When I think about Thanksgiving, the first things that come to mind are, food and family. My husband and I get both sides of our families together at our home for a wonderful day filled with love, laughter and lots of food. Even though Thanksgiving isn't my favorite holiday food-wise, I look forward to it every year.
In the Jewish religion, there are days dedicated to reflection, but I see Thanksgiving as another day for that. 2009 has been a year of tremendous ups and downs for many, I know it has been for myself and my family, but when there is a "down," an "up" isn't usually too far behind. No matter how difficult things get, or how hard one day may seem, there is always tomorrow.
I am extremely thankful for my Husband and my family. I have a wonderful job and work with some incredible people. I have a baby girl on the way and I could not be more thankful for her. No matter how tough things seem, there is always something to be thankful for. So at some point today, or over the next few days, instead of dwelling on what's missing, please take some time to reflect on all that you have and all that you're thankful for. I promise to do the same.
I hope you all have a happy and healthy holiday, filled with love, laughter and lots of food.
-Becky
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Jessica and Justin
We got a very nice "thank you" in the mail from Jessica and Kurt that I wanted to share. Kurt DJ'd their reception at Woodcrest Country Club back in August.
"Dear Kurt, We really enjoyed having you as the DJ for our wedding on August 1st. You were very professional and a pleasure to work with. You did a great job of playing a variety of music - everyone had a great time at our wedding. I was impressed with how many people were out on the dance floor all night. Thank you for all of your hard work. -Jessica and Justin."
Jessica and Justin, we're so glad you were pleased and we wish you all the best!
Her are a few images from their special day thanks to Dana Romano Photography.
"Dear Kurt, We really enjoyed having you as the DJ for our wedding on August 1st. You were very professional and a pleasure to work with. You did a great job of playing a variety of music - everyone had a great time at our wedding. I was impressed with how many people were out on the dance floor all night. Thank you for all of your hard work. -Jessica and Justin."
Jessica and Justin, we're so glad you were pleased and we wish you all the best!
Her are a few images from their special day thanks to Dana Romano Photography.
Kurt and Shawn - our DJ's love what they do!
-Becky
Monday, November 23, 2009
How some simple lighting can make a big difference
We recently received some images from Leslie at Leslie Gilbert Photography. We worked with Leslie on two different lighting rentals over the past couple of months and what she captured, really shows how big of a difference some simple lighting can make.
This first wedding was at Congress Hall in Cape May, NJ. We did up lighting and dance floor break ups.
The break ups add some visual interest to the dance floor without becoming overwhelming.
The second wedding was at the Radisson Plaza-Warwick in Philadelphia. We did pink up lighting throughout the room, for both the ceremony and reception. It is simple, but really warmed up the room.
If you are interested in lighting for your ceremony or reception, give us a call, (215) 633-1200. We'd be happy to talk to you about what we can do!
Thanks so much for the images Leslie!
-Becky
This first wedding was at Congress Hall in Cape May, NJ. We did up lighting and dance floor break ups.
Up lighting is a nice, simple way to add some warmth, light and color to a room.
The break ups add some visual interest to the dance floor without becoming overwhelming.The second wedding was at the Radisson Plaza-Warwick in Philadelphia. We did pink up lighting throughout the room, for both the ceremony and reception. It is simple, but really warmed up the room.
If you are interested in lighting for your ceremony or reception, give us a call, (215) 633-1200. We'd be happy to talk to you about what we can do!
Thanks so much for the images Leslie!
-Becky
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Tina and Erik
For Tina and Erik's reception at Pen Ryn Mansion, we uplit the room in pink, did dance floor break ups in a darker pink and projected their monogram on the dance floor. The room looked beautiful!
Thanks to Robert Winton of Because You Love Photography for the images!
Thanks to Robert Winton of Because You Love Photography for the images!
-Becky
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Official Offshoots! Launch
A few weeks ago Jason and I attended the official Offshoots! launch at Feastivities. Offshoots! is the floral and decor branch of Feastivities catering. Chris, the new Director of Design and Development at Offshoots!, asked us to do some lighting to help showcase their work and we're really glad we were able to help.
We did break up patterns on the outside of the building - talk about a WOW factor when you drove up!
We also did some up lighting and pin spotting throughout the inside of the building, and of course, provided our awesome Plasma Bar!
Chris, thanks so much for asking us to participate! We're looking forward to working with you more in the future!
A HUGE thank you to the always fabulous Jackie Bayne (Love Shack Photo) for the beautiful images!
And here's a picture of Paola and I at the event. Paola is the Creative Director at Offshoots! and an all around awesome person! We're due just 7 weeks apart!
We did break up patterns on the outside of the building - talk about a WOW factor when you drove up!
We also did some up lighting and pin spotting throughout the inside of the building, and of course, provided our awesome Plasma Bar!
Chris, thanks so much for asking us to participate! We're looking forward to working with you more in the future!
A HUGE thank you to the always fabulous Jackie Bayne (Love Shack Photo) for the beautiful images!
And here's a picture of Paola and I at the event. Paola is the Creative Director at Offshoots! and an all around awesome person! We're due just 7 weeks apart!
-Becky
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Christina and Jonathan
Christina and Jonathan had a beautiful wedding at Brantwyn Mansion in Wilmington back in October. Christina was a very easy bride to work with. She came in to meet with us armed with a vision for her wedding and we are so glad we were able to bring that vision to life - although it was slightly tricky to execute as we were lighting each room of the mansion in a different way.
The pin spotting, up lighting and gobo projections were all set based on particular specifications. Our crew, led by Jess G., also had to set up up lighting and intelligent lighting in the 60x40 tent.
Now, not many of our clients choose to use intelligent lighting. We do try to push it as it gives you complete control over the lighting for the entire evening, but most of the time it comes down to budget. However, if you can swing it, it really does makes a difference.
Jessica was our programmer for the night and she had the tent looking amazing! Even the band felt like the energy from the lighting as each song had a completely different feel based on the lighting Jessica had going. The whole top of the tent came alive.
Christina and Jonathan, thank you so much for allowing us to be a part of your special day. It was an amazing wedding and we had a great time working on it. We also got to work with a great team of professionals! Thanks so much to, Jenna from Brantwyn Mansion, Sabrina from The Blushing Bride and Alicia from Blossom Productions.
Here is a sneak peak at Christina and Jonathan's wedding! Thanks so much Alicia!
The pin spotting, up lighting and gobo projections were all set based on particular specifications. Our crew, led by Jess G., also had to set up up lighting and intelligent lighting in the 60x40 tent.
Now, not many of our clients choose to use intelligent lighting. We do try to push it as it gives you complete control over the lighting for the entire evening, but most of the time it comes down to budget. However, if you can swing it, it really does makes a difference.
Jessica was our programmer for the night and she had the tent looking amazing! Even the band felt like the energy from the lighting as each song had a completely different feel based on the lighting Jessica had going. The whole top of the tent came alive.
Christina and Jonathan, thank you so much for allowing us to be a part of your special day. It was an amazing wedding and we had a great time working on it. We also got to work with a great team of professionals! Thanks so much to, Jenna from Brantwyn Mansion, Sabrina from The Blushing Bride and Alicia from Blossom Productions.
Here is a sneak peak at Christina and Jonathan's wedding! Thanks so much Alicia!
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Will the Real DJ Hero Please Stand Up
I take pride in my talent of being a true DJ that can mix, scratch, read a crowd and do live remixes in front of 200+ people. There is no better feeling than when I pick the perfect song to play, tease it a bit with scratching in a lyric or two, mix it seamlessly so both songs are playing as one and then watch the energy of the crowd rise to a point it’s never been. Talk about an adrenaline rush. But try and do that 100 times in one night. That is the sign of a true DJ.
Last night as I was leaving the office, I received a call from a friend who bought the new DJ Hero game for PlayStation. I laughed, because I knew he would want to challenge me, and that's funny due to the combination of him having no rhythm and his love of video games.
After playing, and mastering the game, I realized the feeling that the game produces is similar to the one I described above. I have to admit that the game had its moments - I had to use the skills I have as a DJ and apply them to a character in the game - he was a 400 pound man spinning in a subway car in the middle of a rave in an empty parking lot. The eerie thing about the game that I noticed is when my friend would incorrectly mix a sequence the virtual crowd would boo him, causing him to lose points.
That is both exactly like being a real DJ, and nothing like it. Let me explain. In our profession, if the DJ cannot mix, fumbles the beats, or even selects the wrong type of song to play, the crowd will let him or her know. They will not boo like the virtual crowd in the game, but they'll stop dancing. The repercussions of being a poor DJ are having poor events and unhappy clients, followed by bad reviews and ultimately leading to no work. In the game, the worst that can happen is that you lose points and restart the game. As I was leaving his house, I thought about how distant the DJ hero game was to reality.
When it comes to DJing a wedding, it's not a game. A real DJ hero will show up, mix great music and get the guests dancing and having a wonderful time. Unfortunately, there are DJ's out there like I described above - the ones who fumble the songs and empty the dancefloor, and in real life, there's no restart button. There's no virtual crowd to boo and they won't be waiting with open arms when you show up again. At a wedding, the crowd from the game is your family and friends and they won't forget the music and the time they had at the wedding. If you fumble, they won't be waiting with open arms.
-Matt
Last night as I was leaving the office, I received a call from a friend who bought the new DJ Hero game for PlayStation. I laughed, because I knew he would want to challenge me, and that's funny due to the combination of him having no rhythm and his love of video games.
After playing, and mastering the game, I realized the feeling that the game produces is similar to the one I described above. I have to admit that the game had its moments - I had to use the skills I have as a DJ and apply them to a character in the game - he was a 400 pound man spinning in a subway car in the middle of a rave in an empty parking lot. The eerie thing about the game that I noticed is when my friend would incorrectly mix a sequence the virtual crowd would boo him, causing him to lose points.
That is both exactly like being a real DJ, and nothing like it. Let me explain. In our profession, if the DJ cannot mix, fumbles the beats, or even selects the wrong type of song to play, the crowd will let him or her know. They will not boo like the virtual crowd in the game, but they'll stop dancing. The repercussions of being a poor DJ are having poor events and unhappy clients, followed by bad reviews and ultimately leading to no work. In the game, the worst that can happen is that you lose points and restart the game. As I was leaving his house, I thought about how distant the DJ hero game was to reality.
When it comes to DJing a wedding, it's not a game. A real DJ hero will show up, mix great music and get the guests dancing and having a wonderful time. Unfortunately, there are DJ's out there like I described above - the ones who fumble the songs and empty the dancefloor, and in real life, there's no restart button. There's no virtual crowd to boo and they won't be waiting with open arms when you show up again. At a wedding, the crowd from the game is your family and friends and they won't forget the music and the time they had at the wedding. If you fumble, they won't be waiting with open arms.
-Matt
Synergetic Staff- Joan
In 2007, we realized we needed some help doing the day to day things. So we set out to find an administrative assistant to help us with contracts, answering phones, getting the events organized, etc. Two years later, she's still here and is a vital part of our company. Her name is Joan.
When she first started here, she didn’t know much about the special event industry. But, little by little, she picked it up. Today, she is a great first person for our clients and potential clients to speak to. With us, it is the little things that count, because all of those little things add up. Being prepared is just as important as doing a good job, and Joan makes sure we are prepared and headed in the right direction.
Joan is a huge Philadelphia sports fan. Depending on the season, you'll find her sporting her jersey or talking about the game from the night before. She has a wonderful family and sings in her church choir.
Next time you call in, make sure to chat with her a bit. She will be more then happy to talk to you about your event and give you information.
-Jason
When she first started here, she didn’t know much about the special event industry. But, little by little, she picked it up. Today, she is a great first person for our clients and potential clients to speak to. With us, it is the little things that count, because all of those little things add up. Being prepared is just as important as doing a good job, and Joan makes sure we are prepared and headed in the right direction.
Joan is a huge Philadelphia sports fan. Depending on the season, you'll find her sporting her jersey or talking about the game from the night before. She has a wonderful family and sings in her church choir.
Next time you call in, make sure to chat with her a bit. She will be more then happy to talk to you about your event and give you information.
-Jason
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Thats What Friends Are For
The age of 25 brings with it types of friendships that have never been presented before. At this point, I am now four years out of college, and quite embedded in my profession and the wedding industry. Coincidentally, I am at the age where a lot of my friends are getting married and need help planning their weddings. Because of what I do, I am in a unique position - I can not only help them plan and connect them with other professionals, but I can also DJ their reception myself.
Some friends are closer than others, so there are times I am invited to the wedding as a guest, but even when I am offered the opportunity to enjoy the other side, I still want everything to go perfectly for them. So I typically don’t fully enjoy myself because I’m constantly offering to help. I would never let a friend make a bad decision when it comes to their wedding, as I have friends that would never let me make a bad investment, or allow me to do my taxes incorrectly. As a person embedded in this industry, how could I not want to offer my opinion and help? Sometimes it is more enjoyable for me to actually work a friends wedding, because I am not only in control - so that I can ensure they have a great time - I also have the chance to show my peers what I can do.
In October, I had the opportunity to DJ my friends wedding at Constatters in Northeast Philadelphia. Mark and Ashley are great people. Mark is the type of guy who wears his heart on his sleeve and will always be honest with you. He wanted nothing more than to have a great party with a packed dance floor. But Mark also has musical tastes that don't normally work well for a wedding, for example, House of Pain, Beastie Boys and Black Sheep.
My challenge was not only to play his style of music, but also allow his guests to have a great time. I knew right away that the majority of the people attending would not pack the dance floor to, "Put on Your Kickin Shoes," by House of Pain. So as the dancing portion of the reception started I made it a point to read the crowd deeper than I ever have - this gave me the opportunity to dabble a bit in his style of music, while continuing to play more popular songs. Before I knew it, everyone was on the dance floor having a great time and it occurred to me that no matter what I played they would continue to enjoy themselves. At that point, the gloves came off and I proceeded to really show off my talent of scratching, mixing and cutting.
I will never forget the look on some of my peers faces after I’d mix a song in and they’d glance at each other in amazement, almost as if they were secretly trying to figure out how I was taking different songs and mixing them together so perfectly. As the wedding concluded, everyone that attended made a point to tell me what a great time the wedding was. Not only was I successful in my job as a DJ, but also in my job as a friend. The guests danced and had a great time and I was able to help my friends have the wedding of their dreams. But hey, that’s what friends are for, right?
-Matt
Some friends are closer than others, so there are times I am invited to the wedding as a guest, but even when I am offered the opportunity to enjoy the other side, I still want everything to go perfectly for them. So I typically don’t fully enjoy myself because I’m constantly offering to help. I would never let a friend make a bad decision when it comes to their wedding, as I have friends that would never let me make a bad investment, or allow me to do my taxes incorrectly. As a person embedded in this industry, how could I not want to offer my opinion and help? Sometimes it is more enjoyable for me to actually work a friends wedding, because I am not only in control - so that I can ensure they have a great time - I also have the chance to show my peers what I can do.
In October, I had the opportunity to DJ my friends wedding at Constatters in Northeast Philadelphia. Mark and Ashley are great people. Mark is the type of guy who wears his heart on his sleeve and will always be honest with you. He wanted nothing more than to have a great party with a packed dance floor. But Mark also has musical tastes that don't normally work well for a wedding, for example, House of Pain, Beastie Boys and Black Sheep.
My challenge was not only to play his style of music, but also allow his guests to have a great time. I knew right away that the majority of the people attending would not pack the dance floor to, "Put on Your Kickin Shoes," by House of Pain. So as the dancing portion of the reception started I made it a point to read the crowd deeper than I ever have - this gave me the opportunity to dabble a bit in his style of music, while continuing to play more popular songs. Before I knew it, everyone was on the dance floor having a great time and it occurred to me that no matter what I played they would continue to enjoy themselves. At that point, the gloves came off and I proceeded to really show off my talent of scratching, mixing and cutting.
I will never forget the look on some of my peers faces after I’d mix a song in and they’d glance at each other in amazement, almost as if they were secretly trying to figure out how I was taking different songs and mixing them together so perfectly. As the wedding concluded, everyone that attended made a point to tell me what a great time the wedding was. Not only was I successful in my job as a DJ, but also in my job as a friend. The guests danced and had a great time and I was able to help my friends have the wedding of their dreams. But hey, that’s what friends are for, right?
-Matt
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Have you found us on Facebook yet?
If you haven't already, please visit us on Facebook! Our fan page is up and running and is the best place for the latest news and information! We're working hard to get the word out to our clients, past clients, potential clients and business partners! So what are you waiting for? Check out the page and become a fan!As a little incentive to you, when we reach 1,000 fans by December 31st we will do a drawing from all 1,000 fans. We will donate $500 to the charity of the winner's choice on behalf of the winner and Synergetic! We know times are tough and we want to give back as I'm sure all of you do as well. With the holidays just around the corner, it is time to think of those less fortunate and in need, and we thought this would be a nice way to give back!
-Becky
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Express Yourselves (and your relationship) Through Music
A couple of months ago I had the opportunity to give Brides Magazine my input on some different ideas for songs to play during the formalities at a wedding (ceremony & reception). Reflecting on recent weddings I’ve done where the music was a bit different, I began to formulate a list that was, "The remedy for the common wedding music."
In writing the article for the magazine I tried to reach as many different types of couples as I could with my picks. I found that no matter what type of music is suggested, it has to be meaningful to the couple for it to work for them. Because music is such an important part of my life, it would be difficult for me to suggest the same songs to every couple that I work with for their ceremony, recessional or first dance. Just because I think a song is a good fit for one couple's first dance, doesn't mean it will work for another couple.
So instead of suggesting particular songs for the ceremony or reception, my job is to help the couple figure out what their collective identity is, and help them to display it through the music at their event. When a couple hires a DJ for their ceremony, they have free reign to communicate with their guests the type of love they share through music.
Some couples want to hear "The Wedding March" and "Here Comes the Bride" because they identify that music with a wedding. I feel as though that only scratches the surface. Why not find music you both enjoy that represents your relationship in the deepest way? Why not have your guests associate the lyrics and melodies of a particular song with the smell of the flowers you’ve picked and the sight of your beautiful dress? The best part about having a DJ at a ceremony is that you can pick any song, from any group, in any genre.
The music you select can accomplish several things. One may be to lighten the mood during the ceremony. I once had a client select REM’s, "It’s the End of the World" as their recessional song. The guests laughed - but it was a song the couple enjoyed.
Some couples choose a song they heard on the radio during their first date. When I worked with my couple from last weekend, they selected "Bed of Roses," by Bon Jovi as their first dance song. They did not choose that song because of the lyrics, or because it represented their relationship, rather they wanted that song because they met while standing outside in line for a Bon Jovi Concert and it met something to them.
Selecting the music for your wedding can be as trivial as using Google and searching for "Wedding Music" or as intricate as finding the acoustic version of Foo Fighters, "Everlong" that they sung while touring in Colorado. Either way the music should mean the most to you, and should convey the message of your love for one another. If your identity is shown through the style of dress you select, or type of flower you carry, the music should express the relationship you’re vowing to uphold.
-Matt
In writing the article for the magazine I tried to reach as many different types of couples as I could with my picks. I found that no matter what type of music is suggested, it has to be meaningful to the couple for it to work for them. Because music is such an important part of my life, it would be difficult for me to suggest the same songs to every couple that I work with for their ceremony, recessional or first dance. Just because I think a song is a good fit for one couple's first dance, doesn't mean it will work for another couple.
So instead of suggesting particular songs for the ceremony or reception, my job is to help the couple figure out what their collective identity is, and help them to display it through the music at their event. When a couple hires a DJ for their ceremony, they have free reign to communicate with their guests the type of love they share through music.
Some couples want to hear "The Wedding March" and "Here Comes the Bride" because they identify that music with a wedding. I feel as though that only scratches the surface. Why not find music you both enjoy that represents your relationship in the deepest way? Why not have your guests associate the lyrics and melodies of a particular song with the smell of the flowers you’ve picked and the sight of your beautiful dress? The best part about having a DJ at a ceremony is that you can pick any song, from any group, in any genre.
The music you select can accomplish several things. One may be to lighten the mood during the ceremony. I once had a client select REM’s, "It’s the End of the World" as their recessional song. The guests laughed - but it was a song the couple enjoyed.
Some couples choose a song they heard on the radio during their first date. When I worked with my couple from last weekend, they selected "Bed of Roses," by Bon Jovi as their first dance song. They did not choose that song because of the lyrics, or because it represented their relationship, rather they wanted that song because they met while standing outside in line for a Bon Jovi Concert and it met something to them.
Selecting the music for your wedding can be as trivial as using Google and searching for "Wedding Music" or as intricate as finding the acoustic version of Foo Fighters, "Everlong" that they sung while touring in Colorado. Either way the music should mean the most to you, and should convey the message of your love for one another. If your identity is shown through the style of dress you select, or type of flower you carry, the music should express the relationship you’re vowing to uphold.
-Matt
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
What Makes Us Different
When people ask me this question, I usually say, “we answer the phone.” It sounds like a small thing, but in this industry, I think it is a very important thing for us to do. When I call a company with questions or to find out some more information, I appreciate speaking to someone, not a machine. It's more personal.
But over the past couple of months, we have really tried to analyze what makes us different - it can be a hard thing to do. But, after a lot of thought and reflection of past events, we found that our ability to truly reflect our clients personalities and style is what makes us different.
When we meet with our clients and potential clients, we ask a lot of questions in order to get the right information which in turn helps us envision what they want and eventually, provide them with it. We want our clients guests leaving their event saying, "that was them."
Your event should be a reflection of you. We can help you tailor your style and show your personality in a way that all of your guests can enjoy. We love hearing positive feedback from our clients, but the ultimate compliment comes when a client tells us that their guests can't stop talking about it.
Each event calls for different ideas and suggestions - we work through these together to figure out what works best for you, your vision and your venue. You may have seen something in a magazine or at another event that caught your eye - we will work with you to personalize it. Throughout the process of securing your professionals, you are looking for people that "get" your vision, not only do we get it, but we'll help you showcase it.
That might not sound like a huge thing. You may have been expecting some big statement on how we are the best. But I think when all is said and done, and all of the little details come together and you have the chance to reflect back on your event, you would agree with us. Our customer service was top notch and we did a pretty good job reflecting your style.
-Jason
But over the past couple of months, we have really tried to analyze what makes us different - it can be a hard thing to do. But, after a lot of thought and reflection of past events, we found that our ability to truly reflect our clients personalities and style is what makes us different.
When we meet with our clients and potential clients, we ask a lot of questions in order to get the right information which in turn helps us envision what they want and eventually, provide them with it. We want our clients guests leaving their event saying, "that was them."
Your event should be a reflection of you. We can help you tailor your style and show your personality in a way that all of your guests can enjoy. We love hearing positive feedback from our clients, but the ultimate compliment comes when a client tells us that their guests can't stop talking about it.
Each event calls for different ideas and suggestions - we work through these together to figure out what works best for you, your vision and your venue. You may have seen something in a magazine or at another event that caught your eye - we will work with you to personalize it. Throughout the process of securing your professionals, you are looking for people that "get" your vision, not only do we get it, but we'll help you showcase it.
That might not sound like a huge thing. You may have been expecting some big statement on how we are the best. But I think when all is said and done, and all of the little details come together and you have the chance to reflect back on your event, you would agree with us. Our customer service was top notch and we did a pretty good job reflecting your style.
-Jason
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
We love happy clients!
We got a very nice thank you note in the mail from Maureen and Matt. Jason DJed their September reception at The Manor House, and we also did the up lighting and their monogram.
"Thank you so much for helping to make our wedding a truly memorable event. Not only did you have the dance floor packed all night long, but all of our guests talked about how 'un-wedding DJ' like everything was. The lighting was perfect and set the tone for the evening. I've passed your number along, and will continue to do so! Thanks again!"
Maureen and Matt, we're so glad you were happy and we really appreciate that you chose us to be a part of your special day!
Here are a few images from their reception thanks to the ladies at Creative Images!
-Becky
"Thank you so much for helping to make our wedding a truly memorable event. Not only did you have the dance floor packed all night long, but all of our guests talked about how 'un-wedding DJ' like everything was. The lighting was perfect and set the tone for the evening. I've passed your number along, and will continue to do so! Thanks again!"
Maureen and Matt, we're so glad you were happy and we really appreciate that you chose us to be a part of your special day!
Here are a few images from their reception thanks to the ladies at Creative Images!
-Becky
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