Maui DJ Blog - Page 3

iPod vs. Wedding DJ

  Considering an iPod Wedding Instead of a DJ?     If you’re like a lot of cost-conscious couples planning a wedding reception, perhaps you’ve heard the buzz about putting on an iPod wedding. Here’s all you need to make it happen. If you don’t have the full setup, it can all be rented for $350-$500. Keep in mind that most rental companies will not drop it off and set it up for you.  But if you do find that company that will set it up for you, they will not have a technician standing by for troubleshooting.     Mixer   Plug your iPod into it. Then, the person who stays with the mixer and runs it all night long can balance the volume levels. Otherwise, you’ll hear one song at ear-splitting volume, and the next song practically …

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Rehearsal Dinner Toast

  I was asked a great question the other day and I wanted to share with everyone.  I wanted to give you something to think about when you are thinking about Toasts. The question was, “Should we limit the amount of people who want to give a toast at the reception? What about the rehearsal dinner, should we limit the toasts as well?”   So, I asked besides the bridal party and immediate family, who was going to be in attendance at the rehearsal dinner.  There are many traditions to consider, as well as who, when and where.  The Parents are going to want to say a little something because of the intimacy, The Grand Parents may chip in at this time as well.  Of course the Bride and Groom are going to say a little something.  Now at …

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Wedding Dance Song Playlists

  Aloha,   I’ve been asked a few times about my recommendations on what songs are a big hit or what do you think everyone will dance to. I turn around and tell my clients not to worry about those specific songs, we’ll set up a playlist to accommodate the ages and the various top songs of your favorite genres.  When a DJ asks you for your top 10 song choices, this is a great tool for your DJ to create a playlists that accentuates those choices. Example – “Return of the Mack – Van Morrison” – “No Diggity – BackStreet” and “Titanium – David Guetta.” These initial choices would point me in the direction that these clients enjoy more of a groove able mainstream R&B/Hip Hop and Dance type genres. Where a list like “Watermelon Crawl – Tracy …

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Kahoma Housing Project

Today is the final meeting where the Comittee votes to approve the Kahoma Housing Project. The Kahoma Housing Project is a project where they offer Families the chance to own their own homes on the Island of Maui. If you have ever thought of owning your own home here in Maui, you understand how difficult that process is. A basic 2 bedroom house is going for around $450,000. Many of Maui’s families are living 5 to 6 people per 2 bedroom home just to be able to get by. This housing project is a great thing for Maui Families. Ciara at CiaraQuam.com wrote an awesome blog about this (http://www.ciaraquam.com/blog/2013/03/20/maui-affordable-housing/). Wish her some luck today in getting this project pushed thorough.

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Follow Up to Wedding Price Mark-ups

Aloha, Well it seems after much attention over the past few weeks, ABC decided to pull their 20/20 edition of “Wedding Confidential.”  The word on the street was that this piece was completely one sided and edited in a derogatory fashion that made all DJs look like they were insensitive to a potential Wedding Client and just threw at them a dollar amount regardless of how in-depth they needed the service to be. If you read my previous blog (Wedding Price Mark Ups), you got my whole side to the story.  But feel free to ask me any questions and I’ll answer them to the best of my ability. Mahalo, Chris (DJ Serna808)

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News Report on Wedding Price Markups

Aloha,   http://youtu.be/JP8u_Ufue20   This news report hit the air waves on January 19, 2013. The report is about how companies hear the word wedding and automatically raise their prices by an average of 46% with regards to DJ Services. This report obviously is edited to make to favor the research, but with that being said, here is my reasoning to different prices from doing a 40th Birthday to doing a Wedding.   In performing at a 40th Birthday Party, I usually have 2 to 3 meetings with the client and will perform a site visit prior to the event.  On average the birthday party will consist of music, disco lights and a microphone to do a birthday announcement.  The event consists of 3 hours of play time.  Total planning is about 5 to 8 hours.   In performing …

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Wedding Date Is Set

  November 9th, 2013 is the Big Day.  Thank You to Kristy Morgan and Maui Maka Photography..!! Kristy took us to a few great places.  The “Old Train Station” and “The Prison” down in Lahaina.  We got some great photos and actually received a nice blessing from the Rain Gods during our shoot at the Prison.  This session was our “Save the Date” photos.  It was a fun experience.  Kristy & Maui Maka Photography will also be doing our Wedding in November.  Our event is going to take place in Launiapoko at a Private Estate.  This is definitely going to be an amazing day.

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