A feature that we added to our line of services in 2008 was “Your Name in Lights”.  Nothing personalizes and adds elegance and sophistication to an event like this feature.  We have a few different options for our clients to give them the best effect for their event and venue.

We have two different styles of “gobo” projection.  “To start off I should define “gobo”.  A gobo is a piece of metal or glass, which fits into the gate of a profile spot
(light) and projects a pattern onto the set.”  For our application a gobo is a monogram, image, or names projected in light onto a surface.

The first method of projection is unique to Fingerlakes Entertainment.  We provide our clients with a Moving Head Effect Light with one of the many images or patterns being a custom designed gobo of their choosing.  This style of projecting your image is amazing!  Not only can we project the image but we can project it on any surface in the venue and change what surface it is being projected on by controller at any time.  For example:  During the first dance we could project the image onto the dance floor next to where you are dancing and rotate the image towards your guests for the best effect.  Later in the event we could project the image on the wall behind your table durring dinner, behind the cake durring the traditional cake cutting ceremony, and the list goes on.  Another great reason for this method is that during the party and open dancing we can program this image to be part of the programmed Intelligent Light Show which adds excitement and really entertains your guests.  Your image can be different colors and have different backgrounds depending on your specific requests and/or budget.

Here are two photos of what we can do for you with this applciation of gobo projection.

The second method is to use a static gobo projector… meaning the image or gobo will be projected on the same surface throughout the duration of your event.  This method of projection has its benefits in the way Fingerlakes Entertainment utilizes but is a more basic approach.  This method is more affordable but still very effective.  We can provide different backgrounds to the image or lettering and even use movement and video clips upon request.

For more information on “Name in Lights” and for availability and pricing please contact us.

What can I say but FUN!!!  Felix and Amanda’s reception was one of our final receptions of the year and it was also one of the most memorable.  Rather than give you the recap… watch for yourself!

Amanda and Felix’s Epic Performance

Saturday November 11th had DJ Brew and myself back at Esperanza Mansion for Felix & Amanda’s Wedding Reception. Felix and Amanda were so much fun and entertained their guests with a very high energy wedding party introduction, and then performed a surprise duet.

The room looked beautiful as always and even though we had a speaker outside under the tent for guests who ventured outside it really never had an audience as it was very cool and well, we were doing such a good job inside that our dance floor was packed the entire night.

Felix, Amanda and their friends were so much fun an provided us with a plethora of requests that we played and went over big! Some of the interesting requests that got a great reaction were The Outfield’s-I Don’t Want to Lose You Love, Eddie Money’s-Take Me Home Tonight, and Whitney Houston’s-I Have Nothing. During the latter, Amanda and one of her bridesmaids asked for the microphone and sang the song with
everyone else. Based on their reaction to these songs, I inserted Cheaptrick’s-I Want You To Want Me, and we slowed it down with The Cars-Drive.

Recap:

Wedding Party Intro Song: Arcade Fire-Wake Up (Custom Instrumental Loop)
Felix & Amanda Intro Song: Electric Light Orchestra-Mr Blue Sky
Surprise Duet Performance: Moulin Rouge-Elephant Love Medley (Karaoke Version)
First Dance: Iron & Wine-Such Great Heights (Postal Service Cover)
Wedding Party Dance: Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova-Falling Slowly
Cake Cutting Song: Coldplay-Viva La Vida
Father/Daughter Dance: John Denver & Placido Domingo-Perhaps Love
Mother/Son Dance: Johnny Cash-In My Life
Bouquet Toss Song: Nicole Kidman-Diamonds are a Girls Best Friend
Garter Removal & Toss: White Stripes-Seven Nation Army
Reverse Garter: Peggy Lee-Fever
Last Slow Song: Ryan Adams-When The Stars Go Blue
Last Anthem: Journey-Don’t Stop Believing

Our Base System Package with static uplighting.

Speaker outside for background music throughout event. I programed an MP3 player with selections.

Cocktail Hour.

First Dance.

Wedding Party Dance.

Dinner Hour.

Father/Daughter Dance.

Open Dancing.

After hours Party and Pizza at Esperanza bar. Pizza was from Cam’s NY
Pizzeria in Penn Yan. Really good, and I had two slices of the Buffalo
Chicken Wing Pizza, really good!

Congratulations and thank you to Felix & Amanda, and thanks for reading!

On Saturday I entertained at the Inn On Broadway in Rochester, NY for Scott &  Lisa.  Scott & Lisa received a referral from a past client or guest at one of my previous receptions.  They wanted a low key entertainer and Scott is a fan of WBER 90.5 FM and my style and my alternative music background made me a good fit for their reception.
Scott & Lisa wanted a reception that was music driven without the stereotypical “wedding dj cheese”, and that’s our specialty!  Scott is a huge fan of the Cure and I worked in a few selections from the 80’s Alt Genre including Love & Rockets-So Alive, Spandau Ballet-True, Cure-Just Like Heaven.  Between Cake Cutting and Scott & Lisa’s Parent Dances I also played Sparks-Cool Places, which was on their request list and it got the energy flowing and be built on that once I opened the dance floor.

On a more personal note.  Scott & Lisa invited me to eat with their guests and I was seated with Scott’s co-workers and boss.  Scott works for Freetime Magazine in Rochester.  Freetime is an entertainment guide publication.  I sat next to Tom, the owner of Freetime magazine and we had a wonderful dinner conversation that started with learning about his company and then went onto the topics of local radio and TV, sports, and Finger Lakes Lodging, wineries, and dining.  I really enjoyed myself!

Recap:
Wedding Party Intro Song:  Mason Williams-Classic Gas
Scott & Lisa’s Grand Entrance Song- Brian Setzer Orchestra-Here Comes The Broad
First Dance Song:  Etta James-At Last (Scott & Lisa had been dating FOREVER and the song was fitting, as well as a pretty choice)
Parent Dance:  Louis Armstrong-What A Wonderful World (Lisa and Scott shared their parent dance to this song.)
Cake Cutting Song:  U2-Sweetest Thing

Lisa & Scott did not perform the bouqet or garter toss traditions.
Last Slow Song:  Cure-Lullabye  ( I selected this for Scott & Lisa)
Last Dance:  Donna Summer-Last Dance followed by The Beatles-The End both requested by the bride and groom.  As I started my tear down I also fit in a request from the Inn On Broadway Staff for a Led Zepplin song by playing Dy’er Mak’r and then my end to every event All American Rejects-Move Along.

This was the first time I’ve had the opportunity to perform at The Inn On Broadway and I was pleased to have one of the staff approach me after dinner and say that “they had voted in the kitchen… and we think you’re the best DJ we’ve had here”.  I love hearing things like this from venues because they see DJs in their establishment on a weekly or daily basis and I really appreciate accolades, and kind words from my peers.  Luis, the sales manager, and coordinator also commended me on a great event and said he’d love to have me back again, and I of course handed him a handful of business cards.

Here are some pictures from the event.  I worked this event alone which was the first time I’ve done so in a while, and I didn’t have a whole lot of time to take pictures.

View from behind my console.

Dance Floor View

Head Table

The room was ‘L’ Shaped and this is a view from the head table to the other wing of the dining room.  I placed a speaker in this section and used our wireless speaker system to provide ‘even quality’ sound for the entire room.  The guest farthest away from our main system were still able to hear announcements and dinner music at a comfortable appropriate level.

View of dance floor from head table.

The bar was in a separate room.  I provided a second wireless speaker for ‘even quality’ sound in the bar area as well.  This was great for cocktail hour and making announcements to have guests take their seats or to advise them of upcoming dances, or traditions.

Close up of the wireless speaker in dining room.

The Cake was displayed in The Broadway Room to the far end of the dining room.  I turned the wireless speaker towards this room for the cake cutting and the music was at a perfect level and I used my wireless microphone to congratulate Lisa & Scott after their cake cutting and to invite guests back into the dining room for dancing and while the Inn On Broadway Staff prepared the cake for dessert.

Unfortunately, my only open dance picture, believe it or not I was busy!

Thank you Lisa & Scott!

Thank you for reading.

 Saturday brought us back to the Esperanza Mansion on Keuka Lake, one of our favorite venues, for Chris and Elizabeth’s Ceremony and Reception. The Ceremony was great, overlooking Keuka Lake and while the weather was less then desirable with rain all day, it stopped for a short time during the ceremony and created a great background for some beautiful pictures. I however, left my camera inside and didn’t get any of the ceremony. I ran a wireless hand held on a stand for the efficient and readers, and provided a lav mic for Chris, which picked up both His and Bess’ voices during there vows. 
Ceremony went perfect! 

After the Ceremony, we proceeded to cocktail hour. Introductions were done a little differently where we first introduced all of the Groomsmen who entered in a big pack, and then introduced all the Bridesmaids who entered in a pack. It was kind of cool as they all came in with arms flying and hooting and hollering (as directed by there MC during line-ups) which really brought the energy levels up in the room. Chris and Bess entered to the Buffalo Sabres entrance song. So coming out of the BM’s and GM’s entrances into the Sabre’s entrance song, lifted the energy even more. 

From there we went into First Dances, Toasts and dinner. The overall night was very high energy as people began dancing even during cocktail hour and dinner.  

Chris & Elizabeth’s First Dance was to “My love for you is real” by Ryan Adams.

Father-Daughter Dance. “I hope you dance” by Leanne Womack

Mother-Son Dance. “A song for my son on his wedding day.”

Elizabeth, stealing from the cookie jar?

Open Dance

Open Dancing

Last Dance -

This was my last Wedding of the season and I don’t think I could have asked for it to end on a better note. Chris and Elizabeth were are a great couple who invited a fun and energetic group of friends and family members to join them for there celebration.

Chris and Elizabeth, Congratulations!

Technorati Tags: Esperanza Mansion, Finger Lakes Wedding DJ, Fingerlakes Entertainment

Earlier this year Fingerlakes Entertainment started advertising with Well Wed Magazine.  Well Wed Magazine is a publication aimed at Brides planning a luxury or high end wedding reception.  They provide their readers with amazing tips on the latest styles and ideas for wedding receptions.  My business over the past 4 or 5 years has been specifically in the Finger Lakes Region and occasionally in the Rochester, Buffalo, and Syracuse areas and I am looking to establish my company regionally and look forward to booking luxury and high end receptions in the Adirondacks, Capital District, Catskills, and Southern Tier regions.  The fall/winter 2008 Well Wed Magazine is currently out and can be purchased at Borders, Barnes & Nobles and other book/magazine retailers.  I would be happy to provide a complimentary copy to any of our current clients upon request.

Well Wed Magazine is absolutely beautiful and well put together.  They also have a website that includes a BLOG, Photo Gallery, Real Wedding Stories and Recaps and a “Bridal Board” forum/discussion area for visitors.  It is a really great place to ask questions, receive answers and find out the latest styles, trends, and ideas that wedding experts, and other brides are using to make their reception unique.

To Promote Well Wed Magazine I have a few sets of tickets to the Well Wed Magazine Hudson Valley Wedding Affair November 15 from 3pm to 7pm at the Livingston Mansion in Hudson, NY.  This is a very exclusive event and the tickets are are valued at $35/couple or $25/single attendee.  If you have the ability to attend this event please send me an email or phone call and I can provide you additional details and forward you tickets.

Due to prior obligations I am not going to be attending the Well Wed Magazine Hudson Valley Wedding Affair but am planning on participating at the Well Wed Magazine Finger Lakes Wedding Affair in Skaneateles at The Lodge on February 7, 2009.  I look forward to meeting some of you there.  I’m excited about meeting fellow advertisers in Well Wed Magazine and some of “my old friends” who also advertise in Well Wed Magazine, particularly Heather & Lauren from the Aurora Inn.

Make sure to check out the latest issue of Well Wed Magazine!

Thank you for reading!

My first Fingerlakes Entertainment featured Wedding Vendor is Tom Mike Photography.  I’ve had the opportunity to work with Tom on a number of different occassions and he is so fun to work with!

Tom not only is fun to work with but he provides his clients with service and an finished product that is amazing and unique.  Tom provides service in the Finger Lakes Region but travels all over the North East for “the right” wedding.  Tom’s work is beautiful and he is a preferred photographer at a number of different Finger Lakes Venues including Esperanza Mansion where I’ve worked with him on a number of occasions.

Tom is proud of his work and has a very informative and stylish website and there is an abundance of examples and samples of his work there. 

Tom has impressed me with his flexibility and through the relations he creates with his clients.  He is very easy to work with which is a very important detail when planning a reception because the photographer will most likely be with you from the start of your day to the end and having to be close to someone you don’t like isn’t exactly comfortable and something you don’t have to worry about with Tom Mike.

Here are links to a few slide shows of events that Fingerlakes Entertainment has had the pleasure of being a part of and working with Tom Mike Photography.

Melissa & Ranko at Esperanza Mansion

Heather & Justin at Esperanza Mansion

Sarah & Stevent at Esperanza Mansion

Kara & Brent at Heron Hill Winery

Kerry & Sean at Inn On The Lake, Canandaigua

This weekend was the first weekend since April where I didn’t have atleast one wedding.  It was really nice to have the weekend off but I really missed having an event and can’t wait to get back out there this up coming weekend!

On Thursday night I performed for a local group of Girl Scouts as they started their annual Girl Scout Cookie Drive.  Approximately 200 girls, their Service Unit Leaders and parents were in attendance.  What a fun time and it was nice to play a different genre of music that I don’t get to listen to very often.  I can tell you this…  pre-teen girls love the Jonas Brother!  Unfortunately I didn’t have my camera with me to take any pictures.  I would like to thank Marie from the Three Sisters Girl Scouts Service Unit for contracting us and we look forward to working with her again with the Girl Scouts and with the Episcopal Diocese of Rochester where we’ve done events for her before as well.  Thanks again Marie!

On Sunday morning my son Max and I went for a morning drive and out to brunch.  We ended up in Bath, NY and ran into one of my favorite people to work with in the industry Tom Mike.  Tom is a phenomenal Wedding  Photographer and I’ve had the opportunity to work with him on a number of ocassions.  Tom and I both have a  preference and love for Esperanza Mansion and we both are lucky enough to have a great relationship with the staff and management there and they prefer, and refer both of our services due to our style and quality of service and product.

Tom and I had a chance to catch up on events since we last worked together earlier this month and talked about our off-season plans and our outlook and schedule for 2009.  Tom is in the process of changing his logo and some of his marketing material and I look forward to seeing his “new look” once its unveiled.

After meeting with Tom I got the idea to do a monthly blog spot on some of my favorite Wedding vendors.  Hopefully this will be a good way for some of my clients and readers to learn not only about us and who we like to work with but to learn more about some of the regions premiere wedding vendors and to give you a personal look into their business.  I’m even thinking of doing this as an “interview” style entry instead of just a review, but we’ll see what time and ambition allows in this new feature.

I’m going to bring this entry to an end give Tom Mikes review its own entry.

Thanks for reading!