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school dance dj in ct, prom dj in ct, homecoming djs in ct

Prom advisor tips – Hiring the right prom dj

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Prom advisor tips – Hiring the right prom dj

Being a prom advisor can be a daunting task. You’ve got a budget to figure out, students to make happy, and the administration’s microscope on every decision you make. So how do you pick the right entertainment for your school?

The $300 dilema.
Three Hundred Dollars seems to be the number that is carelessly tossed about in conversation when it comes to disc jockeys. Why is that? It all depends on who you ask. $300 won’t get you very far. The old adage “Good things aren’t cheap and cheap things aren’t good.” is very appropriate when it comes to hiring entertainment. So what should you look for?

Your prom DJ should be professional through and through. They should have commercial liability insurance to protect your school and themselves should an emergency arise. They should have experience with students and a clean track record. They should use a music subscription service like ‘PrimeCuts’ that updates their music library weekly with CLEAN and Radio Friendly music. They should have ample equipment to facilitate 500 students or more and not use things like iPods or consumer grade equipment. They should offer lighting that is event appropriate. And last but not least, the should have references.

All of these items mentioned are crucial to the success of your prom. And by the same token, those things come with a price tag. In the end, it’s all about value and how much your peace of mind is worth. When it comes to proms, remember one thing. It’s one night. You get one shot. There are no do overs. It’s got to be PERFECT.

country wedding, bill millers castle, country dj, country wedding dj

Country Lovin @ Bill Millers Castle

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Country Lovin @ Bill Millers Castle

June was a great month here at PTE. SO much going on with proms, corporate events, fundraisers, and of course… weddings.
June 15th we were at Bill Miller’s Castle in Branford, CT for Laurie & Joe Novotny’s wedding. After a 2 week period of inclement weather, mother nature took the day off that day. There wasn’t a cloud in the sky and the sun was shining bright for a balmy summer wedding.

Inside, guests were treated to a tasty buffet and drink followed by square dancing. That’s right. Square dancing. It was a fun way to get the audience involved and out on the dance floor. We finished up some traditional wedding favorites and our first wedding of the season came to a close.

Joe & Laurie travelled to Alaska for their honeymoon for a great outdoor adventure.
A big thank you to Laurie & Joe for choosing us for their special day and to Bill Miller’s Castle for making us feel welcome.

Burr Homestead Wedding – Lauren & Jon

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Burr Homestead Wedding – The wedding of Lauren & Jon

Last night was a wedding for the ages. The marriage of Lauren and Jon took place at the Historic Burr Homested in Fairfield, CT. Lauren, Jon an guests were from the greater NYC area. That being said, their expectation of what a wedding DJ from CT was probably a lot different than what you’d expect. The fancy tuxedo, the golden microphone, maybe some mexican party hats and a few blow up instruments. But on this night, the music took them on a journey through the 5 boroughs. From the sounds of Frank Sinatra and the rat pack at  Radio City Music Hall, to the hip hop capitol of the world, Brooklyn, NY.

After a two and a half hour cocktail hour and Mediterranean influenced smorgasbord of delectable food, guests also enjoyed a candy bar that would even leave WIlly Wonka himself in awe. Every tasty treat from childhood from cotton candy, candied and caramel apples and even a smores station were featured.

Once the guests had their fill of champagne and sugary confections, the estate turned full swing into a house party. This wealthy, white collar town was shaken to it’s core when the music started. After a 4 hour marathon of dancing and singing, it was time to bring this party to a close. The night ended with a hug and a smile from the newlyweds and it was time to head back to the office.

Check out some video from last night’s wedding,.

Elm Court Estate Wedding – Constance & Austin

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Elm Court Estate Wedding – Constance & Austin

September 15th 2012 marks the day that Connie Chace and Austin Neudecker joined hands in matrimony.
Over 200 guests were in attendance for the vows at the Vanderbuilt Family’s ‘Elm Court Estate‘ in Lenox, MA. The newlyweds spent their 9 year courtship travelling the globe from country to country seeking out  adventure and experiencing the different cultures around the world.

The wedding was non-traditional to say the least. An hour and 15 minutes of vow exchanging, stories, and rememberances followed by another hour and a half of blessings, poetry and song. The food was eclectic and featured dishes from the places that they had visited around the world including India, Japan, Italy, Germany and others. The imported wine and beers from around the world also made an appearance for this marathon wedding reception. After a 2 hour dinner and a video narrated by the newlyweds, the dance floor was open to all to enjoy. For four straight hours into the early morning, the music room of the estate was transformed into a nightclub atmosphere complete with colorful uplighting to highlight the already beautiful architecture of the mansion. It was a heart pounding, fist pumping all out dance party that left even the most conservative of guests jumping for joy.

By 12:30 am the majority of the guests were pretty tired after the high end swaray but found one more burst of energy for the last song, “The Time (Dirty Bit) by the Black Eyed Peas” came on and the words “I’ve had the time of my life” could be heard throughout the estate. It was a wedding of epic proportion and one that noone would soon forget.

Little Italy comes to The Candlewood Inn

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Little Italy comes to The Candlewood Inn

The first of September as I remember it was a perfect day for a wedding. Vic and Crystal Vicenzi thought so too.

Vic and Crystal Vicenzi were married on September 1st at the Candlewood Inn in Brookfield during a beautiful Connecticut sunset with Candlewood Lake as their backdrop. Hues of orange and blue could be seen in the dusk sky as the sun began setting behind the mountains surrounding the lake. After this beautiful ceremony took place, the party began. Guests were treated to exquisite cuisine from the chefs at Candlewood. The music selection for the evening was reminiscent of a class of 1990 something’s prom. Artists like Bel Biv Devoe, Tony, Toni, Tone and  many other 90’s one hit wonders set the mood for this 30 something crowd.

The champagne was flowing, the singing was plentiful, and the dancing left guests looking like they had just run the Boston Marathon. Pryme Tyme Entertainment‘s funtastic photo booth also made an appearance and was a hit with guests. Mark Boisvert from mebCINEMA took video of the ceremony and festivities which will be featured in Pryme Tyme Entertainment‘s next wedding promotional video. The video should be out sometime in mid November and will be posted on YouTube, Vimeo, Facebook, Twitter, and many other media outlets.

All in all, this wedding was a 10 out of 10.

Party in Poughkeepsie Grand Hotel

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In June, Pryme Tyme Entertainment rolled in to the Poughkeepsie Grand Hotel in Poughkeepsie, NY for the Valencia Sweet 16. We entertained over one hundred guests for an intimate Sweet sixteen party. Parents, kids, and grandparents alike enjoyed fabulous cuisine and a posh lounge atmosphere. There were a few of the guests that could have been taken for music royalty. And when I mean royalty, who else but the Jackson five. Well, in this case, the Jackson 4.

After dinner the room erupted into a full on dance club atmosphere that would leave five boroughs worth of New York City club jumpers green with envy. Friends and family of all ages danced the night away until the late evening and went home exhausted and soaked with perspiration. It was the perfect end to an already perfect evening. Poughkeepsie, YOU ROCK! We’ll see you on the road… Thanks to the Poughkeepsie Grand Hotel for being fantastic hosts!

 

Pryme Tyme Prom DJ to the RESCUE!

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Pryme Tyme Prom DJ to the RESCUE!

I was sitting home on the first Friday night I have had off in quite some time. The house was quiet and my wife had taken my son to Pennsylvania for the weekend. I was sitting in my office contemplating what I might have for dinner when suddenly the phone rang.

It was one of my fellow colleages, Mike.

Me: Hello?
Mike: Hey guy! How ya doing?
Me: Not too bad. What’s up?
Mike: Hey, whatcha doin’ tonight?
Me: Nothin’. Why what’s up?
Mike: Feel like doing a prom?
Me: Ummmmm. Yeah! Sure. Why not. Give me the details.

Mike had told me that there was a school at the Aqua Turf Club in Plantsville who’s prom DJ was a no call no show for their prom. The students were arriving and sitting down to dinner when he had called. He said, “Ya better get movin. How long till you can get there?” “An hour” I replied.

I loaded my van faster than I ever had before and raced off to the Aqua Turf. Mike and Don (Assistant Manager at the Aqua Turf) helped me load in as quickly as possible and in 15 minutes flat, we had a 10,000 watt sound system and a simple color wash light show for the prom. Here is a video from that night…

I had found out a few weeks later that the prom DJ who was supposed to do the prom had closed his business and didn’t tell anyone. The school could not be more thankful and had invited PTE back the following week for their Junior Prom.

I had gotten a call just a few days after the junior prom from yet ANOTHER school who had paid their DJ in full and they had not heard from the company after countless attempts to contact them. I remember the adviser telling me, “One of our teachers saw your EMERGENCY PROM video on Facebook and said that you were able to save the day. If I can’t get a hold of this guy, can you be ready at a moments notice?” I happily replied, “I am at your service.”

Their DJ did eventually get back to them 24 hours before the prom and the show went on as scheduled. Both schools had chosen the bargain basement prom DJ for their prom and paid them in full. In the first instance, the school lost their money and now had to pay PTE for their Senior and Junior proms. And both schools were not met with the professional courtesy of open communication.

When choosing your entertainment for your next event… Be it a wedding, a prom, a sweet 16, or any other occasion, just remember one thing. You get one shot. Make it count. No one has ever left an event with the memory of chair covers and matching bows for each chair, the dinner rolls, or the chocolate fountain. They will however remember if they danced and enjoyed the evening. Your Prom is a once in a lifetime experience. Don’t you deserve the best?

Hawks Landing Wedding – Steve & Laureen

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Last weekend PTE had the pleasure taking part in the celebration of Steve & Laureen’s wedding at Hawks Landing Country Club in Southington, CT.

The first thing that I noticed when I arrived is the very down-to-earth, cozy atmosphere that Hawks Landing had in the room. Seeing as it was the first wedding of 2012, this was a very welcoming experience to ring in the new season. I was greeted by the  event coordinator, Jamie. Jamie is new to Hawks Landing and was recently promoted to her new position. She handled the wedding VERY well. She has a passion for what she does and made Steve & Laureen’s guests, wedding professionals, and most importantly the bride and groom very comfortable. That is a DREAM for every wedding vendor. When the venue takes into consideration every little detail from a services perspective, the wedding is an absolute success.

The afternoon started at about 4pm with some light refreshments and conversation. The music that Steve & Laureen had picked out was not your typical “Weather Channel Kenny G“, instead they wanted a repertoire of classic rock, and some familiar songs that everyone likes to sing along to. Sweet Caroline was a big hit during dinner and it was clear how many Red Sox fans we had in the room.

Steve and Laureen elected to skip some of the typical formalities and get right to heating up the dancefloor following cake. The first song out of the gate was ‘It takes two’ by Rob Base & DJ EZ Rock. Although there were MANY different genres played that evening, most of the requests came from the late 80’s through today. We played motown, funk, new age, hard rock, hip hop, r&b, techno, and threw in a polka for good measure.

By 8:45, people were starting to wind down a bit. But they weren’t getting away that easy. We ended the night with a killer mix and sent the people home to ‘The Time’ (Dirty Bit) by the Black Eyed Peas. By this time, the suit jackets were off, the heels are nowhere to be found, and the guests who were wearing their Sunday best looked as if they had hit the treadmill at the gym.  It was then, when both the bride and groom came to me with open arms and said, “Thank you Aaron. This was perfect. You were amazing. It couldn’t have gone any better.”

Congratulations to Steve & Laureen on their marriage. We are so happy we were a part of one of the happiest days of your life. Cheers!

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School Dances: Back to the grind

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School Dances: Back to the grind…

I recently saw a post in a mobile DJ forum that seems to be a hot button lately for school dances. The grind issue.
Now speaking from my experiences from when I went to high school, the “dance” trends were a little different. It was all about who could show off their best MC Hammer or Michael Jackson moves or maybe a battle of the headbangers would ensue when Metallica was played. My parents did the twist and the stroll. And their parents did the swing and the foxtrot. But kids today are pushing the envelope and grinding teachers and faculty down to a fine powder.

So what is grinding exactly? To put it metaphorically, it is a vertical expression of a horizontal desire. This type of “dancing” is inappropriate for people of this age group and teachers are counting on us as entertainers to enforce strict “no grinding” policies when it comes to school dances. That being said, where does the responsibility lie? The DJ is there to provide music entertainment for the students and faculty. The chaperones and teachers are there to ensure that the school dance is a safe environment for the students. A true experienced professional who specializes in youth events would never encourage his audience to participate in destructive or lewd behavior.

So, what can we do as DJs to help create a fun environment without grinding? It’s simple.
Every consult that I go to with a school I always say the same thing. “Grinding for kids is like a big red button. The more you tell them not to push that button, the more likely they will.” I’m sure we can all remember when we were teens, we pushed boundaries and tested the waters to see how far we could go. The truth is, most students are there to have a good time. Not all kids participate in grinding. The best thing a school could do is to leave well enough alone and take care of the few “bad seeds” when necessary. The DJ can also support this by playing more upbeat songs with a higher BPM. Engaging the audience with a simple, “PUT YOUR HANDS IN THE AIR. NOW EVERYBODY SCREAM” is a sure fire way to keep the excitement up and the grinding to a minimum.

All of these small steps can be taken to keep the kids happy, the faculty happy, and the DJ happy. So just remember the next time you are planning your next school social event… Don’t stress over grinding. Just plan on having the time of your life…

Weddings, Entertainment, and You

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Weddings, Entertainment, and You

Just over a year ago a bride called our company inquiring about services for her special wedding day.

She is looking to make her wedding the perfect day with every detail. From the perfect facility ($15,000), the perfect dress ($8,000), open bar for 200, a 7 course meal. You get the idea.

So, when she found out what it would cost for me to entertain her and her guests, she  simply gasped and said, “WOW! That’s a bit more than I wanted to spend” Once I explained just how much goes into the planning and customization that goes into her special day, she understood and decided she wanted even more.

Let’s think about what just happened there. With all of the other expenses incurred by the soon to be bride, the entertainment was simply an after thought. I asked myself a few questions after this consultation. “How many weddings have I attended? What did I remember the most? Did I enjoy myself? What made the experience enjoyable and memorable?” Was it the $8,000 dress? Or the $600 centerpieces that will eventually end up in the hands of the Maitre D’s girlfriend.  No, what I remembered most was the entertainment.

In most instances only 5% of the total budget for a wedding is spent on entertainment. Yet it is the #1 part of the reception people remember the most. So how should you hire your entertainment for your special day?

#1 Ask questions!

A well seasoned wedding professional will know weddings inside and out and will ask you what your vision is for making your day a great experience.

#2 Look for organization.

If the DJ you are interviewing looks disheveled on your first meeting and doesn’t have a well thought out presentation for you, stop and ask yourself, “I wonder what he will be like on my wedding day.” A professional will come prepared to speak with you about your day and inform you of all of the options he can provide you to make your reception a success.

#3 Ask for a proof of insurance.

State and Federal law requires companies to carry liability insurance. Noone plans an accident. But they do happen. You wouldn’t drive without auto insurance would you?

#4 Ask to see a copy of a contract before you book with your DJ.

A contract is a legal agreement that ensures that your DJ will serve you and that you will pay for services rendered.

#5 Ask  your DJ what they will do should there be an emergency?

Most mobile entertainment companies always have a backup dj should one be required. Backup equipment is also a must.

#6 Ask for testimonials and references.

Nothing will tell you more about the DJ you are about to hire than his previous customers. Check sites like weddingwire, theknot, and more for references and reviews.

#7 How much experience does your DJ have?

Most professional wedding  entertainers go through training with other seasoned veterans before their first wedding. This prepares them for anything from how to read a crowd to equipment operation and everything in between.

#8 Don’t settle! Shop around.

You are making a large investment in the perfect wedding. Make sure you feel comfortable with your DJ. The most important factor in finding the right DJ is making sure they are a good fit.

#9 Find the best value.

Remember the old saying your parent’s used to say… “You get what you pay for”
Just like vehicles, tools, and appliances, the same rule applies to entertainment. Value is perception in the eye of the beholder. This being said, think of your entertainment is an investment not just music.

#10 Call your DJ frequently before your big day!

DJ’s need to  know about changes sooner than later. This enables your DJ to make sure that your day runs smoothly as possible.

Follow these 10 simple steps when hiring an entertainer for your special day. And always remember, great entertainment makes for great memories.  I hope you enjoyed this article. We look forward to hearing from you!