Avoiding A Common Wedding Fail

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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:

 

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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:

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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.