{Tune in Tuesday} Dave K

Dave is one of our newer DJ's - he used to work at Wired 96.5. We'll get to know him more in a few weeks. But for now, this is what he's listening to.

-Nelly
-Pink
-Rihanna
-Usher
-Katy Perry
-Ke$ha
-Chris Brown

{Get To Know Us Modnay} Kelly

We hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving. I had a wonderful weekend with my family, but today, it's back to reality :). I'd like to reintroduce you to Kelly, our wonderful Sales Executive. Chances are if you've called the office over the last couple of months, you've had the pleasure of speaking with her.

Becky: Where are you from?
Kelly: From Philadelphia - born and raised here :)

B: What do you do at Synergetic?
K: My main role is to be the initial contact for our clients and get them all of the information on our packages. I help fit our clients with the right DJ for them and their event based on the information I receive when speaking with them. I’m the point person for the DJ clients so any questions they have, I can help – or at least try to since I’m still learning – I’ve been here almost 5 months.

B: What’s your favorite type of music? Do you have a favorite song?
K: Obsessed with Third Eye Blind. Most people don’t even know they’re still around and making new music/touring. I’ve been to 15 of their concerts since 1998 and loved each and every one. Also love Dashboard Confessional. Oddly enough, neither bands have songs you’d hear our DJ’s play because they don’t really make music you can dance to. I have so many favorite songs it’s hard to choose. If I had to pick one, I’d say "1000 Julys" by Third Eye Blind.

B: What did you want to be when you grew up? Is it still an option?
K: I wanted to be the first female president. Definitely not a option nor would I want it to be, haha.

B: What are your favorite things to do/hobbies?
K: Phillies. Phillies. Phillies. And Shopping. But mainly Phillies.

B: What's your favorite movie?
K: Fever Pitch – even though it’s about the Red Sox and not the Phillies. I just love that movie and it makes me smile every time I watch it. I love the scene where Jimmy Fallon gets down on one knee and asks Drew Barrymore if she’ll go to Opening Day with him.

B: What do you love about what you do?
K: I love when I talk to a bride/groom and I get to learn about how they got engaged. I genuinely love hearing stories like that because even the not so romantic engagement stories are romantic.

Make sure to check back every Monday for another Q&A. If you have anything you'd like to know about us, leave a comment with your question, post it on our Facebook page or email it in to beckyd@synergeticsounds.com.

Soiree Philadelphia

Last month we did some up lighting and a gobo for the Grand Opening Celebration of Soiree Philadelphia. Soiree Philadelphia is a premier and “first of its kind” wedding resource in the city. They bring together the best of the best in the planning, event & style industries in one location so couples can plan their events with confidence and ease. They are Philadelphia’s wedding concierge service. For more information on Soiree Philadelphia and up coming events, visit their website.

A special shout out to the other professionals who helped to make the grand opening so great.
-Laura and Paul Eaton
-Gene Blum & staff from Drexelbrook Off-Premise Catering
-Mark, Rebecca & team from Queen of Hearts Wedding Consultants
-Ilonka Floral Decorators
-Darcy Law Couture
-Christina Carnevale of Paper Rock Scissors
-Alicia Nathanson of Blossom Productions
-Amy Reese of Society Hill Studios
-Hana & Posy
-Colette Pastore of Pastore Events
-Mary Ruegg of Brides Philadelphia
-David Buckley & staff of American Furniture Rentals (AFR)

The Synergetic family has a new member

Jessica, one of our lighting designer's and her husband Ryan welcomed baby RJ on October 31. He was a healthy 8 pounds, 5 ounces! He loves listening to music just like his Uncle Jay and he loves to look at lights. Jessica said being a mom is the best experience in the world but the most tiring! We're so happy for them and wish them all the best!

A DJ in training

An Eagles fan from the start!

-Becky

{Tune in Tuesdays} Patrick O'Brien

Patrick is one of our newer DJ's. We'll get to know him better in a few weeks, but for now, here's what he's listening to.

Michael Buble
Jimmy Buffett
Pitbull
LTD
Johnny Gill
Frank Sinatra
Dean Martin
Renee Olstead
Van Halen
Gypsy Kings
Bobby Caldwell

{Get To Know Us Monday} Mark Mehler

This week, we'll get to know Mark. He has been a part of Synergetic for a long time - he's a great DJ and all around nice guy.

Becky: Where are you from?
Mark: I grew up in Northeast Philadelphia. I attended Maternity B.V.M. grade school and Archbishop Ryan High School.

B: Do you have a “day” job? What is it?
M: I am an Insurance Broker. We currently have an office located in the Mayfair section of Northeast Philadelphia called Liberty Insurance Services Inc.

B: What’s your favorite type of music? Do you have a favorite song?
M: I can’t really say that I have one specific genre or type of music that I listen to consistently. Some days are Sinatra, some are Old School Hip Hop, and some are Country. I will listen to anything that catches my ear and attention. If I have to lean towards one type of music it would be Dance music in the 120-130 BPM (beats per minute) range due to the energy a song of that tempo creates. Favorite Song: My Parta Town by Tuff Crew.

B: How did you get into DJing? What’s your favorite thing about it?
M: I started DJing while attending Penn State. I had a friend who was a DJ and helped out occasionally. I loved everything about it from the first time I touched the turntables and I went out and bought my own equipment about 2 weeks later. I DJ’d a friends graduation party just play around after that and off I went.
My Favorite thing about DJing is the unknown. You don’t know the crowd or the people personally. You have no idea what type of music they listen to, or would dance to, but somehow you find that one song that packs a dance floor and you can feel the energy you’ve just created. You feed off of that for the rest of the night. It’s an adrenaline rush and it is so addicting!

B: What did you want to be when you grew up? Is it still an option?
M: Successful was my goal. I never really chose what I wanted as a profession. I guess we all dream at some point of being a pro athlete or a public figure or icon, but I am very happy with where I am now. I really don’t see the need to dwell on what I could’ve been or if it’s an option. I feel I am successful. I have a HOT wife (I definitely married up), 2 gorgeous boys, and I am building a business. “I’m Living the Dream!”

B: What’s your favorite type of event to DJ, why?
M: Definitely a wedding. It’s constant interaction and variety and we don’t have to play one specific type of music for 5 straight hours. It’s a sense of accomplishment to have everyone from their teens to Golden Years packing the dance floor at the same time.

B:Do you have any hobbies or favorite things to do?
M: I play baseball in the spring/summer months and I love to play golf. When I say play, I mean that I beat the heck out of a little white ball and chase it around in a golf cart screaming. I also enjoy my downtime with my family and love to watch my kids sporting events.

B: How long have you been a DJ?
M: I have been a DJ for the past 13 years and loved every minute of it.

B: Do you have a favorite movie?
M: I would have to say Scarface, but there are so many that come in a close second. Another would be Shooter.

B: Do you have any pets? What are they? Names? How old?
M: I have a 5 year old, Yellow Lab named Sierra. She is a big part of our family.

Make sure to check back every Monday for another Q&A. If you have anything you'd like to know about us, leave a comment with your question, post it on our Facebook page or email it in to beckyd@synergeticsounds.com.

Keep them coming!

We love reading your proposal stories, please keep them coming! We're accepting stories until December 6, 2010 - send them to beckyd@synergeticsounds.com, with the subject "wow my wedding." Please keep stories to 600 words or less, and feel free to include pictures if you like - we like pictures :).

If you are a current DJ (Wedding I package) or Lighting client, or book our Wedding I package or lighting services before December 6, 2010 and your wedding is happening between January 1, 2011 and June 30, 2011 you are eligible. If you have already booked lighting with your DJ package, or multiple lighting options, we will refund you the difference.

DJ clients will be able to WOW their guests with reception up lighting, a dance floor wash and monogram. Lighting clients will have their current package upgraded, so if you booked up lighting, we'll give you a dance floor wash and monogram, if you booked a monogram, we'll give you up lighting and a dance floor wash and if you booked a dance floor wash, we'll give you up lighting and a monogram!

We will pick our three favorite stories and post them on our Facebook page by December 13, 2010. It will then be up to our fans to vote for their favorite story. Voting will be open until December 24, 2010. The winner will be announced on our Facebook page on December 25, 2010.

So if you want to WOW your guests, send in your story today!

-Becky

Christi and Bill

Christi and Bill were one of the coolest couples I ever had the chance to work with. We would have our planning conversations on the phone and it was as if I was talking to a close friend about their wedding. So naturally when the wedding day came the entire atmosphere was very relaxed and the party was jumping.

At one point Christi came up to me and told me that her friends kept telling her she had the best DJ they have ever seen. I then took the headphones off and gave them to her so she could show her friends what skills she had on the ones and twos. Christi took it from there. Beth and Gina from Artistic Imagery were right there to snap away and it turned out to be a great photo for Christi and Bill’s album!

-Matt

{Tune in Tuesday} Kyle

A few weeks ago, we got to know Kyle. This week, lets find out what he's listening to. On top of being a DJ and setting up lighting, Kyle is an excellent Pianist and has played for clients during cocktail hour. If you're interested in some live music for your cocktail hour, give us a call to learn more.

This is some of my favorite music that gives me a lot of inspiration on a day to day basis and as a DJ. Maybe you will see some of your favorites too!

Here are a few of the best hip-hop albums from the 90’s that will always be stored in my iPod. I loved this era of hip-hop because there was a strong focus on complex and skilled rhyming. Match that with the simple yet appealing instrumentals and you’ve got some recordings that many would call classics in hip-hop.
-Illmatic by Nas
-Reasonable Doubt by Jay-Z
-Midnight Marauders from A Tribe Called Quest

When it comes to rock and roll, here are a few artists that make me want to strum the air-guitar!
-George Thorogood and the Destroyers
-The Doors
-The Beatles

I also have a great appreciation for jazz musicians. I love listening to jazz when I’m reading or when I’m winding down before bed. I find these artists’ work very relaxing and mentally stimulating.
-Miles Davis
-John Coltrane
-Thelonious Monk

{Get To Know Us Mondays} Jim

This week we'll get to know Jim.

Becky: Tell us a little about yourself.
Jim: I am science teacher at Neshaminy High School, and am a class advisor, which means I am responsible for organizing all activities for my class such as proms and trips. I am also a huge Philly sports fan and enjoy playing any sport.

B: Where are you from?
J: Northeast Philadelphia born and raised. I went to Father Judge and now live in Bensalem.

B: What is your main role and how long have you been at Synergetic?
J: I am a DJ - my job is to make your event the best it can be. I have been with Synergetic for over a year.

B: What’s your favorite type of music? Do you have a favorite song?
J: I enjoy almost all music. It doesn't matter what it is, there is always some part of a song that I believe can be enjoyed by everyone. My favorite song is "Don't Stop Believing," Journey.

B: What did you want to be when you grew up?
J: Well, I am a teacher so that is taken care of, but I want to be a dad.

B: What are your favorite things to do? Do you have any hobbies?
J: I like anything competitive

B: Do you have a favorite movie?
J: Memphis Belle

B: Do you have any pets?
J: I consider my parents dog as mine so yes. His name is Oscar and he is a miniature schnauzer. He is old.

B: What do you love about what you do?
J: I love being able to provide people with a great time

Make sure to check back every Monday for another Q&A. If you have anything you'd like to know about us, leave a comment with your question, post it on our Facebook page or email it in to beckyd@synergeticsounds.com.

Lighting at Talamore Country Club

A while back we posted some images (thanks to Barton Paul Photography) from a wedding we did at Talamore Country Club. We also shot some video of that wedding. We uplit the room in purple and did an amber dance floor wash. This has become one of our most popular color combinations and it came out beautifully.

Movin on up ...

We're moving! And we're very excited about it. We won't be having any meetings from Wednesday, November 10 to Monday, November 15, but plan to be back up and running fully on Tuesday, November 16.

Our new address is, 776 Haunted Lane, Bensalem, PA 19020, (our phone number and fax numbers are not changing), please send all mail to our new address!

We're going from about 3,000 square feet to almost 10,000 square feet. We will have 2 conference rooms as well as a lighting demonstration area, live mixing, and opportunities for you to be a DJ. We have so much more space, so we can offer you a lot more. When you come for a meeting, you will be able to see some of our lighting options right away - you can get a feel for how your room could look.

We can't wait for you all to see it!

{Tune in Tuesday} Kurt

Kurt has been a DJ with Synergetic for over six years now. He's a great guy and an awesome DJ. Here's what he's listening to - talk about an eclectic mix!

Like a G6- Far East Movement
DJ got us falling in love-Usher
Just the way you are- Bruno Mars
Rhythm of love- Plain White T's
Club Can't Handle me- Flo Rida
The New Linkin Park CD, A Thousand Suns
Poison- BBD
Mine- Taylor Swift
The Only Exception- Paramore
Dynamite- Taio Cruz
Dumb Love- Sean Kingston
The Script- Man that can't be moved
Forever- Beach Boys
Fill me in- Craig David
Recovery CD- Eminem
Angel- Jack Johnson
Faith- George Michaels
Your Guardian Angel- Red Jumpsuit Apparatus
Take it off- Ke$ha
Making Memories of Us- Keith Urban
Only You- Kwame
Maroon 5
Michael Buble
Nickelback
Staind
112
Pitbull
Rihanna
Travie McCoy
Kings of Leon
Kanye West
Arrested Development

Once again, we're ready to WOW you!

"Wow my wedding" was such a big hit, that we've decided to do it again! We were amazed by how many wonderful stories we received the last time and are looking forward to reading many more this time!

Do you want to make your reception one to remember? Want to "wow" your guests? Want your pictures to stand out? Share the story of your proposal with us and you could win a lighting package worth over $1000!

If you are a current DJ (Wedding I package) or Lighting client, or book us before December 6, 2010 and your wedding is happening between January 1, 2011 and June 30, 2011 you are eligible. If you have already booked lighting with your DJ package, or multiple lighting options, we will refund you the difference.

DJ clients will be able to WOW their guests with reception up lighting, a dance floor wash and monogram. Lighting clients will have their current package upgraded, so if you booked up lighting, we'll give you a dance floor wash and monogram, if you booked a monogram, we'll give you up lighting and a dance floor wash and if you booked a dance floor wash, we'll give you up lighting and a monogram!

To enter, share the story of your proposal. How did it happen? Was it unique? Were you surprised? WOW us with your proposal story and we'll WOW your guests. Send your proposal story with the subject "Wow my wedding," to beckyd@synergeticsounds.com by December 6, 2010. Please keep stories to 600 words or less, and feel free to include pictures if you like.

We will pick our three favorite stories and post them on our Facebook page by December 13, 2010. It will then be up to our fans to vote for their favorite story. Voting will be open until December 24, 2010. The winner will be announced on our Facebook page on December 25, 2010.

So if you want to WOW your guests, send in your story today!

-Becky

Our phones

Well, today is the day that we move our phone system into our new location. We knew this was going to be the toughest part of the move, so if you have any problems getting in touch with us, please just call back a little later.

As every company says when they are moving, we are sorry for this inconvenience and hope you don't mind. We can't wait until we are all settled into our new building.

If you can't seem to get us today, please call our cell lines at (215) 696-7573.

{Get To Know Us Mondays} Ed

This week we sat down with Ed. Along with helping Aaron out with all of our production equipment and setting up lighting and drape regularly, he's also a DJ.

Becky: Where are you from?
Ed: Levittown, PA. Born and raised in suburbia.

B: Do you have a “day” job?
E: I work in the shop, checking equipment and packing shows. Other then that my daily job is hours of homework for my engineering degree.

B: What’s your favorite type of music? A favorite song?
E: Alternative Rock, or Rock in general - music involving many different instruments. I just have always loved hearing instruments working together to make a song and appreciated the level of skill involved in making it sound right. My favorite song changes often, depending on the group I'm into at that time. But one of my all time favorites has to be Yellow Ledbetter by Pearl Jam.

B: How did you get into DJing?
E: Being that my good friends were already DJ’ing, I was around it pretty often. As I went out to events with them and just watched crowd reactions knowing that you could control the mood of these events with just the music played, it grew on me. I decided to hop on board and learn everything I could because simply, its fun.

B: What did you want to be when you grew up? Is it still an option?
E: Well, I am planning on using my degree in Electrical Engineering. My first option right now is to hopefully begin working again on projects for NASA, as I had the amazing experience of an internship with them. We'll see what happens after I graduate.

B: What’s your favorite type of event to DJ, why?
E: Weddings. I love the variety of music involved. From Motown, to rock, to new age music - its all involved in one night - something to please everyone.

B: What are your favorite things to do? Do you have any hobbies?
E: I have played guitar for 4 years now. I am becoming an avid snowboarder, and love Philly sports in general. If I could be outside during any time of the year doing something fun, that’s probably where you’d find me.

B: Do you have a favorite movie?
E: Not so much a particular movies as a genre - comedies. Happy Gilmore and Billy Madison are hands down favorites, yet I have a ton more to choose from. I also like mystery type movies that keep you guessing until the end.

B: Do you have any pets? What are they? Names? How old?
E: I have a dog, a Chow and Iketa mix named Kookie. Shes 12, an old lady. I have a cat, named Cici, shes 2 and a handful and a bird, a yellow-headed amazon named Jason. He's between 37-40 years old. They live into their 70’s.

Make sure to check back every Monday for another Q&A. If you have anything you'd like to know about us, leave a comment with your question, post it on our Facebook page or email it to beckyd@synergeticsounds.com.

The Request

For a DJ, a request can be the best and worst part of their whole night. You see, getting requests at a wedding is similar to when you ask your co-workers where you should go for lunch. You know where you want to go, but you are being nice by asking everyone else what they want. You inevitably get 10 answers and ultimately, piss off a bunch of people because you had to decide and you can't go to 10 different places. You probably would have been better off just going to lunch yourself and picking up something for everyone while you were there.

Trying to make everyone happy with your choice for lunch is fairly similar to how a DJ feels when it comes to playing a requested song. As a DJ, wait, let me start over again. As a great DJ, we have an idea of what we are going to play throughout the night. We use cocktail hour and dinner to read the crowd. We pay attention things like the age groups and ethnicities of your guests. What they are taping their feet to, what they are singing along with, and what they are getting up and dancing to.


We have all been to weddings that have a DJ that has no clue what he is doing. He is simply playing the music in no particular order and with no particular reason. We have a reason for playing every song we play. We don’t just randomly play a song. We have a diagram in our head of where we want to take the crowd. We have a whole plan on how the music is going to progress, keeping in mind all the things you want to get accomplished during your event.

So when a request is made, a change is made to that plan. And usually a change for the worse, because, for the most part, the requests we get simply won’t work. There are just no good reasons for playing both versions of the electric slide, the cha cha slide and the cupid shuffle at your event. But ultimately, we get hit with those requests at every single wedding we do. Imagine if we listened to every request your guests made, we would have 25 minutes of line dances. Instead, we have to filter. We have to figure out what the best song to play is - and the request might not be it.

For example, you gave us 3 slow songs you want to hear throughout the night. During the dancing set, one of your uncles comes up and he and his wife want to hear their wedding song, thus adding another slow song. We generally only play three to four slow songs at a wedding. So there is a good chance we won’t be able to play it, because you have already given us three. So we tell him, we will try. He comes back an hour later, and this time, he has had a few drinks. He wants the song next, because he is leaving. Now what do we do? We have a full dance floor. The other 198 people are rocking it out on the floor, but I have your uncle who thinks we are the worst DJs ever because we didn’t play his song. And worse yet, because we tell him we can’t play it next, he is now headed over to you, the bride and groom, to tell you what is going on.

In that situation, we understand that your uncle will probably tell you how bad we were the next day, but we also understand that we can’t change the party for everybody for the requests of a few. We will be the bad guys on some songs and we will make sure that we only pick the best songs out of the request lists from your guests. Keep in mind that many of the requests are songs we are going to play anyway. So we don’t want to not accept requests. We just want you to know that not every one gets played. A request is just that, a request.

-Jason

{Tune in Tuesday} Kelly

We hope you've all had a chance to speak with Kelly over the past couple of months - she's a great person and wonderful addition to the Synergetic team! This week Kelly is sharing what she's been listening to with us.

I’m always listening to Third Eye Blind and Dashboard Confessional. But I am also really loving that song "Animal," by Neon Trees and the new Maroon 5. What I SHOULD be listening to more of is my IPod gym mix which includes tons of Black Eyed Peas, Britney Spears, Rihanna and Kanye West - mainly because all those songs make me actually want to keep moving on the treadmill - they have great beats.

{Get To Know Us Mondays} Chris

This week, lets get to know Chris. He's a DJ and all around nice guy.

Becky: Where are you from?
Chris: I am from Warminster, PA

B: Do you have a “day” job? What is it?
C: My day job right now is student. I am working hard to graduate.

B: What’s your favorite type of music? Do you have a favorite song?
My favorite type of music is hip-hop. The combination of hot beats and nice rhymes really gets the blood flowing and it also gets people to dance. My favorite song is tough because there are so many, but I would have to say it is "I got a story to tell" by Notorious BIG.

B: How’d you get into DJing? What’s your favorite thing about it?
C: I got into DJing in high school by making mixes for people on CDs. After a little while people started playing a lot of my stuff at parties and everyone really liked it. While I was at Kutztown I got a job working wedding receptions and that's how I met Jason. My favorite thing about DJing is the fact that the success of the night rests on my shoulders. I like being relied on to get the party going and keep it going all night. I love the pressure.

B: What did you want to be when you grew up?
C: When I was growing up I wanted to own my own restaurant. Right now I am studying to be a high school teacher and coach.

B: What’s your favorite type of event to DJ, why?
C: My favorite type of event to DJ is a senior prom because the kids go crazy and they let you know if you are doing a good job or not.

B: What are your favorite things to do? Do you have any hobbies?
C: I love watching and keeping up with the Philadelphia sports teams - especially the Eagles and Phillies. I love going to sporting events, traveling and being outside. I love hanging out with friends and family and I also love playing Xbox.

B: How long have you been a DJ?
C: I have been a DJ for 6 years.

B: Do you have a favorite movie?
C: My favorite movies are Gladiator and Old School

B: Do you have any pets?
C: I have a dog - she is half lab and half pit, her name is Bella. She is 2 years old and she is my baby girl!

To see what Chris is listening to check out his post from Tune in Tuesdays.

Make sure to check back every Monday for another Q&A. If you have anything you'd like to know about us, leave a comment with your question, post it on our Facebook page or email it in to beckyd@synergeticsounds.com.