Melissa and Dennis

Melissa and Dennis were married in December and had a beautiful reception at Pen Ryn Mansion. Matt and Jim kept the dancefloor packed (Kelly even made an appearance) and did some up lighting in the ballroom. This was a a beautifully warm and fun wedding.

Thanks so much to Jenn Childress for the beautiful images.

-Becky

{Tune in Tuesday} Recessional Songs

This week we'll continue with modern/current ceremony songs, specifically for the recession. Again, we know many still choose traditional instrumental pieces, but there seems to be more brides going with current, non instrumental songs. If you're in that group, here are some songs you might not have thought of.

-Planet Rock – Africa Bombata
-Get What you Give – New Radicals
-Just the Way you Are – Bruno Mars
-Then he Kissed Me – Duvelles
-Love Story – Taylor Swift
-All You Need is Love – Beatles
-Clocks – Buena Vista Social Club

{Get To Know Us Monday} Nikki

Good morning! Today we're introducing Nikki, our new Administrative Assistant. Nikki has been with Synergetic almost a year now, but was just recently promoted to Administrative Assistant. Chances are, if you've called our offices in the last couple of weeks, you've spoken to her.

Becky: Tell me a little about yourself.

Nikki: I’m 26 years old, I married Rob, one of my childhood best friends, on 10/10/09, and I have a 4 year old son named Aidan. I love, love, love the shore and will live down there one day!

B: Where are you from?

N: I’ve lived in Northeast Philadelphia my whole life. I currently live in Mayfair and am trying to sell my house, if anyone’s interested!

B: What is your main role at Synergetic?

N: I am an Administrative Assistant. I actually just started this role a few weeks ago. My job is to generate contracts, keep in touch and up to date with the clients, confirm all of the events, and anything else that comes my way!

B: What’s your favorite type of music? Do you have a favorite song?

N: I listen to anything and everything except some rap. I am a huge Lady Gaga fan (weird, I know)! Dynamite is probably my favorite song right now only because my son knows it word for word and it's hysterical to listen to him sing it!

B: What did you want to be when you grew up? Is it still an option?

N: I always wanted to be a detective until I realized I’d have to be a cop first. I’m married to a cop and would never want that career! I then changed it to a dentist; started some classes and then had my son. I realized that I’d rather be home with him. I decided only recently it was time to go back to work and here I am! I will never become a dentist or detective and I’m ok with that!

B: Favorite things to do/hobbies?

N: Like I said before, I love the shore. Cape May to be exact. I get down there every chance I get, even in the winter. It’s my favorite thing to do. I also love to cook and plan parties. My family actually thinks I’m borderline OCD about Aidan’s birthday parties and any family baby/bridal showers!

B: Favorite movies?

N: Toy Story (all of them) and UP. I love Pixar. I don’t really go to the movies much, I never did.

B: Do you have any pets?

N: I’m almost embarrassed to admit this! My husband LOVES animals, and me, not so much, but we have quite a few. I have a three-legged pitbull named Tres, who is 3 and is Aidan’s best friend. I have 2 cats; PopEye is 2 and has one eye and Oreo is 3. We have turtles and fish and just recently a crab. My house is a zoo!

B: What do you love about what you do?

N: I love that Synergetic gets to be a part in making someone’s wedding amazing. And I love that I am part of that team.

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 send it in to beckyd@synergeticsounds.com.

Lighting is to a Facility what Wraping Paper is to a Box

One of my favorite aspects of celebrating someones birthday or sharing the holidays is giving gifts. And the best part of gift giving is watching the persons reaction as they tear off the paper and open the box. The act of the unknown plays a huge factor in the experience and their response. It doesn't seem as exciting to receive a gift that isn’t wrapped. The person is still receiving the gift itself and possibly could have the element of surprise if the gift is in a plain brown box, but the act of tearing the wrapping paper makes it the most fun. Personally I am a horrible wrapper. I usually defer to my significant other when it comes to wrapping duties. Even though I lack the technique of cutting, folding, and taping I still wrap the present because you want it to look nice when giving it.

The same argument could also be made for lighting at a venue. Chances are, you would feel completely different about a room lit with florescent light than room lit with classic sconces and a nice chandelier. The room's lighting can completely change its look. That is why some of our clients choose to hold their event at a slightly less expensive facility, so they can dress it up with lighting and personalize it. Design lighting is just like wrapping paper because the act of dressing a brown box creates a better experience for the person opening the gift. By designing a room with lighting you are producing a better experience for your guests because when they walk into the event space they are essentially opening the gift you have given them; the chance to share your in your wedding day!

-Matt

{Tune in Tuesday} Bridal Processional

This week we'd like to share some modern/current suggestions for the brides procession. We know many still choose traditional instrumental pieces such as Pachelbel's Canon in D, I did, but there seems to be more brides going with current, non instrumental songs. If you're in that group, here are some songs you might not have thought of.

-Make you feel my love – Adele
-Feels Like Home – Chantel
-Makes Me Whole – Amel Larrieux
-I Was Made to Love You - Gerald Levert
-Then (Piano Version) – Brad Paisley
-So High – John Legend

Email down

Unfortuntely our email was down this morning, so if you sent an email and have not heard back, please resend it. We're so sorry for the inconvenience. We're back up and running now though. Thanks!

a gen’ l profile of Anatomy’s purpose {Guest Post}

Anatomy Of An Event is the initial ‘salvo across the bow’ of the status quo in the events industry; this particular workshop opened a dialogue about cost and effect with University of Pennsylvania campus events planners.

Anatomy’s purpose is to honestly discuss event perspective from the caterer’s point of view – giving over to planners an assessment of what they should expect as opposed to what they have actually been getting in the way of quality service, design, and cuisine.

In the extremely competitive Philadelphia events and catering industry, sometimes the bottom line, and profits, trump long standing relationships; one less waiter, less design effort, cheaper food sourcing.

Anatomy also examines how ‘in shape’ a caterer is – literally. How often does a particular caterer sub contract staff ? How often do caterers train existing staff?

Can the industry handle the truth ?



Thanks so much to Christopher of Christofer + Janesson for writing this post and sharing the video with us!

Matt attended this event and spoke about how lighting can transform a space. We also did some up lighting, pin spotting and projected break up patterns along the back wall.

-Becky

{Video} Lighting at The Merion

Sorry for the lack of posts this week - minor internet hiccup, but all is well now. To make it up to you, here's a video of a beautiful reception at The Merion :).

The Environment - Attention to Detail

It is very easy to tell the difference between a Mexican restaurant and a Steakhouse as soon as you walk in the front door - even if you remove the vastly unique smells coming from the kitchens. The difference in appearance is obvious not just from the color of the napkins or the shapes of the tables, but rather from the combination of every intricate detail that the designer has set.

I did not go to school for restaurant design, but I do like to consider myself a restaurant connoisseur. Nothing is better than the experience of dining out with friends or family and to me, one of the most important elements of that experience is the restaurants environment. Every detail has been thought out over and over again; especially the lighting. A wedding reception is no different. The first thing most guests notice at a wedding is their environment. They look around and get accustomed with it and take it all in.

In speaking with our clients, the excitement sometimes is no greater than when they open the doors to walk into the reception room. Lighting is so important to this experience because it sets the tone immediately. When designing your event space, pay attention to the small details, but think about them in regards to the environment as a whole.

Up lighting is the most efficient and cost effective way to add to the overall environment. That is why a ballroom set with amber up lighting produces a completely different look and feel than one set with purple up lighting, even if every other detail is the same. Each color signifies different feelings unique to each person - for me, amber represents warm, classy and inviting; while purple screams modern, bold and fun. Both look great in almost any room, but each evoke different emotions.

How do you want your guests feel when they enter your reception?

-Matt

{Tune in Tuesday} Dan S.

We got to know Dan S. a couple of months ago. Today he's sharing his top radio picks with us.

Radio dial:

1. Power 99fm (98.9)

2. The Beat (100.3)

3. Wdas (105.3)

4. Wired! (96.5)

5. Q102 (102.1)

6. WRNB (107.9)

My friends and I started our own Record Label (Phocused Records) so that pretty much takes up all the CD slots in the car. When I'm not listening to our home grown music then it's all Notorious BIG all day! Not really a fan of modern day hip hop right now so I have to go with the classics.

{Get To Know Us Monday} Becky

Good morning! We hope you've enjoyed getting to know the people behind Synergetic Sound and Lighting over the past few months. Today, we're getting to know me, Becky :), the woman behind the blog. I didn't want to have a full conversation with myself, so I asked Kelly to take over as question asker.

Kelly: Tell me a little about yourself.
Becky: I live in South Jersey with my husband Matt, our daughter Addie and our cat, Riley. I've been living in South Jersey for about 6 years - it's not bad, but I still get a little homesick sometimes.

K: Where are you from?
B: I'm from the Boston area.

K: What is your main role/title at Synergetic? What do you do? How long have you been at Synergetic?
B: I am the Sales and Marketing Manager at Synergetic. So, I do the marketing - the blog (we're working on a new website!), the newsletter, social media, informational brochures, etc. I follow up with the professionals we work with on all of the events we do to get feedback and make sure everything went the way it was supposed to behind the scenes. I attend a lot of networking events - it's my job to get the Synergetic name out there and let people know who we are and what we do. I have been at Synergetic almost two and a half years.

K: What’s your favorite type of music? Do you have a favorite song?
B: I don't know that I have a favorite type of music, or a favorite song. What I listen to seems to depend on my mood - although I don't really care for rap or country. I grew up listening to Billy Joel, James Taylor and Neil Young and I like songs that tell stories.

K: What did you want to be when you grew up? Is it still an option?
B: I went back and forth between wanting to be a model and a teacher. I've taught on and off, but decided against making a full career out of it.

K: What are your favorite things to do/hobbies?
B: Playing with my daughter is one of my favorite things to do, but I also love to create. I scrapbook and enjoy crafting. I love sports but haven't played in years, now I just enjoy watching. I'm a Mets fan, a Patriots fan and a Celtics fan - and before you send me hate mail, I'm fully aware how terrible the Mets are.

K: What's your favorite movie?
B: I could never pick just one. I'm a sucker for a good romantic comedy and love Pixar movies. One of my all time favorites though, is Bull Durham.

K: Do you have any pets? What are they? Names? How old?
B: We have a cat named Riley. He's 5.5 and thinks he's a dog.

Thanks for taking the time to get to know me and the rest of the gang. Have a wonderful week!
-Becky

Corey and Shawn's video testimonial

Corey and Shawn had a beautiful wedding at Winterthur Museum last June. Kyle was their DJ for their ceremony and reception, and also provided a plasma screen and the couples monogram.

Corey and Shawn were kind enough to sit down with Jason and recount their experience with Synergetic and Kyle. We have some of the most amazing clients and truly appreciate then taking time out of their busy schedules to do this.



Thanks so much Corey and Shawn! We wish you all the best!

-Becky

Valerie and Pat

Valerie and Pat had a beautiful wedding at Cescaphe. Chris and Ed kept the dance floor packed and added to the ambiance with up lighting and a dance floor wash.

Thanks so much to Rebecca Barger for the beautiful pictures.


-Becky

{Tune in Tuesday} Colin

Since we got to know Colin yesterday, today we'll see what he's listening to. Here is one of his current iTunes play lists.

-Magic ft. Rivers Cuomo- B.o.B.

-Angel- Akon

-All I do is win-DJ Khaled

-F you- Cee Lo Green

-Go Dj-Lil wayne

-Black and Yellow- Wiz Khalifa

-Tha Shiznit-Snoop Dogg

-Right above it- Drake & Lil wayne

-Can’t stop partying- Weezer ft Lil wayne

-Gorillaz- Plastic beach