The Best Music of 2011 - The "Ambies"

Well, 2011 is nearly a wrap and it's time to take a walk down memory lane.  If we were on the 'Board' of an artistic academy (such as for the Grammys), what artists and songs would we nominate for the 'Best of' 2011?

In lieu of an the Academy, Ambient DJs' staff members - as well as several industry friends, opined on their nominees for the "Best of 2011."  Contributing DJs include DJ Iron Mike, DJ Spinz, DJ AllDay, DJ Greg Nice, DJ Brett Gash, DJ Garrett B., DJ Austin, DJ "Stav the Greek," DJ Gill "the Dream" and myself, DJ Gregg Ambient.  Keep in mind that our esteemed academy is based in Central NJ, a land where dance music and hip hop reign, and country music is seldom heard.

Introducing, the categories and nominations for the first annual "Ambie" awards!  Winners are announced at the bottom of the blog.

TOP DANCE SONG OF THE YEAR
1) Party Rock Anthem - LMFAO
2) Give Me Everything Tonight - Pitbull f/Ne-Yo, Nayer and Afrojack
3) Paris - Jay-Z and Kanye West
4) Cinema (Skrillex Remix) - Benny Benassi
5) Barbara Streisand - Duck Sauce

BEST NEW ARTIST
1) Mumford and Sons
2) Foster the People
3) J. Cole
4) Wiz Khalifa
5) Avicii

BEST ALBUM
1) 21 - Adele
2) Watch the Throne - Jay-Z and Kanye West
3) Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites - Skrillex
4) Sorry for Party Rocking - LMFAO
5) Torches - Foster the People

ARTIST OF THE YEAR
1) Pitbull
2) Adele
3) Jay-Z and Kanye West
4) The Black Eyed Peas
5) Chris Brown

BEST HIP HOP/R&B ACT
1) Rick Ross
2) Nicki Minaj
3) Drake
4) Trey Songz
5) Miguel

TOP POP ACT
1) Lady Gaga
2) Katy Perry
3) Rihanna
4) Justin Bieber
5) Bruno Mars

TOP ELECTRONIC ACT
1) Avicii
2) Skrillex
3) David Guetta
4) DeadMau5
5) Afrojack

Based on staff consensus and the executive powers of DJ Gregg Ambient, the winners of the first annual Ambie Awards are shown below!

TOP DANCE SONG OF THE YEAR

Nearly every DJ selected either LMFAO's "Party Rock Anthem" or Pitbull's "Give Me Everything Tonight."  In a very close call, the award goes to "Mr. Worldwide" Pitbull... this track really works crowds into a frenzy!

BEST NEW ARTIST

In a close battle against J. Cole, Mumford & Sons takes the Ambie!



BEST ALBUM

As one DJ commented, Adele's 21 has the best production, vocals and lyrics, and most of us agreed.  The album of the year goes to Adele, and let's hope that her voice problems are resolved soon.

ARTIST OF THE YEAR

And the Ambie goes to..... Jay-Z and Kanye West for their collaboration on "The Throne"  Their music is "provocative and really gets the people going!"



BEST HIP HOP/R&B ACT

Dancefloors could just not get enough of the barks, grunts and boasts of the Teflon Don, aka Ricky Rosay, aka Big Meech - congratulations Rick Ross!



TOP POP ACT

Our DJs were most impressed by the efforts of Rihanna in 2011.  Lady Gaga's latest album was good, but not ground-breaking.  Bruno Mars' charisma and talent should take him far.  Bieber and Perry made us yawn.



TOP ELECTRONIC ACT

As a general comment, electronic dance music made great strides in 2011, breaking through into mainstream radio.  But the biggest break-through artist of them all was Skrillex, best known for his bass-heavy dubstep and electro productions.



Thanks to the Academy!

We look forward to partying with you in 2012!  To learn more about our award-winning DJ services, visit us online at www.ambientdj.com.

To view DJ Gregg Ambient's Top 50 songs of 2011, click here.
To view his 25 Recommended songs for New Year's Eve, click here.

25 Songs for New Year's Eve 2011

Listed below, Ambient DJs' lead music mixologist, DJ Gregg Ambient, shares 25 top song selections for New Year's Eve 2011.  The list is composed of a combination of current and classic tracks:

1) New Years' Eve Countdown Tool - The Groove Junkies ("5.4.3.2.1... Happy New Year! Let's take this party to the next level.... DJ, hit me one time"). (drops)
2) Lil Jon New Years Countdown Party Pack - Lil Jon (available to DJs on www.crooklynclan.net) (drops)
3) Auld Lang Syne - Guy Lombardo (classic)
4) New Years Eve Party Medley - Bobby Morganstein Productions (a medley of upbeat marches to welcome the New Year!) (novelty)
5) A Night to Remember - Shalamar (disco)
6) 1999 - Prince (90s)
7)  Love Come Down - Evelyn "Champagne" King (disco)
8) Got to Be Real - Cheryl Lynn (disco)
9) High Energy - Evelyn Thomas (disco)
10) Sweet Caroline - Neil Diamond (party classics)
11) Give Me Everything Tonight - Pitbull f/Ne-Yo, Nayer and Afrojack (dance)
12) Mr. Saxobeat - Alexandra Stan (dance)
13) Favorite DJ (Disco Fries Remix) - Clinton Sparks f/Jermaine Dupri (dance)
14) I'm Still Hot - Luciana (dance)
15) What Happens in Vegas Stays in Vegas - DJ Chuckie (electro)
16) The Cupid Shuffle - Cupid (line dance)
17) Wanna Be Startin' Something - Michael Jackson (dance)
18) New Years Day - U2 (80s rock)
19) Set It Off - Strafe (early 80s dance jam)
20) Paris - Jay-Z and Kanye West (hip hop)
21) Love in this Club - Usher f/Young Jeezy (hip hop/R&B)
22) Cut the Lights - Chris Reeder and DJ Skribble (dance)
23) Levels - Avicii (electro)
24) Resurrection - PPK (trance)
25) You Make Me Feel Brand New - The Stylistics (R&B)

7 "Chill" Tracks For the Afterparty

1)  Rapture (Avicii New Generation mix) - Nadia Ali (electronic)
2) Carbonated - Mt. Kimbie (dubstep)
3) Purple Rain - Prince (80s)
4) Becoming X - Sneaker Pimps (downtempo)
5) Gold for the Price of Silver - Kings of Convenience (Chillout)
6) Dirty Laundry (Tom Middleton's Balearic Mix) - Bitter:Sweet (Chillout)
7) Lick It (Kaskade's Ice Mix) - Kaskade and Skrillex (downtempo)

Happy New Year everybody!  Dance up a storm, party safe, and see you in 2012!

Musically yours,

DJ Gregg Ambient

For more ideas, view my top 50 dance tracks of 2011 that can be viewed by clicking here.

Twitter - The Best of 2011

To tweet or not to tweet, that is the question!

Ambient DJ Service (Twitter Handle @AmbientDJs) tweeted heavily in 2011.  We fired off some 4,000 tweets (messages) during the year.  Many of these messages were links to blog entries while others were shout-outs to our favorite Twitter users.  Our most popular days to Tweet were on #MusicMonday and #WeddingWednesday.

I confess that when learning about Twitter a couple of years ago, I though that the concept was stupid.  How much information could be shared in the 140 character limit?  Did I really want to read drivel from the likes of Paris Hilton tweeting "Poppin' bottles at Pure with the Kardashians..."  Well, after giving Twitter a try, I came to love its rhythm, which is very different from Facebook or email.  Limited to 140 characters, the author of a tweet must distill a message to its very essence.

During the year, I purchased goods and services from businesses discovered via Twitter.  Similarly, Ambient DJ Service booked more than a few private events and weddings from those who got to know us on Twitter.  Importantly, Twitter helps to promote "top of mind awareness."

Listed below are 50 of our favorite Twitter Users of 2011. To make the list, users had to exhibit some combination of the following characteristics:

1) Presence - did they Tweet often enough for us to notice?

2) Content - were their Tweets interesting, informative or creative?

3) Interactive - did they take the time to respond to our Tweets or re-tweet our content?  

In drumroll fashion, here is the Best of Twitter 2011 list!  We have listed the Twitter handle followed by a category, and a quick summary.

@JerseyGoods (New Jersey) - Knowledgeable on wide range of NJ topics, great re-tweeter!

@AndrewDarlow (Photography) - Posts great technical tips, and shares awesome content.

@WedOnWheels (Weddings) - South Jersey-based wedding officiant with prolific Tweet action.

@FavorsByDorinda (Weddings) - Well-connected wedding favor pro who is quick to re-tweet (RT).  Also check out Dorinda's daughter Alyssa's Twitter account @Thx4Noticing Me (Social Media).

@njwedding (Weddings) - Erik Kent, head of njwedding.com, has his finger on the pulse of the New Jersey wedding industry, shares great information, and will RT quality content.

@WeddingWireEdu (Weddings) - Great source of business tips for wedding pros.

@Al_Ojeda_Photo (Weddings) - Al and Ida are great wedding photographers who love social media.

@CardBoxDiva (Weddings) - Marni Gold designs creative card boxes & loves to Tweet and RT.

@MondayFlowers  (Weddings/Floral) - Georgianne V. frequently tweets about weddings & Princeton.

@NassauInn (Weddings/Hotels/Princeton) - loves to Tweet on Princeton history, weddings and food.

@SheratonNJShore (Weddings/Hotels) - one of the most engaging banquet hall Tweeps.

@CruiseDivaNJ (Travel/Princeton) - Stacey K. posts great travel tips.

@LisaPhoto2_0 (Weddings/Social Media) - Lisa provides more shout-outs than a DJ!

@WeddingQuestion (Weddings) - learn the ins and outs of wedding etiquette.

@njwedofficiant (Weddings) - Celia Milton never forgets her Wedding Wednesday shout-outs!
@WeddingMusicPro (Weddings) - Gloria and Barbara are great resources for wedding music.

@PRforSmallBiz (Public Relations/Business) - Karina Alvela offers great tips for small business.

@JonMoore (Music Promotion) - Super Promoter Jon Moore helps DJs stay on the cutting edge.

@WehringerandCo (Social Media) - Tracy W. is generous to share tips and give RTs and +ks.

@PhillyCyberGeek (Social Media) - His geekery will improve your results from Social Media.

@RuhaniRabin (Social Media) - Celebrity Tweeter with great lists and tips.

@ScreaminLunatic (Weddings/Social Media) - An edgy and prolific Tweep who makes you think.

@MrsMoNJ (Public Relations/Princeton) - Well-connected Princeton-area Hilary Morris.

@SocialSavvyGeek (Social Media) - Informative articles on timely social media topics.

@kdevito (Social Media/Princeton) - Well-connected Princeton-area Katie DeVito.

@PREXMusic (Record Stores/Princeton) - The Princeton Record Exchange tweets about music.

@PrincetonAds (Princeton) - Interesting posts, frequent re-tweeter, and great website for free local classified ads.

@DJTimesMag (DJs) - The world's best DJ magazine.

@RollingStone (Music) - Read the stories behind the music.  Great lists!

@AmazonMP3 (Music) - Watch their Tweets for mind-bending bargains.

@KarlDetkenProDJ (DJs) - His Twitter graphic alone is worth the price of admission.  Great info on digital DJing.

@DJSkribble (DJs) - A DJ celebrity who is not afraid to interact with his fans.  Respect!

@DJShiftee (DJ/turntablism/dubstep) - Shiftee shares free mixes and informative blogs.  Get it.

@Nigel611 (DJs/Philadelphia/Real Estate) - Nigel knows techno, and Nigel knows Philly.

@DJCassidy (Celebrity DJ) - See which celebrity DJ Cassidy is rubbing elbows with this weekend.

@PhillyGG (Philadelphia/Music/Current Events).  A witty Tweeter with personality-plus.

@cmcandela (TV/Pop Culture) - prolific & fascinating Tweep who even Tweeted from her own wedding!

@80sMusicGirl (Music) - If 80s music is your guilty pleasure, then follow.

@BalloonsByRenee (Parties/Inspiration) - This fast-paced Manhattan Tweep always has your back.

@SorayaAgency (Bellydancing) - Soraya is not only a professional dancer, but a super-courteous Tweep!

@GSLDJs (DJs) - Get inside the mind of DJ Greg Nice with his rapid-fire, late night Tweets!

@DJChrisAtwood (DJs) - Follow the adventures of DJ Chris Atwood on Twitter #tigerblood

@TonyTeeNeto (DJs) - Voice-over artist, wedding DJ, business guru and quick to RT quality content.

@JasonJani (DJs/Social Media) - Follow the moves of the head honcho of SCE Event Group.

@HurricaneDJs (DJs/Social Media) -  Pioneers of the "new school" DJ movement in performance and marketing

@Manta (Business) - Posts frequent short, inspirational blogs to super-charge your business.

@8pmWarrior (Business) - Thought-provoking tweets on leadership, business, social media.

@Gitomer (Sales) - The King of Sales shares his success secrets.

@Humblebrag (Comedy) - profiles mostly celebrities who disguise boasts in a humble manner.

@BestWorstAdvice (Comedy) - outrageous posts that will make you laugh (or cry).

To follow any of these great Twitter personalities, type in www.twitter.com/ACCOUNTNAME.  For example, www.twitter.com/DJTimesMag.  Please follow Ambient DJ Service on Twitter by clicking here, and follow us on Facebook by clicking here.

Happy Holidays from DJ Gregg Ambient

Each year I enjoy recording a holiday compilation (unmixed) of favorite tracks.  This year's project is called "Switch the Style Up" which is a double-entendre.  First, this phrase is popular in hip hop parlance.  Second, the compilation features a wide range of styles as seen below.  If you are interested in receiving a free copy of the compilation, please send an email to info@ambientdj.com.  For those friends and wedding vendors who have been good boys and girls this year, keep an eye on your mailboxes!  

TRACK LIST AND LINER NOTES

It would have been easy to throw together the hottest dance songs on the radio and call it a day.  Instead, I selected tracks from many different genres - old and new - most of these songs have, or will stand the test of time due to their quality.  The compilation starts on a mellow note, with the energy building up throughout.  Enjoy!

Marooned - Pink Floyd (Psychedelic Rock).  A mysterious start to any holiday listener.

Falling in Love at a Coffee Shop - Landon Pigg (Acoustic Rock).  A mellow, romantic track used for a Brooklyn hipster wedding in the DUMBO neighborhood.

Pumped Kicks - Foster the People (Alternative Rock).  Enjoy this catchy track by a break-through artist.

Rolling in the Deep - Adele (Retro Soul).  Adele’s voice is huge and soulful.

I Can’t Help It - Michael Jackson (R&B) - Written by Stevie Wonder and Susaye Green of the Supremes, this little known track from the Off the Wall album is wonderful.

Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology) - Marvin Gaye (Soul). While a protest song, Gaye still makes the song sound beautiful, and I love the sax solo.

Body & Soul - Tony Bennett with Amy Winehouse (Crooners & Chanteuses).  Sadly this was the last song that Winehouse recorded before her untimely death. Notice that when Tony & Amy harmonize, Amy takes the lower notes with her sultry voice.

Feeling Good - Michael Buble (Crooners) - Michael Buble was blessed with a perfect voice and is also a great entertainer. Check out the Youtube video where at a concert Buble is heckled by a mother who wants her son to sing onstage.  Buble plays along, cues up this song, and the results may surprise you!

Bossa Nova U.S.A. - Dave Brubeck (Jazz).  Brubeck, now in his early 90s, is one of my favorite jazz pianists.

Spring - Ursula Rucker (electronica) - Philadelphia-based Rucker, best known for her poetry and political activism, showcases her vocal abilities in this moody electronic soundscape.

Dirty Laundry (Tom Middleton’s Balearic Mix) - Bitter:Sweet (Downtempo/Electronica).  The classically-trained DJ/producer Tom Middleton is an all-time favorite, producing lush electronic soundscapes such as this.

Waiting in Vain - Bob Marley (reggae).  One of Marley’s lesser known tracks, it is among his best.

Come See About Me - Diana Ross & the Supremes (Motown).  Fun Motown track.

You Make My Dreams - Hall & Oates (80s).  Hall & Oates are perhaps my favorite 80s act, and this track is a great party starter!

La Vida Es Un Carnaval  - Celia Cruz (Salsa).  The Queen of Salsa, Celia Cruz, was a major talent.  Coincidentally, I performed at a party this past year where the client was the doctor who treated Celia Cruz in her final years here in the U.S.

Audio Drop - Luciana.  Thank you to LA-Based “Super Promoter Extraordinaire Jon Moore” for having Luciana record this drop for me!

I’m Still Hot - Luciana (dance) - “I’ll rock your world... like a DJ”.. thanks Luciana for shouting-out the DJ!

Walking on a Dream - Empire of the Sun (dance).  This catchy song was featured in the movie “Hall Pass”

We Found Love - Rihanna f/Calvin Harris (dance).  Euphoric peak hour jam with Rihanna’s high-def vocals.

Sayonara - Ryuichi Sakamoto (international).  Sayonara of course is the Japanese word for “goodbye”... so goodbye until we meet again in 2012!

To check out DJ Gregg Ambient's Top 50 Dance Tracks of 2011, click here.

Musically yours,

Gregg Hollmann, aka DJ Gregg Ambient
Ambient DJ Service
www.ambientdj.com

DJ Gregg Ambient's Top 50 Dance Songs of 2011

Greetings party people!  From a musical perspective, 2011 was an interesting year.  Electronic styles became increasingly popular at the expense of hip hop.  Artists like David Guetta fused the two, using R&B vocalists (like Usher) or rap artists (like Nicki Minaj) over his high energy Euro-beats.  Here are the Top 50 tracks that kept my dancefloors movin' and groovin' throughout the year.

In countdown fashion, drumroll please....

50. The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie - Red Hot Chili Peppers (rock)
49. Under the Cover of Darkness - The Strokes (alternative)
48. The Show Goes On - Lupe Fiasco (hip hop)
47. Sugar Sweet (Shiftee Remix) - Aurora Young (electronic)
46. Don't Play No Game That I Can't Win - The Beastie Boys w/Santigold (hip hop)
45. Lotus Flower - Radiohead (alternative)
44. Animals - Neon Trees (rock)
43. Sofi Needs a Ladder - DeadMau5 (techno) Featured in the Hangover 2.
42. Where Them Girls At - David Guetta w/Flo Rida and Nicki Minaj (dance)
41. Raise Your Glass - Pink (pop)
40. S&M - Rihanna (dance)
39. When a Woman Loves - R. Kelly (R&B)
38. Okay (Rum & Red Bull) - Beenie Man (reggae)
37. John - Lil Wayne w/Rick Ross (hip hop)... Ross' grunts and chirps prevailed in 2011!
36. Coma Cat - Tensnake (disco house)
35. Blow - Ke$ha (pop)
34. Take Over Control - Afrojack w/Eva Simons (electro)
33. Levels - Avicii (electro)
32. We Found Love - Rihanna f/Calvin Harris (dance)
31. Don't Wanna Go Home - Jason DeRulo (dance)
30. Teach Me How to Dougie - Cali Swag District (hip hop)
29. Loca - Shakira f/Dizzee Rascal (Latin)
28. Tonight Tonight - Hot Chelle Rae (pop)
27. Barbara Streisand - Duck Sauce (dance)
26. You Make Me Feel - Cobra Starship f/Sabi (dance)
25. Yeah (3x) - Chris Brown (dance)
24. Pumped Up Kicks - Foster the People (alternative)
23. Forget You - Cee Lo Green (party jam)
22. We No Speak Americano - Yolanda f/D-Cup (dance)
21. Hello - Martin Solveig f/Dragonette (dance)
20. Turbulence - Steve Aoki f/Lil Jon and Laidback Luke (electro)
19. Moves Like Jagger - Maroon 5 w/Christina Aguilera (pop)
18. Someone to Love Me (Naked) - Mary J. Blige w/Diddy and Lil Wayne (R&B)
17. Monster - Jay-Z, Kanye West, Rick Ross & Nicki Minaj (hip hop)
16. Beautiful People (Disco Fries Remix) - Chris Brown (dance)
15. Stereo Love - Edward Maya f/Vika Jigulina (dance)
14. Teenage Dream - Katy Perry (pop)
13. The Edge of Glory - Lady Gaga (dance) (rest in peace Clarence Clemons)
12. On the Floor - Jennifer Lopez f/Pitbull (dance)
11. Favorite DJ (Disco Fries Remix) - Clinton Sparks w/Jermaine Dupri (dance)
10. Time (the Dirty Bit) - The Black Eyed Peas (dance)
 9. Cinema (Skrillex Remix) - Benny Benassi (dubstep)
 8. Down on Me - Jeremih f/50 Cent (R&B)
 7. No Hands - Waka Flocka Flame (hip hop)
 6. Mr. Saxobeat - Alexandra Stan (dance)
 5. Danza Kuduro - Don Omar (Latin)
 4. Paris - Jay-Z and Kanye West (hip hop)
 3. Rolling in the Deep - Adele (Retro Soul)
 2. Give Me Everything Tonight - Pitbull f/Ne-Yo, Nayer and Afrojack (dance)
 1. Party Rock Anthem - LMFAO (heavily requested throughout the year.  The group's "I'm Sexy and I Know It" has huge potential to chart in the Top 10 for 2012.



ABOUT DJ GREGG AMBIENT

Gregg is the President of Ambient DJ Service, an award-winning mobile DJ company based in Central New Jersey.  He enjoys performing at a variety of events ranging from Sweet 16s, to weddings, to bar/club engagments... and likes his dance floors HOT.  He also spins music videos.  To review DJ Gregg Ambient's top 50 dance songs of 2010, click here.

To review his top hits of the 1990s, click here.
To review his top picks of the 1980s, click here.
To review his top Motown dance picks, click here.
To review his favorite Old Skool hip hop tracks, click here.

To learn more about Ambient DJ Service, please visit our website at www.ambientdj.com

To view Gregg's bio, as well as the other Ambient DJ music mixologists, click here.

Invitation to Ryan's Quest "Black & White" Dinner Dance Fundraiser

Ticket sales are now underway for the Ryan's Quest in "Black & White" Semi-Formal Dinner/Dance scheduled for Saturday February 11, 2012 at The Westin in the Princeton Forrestal Village.  Guests will enjoy a Land/Sea Duet Dinner, 5 Hour Open Bar, Photo Booth, Live Music (DJ and band) and Silent Auction.  

This year's event also includes an exciting contest called "Ryan's Quest Most Loved Cake of 2012."  Guests, and esteemed food critics alike, will determine the winner from among the 20 entries!  Vincent Buzzetta, aka "Vinny," from the reality show "Staten Island Cakes" on WE TV, will be among the judges!

Tickets can be purchased online through the Ryan's Quest website at www.ryansquest.org (click on 'Upcoming Events') for $125 per person.  There are a limited number of remaining tickets available.  Falling close to Valentine's Day, this event is a great way to enjoy a night out on the town with somebody special!

Ambient DJ Service is proud to be among a list of providers donating their services for this important cause.  Net proceeds from the event will go towards finding a cure for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD).  DMD is the most common genetic disorder found in children, afflicts only boys, and currently has a 100% fatality rate.  David and Maria Schultz founded Ryan's Quest in the hope of raising funds to find a cure for their son Ryan and the thousands of other boys diagnosed with Duchenne who find themselves in a race against the clock.

To learn more about Ryan and the quest to save his life from Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), click here.  We hope that you can join us for this very fun evening that also benefits a wonderful cause! For those of you who cannot attend the event, please consider joining the mailing list to learn about future events or to make a donation.  Thank you!

Ambient DJ Service Joins Vendor Partnership Program with David's Bridal, Lawrenceville

Ambient DJ Service is pleased to announce that it has joined the Vendor Partnership Program at the just-opened David's Bridal store located in Lawrenceville, NJ.  This beautiful new store is strategically located on Route 1 South, directly across from Quakerbridge Mall. Ambient DJ is honored to have been invited to participate in this program, and during the term of the licensing agreement will be the exclusive DJ entertainment company promoting its services at the Lawrenceville store.

David's Bridal, Inc. is a privately-held retail chain specializing in in bridal gowns. Based in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, David's Bridal offers a wide range of bridal gowns and wedding party dresses which are high on fashion and aesthetic designs. Founded in 1950 as a small bridal salon in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, David's Bridal has evolved as one of the preferred shopping destination for brides-to be in America with over 300 stores located across the US and in Puerto Rico.  David's Bridal carries an exciting line of bridal fashions, including lines by Vera Wang and Oleg Cassini.

Ambient DJs' President Gregg Hollmann stated, "We are excited to align our company with one of the top brands in the wedding industry. With a 38% national market share, many brides-to-be will visit a David's Bridal store early in their research process, affording us a great opportunity to introduce them to the Ambient DJ brand.  The icing on the cake is that we will have the opportunity to market our services in the store on a regular basis.  In effect, this program has characteristics of a year-round bridal show.  The store offers a convenient, top-notch location in a shopping center with roadside frontage on the very well-traveled Route 1.  We look forward to a mutually beneficial relationship with David's Bridal and the staff at the Lawrenceville store."

ABOUT AMBIENT DJ SERVICE

Ambient DJ Service is a boutique-style mobile DJ company that provides customized music and entertainment throughout New Jersey, Eastern Pennsylvania and New York City.  Ambient DJ Service is a consecutive year winner of the WeddingWire Bride's Choice Award and has been featured in DJ Times Magazine.  To learn more about our services, visit us on the web at www.ambientdj.com.

Let Us Entertain You!

READY, SET, SHOP!

For those brides ready to begin the search for their perfect dress, here is the information for the new store:

3321 Brunswick Pike (Route 1 South)

Lawrenceville, NJ 08648

Store: 609-216-7323, Alteration: 609-681-2165

Regular Store Hours:

M-F:  11:00AM - 9:00PM

Sat:   10:00AM - 7:00PM

Sun: 12:00PM - 6:00PM

Book Review "If your website was an employee would you fire it?"

At last month's meeting of the New Jersey Disc Jockey Network (NJDJN), I had the pleasure of hearing Alan Berg give a presentation about providing great customer service in the wedding industry.  Afterwards I purchased a copy of Alan's recent book "If your website was an employee would you fire it? 5 things you wish you knew before you made your website... and how to fix them."

For those of you unfamiliar with Alan Berg, he is a highly-regarded sales and marketing consultant specializing in the small business space, and the wedding industry in particular.  A great consultant makes you think.  In any profession, there is a tendency to get bogged down in daily operations and to lose sight of the forest for the trees.  Berg's book, at a concise 128 pages, is like a powerful dose of smelling salts, to get a business owner re-focused on what makes an effective website.

The five questions explore by the author are:

1) Who is Your Site's Audience?

2) How Will You Get People to Your Website?

3) What Do Your Customers Want to See and Do on Your Website?

4) What Do You Want Your Customers to See and Do on Your Website, and

5) How Often Will They, or Should They, Return to Your Site?

Berg does a great job in cutting to the chase, and providing real-life case studies, both in the wedding industry in the world of Fortune 500 companies (e.g., Best Buy).  A few great lessons learned from the book include:

A website should speak directly to its target audience.  To do this, a business owner should define a detailed customer "persona" or perhaps multiple personas if servicing different segments.  When multiple personas prevail, you should market to each segment separately and consider using landing pages (or separate websites) to get the visitor to the most relevant content.  In other words, avoid trying to be all things to all people.

Give your Site Visitors Something to Aspire to.  Berg writes that "Most advertising is aspirational: It makes us aspire to be like the people we see in the ads who are using a particular product or brand."  This discussion was thought-provoking and really got me thinking about what specific images should be incorporated into our website.  Who is the "typical" Ambient DJ bride?  Berg also addresses the question about whether a business owner should include photos of him or herself on a website, and the answer may surprise you!

In evaluating prospective advertising programs, revenue per click is a far more relevant metric than cost per click.   As Berg reminds us "Advertising is not about costs; it's about the return on your investment."  High profile/cost advertising programs are not necessarily bad, nor are inexpensive advertising programs necessarily good.  

Talk To Your Audience About Them, Not About You.  Disc jockeys in particular love to talk about themselves!  Berg once again pulls out the smelling salts and reminds us that the website is about them (the customer) and not about you (the service provider!).  Does the copy on your website follow this common sense principle?

Incorporate More Calls to Action.  Each page on your website should have a call to action.  This can be done with variety and in good taste.  These calls to action can increase the probability that a customer will contact you and not leave your site (to a competitor's).

Overall, we would highly recommend this book to any small business owner looking to run a diagnostic test on their existing website.  From our perspective, it was a timely read as our company is poised to launch www.ambientdj.com (version 3.0) later this month.  There are many actionable ideas from the book that we are planning to incorporate.  If we gain just one additional client from these ideas, then we will have earned a stratospheric ROI from this book purchase! For those of you interested in purchasing a copy (also available in digital version for Kindle), you can visit www.AlanBerg.com.