On Her Day

In December my first child stood facing a man I barely knew and pledged her future to be bound to his. In four weeks time, I give away my second child to the man she wants to share her life with and in six months my third child, will take another man's daughter to be his soul mate for life. My job will be done. I could have done so much better for the three of them, I hope it's enough.

Its come in to a sharper focus, that term, "Giving her away", I get it now. I will hold her hand for a moment as we take that slow sweet walk and when I place it in his, she will no longer be mine. It is as it should be, but it's bitter sweet.

I will spend the day taking care of her needs, doing every thing I can to ward off tears and fears. I will do for her what I done for every client I have had the honour to MC and DJ for; I will watch over her while she is by my side and when she is across the room, I will do my absolute best. I will guide her through the day, and shoulder any of the burdens that may arise so that she will not have to, and I will do so quietly and discreetly so that she will have no stress. I want only joy on her face on that day. I will give her a party that will make her heart sing, and will bring a smile to her, and her guest's face, every time they think back on it. Then when the lights come back on, and the last of the guests have gone, and I'm alone in the hall packing up my equipment. I think I might just cry.


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Twitter @PerthWeddingDJ

The Passion Blog

A lot of you who have been following my posts, my blogs, my presence on facebook will know I have a favourite word when it comes to DJing. 

I’ve been looking at what some of my fellow DJs have been writing and some of the serious and light hearted arguments that spring up across the boards as to what is real DJing and what is fake DJing. 

What is at the heart of it? What matters and what doesn’t matter. Honestly, whether you use the sync button, or you don’t. Whether you use vinyl, CDs or mp3s, doesn’t matter. Whether you DJ in your bedroom, or you DJ at weddings, whether you’re a club DJ or a mobile DJ, doesn’t matter. Whether you’re a single operator or a multi op, doesn’t matter, as long as, and here it comes, YOU HAVE PASSION, that’s all that matters. 

I’ve heard it said that it’s all about the music, well no its not all about the music, that’s an understatement, it’s all about what the music does! How it makes you and those listening to your performance feel. If you are playing in your bedroom with your headphones on and your skin is tingling, and your heart is racing, and your head is nodding and your foot is thumping down on the beat, and you are riding on the passion you have for the music, You Are A DJ.

If you are playing music to a crowd of 120 family and friends on the most special occasion in a couples life, and people are dancing to the music you are playing, and people are laughing and people are smiling and the room is humming and every song you play has a direct and positive effect on the crowd and on you, You Are A DJ. 

It’s not about Denon vs Pioneer, it’s not about vinyl vs digital, it’s not about old school vs new cool, it’s about the Passion. The passion you feel when you perform and if you’re lucky enough to perform for others, the passion you make them feel. 

You don’t have the passion then you should not be calling yourself a DJ. Practice and enjoy.

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Twitter @PerthWeddingDJ

KIDS SAY THE DARNDEST THINGS

Right off the bat I have to say that this is not my own material. I'd love to credit the original composer of this piece if anyone knows who that is.

1. HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHO TO MARRY? (written by kids) 

-You got to find somebody who likes the same stuff. Like, if you like sports, she should like it that you like sports, and she should keep the chips and dip coming. 
-- Alan, age 10

-No person really decides before they grow up who they're going to marry. God decides it all way before, and you get to find out later who you're stuck with.
-- Kristen, age 10

**********

2. WHAT IS THE RIGHT AGE TO GET MARRIED?
Twenty-three is the best age because you know the person FOREVER by then.
-- Camille, age 10

**********

3. HOW CAN A STRANGER TELL IF TWO PEOPLE ARE MARRIED?
You might have to guess, based on whether they seem to be yelling at the same kids.
-- Derrick, age 8

**********

4. WHAT DO YOU THINK YOUR MUM AND DAD HAVE IN COMMON?
Both don't want any more kids.
-- Lori, age 8

**********

5. WHAT DO MOST PEOPLE DO ON A DATE?
-Dates are for having fun, and people should use them to get to know each other. Even boys have something to say if you listen long enough.
-- Lynnette, age 8
(isn't she a treasure)

-On the first date, they just tell each other lies and that usually gets them interested enough to go for a second date.
-- Martin, age 10

**********

6. WHEN IS IT OKAY TO KISS SOMEONE?
-When they're rich.
-- Pam, age 7

-The law says you have to be eighteen, so I wouldn't want to mess with that.
- - Curt, age 7

-The rule goes like this: If you kiss someone, then you should marry them and have kids with them. It's the right thing to do.
- - Howard, age 8

**********

7. IS IT BETTER TO BE SINGLE OR MARRIED?
It's better for girls to be single but not for boys. Boys need someone to clean up after them.
-- Anita, age 9 (bless you child )

**********

8. HOW WOULD THE WORLD BE DIFFERENT IF PEOPLE DIDN'T GET MARRIED?
There sure would be a lot of kids to explain, wouldn't there?
-- Kelvin, age 8

And the #1 Favorite is .......

**********

9. HOW WOULD YOU MAKE A MARRIAGE WORK?
Tell your wife that she looks pretty, even if she looks like a dump truck.
-- Ricky, age 10


If you would like to discuss YOUR wedding, I can't promise the wit and charm of some of those little tykes, but I will listen. 

web: http://www.partysounds.com.au/
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Twitter @PerthWeddingDJ

Your Wedding Budget; where do YOU start?

The Wedding Budget

The word Budget comes up a lot when planning a wedding. Some couples don't have one, they get what they need, no more no less. Others without a budget get everything they want, and deal with the expense later.

Most of us however work to a budget, realistic or not, changing plans as we go, we fit within the amount allocated, or we change the amount, and increase the budget :) 

But what is a realistic wedding budget? After all this time assisting with weddings, I still don't have an answer. BUT I do have an approach. There are a myriad of sites online that suggest that you should put aside X% for this and Y% for that. None of which address YOUR wedding, just weddings in general.

So consider looking at Your wedding from the view point of what aspects are the most important to you, down through to those that are the least important. Is the Venue the paramount part of your celebration? Or the photographic/videographic memories? the Gown? the decoration? the entertainment? the Cars or the Cake? What will add the greatest contribution to the overall result you wish to achieve?

That, is where your budget should start being spent. As you work your way down your list, from those vital items to those that you have deemed as having lesser direct impact upon the day you want to achieve. Then those things can be decreased in expense. Invest well in the parts of the wedding YOU see as being important, get quality where it counts, and be frugal on the items that have less impact on your scale.

You do NOT always get what you pay for, but its a pretty good place to start.

You can follow me on: 
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Twitter @PerthWeddingDJ

NYE 2012 message, this time its personal.

Well it’s 3 o'clock in the am, on the 1st of January 2013 and I've just got home from a function. A NYE wedding, so I guess the first order of business is to wish you all, all the best for the New Year. I've been doing that a lot tonight; generically wishing family, friends, acquaintances and even total strangers "the Best" for the coming New Year. Although I did spend some time drafting a NYE message, that I sent to all my close friends and family, something that I really did want to pass on to them, a message that said more than just the cookie cutter standard all the best for the new year.

It got me thinking; I make a point of messaging my children at some stage during every function, a simple text telling them I love them. I want them to know that it is not just a generic, bland message. I want them to know that it is sent with definite intent. Think about it, how many times do we tell those around us something that important, purely out of habit?

So now that I have the opportunity, the means, and the motivation, I want to tell my three children that I love them and that I am so very proud of them.

My eldest daughter, Shannon, honey I love you so very much, you have grown into a beautiful person. And you are so very strong my girl, much stronger than you give yourself credit for. It makes me so very proud to see you grown from the girl you once were to the Mother and Wife you now are. Those three wonderful children have helped you blossom into someone so very different than the girl you used to be. You are butterfly now, bright, colourful and full of life.

Kimberley, the middle, forgotten one, you are my rock, always there for me and always the first to reply to my daily messages. You just naturally want help those around you, adopting sisters at the drop of a hat, and running around after them even to your own detriment at times. You need to watch that bub, not everyone is as kind natured as you are and sometimes, those you are helping are taking advantage of you. Very very soon now my daughter, you will be a mother yourself, and your world will change, I know your scared, but trust in yourself, your body knows what its doing. Your caring heart will find a very special focus then. Oh yes, give more love to the boy, he is confused and he needs it.

And now to my Son, Shaun, Boy you never stop amazing me. You have such a strong work ethic and life ethic, and you’re a damn sight smarter than I was at your age. I am proud of you son, you have a good job that your good at, and a solid long term relationship that other men your age should envy. While you will always be my boy, it is more and more apparent everyday that you are a man, and a good man at that.

I love how all three of you have a strong relationship with your grandparents, and I am so very happy that each of you has found someone special to stand beside you.

Always remember, I love yous.

My most important wedding to date

Its been a while, I know, and I really have no excuse, I've been busy, just like everyone else. But to help make up for it, I want to tell you about the most important wedding I've ever been asked to be part of.

I started to DJ for functions and Wedding receptions way back in the dark ages according to my children, heading off to events after carefully loading my rig into my cart and hitching it up to my dinosaur. It was after all 1989.

Since picking up my first set of headphones, and dropping that first needle on the vinyl, I've done hundreds and hundreds of events. Some of them have been very spectacular and others have been simple backyard affairs. I've worked in tents and embassies, Grand 5 star hotels and on the back of boats. It's hard, after all those clients, all those guests and all that music to zero in on one event as being my most important. If you've read along with me for a while, you'll know of my young lady with juvenile arthritis. You would have caught a glimpse of the Bride with a terminally ill mother, and you will know of my love for the Make-A-Wish foundation and the very brave children they help. But what is the most important function I've been involved with? Can I as a service provider even make that distinction? Each function I do is very important, to the Guests of honor, their family and friends, to their supporters, but what about to me. I get emotionally invested in every event I do, particularly weddings, where I spend far more time with the Bride and Groom building a relationship and learning about their goals and aspirations for the event, than I do with other clients.

What is my most important wedding?

Right now some are thinking to themselves, "I bet he gets mushy and says his own" it should have been, but it wasn't, and I'm going to digress here a little. Gentlemen, you must do everything you can for your family, but not at the cost if it.

Back on track. There is a young couple I'm helping at the moment, much like most young couples these days. She's a stay at home mum, who has just had their third child, considering part time work soon to help make ends meet. He's a bit of a jack of all trades, working hard to pay the bills and provide for his lady and their three little ones. Their wedding is coming up and I have the honor of being part of it. They're paying for most of it themselves, their parents are unable to help out financially, so these guys got a bank loan to replace their old bomb and pay for much of the wedding, still they are cutting back on the things they don't need. Tweaking guest lists and menus, arranging seating plans and learning their vows. We have spoken at length about their vision of their day and they have changed the theme once already to make some family members more comfortable. They have a very eclectic taste in music and some fantastic ideas for the first dance, and some fun moments through the night. Thankfully they are all healthy and there are no ailing relatives that make this a wedding with a compassionate time line, so what is it about this wedding.

Why is it my most important wedding?

The bride is my eldest daughter, my first born and the first one to wed. So proud to be asked to be part of her day.

You can follow me on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/Party.Sounds.Professional.DJs or you can pop over to my website: http://www.partysounds.com.au/ and bounce to any of my social media sites from there.

It's been a great week.

Despite the wedding season still being a few weeks away, this week has been really eventful and wedding focused. I've had four meetings with couples, three of those have been with future brides and grooms who have been looking for their wedding entertainment and the fourth meeting was with existing clients to do some more work on their planning, memorable moments and music selection. And on tomorrow night, for another couple, it all comes together at their wedding. Really looking forward to getting out from behind the desk and getting back behind the decks.

Yesterday's meeting was the cherry on the pie when it comes to those meetings though. I've know and worked with the Groom to be, for around two years, so building a rapport with him was never going to be an issue. But the Bride to be was an unknown, we had never meet before, and worst still shes in the wedding industry too. So I half expected her to be a little distant and maybe even a bit skeptical. Still if I let a little trepidation get in the way, I'd never get anything done.

I needn't have worried, we hit it off. Together these guys were so easy to work with, giving me a vision of their day in broad strokes, thoughtfully answering my questions, and allowing me to place highlights and splashes of color where I thought they would enhance the painting that will be their day.

We started off by first establishing the type of Wedding reception they want, with a little visualization. I asked both of them to give me a few key words that come to mind when they think of their reception as being a success. Those key words become our focus and reference point for the rest of the discussion and also our future planning meetings. They help us to decide almost every aspect of the reception that I will be involved in, and also help them keep on track with many other parts of the night as well.

I try to get a real feeling for what they want to achieve of the night, and they get to decide if I'm the guy they want to trust the night to. That's what the first meeting is all about, at least it is for me. I'm not one for closing the sale or asking for their commitment to use my services on our first date. It's about building a connection with my couples, and getting to know them well enough to decide if they want to work with me, and me with them. I will work for couples on occasion, but spectacular things can really happen when I get to work with them instead.

Oh yes, the cherry on top couple, they don't get married until the middle of 2014, so I expect they maybe the subject of a few more posts here as that painting of theirs takes on more definition, highlights and depth. Stay tuned.

You can follow me on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/Party.Sounds.Professional.DJs

or you can pop over to my website: http://www.partysounds.com.au/ 

and bounce to any of my social media sites from there. 

The things we do?

F824DKTZED3R

The right to wed?

As I've mentioned before, I get to see some beautiful things from back here, behind my DJ's desk. In the last few years, I've been lucky enough to attend well over 300 weddings. Some have been simple, sweet functions with a rejection of pomp and circumstance. And at others I've been involved in helping couples create awe inspiring masterpieces of romantic statement, which rivalled the grandness and magnitude of the very love the newlyweds felt. Then some have been heart warming unions of not just a Bride and her Groom, but of their families and close friends as well.

I have watched couples with hardly a base income exchange their vows, and I have helped the son of a socialite calm his nerves as he prepared to dance with his Wife for the first time. Some couples are cast from the same mould and others look as mismatched as Anna Nicole Smith & J Howard Marshall. I was there at the very, "her side - his side" wedding of a beautiful Indian bride, daughter to a family of wealth and position, as she stood beside her oil rig working "Aussie Bloke" husband and told her family to Get Over It.

I have been in tears at the hastily arranged reception of a British couple, as it was held here in Perth, so that the brides ailing mother could see her daughter wed. I've been the Master of Ceremonies at a wedding attended by 11 people and another attended by over 400. I have watched as slim brides’ married large grooms, and vice versa. I have had many multi cultural couples call on my services, Japanese tea ceremonies and Slavic drum dances float around in my memories. Heck I've even DJ'd and MC'd the wedding of a profoundly deaf couple where the only people in the room that were not hearing impaired where a handful of guests, my signing interpreter and myself.

I have had the privilege of being part medieval themed weddings and ultra chic ones. It has been so far a grand and strange rainbow of people celebrating one of our most basic of human needs. The only common thread that weaves its way through them all is the love of one person for another.

But you know that right now, as things stand in this beautiful wide brown land, I cannot watch a couple who love one another wed, if they are both of the same gender, and that, to me seems terribly wrong.

That might rub a few people up the wrong way. GOOD. We all need that from time to time, otherwise we get complacent.

You can follow me on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/Party.Sounds.Professional.DJs

or you can pop over to my website: http://www.partysounds.com.au/ 

and bounce to any of my social media sites from there. 

The new car analogy.

A young man walks onto a car yard in the top end of town and is soon approached by an impeccably dressed salesperson.

I'd like to buy a car, he says. The salesperson leads him into the showroom and straight up to a gleaming black 2 door sports sedan. The young mans face broadens to a wry smile, "just to get to and from work", he continues. Ahh comes the salesperson's response, as she leads our young shopper back out to the yard and over to a shiny small blue compact. The young man's smile widens, "It's 600 kilometers each way" he says, pausing just a little between each word. "I see" replies the salesperson undaunted, and beckons the smiling youth to follow her.

Several rows over and a few cars back, sits this years, stock standard 6 cylinder 4 door, in white. The rep makes a bee line to it. What do you think, she asks, "Closer, but I need something that can carry my tool chest." is the mans answer. "Right, right, I've got just the thing, this way then" comes the acknowledgement, as she heads off deeper into the lot, stopping now and then to ensure that the buyer is still with her. Finally she halts beside a late model, low slung, ever so slightly modified Ute.

"Well that will fit all my tools, but it will never get out to the site, what have you got in a 4 wheel drive?" Its the sales rep's turn to smile, at last, she has some direction from the guy. "petrol or diesel?" she fires back at him easily, flashing the pearly whites as she does so. "Diesel, definitely has to be diesel", he answers. "Ok, we have a one tonner over here that might be perfect" she says to him as she heads off once again. "Its not a problem I only have a grand to spend and I've been knocked back twice for credit, is it?" she hears him ask after her, and she thinks, this, this is going to be one, long, day.

Ok so the story is obviously quite contrived and salespeople would bounce a few questions off a prospective customer before giving them any options. But getting some detail before you try for a sale is not what this particular ramble is about. Its apparent that not every car was right for this fellow, and with his last question, its clear that not every customer is right for this car dealer.

News flash. Not every DJ is right for every client or function, and not every client or function, is right for every DJ.

You can follow me on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/Party.Sounds.Professional.DJs

or you can pop over to my website: http://www.partysounds.com.au/ and bounce to any of my social media sites from there. 

The three pillars SKILL

These few "Three Pillar" posts are my attempt to answer that initial question put to me: "How do couples find a Great Wedding DJ" and are directed towards those couples who are looking. Now that being said, if you are hoping to become a Great wedding DJ, then perhaps you can get something from the reading too.

SKILL it’s the first of the pillars I mentioned.

All the "Greats", regardless of their field of endeavour have skill. The actual ability to perform their respective "Great" and a Great Wedding DJ (GWD) is no different. The skills that a GWD brings to the table are a unique blend; there are the basic skills, like the ability to use, and setup the equipment they operate. Then there are more advanced skills, reading the room, controlling the flow on the floor, and creating maintaining and modifying a mood. And then, there is the "Great" skill set. LISTEN, ENTERTAIN, & MAINTAIN.

A GWD must listen.

Any wedding vendor that does not listen to their clients is not "Great", and honestly, I don't care if they have initials after their name, or a top floor office, or a luxury car and a Platinum card. If they are not interested in what YOU want, then kick them to the curb, say "Next" and keep looking. They should be asking questions and paying attention to your answers, then asking more questions based on those answers to find a motivation, so they can build a performance that goes to the core of your vision.

For example, I ask my clients to close their eyes and think about their perfect reception, and then give me 3 words that describe the perfect night that they want to achieve. Most will pause a little and normally one of those 3 words turns out to be "Fun". That’s perfect, the night should be fun, it is after all a celebration. BUT, if your wedding DJ doesn’t dig a little deeper, then it’s THEIR idea of fun and not YOURS. See where I'm going with this? If they don’t ask you questions AND then ask more questions acknowledging your answers they are not invested in your wedding, they may be adequate, but we are looking for Great. You want someone who makes the effort to find out what you want and what they need to do to make it happen.

I'll be back with my view on the Entertain and the Maintain parts of Skills soon.

You can follow me on Facebook here:https://www.facebook.com/Party.Sounds.Professional.DJs

or you can pop over to my website: http://www.partysounds.com.au/ and bounce to any of my social media sites from there. 

Back in Business

I experienced a brief moment of elation today, when I finally found my log in details after the office tidy up a few months ago.

The post will continue soon :)

The three pillars of GREATNESS (overview)

I was asked some time ago to write a piece for a web site to help couples find a great wedding dj. And being who I am, I started in a wild flurry of ideas and notes. I thought about that word "Great" and if I fell into that category (ego in check, I don't). I looked at the people who inspire me, I asked my family and friends to define it for me. I then started to think about the ideal wedding DJ from my point of view, from the clients and from the venues too, and then quickly got over taken by the real and immediate matters at hand. Making it happen, not writing about it, so, time to pull the notes and the thoughts together and put it all in one place.

I believe that there are three pillars that all "Greats" stand on, and yes there are exceptions to the rule, so first lets clarify what it is I'm actually writing about. "How do couples find a GREAT wedding dj" now those who've read a little of my ramblings will know that it can be exactly that rambling, but this one will keep circling back to that question above (see what I mean).

I'm approaching it from two view points (I hope) the clients, and of course, from behind the decks.

In my experience, (what little of it there is) people who are Great at what they do have similar traits. yes thats Great with a capital G, not "yeah great, wot ever" but the type of Great with a few exclamation marks after it ok? There are the practical aspects of their Greatness, the first of the two pillars.

1. SKILL; (Some are born Great) yes natural talent is the exception to skill. But only as a starting block, even those who are gifted, collect new skills and improve upon their existing ones.

2. EXPERIENCE; (Some achieve Greatness) there is no substitute for having a little dirt under your nails, if you haven't done the task, then reading about, watching others do it or talking to others about it, will not make you Great at it.

The third pillar is less tangible, yet in my opinion the most valuable.

3. PASSION. (Greatness thrust upon them) I touched on this last post, Passion is not passive. To be Great at any thing you have to be passionate about it, YOU HAVE TO BE PASSIONATE ABOUT IT. No grey area here,  no grammatically correct lower case type: PASSIONATE. (maybe a litte too much  http://garyvaynerchuk.com/  for me today?)

Let me bring this home now, back to the question; "How do couples find a GREAT wedding dj" 

This first step is important, so don't skip it.

How do you find a Great wedding DJ? Look for one. Seriously. If you want a Great DJ at your wedding, don't go looking for the lowest costing DJ, don't go looking at your local club DJ (no dis intended guys, I cant do what you do at the level you do it). Don't go looking in the newspaper classifieds. Look where you would expect Great wedding DJs to promote themselves. Wedding related websites, Wedding venues, Wedding Forums are all good places to start. Also don't forget the DJ Association type sites like http://www.djaa.com.au here in Australia, (a newer site) or the state level ones, and the guys in the know in the US http://www.wedguild.com/

Thanks for reading that wall of text, over the next 3 posts I'm going to take each of the pillars and DJize (its my blog and I can invent words here if I want to ) them. If you're looking for a Great wedding DJ or your on this side of the deck with me, I hope you'll find it worth the read.
_____________________________________________________________________
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Im a DJ and I know it.

Djing used to be what I did, but Ive come to realise that its who I am. Its not only how I define myself, but its also how other define me.

As I'm sitting here tapping away at the keyboard I'm looking around my office. There are light and speaker stands resting in the corner, a console in need of repair on the workbench beside it. Along with a pair of headphones and a soldering iron.

My desk is cluttered with CDs and paperwork, booking forms and workshop notes. And the bookshelf has more CD's, LP's and 45's on it than actual books. My diary is a blank during most of the day, but full to busting after dark. Personal social gatherings happen on weeknights because Friday and Saturday are my work days.

And you know what. I Love IT. I pity those people who must face a day at work doing what they hate, when I get to do what I love. I think that's the secret, Passion, no I know that's the secret. If you are passionate about what you do, you will always love doing it. You'll get frustrated at not going fast enough, or hard enough, you could be doing more, give more, be better. BUT you keep going and you keep doing, because that's the stuff of passion, its not passive, its aggressive. So there is the thing, if you don't feel a passion for the work, for the clients, or for the industry, move over because there's a revolution coming. DJ's who want more, not for them selves but for the industry and the clients.

If you want to know more about the author the website is www.partysounds.com.au or the twitter is PerthWeddingDj

The Question

You wouldn't walk into restaurant, and ask "How much for a meal?" and expect a definitive answer. Not without adding some more detail to the request. "We'd like to bring 20 people to your restaurant for dinner on Feb 14th, what would that cost us?" is better, but still won't give the restaurant the ability to work up a bill for you. There are more details to take into consideration, What Items from the menu will be chosen? Will you ask for an entree and/or desert? If so how many of the guests will indulge? Coffee? Alcohol? A private room or the main dining area? The list can be quite comprehensive before the final amount is settled upon. Yes, some restaurants will offer pre-determined packages, with set prices to make this process easier. But it will come at some cost to the personalisation of the dining experience.

Now what has this got to do with the View from behind the decks? Let me reword those questions above, quoted from emails I've received this week.

"How much for a DJ?" thats it, that's all she wrote, literally. Now, this is not the regular way that people ask for a quote from me, but it has happened.

"We are getting married on Feb 14th at XYZ Restaurant and would like you to DJ, what will that cost us?" is another example, of a recent quote request.

The entertainment at your wedding is not, SHOULD NOT, be a prepackaged fast food Burger, Fries and a Soft drink. There is a world of gastronomic delights waiting for you on the buffet of ambiance. Customised entries, love stories, dancing on clouds, mood lighting, MCing duties, memorable moments, personal touches, creative garter and bouquet events are just some of the thousands of options that can be brought to the table.

So next time you, or some one you know is looking for a service provider, give them some real detail or better yet, give them some of your time, so they can give you some detail. Together the Bride & Groom and the right Wedding Entertainment Specialist, can create a feast for the senses.

Wedding Entertainment Specialists no longer just slap a CD on the barbie. Bon appetit.

If you want more, check out my website www.partysounds.com.au or tweet @PerthWeddingDJ 

2012 The first Blogg

"And what have we done?, Another year over, And a new one just begun" -John Lennon & Yoko ono


Its a question that some of us will take a moment to reflect upon and vow to mend our ways, improve an aspect of our life or the life of those around us. Others will call themselves "realists" and point to the lack of conviction that most dedicate to the resolution of betterment, as reason not to give a second thought to the changing of the year. 

It is a arbitrary date for deciding your future, the tolling in of a new year. But without it, how many of us would even stop in that moment to consider our path thus far? Normally the desire to improve ourselves is born from a strong ongoing passion, or a sudden and powerful event. "it is only on the brink that people find the will to change". 

But why do we allow ourselves to lapse so easily back into the comfortable routines of our day to day, when, during the brief time we give ourselves for reflection, most of us find reason to change? From behind the DJ desk, I see declarations of love, vows of acceptance, and heart felt proclamations of friendship. Beautiful smiling faces, aglow with the emotion of the moment. But is it the truth? Will they standby those words? Will I. 

Can I stand by my own knowledge that I need to change? Not the simplistic, throwaway resolutions to "eat less chocolate" or the lofty ideals of a Dali Lama type life. But the real needs to change, those thoughts that come to you when you are on the brink, the paradigm shifts, when we realise that if we don't take the step, then this is as good as it gets, and its really not good enough.

   

Is your wedding DJ, JUST a DJ?

Your wedding day.
Its one of the most important days of your life, and you can spend an extraordinary amount of money on it. So have you considered the impact that your entertainment has on the day?  Think about this for a moment.

If the cake is not enjoyable, its tasteless and bland, does it have a huge impact on the reception?

can the same been said

If the entertainment is not enjoyable, its tasteless and bland, does it have a huge impact on the reception?

take care when booking the entertainment.

West Australia's Best

I would like to thank all of my past brides and grooms for what has been, so far, a fantastic journey. You have given me a beautiful scrap book of memories, over the past 22 years. And a thanks also to those still to come, there is still an excitement and thrill every time my phone rings, and its a couple looking for my involvement in their special day. Thank you.

A very special thank you to those 2011 brides and grooms, you have kindly rated my company as West Australia's best Wedding DJ and also the best Wedding MC's as well. Its very humbling to think that you regard us so highly. The ABIA's that you have given us, have enthused us, and encouraged us.

Thank you once again my friends
Bernard Sutton-Power
Owner of
Party Sounds Professional DJ Services
2011 ABIA winners

The busy, and yes, the silly season

That time of the year is upon us, the two months that I both dread and cherish at the same time. While October is a good month for the guys and gals behind the decks, its November and December where we really earn our stripes.

Weddings rule Novembers calendar, well mine at least. Then there are the school formals and balls, the end of season windups and the usual assorted birthdays and other functions.

December is just as crazy, now the weddings do slow down a bit due to the heat, but every one has work functions and of course end of season events to get to. Then there's new years eve keeping us very very busy, quite a few of the team out and about getting the new year off to a banging start. I'm covering a show that we have done every NYE since 1992, and that Scott has worked since 2000, lucky bloke will be spending it in Times square this year.

Now remember dear viewers, if your planning a bit of a bash your self, source your vendor's now, because its one night that gets booked very early.

Its not what happens to you, its how you handle it.

Tonight I was working one of my pet projects and I had to share this with you.

Its a small room, with a small crowd, 21 kids and a handful of "Leaders" and we're bopping along to an assortment of Top40 dance tracks, party stuff from the last few years and those die hard party classics that you cant kill with a stick.

The kids are enjoying it all, being kids and running around like they've been doing double shots of espresso washed down with a redbull.

I notice a few of them huddling around someone on the dance floor, and I think to myself that something, or someone's gone down. Then they all get down on their knees and start to dance while kneeling. A wheel chair gets pushed out of the huddle and rolls gently to the wall. In the middle of the huddle there is a young lady with the biggest smile and some dance moves that MJ would have copied if he'd seen them. These guys are having a blast, loud music, great friends and junk food. Just like every youth disco I've ever done, just like everyone you've ever seen. Except they're on their knees dancing? A few more songs and the wheel chair gets rolled back onto the floor and a young man gets whirled around in it for a bit, pushed by the girl with the smile and the fancy moves. Most of her fingers are only one knuckle long, and both her legs are amputated well below the knees, and tonight, shes the best dancer on my floor.

These kids all suffer with Juvenile Arthritis, and its not the kind of arthritis that make your joints a little stiff, or makes it a little hard to get up in the morning. This is Arthritis with attitude. This is Arthritis that takes digits and limbs, it fuses femurs to hips, and causes these kids pain that brings them to tears.

But not tonight, not for the time they're on my floor. 10.30pm rolls around way to soon, its time to packup my gear and head the 100kms home. Shes still laughing and dancing with her friends, I play one more, and another few for good measure. Its Midnight when the "Leaders" and I decide that we really should wrap it up. The kids all gather around and form a circle, arms draped over each others shoulders as they sing at the top of their lungs to Freddie and the boys - "We are the champions" and they are.