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bidding on dj services

Bidding on DJs to get the best price

You’re a thrifty shopper. You look at those reward points after leaving the grocery store and smile with pride because you know you just saved a ton of money by buying that extra value pack of toilet paper. Nicely done!

But when you’re shopping around for DJ services or ANY services for that matter, you’ve got to get down to where the rubber meets the road to really see if all things are equal. In a DJ forum tonight, someone asked the question, “DO you give people a price sheet at your meetings for when they leave?” That’s a good question. Shopping and bargain hunting is what we as humans are programmed to do. In most cases, it’s a great ideology for things like shopping for home heating oil, electricity and canned goods.  Those are common commodities that have very little variation from one to the next. But when it comes to something as specific as wedding djs, they are miles apart in preference. In the end, the value is in the eye of the beholder.

So Aaron, if you’re telling me that bidding on DJ services isn’t the right way to find my dj, what does that mean?
There’s a few things to consider when you’re looking for the right person for the job. With what we offer, it’s a personality based service. Just like your favorite actors, musicians, comedians, etc. One person’s Lewis Black might be another person’s Louis CK. And even though these two comedians are often lumped together for their raw and edgy performances, they are in fact 2 different people with 2 different offerings. The same can be said for DJs.

But beyond personality types, what else should you look for when the sticker shock sets in? You need to look at experience. If when you ask questions during a meeting, the person you’re speaking with has all of the right answers, chances are they’re a good fit. If they answer questions you didn’t know you had or addressed concerns before they were considered, they are most DEFINITELY a good fit. There are other things to consider as well. Things like service offerings. If you are looking for a wedding dj in ct as well as a ceremony sound system and intelligent lighting for your celebration, chances are, it’s going to run you somewhere in the neighborhood of $1900-2500 respectively. But if you’re meeting with a DJ who is willing to give away the farm for $650 and claims they can deliver the same experience as the $2500 DJ with a proven track record, you should be suspect of them.

Think of your wedding dj as an investment in an asset. Your home for example. Would you want to put peel and stick tile that is susceptible to peeling and cracking within 5 years in your kitchen, or would you rather have ceramic or marble tile installed that will last decades? Buy it once and never worry about it again. The same can be said for your wedding dj. Choose the best option and you should be worry free for your wedding day or roll the dice and hope for the best. The choice is yours.

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Hawks Landing Tasting Event

The Hawks Landing Tasting Event

is the perfect opportunity for engaged brides and grooms to get a taste of exactly what Hawks Landing has to offer. Bring your family, friends, and bridal party to help you pick out the perfect menu for your wedding or special event!

Enjoy food, fun, dancing, our photo booth and experience what some of CT’s best wedding vendors have to offer.

The tasting is from 6pm to 10pm at the Bella Vista Banquet Room this Saturday, February 13th 2016. It’s just $25 per guest and groups of 8 or more guests will receive $10 off of their total table.

Call Jamie at 860-793-6000 ext. 8 or email [email protected] to purchase tickets! We’ll see you tomorrow at HAWKS!

 

Hawks Landing Bridal Show, Hawks Landing Weddings, Bellavista weddings, bellavista at hawks landing

Pryme Tyme Entertainment at 2016 Hawks Landing Bridal Show

Pryme Tyme Entertainment at 2016 Hawks Landing Bridal Show

For the 4th year in a row, Pryme Tyme Entertainment has been invited to Hawks Landing for their bridal show. If you’re not familiar with Hawks Landing, you should really give it a look. Hawks Landing is a country club located in Southington, CT. The Bella Vista banquet facility is their reception hall. Located just 3 minutes off of Queen Street in Southington, it’s in the perfect central CT location for weddings and other events with easy access off of I84.

But more than just convenience, Hawks Landing offers a cozy atmosphere for up to 250 guests. The hardwood ceiling, regal white walls and french doors are very quaint and charming. Their 25X45 dance floor is great for weddings as you can get a ton of guests out on the floor without it feeling too cramped but still very cozy. The seating is very well laid out so that guests can comfortably sit and move around the room with ease.  And let’s not forget about the food… Let’s just say, it’s deceptive at best. You wouldn’t expect this kind of flavor, variety, and quantity at a golf club but, your guests will LOVE the cuisine and noone will go home hungry.

Photographers LOVE the greens at Hawks for it’s rolling hills and beautifully landscaped greens and fountains and the sunsets are just gorgeous near the weeping willows down by the pond for pictures.

All in all, Hawks is one of our favorite venues to frequent and we have been on their preferred vendor list for 3 years. The staff is very warm and welcoming not only to guests but vendors as well and work as a well oiled machine to see to it that everyone is comfortable and enjoying themselves. You are going to love Hawks. But don’t take my word for it. Come visit us THIS SUNDAY and see for yourself! Meet with events manager Jaime and all of the vendors there. While you’re there, stop by and try out our FUNTASTIC Photo Booth!

We’ll see you at the show!

Check out this DJ’s package.

Check out DJ Packages.

It’s the first line of nearly every email that we get. “HI I’m Samantha and I would like to know what your dj packages are. Thanks.”

Of course you do! You are trying to plan your budget for your wedding dj or event. It makes sense. The first question anyone asks when trying to get all of their ducks in a row is about price. And why shouldn’t you? It’s an important question. But think about this. If you’ve ever called a cable company or a satellite provider and set up service, you probably know their schtick by heart. And it probably sounds a lot like what you’d expect a DJ to say. So many DJs across the country are also programmed to respond with tantalizing packages to make the largest one seem appealing. But, what if you’re not looking for 100 uplights, two 90″ TVs with hip hop videos and a 2 man entertainment team? What if your wedding is supposed to be a laid back affair with family and friends? DO you really need all of that stuff? Or better yet, does the venue you chose for it’s beauty and charm really fit with the 2016 equivalent to Studio 54?

If not, that’s ok! But, if you did want to go for the gusto, you could always have those options. Ultimately, the choice is yours. If you look at our wedding dj prices page you’ll notice that there are just 4 things offered on that page. These are our most popular options that people ask for. You certainly aren’t limited to those four and there are many more enhancements to choose from depending on your preferences but, we don’t want to limit you to what you can or cannot have by forcing you into a decision that just doesn’t work. Much like the cable tiers that include the basic channels, about 40 more that you don’t care about, and if you act now, they’ll throw in a month of Starz and 20 home shopping channels if you sign a 3 year contract today, you know and I know that you’re probably going to watch about 10% of what they are offering. And if you did want just one channel that isn’t included in that tier, you’d have to upgrade to a lot more undesired channels to get the one you’re looking for and pay exponentially more. In that scenario, who comes out on top?

We have a simple philosophy that we work from. “Take care of the client and everything else takes care of itself.” That’s why we don’t offer vacuum sealed, pre-made, postage paid packages for the events that we do. When you sit down at your first meeting, we want to know what YOU want so that WE can help you reach your goals for getting the wedding dj, lighting, photo booth, and any other amenities that you’re looking for. And by forming that partnership with you, it allows us to create one of a kind experiences for you and your guests.

So grab a pencil and a pad, and dream away. It’s not the Pryme Tyme show, its all about you.

Backyard Weddings: The wedding of Ali & Aaron

 

On a beautiful New England Summer afternoon in July, Ali & Aaron were wed at Ali’s childhood home in Cheshire, CT. It was the perfect day for Mr and Mrs Stubbs as they and 50 of their closest friends and family from around the globe celebrated their special day.

Backyard weddings are generally more laid back then your typical wedding. The atmosphere is very cozy and homey. Which was great for this wedding. Aaron and his family are from Australia. As you can imagine, a 23 hr flight can cause some serious jet lag. But the Stubb family wasn’t going to let a little trip half way across the planet get in the way of enjoying themselves.

Guests were treated to margaritas and sweet tea along with a barbecue style dinner. Perfect for the 4th of July weekend. And then there was the dancing. This was especially exciting for me because it was a challenge. 50 people, jet lag, backyard wedding, in the heat, with a late sunset and a groom who PROMISED that he was not a dancer. And yet with all of those factors thrown into the mix, 50 people danced the night away until 10pm. We even got Aaron out on the floor! YAY!

After the party came to a close, Ali’s uncle treated guests to an exciting aerial fireworks display that lit up the skies. It was the per

fect end to a perfect day.   Check out some of the BEAUTIFUL photos at www.FritzPhotographyCT.com for more breathtaking photos!

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9 Reasons Why Hiring an Amateur Wedding DJ Is a HUGE Mistake

Written by Stephanie Padovani

What most couples who are planning a wedding don’t know is that saving money by hiring an amateur DJ for your wedding comes with a high price tag.  Before you make a decision you regret, here are some things you need to know.

 

1. There’s a high probability that a cheap (or free) DJ won’t be in business by the time your wedding arrives.

Many low-priced DJs aren’t charging enough to support their own businesses for the long term; you’re just financing their hobby.  Meanwhile, your wedding is 6-12 months away or more.

We’ve received those calls from desperate couples who had a “friend of a friend” DJ cancel on them last minute.  It’s not pretty.

Do you want to risk the possibility that the cheapie DJ is bankrupt and out of business before your big day?

2.  Amateurs are less invested in their performance than a wedding professional.

The amateur DJ is doing it “for fun,” and if something goes wrong, it’s not a big deal.  A wedding professional, on the other hand, risks his entire reputation and livelihood with every performance.  One bad review can destroy his business and he knows it.

At one wedding, the DJ brought along his wife and newborn.  Their table was littered with McDonald’s bags and his wife decided to breastfeed the baby during dinner.

Would you rather have an entertainer who is 100% invested in his business and performance on your wedding day or someone who does it as a hobby?

3.  A wedding is a unique event that require the skills and experience of a wedding specialist for a smooth, flawless ceremony and reception.

It’s about more than just playing music.  Your wedding DJ is responsible for coordinating the timeline, orchestrating the introduction and flow of events, working with your other vendors, managing the guests, reading the crowd and making sure the right song is played at just the right time.

Even a DJ who is quite experienced in the club setting will be at a loss because she simply isn’t familiar with the flow of events and how to prevent disasters when something goes awry.

One inexperienced DJ mistakenly announced a special dance with the bride and her grandfather because he forgot to update his notes.  The entire family started crying because Grandpa had passed away two weeks earlier.

Are you willing to place the outcome of your wedding in the hands of someone who doesn’t “do” weddings for a living?

4.  Your guests won’t dance without an experienced entertainer who can read the crowd and keep the momentum going.

You have to play the right songs at the right time and in the right order to maintain dancing.  Oftentimes, the mood changes and your entertainer needs to change the program to maximize the dancing along the way.

If she can’t mix from one song to another, you’ll have gaps of “dead air” or awkward rhythms that will frustrate your guests and clear the floor.

Many couples think that providing an amateur with a set list of songs they love will be enough to make a fun wedding.  It’s not.  You need someone with experience to work with your requests and what your guests are responding to in order to avoid an empty dance floor.

One bride regrets hiring her DJ because he played “Unforgettable” five times during the wedding because he didn’t know any other slow songs.

Are you willing to sacrifice the fun at your wedding to save money on a cheaper DJ?

5.  The MC (the guy or girl on the microphone) has a huge impact on the mood and outcome of your party, for better or worse.

An obnoxious DJ with an abrasive voice will irritate your guests and dampen the mood of the entire party.  Professional DJs invest in vocal training and practice to optimize their performance.

I personally witnessed one DJ and embarrass everyone by making suggestive comments to the bride over the microphone.

Do you want just anyone acting as your wedding host or do you want a professional speaker you can trust?

6.  Your special events may not happen if you don’t hire a specialist who’s experienced in channeling the flow of events.

Who will direct your bridal party and guests at the ceremony?  Who’s going to line them up for introductions?  Who’s in charge of making sure the toasts, special dances and dedications go without a hitch?

Just having the equipment and knowing how to push play doesn’t guarantee the people wrangling skills you need for a fun, smooth reception.  In most cases, your entertainer is the one who makes sure your special events are executed as you’ve requested.

One inexperienced DJ forgot to bring the couple’s First Dance song; they were forced to dance to Barbra Streisand, who they can’t stand.

Will you risk leaving your special events to chance or do you want to ensure that everything is done according to plan?

7.  An amateur doesn’t have the experience to include your unique requests in a way that truly expresses your personality AND keeps people dancing.

You can’t make your guests dance to the songs you like if they don’t feel the same way.  Your DJ needs to read the crowd and have the experience to build sets of music around your preferences.

An amateur DJ can play the songs you request, but lacks the experience necessary to make it work.

One bride told us her DJ played the unedited version of Sexxy Back during dinner and had five minutes of dead air while he queued up the next song.

Do you want your guests on the dance floor all night or is it acceptable to have large chunks of time with no dancing?

8. An amateur DJ has inadequate or non-existent backup equipment, which means that if something fails you have no music at your wedding.

A fully functional backup system on the premises is essential to making sure you have music at your wedding no matter what.  Most amateur DJs won’t have a backup plan if a speaker blows or a laptop crashes.

We were approached at the end of one wedding by a DJ in the next room who asked if he could “borrow our speakers” because his were broken.

Are you willing to takes your chances without a backup on your wedding day?

9.  DJs who charge less invest less into their equipment, which means you have inferior sound and performance at your wedding.

A stereo system that sounds great in your living room doesn’t sound good in a spacious wedding venue.  Professional speakers and equipment are necessary for clear sound that has impact at low volumes, so your guests can speak at the tables even while the dance floor is thumping.

If you want your guests to actually hear your exchange of vows at the ceremony, you’ll need professional equipment and an onsite tech to make sure that happens.

One DJ showed up at a venue for the first time without ANY speakers or mixer because he’s been told that he could, “use the venue’s sound system” and he didn’t call ahead to verify.

Are sound issues like blasting music or impossible to understand audio acceptable on your wedding day?

If you’re not planning to have any formal events at your wedding, and you’d like a cocktail party more than a dance party, it may make sense to save money by hiring a non-professional.  But if you’re investing thousands of dollars on creating the perfect day, please don’t jeopardize it by hiring someone who doesn’t know what they’re doing.

Your wedding day only happens once; make sure you hire a DJ who gets it right.

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Lake of Isles Wedding

Lake of Isles Wedding – The Wedding of Lauren & Chris

Lake of Isles Wedding – The Wedding of Lauren & Chris

 

Weddings like the wedding of Lauren & Chris don’t happen everyday…
The setting for their ceremony @ Lake of Isles at Foxwoods Resort and Casino was the quintessential New England fall wedding. Over 200 guests bundled up and headed to the shore to witness Lauren & Chris’s new beginning as husband and wife unfold.

After the ceremony, guests headed up to the clubhouse for the start of a magical evening. Guests of all ages were socializing, enjoying a tasty beverage and letting their inhibitions fly in our Funtastic Photo Booth. The bridal party was introduced to Rihanna’s popular club hit, ‘We Found Love (In a hopeless place)”  which set the tone for the rest of the evening.

High energy was where it was at. This group wanted to party. Thanks to Bethany and the amazing staff at Lake of Isles, dinner service was as much efficient as it was tasty. In just over an hour, over 200 guests were served appetizers, and 2 courses which is great for us because it allows the maximum time for dancing.

And speaking of dancing, there was LOTS of it. Guests young and old packed the dancefloor solid for nearly 3 hours straight and enjoyed hits from the 50’s to today. As we always do at the end of our weddings, we sent Lauren & Chris off with a bang singing and dancing to BEP’s The Time.

This wedding was all about Lauren & Chris. At the end of the night, hugs and goodbyes were exchanged. The very next day, I read Lauren’s review and was awestruck by the wonderful things she had said about us. Thank you so much Lauren. It means alot.

To read Lauren’s review, please visit our WeddingWire Page by clicking the link below. Stay tuned to our facebook page for video of Lauren & Chris’s wedding provided by mebCINEMA!

http://www.weddingwire.com/reviews/pryme-tyme-entertainment-winner-of-the-2012-2013-brides-choice-award-prospect/e3910f841d8badbd.html

Pond House Grill – Jillian Tabara’s Sweet 16

Pond House Grill – Jillian Tabara’s Sweet 16

There comes a time in every young girl’s life when she becomes a young woman. And when Jillian Tabara became 16, this was no exception.

Family and friends from around the globe as far as Hawaii gathered at The Pond House Grille for Jillian’s Sweet 16. The birthday girl was introduced along with her family and best friends in a near wedding introduction style. After introductions, she danced with her father, her step dad, and finally, one lucky gentlemen.

Guests enjoyed fine dining from the Pond House Grille and danced until the late evening. We uplit the room in pink and completed the high energy ambiance with some atmospheric haze and intelligent lighting making this dancefloor the envy of a downtown club.

Check out the video from Jillian’s Sweet 16 by clicking here.

If you would like to see pictures from Jillian’s sweet 16, ‘LIKE’ us on Facebook and click the link below. Stay tuned to our facebook page.
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151704413628862.1073741847.60186428861&type=3