Destination Wedding Archives - Page 3 of 4

May 15, 2014 by B-Boy Productions, Inc.

Venue Spotlight: Rutherford’s 465 (Regatta Bay) – Destin, FL

We’re highlighting another venue today in Destin, FL called “Rutherford’s 465“. It is located inside the Regatta Bay community. This is a property owned and ran by Legendary Inc.

This is a great venue for those that are not looking for a beach atmosphere but still want that serene and peaceful vibe. Guest count wise, you can comfortably accommodate up to 200 people here but you can also configure the room to feel full with 30-40 guests. The modular ability of this venue is limitless.

To start, there is plenty of parking. You would think this would be an obvious feature, but not in this tourist town. Parking is scarce at most venues but not here. This is a crucial feature that too many people with large guest counts overlook when they decide on a venue.

Ceremonies can be done here on the adjacent lawn to the left of the venue. This little nook has a very garden’esque look to it with the foliage and well-manicured lawns. It’s very quiet as well at this venue so you’re sure to have an uninterrupted ceremony.

The walk from the ceremony site to the reception location is only about 40-50 yards. There’s a back deck that is used for cocktail hour which boasts a 2 level deck. A live musician (which you can also book through us as this particular couple did) can set-up and serenade guests as hors’ d’oeuvres are passed and cocktail drinks are served.

Dinner is usually inside. The room can be divided into 3 sections. If you have a small guest count, you can close off one of the sections. Another option is to use one of the 3 sections for a buffet spread. The wedding cake is almost always set-up inside so the elements don’t get to it.

Most couples who book this venue for their wedding in the nice weather months (Spring and Fall) will then utilize the lowest level deck outside to bring guests down to dance once the dinner portion has concluded. The set-up looks amazing at night. The dance floor area is extremely large for dancing.

We’ve put together a video tour for you as well so you can get a simulated “walk thru” of the facility. The staff is amazing to work with. The food/catering is exquisite. This is one of the Emerald Coast’s premiere venues to consider for any type of private event function.

May 5, 2014 by B-Boy Productions, Inc.

Weddings at the Emerald Grande in Destin | Wedding DJ Irving G mixes it up

The weather was just PERFECT on this day…especially for a wedding, and we love doing weddings at the Emerald Grande in Destin. The ceremony took place on the beach that you access via the resort’s private ferry. The cocktail hour and reception were all held outside on the Captain’s Deck.

We had one of our more elaborate packages booked for Marc Stepp and Jaclyn Crossno’s wedding. We provided our ceremony sound system rental, ceremony videography services, Cocktail Hour Live Musician services, photo booth and our signature DJ/Emcee Services. The flowers and event design were done courtesy of Blu Event Design & Couture Florals. The cake was provided by Say Cake Bakery.

Guests were enjoying the refreshing breeze, noise of the wildlife and the boats sailing by as the bridal party arrived to the ceremony location via the ferry. Everything came together like clockwork. The bridal party walked down to “Marry Me” by Train while Jaclyn and her father were serenaded by a very modern violin cover of Christina Perri’s “1000 Years” by Rachel Pierce.

As guests arrived for cocktail hour on the Captains Deck, our cocktail hour guitarist/vocalist, Dan Austin, kept that laid back vibe going. The beverages were flowing, the Photo Booth was in full operation, and guests were enjoying one another’s company. It was the perfect segue to what was going to be an epic Grand Entrance.

The bridal party came down the spiral staircase to “Whoomp (There It Is)” by Tag Team. You could see the crowd brimming with excitement. It was a loud erumpent of cheers when Marc and Jaclyn were introduced as “Let’s Get it Started” by Black Eyed Peas blared through the speakers. All the pent up excitement was finally released and the reception had officially started!

As dinner was concluding, I was able to make a few of the kid’s night by playing “In Summer” from the Frozen soundtrack. The bride and groom then danced to an amazing Maroon 5 cover of Al Green’s “Let’s Stay Together”. Their newlywed love was on full display during that dance as they were laughing and having a good time.

It was time for the open dance set. The song of the night was an oldie but a goodie – “Pour Some Sugar (On Me)” by Def Leppard. The crowd went wild. It took the party up another level. Once the party concluded, you could tell that everyone seemed to have thoroughly enjoyed themselvesThanks Marc and Jaclyn for letting us be a part of your day!

Click here for more information about the Emerald Grande in Destin

in Florida / Weddings 0 comments

April 15, 2014 by B-Boy Productions, Inc.

Wedding DJ Brian B at Sandestin Beach and Golf Resort – Amber & Mito

One thing I always ty to do as a wedding DJ is form a tight bond with my clients. By doing so, your chances of a successful event go way up. You’ll be in tune with what their tastes are musically as well as know exactly how they envision the night turning out. If you are able to catch that vision, it can be a magical and surreal experience the night of the event!

I find it pretty easy for me to make a connection with almost any client but there are those rare few where it goes beyond that…you feel like you’ve known them your whole life or better yet, they are one of those couples you’d have no problem hanging out with after the event is long over. That couldn’t be more the case with my most recent wedding client, Amber and Mito. Not only were they a stunning looking couple, but they were so easy going and laid back, that the planning process felt effortless.

The event took place at the Bayview Room and Terrace which is located inside the Sandestin Beach and Golf Resort. It had been a while since I personally worked this room so I had forgotten how much I love it. The location is perfect for intimate weddings. The ceremony spot is on the back terrace overlooking the Choctawhatchee Bay and is also great for cocktail hour. The inside ballroom is very private and can really be customized via décor lighting to look quite stunning.

I got a chance to work with Lesley Isacks of Lesley Isacks Photography. Our last wedding together was one of my favorites of last year so I had a good feeling we could rekindle the same “event magic”. Amber and Mito were from South Florida so a few of their wedding vendor friends came up to provide wedding services to give it a more personalized touch. The cake maker was Betty from Cakes By Night out of Fort Myers, FL. Handling the florals were Larry and Kathy Freeman out of Waleska, Georgia.

With DJ Dan Davis and myself working this event as a wedding DJ duo, we kicked off the reception with “Turn Down For What” by Lil Jon and DJ Snake as the Grand Entrance song. For the First Dance, they chose what is quickly becoming this season’s wedding song, “All of Me” by John Legend. We went into the meal and then our toasts took place. One of Mito’s daughters, Breanna, gave one of the most heartfelt toasts I’ve ever heard. She honored her dad and Amber so well. Our Father/Daughter dance soundtrack was “Butterfly Kisses” by Bob Carlisle. Mito, being Puerto Rican, selected “Armor de Madre” by Victor Manuella for him and his mother to dance too.

By the time we got to the open dancing, this crowd was primed and ready! It was on from the first track. Musically, we were all over the place.. We had some retro classics, current top 40 and a good amount of Latin tracks. Mito broke it down with some of the salsa music. I wish I had 1/10 of his rhythmic/dancing ability. Never once did the energy die. We just kept building and building the energy all evening long. There was even a “dance off’!

It was such a good wedding! I hope we stay in touch for years to come. Thanks for having me as a part of your day Amber and Mito! Best of luck to both of you!!

UPDATE 4/30/14:
This review just came in from Amber and Mito and we are blown away!!
“DJ BRIAN BUONASSISSI WITH B-BOY PRODUCTIONS IS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING TO WORK WITH, EXTREMELY PROFESSIONAL, SUPER HELPFUL, AND THE LIST GOES ON AND ON WITH THE GREAT EXPERIENCE MY HUSBAND AND I HAD FOR OUR WEDDING!!! The reception and the FUN part of the wedding was VERY IMPORTANT to us because everyone knows the DJ can either make or break the party, and BRIAN EXCEEDED ALL OF OUR EXPECTATIONS!!! We had an intimate wedding of roughly 60 people in the Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort, at the Bayview Room and Terrace, and Brian had the dance floor packed from START to FINISH!!! There was NEVER an empty seat in the room…he even had Grandma dancing to Gangnam Style!! I HIGHLY RECOMMEND DJ BRIAN B TO ANYONE LOOKING TO HAVE NO WORRIES ON THEIR BIG, SPECIAL DAY!! My husband is Puerto Rican, so I was nervous to see who would dance to the Latin music on my side of the family…including myself…LOL…because that requires a certain kind of skill…BUT HE IS A GENIUS BECAUSE THE MUSIC JUST FLOWED BEAUTIFULLY AND IT SERIOUSLY DID NOT MATTER IF YOU WERE YOUNG, OLD, CAN DANCE AMAZING, TERRIBLE DANCER…LOL..THE POINT IS THAT EVERY SINGLE GUEST LEFT WITH A GREAT, AWESOME EXPERIENCE BECAUSE OF BRIAN!! It was scary selecting vendors I have never met and planning a destination wedding is hard, but his reviews, which are why I called him first, were outstanding!!! You cannot teach personality, and understanding or reading a crowd…you can’t train for those things, it really is a gift, and he has that!!! If you are skimming financially on certain things when you are planning for your wedding, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THAT YOU DO NOT GO CHEAP ON CHOOSING DJ BRIAN BUONASSISSI!!! You may find cheaper but you seriously will MISS OUT on the quality and this is a ONCE IN A LIFETIME EXPERIENCE!!!! We hope to use DJ BRIAN B for other major events in our future!!!!!”
– Amber and Mito Domenech, Sandestin, FL (event date 4/4/2014)

in Florida / Past DJ Events / Weddings 0 comments

April 7, 2014 by B-Boy Productions, Inc.

Wedding Entertainment with DJ Charles: The Blacharski Wedding at Eglin: – March 29, 2014

The Spring wedding season kicked off for me a little sooner than expected as this event was added to my calendar 2 weeks before this wedding! Surprises like this are exactly why I love being in the wedding entertainment business! As the Emcee assigned to the event, I got my first impression of our groom, Tony Blacharski, during our planning appointment. He was very laid back and was looking for a relaxed vibe the day of the event. That said, he didn’t want things too loose as he wanted everything to be perfect for his bride, Elaine Cherry, on their special day. Both the wedding ceremony and reception were held at the Officer’s Club Bayview Club on Eglin Air Force Base.

Working with us this day was Kim from Coastal Moments Photography. This was my first time working alongside her on an event and she was every bit as professional as everyone raved about! I hope to work with her again.

We started the event by providing Ceremony Sound inside the facility. The groom and bride were both smitten with one another as our officiant, Eric Partin, presided over the ceremony. They picked some instrumental acoustic guitar selections for the processional and the orchestral version of “Canon In D” as she made her way down the aisle.

For the cocktail hour, they had pre-selected an old school jazz vibe. Songs from Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Ella Fitzgerald, etc. filled the air as my partner on the event, DJ Dan, mixed the tunes. After cocktail hour concluded, we went straight into the meal. We played a variety of great music.

Following dinner, we went into the cake cut and toasts so we could have a ton of time for open dancing. Tony and Elaine opened the dance floor by having their first dance to the tune of “At Last” by Etta James. That song is a classic!

DJ Dan then turned it up a notch as we invited everyone to the dance floor for open dancing.

For the last song of the night, DJ Dan played a Muppets song called “Life’s A Happy Song” which was specifically requested by Tony. I had my doubts with the selection because songs by the Muppets aren’t usually what we in the wedding entertainment business have in our regular playlists… much less use to pack a dance floor. It was obvious that the song had special meaning because as soon as it started playing, it brought the biggest smile to Elaine’s face as well as filled the dance floor. The ending of this reception was definitely one of the most movie-like endings I’ve ever been a part of.

This intimate wedding really personified what most people dream of – elegant, great music, lots of dancing and love permeating throughout the day. Thanks for allowing DJ Dan and myself to share the day with you. Best of luck to both of you!

in Florida / Past DJ Events / Weddings 0 comments

March 31, 2014 by B-Boy Productions, Inc.

The Thomas Wedding by Destin Wedding DJ, DJ Dan: 03/22/2014

This past Saturday we were back at the Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort and Spa in Destin, FL for the wedding of Michael Thomas and Amy Shoulders.

I was the Emcee and DJ Duane was behind the turntables mixing the music. Obviously, as Destin Wedding DJs, we both get to be a special part of many weddings and receptions.

There were both local and out of town vendors working with us at this event. The catering and cake was handled by Hilton Sandestin Beach Weddings. The ceremony photography was done by local wedding photographer Angie Wagner of Sunset Images Photography. The florist was Patty from It’s A Perfect Day. The coordination was done by Deborah Simmons from Signature Occasions, out of Ridgeland, Mississippi.

For this event, we were out on the Pool Deck, which overlooks the stunning Gulf of Mexico. You could not have asked for a better day for a wedding – abundant sunshine and a gentle breeze made for a very refreshing afternoon. The table settings utilized touches of crystal, which sparkled like diamonds in the Spring sun and complemented the beach atmosphere very elegantly.

Michael and Amy entered into the reception with “Step In The Name Of Love” by R Kelly as their soundtrack. That was followed by the First Dance where they chose an updated version of “Endless Love” by Mariah Carey and Lionel Richie.

After the Grand Entrance we immediately went into the cake cut and Michael and Amy picked “Open Arms” by Journey to be playing in the background for that formality.

Dinner was transitioned into after the cake cut and then we opened the dance floor for our first open dance set. Few people can resist the lure of “Wobble” by Vic and “The Cupid Shuffle,” so the dance floor was jumping early on.

For the Bouquet Toss, “Single Ladies” by Beyonce was selected. The Garter Removal song was the classic Marvin Gaye track “Let’s Get It On” and the Garter Toss song was “Big Pimpin’” by Jay-Z. Once we finished with those formalities, it was back to the mix of DJ Duane as we opened up the dance floor for our 2^nd and final dance set.

As the sun went down, the evening air became rather chilly with the sea breeze coming off of the Gulf. Several of our guests became visibly cold as a result of that. I took it upon myself to make several trips to the Pool Towel kiosk, where they rent out warmed-up beach towels, and delivered a towel to each person that was feeling chilly. I like to go the extra mile to make sure my guests are comfortable and having the best time possible!

This was definitely a fun wedding and I’m so glad we got to be a part of Michael and Amy’s special day. I wish them nothing but the best. We’ll leave you with a few images from Sunset Images Photography.

in Florida / Past DJ Events / Weddings 0 comments

March 24, 2014 by B-Boy Productions, Inc.

DJ Duane-Bull Wedding at Sandestin Hilton on March 15 2014

It was a sunny and great day for a wedding at Sandestin Hilton Beach Golf Resort and Spa for Johnny Bull and Danielle Elliott. The Hilton wedding team handled the coordination and catering. The bride’s bouquet and the arbor flowers were provided by It’s A Perfect Day. Photography was done by one of our favorites, Tay Gray Photography.

I was the Emcee and DJ Josh B mixed the tunes. The ceremony took place on the beach and we were in the Diamond Ballroom for the reception. The mother of the bride and the bride’s aunt took care of the design/décor and truly did a fantastic job! The décor colors consisted of blues, silvers, greens, and white. It was used throughout the room in the form of peacock feathers and other materials.

Something that was a little different for us with this particular event was the fact that Danielle, the bride, is hearing impaired. Not to worry, we were able to communicate through phone text throughout the planning process. The day of the event I worked with one of the bridesmaids who knew sign language. Danielle was so excited that nothing was going to get in the way on her day!

Danielle and Johnny set the party atmosphere right away by using “Crazy In Love” by Beyonce as their Grand Entrance song. From there, they went with the East Coast format where we go immediately from the Grand Entrance into the First Dance. They chose “Memories of Us” by Keith Urban. That was followed by the Father/Daughter dance to the song “My Little Girl” by Tim McGraw. The Mother/Son Dance had a little twist in that the bride and her grandfather joined Johnny and his mother as they danced to Izzy K’s version of “Somewhere Over The Rainbow”. DJ Josh B then played a cool medley for the Bridal Party Dance of “Cupid Shuffle”, “The Electric Slide”, “Apache”, and the “Wobble”.

We went into dinner so everyone could catch their breath and then transitioned into the toasts. Each speech was heartfelt and there were barely any dry eyes left in the room once they concluded. After the toasts, it was time to get our groove on. DJ Josh B got the crowd up on their feet and out onto the dance floor. We partied the night away and ended on a song Danielle and Johnny had pre-selected called “Stealing Cinderella” by Chuck Wicks.

The music was memorable, the dancing was hillarious (great job groomsmen!) and the bride and groom couldn’t have looked any happier. That is what we like to see DJ Josh B and I are so happy and honored that we were able to be a part of Danielle and Johnny’s day. We wish both of them many years of happiness!

in Florida / Past DJ Events 0 comments

August 21, 2013 by B-Boy Productions, Inc.

July and August Event Recap – in Photos!

So far, event season 2013 has been filled with special events, bright smiles, delicious details and memorable moments. Here’s a recap of some of the fun in July and August.

A trendy cake with succulents! Mmmmm.

And an equally trendy cupcake station – with gluten free option!

We’ve been rockin’ events from NY …

To California …

To Florida … and many points in between.

The DJ has ‘em all lined up for a dance!

And then the bride busts a move!

As you can tell, we always have a lot of fun! Want to party with us? Hit us up! You can get a FREE consultation, right here on our website!

in California / Florida / New York / Other Events / Weddings 0 comments

July 17, 2013 by B-Boy Productions, Inc.

Vendor Profile: Dear Wesleyann – Wedding and Lifestyle Photography

B-Boy Productions Inc. handles a lot of destination weddings, and in doing so, we’ve been blessed to work with some of the best wedding and event photographers in the country.

Our friends at Dear Wesleyann are right at the top of the list of folks we love to work with! Dear Wesleyann is a Florida Panhandle destination wedding photographer covering the areas of 30-A, Carillon Beach, Rosemary Beach, Seaside, WaterColor and beyond. With many years in the industry, Wesleyann combines experience and expertise with an efficacious attitude and win-you-over smile! We recently cornered her to get some advice and insights for our blog-reader friends and brides-to-be. Here’s what she had to say:

First, give us a quick recap on your background, experience, and what brought you to the beach?

When it comes to my background and where I’m from, I pretty much fall into that coined term of being a “Third Culture Kid.” Growing up, we were constantly on the move for my dad’s career. Rest assured that no matter where we lived, the Florida Panhandle is where we always spent our summers and had a way of feeling like home! After my 2nd year of college in Pennsylvania, I decided to forgo another year of the cold and snow, and decided to migrate south to the palm trees and Gulf breeze! Never did I have plans to stay here, however, after running into the first boy I ever dated from years past {at the age of 14} … well 7 years of marriage and two little boys later … we’re still here! I’m convinced the beach has a way of never letting you go!!

As far as my professional experience and background … I’ve been a shutter releaser, professionally, for 5 years. Coming from a creative family and living abroad, photography and art have always been a passion of mine. However, the way it became my career was rather serendipitous and ended up being one of those “meant to be” kind of things! With a degree in Communications, a minor in Photography, and life’s journey of ups, downs, twists, and turns … my first real career as a wedding event planner at a resort soon lead me to being a wedding photographer!

When shooting any outdoor event, weather is unpredictable. What other things does the destination/beach bride need to know? Any advice to share?

Weather here along the coast is very unpredictable, to say the least!! However, when you have a team of wedding professionals you’re able to trust … you can rest assured you’re in good hands! When I got married 7 years ago someone gave me words of advise that I held on to and give to my couples now – remember that no matter what may happen, at the end of your wedding day, the two of you are going to be husband and wife … and that’s what all this is truly about! It’s so easy to get caught up in the midst of everything and it’s important to always have that as a constant reminder!!

What trends are you seeing for 2013 destination weddings?

I think the beauty of wedding trends now days is that couples can do just about anything the mind can create and their budget can allow!!! I love that couples are making their wedding day sentimental with so many personal touches! One of my favorites I’ve seen a lot this year, is couples who incorporate family heirlooms into their day … it has a way of bringing love, commitment and family full circle!

You excel in capturing details and emotions! Do you have a favorite “moment” that you always hope to capture at a wedding?

The fact that weddings are all about emotions, moments and memories, I think is what truly fuels my passion for them! Every wedding has those “first time moments”… The look on the bride’s face when she sees herself in the mirror for the first time in her dress, the look on the father’s face as he glances at his daughter one last time before walking her down the aisle, when the bride and groom see each other for the first time … and the first kiss! All those moments are moment capture musts! However, it’s the expressions and emotions just before and after … and then the unexpected moments, that tend to make my heart soar! It’s capturing those moments for my couples that makes a wedding feel “whole!”

In this age of social media sharing and Instagram, some brides are opting for an “unplugged” ceremony and reception – leaving the first images of their event to a professional. Do you have thoughts on this trend?

When I’ve attended weddings as a guest {and especially now that I’m married}, there’s something truly special and sentimental when you’re engaged in the meaning and words being exchanged as the couple commits to forever together! As wonderful as social media and technology can be, I’ve realized that it can also be a huge distraction … not just at weddings but during life in general! I think the whole “unplugged” concept is a fantastic idea so that you and your guests are able to really enjoy and be in the moment! Because we live in an instant gratification age, and because I know couples and guests are always so excited to see images from the day, I always make it a point to post a few images on Facebook and Instagram within a few days of the wedding!!

Dear Wesleyann shoots a lot of weddings, but you do other types of shoots too. Give us a quick rundown?

Over the last 5 years, I’ve captured mostly weddings and lifestyle {family, maternity, newborn, etc.} sessions. However, over the last few months, I’ve done a lot of soul searching in hopes of creating a balance between work and personal life. Weddings have always been my passion, so starting in the fall, I’ll mainly be marketing myself as just weddings and wedding related shoots — whether lifestyle or commercial. Even though I’m narrowing in on a specific industry within photography, I’m excited to be able to focus on the creative opportunities and new adventures where my heart truly is … in weddings!

We’ve heard you have a travel bug and love to do destination shoots. Where have you been recently? And where would you like to go (bucket list!)?

I feel incredibly blessed to have the opportunity to travel for weddings and shoots! I spent 5 years living abroad while growing up, which definitely helped to cultivate a love for travel and adventure!! This year, I’ve had the opportunity to shoot weddings in the North Carolina Mountains, Alabama, and this fall I’ll be heading down south to the Florida Keys! Next year I feel like I’m already on the fast track to crossing things off my Bucket List as I’ll be shooting a wedding at the Biltmore Estate! As far as other bucket list locations … I’m crossing my fingers and toes for a NYC wedding, one in California wine country … and then my dream is to go back to Paris, France where I grew up to shoot!!!

There you have it! If you’re looking for a fantastic, fun, joyful photographer – especially for a far away, exotic on-location shoot – B-Boy Productions heartily recommends you hit up Dear Wesleyann! And don’t forget to follow them on Facebook!

in B-Boy Recommends / Florida / Other Events / Weddings 1 comments

June 19, 2013 by B-Boy Productions, Inc.

It’s Only Mid-June and Event Season is Rockin’!

Our last photo blog post was so well received that we thought we’d give you another quick photographic tour of what the B-Boy Productions Inc. team is blessed to do and see on a weekly basis.

DJ Irving Gil teaches the wedding guests a line dance!

DJ Duane Mays rocking the dance floor!

Cocktail hour at the Emerald Grande in Destin, FL with West Emerson performing.

Creating perfect moments!

Double the DJ systems, double the fun!

Now THAT is a cake!

The aerialists WOW the crowd at Digital Graffiti 2013!

Our first time working an event in Milwaukee, WI!

When is your next party? Hit us up! You can get a FREE consultation, right here on our website!

in Other Events / Weddings 0 comments

May 15, 2013 by B-Boy Productions, Inc.

Your B-Boy Entertainer is the Best of the Best – Here’s Why!

Written By Brian Buonassissi, Managing Partner of B-Boy Productions, Inc.

The single most important job I have on the management side of the business is making the right hires. There are other things that matter but the business is driven by the people in it and believe it or not, talent of the individual is not the first thing I look for. Here are 3 things I look for in our entertainers and why it should matter to our clients.

#1: Are they customer service minded?
This is the first thing I assess in a potential hire. Artists/Entertainers generally get a bad rap for being selfish and having a diva-like personality and there’s a fair amount of truth to that. However, the private event world is the epitome of the customer service business. We look for people who are willing to go the extra mile for our clients – whether that means getting to the venue earlier than required or staying at the event later if needed, adjusting to last minute changes or looking for the little things to add to the event that will make the day special. If they don’t cut it here, there’s no need to go to #2 or #3. How do we qualify this in an individual? I look for a few things.

*Have they been in the service industry sector before (i.e. bartender, server, hospitality, banker, lawn care, commission based sales, etc.)? Folks who have worked in those industries know that their income and job security depend on the relationships they make with their clients/customers. Those that succeed are usually outgoing, personable, and generally well-liked. This translates well to being a private event entertainer.

*Do they participate in any volunteer work and/or community service on a regular basis? This could include serving at their religious institution, animal rescue, nursing home, mentoring, tutoring, etc. This area is also critical. Giving of your time and talents says so much about an individual. It means they put others above themselves in a very visible way. It also shows me that they are good with time management because this is usually above and beyond their normal day to day schedule. Lastly, it shows me that they possess passion. That is hard to fake because if it’s not genuine, it won’t be sustainable.

*How do they handle pressure? It is a running joke amongst our staff that one of my “Brian-isms” I say often is, “Expect the unexpected,” when they are on a job. At an event, it can run the gamut – weather problems, venue issues, gear glitches, etc. – so it’s imperative that the entertainer (who is typically the face of the event) is somebody who is calm, collected and can navigate through these hurdles. I always ask in an interview process, “Has there been a time where things have not gone your way? How have you handled that? Is that a comfortable place for you?”

#2: How do they present themselves?
At first glance, this may sound rather vain and you may be thinking, “You mean, you select your hires based on their looks?” Whether we want to admit it or not, looks matter – especially in the private event world. Professional photographers are constantly snapping photos at private events, some clients may hire videographers and this potential entertainer could end up on a client’s video for years to come. So yes, looks matter. But that only tells part of the story. When I interview someone who is well put together, it means that they took some time with their appearance. I’m not expecting Armani suits or salon-esque hair styling (although that wouldn’t be a bad thing), but how they look does convey to me whether or not they care. Also, these people are usually in shape. Staying in shape takes intentional time carved out of their day to exercise at the gym and eat right. It gives me more confirmation of their ability to manage their time which, again, is crucial to being an entertainer for our company. I also look to their social networking posts (i.e. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Vine, etc.). How are they communicating on a daily basis? Are they generally a positive person or constantly irritable and complaining? A lot of written correspondence occurs between our clients and entertainers so it’s important that I can see what their natural, everyday writing ability is like. Lastly, I listen to their speech during an interview. How do they phrase their answers? Public speaking is at least 50% of our job as an entertainer and while this can and is taught to all of our entertainers, the learning curve can be minimal if they are able to articulate themselves verbally in a concise, professional manner.

#3: Would you pay a cover to watch them perform?
When it comes to live musicians, this is very easy to quantify. I’m looking for something unique and special about the entertainer. We have never settled in this arena for the “status quo” private event musician. Everybody on our roster is extremely talented and the type of act you’d pay to watch. When it comes to our DJs/MCs, it’s a little different because we train them from the ground up in most cases. It’s more about seeing the potential in someone much like a team talent scout would do in evaluating an athlete. As I’ve gotten older and done this more often, I tend to pick the right ones and rarely miss. When we send the DJ/MC out completely trained (which for us takes a full year to do), our clients will feel like their money was well spent and that’s important to us.

Through this post, I hope you’ve gotten a little glimpse into what goes into our hiring process. It isn’t about making the quick dollar for us. We have an extremely rigid vetting process when it comes to hires and those that we bring on, are generally with us a long time. You can be assured you’re in good hands with a B-Boy Productions, Inc. entertainer. We currently still have availability for 2013 so contact us today to book an entertainer for your event. For a complete list of our staff, go here.

in California / Florida / New York / Other Events / Weddings 0 comments