During a random check to see how my Google rankings are doing with the keywords "DJ" and "Kanoya" I found these two reviews on projectwedding.com. Love the love.
Thank you former clients/anonymous bride (although I think I have a good idea who they are).
"Originally, I was planning on going extra-low-budget on the DJ and just having my reception music pre-planned and playing off an iPod, but I'm really glad we decided to hire a DJ instead. I went in thinking I knew what I wanted for everything, but Justin brought in a lot of expertise which I had never really considered. I thought picking music was a no brainer, but apparently, there's some strategy to it. So I was really glad to have Justin there to give suggestions. He wasn't at all pushy with his ideas, though, I still felt like everything was in my hands, and he really worked with us on everything we needed."
"Justin was the the perfect DJ for our wedding. He worked with us prior to the wedding in coordinating music that we wanted to play, and not just stuff he wanted to play. He was responsive to my emails and made us feel comfortable. He did all of our ceremony music and was a great emcee. He was able to read our crowd so well that he had our guests dancing the entire evening. He even staged our last dance of the evening and it was definitely one of our favorite moments from that night. He's a true professional and really knows his stuff. We would highly highly recommend him to anyone looking for a wedding DJ."
May 28, 2010
May 21, 2010
Better 8 Than Never ... Modern 8 that is
In 2009 I had the pleasure to work with a talented videography team ... Ted and Alanna Hinkle of Modern 8 Films. Their bread and butter is shooting in Super 8 mm format, giving their films a vintage feel. Think of your late-70s family video, sans sound.
We worked a handful of times together last year, but we closed the year out in grand style (literally ... the gig was on New Years Eve) with an exquisite wedding at the U.S. Grant Hotel in downtown San Diego.
A dance party on New Years Eve is already going to have an extra punch to it. But add the fact that there was a wedding going on and this party was rocking. Modern 8 did a great job capturing the opening introduction when Sarah and Jason walked into the Black Eyed Peas', "I Gotta Feeling." And the flashing lights, set up by Platinum Pro, turned this ordinary ballroom into one hot wedding nightclub.
This particular film was not shot in Super 8. But enjoy the crispness of HD and try not to groove to much when you watch it. (If it takes too long to load, you can push the button to turn of HD and it loads a little faster).
We worked a handful of times together last year, but we closed the year out in grand style (literally ... the gig was on New Years Eve) with an exquisite wedding at the U.S. Grant Hotel in downtown San Diego.
A dance party on New Years Eve is already going to have an extra punch to it. But add the fact that there was a wedding going on and this party was rocking. Modern 8 did a great job capturing the opening introduction when Sarah and Jason walked into the Black Eyed Peas', "I Gotta Feeling." And the flashing lights, set up by Platinum Pro, turned this ordinary ballroom into one hot wedding nightclub.
This particular film was not shot in Super 8. But enjoy the crispness of HD and try not to groove to much when you watch it. (If it takes too long to load, you can push the button to turn of HD and it loads a little faster).
DJ Kanoya Productions from Modern 8 Films on Vimeo.
May 18, 2010
The Meaning Behind Old Spoon
I've very excited to announce an open to the public, non-wedding, non-private party gig.
May 29, 2010, 9:30 p.m. at Tio Leo's Lounge (5302 Napa Street).
I'll be spinning a mix of today's hits with some good, old 90's hip hop. The name of the event is "Take it Back to the Old Spoon," and there have been some queries behind the strange name.
So here's the story.
A few months ago I was playing some music and in the song, the singer chanted "take it back to the old school" over and over. My three year old daughter started singing along. However she thought he was saying "old spoon."
I thought it was funny. And then I thought it sounded cool. Could I be known as DJ Old Spoon?
I'm not exactly ready to rebrand myself, but perhaps my non-wedding stage name can be Old Spoon. I gotta get working on a logo.
Meanwhile, if you're in San Diego, have an open Saturday evening, please join me, fill up my dance floor and let's jam to some great tunes!
May 29, 2010, 9:30 p.m. at Tio Leo's Lounge (5302 Napa Street).
I'll be spinning a mix of today's hits with some good, old 90's hip hop. The name of the event is "Take it Back to the Old Spoon," and there have been some queries behind the strange name.
So here's the story.
A few months ago I was playing some music and in the song, the singer chanted "take it back to the old school" over and over. My three year old daughter started singing along. However she thought he was saying "old spoon."
I thought it was funny. And then I thought it sounded cool. Could I be known as DJ Old Spoon?
I'm not exactly ready to rebrand myself, but perhaps my non-wedding stage name can be Old Spoon. I gotta get working on a logo.
Meanwhile, if you're in San Diego, have an open Saturday evening, please join me, fill up my dance floor and let's jam to some great tunes!
May 16, 2010
Props or no props ... That is the question
Carrot Top has made a living off of it. But I've never really been a prop guy.
It's a common practice in the mobile DJ business to tote props to gigs. I'm talking about inflatable instruments, wigs, costumes, maracas, tambourines, etc. If there is one thing I always strive for it's to be myself, not only in my performances, but with life in general. And props are just not "me."
They have always had an aroma of "cheese" to me, and I have viewed them as a crutch for less experienced DJs to use to get a crowd going. I think because of thinking, I've tried to convince my clients that it's just not them either. I've always said that music is what will move people. As long as I play good music, you
don't need an inflatable saxophone to gain excitement.
But last night I attended a party with entertainment from the Tostado Sisters. Their website claims:
"This Dynamic Duo has a unique style and approach as they captivate the crowd with their contagious energy! They promote audience participation, and interaction with the use of props, which automatically stimulates everyone to get involved, become uninhibited and have the greatest time ever!"
And that pretty much sums them up.
They were good. They were loaded down with props. And they had the crowd of about 50 all dancing, no one was sitting down. They played all of those audience participation songs, "YMCA," "The Twist," even the dreaded "Chicken Dance." And people loved it.
So I'm starting to re-think props and I think I may have stumbled upon something. Maybe props are only cheesy when they are not presented right. Maybe there is something about an energetic, charismatic Italian woman (Maria Tostado) that makes props pretty cool.
I'd like to know your thoughts on props. Like 'em or leave 'em? If you like 'em, maybe the Tostado Sisters and DJ Kanoya will be collaborating in the near future.
It's a common practice in the mobile DJ business to tote props to gigs. I'm talking about inflatable instruments, wigs, costumes, maracas, tambourines, etc. If there is one thing I always strive for it's to be myself, not only in my performances, but with life in general. And props are just not "me."
They have always had an aroma of "cheese" to me, and I have viewed them as a crutch for less experienced DJs to use to get a crowd going. I think because of thinking, I've tried to convince my clients that it's just not them either. I've always said that music is what will move people. As long as I play good music, you
don't need an inflatable saxophone to gain excitement.But last night I attended a party with entertainment from the Tostado Sisters. Their website claims:
"This Dynamic Duo has a unique style and approach as they captivate the crowd with their contagious energy! They promote audience participation, and interaction with the use of props, which automatically stimulates everyone to get involved, become uninhibited and have the greatest time ever!"
And that pretty much sums them up.
They were good. They were loaded down with props. And they had the crowd of about 50 all dancing, no one was sitting down. They played all of those audience participation songs, "YMCA," "The Twist," even the dreaded "Chicken Dance." And people loved it.
So I'm starting to re-think props and I think I may have stumbled upon something. Maybe props are only cheesy when they are not presented right. Maybe there is something about an energetic, charismatic Italian woman (Maria Tostado) that makes props pretty cool.
I'd like to know your thoughts on props. Like 'em or leave 'em? If you like 'em, maybe the Tostado Sisters and DJ Kanoya will be collaborating in the near future.
April 17, 2010
Drift Away
If not for the drum and Spandau Ballet samples, PM Dawn's "Set Adrift on Memory Bliss" might just be the greatest song to come out of the 90s. I can't give that title to a song that is completely sampled (and I would probably put my money on Smells Like Teen Spirit for best song of the 90s). But as far as this PM Dawn ditty goes, lyrically nothing beats it.
I love the line: "She broke her wishbone and wished for a sign ... I told her a whisper in my heart was fine."
So here's a look back:
Set Adrift on Memory Bliss, the video.
I love the line: "She broke her wishbone and wished for a sign ... I told her a whisper in my heart was fine."
So here's a look back:
Set Adrift on Memory Bliss, the video.
April 11, 2010
A Win For Lefty
A few years ago, the bride at a wedding I DJ'd was the nanny for Phil Mickelson's two girls. (This was before his son was born).
Phil certainly didn't seem like the No. 2 golfer in the world that night. There was no sitting at his table, wishing he were somewhere else. Certainly no call outs to anyone to "bring me that bridesmaid," as some other PGA pro may have been accustomed too.
Phil was like any other wedding reception guest. He danced with his daughters. He participated in the honeymoon/money dance with the bride.
And he danced with his wife.
Admittedly I probably paid a little more attention than normal to Phil and Amy on the dance floor. But the way they gazed into each others eyes left no uncertainty that they were a couple deeply in love. Maybe it's the air of romance that is at any wedding. Maybe they rarely have a moment to just dance together. But they didn't let any opportunity to be on the dance floor together go by, and they rarely took their eyes off one another, while they danced and conversed.
Phil Mickelson won the 2010 Masters Golf Tournament. It's his third Masters championship and fourth overall win in a PGA major tournament. But he has already said it is one of his most memorable, and not for his athletic performance. Both Amy and Phil's mother have battled breast cancer during the past year. Amy had not even attended a tournament until this week. But as he walked off the 18th green and into the arms of his wife, Phil had a tear trickle down his cheek the way his putts creep into the cup for birdie. It seemed as though he never wanted to let go.
In a week of headlines that were so focused on the unfaithful, we saw the faithful triumph. We watched a son/father/husband win in the face of the adversity of cancer. Not the adversity of paparazzi, alleged voicemails and "sext messages."
Winning means nothing if you don't have someone to share it with. We saw someone win who, like anyone else that has a family, understands that the greatest reward was the family reunion at the end of the tournament. Not the Green Jacket he put on at the awards ceremony.
Phil certainly didn't seem like the No. 2 golfer in the world that night. There was no sitting at his table, wishing he were somewhere else. Certainly no call outs to anyone to "bring me that bridesmaid," as some other PGA pro may have been accustomed too.
Phil was like any other wedding reception guest. He danced with his daughters. He participated in the honeymoon/money dance with the bride.
And he danced with his wife.
Admittedly I probably paid a little more attention than normal to Phil and Amy on the dance floor. But the way they gazed into each others eyes left no uncertainty that they were a couple deeply in love. Maybe it's the air of romance that is at any wedding. Maybe they rarely have a moment to just dance together. But they didn't let any opportunity to be on the dance floor together go by, and they rarely took their eyes off one another, while they danced and conversed.
Phil Mickelson won the 2010 Masters Golf Tournament. It's his third Masters championship and fourth overall win in a PGA major tournament. But he has already said it is one of his most memorable, and not for his athletic performance. Both Amy and Phil's mother have battled breast cancer during the past year. Amy had not even attended a tournament until this week. But as he walked off the 18th green and into the arms of his wife, Phil had a tear trickle down his cheek the way his putts creep into the cup for birdie. It seemed as though he never wanted to let go.
In a week of headlines that were so focused on the unfaithful, we saw the faithful triumph. We watched a son/father/husband win in the face of the adversity of cancer. Not the adversity of paparazzi, alleged voicemails and "sext messages."
Winning means nothing if you don't have someone to share it with. We saw someone win who, like anyone else that has a family, understands that the greatest reward was the family reunion at the end of the tournament. Not the Green Jacket he put on at the awards ceremony.
April 1, 2010
A DiamondView Review
A nice note from Michelle:
"Justin was the the perfect DJ for our wedding. He worked with us prior to the wedding in coordinating music that we wanted to play, and not just stuff he wanted to play. He was responsive to my emails and made us feel comfortable. He did all of our ceremony music and was a great emcee. He was able to read our crowd so well that he had our guests dancing the entire evening.
He even staged our last dance of the evening and it was definitely one of our favorite moments from that night. He's a true professional and really knows his stuff. We would highly highly recommend him to anyone looking for a wedding DJ."
Photo courtesy of Orange Turtle Photography.
"Justin was the the perfect DJ for our wedding. He worked with us prior to the wedding in coordinating music that we wanted to play, and not just stuff he wanted to play. He was responsive to my emails and made us feel comfortable. He did all of our ceremony music and was a great emcee. He was able to read our crowd so well that he had our guests dancing the entire evening.
He even staged our last dance of the evening and it was definitely one of our favorite moments from that night. He's a true professional and really knows his stuff. We would highly highly recommend him to anyone looking for a wedding DJ."
Photo courtesy of Orange Turtle Photography.
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