination waiting for you. If you’re a land lover and want to stay off the shoreline, venues like The Riverhouse at Goodspeed Station and The Pavillion on Crystal Lake are great locations. Wanna be on the shore? Check out places like Anthony’s Ocean View and The Mystic Seaport.

But more than venues, we’ve got even more to offer. Wedding professionals are at a 1 to 100 ratio.

2. There’s a DJ for EVERY BRIDE in CT.
From simple to lavish and conservative to liberal, you’ll find it here in CT. Because of the massive ethnic diversity, Connecticut has a DJ for every nationality, personality, and preference not to mention, every budget.

3. Four seasons means LOTS of flowers to choose from.
Just in Cheshire Connecticut alone, there are HUNDREDS of greenhouses. It’s the greenhouse capitol of New England. Connecticut at one time was plentiful in farms.. From the vibrant spring flora to the earthy autumn, Connecticut’s flower farms are sure to please. Many venues also feature seasonal favorites that make a spectacular backdrop for wedding photos.

4. Wedding Paparazzi that Hollywood would be jealous of.
Wedding photographers are plentiful here. The scenic backdrops of New England have brought many photographers here. Because Connecticut is considered a ‘High End’ wedding state, we have some of the best photographers that you can find. Timeless photos from Eric Foley. Simply sarcastic photography from Sassy Mouth Photo. Mike Ross offers a classic photojournalistic style. Photo Expressions is fantastic at finding the perfect backdrop for your photos. And don’t forget about Connecitcut’s favorite bad boy, Airen Miller for something modern, edgy, and very svelte. Pair any of these photographers with picturesque New England and you’ve got a winning combination!

5. A truly Cinematic Experience.
mebCINEMA, Inspiration in Motion, and Custom Made Video are true artisans at what they do. This won’t be your parent’s wedding video. Each one of them are truly talented in capturing the best moments on film. But don’t take my word for it, have a look for yourself on our wedding page. www.PrymeTymeEntertainment.net/weddings

6. See you in 30 minutes or less.
No matter where you are in Connecticut, you will find a wedding happening within 30 minutes travel time of each other. Being such a small and concentrated state, travelling to your wedding is a snap!

7. And speaking of travelling, go in style.
Limos are big business here. Connecticut is the halfway point between New York and Boston and many people, some Very Important People live and work here. So there is no shortage of high end transportation to suit your needs. From classic Cadillac limousines , to party busses and stretch hummers, you can travel in style. Prospect Limo and Gateway Limo are some of the finest transportation resources in the area.

8. Unwavering Tradition
Connecticut is a progressive state however, we believe in tradition and the consistency of old world values. Because of this, service is KING in Connecticut. Expect to be pampered and your every desire met. It’s just how we roll.

9. Cruise Control.
If you have a love of the water, Connecticut is a great place for your special day. With hundreds of miles of shoreline on Long Island Sound, The Connecticut, and Housatonic Rivers, you can take advantage of many of the yacht and charter tours that run every day. If you’re from Long Island and your wedding is here in CT, travelling just got easier. Enjoy one of three ferries that run every hour from Long Island to Connecticut.

10. It’s all about convenience.
With so many things to think about on your special day, it’s not uncommon to forget something or need a last minute item. Connecticut was built for convenience. You won’t have to travel far to find what you need. Connecticut is also home to hundreds of 5 star hotels for the convenience of guests with overnight accommodations.

All in all, Connecticut is the go to place for everything Wedding.

Here comes the bride, wedding ceremony music

Here comes the bride. 38 Wedding Ceremony Songs You’ll Love.

 

If you’re looking to have a non-traditional or secular wedding ceremony, you may have the option to have some personalized music for your ceremony. Here are 38 wedding ceremony songs you’ll love.

1. I do – Colbie Calliat

2. Joy – Apollo 100

3. Home – Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros

4. Mint Car – The Cure

5. All I want is you. – Barry Lousi Polisar

6. Modern Nature – Sondre Lerche

7. Tenderness – General Public

8. City of Blinding Lights – U2

9. Crazy Little Thing Called Love – Michael Buble

10. You make my Dreams – Hall and Oates

11. Accidentally In Love – Counting Crowes

12. Love you Madly – Cake

13. M79 – Vampire Weekend

14. Sweet Disposition – The Temper Trap

15. You are the Best Thing – Ray LaMontagne

16. Moth’s Wings – Passion Pit

17. Signed, Sealed Delivered (I’m Yours) – Stevie Wonder

18. I do. – The Marvelows

19. All you need is love – Beatles

20. Wouldn’t it be nice – 1999 (Remaster) – Beach Boys

21. Happy Together – The Turtles

22. Gimmie Some Lovin’ – Spencer Davis

23. Ain’t that a kick in the head – 1997 (Remastered) – Dean Martin

24. Dog Days are Over – Florence + The Machine

25. The Adventure – Angels & Airwaves

26. Ho Hey – Lumineers

27. Everlasting Love – Love Affair

28. Arms – Christina Perri

29. I’ve just seen a face – Live on MTV UnPlugged – Paul McCartney

30. Silver Lining – Rilo Kiley

31. Dance Tonight – Live @ Citi Field – Paul McCartney

32. Lovers in Japan – Coldplay

33. Feel Again – OneRepublic

34. A-Punk – Vampire Weekend

35. Home – Phillip Phillips

36. You always Make me Smile – Kylie Andrews

37. You got it – Roy Orbison

38. Best Day of My Life – American Authors

 

Productive Wedding Planning | Avoid wedding burnout

Productive Wedding Planning | Avoid wedding burnout and review your accomplishments.

Everything has it’s place.

Invitations, napkins, hiring photographers and DJs and too many things to list. But where SHOULD you be in the wedding planning process? If you’re not sure, take a look once in a while at your wedding checklist and see what you’ve accomplished. Start of with your top priorities and go from there.

Once you’re done hiring vendors and venues, it’s time to think about your decor. Your centerpieces, china, napkins, and anything else you want to make your wedding extra special. Always keep your checklist with you so you can check things off as you go. Being organized is key and will help you to plan your wedding more efficiently and with less stress.

The Bridal Party Packet | Wedding Planning Essentials

The Bridal Party Packet | Wedding Planning Essentials

You’ve been planning your wedding for months now and we’re getting down to the wire. All of your hard work is about to come to fruition in just a few short weeks. So what’s next?

While on WeddingWire, I saw a great wedding planning idea for keeping things organized for your bridal party. Wedding packets. Yes. A go-to resource for your bridal party that gives them the details of your special day and assignments as necessary. As Ashley said, “Nothing bridezilla like” just something to keep VIPs informed.

Being very organized for your special day is important as it helps guide the flow of the day and allows events to go smoothly. So what should you include in your wedding packet? Here are a few suggestions…

1. Date, Time, and location of your wedding and reception.

2. A who’s who and what order they will need to be in for your introductions.

3. A timeline of events. (Ex: Ceremony at 4pm, pictures to follow. Cocktail hour at 5pm with more pictures to follow. Reception Start 6pm etc.)

4. Things to bring. (Comfortable shoes, a small purse or handbag with your personals that can easily be carried in formal attire.

5. leave all cell phones, ipads, electronic gadgets in the car or your purse during photos. (This will speed up the photography process without distraction or interruption of social media updates)
6. Assign  different tasks to your bridal party. (Grabbing coffee on the way to getting ready for the big day, fielding phone calls for the bride and groom so they can concentrate on their wedding, keeping in contact with vendors to ensure that they are in place and ready to go)

With the right bridal packet, you, your bridal party and guests can enjoy a fun, stress free, and memorable experience on your special day.

Bridesmaids wearing different dresses

Bridesmaids wearing different dresses.

Bridesmaids wearing different dresses.

People come in all shapes and sizes. What may for one person may not necessarily work for the next. Especially when it comes to bridesmaids, groomsmen, and formal wear such as gowns and tuxedos.  Just like when you do your every day shopping, you try many different things on to see which colors compliment your body, your eyes, and so on.
If you’re feeling the stress from your bridesmaids on picking the right dress for your wedding photos, consider this great article from Brides.com.  How Will it Look in Wedding Photos if my Bridesmaids are Wearing Different Dresses?

Wedding Photo ideas that you’ll LOVE!

Wedding Photo Ideas that you’ll LOVE!

If you’re an outside the box thinker, you want something a little something extra special for your wedding photos. Maybe you and your beau are into comic book heros or love to embrace during a zombie apocalypse. Throw caution to the wind and have fun with it and let your wedding photographer’s creative juices flow into their work. Trust me on this one. You’re going to love some of these great photo ideas.

You’ve gotta check out Buzzfeed’s “42 Impossibly Fun Wedding Photo Ideas You’ll Want to Steal”

Trust me, you’re gonna love this. See the pix here!

http://www.buzzfeed.com/peggy/impossibly-fun-wedding-photo-ideas-youll-want-to-steal

 

Katerina’s Sweet 16 Party

Last night, we headed up to the Pond House Grille in Glastonbury, CT for Katerina’s Sweet 16 Party. Despite the blizzard like conditions, everyone wade it safely. After a white knuckle ride up to Glastonbury, we beat our setup record. With just an hour to spare, we had the entire ballroom at the Pond House uplit in purple, a color changing, cascading waterfall, dancing under the stars, and audio ready to go for when guests arrived. PHEW!

60 of Katerina’s family and closest friends danced the night away with an eclectic mix covering several decades of music. The Funtastic Photo Booth was a big hit as guests dressed up in their favorite charachters for a fun photo. Check out some of the pix from last night’s Sweet 16.

Daryll Hall – Daryl’s house

Daryll Hall – Live from Daryl’s House

I’ve recently picked up on a new obsession in music. Iconic musician Daryl Hall (Hall & Oates) has brought something very special to music with his new show “Live from Daryl’s House“. Shot and recorded just over an hour from our office in Prospect, CT, Daryl has had some of music’s best jamming along side of him at his home in Millerton, NY. Guitar great Joe Walsh (Eagles), Thomas DeCarlo Calloway (Cee-Lo Green), and Smokey Robinson just to name a few.

During the epic jam session, daryl and his guests along with his band take part in preparing a meal with some of the northeast’s greatest culinary talents. It’s a laid back atmosphere and you can really see the camaraderie between musicians and the magic that happens in live music up close and personal in this intimate show.

This show is free to watch and can be seen at www.LivefromDarylsHouse.com

Have a sneak peak of Daryl playing his No 1 hit with Cee Lo Green – No can do (I can’t go for that)

wedding toast, writing a wedding speech

WEDDING TIP: How to come up with a great wedding speech.

Writing a wedding speech for someone’s special day is an honor. Your friend’s wedding is one of the most memorable days of their life and you’ve been called on with the duty of speaking on their behalf to their family and friends. A spokesperson of sorts.

Even if you’ve never written a speech before, it’s easier than you think. What should you say? What will it sound like? Will you get choked up?
Don’t worry about stage fright. It happens to everyone. When you see grown men and women with that lump in their throat, you know that they aren’t faking emotion and it makes the speech that much more meaningful.

KEEP IT SHORT AND SWEET: Put yourself in the seat of your audience. Hollywood has mastered the art of the acceptance speech in keeping it at a conservative minute and a half. As much as you might like to host the Comedy Central Roast of your best friend, keep in mind, it’s their special day. They have invested months of time, effort, and money for this one day that they will remember for the rest of their life.

SPEAK FROM THE HEART: You’ve known your best friend for a long time. There are many life experiences that you’ve shared over the years so choose dialogue that is both entertaining as it is heartfelt. Remember, you’re not writing a script for a made for TV movie. You’re talking about your best friend

WARREN, DON’T BE SUCH A SAP: Heartfelt speeches are a beautiful thing, but keep those tears happy. Keep your content positive. Weddings are a joyous occasion. Keep the mood upbeat.

SMILE: When you smile, your audience reacts positively with encouragement. And when the audience you’re speaking to smiles back, it will help to instil confidence and you’ll have a great speech.

PROPER MICROPHONE TECHNIQUE: You’ve wrote a speech about your best friend for all to hear. Make sure that they hear it. Hold the microphone towards your mouth about 2 inches away and speak from the diaphragm. Also, never stand in front of a speaker when you have the microphone. The feedback will melt your face off.