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.