- Part 3

Annual Firefighter Appreciation Dinner

January 1, 2018 by Eve Frank

Celebrating Real Heros Around Erie, PA

Corporate Event DJs Erie, PA

For the last few years, we have been honored to serve the hard-working volunteer firefighters from the Fuller Hose Fire Department in quaint North East, PA. Our journey with the fire department began when one of the Lieutenants was a groomsman in a wedding we served. He was on the planning committee that year and was impressed enough with our service to ask us to provide DJ service for their Appreciation Dinner held every year on the third Saturday in January. That first event has blossomed into a great relationship with the department. We now also provide entertainment and sound for their annual summer fundraiser, as well as serving several of the firemen’s weddings.

Fuller Hose hosts their Appreciation Dinner at the VFW Hall right in North East every year. It’s a fun event with dinner, a Chinese auction, an Awards Ceremony, a slideshow from the year and dancing. The first year was a bit of a challenge to us because we weren’t sure what to expect from the firefighters, but as we’ve been welcomed back year after year, we now understand their wants and are able to meet their expectations easily.

Erie Photo Booth Rentals

After DJing a few events for Fuller, we added a Photo Booth to the service we offer. Fuller was excited to add the booth to their experience. Each year we’ve taken the time to design a unique Photo Strip Template for the firefighters that reflects their dedication and service. The first year we incorporated their company logo. Last year we created a strip with flames on it. Who knows what we’ll come up with for these fantastic volunteers this year?

Erie Event Lighting & Disc Jockey Services

Each year Tom serves as the DJ & Lighting Tech for the event, while Eve runs the coordination and acts as MC. A friendly photo booth attendant is always on hand to help the guest into the booth.
We have enjoyed every Appreciation Dinner with this fire department and are anxiously awaiting the next in just a few weeks.

Local Erie Event Vendors and Professionals:

Venue: American Legion Post 105, North East, PA
Wedding Entertainment: Erie DJ Entertainment
Photo Booth Rental: Erie Photo Booth
Up-lighting & Lighting design: Erie DJ Entertainment
Catering: American Legion Post 105, North East, PA

Book Erie Event DJs for Your Next Corporate Event

Erie DJ & Event Lighting

Looking for a Disc Jockey, Photo Booth or Event Lighting for your next special event? Contact Erie DJ Entertainment Today! Find Our Wedding Profile on The Knot!
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Call us at (814) 520-5141 or click here to find out about pricing and availability.
Erie DJ Entertainment™ & Erie Photo Booth™ by C Three Ent.
9064 Buffalo Road, North East, PA 16428 | www.ErieDJent.com

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Uplighting – Lighting Makes it Better!

December 29, 2017 by Eve Frank

What Makes Our Uplighting Better?

Let’s begin with describing just what uplighting is:

Uplighting is additional lighting, usually placed strategically around your venue, to bring in more light and ambiance. It comes in many different forms, not all are equal.

The uplighting most venues provide is the least expensive kind. It’s corded lights that are preprogrammed with a small variety of colors. Because they must remain plugged in at all times during use, they are stationary and don’t provide an option for different lighting designs. Most have very limited options in color as well. You may find you only have eight color choices to select from and none may match your event theme and color palette. They are also the weakest in brightness.

The Uplighting that we provide at Erie DJ Entertainment is far superior in its brightness, color choices of led uplights around and its movability. Our Uplighting is wireless and remote controlled. We are able to charge our lights ahead of time with a 12 hour run time, allowing us to create a variety of magical lighting designs for any venue and any event. The lights are preprogrammed with 64 color shades but have the added option of programming with an app right from an I phone, or I Pad that allows us to select from a color wheel. The color possibilities are endless with this feature! Check out out Erie UpLighting Color Picker Here!

Finally, our Uplighting is so brilliant the color reaches three stories high washing every ceiling in a gorgeous glow. We’ve transformed neutral white rooms into a blaze of bright color.
Contact us today to find out how we can create a thrilling lighting design for your wedding or event!

Other Erie Wedding Services Provided:

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Married at Midnight – New Years Eve Wedding

December 28, 2017 by Eve Frank

New Year’s Eve Wedding at THE MASONIC TEMPLE Erie, PA

Nick & Michelle hosted their New Year’s Eve Wedding at the beautiful Masonic Temple in downtown Erie, PA. The reception & ceremony took place with a twist in the Camelot room in the lower portion of the temple. Janet Miller from Sabella’s Catering was on hand with her polite and efficient staff to serve the cocktail-style reception complete with food stations, full bar service, and a coffee bar. Moments were captured by Dwiana Photography.

Wedding Services Provided:

• Wedding Reception DJ & Sound
• Reception Coordination
• Dazzling Dance Lighting for Weddings
• Interactive Online Planning Tools

Ringing in the New Year with “I DO”

Nick & Michelle took a different approach to their wedding. The cocktail style reception took place prior to the actual ceremony so that the two could be pronounced man and wife at the stroke of midnight, bringing in the New Year and their new life together at the same moment. Timing the ceremony just right was a bit of a challenge for us. It made working alongside the officiate, Pastor Mike of Delaware Avenue Baptist Church, critical. We had to go over the timing of the bridal processional and Pastor Mike’s service to get it just right. The extra work and practice paid off with the couple being pronounced at precisely the right moment.

Another challenge of the evening was the design of the room itself. The many pillars in the venue create the atmosphere of being in a medieval castle but can cause a hindrance to sound and lighting quality. To work around the challenge the pillars created, we decided to use them to our advantage. We used the scalloped design on the pillars to hang our dance lighting. We also set up our DJ equipment just behind the head table directly behind where the couple said their vows, so we had the best vantage point for timing during the ceremony. We concealed the equipment from photos by covering it with a large black cloth to remain inconspicuous. It worked like a charm.

Tom handled the technical aspect of the wedding by confronting and coming up with solutions to the physical challenges, while Eve acted as the Wedding Coordinator working alongside the officiate, catering staff and photographer throughout the planning process and during the evening to meet all the couples expectations.

In the end, Michelle & Nick’s New Year’s Eve Wedding Celebration was a huge success!

Erie Wedding Vendors and Professionals Involved:

Venue: The Historic Masonic Temple Erie. PA
Wedding Entertainment: Erie DJ Entertainment
Up-lighting & Lighting design: Erie DJ Entertainment
Catering: Sabella’s Catering

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Erie DJs? More than Just Music!

November 3, 2017 by Eve Frank

What Does a Disc Jockey Do? Why to DJs Cost So Much? It’s Just Music… Right?

Cost of Wedding Disc Jockey in Erie, PA

It’s Just Music… Said Every Regretful Bride!

Today’s post is important! It’s in praise of the humble, and often overlooked DJ, as a fairly unimportant detail – especially to the bride, and especially in comparison to her choice in photographer, dress, flowers, decor, etc…. After all, “it’s just music – right?”

Wrong. Music, or rather, your entire source of entertainment, is KEY to a successful event – your Reception PARTY! Who has a party without music?!

Now you may be thinking, ‘I can just get some speakers and run my iPod’… Please allow me to assure you; this could be the biggest mistake you’d make on your wedding. And I speak from personal experience here.

When I was a bride, I had a VERY limited budget. And while I DID want to have a DJ, we had a choice to either feed people, or have music. Yes, the budget, was that tight. But love prevailed, and we threw caution to the wind and were married just the same. But not without some regrets. With the music – not the marriage.

I always suggest that my couples consider putting their financial investment toward their memories – for themselves (through photo/video), and for their guests, in the form of great entertainment.

Guests may not remember what the bridesmaid’s bouquets looked like, but they WILL remember how they felt, and if they had a good time.

Here are some of the key reasons hiring a PROFESSIONAL DJ will give you the time of your life (and your guest’s too!) for your wedding celebration:

The most obvious – An excellent selection of music to suit all tastes.
While this may seem silly if you don’t think it’s important, nor care about your guest’s musical taste, but this is a biggie. You WANT ALL your guests to enjoy at least some part of the dancing portion. Besides, who doesn’t want to see Grandma shaking her thang to some Beatles?!

Ability to keep the crowd dancing by fading out music that clears the dance floor, and revving them back up with another kicking song. Having someone manage the music selection LIVE will keep your party going. Can you imagine what would happen if you made a playlist on your iPod and it cleared the dance floor?! Who’s going to manage that? It’s pretty hard to recover from – trust me.

Sound Levels:

Not all CDs are created equal, and neither are their sound levels. DJs mix and fine tune each song to ensure that no guest gets blasted, and so that the energy is kept at the same level in the room. Ever noticed that issue on your iPod? You’re not dreaming, it happens. Imagine THAT full scale at your wedding!

I have encountered couples that insisted on iPod music. One client, in particular, had a friend who was supposed to manage the music. However, he ended up being seated too far from the soundboard, so every time the volume was too loud or too soft, he’d come running from his table during the middle of dinner to managing it.

After a while, he just didn’t bother! And every time the volume went up or down, every guest’s head would turn, toward the sound mixer!

Proper Room Set Up:

While you may think it’s somewhat a standard process to set up some speakers, you may be surprised to know there is much more involved. Check it out:

You should have a discussion with your DJ in advance about where the VIP tables will be situated so that these guests can hear best (but again, not too close to the speakers either. Think about Grandma who will be complaining about the sound levels – she won’t be able to hear the toasts, but then will be annoyed the all that ‘noise’ when the dancing starts!). Strategic advanced planning matters here!

Circuit overload:

You’ll want to know your amperage per device so that you don’t blow the breakers – which may be linked to the kitchen, which is in the process of cooking your wedding meal! Oops. Yeah, that.

Safety:

Wires need to be taped down too. DJs know how to do this discretely and have ample cord to go around the perimeter of the room, instead of across it! Additionally, some cords and wires may need to go above the door frames for safety reasons and would need to be taped to the wall. However, if you hold your reception at a Heritage location, be rest assured, they have strict rules about what kind of tape can be used. Professional DJs know this and come prepared!

Back up:

A professional DJ also has back up equipment should there be any failure. They can quickly grab the spares, and get the party hopping again fast – and perhaps even without anyone ever noticing!

DJ / MC:

Not all DJs are great MCs, but some are, and they do know how to manage a microphone with ease. (*Hint: if they hold the mic like a rapper – all choked up at the top, they’re probably not going to be a great MC choice – on the next MTV awards maybe, but not your ideal MC). Professional speakers know how to hold a mic properly, they speak into it clearly and have good diction. Your wedding is not an opportunity to ‘dis the establishment, so form matters at this occasion!

Also, content is the main entree here, so if they’re worth their salt they’ll want to know your ‘love story.’ They’ll do their homework on you so they can host your day with more than enough information to make them look as if they’ve known you for years.

Entertainment:

Aside from MC’ing your reception, you’ll want to keep the crowd entertained. Not to worry – a professional DJ will also provide creative input on how to keep the energy alive, and knows where to incorporate the ‘entertainment’ too.

They also know the reception is about the couple (not them!) and will work hard to heighten the day’s emotions too (yes, you really will want to laugh and cry with great joy.) These will be the most powerful memories of your celebration. The biggest belly laughs at our reception are some of my favorite moments. Don’t discount your DJ/MC’s role in this very important element! Look for someone with a balanced personality when interviewing them. If they’re super shy, or over-the-top overt (where you can’t seem to participate in the conversation), they may not have what it takes. Get references – they’ll provide the most honest feedback.

Your professional DJ will also not be crude, or rude, or drink on the job. They’re working after all. And they will dress appropriately, in a suit. And they’ll leave their 8 Ft. promotional banner at the office. Seriously.

Accreditation:

Your DJ should demonstrate their professionalism by participating in associations that help keep them fresh and current in the world of wedding entertainment. Associations that support DJs, as well as educate you – the consumer. Check one of them out; ADJA: American Disc Jockey Association (http://adja.org/).

So you see, there is MUCH more to a DJ than just his/her music collection. And you certainly get what you pay for. If your DJ is a professional, this will likely be his/her main source of income, and they take their job seriously and charge accordingly.

Don’t regret YOUR wedding by having your guests leave early because they’re having a miserable time. A few hundred dollars difference to hire a professional DJ can make or break the kind of memories you’ll have of your wedding.

Choose wisely, and happy planning!

Simalar Blogs Posts:

Wedding Planning Tips for Erie, PA (Wedding Planning Websites)

How Much Does a Erie, PA Wedding Cost?

Average cost for a Wedding Disc Jockey in Erie, PA

Book Erie Wedding DJ Entertainment for Your Next Wedding

Erie DJ & Event Lighting

Looking for a Disc Jockey, Photo Booth or Event Lighting for your next special event? Contact Erie DJ Entertainment Today! Find Our Wedding Profile on The Knot!
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Erie DJ Entertainment Wedding Blogs:

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Joyful Wedding in The Boston Store, Erie, PA

November 3, 2017 by Thomas Frank

Joyful June Wedding at The Boston Store, Erie, PA.

Our Beautiful Couple hosted their June Wedding Reception at the Historic & Beautiful Boston Store in the heart of downtown Erie. Sabella’s Catering provided excellent food and decorating for the event.

Erie Wedding Disc Jockey & Photo Booth

Erie DJ Entertainment & Erie Photo Booth provided:

• Wedding Reception DJ & Sound
• Reception Coordination
• Brilliant Blue & Coral Pink Up-Lighting
• Dazzling Dancing for Weddings
• Interactive Online Planning Tools

We initially were contacted and hired by Hannah’s mom about 10 months before the wedding. We were familiar with the family from our local church. It was an honor to be a part of this day. We talked with couple numerous times via email and text messaging as they began planning their reception. They were able to plan their wedding long distance by using our Interactive Online Planning Forms. Every time they updated the forms we were notified and could go over what they wanted. We also met with them about 3 weeks before the wedding to discuss their timeline for the night. During that meeting, we learned that groom was having some trouble selecting music. We were able to suggest some songs for them and in the end, he trusted us to choose a few ourselves for their special moments. We had everything we needed ready prior to their wedding and were able to send their photographer a copy of the timeline before the wedding took place.

Overcoming the Historic Challenge

The hall itself is definitely a challenge. The Boston Store venue is a long hallway/lobby of a well-known retail store that was once the center of activity in Erie Pennsylvania. There is a locally famous phrase “Meet Me Under the Clock”. People would meet under the beautiful clock in the lobby, which is still there, for lunch and shopping dates. The hall boasts marble floors and pillars, electricity is limited, and the lighting is very low. In order to meet the challenges of this particular hall, you need to have an expert sound engineer controlling the levels of the sound equipment. We also needed extra electrical cords to bring power to our area and the Uplighting was necessary not only for ambiance but also to provide extra lighting for the guests to be comfortable in the venue.

Our Expert DJ/Technician was able to ensure that the sound levels were comfortable for everyone while battling the size, shape and building materials of the room. He was also well prepared for the limited electricity. By doing a walk-through of the hall prior to the wedding reception he was able to decide how much extra electrical cording and what kind to bring along.

As I mentioned before our Brilliant Uplighting was just the touch the hall needed to stay lit and create the ambiance. Our technician used the couple’s colors, Coral & Blue, to create a gorgeous lighting display. A plus side to our Wedding Up-Lighting is that they are wireless and battery operated so power outlets are not an issue.

Erie Wedding Up Lighting

Choosing The Right Music for Your Wedding Reception

The Bride & Groom also had specific music tastes they wished us to adhere to for their celebration which created just the kind of challenge we like. We had to find music that suited their tastes that the guests would enjoy and would keep the energy in the hall going. We were able to create a playlist of music to fit their needs and keep their guests happy. Erie DJ Entertainment has 24/7 Online planning forms with a playable link to our database of music! We also have a top wedding song lists right on our website.

Planning makes a Perfect Erie Wedding

Two Team Members worked closely with each other and the other vendors, Penny Shaut Photography & Sabella’s Catering to create an amazing Wedding Experience for Ryan & Hannah. Our DJ/Sound & Lighting Technician both created a dazzling light experience for the wedding while our Coordinator used the communication she had with the couple to create a seamless flow of events while working with the other vendors.

The planning process began when we were booked about 10 months prior to the wedding. Day of Service took about 10 hours total including travel, set up, sound checks, performance, and tear down. Additional set up time was required for the unique sound & lighting challenges of the hall.

Local Erie Wedding Vendors and Professionals:

Venue: The Historic Boston Store
Wedding Entertainment: Erie DJ Entertainment
Photographer: Penny Shaut Photography
Up-lighting & Lighting design: Erie DJ Entertainment
Catering: Sabella’s Catering

Book Erie Wedding DJ Entertainment for Your Next Wedding

Erie DJ & Event Lighting

Looking for a Disc Jockey, Photo Booth or Event Lighting for your next special event? Contact Erie DJ Entertainment Today!

Find Our Wedding Profile on The Knot!

Call us at (814) 520-5141 or click here to find out about pricing and availability.

Erie DJ Entertainment & Erie Photo Booth | 9064 Buffalo Road, North East, PA 16428 | www.ErieDJent.com