Christina and Ryan requested that we provide the music and sound for both the ceremony and the reception which required two DJ systems; the main system was set up inside the reception hall and the mini-system outside for the ceremony.

Both the ceremony and the reception took place at the Villa Marie Winery. The wedding ceremony was performed on an island on the lake.  What a beautiful setting for a wedding.  The parents and the bridal party preceeded the bride across the bridge to the open air gazebo.  Christina was a vision as she walked with her father to join Ryan while the guests watched from chairs on across the lake. 

After the ceremony the guests walked inside to enjoy the grandeur of the Tuscany Room for the reception.  This picturesque setting may have looked like Italy, but it was actually the Villa Marie Winery in Maryville, IL!  This venue just began hosting events this year, and my first experience with them was great.  The setting is beautiful, the room is magnificent, and the service is first class.  Christina and Ryan’s family and guests love to dance and party, so the dance floor remained packed all night.  It was truly a memorable evening! 

Nearly two hundred of Natalie’s family and friends gathered at St Cecelia’s hall to celebrate her quinceanera.  This is the Hispanic tradition of recognizing a young girl’s coming of age - her 15th birthday.  After celebrating mass and eating an excellent meal, Natalie moved to the dance floor and lifted her gown enough to reveal she was wearing sneakers!  But not for long; her father emerged with a pair of high heels carried on a pillow.  He replaced her shoes, signifying her transformation from a little girl to a young lady.  Natalie then danced with each of the special men in her life - her father, godfather, grandfather, uncle, and brother.  Several hours of dancing followed, and I especially enjoyed watching and participating in the Spanish music dancing.  Congratulation Natalie!

Looking For A Job:  The Perspective Swings

by Ken Petersen / reprinted from Disc Jockey News

School is over, and you enter the employment hunt.

Your resume has all the pertinent information in clearly defined sections:

- How to reach you

- Objectives

- Summary of skills

- List of education

- Additional training

- Certificates and accreditations

- Work experience

- References

You know the next step in the job search is to get the resume out.

You have a great cover letter that expresses how you found out about the job opening and sets up dialogue for scheduling the interview.

You take an extracurricular class or two on job interviews.

You have practiced the interview numerous times with friends, roommates, or maybe even a few family members.

You get the call - a company is interested.  It’s a company you have stock in, you speak well of to your friends, and you really want to work for this firm!

The appointment is set.

This is your big break!  You have been preparing and waiting for this moment.  You know you are ready; you have put in the work to make yourself the best choice for the position.  It is now time to show this company you know what you are doing!

You are excited!  You may even dress one step higher than appropriate for the line of work you are interviewing for.

You’re there on time - actually 10 minutes early.

You can already envision working for this firm.

The HR Department calls you in…

The only question asked is simply, “How much do we have to pay you?”

There is no greeting, no handshake, no welcome, no offer to sit down or get comfortable, no query about anything on the resume.  HR doesn’t probe about history, education, skill sets, references, or even if you are over or under qualified for the job…just a lone question:  “How much are you?”

You are on the spot.  You are the interviewee.  You need to answer that question.

Your mind runs wild.  “What about my qualifications; why aren’t they asking about those?  The entire labor pool is out there, and I know I am the single best candidate for this position.  Is this company really looking for the cheapest labor?  What if I say I want $xx,xxx per year salary?  The next guy in the lobby is wearing jeans and a T-shirt.  He’s got a ticket for the company to sign off from the placement referral service so he can continue to collect unemployment and furthermore he is clueless - I know he is going to ask for less.”

Many couples that are planning a wedding unknowingly do this daily to many service providers within the wedding entertainment field.

Engaged couples are at that stage in life where the job hunt is very fresh in their minds; either they are about to start the search, right in the middle of it, or were recently placed in a nice job environment.

Wedding entertainers (mobile DJs) can be thought of as the candidates waiting in the lobby (your lobby - you are the employer).  They offer a service and a willingness to work for you.  Some DJs position themselves for the menial tasks.  Others, the better ones, can become your right hand.

Wedding DJs have a resume.  It’s their marketing; a website, their printed materials, and informational e-mail.  They have references to check such as thank you cards, happy clients, and reviews found online.  There is a confirmable work history:  ask your other vendors and check training, accreditations, certificates, and associations.  What have they done to earn a spot in your wedding budget?

Have some fun; pay us DJs back with the same thing you are going through (or went through recently).  Scrutinize.  Find the right employees for your own “wedding firm.”