Hey Mister DJ LA

A great new Album in time for Valentine's Day

2010-01-23T17:21:00.000-08:00

Found this on Itunes.

Perfect set of non-traditional love songs for clients that want a slightly hipper vibe.
SWEETHEART 2010

Enjoy!

Ed & Nancy @ Pelican Hill

2009-12-22T18:15:00.000-08:00

Ed & Nancy are 2 cool kids who had a stunning ceremony & reception at the Pelican Hill Resort in Newport Coast. I snapped a couple photos of them seen here with my favorite Officiant- JP Renoylds

As you can see, the background for a wedding ceremony at this venue is amazing!!

Ceremony music was provided by Strings By Reiko and they did an awesome cover of "Stand By you" by the Pretenders. They are really good at translating contemporary music into a strings arrangement.

Carolyn & her team from The Special Day made sure (as always) that everything flowed very smoothly.

The highlight of the evening was a Hip Hop dance routine that Ed & Nancy did along with the entire bridal party. It's pretty sweet and you can watch it on You Tube HERE!!

Speaking of Video....
I was blown away by the wedding video done by Elysium Productions.
They have an on-site editing bay working on the footage so by the time you sit down for dinner the video is done and includes footage from the actual ceremony. See Ed & Nancy's Video HERE
I've worked with them before and their work always makes a huge impression on the guests.

Meet our newest clients!!!

2009-12-07T18:47:00.000-08:00

Adrian and Desiree are two very cool kids that found us from our YELP profile and we are happy to be doing music for their wedding.

Photo by Anthony Altamore

They had a great idea and created a website specifically for their wedding on Feb 13th 2010 at Dukes in Malibu. See their website HERE

There is a live countdown to the wedding, profiles on the entire bridal party, suggestions on accommodations for traveling guests, a place for guests to request music in advance and of course the story of how they first met.

Such a cool way to create excitment for your wedding and also to bring your guests into the experience before the reception even takes place!

Featured Wedding in LA Style Unveiled

2009-11-24T02:31:00.000-08:00

Hey Mister DJ is proud to be part of a wedding that was featured on LA Style Unveiled.

Beverly at Leave it to Me Events coordinated everything ever so smoothly for Daniel & Diana's September 5th Wedding at the Camarillo Ranch and you can get a feel for the event by checking out the amazing photos by Gloria Mesa Photography.

Check out the whole feature by clicking here!!.

Need a unique venue??

2009-08-10T13:10:00.000-07:00

If you (or your client) are looking for a unique and fantastic venue for a wedding or private party then check this out:

http://www.thebungalowclub.com/weddings

Nice covered patio, fireplace, 2 levels, great service and seating up to 450 people!

You should also check out her new venue: Barbarella Bar (In Silverlake)
We just did a wedding there this weekend and it was a great vibe!

http://www.barbarellabar.com/weddings

My friend Anat is the owner and will take good care of you so tell her I sent you!

Another amazing Venue!!

2009-08-03T17:14:00.000-07:00

We did an amazing wedding at a new venue that I wanted to share with you.

It was at the Church Estate in Malibu and it is really a unique space: http://www.church-estate.com/

We played along with the funky band High Rize from De Bois Entertainment and coordination was handled by the always fabulous Michael Williams from Entertainment Design.

A bit of a walk for the guests to get from the ceremony area to the reception house up the hill but since the surroundings are beautiful I don't think anyone minded very much!

Julie & Aaron @ Twin Palms Pasadena

2009-08-01T20:34:00.000-07:00

Julie and Aaron knew EXACTLY what they wanted for their
wedding which always makes my job easier.

Since both of them work in a artistic & creative field they were
passionate about music and wanted me to help them create a very
personal soundtrack for their day.

With selections by Aimee Mann, Rufas Wainwright, The Police, Lou Reed, Massive Attack, Simon & Garfunkel, James Taylor, Smashing Pumpkins, Radiohead, Leonard Cohen, Etta James, PJ Harvey, Frou Frou and Ben Harper we managed to create a very unique set of music for dinner. My personal favorite was when Julie Danced with her Father to "Shaking the Tree" by Peter Gabriel which was not a traditional choice but it became a very powerful moment in the evening.

Don't get me wrong....we weren't so busy being cool that we couldn't find time to sneak in the Hora to please the Jewish folks in the crowd!

The venue (Twin Palms Pasadena) provided a great deal of character and was the first time I've seen a circular Ceremony which worked out very well.

Sadly, Twin Palms recently closed after 16 years of business but you can
see how the space easily accommodated eclectic weddings.

The fantastic photos were courtesy of Pasadena Wedding Photographer Edewards Photography and he took the coolest DJ photo of yours truly!!!

Libby & Vic at the Langham Pasadena

2009-07-24T19:41:00.000-07:00

Well this was a fun one....

Not only because Carolyn from The Special Day designed and coordinated yet another flawless event, but also because Libby & Vic were super cool clients and wanted a slightly less traditional music format which of course is our specialty.

Since Vic works in the music biz and is totally burned out on Top 40 radio (Aren't we all??) we did some Jazz & Classics for dinner but then worked in some non-traditional music for dancing:

Sam Sparro- Black & Gold
Veronicas- Untouched Remix
The Killers- Human
Kings of Leon- Sex on Fire
Duffy- Mercy
MGMT- Kids
Okenfold- Starry Eyed Surprise
Matisyahu- One Day
etc...

As you can see from the photos, the amazing shutterbug Megan Stark from Megan Stark Photography captureda few classic moments from the party.

Michael Jackson Tribute Mix

2009-07-07T19:33:00.000-07:00

So while I do think the media has gone WAY overboard with the coverage of Michael Jackson being that he hasn't released a hit song in over 10 years I must say his music has had a profound impact in my DJ career.

Wanted to share this MJ Medley with you-

(Click or Cut & paste in your web browser)

Rest in Peace.

Tara & Dave @ LA River Center & Gardens

2009-05-10T14:09:00.000-07:00

For those of you looking for an amazing outdoor reception you must not overlook the LA River Center & Gardens.

It's a beautiful venue not known to many brides and provides a very scenic environment for your wedding.

Built in the 1950's with fountains, ficus trees and plenty of parking for your guests so give Zenia (Event coordinator) and tell her I sent ya!

Tara & Dave had a very hip crowd and eclectic taste in music so true to our slogan we kept the "Cheese" to a minimun and focused on a very fun & cool set.

Photos from Mr Michael Chan

http://www.theimageisfound.com/

Taya & Chris @ Union Station

2009-05-01T19:44:00.000-07:00

Been a while since I've done a wedding at Union Station and forgot how charming the Fred Harvey room can be!

As you'll see from the photos (kindly provided by Cheriephoto) the venue offers a very unique backdrop. http://www.cheriephoto.com
Because of the space, Taya & Chris wanted a bit more classic & tradional set of music so we did some fun Rat Pack selections:

Etta James- At Last
Billy Holiday- The Very Tought of you
Sinatra- They Way you look tonight
Frankie Avalon- Cant Take my eyes off
Tony Bennet- The Best is Yet To Come
Bobby Darin- Beyond the Sea
Dean Martin- You're nobody till somebody loves you
etc....

Joy & Ryan

2009-04-13T21:20:00.000-07:00

Here's a few photos from Joy & Ryan's wedding at the California Yacht Club on April 12th.
If you haven't been there for an event it's a perfect place for anyone wanting a waterside wedding.

The wedding was planned by Carole & Annette at Simply Natural Events.
They were very organized and a pleasure to work with so it all came together very.....naturally!!
http://www.simplynaturalevents.com/

Photos by: http://www.bobyoungphotography.com/

Amazing Video Mashup

2009-04-06T20:49:00.000-07:00

Check out this beautiful Video Mashup featuring Coldplay, Rihanna, Alica Keys, Chris Brown, and more...

DJ Lee goes Moroccan

2009-03-18T16:00:00.000-07:00

Played a fun corporate event down at the Newport Marriott on Sunday & Monday.

The decor was Moroccan themed and designed by a great Chef & Event planner Brian Dobbin. http://www.briandobbin.com/

Based on the theme I played a variety of World Beat, Indian/Tantric Lounge and some Jazzy stuff thrown in for good measure.

Weddings can be Campy!! (Just not cheesy)

2009-03-16T16:11:00.000-07:00

So this weekend we had a very fun wedding for Megan and Keith at the Madonna Inn.

If you aren't familiar with it, The Madonna Inn is a very Campy place nestled in San Luis Obispo not too far from Central Coast wine country and a very nice drive. http://www.madonnainn.com/

It was built in 1958 and have many beautiful etched leaded glass windows.

Each room is individually decorated with a special theme and color scheme and once you experience the custom heated toilet seats you won't want to leave!

Did I mention their bakery and cakes are world famous!!

The ceremony area is VERY unique with no shortage of detail and character.

The Reception area was downstairs in the wine celler and as you can see really turned out beautiful!

Megan and Keith are both musicians so needless to say the music selection was very important to them and we went with a fun selection of Mondo Exotica & Ultra Lounge tracks for the cocktail hour to reflect the playful nature of the venue.

If you are looking for a "out of the box" location for your event I'd recommend it!

THE WATCHMEN Premiere

2009-03-05T05:34:00.000-08:00

Monday I played for the Premiere of The Watchmen at Avalon in Hollywood.

How cool is the entrance setup??

The movie that is based on a graphic novel (comic book for the uneducated) is a co-op of Warner Bros & Paramount and the party was produced by the always impressive event designer Wendy Creed. http://www.wendycreed.com/

Wendy and her team created the perfect flow and I had quite a perch from which to look down upon the crowd of celebrities and industry folk.

The movie is set in 1985 so they requested all 80's Retro music which just happens to be one of my specialties! :o)

They wanted it to be campy...but not too poppy since the tone of the movie is very dark and feels futuristic. I chose to stay on the more New Wave side of the 80's and pulled out some gems that were lyrically or vibe appropriate:

Rockwell- Somebody's Watching me
Billy Idol- Eyes without a face
Thomas Dolby- Blinded me with science
Corey Heart- Sunglasses at night
New Order- Blue Monday
Depeche Mode- People are people
Missing Persons- Destination Unknown
Duran Duran- Wild Boys
Oingo Boingo- Dead mans party
Falco- Rock me amadeus
Peter Schilling- Major Tom
Boys Don't Cry- I wanna be a cowboy
etc....

They also had the coolest photo booth I've ever seen from http://www.politeinpublic.com/ which superimposed your images into the movie poster background.
Check out my 2 alter-egos.......

I should have been a SUPER HERO!!!

Shoes + Food + Music = A great party!!

2009-02-23T01:30:00.000-08:00

We played tonight for the launch of Christian LouBoutin's new luxury shoe collection inspired by Marie Antoinette.

The event was held at the very cozy Marche Moderne Restaurant in South Coast Plaza and while I was too busy to eat I'd say the food looked amazing!

The event was produced flawlessly by my good friend Jeff Brown http://www.brownhotevents.com/ who did a amazing job with the decor.

Photos taken by the very talented Fashion photographer John Watkins. http://www.johnwatkinsphotographer.com/

I set the tone for the night with a very eclectic mix of French Lounge along with some tracks from the "I Love Serge" & "French Cafe" compilations.

If you like that style you should also check out The Bajofondo Tango Club.

Questions to ask before Hiring your DJ

2009-02-18T21:46:00.000-08:00

We realize that hiring a DJ can be a daunting task as we are providing a service that is hard to measure until the event is already happening.

Here are some questions that you might consider asking your potential DJ during the screening process to make sure you are dealing with a professional.

Is the DJ willing to meet with you for an interview before you hire them?
Remember, this is your special day and you have every right to make sure you feel comfortable with the individual creating all the energy and excitement at your event. Often times a company will meet with you to discuss your event, but send a different person to actually perform. You should make sure that the person you are meeting is the individual that will arrive for your event. It’s important to get a feel for the personality of the DJ and determine whether he/she will relate well to you and your guests.

Is the DJ willing to do a site survey of the party space prior to the event?
The DJ should know in advance where he/she is going to set up shop.
We personally like to know in advance the route and drive time to the event to make sure we are on time and that there are no surprises like not being able to find a power source.

Will the DJ be willing to play requests and discuss music prior to the event?
This is one of the common complaints. You spend a great deal of time putting your list of music requests together and then none of them are played the night of your event. Remember, it's your day so make sure that you have a DJ who is willing to accomodate your style and taste.

How much time do you allow for set up?
Our DJs typically arrive at least 1 hour prior to your event and will be fully sound checked and ready to rock well before the first guest arrives.
(This also allows time for trouble shooting any equipment issues )

Can the DJ supply you with references or letters of recommendation?
What better way to determine a DJ’s credibility that to hear testimonials from satisfied clients?

Are you INSURED?
Most responsible business owners carry insurance to protect themselves and their clients.
Many venues are now asking for the vendors to provide proof of Liability

Does the DJ have a backup plan in case of equipment failure?
Most professional DJs will have backup equipment or a network of resources to call in case of emergency. Making sure that the DJ is using top grade professional equipment will reduce the chances of any problems, but unforeseen circumstances can and do occur.

What kind of experience does the DJ have?
DJs have varying degrees in their style, presentation, and overall music knowledge.Be sure you have found a DJ whose expertise properly matches your needs.

Music heals more than just your soul......

2009-02-16T16:16:00.000-08:00

I found a recent article (and book)that talked about the healing power of music.

An article by Maryl Davids Landau says it turns out the same researchers that proved laughter has a positive physical effect on the cardivasular system did some tests with music and found that subjects blood vessels expanded an average of 26% while listening to joyful music for 30 minutes and narrowed 6% when hearing music that created anxiety.

Additional research has also show music (and laughter) to lower blood pressure.
So play your favorite song and have a good laugh!
:o)

Oliver Sacks wrote a fascenating book that explores music and the effect it has on the brain and nervous system. He is a well known author and Neurologist that wrote the book "Awakenings" which was turned into a move with Robert De Niro and Robin Williams.

The book is called Musicophilia and I highly recommend it!

http://www.musicophila.com/

Halloween

2008-10-24T20:51:00.000-07:00

Were doing a very cool event for Halloween this year at Glow lounge.
It's inside the Marriott in Marina Del Ray and should be a blast!

www.glow-bar.com

We have 5 very talented DJs spinning a mix of House music and I'll be playing with a live Violinist.
See: www.reikonakano.com

Costume is expected of course so dress up and come on down!

LA LIVE is on FIRE!!!

2008-07-27T23:56:00.000-07:00

We had a huge event tonight for NBTA (National Business Travelers Association) down at the shiny new LA LIVE complex. http://www.lalive.com/

The DJ setup was place on a huge lighting & metal truss system that was about 20 feet off the ground!

The sound through out the area was amazing as we played on the new JBL VRX system.

We had over 3000 people down in the common area and then they were treated to a surprise concert by Cyndi Lauper in the new Nokia Theater.

The party was produced by the good folks at http://www.eventworks.com/

Kung Fu to you!!!!

2008-05-30T01:28:00.000-07:00

We had the Kung Fu Panda premiere party tonight at the Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood.

The client was DreamWorks and we've been lucky to have them as a client for several high profile Hollywood events now.

This one was no different with amazing decor and fantastic catering.
The vibe was pretty hip & loungy for most of the night but we managed to get them dancing by the end of the evening.

Skee-Lo from Gnarls Barkley did a PERFECT cover of "Kung Fu Fighting" by Carl Douglas which I think will be on the soundtrack.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wKo_YF6GN4

The Roosevelt is a beautiful hotel and during the summer the have a pretty big turn out for weekend pool parties so it that is your sort of thing....

STREET BEAT Drum group

2008-05-19T08:44:00.000-07:00

So I've been working with an amazing group of drummers called Street Beat.

Ben Hanson, the founder of SB and I have been working on a show that incorporates a DJ with the live drummers which is know as Street Beat Remixed.

See about it here: http://www.streetbeat.biz/

We have high energy shows for corporate events, fashion shows, product launches etc...

Check out our promotional video:

The gig of a lifetime....

2008-05-14T23:40:00.000-07:00

So as I told you all in a previous posting I was tapped to play the 2008 Oscar party and the highlight of my night was when Seal asked me for my card and said he liked my music.

Well he called and invited me to come down to Mexico and play for His and Heidi Klum's anniversary party. The party was at their private house in a very isolated part of Jalisco which is a couple hours from Puerto Vallarta.

The place was amazing and very romantic.
Seal and his guests were all very warm, kind and turned out to be big fans of Funk & Disco.....who knew?

I've always been a fan of his music and talent so it was a real honor to be trusted with providing music for such a special day!

Saki is a DJ's best friend......

2008-04-19T20:36:00.000-07:00

Well we had an interesting gig this week.

We provided sound and music for a Saki tasting and a fantastic Japanese restaurtant (pretty new) on Restaurant Row.

I had no idea there were so many different kinds of Saki with such distinct flavors!
It was pretty interesting to watch people as the night went on because Saki tends to creep up on you pretty quickly so needless to say by the end of the evening we had some intoxicated folks on the dance floor.

I'd recommend the place if you are looking for a nice spot to eat: Tokyo Table
50 N. La Cienega Blvd Beverly Hills, CA 90211

www.tokyotable.com

Enjoy but watch your Saki intake!
:o)

LA ALL STARS

2008-04-12T21:25:00.000-07:00

Got a chance to play with the LA ALL STARS this week.
We flew to Phoenix for a huge corporate event and stayed at a swanky hotel.

Wes, Trey and the rest of the 8 piece band are some of the most talented musicians I've worked with and their style is very modern & hip for a special event group. Collectively they've toured with Prince, Backstreet Boys, Toni Braxton, Babyface, Whitney Houston and Ricky Martin just to name a few...

See them here: www.laallstars.com

The 2008 Oscar Party

2008-02-25T11:59:00.000-08:00

Well I was selected to spin for the official "Night Before" the Oscars party at the Beverly Hills Hotel.
Quite an honor to spin for such a high profile event attended by some of the heaviest hitters in the entertainment industry.

A star gazers dream for sure as I noticed Tom Hanks, Will Smith, Steven Spielberg, Jamie Foxx, Fergie, Harrison Ford and many more moving through the room.

The annual event was started by Jeffrey Katzenberg and Variety as a charity function back in 2002 and this year it was produced by Robyn Leuthe Norris at Before & After Productions with help from my good friends at DreamWorks event department. The food was catered from Wolfgang puck and it was delicious!!

I played mostly a mix of Lounge, Nu Jazz, Soul & vintage Funk with a bit of KCRW eclectic thrown in.
The highlight of my night was when SEAL tapped me on the shoulder and told me he liked my music.
Seal liked MY music!
:o)

Well I'm finally here.....

2008-01-07T19:48:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone........or maybe I should say....anyone?
Since this is my first blog entry I should assume it may fall on deaf ears so to speak.

While I am a DJ and very gadget oriented I've been slow to adapt to the tech world we live in but I'm now also on Myspace and Facebook under DJ Lee Dyson.

Sigh.....

Well I promise to to ramble too much and occasionally add things that will either make you laugh or keep you informed.

Cheers

Lee
www.heymisterdj.com