Brendan’s Blog

I just received my invitation to take part in the 2008 Rachel’s Lakeside Bridal Fair, so I’m happy to report that I’ll be there for my fourth consecutive year. It’s a fun show, with a continuous fashion show and plenty of prize giveaways. The 2008 show will be taking place on February 24th, and admission is free. Look for me in the Bellagio room, next to the Slade Formalwear booth.

Rachel’s Lakeside is located at 950 State Road in Dartmouth MA. The show starts at noon and runs until 3 pm.

Last week I had two cancellations - both were class reunions scheduled for Thanksgiving weekend, and both were cancelled due to lack of interest. For whatever reason, people in Middleboro and Franklin who graduated in 1997 just aren’t ready to go back and see their old classmates. Additionally, I checked with some of my fellow DJs and found that very few of them were DJing class reunions this year. We determined that there are so many ways to stay in touch nowadays, and anybody who wants to keep in contact with their high school friends can do so pretty easily - especially through networking sites like Myspace and Facebook. As a result, fewer people see the value in paying $50 per person for a night of food, dancing and conversation with their old schoolmates.

It’s sad, really. From my own experiences, one of the best things about attending a class reunion is seeing how much people have changed - even the people that you weren’t ever friends with in the first place. Is it worth the price of admission? Absolutely, 100 percent.

Based on those two cancellations (and a surprise weekend off for me), I’m starting to think that the class reunion is headed for obsolescence. I hope I’m wrong.

Jenn and Pat are probably one of the most easy-going couples I’ve worked for this year, and I’m sure that everyone who was part of their wedding on Sunday will be talking about it for years to come. The ceremony and reception both took place at the Holiday Inn in Taunton; the ballroom decor included a wooden archway built by the bride’s grandfather and a playing-card theme throughout the room. Of course, the head table featured the King and Queen of Hearts. :)

Although lots of planning went into their wedding day, the bride and groom weren’t too specific about the styles of music I should play. They did supply me with a handful of special requests in advance (including lots of parent dances, noted below), but the rest was up to me and I delivered a perfect party. In fact, most of the 120 guests were dancing right through the soup and salad courses! I did change things up a bit during the main course to give everyone a chance to enjoy their dinner, but once the plates were cleared it was a non-stop dance party until the very end. Everyone loved it!

Jennifer & Patrick’s First Dance: “Nothing Else Matters” - Metallica
Bride/Father Dance: “I Hope You Dance” - Lee Ann Womack
Bride/Stepfather Dance: “My Wish” - Rascal Flatts
Bride/Mother Dance: “In My Daughter’s Eyes” - Martina McBride
Groom/Mother Dance: “Simple Man” - Lynyrd Skynyrd
Last Dance: “The Lady In Red” - Chris DeBurgh

The bride changed into a gorgeous red dress for the last dance - it was a perfect finish to an amazing day. Congratulations, Jenn & Pat!

I made some upgrades to my blog this week, some noticeable (a nice new blue design) and some not-so-noticeable (a software upgrade). Everything seems to be running smoothly so far, but if for some reason you’re having trouble accessing or reading this blog, please contact me. Thanks!

I want to take a moment to mention John Allo, a friend and fellow DJ who passed away on Sunday. I had known John for a number of years - we met at the John Carver Inn in Plymouth when I was packing up from an afternoon wedding and he was getting ready for an evening event. We kept in touch from that point on, and for a couple of years we were neighbors in the town of Rockland MA. Unfortunately, John was forced to retire from DJing a few years ago due to the health problems that claimed his life, but he still took the time to give advice to fellow DJs. John was an innovative guy - he invented the “Bubble Parties” concept that’s now used by a number of DJs nationwide, and he also created SouthShoreWeddings.com, a local wedding resource.

John will never be forgotten.

Now that I have just a few weddings left on my 2007 calendar, many of my event recaps will be about other types of events: class reunions, holiday parties, birthday parties and other occasions, plus the monthly dance at St. Bernard’s Church in Assonet. It was another sellout for the church, and as usual, it was an energetic night of fun. Some of the requests included the ever-popular “Cotton Eye Joe”, as well as Timbaland’s “Apologize”. The most popular song of the night by far was “The Great Escape” by Boys Like Girls. Great tune!

The next dance will have a holiday theme and prizes for the best-decorated Santa hats. I guess I’d better get working on mine.

A bride recently posted a recommendation of my services to another bride; she was looking for a DJ in the Worcester area. So, just how far will I travel? Honestly, there’s no limit - whether it’s around the corner or halfway around the world, I’m up for the challenge. Of course, most of my events take place locally - Boston, Providence, Newport, Cape Cod, and everywhere in between. In general, I only market my services in those areas. However, I’m always willing to travel if someone really wants me to be part of their wedding day. As an example, next September I’ll be heading to Verona, NY.