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Boston Wedding DJ and Corporate DJ John Dudley's Blog |
The Boston DJ’s Wedding Diary: T-Minus 343 Days: We’re Infants
November 4, 2010 for the latest posts: http://thebostondj.wordpress.com/
So, with only 343 days remaining (that’s only 29,736,855 seconds, people!), here it is: my opportunity to
begin sharing with all of you the delicious victories and the (hopefully few) trials and tribulations of my very
own wedding planning process, alongside my perfect bride-to-be Alison. As a career mobile wedding DJ, I
thought this would be a perfect chance to show the world how easy wedding planning can be when you’re
in the business. As you go from wedding from wedding, you (meaning I) understand all the best and worst
traits, all the issues and pitfalls, of venues and vendors and concepts, right? Sure, keep dreaming. I’m
realizing very quickly how little I know and how completely complicated, frustrating, and time consuming this
process can be. I’m learning that no matter who you are (besides maybe a professional wedding planner –
but who knows, that might not even save you!), a bride and groom (or bride/bride, groom/groom) are like
infants when the entire world of wedding planning is exposed to them. We’re spoon fed everything: some
things we love (the applesauce) and others we hate (split peas). So, I’m guessing we will “spit up” a whole
bunch in the process and make some things a big mess.
Of course, I know some things will go down easy: there will be the highlights and quality time spent with my
fiancée and family members and friends too, which will make this process in the end more good-
memorable than bad-memorable.
So, I hope you will enjoy our ride as much as we do, and that you will learn something along the way to
implement into your own wedding planning hullabaloo. Hope you keep reading!
Autumn in New England: bright colors, bright ideas. Also, ‘good people’ for September 2010.
September 23, 2010
DJ John Dudley Entertainment
Wedding Peak
It’s prime wedding season here in New England. From the peaks of the Berkshires to the banks of the
Charles River, hotels, function facilities, florists, photographers, bands and DJs, are busy helping couples
create beautiful memories. Future brides and grooms are also busy, locking in their venues and vendors
for their 2011 fall dates. To a wedding couple, few things can rival the backdrop of bright yellows, oranges,
and reds on their big day. In the spirit of this wedding season, we’ve just produced several wedding videos
and released them on our brand new YouTube Channel. We encourage you to check it out and subscribe
to be notified of more upcoming videos. http://www.youtube.com/user/DJJohnDudley
Scary Prospects
Halloween – one of our favorite holidays! – is right around the corner, and the stores haven’t been afraid
to remind you of that fact (heck, some have been at it since August). We’ve got a cool lineup of unique
October events already, from to a large annual Halloween event for the Girls Scouts, to an adult pajama
party fundraiser to benefit the Home Base Program for Returning Veterans at Mass General Hospital . Lots
of people would or do love to host a good Halloween party but sometimes resources become a concern.
Idea? Book your party on a weeknight to get a discount at your preferred function hall (and probably with
your performer too). Another option is hosting an All Hallows (Saints’) Day party in early November –
certainly unique!
Fall A’Fairs
This past weekend, we visited ‘The Big E’ in Springfield and had a blast. Circus performers, wild animals,
deliciously fatty snacks, Mardi Gras parades, midway games, jugglers and stilt walkers, and more. We’re
looking forward to the upcoming annual Topsfield Fair too. Great stuff, for sure. But if you can’t seem to
find the time to visit these fun public fairs, bring the atmosphere right to your event. Fair themes are hot
right now, especially with corporate crowds and school groups, and we can deliver you a complete carnival
midway to satisfy all your ravenous desires for engaging carnival barkers, challenging games, and the
most unusual performers.
Whatever you do this season, make sure it’s memorable. Let us help you make your event unique.™
September’s “good people”
Each month, we will be recognizing a few hard working and very capable professionals that can help you in
planning an amazing event.
This month’s “good people” are <insert drumroll here>…
Rhonda Dean, Spinelli’s Function Facility, Lynnfield, MA
781-592-6400 ext. 223, Spinelli’s Website
Maureen Ferris, Hilton Boston Logan Airport, Boston, MA
617-568-6721, Hilton Logan’s Website
Jeanne MacGilvray, Hotel Marlowe, Cambridge, MA
617-868-8000, Hotel Marlowe’s Website
(Let them know John Dudley referred you, and say hello for me!)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
At some point in your life, professionally or privately, you will need entertainment for an event. From a
simple DJ, to everything eye-catching, engaging, and creative: be sure to keep us in mind, to blow your
mind. No event, venue, client, or concept is out of the question. We want to be the Boston DJs you think of,
the Boston DJ's you live to host at your party!
The concept we believe in: your event unique.
Feel free to drop us a line and learn more about us. (We’d like to learn more about you, too.)
DJ John Dudley Entertainment
Web www.DJJohnDudley.com
Email John@DJJohnDudley.com
Phone (617) 791-1001
For news, tips, contests and offers, follow us:
Facebook (DJ John Dudley Entertainment)
Twitter (TheBostonDJ)
Monthly email blast http://visitor.constantcontact.com/manage/optin/ea?
v=001DHL4fuLXGfmHXm0DvPJb_w%3D%3D
Fall into a Boston fall, win with a New England winter
September 2, 2010
DJ John Dudley Entertainment
From sizzling heat waves to a drizzly 65 degrees (and back again?!), the seasons are changing once
again here in New England. (Got to love Boston!) Some are looking forward to the return of the school
year; some, cider donuts, pumpkin pies and turkey dinners; others, a visit from jolly ole Saint Nick. No
matter how you slice it (your proverbial colder-weather pie, that is), we have some great stuff in store.
Work and play
Game show mania, all-ages excitement
Fall always seems to be a time of renewed commitment to learning and our careers. Of course, we don’t
always just have to work ourselves to the bone. Whether we are 4 or 44, here are all sorts of wonderful
opportunities to break up and reward our work efforts with entertainment. Schedule a homecoming or other
school dance. Use improv comedy games and techniques to liven up a classroom or training session and
“team-build.” Host a magician, juggler, or comedian. Other ideas? What about bringing in Trivia Geeks™ to
roam your room and test your guests? What about a incorporating a game show into your event? Ever try
energizing your group with a pep-rally theme? Take your school, college, or workplace, and challenge
them to “60 Second Success!”™…Just ask about this one. Remember: all work and no play make Jack a
dull (and unproductive) boy.
Harvest something
Deliver dessert to your guests on wheels, decor customized to your event.
Fall is a perfect time for food-related activities and bringing yourself back in touch with the earth. Host a
pumpkin-carving contest party; add pie- or cupcake-decorating to your event; or make things silly with
hands-free cider donut eating. Physically take your event to a barn or farm (or transform your favorite
function room into one), add some plaid décor, some music, and you’ve got yourself a genuine barn-
burner. The autumn is usually the last some people will see of their golf course for quite some time, so
schedule a season-ending send-off at your local country club and wrap things up right with a highly
interactive dueling-piano show. Of course, if nothing else, you can always harvest your love: you really
cannot beat a beautiful fall wedding in Boston/New England surrounded by stunning foliage and an
atmosphere that really awakens the soul. (Heck, take this chance to renew your vows and host another
reception – why not?)
The annual holiday party
Welcome guests with a life-sized reindeer -- on which you can actually ride.
Who doesn’t host or attend one of these! Of course, the million dollar question: do you look forward to it,
or dread it, all year long? Everyone deserves to experience the former, not the latter. Try something new
and exciting. Ever try ice-skating indoors? How about offering rides on a life-sized mechanical reindeer (we’
re talking adults or kids here)? Let’s say we not only bring Santa in to take down your guests’ wishes, but
we also put up the actual gates to the North Pole at your front door! Elf-story tellers; Olde English carolers;
roaming dessert tables navigated by festive folk donning candy cane earrings. The options go on and on.
A décor-appropriate Vegas-night casino would be a smash too, and is a much better way to give out
presents and prizes than by a boring old raffle or the “merit-system” (completely unreliable, in our
experience). And many holiday parties are not complete without a dash of karaoke…
Whatever you do this season, make sure it’s memorable. Let us help you make your event unique.™
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We are the Boston Wedding DJs of your dreams. We perform as a Wedding DJ in Boston and throughout
Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Cape Cod and the Islands, and more. Boston
Wedding DJ's do seem to grow on trees, but the quality, attention to detail, and personality do not.
The concept we believe in: your event unique.
Feel free to drop us a line and learn more about us. (We’d like to learn more about you, too.)
DJ John Dudley Entertainment
Web www.DJJohnDudley.com
Email John@DJJohnDudley.com
Phone (617) 791-1001
For news, tips, contests and offers, follow us:
Facebook (DJ John Dudley Entertainment)
Twitter (TheBostonDJ)
Monthly email blast http://visitor.constantcontact.com/manage/optin/ea?
v=001DHL4fuLXGfmHXm0DvPJb_w%3D%3D
Peace of mind lies within your wedding deposit
August 27, 2010
DJ John Dudley Entertainment
Are your plans secured? Just how important is your wedding day to you? You probably cannot put it into
words.
And you will never hear or feel anything from me other than: You and your significant other are the most
special people in the world on your big day. And that’s the wholehearted truth.
Though every day here in the Greater Boston wedding market, from the North Shore to Western Mass to
Cape Cod, literally hundreds if not thousands of happy couples are researching and evaluating the
numerous DJ’s and other entertainment options that exist for their ceremonies and receptions. There’s a
lot of competition that exists out there between wedding entertainment companies and performers, that’s
for sure. But there is also another level of intense competition going on at the same time: the competition
for wedding dates!
Eight times out of ten, a couple plans on getting hitched on a Saturday afternoon or evening. Doing some
simple math, at most there are 52 Saturdays available for many performers to schedule their work.
Remove from that number a handful of holidays, vacation and other personal days, and now a performer is
working with less than 50 key dates on which he or she can try to make him or herself an honest living
doing what he or she loves. (Clients, as well as function halls, photographers, etc., are similarly working
with that same limited number of date options.) So, it is vital that a professional, full-time performer ensures
that these dates get booked – think: secure – as soon as possible.
To the future brides and grooms out there (and really to anyone else planning a special event): although
you are and will be truly special as a married couple, as a customer in the marketplace, you really need to
take advantage of a great opportunity before it passes you by! How can you do that and make positive
that you secure that one performer about whom you’re most keen? It’s simple: leave a deposit.
One scenario that just happened to me: Two wedding clients are requesting the same date next summer
for my services. While fielding questions and providing information on my services to each client, I made
each party aware of the other’s expressed interest in the same date, and also made it clear that a deposit
would have to be made by credit card to truly confirm and secure that date in my schedule. One client
moved more quickly than the other and will now have my performance at their wedding reception; the other
client unfortunately only received my best regards and wishes and my recommendation to another
wedding DJ. This is an inopportune yet fairly regular occurrence with in-demand performers.
So, my sincere advice to everyone soon booking an event performer: make your deposit and lock things
up quickly. Otherwise, you may lose out on your ideal DJ or other performer and be back at the drawing
board.
May you have peace of mind and a perfect wedding day!
[One quick note on credit card deposits: Although you may feel uncomfortable putting your credit card
number in the hands of an entertainment company or performer (a.k.a., a “stranger”), it is actually in some
ways more secure than sending a check. Number one: Your date is guaranteed as secure, in the timeliest
fashion. Number two: If an issue ever arises (forbid!), you’ll have better odds of disputing and recouping a
credit card deposit than one made by check.]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
At some point in your life, professionally or privately, you will need entertainment for an event. From a
simple DJ, to everything eye-catching, engaging, and creative: be sure to keep us in mind, to blow your
mind. No event, venue, client, or concept is out of the question.
The concept we believe in: your event unique.
Feel free to drop us a line and learn more about us. (We’d like to learn more about you, too.)
DJ John Dudley Entertainment
Web www.DJJohnDudley.com
Email John@DJJohnDudley.com
Phone (617) 791-1001
For news, tips, contests and offers, follow us:
Facebook (DJ John Dudley Entertainment)
Twitter (TheBostonDJ)
Monthly email blast http://visitor.constantcontact.com/manage/optin/ea?
v=001DHL4fuLXGfmHXm0DvPJb_w%3D%3D
Cool event concepts for the cooler New England seasons
August 25, 2010
DJ John Dudley Entertainment
From sizzling heat waves to a drizzly 65 degrees, the seasons are changing once again here in New
England. Some are looking forward to the return of the school year; some, cider donuts, pumpkin pies and
turkey dinners; others, a visit from jolly ole Saint Nick. No matter how you slice it (your proverbial cold-
weather pie, that is), we have some great stuff in store.
Work and play
Fall always seems to be a time of renewed commitment to learning and our careers. Of course, we don’t
always just have to work ourselves to the bone. Whether we are 4 or 44, here are all sorts of wonderful
opportunities to break up and reward our work efforts with entertainment. Schedule a homecoming or other
school dance. Use improv comedy games and techniques to liven up a classroom or training session and
“team-build.” Host a magician, juggler, or comedian. Other ideas? What about bringing in Trivia Geeks™ to
roam your room and test your guests? What about a incorporating a game show into your event? Ever try
energizing your group with a pep-rally theme? Take your school, college, or workplace, and challenge
them to “60 Second Success!”™…Just ask about this one. Remember: all work and no play make Jack a
dull (and unproductive) boy.
Harvest something
Fall is a perfect time for food-related activities and bringing yourself back in touch with the earth. Host a
pumpkin-carving contest party; add pie- or cupcake-decorating to your event; or make things silly with
hands-free cider donut eating. Physically take your event to a barn or farm (or transform your favorite
function room into one), add some plaid décor, some music, and you’ve got yourself a genuine barn-
burner. The autumn is usually the last some people will see of their golf course for quite some time, so
schedule a season-ending send-off at your local country club and wrap things up right with a highly
interactive dueling-piano show. Of course, if nothing else, you can always harvest your love: you really
cannot beat a beautiful fall wedding surrounded by stunning foliage and an atmosphere that really
awakens the soul. More reason to wed now? You’ll likely get a couple nice off-season discounts. (Heck,
take this chance to renew your vows and host another reception – why not?)
The annual holiday party
Who doesn’t host or attend one of these! Of course, the million dollar question: do you look forward to it,
or dread it, all year long? Everyone deserves to experience the former, not the latter. Try something new
and exciting. Ever try ice-skating indoors? How about offering rides on a life-sized mechanical reindeer (we’
re talking adults or kids here)? Let’s say we not only bring Santa in to take down your guests’ wishes, but
we also put up the actual gates to the North Pole at your front door! Elf-story tellers; Olde English carolers;
roaming dessert tables navigated by festive folk donning candy cane earrings. The options go on and on.
A décor-appropriate Vegas-night casino would be a smash too, and is a much better way to give out
presents and prizes than by a boring old raffle or the “merit-system” (completely unreliable, in our
experience). And many holiday parties are not complete without a dash of karaoke…
Whatever you do this season, make sure it’s memorable. Let us help you make your event unique.™
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
At some point in your life, professionally or privately, you will need entertainment for an event. From a
simple DJ, to everything eye-catching, engaging, and creative: be sure to keep us in mind, to blow your
mind. No event, venue, client, or concept is out of the question.
The concept we believe in: your event unique.
Feel free to drop us a line and learn more about us. (We’d like to learn more about you, too.)
DJ John Dudley Entertainment
Web www.DJJohnDudley.com
Email John@DJJohnDudley.com
Phone (617) 791-1001
For news, tips, contests and offers, follow us:
Facebook (DJ John Dudley Entertainment)
Twitter (TheBostonDJ)
Monthly email blast http://visitor.constantcontact.com/manage/optin/ea?
v=001DHL4fuLXGfmHXm0DvPJb_w%3D%3D
One word for your wedding: Relax.
July 26, 2010
DJ John Dudley Entertainment
How would you like some top wedding tips? Well, let me help you minimize what I call “wedding perfection-
preoccupation overload.” Today’s word is relax.
Being in the wedding entertainment business, you can’t help but learn a lot about the other aspects of
wedding reception logistics. The reception is supposed to be an enjoyable, memorable time for a couple. I
believe the reception should be as near stress-free as possible, and nine times out of ten, this is all within
the mind frame and control of the couple. Far too often, I find beautiful brides on their big day, worried so
much that their jaws are clenched tightly and their balled-fists are trembling with tension. Their eyes bulge
out of their heads. The grooms are on edge too, as they want their one-and-only to be satisfied on this
magical day. (Important note: this blog entry is not reserved only for the straight couples; gay and lesbian
couples are equally impacted by “overload.”)
I’d say that at nearly 20% of the receptions at which I perform, the bride or the groom brings down each
other’s spirits and/or the spirits of their guests by a distinguishable amount. Every person has their own
threshold, their own reasonable limits. Nevertheless, try to stay focused on the beauty of the occasion and
the presence of your partner and your guests, taking the appropriate time and care to be in the moment
and capture the entire reception in your memory. Try not to micromanage and sweat the small stuff on
your big day: after you’ve done your due diligence and proper advanced planning, it’s time to leave it in
the hands of your hired professionals and let fate take over.
So, relax when it comes to…
1.) Seating snafus. Aunt Josie on your mother’s side forgot her glasses at home so she wound up at
the table with extended family on your dad’s side. Somehow sitting at adjacent seats are your two cousins
who haven’t spoken in three years because of a happy birthday card that got lost in the mail. Relax. Often
in a time of celebration, new friends are made and broken fences are mended. And besides: the important
thing is that you and your significant other are sitting together.
2.) Moody music. Whether you hire a DJ or a band, a part of the fee you pay is actually for the
experience these folks have in reading a crowd, transitioning between different genres and requests, and
moving the night along at a proper pace. It’s true that music is one of the most important aspects of a
reception, and that’s why you’ve discussed your musical preferences with the performer, at length and in
advance. So relax. Sure, they might be playing your second-favorite Michael Jackson song, but that doesn’
t mean you should pull yourself away from a nice conversation with Grandma Dolores to head to the stage
or DJ booth to change “Billie Jean” to “Beat It.”
3.) Luke-warm menu. Caterers work tremendously hard to get each of your courses, from hors d’
oeuvres to dessert, out to you and your guests as fast, orderly, and temperature-appropriate as possible.
When serving 100+ people simultaneously, mistakes may happen. Did your spinach arrive slightly south of
piping hot? Relax. It likely would have ended up stuck in your teeth anyway – it’s not the most photogenic
food item. Just double up on the wedding cake and encourage your guests to do the same in passing
conversation.
Even if something “goes wrong,” try not to waste your time or energy getting upset at your reception.
(Note: If the problem truly was a major one, you can always voice your opinion and/or seek reparations
after the event.) At the end of the day, each moment of your reception will play out the way it was destined
to: over and above the celebration of committed love between two people, these unique circumstances are
what make your wedding reception so special. Remember that you, the new couple, are really what make
the reception “perfect.”
So, if intoxicated cousin Jeffrey leaps through your crowd of single girlfriends like Michael Jordan and
snags your bouquet toss, I can pretty much guarantee you, your husband or wife, and your guests will
remember it – and laugh about it! – for years to come.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
At some point in your life, professionally or privately, you will need entertainment for an event. From a
simple DJ, to everything eye-catching, engaging, and creative: be sure to keep us in mind, to blow your
mind. No event, venue, client, or concept is out of the question.
The concept we believe in: your event unique. (tm)
Feel free to drop us a line and learn more about us. (We’d like to learn more about you, too.)
DJ John Dudley Entertainment
Web www.DJJohnDudley.com
Email John@DJJohnDudley.com
Phone (617) 791-1001
For news, tips, contests and offers, follow us on Facebook (DJ John Dudley Entertainment), Twitter
(TheBostonDJ), and our e-mail list http://visitor.constantcontact.com/manage/optin/ea?
v=001DHL4fuLXGfmHXm0DvPJb_w%3D%3D
Chocolate, Carnivals, Casinos – Oh, My.
July 16, 2010
DJ John Dudley Entertainment
Summer is heating up, and so are these three amazing event concepts:
Chocolate Tasting 101
Let’s treat your guests to a classy…treat. Perfect for a loungy private event, networking night, conference
break-out session, bridal shower, fundraiser — and the list goes on. Get the low-down on how to really
taste and savor a series of chocolates from around the world while getting a mini-education on how
chocolate is made, the beans’ origin, and how to detect the nuances of each chocolate. Can you taste the
differences between Belgium, Swiss, Venezuelan and African chocolate? How about 65% Cocoa content
and 91%? Tasting and scoring sheets let you remember what you liked and did not. Face it: chocolate is a
very social thing, and you can’t miss with this idea. (Need more bliss? Chocolate Tasting 101 is also
available with wine pairings.)
Carnival Games
An old-fashioned but always fun concept, equally effective and enjoyable for young adults and older adults
alike. Whether it’s for a school fundraiser, a teen’s birthday or bar mitzvah, or even a corporate mixer or
team-building outing, smiles and laughter will ensue. Games can include bean-bag toss, mini-basketball,
table-top mini-golf, darts and balloons, and more. Let your guests show their stuff by earning tickets and
taking home prizes.You can even enhance the carnival with other interactive entertainment, such as tarot
and palm readings, roving magicians, clowns, stilt walkers, hoop performers, cirque-style aerial artists, fire
eaters, cool jugglers, etc. The carnival doesn’t have to come around just once a year anymore.
Casino Parties
We’re not exactly talking traditional casinos here: at your casino, everybody leaves with his or her shirt.
This concept is perfect for charitable fundraisers and corporate crowds. Your music stylist and casino host
(or jazz group) plays cool, swinging music, giving the room a really upbeat Vegas-vibe. Your casino host,
or event organizer, hands each guest an envelope containing thousands of dollars in “casino cash” with
your logo on it. The host announces the night’s agenda and keeps players periodically informed with
important mentions. The casino room is fitted with a mix of gaming tables (i.e. Blackjack, Roulette, Craps,
Poker) and friendly dealers ready to give tips to the casino novice (and keep up with the seaoned shark).
Guests will trade as much or as little “cash” as they wish for chips. The casino floor will stay open for a
couple of hours, after which the cash-out table will open. There, players will “cash-in” for raffle tickets, and
hopefully, win prizes provided generously by your charity’s donors or your company, respectively. For
those who choose not to play or want to take breaks, it is recommended that other entertainment options
exist, like a lounge area with roaming dessert tables, tarot readings, roving magicians, or even sports
arcade games. (Again, these casinos are for entertainment purposes only: no actual money is being
wagered.)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
At some point in your life, professionally or privately, you will need entertainment for an event. From a
simple DJ, to everything eye-catching, engaging, and creative: be sure to keep us in mind, to blow your
mind. No event, venue, client, or concept is out of the question.
The concept we believe in: your event unique. (tm)
Feel free to drop us a line and learn more about us. (We’d like to learn more about you, too.)
DJ John Dudley Entertainment
Web www.DJJohnDudley.com
Email John@DJJohnDudley.com
Phone (617) 791-1001
Follow us on Facebook (DJ John Dudley Entertainment) and Twitter (TheBostonDJ)
November 4, 2010 for the latest posts: http://thebostondj.wordpress.com/
So, with only 343 days remaining (that’s only 29,736,855 seconds, people!), here it is: my opportunity to
begin sharing with all of you the delicious victories and the (hopefully few) trials and tribulations of my very
own wedding planning process, alongside my perfect bride-to-be Alison. As a career mobile wedding DJ, I
thought this would be a perfect chance to show the world how easy wedding planning can be when you’re
in the business. As you go from wedding from wedding, you (meaning I) understand all the best and worst
traits, all the issues and pitfalls, of venues and vendors and concepts, right? Sure, keep dreaming. I’m
realizing very quickly how little I know and how completely complicated, frustrating, and time consuming this
process can be. I’m learning that no matter who you are (besides maybe a professional wedding planner –
but who knows, that might not even save you!), a bride and groom (or bride/bride, groom/groom) are like
infants when the entire world of wedding planning is exposed to them. We’re spoon fed everything: some
things we love (the applesauce) and others we hate (split peas). So, I’m guessing we will “spit up” a whole
bunch in the process and make some things a big mess.
Of course, I know some things will go down easy: there will be the highlights and quality time spent with my
fiancée and family members and friends too, which will make this process in the end more good-
memorable than bad-memorable.
So, I hope you will enjoy our ride as much as we do, and that you will learn something along the way to
implement into your own wedding planning hullabaloo. Hope you keep reading!
Autumn in New England: bright colors, bright ideas. Also, ‘good people’ for September 2010.
September 23, 2010
DJ John Dudley Entertainment
Wedding Peak
It’s prime wedding season here in New England. From the peaks of the Berkshires to the banks of the
Charles River, hotels, function facilities, florists, photographers, bands and DJs, are busy helping couples
create beautiful memories. Future brides and grooms are also busy, locking in their venues and vendors
for their 2011 fall dates. To a wedding couple, few things can rival the backdrop of bright yellows, oranges,
and reds on their big day. In the spirit of this wedding season, we’ve just produced several wedding videos
and released them on our brand new YouTube Channel. We encourage you to check it out and subscribe
to be notified of more upcoming videos. http://www.youtube.com/user/DJJohnDudley
Scary Prospects
Halloween – one of our favorite holidays! – is right around the corner, and the stores haven’t been afraid
to remind you of that fact (heck, some have been at it since August). We’ve got a cool lineup of unique
October events already, from to a large annual Halloween event for the Girls Scouts, to an adult pajama
party fundraiser to benefit the Home Base Program for Returning Veterans at Mass General Hospital . Lots
of people would or do love to host a good Halloween party but sometimes resources become a concern.
Idea? Book your party on a weeknight to get a discount at your preferred function hall (and probably with
your performer too). Another option is hosting an All Hallows (Saints’) Day party in early November –
certainly unique!
Fall A’Fairs
This past weekend, we visited ‘The Big E’ in Springfield and had a blast. Circus performers, wild animals,
deliciously fatty snacks, Mardi Gras parades, midway games, jugglers and stilt walkers, and more. We’re
looking forward to the upcoming annual Topsfield Fair too. Great stuff, for sure. But if you can’t seem to
find the time to visit these fun public fairs, bring the atmosphere right to your event. Fair themes are hot
right now, especially with corporate crowds and school groups, and we can deliver you a complete carnival
midway to satisfy all your ravenous desires for engaging carnival barkers, challenging games, and the
most unusual performers.
Whatever you do this season, make sure it’s memorable. Let us help you make your event unique.™
September’s “good people”
Each month, we will be recognizing a few hard working and very capable professionals that can help you in
planning an amazing event.
This month’s “good people” are <insert drumroll here>…
Rhonda Dean, Spinelli’s Function Facility, Lynnfield, MA
781-592-6400 ext. 223, Spinelli’s Website
Maureen Ferris, Hilton Boston Logan Airport, Boston, MA
617-568-6721, Hilton Logan’s Website
Jeanne MacGilvray, Hotel Marlowe, Cambridge, MA
617-868-8000, Hotel Marlowe’s Website
(Let them know John Dudley referred you, and say hello for me!)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
At some point in your life, professionally or privately, you will need entertainment for an event. From a
simple DJ, to everything eye-catching, engaging, and creative: be sure to keep us in mind, to blow your
mind. No event, venue, client, or concept is out of the question. We want to be the Boston DJs you think of,
the Boston DJ's you live to host at your party!
The concept we believe in: your event unique.
Feel free to drop us a line and learn more about us. (We’d like to learn more about you, too.)
DJ John Dudley Entertainment
Web www.DJJohnDudley.com
Email John@DJJohnDudley.com
Phone (617) 791-1001
For news, tips, contests and offers, follow us:
Facebook (DJ John Dudley Entertainment)
Twitter (TheBostonDJ)
Monthly email blast http://visitor.constantcontact.com/manage/optin/ea?
v=001DHL4fuLXGfmHXm0DvPJb_w%3D%3D
Fall into a Boston fall, win with a New England winter
September 2, 2010
DJ John Dudley Entertainment
From sizzling heat waves to a drizzly 65 degrees (and back again?!), the seasons are changing once
again here in New England. (Got to love Boston!) Some are looking forward to the return of the school
year; some, cider donuts, pumpkin pies and turkey dinners; others, a visit from jolly ole Saint Nick. No
matter how you slice it (your proverbial colder-weather pie, that is), we have some great stuff in store.
Work and play
Game show mania, all-ages excitement
Fall always seems to be a time of renewed commitment to learning and our careers. Of course, we don’t
always just have to work ourselves to the bone. Whether we are 4 or 44, here are all sorts of wonderful
opportunities to break up and reward our work efforts with entertainment. Schedule a homecoming or other
school dance. Use improv comedy games and techniques to liven up a classroom or training session and
“team-build.” Host a magician, juggler, or comedian. Other ideas? What about bringing in Trivia Geeks™ to
roam your room and test your guests? What about a incorporating a game show into your event? Ever try
energizing your group with a pep-rally theme? Take your school, college, or workplace, and challenge
them to “60 Second Success!”™…Just ask about this one. Remember: all work and no play make Jack a
dull (and unproductive) boy.
Harvest something
Deliver dessert to your guests on wheels, decor customized to your event.
Fall is a perfect time for food-related activities and bringing yourself back in touch with the earth. Host a
pumpkin-carving contest party; add pie- or cupcake-decorating to your event; or make things silly with
hands-free cider donut eating. Physically take your event to a barn or farm (or transform your favorite
function room into one), add some plaid décor, some music, and you’ve got yourself a genuine barn-
burner. The autumn is usually the last some people will see of their golf course for quite some time, so
schedule a season-ending send-off at your local country club and wrap things up right with a highly
interactive dueling-piano show. Of course, if nothing else, you can always harvest your love: you really
cannot beat a beautiful fall wedding in Boston/New England surrounded by stunning foliage and an
atmosphere that really awakens the soul. (Heck, take this chance to renew your vows and host another
reception – why not?)
The annual holiday party
Welcome guests with a life-sized reindeer -- on which you can actually ride.
Who doesn’t host or attend one of these! Of course, the million dollar question: do you look forward to it,
or dread it, all year long? Everyone deserves to experience the former, not the latter. Try something new
and exciting. Ever try ice-skating indoors? How about offering rides on a life-sized mechanical reindeer (we’
re talking adults or kids here)? Let’s say we not only bring Santa in to take down your guests’ wishes, but
we also put up the actual gates to the North Pole at your front door! Elf-story tellers; Olde English carolers;
roaming dessert tables navigated by festive folk donning candy cane earrings. The options go on and on.
A décor-appropriate Vegas-night casino would be a smash too, and is a much better way to give out
presents and prizes than by a boring old raffle or the “merit-system” (completely unreliable, in our
experience). And many holiday parties are not complete without a dash of karaoke…
Whatever you do this season, make sure it’s memorable. Let us help you make your event unique.™
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We are the Boston Wedding DJs of your dreams. We perform as a Wedding DJ in Boston and throughout
Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Cape Cod and the Islands, and more. Boston
Wedding DJ's do seem to grow on trees, but the quality, attention to detail, and personality do not.
The concept we believe in: your event unique.
Feel free to drop us a line and learn more about us. (We’d like to learn more about you, too.)
DJ John Dudley Entertainment
Web www.DJJohnDudley.com
Email John@DJJohnDudley.com
Phone (617) 791-1001
For news, tips, contests and offers, follow us:
Facebook (DJ John Dudley Entertainment)
Twitter (TheBostonDJ)
Monthly email blast http://visitor.constantcontact.com/manage/optin/ea?
v=001DHL4fuLXGfmHXm0DvPJb_w%3D%3D
Peace of mind lies within your wedding deposit
August 27, 2010
DJ John Dudley Entertainment
Are your plans secured? Just how important is your wedding day to you? You probably cannot put it into
words.
And you will never hear or feel anything from me other than: You and your significant other are the most
special people in the world on your big day. And that’s the wholehearted truth.
Though every day here in the Greater Boston wedding market, from the North Shore to Western Mass to
Cape Cod, literally hundreds if not thousands of happy couples are researching and evaluating the
numerous DJ’s and other entertainment options that exist for their ceremonies and receptions. There’s a
lot of competition that exists out there between wedding entertainment companies and performers, that’s
for sure. But there is also another level of intense competition going on at the same time: the competition
for wedding dates!
Eight times out of ten, a couple plans on getting hitched on a Saturday afternoon or evening. Doing some
simple math, at most there are 52 Saturdays available for many performers to schedule their work.
Remove from that number a handful of holidays, vacation and other personal days, and now a performer is
working with less than 50 key dates on which he or she can try to make him or herself an honest living
doing what he or she loves. (Clients, as well as function halls, photographers, etc., are similarly working
with that same limited number of date options.) So, it is vital that a professional, full-time performer ensures
that these dates get booked – think: secure – as soon as possible.
To the future brides and grooms out there (and really to anyone else planning a special event): although
you are and will be truly special as a married couple, as a customer in the marketplace, you really need to
take advantage of a great opportunity before it passes you by! How can you do that and make positive
that you secure that one performer about whom you’re most keen? It’s simple: leave a deposit.
One scenario that just happened to me: Two wedding clients are requesting the same date next summer
for my services. While fielding questions and providing information on my services to each client, I made
each party aware of the other’s expressed interest in the same date, and also made it clear that a deposit
would have to be made by credit card to truly confirm and secure that date in my schedule. One client
moved more quickly than the other and will now have my performance at their wedding reception; the other
client unfortunately only received my best regards and wishes and my recommendation to another
wedding DJ. This is an inopportune yet fairly regular occurrence with in-demand performers.
So, my sincere advice to everyone soon booking an event performer: make your deposit and lock things
up quickly. Otherwise, you may lose out on your ideal DJ or other performer and be back at the drawing
board.
May you have peace of mind and a perfect wedding day!
[One quick note on credit card deposits: Although you may feel uncomfortable putting your credit card
number in the hands of an entertainment company or performer (a.k.a., a “stranger”), it is actually in some
ways more secure than sending a check. Number one: Your date is guaranteed as secure, in the timeliest
fashion. Number two: If an issue ever arises (forbid!), you’ll have better odds of disputing and recouping a
credit card deposit than one made by check.]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
At some point in your life, professionally or privately, you will need entertainment for an event. From a
simple DJ, to everything eye-catching, engaging, and creative: be sure to keep us in mind, to blow your
mind. No event, venue, client, or concept is out of the question.
The concept we believe in: your event unique.
Feel free to drop us a line and learn more about us. (We’d like to learn more about you, too.)
DJ John Dudley Entertainment
Web www.DJJohnDudley.com
Email John@DJJohnDudley.com
Phone (617) 791-1001
For news, tips, contests and offers, follow us:
Facebook (DJ John Dudley Entertainment)
Twitter (TheBostonDJ)
Monthly email blast http://visitor.constantcontact.com/manage/optin/ea?
v=001DHL4fuLXGfmHXm0DvPJb_w%3D%3D
Cool event concepts for the cooler New England seasons
August 25, 2010
DJ John Dudley Entertainment
From sizzling heat waves to a drizzly 65 degrees, the seasons are changing once again here in New
England. Some are looking forward to the return of the school year; some, cider donuts, pumpkin pies and
turkey dinners; others, a visit from jolly ole Saint Nick. No matter how you slice it (your proverbial cold-
weather pie, that is), we have some great stuff in store.
Work and play
Fall always seems to be a time of renewed commitment to learning and our careers. Of course, we don’t
always just have to work ourselves to the bone. Whether we are 4 or 44, here are all sorts of wonderful
opportunities to break up and reward our work efforts with entertainment. Schedule a homecoming or other
school dance. Use improv comedy games and techniques to liven up a classroom or training session and
“team-build.” Host a magician, juggler, or comedian. Other ideas? What about bringing in Trivia Geeks™ to
roam your room and test your guests? What about a incorporating a game show into your event? Ever try
energizing your group with a pep-rally theme? Take your school, college, or workplace, and challenge
them to “60 Second Success!”™…Just ask about this one. Remember: all work and no play make Jack a
dull (and unproductive) boy.
Harvest something
Fall is a perfect time for food-related activities and bringing yourself back in touch with the earth. Host a
pumpkin-carving contest party; add pie- or cupcake-decorating to your event; or make things silly with
hands-free cider donut eating. Physically take your event to a barn or farm (or transform your favorite
function room into one), add some plaid décor, some music, and you’ve got yourself a genuine barn-
burner. The autumn is usually the last some people will see of their golf course for quite some time, so
schedule a season-ending send-off at your local country club and wrap things up right with a highly
interactive dueling-piano show. Of course, if nothing else, you can always harvest your love: you really
cannot beat a beautiful fall wedding surrounded by stunning foliage and an atmosphere that really
awakens the soul. More reason to wed now? You’ll likely get a couple nice off-season discounts. (Heck,
take this chance to renew your vows and host another reception – why not?)
The annual holiday party
Who doesn’t host or attend one of these! Of course, the million dollar question: do you look forward to it,
or dread it, all year long? Everyone deserves to experience the former, not the latter. Try something new
and exciting. Ever try ice-skating indoors? How about offering rides on a life-sized mechanical reindeer (we’
re talking adults or kids here)? Let’s say we not only bring Santa in to take down your guests’ wishes, but
we also put up the actual gates to the North Pole at your front door! Elf-story tellers; Olde English carolers;
roaming dessert tables navigated by festive folk donning candy cane earrings. The options go on and on.
A décor-appropriate Vegas-night casino would be a smash too, and is a much better way to give out
presents and prizes than by a boring old raffle or the “merit-system” (completely unreliable, in our
experience). And many holiday parties are not complete without a dash of karaoke…
Whatever you do this season, make sure it’s memorable. Let us help you make your event unique.™
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
At some point in your life, professionally or privately, you will need entertainment for an event. From a
simple DJ, to everything eye-catching, engaging, and creative: be sure to keep us in mind, to blow your
mind. No event, venue, client, or concept is out of the question.
The concept we believe in: your event unique.
Feel free to drop us a line and learn more about us. (We’d like to learn more about you, too.)
DJ John Dudley Entertainment
Web www.DJJohnDudley.com
Email John@DJJohnDudley.com
Phone (617) 791-1001
For news, tips, contests and offers, follow us:
Facebook (DJ John Dudley Entertainment)
Twitter (TheBostonDJ)
Monthly email blast http://visitor.constantcontact.com/manage/optin/ea?
v=001DHL4fuLXGfmHXm0DvPJb_w%3D%3D
One word for your wedding: Relax.
July 26, 2010
DJ John Dudley Entertainment
How would you like some top wedding tips? Well, let me help you minimize what I call “wedding perfection-
preoccupation overload.” Today’s word is relax.
Being in the wedding entertainment business, you can’t help but learn a lot about the other aspects of
wedding reception logistics. The reception is supposed to be an enjoyable, memorable time for a couple. I
believe the reception should be as near stress-free as possible, and nine times out of ten, this is all within
the mind frame and control of the couple. Far too often, I find beautiful brides on their big day, worried so
much that their jaws are clenched tightly and their balled-fists are trembling with tension. Their eyes bulge
out of their heads. The grooms are on edge too, as they want their one-and-only to be satisfied on this
magical day. (Important note: this blog entry is not reserved only for the straight couples; gay and lesbian
couples are equally impacted by “overload.”)
I’d say that at nearly 20% of the receptions at which I perform, the bride or the groom brings down each
other’s spirits and/or the spirits of their guests by a distinguishable amount. Every person has their own
threshold, their own reasonable limits. Nevertheless, try to stay focused on the beauty of the occasion and
the presence of your partner and your guests, taking the appropriate time and care to be in the moment
and capture the entire reception in your memory. Try not to micromanage and sweat the small stuff on
your big day: after you’ve done your due diligence and proper advanced planning, it’s time to leave it in
the hands of your hired professionals and let fate take over.
So, relax when it comes to…
1.) Seating snafus. Aunt Josie on your mother’s side forgot her glasses at home so she wound up at
the table with extended family on your dad’s side. Somehow sitting at adjacent seats are your two cousins
who haven’t spoken in three years because of a happy birthday card that got lost in the mail. Relax. Often
in a time of celebration, new friends are made and broken fences are mended. And besides: the important
thing is that you and your significant other are sitting together.
2.) Moody music. Whether you hire a DJ or a band, a part of the fee you pay is actually for the
experience these folks have in reading a crowd, transitioning between different genres and requests, and
moving the night along at a proper pace. It’s true that music is one of the most important aspects of a
reception, and that’s why you’ve discussed your musical preferences with the performer, at length and in
advance. So relax. Sure, they might be playing your second-favorite Michael Jackson song, but that doesn’
t mean you should pull yourself away from a nice conversation with Grandma Dolores to head to the stage
or DJ booth to change “Billie Jean” to “Beat It.”
3.) Luke-warm menu. Caterers work tremendously hard to get each of your courses, from hors d’
oeuvres to dessert, out to you and your guests as fast, orderly, and temperature-appropriate as possible.
When serving 100+ people simultaneously, mistakes may happen. Did your spinach arrive slightly south of
piping hot? Relax. It likely would have ended up stuck in your teeth anyway – it’s not the most photogenic
food item. Just double up on the wedding cake and encourage your guests to do the same in passing
conversation.
Even if something “goes wrong,” try not to waste your time or energy getting upset at your reception.
(Note: If the problem truly was a major one, you can always voice your opinion and/or seek reparations
after the event.) At the end of the day, each moment of your reception will play out the way it was destined
to: over and above the celebration of committed love between two people, these unique circumstances are
what make your wedding reception so special. Remember that you, the new couple, are really what make
the reception “perfect.”
So, if intoxicated cousin Jeffrey leaps through your crowd of single girlfriends like Michael Jordan and
snags your bouquet toss, I can pretty much guarantee you, your husband or wife, and your guests will
remember it – and laugh about it! – for years to come.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
At some point in your life, professionally or privately, you will need entertainment for an event. From a
simple DJ, to everything eye-catching, engaging, and creative: be sure to keep us in mind, to blow your
mind. No event, venue, client, or concept is out of the question.
The concept we believe in: your event unique. (tm)
Feel free to drop us a line and learn more about us. (We’d like to learn more about you, too.)
DJ John Dudley Entertainment
Web www.DJJohnDudley.com
Email John@DJJohnDudley.com
Phone (617) 791-1001
For news, tips, contests and offers, follow us on Facebook (DJ John Dudley Entertainment), Twitter
(TheBostonDJ), and our e-mail list http://visitor.constantcontact.com/manage/optin/ea?
v=001DHL4fuLXGfmHXm0DvPJb_w%3D%3D
Chocolate, Carnivals, Casinos – Oh, My.
July 16, 2010
DJ John Dudley Entertainment
Summer is heating up, and so are these three amazing event concepts:
Chocolate Tasting 101
Let’s treat your guests to a classy…treat. Perfect for a loungy private event, networking night, conference
break-out session, bridal shower, fundraiser — and the list goes on. Get the low-down on how to really
taste and savor a series of chocolates from around the world while getting a mini-education on how
chocolate is made, the beans’ origin, and how to detect the nuances of each chocolate. Can you taste the
differences between Belgium, Swiss, Venezuelan and African chocolate? How about 65% Cocoa content
and 91%? Tasting and scoring sheets let you remember what you liked and did not. Face it: chocolate is a
very social thing, and you can’t miss with this idea. (Need more bliss? Chocolate Tasting 101 is also
available with wine pairings.)
Carnival Games
An old-fashioned but always fun concept, equally effective and enjoyable for young adults and older adults
alike. Whether it’s for a school fundraiser, a teen’s birthday or bar mitzvah, or even a corporate mixer or
team-building outing, smiles and laughter will ensue. Games can include bean-bag toss, mini-basketball,
table-top mini-golf, darts and balloons, and more. Let your guests show their stuff by earning tickets and
taking home prizes.You can even enhance the carnival with other interactive entertainment, such as tarot
and palm readings, roving magicians, clowns, stilt walkers, hoop performers, cirque-style aerial artists, fire
eaters, cool jugglers, etc. The carnival doesn’t have to come around just once a year anymore.
Casino Parties
We’re not exactly talking traditional casinos here: at your casino, everybody leaves with his or her shirt.
This concept is perfect for charitable fundraisers and corporate crowds. Your music stylist and casino host
(or jazz group) plays cool, swinging music, giving the room a really upbeat Vegas-vibe. Your casino host,
or event organizer, hands each guest an envelope containing thousands of dollars in “casino cash” with
your logo on it. The host announces the night’s agenda and keeps players periodically informed with
important mentions. The casino room is fitted with a mix of gaming tables (i.e. Blackjack, Roulette, Craps,
Poker) and friendly dealers ready to give tips to the casino novice (and keep up with the seaoned shark).
Guests will trade as much or as little “cash” as they wish for chips. The casino floor will stay open for a
couple of hours, after which the cash-out table will open. There, players will “cash-in” for raffle tickets, and
hopefully, win prizes provided generously by your charity’s donors or your company, respectively. For
those who choose not to play or want to take breaks, it is recommended that other entertainment options
exist, like a lounge area with roaming dessert tables, tarot readings, roving magicians, or even sports
arcade games. (Again, these casinos are for entertainment purposes only: no actual money is being
wagered.)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
At some point in your life, professionally or privately, you will need entertainment for an event. From a
simple DJ, to everything eye-catching, engaging, and creative: be sure to keep us in mind, to blow your
mind. No event, venue, client, or concept is out of the question.
The concept we believe in: your event unique. (tm)
Feel free to drop us a line and learn more about us. (We’d like to learn more about you, too.)
DJ John Dudley Entertainment
Web www.DJJohnDudley.com
Email John@DJJohnDudley.com
Phone (617) 791-1001
Follow us on Facebook (DJ John Dudley Entertainment) and Twitter (TheBostonDJ)