Joy & Ryan

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

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

DJ Lee goes Moroccan

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)

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

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!!

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

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.