Pamela and Mark

Back in September I had the pleasure of working at The Merion. We work there a lot and Cliff and the crew always do a fabulous job. The food is great, the attention to detail is always spot on and the little touches they add to eachevent always make it memorable.





This wedding was for Pam and Mark and I met them last year at our new office, which if you haven’t seen you have to come stop by, and we clicked right away.





In our office you are not only able to relax and get a chance to meet us, but you are able to see all of our lighting options, as well as see how we mix. Our new DreamSpace is even bigger now, over 1000 square feet! During the meeting I was really able to get to know them and they were able to get to know me, which is the most important. Feeling comfortable with your DJ is key!





It was good that they were able to see the lighting too because Pam had always wanted to have pin spotting. We were able to show her that, as well as the up lighting. She had been to a few other places that offered up lighting, but was very impressed by the way we brought more fixtures and were able to make it look more like a wash and not a column like effect.





The day of the event was busy. We had four guys there to get the show up and with the tight turn around time we had, it took all of us the whole time to get it up and set. The result was awesomeness! The room looked great.





Our dance floor was full too! Like most of the couples that hire Synergetic, Pam and Mark allowed me to program most of the night myself. I was able to mix in older songs like "Run Around Sue," and "I Want You Back," as well as new songs like "Give Me Everything" and "Raise Your Glass." I was shocked on one song though, they loved ""Shake Shake Senora! There is always one song that just does it at a wedding.





We worked with Jennifer Childress on this wedding and she got some great shots. Working with her is so much fun and makes for a great night. When we work with friends and people we know well the end result is always that much better.





If you are looking for a DJ, I would love the chance to sit down and talk to you. Just call Kelly in the office and she'll get the process started.



-Kurt

{Wedding Wire Review} Mr. and Mrs. Awesome

Another amazing Wedding Wire review - thanks to Mr. and Mrs. Awesome for the awesome review of Resident DJ Matt Bowyer.

"Matt Bowyer put on a great show and was able to make everything we wanted to happen, HAPPEN when it was suppose to. GREAT DANCE music played, and all the other music in between. Our wedding was unique and they were able to make it all turn out AWESOME!" -Mr & Mrs. Awesome, 11/11/11.

{Wedding Wire Review} Meredith and Dan

Thanks so much to Meredith and Dan for this wonderful review of Kyle!

"Synergetic Sounds was a wonderful business to work with - they did DJ and lighting for my event and it truly made all the difference for my reception. The room looked warm and the pictures people took are much brighter because of the uplighting and our DJ, Kyle, played awesome music that kept the guests dancing from start to finish! Kyle even played piano during our cocktail hour - what a bonus! I would highly recommend Synergetic for your event needs!"

Meredith and Dan, we wish you all the best!

To see more of our reviews, go here.

{Video}

Adding Violins to Your Event - From A DJs Persepctive

A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of DJing with our violinists at a wedding reception. It was a really unique experience for me as a DJ since I rely on pre-recorded music. For the first dance and parent dances the violins played along adding to the feel of the room with live music. I was impressed with the skill they possess and the ability to play along with just about any song. In addition, I enjoyed mixing them in with the music. The end result was a truly one of a kind experience for the Bride, Groom and their guests.

When we kicked off the dance floor the violins were involved with the crowd and played along with the music. We would cue off of each other throughout the evening seamlessly from the mixed music I was playing. Featuring the violin from time to time throughout the night was a fun time for both the guests and for me. The violins and I shared the crowd’s enthusiasm for all of the styles of music I played.

The violins are a great addition to the atmosphere that a DJ provides. It was exciting and fun to hear how good they sound and involve them in the reception. While I believe a DJ is the best option for your entertainment at a wedding adding the violinists is a creative option that enhances it.

-Patrick

{Wedding Wire Review} Melissa and Greg

Melissa and Greg had a beautiful wedding at Glen Foerd Mansion earlier this month.

"Our DJ Kurt was incredible. The music was perfect. I wasn't expecting the DJ to be so attentive to my husband and me but he kept checking to make sure we were happy which we really appreciated. They were a pleasure to work with."

Thanks so much Melissa and Greg! We're so glad you were pleased and we wish you all the best!

To see more of our Wedding Wire reviews, go here.

{Testimonial} Kate and Drew

We recieved this wonderful email from Kate and Drew after their beautiful Glen Foerd wedding.

"Hey Matt,
I apologize I'm just emailing you now, but we wanted to thank you so very much for all your hard work that you and your team put into making our wedding so great. The lighting was awesome and the music was fantastic!!! You did such an amazing job with the music we couldn't have asked for anything better. Everything turned out perfectly !!! We would highly recommend you to anyone. Thanks again for everything!!!

Sincerely,
Drew and Kate McKenna"

Thank you so much for your kind words! We're so glad you were pleased and we could be a part of your special day! We wish you all the best!

{Video} Creative Mixing

A great little video from Matt about the way we can mix different songs together to keep your dance floor full. No matter the style or genre of music, you can be sure our resident DJs know how to mix it up!

{Testimonial} Wedding Wire Review

JoAnne and Bobby were married in September at the Flanders Hotel in Ocean City.

"Jason and Victor were outstanding DJs at our wedding! Our guests did not stop dancing from the moment that the dance floor opened! Our experience with them prior to the wedding was excellent...everyone responded right away to answer our questions. We'd recommend Synergetic Sound & Lighting to anyone looking to have fun at their wedding and rock the dance floor!"

Thanks JoAnne and Bobby! We're so glad you had such a wonderful time and are thrilled would could be a part of that!

To see more of our Wedding Wire reviews, go here.

Gretchen and Michael

It's always an honor when a fellow industry professional hires us for their personal event. We've known Gretchen for a long time and had the pleasure of DJing and lighting her wedding this past Spring. Here's more about the big day straight from Gretchen!

"My husband and I are both really creative and love music, and wanted to have a lot of personal touches throughout our wedding celebration. It was a great collaboration, and we each got to show off our style to create a day that was truly unique and truly us. Being in the wedding industry myself, I was fortunate enough to be able to get to work with vendors I’d worked with multiple times for other people’s events to create my own special day. There was no stress involved with the vendor portion of things. I knew I could rely on them to execute the vision the husband and I had created for our wedding day. My husband designed the print work … save the date, invites programs, menus, and our wedding logo. I designed jewelry for myself, 7 bridesmaids, 2 flower girls, and mother of the bride and mother of the groom. Music is hugely important to us. My husband is also a DJ, and he designed playlists for the pre-ceremony, cocktail hour and dinner hour. Together we curated the ceremony music (and surprised our DJ Jason Weldon with a full set of ceremony songs he’d never seen used before in a ceremony!) and our guest take home gift, which was a mix cd. Seeing everything come together, the beautiful lighting, flowers, our logo in lights, and all of our friends and family was what made the day truly special for us!

Vendors: Invites/Print-the groom http://www.argodesign.net/
Jewelry-the bride http://www.studio320jewelry.com/
Floral décor-Campbell Studios http://www.campbellstudios.us/
Photography- http://www.chriskendigphotography.com/
DJ/Lighting http://www.synergeticsounds.com/"


Congratulations Gretchen and Michael! Thanks for allowing us to be a part of your special day!

{Testimonial} Recent Wedding Wire Review

Lisa and Josh left this awesome review for us on Wedding Wire after their August wedding at Belle Voir.

"Synergetic was AMAZING!!!!!! They responded to me right away, they were flexible around my schedule, and they were so professional I didn't even need to check other DJs. They played the songs we requested while still making sure that everyone was dancing and having a great time. They ensured that the music fit with people's tastes and still adhered to our requests as well. Fabulous fabulous time! The Monogram was awesome and we had such a good time. Special thank you to Mike K for an amazing job as our DJ! He was fantastic. HIGHLY, HIGHLY recommend them!"

Talk about a review that makes us smile! Thanks so much Lisa and Josh! We wish you all the best!

To see more of our Wedding Wire Reviews, go here.

{Testimonial} Recent Wedding Wire review

Janine and Mark left this wonderful review for us on Wedding Wire. Their beautiful wedding took place in September at Bear Creek Mountain Resort.

"We were in the unfortunate circumstance of having to find a new DJ just 9 days before our wedding. Our photographer recommended Synergetic and when we contacted them, they happened to have a DJ free due to a cancellation. Mark was our DJ, and we couldn’t have been happier with him throughout the entire process. Given the short timeframe we were working with, Mark was very flexible with scheduling a phone discussion right away, and then meeting in-person a few days later to go over the details. He was sympathetic to our situation and eager to jump in and make our day exactly what we had imagined. The day of our wedding was seamless. The music was perfect – everything we requested was played (with one exception – for good reason because he couldn't find a good recording of the song – which Mark promptly emailed us about right after our wedding). Mark and his assistant looked professional, brought a lot of energy and played great music. We were so pleased with Synergetic and Mark during our planning that we also added some lighting to our package. The atmosphere was the perfect rocking party that we wanted, and the music was a key part of that. The lighting options added a great atmosphere to the reception. We’d definitely recommend Synergetic."

Thank you so much Janine and Mark! We're so glad you were pleased with our services and that we could be a part of your special day!

To see more of our Wedding Wire reviews, go here.

Michelle and Sam

It took six workers and almost six hours of labor, but when our team was done setting up for Michelle and Sam’s wedding, we knew we had created something extraordinary.

They had their ceremony and reception at the Loews Hotel at 12^th and Market Street. The Loews is quite an impressive venue and it’s perfect for weddings of 300+ guests like Michelle and Sam’s. Located in the oldest skyscraper in Philadelphia (the PSFS building), the Loews links history and modern elegance as its immaculate renovations deliver a very sleek and contemporary feel. Michelle and Sam came to Synergetic to enhance this beautiful venue with added lighting, draping, A/V upgrades, and of course, good music.

The production crew and I arrived at the Loews at 11:30am. We had a lot of work to do before the ceremony at 6:00pm. We first got to work on the lighting in the Millennium Ballroom where the reception was held. Michelle and Sam added up-lighting in amber, a dance floor wash, and pin-spotting to highlight their 27 centerpieces. We also set up a projector screen directly over the DJ booth that allowed guests to view slideshows of Michelle and Sam throughout the night. Their guests really got a kick out of that!

We also contributed to the ceremony by setting up 40 feet of drape with amber up-lighting.This created a beautiful backdrop that made for some wonderful pictures of Michelle and Sam exchanging their vows.

During the cocktail hour in the Millennium Foyer, I brought Sam into the ballroom to make sure he was satisfied with all the work we had done. He was speechless! The room itself accompanied by the city-scape that surrounds the ballroom made for an amazing sight. After all that work, the party was just getting started.

Michelle and Sam had a lot they wanted to do throughout the reception. They had parent dances, bouquet and garter toss, a traditional tea ceremony, and several slide shows that we projected on our screen. It was important that I kept strong communication between myself and the staff at the Loews to make sure we stayed on schedule. When there is a lack of organization among vendors, a wedding will tend to drag, usually resulting in less dance time at the end of the evening. Dance time is my favorite part of the night! So, before every wedding, I always review the timeline with photographers, videographers, day of coordinators, maître Ds, and any other professional involved in the reception.

On this night, I was able to get a solid two and a half hours of dance time. This is the point where the DJ can make or break your reception. I was recently at a wedding where the DJ was very professional: well-dressed, well-spoken, and handled formalities well. But at the end of the night when he had to show his true DJ skills, he was exposed. If you have guests at your wedding, like Michelle and Sam’s, who are expecting to dance, you need a DJ who can deliver in this spot. It’s these last two to three hours that separates me from your average wedding DJ. So what do I do to keep your guests on the floor?

Before anything, I come to the wedding prepared. Michelle, Sam, and I talked about songs and genres that they thought would work really well with their guests. We also discussed other factors that would contribute to my song selection: the length of the reception, demographic breakdown of guests, and their overall vision of what they wanted from me as a DJ. This information allows me to make a mental blueprint for where I should take the night weeks before the event.

When I’m spinning my music, I try to put myself in the position of the guests on the dance floor. If I was out there with them, what would I want the DJ to do? When mixing song to song, I am constantly aware of tempo, dynamics, and rhythm. By managing these factors, I make seamless transitions and can continuously build the energy in the room without any awkward breaks in the music. This the part of the night your guests will remember the most, so make sure you have a DJ that can keep the dance floor alive.

Michelle and Sam’s wedding was one that I will always remember. It was certainly quite a production! I was very pleased that the Synergetic team and I were able to meet and exceed their expectations with our lighting design and my service as a DJ. Best of luck to them in the future!

For more information on Synergetic, or to set up an appointment, contact Kelly at our office: 215-633-1200.

-Kyle

Thanks so much to Jea Lee Photography for the images.

Fall Music Trends

The wedding world tends to be a little behind when it comes to new music, so you will still be hearing many of the top Summer songs this Fall/Winter. "Give Me Everything," "Yeah 3X," "Forget You," and "Dynamite," should all still be packing dance floors.

Dance music (120 beats per minute, BPMs, or more) will definitely still be going strong. With the success that Pitbull has had on other artist’s songs, it is likely that more and more great dance songs will emerge. Hip hop (105 BPMs or slower) really has been left out - dance music has a strong hold right now. Look for some strong dance tracks from Black Eyed Peas, Rhiannon and dare I say, Madonna.

As each year goes by, we really become more and more distant to those songs we heard 10 years ago. There is just so much more music to choose from. Playing those typical wedding songs just don’t apply anymore. Current music is at least 50% of the music that we play. And I think it is going to remain this way for a while and become more and more prominent.

Probably the biggest trend you will see is the advent of dinner music going away from being slow. Mixing good, creative songs will be something we try and keep up. Guests are expecting the DJ to use dinner to show them what is in store for the night. Now, we don’t mean have everyone dancing, but the typical 40 minutes of jazz, chill type of music is quickly becoming extinct.

As with any blog, this is simply my opinion and the good thing with music is that there is something for everyone. But we are no doubt in a great dance music part of the pendulum and I love it.

-Jason

New DJ Recruitment Night

Have you ever wanted to be a DJ? Now is your chance & we want to meet you!

Come out to our “New DJ” recruitment night on Monday, November 21st, 2011 to see what Synergetic Sound and Lighting is all about! Meet our current DJs, talk to our managementteam and try to mix a few songs. It will be a great chance for you to learn about us.

Recruitment night is at our offices, 776 Haunted Lane, Bensalem, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Come out anytime during those hours - but give us a call so we know you're coming, 215-633-1200. Make sure to bring your resume and a head shot.

Double the Pleasure, Double the Fun

One of the questions we get asked on a daily basis is why we suggest two DJs for each event. It may seem like a bit much to you. You might wonder, can't one person do it? And that’s a great question. So whether it’s our competition saying that you don’t need two DJs or it is your own instinct, we want to show you why having two DJs at your event can be a huge advantage.

I would imagine that many of you have only been to a handful of weddings, and since most of the people that we talk to have had poor experiences with DJs, I would be willing to bet that most of those weddings were just OK in the entertainment department. But the ones that were really good, I'd be willing to bet there were two DJs. So, why does that matter?

We have done a little shy of 2000 weddings as a company. And with all of that experience, we have learned how to make your event the best it can be. And the easiest way to do that is to have two DJs there.

Let’s take the wedding that I did on July 3rd as an example.This wedding would have been tough to do on my own if I didn’t have another person with me to:
-Gather the missing bridal party members to be lined up
-Control the music while I was lining up the 15 person bridal party for introductions

-Adjust the volume for introductions, toasts, the blessing, and the music, since our system was set up in another room
-Monitor the volume so guests weren’t blown away
-Handle the extraordinary amount of song requests that came in while I was mixing (we do beatmix almost every single song)
-Coordinate with the maitre d, photographer, videographer, fireworks company, parents of the bride and groom, the bride and groom and appropriate guests to make sure everything happened when it was supposed to

Now, this might not seem like a lot, but you have to trust me on this. One of the main reasons we have two DJs on your event, is for every reason I can’t tell you right now, but will be able to tell you 10 seconds after your wedding is over. Not only does that second DJ help with coordinating the evening and making sure everything runs smoothly, but their presence and help on everything mentioned above buys you and your gusts more dancing time.

You see, my job is to manage about 15 different things at once. Number one, I have to pack your dance floor. I have to think of the perfect song to play next to keep everyone out there. That by itself takes concentration. Then I actually have to mix it. That requires talent and skill, as well as focus. I only have about 1-2 minutes to do all that, and that happens about 50 times in two hours. Now add into the mix the guests wanting to make a request, the itinerary that needs to be adhered to, the maitre d who needs us to make an announcement and the bride and groom who need you to do something right away. Then all of a sudden dad wants to talk to you about a song he really wants to hear. Wow! All that in as little as 5-10 minutes. Ask any DJ that has done 100 weddings and he or she will tell you that this happens all of the time.

Imagine one person doing all of that, it's a lot of pressure. Now, we are certainly not saying that it cannot be done - it certainly can - we do it, but we much prefer to have two DJs on each event. A two person team allows things to run much more smoothly. It allows us to do more then just DJ. It allows us to make the event better by doing the little things -something as small as taking 5 minutes to talk to dad about this special song and how important it is. Having another DJ there means I can talk to him without worrying about the music and losing people on the dance floor because the other DJ has that under control. Or maybe something as small as making sure the grooms mom is ready to go by the dance floor when we announce the mother son dance, so we aren’t all waiting and wondering were she is. Or having the time to hunt down the toss bouquet - you know, the one that was left upstairs in the bridal suite that was specifically made to be tossed. I could go on and on, but you get the point.

The most important thing to us is that everything is perfect for you. When there are 47 things being thrown at us and we are being pulled in 5 different directions at once, it is up to us to manage it all. And we will. And you can bet that with two people at your reception, we will get it done and get it done with a packed dance floor.

-Jason

*We originally ran this in July of 2010, but we get this question a lot, so we figured we'd explain again.

Melissa and Matt

Melissa and Matt's wedding was a blast! They had their July reception at the Double Tree Hotel on Broad Street, a beautiful venue for an unforgettable wedding in the city. Everything went great: the flower arrangements from Grove Floral Shop were tremendous, the food and service from the Double Tree were top-notch, and the music and lighting we provided took Matt and Melissa's big day to the next level!

When I met with Melissa and Matt at the Synergetic office prior to their wedding, I knew I would be a great fit for them. They needed a DJ that could handle all formalities with eloquent professionalism, and also someone who could give their guests a night of non-stop dancing. I ensured them that I was their man! Matt and Melissa were also interested in our lighting which made the already-beautiful Symphony Ballroom even more picturesque.

They selected uplighting in soft pink, dance floor wash in amber, and a custom monogram on the wall that really brought the room together. Marc Matteo from Marc Anthony Photography took some great shots throughout the night that highlight the added lighting.

My 2nd DJ for the night was Jim Gosser. We knew from early on in the night that Melissa and Matt's guests were a fun bunch, as they were on the dance floor even during dinner. I even had to make an announcement to remind them that their meals were being served! Here are some fun dinner songs that worked really well at the beginning of the night: "Give It Up," by Marvin Gaye, "Rock With You," by Michael Jackson, "Start Me Up," by the Rolling Stones, and "Roadhouse Blues," by The Doors. Jim and I were also able to incorporate all of Melissa and Matt's dinner selections.

Once the guests were finished eating, I kicked the music up a notch and got everyone on the dance floor. With my ability to read a crowd mixed with a great list of Melissa and Matt's selections, the floor was raging all night. During some songs, like House of Pain's "Jump Around", it was borderline-dangereous! I played a little bit of everything, from oldies to modern hits, to ensure that everyone heard something they liked.

Like many guests, when I played the last song, I couldn't believe the night was already over. It was a pleasure being a part of Melissa and Matt's wedding day, and giving them and their guests a night to remember!

If you're planning a wedding and need a DJ, contact Kelly at the Synergetic office (215-633-1200) to set up a meeting. Find out how we can "wow" your wedding!

-Kyle

2011 and 2012 Specials!

We're running a few specials that we wanted to share with you.

2011 Weddings

If you have not yet booked a DJ, give us a call - we will give you a *FREE monogram when you book our Wedding I package.

January, February, March 2012 Weddings

Option 1: Book our Wedding I package at $995 (regularly $1450) and *get 50% off a monogram or ceremony.
Option 2: Book our Wedding I package at $995 (regularly $1450) AND our up lighting package at $850 and get a *FREE dance floor wash!

*Subject to date and equipment availability. No substitutions. Not valid on previously booked events.

If you have any questions about these specials or our services give Kelly a call today at 215-633-1200!

Hillary and Steve

I met with Hillary and Steve back in 2010, and as with every client that books with Synergetic, we did this BEFORE they signed a contract. We really hit it off and our meeting lasted over 2 hours!


This wedding was a really good, solid, dancing event. As with the other DJs at Synergetic, I tend to be very creative with my mixing, which is what Hillary and Steve wanted. Most of my set list was top 40, with a few older, classic tracks thrown in. I know it's going to be a great night when the crowd screams out when the next song comes on - they must have hated me at this wedding since they never had a chance to sit down.




Many of the couples I spin for don't give me a very big “playlist.” Hillary and Steve let me pick most of the music based on how the night was going. These are always the best weddings, as I was able to dial into exactly what the crowd wanted and keep them dancing. But don’t worry, I can make anything work, if you have a good set list yourself, shoot it over to me and I will find a way to incorporate EVERY song on that list! I promise.

If you're searching for a venue for your wedding or next event, be sure to check into theWilliam Penn Inn. I have worked here many times and the food is always excellent, the staff is always fun to work with and the room is just the right size for a good dancing crowd. I always like the trees outside during the holiday season as well. We also had the pleasure of working with Dell Barnell of Photography by Dell. We owe him a big thanks for the images in this post!

If you're still looking for a DJ, give Kelly a call. She would be more than happy to set up a meeting with me if you are interested.

-Mark