THINKING OF HIRING A BAND?

There are pros and cons to hiring a band for mixed events such as receptions or parties of any kind. Remember, the party is what your guests generally remember the most. I always advise my clients to plan the event around the guests and their diversity to make it truly memorable for the vast majority. Here is what I think about bands and personal events.....

Pros: As a guy who loves to sing and perform live outside of my disc jockey business, I love the energy and vibe in a room when the crowd and band feed off of each other and everyone is into the music. You can't replace that.

Cons:
1) Lack of flexibility. What happens when you have guests with diverse backgrounds and age groups such as a wedding reception or 50th birthday party? A band can't really change their playlists or the genre they play. They usually don't take requests either
2) Higher Cost. A GOOD 4 or 5 piece professional band is not cheap, nor should they be. You definitely GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR in the entertainment business.
3) Bands play sets. You are going to have to entertain your guests throughout the night between sets. If not, your guests will lose interest.

So, if your guests are all into the same music, around the same age and do the same thing in the same place....a band might be the way to go if you can afford it. Most events need a variety of music, and the flexibility to entertain based on the guests' individual and group preferences. For if it is not for the guests, then why do it at all? Just a thought.....

Til next time...

WHACKY STUFF IN NHL

Just a few questions after the first few weeks of the season:
1. Who are the Columbus Blue Jackets and why are they suddenly winning?
2. Why do the Leafs torment me so?
3. Why does Phil Kessel look unstopable for a few games....and then invisible for a few?
4. Is there a better organization out there than the Red Wings? They continue to impress.
5. Why wasn't Steven Stamkos on the Olympic team? Can you imagine him and Crosby together?

Recovery from surgery continues, and I'm about to open the Joy of Cooking. Heaven help me.....

A NEW ERA FOR BIG EYE ENTERTAINMENT

What is this 'new era'? Well, one thing is I've decided I will update my blog, for real this time! I've had some time to think about things since having inguinal hernia surgery on Monday. I needed to have it over with prior to a busy Christmas disc jockey season. Somebody has to lift those monstrous JBLs! What's happened since my last post? Hmmmmm......

1. Graduated from Royal Roads University with a Bachelor of Commerce in Entrepreneurial Management degree. This was an insane undergrad programme where years 3 and 4 are jammed into 44 weeks, split into four quarters with only one week of stress relief (break) between. OMG, I consider this a huge accomplishment!

2. It was a huge accomplishment mainly because there were so many other things going on in my life, most of which I initiated. My personal life has changed dramatically and my happiness is reflected in my smile:)

3. I managed to complete the program despite a busy wedding season performing all over Vancouver Island....from Comox to Esquimalt and all points in between!

4. After watching Julia Julie recently, I've decided to cook every recipe in the Joy of Cooking! Just kidding:).....or am I?

5. Big Eye will expand his repertoire to include Karaoke hosting, and rebrand the company as Music Man Entertainment as of January 1, 2011.

OK, now that we've caught up, look for me to update this thing at least weekly and hopefully get a few followers. Ciao.

Well, it's been a long time since my last input and there's so much to talk about. Another very busy wedding season is long over and I've begun to take bookings for this coming summer. Christmas season saw me travelling from Victoria to Comox and all points in between to bring my brand of Christmas cheer.

I am in the process of updating my website with new pricing, services and playlist examples. Feel free to contact me through the site or by phone if you have any suggestions.

See you later!

GREAT SHOW LAST NIGHT IN COMOX

Played at 19 Wing Comox last night. Great party and a beautiful venue. Was a nice roadtrip, at least until it started SNOWING on the way back. That isn't in the Vancouver Island brochure! Hopefully, the weather will improve dramatically before the summer wedding season. I was really lucky last year and didn't have one rain out. I'm keeping my fingers crossed this year.

It's been awhile. After a very busy Christmas party season, the time is now to focus on the upcoming summer wedding season. A few tips for people searching for the right DJ for their wedding.
A. Make sure the DJ is a professional who is holding a valid AVLA license to play music. There are disc jockeys on Vancouver Island who are not licensed with the Audio-Visual Licensing Agency of Canada.
B. Make sure that the DJ meets with you at the earliest opportunity and presents a proper contract for the event. While it won't do you any good if he skips town, a proper contract and event planning sheet usually means that the DJ knows what he/she is doing and is prepared to put their reputation as a professional on the line. I received at least 3 inquiries last summer at last minute because their DJ was nowhere to be found.
C. A professional DJ will normally insist on a monetary deposit to 'reserve' your date for you, along with the contract. This is a first come first serve business and most professional DJ's are busy enough that a reservation is required. Beware of fly-by-night operations. Get a receipt for any money you give a DJ.
D. Don't be afraid to ask questions regarding playlists, what the DJ will wear, knowledge of the venue etc. Also, a good experienced DJ will be able to offer advice regarding music selection for first and second dances, garter and bouquet protocol and the need to keep on schedule. You don't want to 'lose' your audience, especially older/younger guests who may have to leave early. You don't want your guests to miss out on all the fun involved in the bouquet/garter toss or any other things you have planned.

TTYL

DJ Big Eye

EVERYBODY READY FOR CHRISTMAS

Well, tomorrow is my official retirement from my old government job with the Navy. I'm ready for new things. Most exciting though is running my own disc jockey company while getting ready to start another business as a consultant with Investors Group here in Duncan. Busy, busy, busy!
Christmas is only a few weeks away. Our house looks like Santa's playground.

Wedding season is coming faster than you think. I still have a few dates left. Book soon or you'll miss out on Vancouver Island's best!