{Testimonial} Megan and Patrick

We just got this very nice email from Megan about her wedding on July 22 at Warrington Country Club and wanted to share it.

"[We] just wanted to say a big thank you for all of your help throughout the process. Our biggest concern was would we have a good DJ because we knew that could make or break our wedding. Chris was unbelievable. Honestly. We continue to hear from friends and family, young and old about the DJ. We had an amazing time, and the dance floor was packed the entire time. A great mix of new and old stuff, and all appropriate for our guests. We couldn't have asked for better. We have had so many people say how much fun they have had and that is was the most fun wedding they have ever been to. I can not thank you and Chris enough. We will forever remember this day, and so too will our guests.

Thanks again, and if we ever need a DJ in the future we will definitely be using Synergetic!!" -Megan and Patrick

Congratulations Megan and Patrick! We're so glad you had such a wonderful day!

If you are still looking for a DJ for your wedding or event, give Kelly a call, 215-633-1200, she'd be happy to set up an appointment for you with Chris, or any of our other DJ's!

Thanks to Jennifer Childress Photography for this picture of Chris in action.

-Becky

Beverly and Charles

May is a busy time of year for me. Wedding season is in full swing and I am back in the groove of getting people to dance every weekend. On May 7, 2011, I had the chance to work a wedding at the Radisson-Plaza Warwick Hotel. What a great venue it is - with an intimate, yet spacious floor plan, great food, a big dance floor and it's in a great location with plenty of places for pictures nearby.


When I originally met with Beverly and Charles, I wanted them to really get to know me so they felt comfortable with me and what I do. I like to get creative with mixing and make sure that the music is perfect. Beverly and Charles were on board from the moment they left our office and they gave me a great set list to work with. I managed to work in songs like “Give Me Everything,” “Pump Up The Jam,” and “On the Floor.” The DJs at Synergetic always try to incorporate 2-3 songs at weddings that will make people go, “Wow! These guys are good!”

Charles and Beverly also added on up lighting. As you can see in the pictures it adds a little something extra to the room as well as the images. Plus, your photographer will thank you.


With a team of professionals like the one at Beverly and Charles wedding - it was bound to be a great wedding. Lindsay Docherty was the photographer, and I don’t think Lindsay ever stops smiling! And the pictures she took, yeah, they're really good.

And I know we always say how much we like working with wedding planners, but let me tell you how much easier it makes my job! We had the pleasure of working with Lisa from Proud to Plan and she allowed me to do what I do best, spin a great wedding. Please consider hiring a wedding planner or at least go meet with a few, you won't be disappointed.


If you are still looking for a DJ, make sure to call Kelly and see if I am available. I would love to come in and meet with you - and if I'm not available, the other Synergetic DJ's aren't too bad either :).

Congratulations Beverly and Charles! Thanks for including us in your special day!

Also, a big thanks to Lindsay Docherty for the beautiful images!

-Matt Bowyer

{Repost} "... you were on our recommended vendor list ...

This post was originally posted back on July 29, 2009. It was important then, and we still feel it is important now - that is why we're sharing it with you again.

There are many different factors that come in to play while planning an event. Some vendors will make the cut, and others will fall short for one reason or another. As a bride-to-be, it is important to have the utmost confidence in every decision you make. The feeling of being absolutely convinced that a vendor will do everything possible to make your wedding day a success should be a key factor in making your decisions.

Since most brides have no experience planning an event, or dealing with vendors specific to the wedding industry, it can be difficult to decipher who really is good and who isn’t. How you search for potential vendors can play a part in the type of vendors you find. A search through the phonebook may produce different results than searches of the internet, magazines or recommendations from friends and other vendors.

Most clients and potential clients I speak with go off of the “Recommended Vendor” list they receive from their reception facility. Here are some things to keep in mind when looking at these lists.
-Ask your contact if they have ever worked with the "recommended vendor" personally, that way they can give you their personal opinion of them and their work.
-Be sure to inquire how long that vendor has been on the list for. This is important because a vendor that has been working at a facility for years may have more insight into the best ways to set up the equipment, the layout of the room, the typical flow of a reception there, etc.
-Most importantly, make sure you find out how the recommended vendor list was put together. Did the facility do it themselves or did a publication company compile it for them. This will tell you if the vendor made it to the list because of their consistent good work, or if they paid to be a part of it.

Remember, just because a vendor is on a recommended list does not mean they are the best fit for you. Some vendors will pay to be in a book in order to acquire as many leads as possible. Most of these vendors do a great job, but there are a few who do not. Each facility/vendor has their own methodology when it comes to creating a list or getting on one. These very intentions will tell you a lot about the vendor you are looking into. The only way to feel completely confident in your decision is to meet the vendor and speak with them in person.

The wedding industry is filled with great people who will do everything possible to make sure you have the best wedding day imaginable. These are the people that will work hard day in and day out to be a part of the list based upon their good work, as opposed to their advertising budget.

-Matt

Gobo Projections

For many events, our customers want to display their logo, names or monogram on the wall or floor. This is done through projecting light through a fixture with a piece of metal (or glass) called a “gobo.” For more information on gobo options go here.

If you are planning to have a gobo at your event, here are a few things to consider:

1. Where will you project it? The dance floor is a great spot, but when people start dancing, you won’t see it. You could project it on a wall, but you need a large enough section of blank wall to project it on.
2. The distance from the light to the projection surface. If the light is too far away, the image may be too big. If the light is too close, the image could be too small. Most professional lighting companies will be able to handle something like this, but it is something to pay attention to.
3. The amount of keystone or skew. If the light fixture is not straight in front of the surface, the image won’t look right. It will look angled and possibly distorted.
4. The amount of wording on the projection. Some gobos will look better as glass, others as metal. A professional lighting company will be able to tell you what your best option is.

Projecting gobos isn’t as easy as just setting up a light. The right process is necessary to ensure that you are happy. Make sure the company that you hire does its due diligence to make sure your gobo projections look the best they can!

-Jason

{Video} Violinists and DJs

So you may have heard that we have started to incorporate violins into our repertoire. For years now, live musicians have been working themselves into the DJ mix. First it was with bongos, then a more sophisticated drum section … so we had to push it even further.

Having a violin or violins at your event is much more intense then someone playing the bongos or drums. Well, at least they way we are doing it. You know us, we can’t just do things the easy way.

The way we are doing it is very, very creative. We went and found the BEST live, electric violin players. Then we had the best classical musicians help write songs specifically for us, as well as fine tune some things to go along with the songs the DJs will play. When you put those two things together with our DJs, you get a very cool vibe for both dinner and dancing. Imagine the possibilities! Imagine the look on your guests faces. They will talk about your reception for months.

We are going to be shooting more videos in the upcoming months to show you even more of what we are talking about, but for now, this video will give you a good idea of what we are doing.

For more information, please call Kelly. She can get you all of the information you need including packages and pricing.

-Jason

Gobos - the difference between glass and metal

When you hire us to project your monogram on the dance floor, wall, etc., you have two choices - you can do a glass gobo, which is a little bit more expensive, or you could go with the standard, less expensive, metal gobo.

Most of the time, a metal gobo will work. However, if your monogram has any of the following characteristics, a glass gobo may be necessary:
-It has color in it
-It is very detailed
-It has a lot of design to it
-Or it has a lot of wording or letters

When you submit your monogram to us, our project manager Michael will be able to tell you what the best option is for you.

And just as an FYI, “gobo,” is short for go between. The “gobo” is the piece of metal or glass that goes between the bulb and the lens.

-Jason

Feeding the Professionals at Your Wedding

One of the questions we get a lot from our wedding clients is what we would like to eat. And as a professional, we can’t thank you enough for thinking of us when it comes to eating. We certainly appreciate it and we understand that it may actually cost you a good amount of money to feed us, so thank you!

But I just want all of you (both clients and prospective clients) to know that we do NOT need to be fed as DJs. We are very busy working for you and concentrating on spinning a great event. So getting something to eat for us is a perk. We don’t expect it and never will! And we will never eat at the DJ table!

However, please consider making sure that you make arrangements for your photographer and/or videographer and planner. They need it the most. In some cases, it may be in their contract, but if it isn’t, it really should be something that you want to consider.

They have been with you ALL day. And they probably haven’t had a chance to stop and get something to eat, mostly because they have been working like crazy to get the most incredible shots and video of the day and making sure everything goes smoothly. It is just nice to make sure they have a hot meal to fill them up.

I write this post because we have worked some events where the client has only made arrangements for us, the DJs, to be fed. And you can imagine how that feels when they bring out the two meals right in front of the photographer and videographer. In all the instances that that has happened, we simply split the meals up so everybody has something to eat. We try really hard to work with all the professionals, in more ways than you can imagine! So when you are giving your final headcount to your caterer, make sure to include the photographer and videographer.

-Jason

Day of reception ritual

Friday, July 1, 2011
DJ – Patrick O’Brien
7:00 a.m.

Day of reception ritual.

Yawn, Stretch, get out of bed! Coffee brewing and my son Danny is eating his breakfast. I sit in my chair, turn on my computer and begin to review the packet for my wedding this evening. I have reviewed it before but I always like to look at it several times, especially the day of the reception. I go over the details and start to think about the time I have to arrive at the venue, how long it will take me to set up and about the music I will be playing. I check out the playlists of the other DJ’s at Synergetic. A playlist is a list of music the DJ’s played at their wedding. It is a good way to share “sets” and song mix ideas. It keeps me on my toes with what music I play at each reception. I don’t get stagnant and I am always impressed with what I see each week.

The packet for this evening’s reception has a request for a certain style of music. I start to think about when I am going to play it. In addition, it has a “no play” list. The packet allows the couple to outline the introductions, music and flow to the evening. They have gone to great lengths working with us, the venue, wedding planners, and photographers to prepare for the day’s events. The Synergetic office team (Matt, Kelly, Mike, Jenna & Nikki) have communicated this information to me and it is my job to review it thoroughly and ask questions if I have them.

Well for now I am digesting all the information and formulating an awesome music set list in my head. I am actually very excited and now just can’t wait to get there and start mixing the music. I love my job because I get to party….at your party every weekend!

Patrick