Music Options For Your Father-Daughter Dance

The father-daughter dance is a time honored tradition at many weddings. And in recent years, two songs have stood out as standards for this dance: “Butterfly Kisses” and “Daddy’s Little Girl”.

But let’s say you’d like to take this in another direction. You have a lot of possibilities. If you’re a country music fan, Tim McGraw’s “My Little Girl” may be the obvious choice.

[embed] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9I5UV4VWCSk [/embed]

Then again, you may prefer “I Loved Her First” by Heartland (as seen during an actual wedding father-daughter dance).

[embed] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFs27zxSk7k [/embed]

Here are three options from New York / New Jersey artists:
First, Bruce Springsteen’s “When You Need Me.”

[embed] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pff-JpajjyQ [/embed]

“Father And Daughter” from Paul Simon, shown here with lyrics.

[embed] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mtT3xSSKmMQ [/embed]

And here’s a Cyndi Lauper classic from the eighties with a timeless message.

[embed] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVS5rS_da9E [/embed]

A more recent possibility is “Forever” from Dropkick Murphys.

[embed] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNdl2-wrsvM [/embed]

Finally, there’s always Stevie Wonder’s father-daughter classic.

[embed] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVvkjuEAwgU [/embed]

Of course, you may have some great ideas of your own. At Excel Entertainment, there’s no such thing as a one-size-fits-all wedding. We’ll work with you to find the very best fit for your special dance. For more information, please call Excel’s Jason Frankel at (973) 320-3241.

How To Audition Your Party Music When You Can’t Crash A Wedding

In the past, if you wanted to audition a DJ or band to play at your wedding, arrangements would be made for you to attend a wedding where the act would be playing. This is no longer the case, because most catering halls will not let you attend a wedding that you haven’t been invited to.

So how can you know what you’re getting before you commit to it?

The best way is to attend a bridal show. But keep in mind that it is a much different atmosphere than being at an actual wedding. You’ll be sitting with a group of people watching the DJ or performers, as opposed to being on the dance floor of your own wedding. Still, you can get a great feel for the talents of the people who will actually be entertaining your family and friends.

At Excel Entertainment, we can keep it simple or offer you the entertainment extravaganza of a lifetime. Our LED Uplighting can transform your room into a unique atmosphere of your choosing. Our large plasma screens can show photo montages of the happy couple throughout the years, as well as photos taken only moments earlier at your affair.

You can choose a DJ to skillfully mix recorded music, a full live band, or even musicians and singers to add live enhancement to recorded music. Excel Entertainment’s next bridal show takes place at Macy’s in the Willowbrook Mall. Mark the date on your calendar: April 25, 2013 from 6 to 9 PM. This will be the last bridal show of the current season. The next season’s shows will begin in July.

However, if you cannot attend one of our bridal shows, here’s a sample of what you can expect from Excel Entertainment:

[embed] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixYlyJ54mpw [/embed]

Like what you see? Call Excel’s Jason Frankel at (973) 320-3241, and let Excel Entertainment turn your dream event into reality.

What Comes After Yes?

[embed] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGjCAlaqxQI [/embed]

If you watched the above video, you can see that there are some pretty extreme (and expensive) ways of proposing marriage to the one you love. But whether you go for a simple down-on-one-knee proposal or a flash mob extravaganza, if your proposal is accepted, what do you do for an encore? And by encore, we mean your wedding itself; more specifically, your wedding reception.

For years, there has been an ongoing debate regarding the use of a DJ vs. live music. In reality, no debate is necessary. At Excel Entertainment, the choice is yours. You can have recorded music mixed by a skilled DJ, along with an entertaining MC to keep the party moving. Add the NY metro area’s best lighting and dancers/party motivators to keep the energy level at a peak from start to finish. Or you could have a live band, with some of the best singers and players from New Jersey’s legendary music scene. Add live acoustic music for mealtime and those quieter romantic moments.

Then again, why not have both? Excel entertainment offers the most flexible packages available. Tailor your wedding to your own unique needs. Make your special occasion as simple or as extravagant as you want it to be. We’re here to help.

For more information, please contact Excel’s Jason Frankel at (973) 320-3241. Or visit us at www.excel-entertainment.net. Watch our own videos and see how Excel can give you an event you’ll remember for the rest of your life.

Avoiding A Common Wedding Fail

[embed] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OdLqP56HzWc [/embed]

As you can see, wedding fails happen in many different ways, from minor mishaps to full-blown disasters. Some are funny, and can even make the event more memorable. Occasionally you can even end up with a great story to tell your kids someday.

Not so with a wedding music fail. An empty dance floor (apart from mealtimes) is not something you want to see at your wedding. Part of the DJ’s job is to size up a crowd and play the music that will keep the dance floor filled all night. It’s not as easy as it sounds, and it takes great skill to do it right. A good DJ can sense a shift in mood and play to it accordingly to keep everyone happy and dancing. Different musical genres and eras have to be blended seamlessly to keep the party moving.

At Excel Entertainment we have found that some clients like to give us a full playlist of every song they want to hear on their special day. Others like to just let us “read the crowd” and make our own choices. If you give us your playlist, we will be happy to sequence and blend the music to fit the changing needs of your guests as the party evolves.

With Excel, you can have as much or as little control of the music as you like. The choice is yours.

Visit Excel at www.excel-entertainment.net, or call Excel’s Jason Frankel at (973) 320-3241 to book your wedding.

To Surprise or Not To Surprise? That Is The Question.

Life is full of surprises. Billy Joel was recently doing a Q&A at Vanderbilt University when a student asked if he could play “New York State of Mind” with him. Then, this amazing moment happened:

 

[embed] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p04TYk4j0zQ [/embed]

 

On the other hand, if you’re planning a wedding you may not appreciate the kind of surprise that sends all of your meticulous planning spiraling down the drain. Surprises like a vendor who isn’t as good as you were led to believe.

 

First and foremost, do your research. In the age of Google, there’s no excuse for not knowing what you are getting. Check out consumer comments. See who is highly recommended on Wedding Wire. Learn about the company before signing the contract. Sounds like overly simple advice, doesn’t it? But you would be surprised at how many people take a company’s claims at face value, and face unpleasant surprises later.

 

One caveat: be aware that recommendations made by catering halls are often paid for by the very same companies that they are recommending.

 

Excel Entertainment has received consistently high marks from its clients since its inception. The care and planning that goes into an Excel wedding is second to none. Excel has a crew of true entertainers who are flexible enough to make your wedding a completely unique experience. And Excel is dependable. No unpleasant surprises. Ever.

 

Do your research…see what people have to say about Excel Entertainment. Once you do, you’ll have the confidence and peace of mind to call Excel’s Jason Frankel at (973) 320-3241.  But do it soon…Excel’s open dates don’t stay open for long.

From Fringe to Mainstream (Hip Hop Weddings and Events)

“Don’t you dare play that evil, filthy so-called music. Not at my daughter’s wedding!”

 Very often, when a new musical genre begins to take hold, it can take ten years or more to reach mainstream acceptance. What we now call Classic Rock was once known as “that Hippie garbage” by those who didn’t understand it. Contemporary music was rarely heard at weddings or social events before the 1970s.

We recall a story told by a friend about his Bar Mitzvah reception. It was back in 1967, during the legendary “Summer Of Love.” His parents had arranged for a three piece band to play at the affair: accordion, clarinet, and a drummer (who played only with his brushes). Would you like to guess at the hippest song played that day? It wasn’t Light My Fire, the then-current hit by The Doors. Nor was it anything from The Beatles’ new Sgt. Pepper LP. It was the theme from the Broadway musical “Hello Dolly.”  A safe choice for Grandma and Grandpa.

Now fast-forward to 2013, and take a look at this:

[embed] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-dERbuc8NQ [/embed]

Jimmy Fallon and Justin Timberlake performed a brilliant history of Hip-Hop music. Once upon a time considered “too ethnic.” Once upon a time not even considered to be “real music.”  But it’s real enough today to be used as mainstream nostalgia. People are generally far more open-minded about dancing to contemporary music than they were in the past. Whether it’s Hip-Hop, Alt-Rock or any other genre, you can usually find something to fit your crowd’s comfort zone. OK, maybe not Speed-Metal, but you know what we’re trying to say.

At Excel Entertainment, we have the largest selection of music in the entire New York metro. Whatever your tastes, we know how to get your guests on the dance floor. Our expert blend of music, lighting and pacing will make your party the affair of the year.

For more information, call Excel’s Jason Frankel at (973) 320-3241.

We Were So Much Older Then... We’re Younger Than That Now

We Were So Much Older Then...   We’re Younger Than That Now

 Did you see this year’s Grammy Awards presentation? The most obvious takeaway from the event is that the current generation of music makers is finally getting its due. Rather than focusing on the older (translation: safer) established acts, the emphasis was on artists like Mumford and Sons, Bruno Mars, fun., Gotye and Frank Ocean, among others. Some of the older acts like Sting had their moments too, but the emphasis was on youth.

[embed]http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xxfhjk_video-bruno-mars-sting-rihanna-marleys-bob-marley-tribute-2013-grammys_lifestyle#.UT5t56WJHKk [/embed]
As you plan your wedding day, you may be thinking about how to balance your music. How can you keep it fresh enough for your younger friends, without turning off older family members? Excel Entertainment knows that there is no one answer that will fit all situations.

Take a look at your guest list and separate it into four categories (or generations, if you will):

Category 1: 29 and younger. These are your cutting edge music fans. They expect up-to-date music they can dance to.

Category 2: ages 29-49. Generally, this crowd is well-versed in the cream of the crop of current music, but will want and expect older music that fits their comfort zone. To keep them happy, consider music from the 1990’s and the early part of this century.

Category 3: 49-60. Here you’ll find people who came of age in the sixties, seventies and eighties. Classic Rock and Soul, Disco, and the earliest incarnations of Hip Hop will get them on the dance floor.

Category 4: 60 and above. Don’t assume that all they want to hear is Frank Sinatra and Big Band sounds. Today’s 60+ partygoers are mentally a lot younger than their counterparts of ten years ago. They’re open to early Rock & Roll, hits from the 1960’s, and even Disco.

How many people at your event fall into each category? While each group deserves to hear their crowd-pleasers, keep the percentage of music genres in line with your percentages in each age group.

Excel Entertainment has the most extensive music library in New Jersey from which to draw. All of our music is on hand and available at every party. Whether your tastes lean towards Rock, Hip Hop, Pop Standards, Latino hits or anything else, we’ve got you covered.  For more info, please call Jason Frankel at (973) 320-3241.