Unbelievable moments!  You will Get GOOSE BUMPS FROM THIS!  A MUST READ!!

I have been an entertainer a very long time!  Eighteen years to be exact.  There are always special dedications to people who can’t be at the wedding because of illness, live to far away, have died or the most common, serving our country.  Those are special.  These individuals are missing their families to help fight for our great country’s rights.  Usually it’s a song dedication or just a simple, “Thank You.” 

My wedding last week at the Channel Club went one step further.  Our bride Karen’s sister, Katelynn was serving our country in Afghanistan and could not physically be at the reception.  To surprise her sister, Katelynn had her boyfriend fly in from London on her behalf.  From the story I got he was invited, but due to circumstances wasn’t originally going to be able to attend.  However, he did make it and brought a laptop with him as his date.  Except it wasn’t any ordinary laptop.  It was set up with a live wireless feed on SKYPE to have Katelynn as a guest at the wedding.  She was live on the laptop through a video feed and could see and hear everything.  She was present for the ceremony and even had pictures taken with Karen as Karen held the laptop with Katelynn on the screen.

To make it even crazier.  Karen originally wanted us to play a song for her just in her honor.  Chicken Fried by the Zac Brown Band.  It’s about being American and such.  First time I ever heard it.  Really great song.  Anyway, Katelynn didn’t know about this, of course, because she wasn’t attending.  But now through Modern Technology, she was there.  She still did not know about the dedication but did one better.  After the Introductions, First Dances and Toasts, we had the guest remained seated for something big.  Originally Katelynn had sent a CD with a toast for her Sister. With the help of Fred from the Channel Club and videographer, Chris Ingram, we were able to tie the laptop into our system and have Katelynn do the toast live over the system.  We place the laptop on our table in the center of the dance floor so everyone can see her.  We brought Karen and her new husband Ryan out to the floor, and Katelynn gave a speech.  There was not a dry eye in the room.

As soon as the speech was done we told Katelynn about Karen and Ryan’s dedication to her.  We had all the guests and when I tell you all, 150 came out to the dance floor at once and dedicated Chicken Fried to her.  We also thanked her on behalf of everyone in the room for serving our Great Nation!  The whole dance floor started dancing and clapping!  You look at the laptop and there is Katelynn on the other side of the globe, 2am over there, DANCING IN HER BARACKS WITH ALL THE GUESTS!!!!  It was simply amazing!!

I thought I had seen it all, but what I witnessed and learned that evening I will never forget.  People sacrifice their lives, time and families, to help make our country safe and better.  What Karen, Katelynn’s boyfriend and their family and friends did for Katelynn will always make me remember, we don’t forget them!

On behalf of our entire family of entertainers, spouses and children, Thank you Katelynn for helping make our lives better!

All My Best!

Joey “Kidd” Marino

The variety of banquet facilities in Ocean County is tremendous.  You can have the most prolific wedding ever to the simplest of affairs.  All of these venues uphold the highest standards towards their clients and guests.  If you are looking for the ultimate in water views, Jack Baker’s Lobster Shanty sits on top of the river with “Deadliest Catch” Crab Boats coming right up to their windows on a regular basis.  Maybe it’s the “Disneyland” of wedding receptions, Clarks Landing, which is celebrating its first birthday next month.  From the spectacular water views, the built in sound system and customized service, Clarks Landing has left no stone unturned.

Maybe you’re looking for facilities with accommodations on premises.  The Grand Ballroom at the Holiday Inn in Toms River, as well as The Versailles Ballroom in the Ramada Inn also located in Toms River.  Both of these facilities provide exceptional service and cuisine.  You also have the “Diamond in the Rough” with Vanity Fare Caterers on Routt 70 in Lakewood which is adjacent to the Best Western Hotel.  This facility provides “One at a Time Weddings” with the highest standards in service, cuisine and atmosphere.  Their packages are built too you’re expectations by their experienced staff.

We are extremely pleased to associate ourselves with the wonderful wedding professionals who go above and beyond to service the client.

All Our Best – NJs Best DJs Staff

At a recent convention, we were asked how we, our company, separate ourselves from other entertainment firms.  The speaker gave us an assignment of how we handle a customer’s question.  Our situation went like this.

I was sitting in a potential couple’s living room last week.  The bride to be Marie, asked me what separated me, with my price, from the $700 DJ that the facility was promoting.  (Our Pricing varies based on client’s needs and wants.  The average package is $1595 to give you an idea)

I thought about it for a second and I then asked her a few questions that went like this…

Me:  Have you met this DJ yet?

Marie:  No, we talked to him on the phone.

Me:  Did you see any of his work?

Marie:  He doesn’t have any.

Me:  The person you spoke to, will he be the DJ?

Marie:  He didn’t say.

Me:  If you book him, when do you plan to go over everything?

Marie:  He didn’t say.

Me:  Did I answer all the questions I just asked you when we talked for the last half hour?

Marie:  I didn’t need to ask, you told me all this, before I had the chance to ask.

Me:  Who is sitting in your living room, trying to find out everything you invision for your wedding?

Marie:  You are.

Me:  That’s what separates our company from the rest.  Customer service and professionalism.

They signed a contract 2 minutes later.

Repeat business in the wedding industry is not supposed to be common.  Once a couple is married, rule has it, that’s it, no longer a client.  Yes, you can get personal referrals from them, but how do you really capitalize on a client you’re only going to have once.  These are questions that wedding professionals have been asking themselves for years.  Some people think you just search for new clients, ie:  Bridal Shows, Magazine Ads, etc.  We don’t.  We consider our clients lifelong friends.  We always knew and believed that, but the Wedding MBA proved it.  We always try to learn new industry techniques and better ourselves as DJ entertainers.  With the economy in shambles and people watching their budgets, we turned to a proven organization to help give us fresh ideas.  However, the ideas weren’t new.  They were fresh takes on old business proverbs.  The most important, “Once a client, always a client.”  There were numerous seminars on customer service before, during and after the wedding itself.  The speakers were proven businessmen in the wedding industry from the DJ World (Peter Merry) to the World Wide Web (Alan from the Knot).  But they didn’t talk about their business they talked about how to service your clients better than ever with social media websites, client meetings, emails, group client meetings and such.  We have learned that going to these seminars does help our business grow, but the Wedding MBA taught us how to grow exponentially with what you already know. 

All Our Best!

NJ’s Best DJ’s Staff

What we understand after 20 years in the business, is that future Newlyweds look for trust.  What we mean by that is they don’t want to be sold, they want a friend.  We’ve realized that we are one of the most important decisions on the biggest day of their lives.  They want to know they can trust their wedding professionals of choice.  With that being said, we want to acknowledge these MONMOUTH COUNTY banquet facilities that have trusted us with their clients for years! 

If you are looking for Magnificent Waterviews – The Molly Pitcher Inn, The Oyster Point Hotel, Pier House, Channel Club and Driftwood Cabana Club are great places.  If you are looking for ambience, Falcos Catering (Renaissance) in Ocean Township, Doolans Shore Club or the Holiday Inn at Tinton Falls are a smart choice.  For that spectacular outdoor ceremony, Branches in Long Branch.  We appreciate the referrals and trust from these long time friends of ours and just wanted to say Thank You.

Next Week Ocean County facilities, with some big announcements from a few of them!  (We couldn’t put them in this issue as we are putting the final touches on some events with them!)

Thank you for trusting us with entertainment on the biggest day in your life!

NJ’s Best DJ’s Staff

Years ago, Audience Participation Songs were so popular, as an Emcee, if you weren’t out on the dance floor doing the Chicken Dance and the Electric Slide, you might as well pack up your gear and go home.  One of the most requested songs was The Macarena.  Guests went wild on the dance floor trying to figure out which hand to fold over first. My left, then my right, shake your butt and which way do I turn?  How about Hands Up from Club Med, hands up, baby hands up, gimmee your heart gimmee gimmee your heart! Remember that one? As an Emcee Entertainer we sure did make some great impressions.  Although the Audience Participation craze has died down a bit, there are some clients that are still looking for those fun dances.  Some of which still seemed to hang on after all those years. YMCA, Mony Mony, Shout, and the Electric Slide are still requested at almost every event.  The Cha Cha Slide is still going strong and the new Cupid Shuffle ranks near the top as well. 

What were some of your favorites that still stick out in your mind?  And for those getting married, or having an event in the near future, which ones do you prefer?

All our Best!

NJ’s Best DJ’s Staff

No matter what new slow songs come out, some of the older standards still reign supreme.  Now we don’t mean 1950’s or 60’s.  However, Elvis’ Can’t help Falling in Love and Etta James’ At Last are still quite common.  The mid-90’s, early 2000’s have some of the most common Wedding Songs still requested today.  Shania Twain’s Still the One and From this Moment are probably the most requested still.  Edwin McCain’s I’ll Be and Could Not Ask For More still play as if they just came out on the radio recently.  The thing we find the funniest though, is that many of our clients want their entertainer to suggest a Wedding Song.  A Wedding Song is “your” as a couple’s song.  Nobody else’s. 

We want to know.  What year did you get married and what was your song?

NJ’s Best DJ’s Staff

NJ’s Best DJ’s first Wedding Bridal Show of 2010 was a complete success!  Bride and Groom’s, family and friends, participated with us on the dance floor to the Electric Slide, Cha Cha Slide, and the new hit dance song The Cupid Shuffle.  The Radisson ballroom was energized during our performance as Mom’s and Dad’s kept a close eye on that perfect DJ Entertainer for their son or daughter.  Our company looks forward to entertaining at shows in the next few months, creating more fun and excitement.  Check our show schedule we hope to see you soon!

All Our Best,

NJ’s Best DJ’s Staff

For what seemed to be a long year, actually went very fast.  2009 was a great year for us and we look forward to an even better 2010.  NJ’s Best DJ’s performed at some amazing weddings, sweet sixteen, corporate events and holiday parties in 2009.  We can’t thank you enough, our clients and friends who hired us for their events.  You have given us the great opportunity to help create lasting memories, make people laugh and smile as we celebrated with your family and friends.  For that we are truly grateful – Thank you.

Despite the declining economy, our company grew in many ways.  Sales increased 20% from the previous year, our Bridal Show perfomance improved throughout the season which led to more bookings, the implementation of new customer service ideas improved our overall client satisfaction, website traffic contributed to 50% of sales calls within the first 6 months, and last but definitely not least, the synergy of our staff members helped maintain an atmosphere of fun and excitement!  

We are truly blessed as individuals to be able to do what we do each and every year.  To entertain with passion, professionalism, excitement and fun.  Most importantly, make sure that at every event we create memories to last a lifetime!  

Looking back in 2009 was outstanding!  Now moving forward to 2010 we are more excited than ever…

We look forward to entertaining you!

All Our Best,

NJ’s Best DJ’s Staff