Top Ten Parties of 2010

During 2010, I was privileged to touch the turntables 135 times, entertaining guests throughout New Jersey, as well as in Pennsylvania, Manhattan and even Massachusetts. Selecting the ten best parties is no easy task. What ingredients make a top ten party? Exotic locations, interesting clients, electrified party vibes and/or hyped-up dancing crowds tend to be the most distinguishing factors. Below is 2010's top ten list, along with explanations about what made them extra special! They are listed in no particular order.

1) West Windsor-Plainsboro Prom - Camden Aquarium. As a former participant in the corporate world, I am no stranger to swimming with the sharks. This high school prom was held at the acclaimed Camden Aquarium in a dimly lit area with guest tables situated adjacent to a massive illuminated tank containing sharks, giant rays and other exotic aquamarine life. The DJ booth was situated in a giant atrium, and the students had a blast dancing to a mix of hip hop and high-energy dance music.

2) Fourth of July Wedding, Sabir & Marina, Columbia Station, Phoenixville, PA. Sabir and Marina are a super cool couple who opted to get married on the Fourth of July, which fell on a Sunday. A bi-cultural crowd of guests embraced all musical styles, and the dance floor was frenzied at times, particularly during old skool and salsa sets. Special touches included a local fireworks display, and a sparkler exit. A detailed blog entry of the celebration can be found here.

(photographs above sourced from Wren and Field Photography's blog).

3) Wedding, Eric & Ji-May, Elkins Estate - Elkins Park, PA. Myself and DJ Brian (aka DJ Extreme) provided the music and entertainment for another awesome couple, Eric and Ji-May. The Elkins Estate is the mack daddy of mansions, built on a grand, majestic scale. Memorable touches for this November "foodcentric" wedding included a breakdancing exhibition, a food-eating contest, and the groom reading his welcome speech from an i-Pad. A detailed blog entry of the celebration can be found here.

4) Corporate Gala - Bloomberg, Skillman, NJ. Each year, Bloomberg throws an employee appreciation/awards event for its Skillman campus employees. This year's theme was beach & boardwalk (following 2009's Brazilian Rainforest theme). Ambient DJ provided music in three separate zones, with DJ Spinz entertaining guest indoors, while I worked the main stage under a tent. Egils Matisse and his team from Eggsotic Events in Hampton, NJ once again transformed the campus into a magical environment with their special lighting and custom-fabricated decor.

5) Alpha I NYC - Midtown Manhattan. In 2010, through a mutual friend, I met Manhattan-based Emm Pakdee, aka DJ Emm Bangkok. Kindred spirits, Emm and I collaborated on a party series at the Alpha sushi lounges in midtown (Alpha I) and Chelsea (Alpha 2). The most successful of these parties fell on Thursday December 16th, when I spun from 11 PM to 3 AM to a group of smartly-dressed party people. The vibe of the party was off-the-charts, and I was definitely locked in a groove on the mixing board that night, playing the music that I love. These are the parties that we live for as DJs!

6) The Lohmann Weddings - Chesterfield, NJ. Holly and Julie are twin sisters. Both were married in 2010, and I had the privilege of DJ'ing both receptions. Holly was married in April at the Olde Yorke Country Club in Chesterfield, while Julie was married in September at the Inn at Fernbrook Farms - also in Chesterfield. Mr. Lohmann, their father, is a music lover and attended the planning meetings for both of his daughters, casting his votes for songs to play (and to avoid!). The Lohmanns are good people, and I enjoyed getting to know the family over a period of months. To read the full story (as well as details regarding my other set of "twins wedding" in 2010, click here).

(Above - Holly toasts her twin sister Julie at The Inn @ Fernbrook Farms).

7) Super Sweet 16, Villa Mannino -Bordentown, NJ. We brought out the big guns in our equipment arsenal, including plasma screens and intelligent lighting on a truss. I mixed high-energy dance sets, while VJ Brian manipulated snap photographs of guests on the fly. A large group of outgoing teens kept the dancefloor packed all evening in what felt like a scene from a Vega$ club. The banquet manager asked me to subdue the bass, after our rumbling sub-woofer caused a painting to fall off the wall! Good times :-)

8) Farm Wedding, Robin & Matt - Ringoes, NJ. Robin and Matt planned their reception at the Steenman Farm from out-of-state (Florida and Texas). Despite the logistical challenges, a program with many details and heartfelt moments came off seamlessly. To my delight and somewhat to my surprise (it was very hot and humid under the tent), the dance floor sprung to life later in the evening and an hour of overtime was commissioned. Memorable touches included announcing a guest to the theme from Top Gun, and a glowing note of appreciation received from the bride.

9) Waterfront Wedding, Pat & Drew - Brick, NJ. Patrice and Andrew opted for an intimate party with a smaller group of family and friends (many from New York). This extended reception featured a loose structure, and rigid formalities were replaced by ample cocktails, cigars and lobsters! I shared the entertainment card with duo "Chelsea and Ronnie." Chelsea is an amazing lounge-style singer, while Ronnie is the smoothest sax player that you will ever meet. What struck me about this reception was the mentality of the guests (particularly Patrice) who possessed a zest for life and genuinely cared about the people around them. It was a great feeling when Ronnie offered to prepare me a plate of food (I was entertaining at the time) before he had even eaten himself! The detailed blog entry of this event can be found here.

10) Corporate Party Series, Dow Jones, Plainsboro, NJ. This past June, I booked a Monday evening party for a sales group from Dow Jones, who was training at the Wyndham Conference Center. Our first evening of trivia and karaoke was such a success that they had me return two nights later for the group's final night in town. These super outgoing individuals really made the party pop!

We start 2011 with a blank slate. Will your next party make a future Top 10 list? Thank you for reading the Ambient DJ blog, and best wishes for a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year!

Gregg Hollmann

President

Ambient DJ Service

DJ Jagged Lounge Appearance with DJ Emm Bangkok - NYC

On Friday night, August 20, 2010, I co-DJ'd a party with DJ Emm Bangkok at the Alpha II Restaurant and Lounge in New York City. This was our second appearance at Alpha II, and we made some adjustments that enhanced the show. The biggest adjustment was bringing out our own sound system - which had a much fuller sound than the house sound system.

What I love about DJing in bars and lounges is that I have more freedom to build my sets and take the guests on a "journey." Mobile DJ parties tend to be more programmed with an expectation to hit the guests hard with the big hits. For our set in NYC, we started the party at 11 PM with down tempo dub and deep house, before moving on to R&B and getting dancers locked into a groove. Later on, we hit them hard with the funk and hip hop, before upping the beats per minute and unfurling an extended Latin dance set. It was a cool New York crowd that danced often and well. Koto, the Japanese bartender, kept the drinks flowing.

Key tracks - You're Making Me High (Toni Braxton), One for the Money (Horace Brown), Return of the Mack (Mark Morrison), Too Close (Next), Heartless (Kanye West), Atomic Dog (George Clinton), Papa's Got a Brand New Bag (James Brown), Fantasy (Earth, Wind & Fire), You Rock My World (Michael Jackson), Freedom 90 (George Michael), When Doves Cry (Prince), Alejandro (Lady Gaga), XXXO (M.I.A.), Shutterbug (Big Boi), DJ's Got Us Falling in Love (Usher, Serafin RMX), Ghosts n' Stuff versus Wicked Game (Mashup).

Despite some ugly events behind the scenes, Bangkok and I were immensely satisfied with the vibe of the party and guest feedback. Whether at Alpha II or elsewhere, we intend to continue throwing these parties for our fellow FunkBrothers and SoulSisters! Stay tuned.

To book DJ Jagged, Emm Bangkok and Latin percussionist Tommydrums for your next party, contact gregg@ambientdj.com.

Ambient DJ - Manhattan Lounge Appearance

On Friday night, July 30th, Ambient DJ mixologist Gregg Hollmann (aka DJ Jagged) performed at the Alpha 2 Lounge in the Chelsea neighborhood in New York City. Sharing the card was the hard-driving DJ Bangkok (aka DJ Emm Bangkok) and Latin percussionist Tom Costagliola (aka Tommydrums). The action started at 11 PM, and we played until 3 AM.

Alpha 2 is a swanky sushi restaurant and bar/lounge located on 8th Avenue between 18th and 19th Streets. There is a cozy room in the back where we set up our DJ booth, and also had our own bar, tended by the lovely Tanya. Plugging in to the house sound system, our set was also heard on the sound system in the packed front bar/restaurant area.

For the first hour, we kept things chill and loungey. The dancefloor kicked in hard when Bangkok dropped Wham's "Everything She Wants." The music mix was wide and eclectic, including everything from salsa, merengue, Brazilian, electronica, 80s, disco and funk - with a smattering of pop, hip hop and mash-ups.

Stay tuned for future performances, as this spot could evolve into a monthly event. For a fresh and contemporary look to your wedding reception, Latin percussionist Tommy Drums can join the stage with a DJ and take your party to the next level! To book DJ Jagged or DJ Bangkok for your trendy underground house party or formal event, contact info@ambientdj.com.