2011 International DJ Expo- Sneak Preview

Next week from August 8th - 11th, thousands of disc jockeys from across the country (and world) will descend upon the Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City for the DJ Times 2011 International DJ Expo.  Participants will include mobile DJs, club DJs, Video Disc Jockeys (VJs), producers, bedroom DJs, equipment manufacturers and business gurus.

As the owner of a mobile disc jockey service in Central New Jersey and a lover of DJ culture, here are the seminars and parties on my radar screen:

MONDAY

Steve Moody's All-Star MCs' Secrets Revealed - Steve is a leader in the wedding industry, and his seminars are always fast-paced and informative.

Jerry Bazata's Business in a Down Economy - With the U.S. unemployment rate above 9%, there is no denying that we are in a recession.  I look forward to hearing the thoughts of Jerry Bazata, one of the sharpest minds in the business.

Simple Solutions of Being Different, The Power of the Upgrade - PA-based mobile DJ Michael Kindlick will share specific techniques for upselling services.  This is a timely seminar, as clients seem increasingly resistant to upgrades in today's sluggish economy.

Keynote Speech and Q&A - DJ Skribble.  Skribble, "America's Hardest Working DJ" is the real deal, as evidenced by his jaw-dropping, party rocking performance at last year's late night set at the Ego Lounge.  Past years' keynote speeches by the likes of Grandmaster Flash, DJ Jazzy Jeff and Q-Bert have always been inspirational!

DJ Skribble, performing at 2010 DJ Expo in the Ego Lounge

Evening - At 8 PM, it's time for the DJ Expo Kickoff Party, hosted by Mike Walter from Elite Entertainment.  I'm particularly excited to experience a performance by John Donovan, Party Percussionist.

TUESDAY

Mike Walter's Maximizing Employee Training - Mike Walter manages the most successful multi-op. company that I know of, and he will explain the science behind training and maintaining employees for maximum efficiency.  Training is one of Mike's fortes.  For those owners and managers of multi-ops who have yet to check out Mike's new book/audio book, "Running Your Multi-Op" we recommend checking it out here.

Randi Rae's All Things Mitzvah - Our company has successfully dipped its toes in the Mitzvah market, educated and inspired by the likes of Randi Rae, Mike Wieder and Mike Lazar.  I look forward to a fresh round of inspiration from the "Mitzvah Maven"!

"Games DJs Play" with Jake Jacobsen - Jake Jacobsen is a high-energy, interactive entertainer who is also is the President of the New Jersey Disc Jockey Network (NJDJN).  We are always looking for new content for our shows, and hopefully Jake will reveal some winners!

New Media Marketing:  Control Your Media Message with Hurricane Productions.  Strato and Vinnie from Hurricane Productions have used new media platforms to great success and will share some of their secrets!

Evening - The Promo Only Party Artist Showcase Party at the House of Blues is a favorite event of many attendees.  Hosted by Kimberley Locke, Blake Lewis and Traci Lords, scheduled performance artists include 50 Cent, Jeremih, Jason Derulo, Crystal Waters, Wynter Gordon and Pete Wentz & the Black Cards.  Additional surprise artists are also possible and probable!  

WEDNESDAY

DJ Business Guru Randy Bartlett will present two seminars.  The first is his famous "One Percent Solution."  The second seminar, "Behind the Scenes," is a new and intriguing seminar that examines the iceberg effect of a DJ's livelihood.

Smart Marketing - Spinning Without Spending - Joe Mollineaux.  Joe will discuss some low and no-cost marketing strategies to increase sales.

Keynote Q&A - Robert Clivilles.  Clivilles, co-founder of C&C Music Factory, is a super producer/DJ  who will tell his life's story, including the loss of his production partner David Cole.

Evening -  the action shifts to the Casbah at the Taj Mahal for the crowning of the 2011 "DJ of the Year" (2010's winner Adam Weitz).  Thereafter, Pioneer will host a talent show of DJ/VJ virtuosos, including BT, QBert, DJ Skribble, DJ Shiftee, DJ 2nd Nature and DVDJ Unique.  Pioneer will be throwing free headphones and gear into the crowd, and the event will culminate with DJ 2nd Nature unhooking his CDJ-2000 and throwing it into the crowd!  (I hope to be in this exciting mosh pit!)

THURSDAY

The primary goal of Thursday is to look for last minute deals in the Exhibits Hall, and to attend the "Ultimate DJ System Giveaway " at 2:45 PM

SEE YOU THERE!

The Ambient DJ crew will be in full effect from Monday through Thursday.  If you'd like to meet up for lunch, email me at gregg@ambientdj.com.

Ambient DJ Meets the "Queen of Freestyle"

This past Saturday, at a private party in Franklin Lakes, NJ, our DJ Greg Nice (Greg Lambiase) had the good fortune of sharing the stage with freestyle legend Judy Torres as a DJ and band alternated sets.  Judy Torres, often referred to as the "Queen of Freestyle" is a Puerto Rican singer who grew up in the Bronx.  Interestingly, this was not Greg Nice's first encounter with Judy Torres - the two met briefly at the 2010 DJ Times International DJ Expo  in Atlantic City at the Promo Only party!

Judy was energetic, friendly and complimented Greg Nice on his mixing.  What an awesome compliment, and perhaps that is why Greg is beaming in the photo below!  

Judy Torres and DJ Greg Nice

DJ Greg Nice is no stranger to the freestyle genre, as evidenced by his post on freestyle from earlier this year:

http://ambientdj.blogspot.com/2011/04/top-freestyle-tracks-of-all-time.html  (he had rated Come Into My Arms at #11 in his Top 20 Freestyle Tracks of All-Time!).  Greg Nice's other favorite tracks are No Reason To Cry, and Faithfully.

To catch up with Judy, check out her website  at www.judytorres.com  , or friend her on Facebook or Twitter

To book DJ Greg Nice for your next private party, contact us at www.ambientdj.com 

Photos from the Field - June 2011

The month of June for a mobile DJ is the equivalent of tax season for an accountant!  Accordingly, our blog activity has diminished this past month.  However, I'm taking a moment to post a few cool photos from the field!

DJ Greg Nice poses with a happy Kim and Shane at the Smithville Inn

Dropping in with DJ Greg Nice at his recent set at Eve Ultra Lounge

The Wow Factor of an Intelligent Lighting Show

Matt and Wendy take their vows waterside on LBI

House Party - DJ Gregg towards the end of 8 hour continuous dance set!

Lots of Elementary School Sendoff Parties this June... keep em' busy with hula hoops!

Our friend, event planner, Heather Sconza, from All the Rave Events, scooping ice cream at a charity event benefiting Wounded Warriors (www.alltheraveevents.com)

Yesenia and her Entourage, after a high energy Sweet 16 Dance Party!

Our DJ Gregg posing with "Justin Bieber" from Beauty & the Beast

Thoughts on Turning 40, and a "Feel Good 40" Playlist

Today I celebrate my milestone 40th birthday.  I am only mildly sentimental - yet thought that I would share a few thoughts and memories on this special day.  And of course, I have listed some tracks for my birthday mix CD!

Celebrating 40 years of Pleasure and Pain at a Surprise Birthday Party!

On a daily and weekly basis, the wheels of progress grind slowly.  Yet looking back, I accomplished a great deal in my twenties, as well as in my thirties.  Now at forty, I realize that fifty is closer than 21 and that I'm starting to get old.  Darn it! I confess that I recently spotted a few gray hairs on various parts of my body, and that some of the hair on my head is simply vanishing!

My twenties were a time of rapid professional development in the arena of high finance.  I traveled the world on Merrill Lynch's dime and had the opportunity to study in Japan and work in the Philippines as a stock jockey.  These were prosperous and adventurous times.

In my thirties, I began paying less importance to the corporate life, and built a family with my wife Charlotte.  The birth of my sons Zachary and Maxwell were two of the best days of my life.  Their innocence, energy and enthusiasm have re-awakened these same qualities in me.

In my early thirties, I was confronted with a major and life-threatening health challenge.  I was not certain that I would see 35 years old, let alone 40.  I am grateful to God and a skilled and caring medical staff at NYU for getting me over this hurdle.

In my thirties, I also began following my true passion of music, at first DJ'ing parties as a hobby, and later launching Ambient DJ Service as a professional mobile DJ service.  Little did I know at the time that my services would grow to be in high demand, stoked by a combination of passion, some talent and hard work. In 2007, I began expanding the business from a single operator (me) to include other music mixologists such as DJ Iron Mike Bacon, DJ Spinz, DJ Nadine and the flamboyant DJ Greg Nice.

In late 2009, I escaped the shackles of corporate America and have since been engaged as an entrepreneur in the fields of DJ entertainment and business brokerage.  In a landscape of 9%-10% unemployment in America and many families struggling, my business ventures are performing well.  Long-term success is not assured, and I must continue to work hard to grab my slice of the American dream while avoiding the potential pitfalls. 

On this momentous day - I'd like to give some shout-outs, to those who have inspired, encouraged and outright helped me:  my mom and dad, my wife, my brother Corey, my sister Heidi, my Grandma Dot (Rest in Peace), my extended family, Dr. Russell Berman, Dr. Anna Pavlick, Ernie Watts (my first boss at Merrill who gave this rookie a shot), Anthony Tan (who encouraged me to go international), to my long-term friends Gregg W. and Mike Z., to DJ Spinz, to DJ Iron Mike, to DJ Struggler, to DJ Greg Nice, to all of my Ambient DJ staff past and present, to the NJDJN for inspiration, to DJ Times Magazine for their inspiration and support, to Steve Rosen at Sunbelt for his encouragement and support.  In the words of R.E.M., "it's the end of the world as we know it, and I feel fine."  Well forty isn't the end of the world, and I feel fine... very fine!

To all of the corporate back biters who tried to sabotage me (no names mentioned), I am blowing a giant raspberry your way! 

Here's a short list of victorious tracks to commemorate this special day!  I'm not much of a lyrics person, and selected them based on how the songs make me feel. Thanks to everybody who took the time to wish me happy birthday in-person or by Facebook message.  It means a lot!

DJ Jagged's Feel Good 40 List

1) Good Life - Inner City (dance)
2) Big Fun - Inner City (dance)
3) Love is The Answer - Cerrone vs Liquid Liquid (dance)
4) Last Night a DJ Saved My Life - Indeep (funky party jam)
5) Have a Cigar - Pink Floyd (rock)
6) What I Got - Sublime (reggae/ska)
7) Roadhouse Blues - The Doors (rock)
8) Don't Want to Go Home - Jason DeRulo (dance)
9) Go DJ (Disco Fries RMX) - Clinton Sparks (dance)
10) Party Rock - LMFAO (dance)
11) Thirty Something - Jay-Z (hip hop)
12) Grove Street Party - Waka Flocka Flame (hip hop)
13) No Hands - Waka Flocka Flame (hip hop)
14) Roc Boys - Jay-Z (hip hop)
15) Aston Martin Music - Rick Ross (hip hop)
16) Fantastic Voyage - Coolio (party jam)
17) White Lines - Grandmaster Flash (old skool)
18) Planet Rock - Afrika Bambataa (old skool)
19) Kiss on My List - Hall & Oates (80s)
20) Need You Tonight - INXS (80s)
21) What is Love - Haddaway (90s)
22) More Today Than Yesterday - Spiral Starecase (60s pop)
23) Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now - McFadden & Whitehead (R&B)
24) Carbonated - Mt. Kimbi (dubstep)
25) Stereo Love - Edward Maya & Vika Jigulina (house)
26) Coma Cat - Tensnake (house)
27) Hello - Martin Solveig w/Dragonette (dance)
28) Enlightenment - Francois K. (house)
29) Electric Feel - MGMT (alternative)
30) I Can't Help It - Michael Jackson (disco)
31) The Way You Make Me Feel - Michael Jackson (disco)
32) Don't Look Any Further - Dennis Edwards (RNB)
33) Jammin' - Bob Marley (reggae)
34) Happy Birthday - Stevie Wonder (Motown)
35) Knock on Wood - Eddie Floyd (funk)
36) I Get Lifted - K.C. and the Sunshine Band (disco)
37)  That's The Way I Like It - K.C. and the Sunshine Band (disco)
38) Freedom 90 - George Michael (dance)
39) The Best is Yet to Come - Frank Sinatra (crooners)
40) Forever Young - Alphaville (80s)

1st Annual Winter Jazz Fest

Yesterday I had the pleasure of Emceeing the 1st Annual Winter Jazz Fest, sponsored by Packet Publications and www.centraljersey.com.  The event was held at the upscale Hamilton Manor.

The event was very well-attended, with perhaps a couple of thousand people passing through during the day.  Admission was free, and guests received tickets that could be redeemed for tastings from the various food vendors serving diverse styles such as Italian, Japanese and Vegetarian.  If you liked the samplers, then do check out the main course from any of these great establishments! (El Sham Restaurant, Villa Romanza, Marcello's Tomato Pie Restaurant, Mahzu Japanese Restaurant, Spoon & Sprout Restaurant, Revere Grill Room, Toscano Ristorante, Chocolate Lovers Club of Princeton).  Numerous door prizes were also announced during the afternoon, donated by the likes of the Tiger's Tale and Anthony Vincent Salon in East Windsor (who was particularly generous with salon package giveaways!).

There were three live musical acts that were enjoyed throughout the afternoon: The Luke Elliot Band, Wenonah Brooks, and Meg Hanson Group.

In addition to keeping guests informed, I provided music in between the sets of the live acts, playing a variety of mainstream jazz (Sonny Rollins, Miles Davis, Dave Brubeck, Stan Getz, Kenny Burrell, Charlie Parker, Herbie Hancock, Nina Simone) to contemporary jazz-influenced electronic music (e.g. Bebel Gilberto remixes, Brandt Brauer Frick, Thievery Corporation, Sweetback,Francois K.).  

 Thanks to Packet Publications and CentralJersey.com for sponsoring this amazing event

The incredible Benny Barksdale, Jr. - who performed with Alicia Keys at the Grammys

 The Meg Hanson Group - Live!

DJ Gregg from Ambient DJ Service posing with April Sette from A.C. Marketing

For more photos, visit the following link.  Let Ambient DJs' staff of professional DJs/Emcees help to make your next public or social gala an unprecedented success!  For more info, visit us on the web at www.ambientdj.com.

Other vendors supporting this fine event included:

David Lerner Associates, Inc. (investments)
Camp Bow Wow (doggy daycare)
Performance Spine and Sports Medicine
Real Life Designs (audio-visual consulting services for residential/commercial)
Hamilton Pet Meadow (pet burial and cremation)