A Step Above the Same Old!

Just in case there were any lingering doubts left over from Thursday's April Fool's Day entry, I just wanted to clarify that, no, we did not actually give away any puppies (or dogs of any age, or animals of any kind) last week as add-ons to wedding reception Disc Jockey or DJ/lighting services or for any other reason.  That ending sentence about DJ AJ9 freaking out if anybody tried to take her precious pups away way very, very true, however, after last week's pet and special offer tease, I felt obligated to write to you with a remedy for both of those needs.

First and foremost, your Spring Special: prior to May 1, 2010, book any uplighting package of 8 fixtures or greater for your wedding reception and get 20% off your DJ service.  This offer is open to existing clients, too!  Add uplighting, and we will take 20% off your existing Disc Jockey Entertainment Agreement total!  This offer has no cash value and is subject to availability; first come, first served.  There are limited engagements available for lighting, so please let DJ AJ9 know via e-mail if you are interested as soon as possible.  Don't worry: expressing interest is not a commitment, just a heads-up to us if we need to acquire additional lights!

Secondly, but also very important: how to get a puppy for real.  Doggie DJs Rusty and Lily were both rescued, and they asked that I make sure you know that grown-up doggies are just as loving, loyal, and eager to learn new "tricks" as puppies, plus, they're more likely to be socialized and potty-trained.  If you are looking for a furry or fluffy friend of your own, there are many, many Akron-area animals hoping for a home.  What better wedding gift to your bride or groom than the gift of unconditional love from a loyal partner AND a loyal pet?  There are a number of great possibilities available to Akron-area prospective pet owners.  Here are just a few of my favorites:

PetFinder is one of the largest resources for pet adoption online and a great place to start your search.  They represent a number of local shelters and rescues, as well as shelters and rescues across the country.  PetFinder's reach even includes the Summit County Animal Control Department, our county-sponsored facility located at 460 East North Street in Akron, Ohio, and Dog #03-138 (left), a female hound mix.  For more information about Dog #03-138, click her picture (left), visit them online, or call (330) 643-2845.

For those of you who have pets, already, the City of Akron's Department of Environmental Health hosts several low-cost vaccination clinics in park locations around the city each summer for both dogs and cats featuring vaccines for rabies, bordatella, parvo, and many other common vaccines, as well as micro-chipping services to help your little buddy find his way home quickly should he ever get lost.  Dates for this year's clinic have not yet been announced, but keep a lookout in your Water Bill for an index card-sized flyer in May or June (2009 flyer images above), or contact the Department of Environmental Health directly at (330) 375-2405.

City of Akron Pet Clinic services are provided through local shelter and clinic PetGuards, which provides shelter, vaccinations, and clinical visits year-round.  PetGuards has two locations -- the shelter at 950 Hardy Road in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio and the clinic at 4040 State Road in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio.  For more information on adoptable shelter animals, visit them in person or online or call (330) 849-0634.  For a list of health services and fees or to schedule a visit for your current pet, visit them online or in person or call the clinic at (330) 849-0635.  You can also see adoptable pets on PetFinder, including Spike (right), a one-year-old Shar Pei/Staffordshire Bull Terrier male.  For more information about Spike, click on his picture (right).  Photo credit: PetGuards.

The Humane Society of Greater Akron (at 4904 Quick Road in Peninsula, Ohio) is more than just a shelter, as well.  In addition to pet rescue and adoption services, they also host a variety of activities ranging from rummage sales to poker tournaments and much more with one thing in common: fun!   Since their program is so vast, the best way to find the information you're looking for about the Humane Society of Greater Akron is to visit their website and check out all of their offerings, then call (330) 657-2010‎ for more information about specific topics.  You can also view their available pets on PetFinder, including Juneau (left), a four-year-old Chow/Husky mix.  Click the picture for more information about Juneau.  Photo Credit: the Humane Society of Greater Akron.

Another one for prospective and current pet-parents alike: One of a Kind Pets with it's two catty-cornered locations at the intersection of Market and Exchange in West Akron (1699 West Market Street and 1700 West Exchange Street, respectively).  You might have noticed their hot pink signs driving by.  The Market Street location is their shelter, while the Exchange Street location provides low-cost spay and neuter services, as well as a variety of vaccines and other services to pets undergoing a spay or neuter procedure.  You can also view their available pets at PetFinder, including Butterscotch (right), a red and white long-haired cat.  Click on the photo (right) for more information about Butterscotch.  Photo credit: One of a Kind Pets.

But, seriously: how cute are my dogs, huh?  Awwwww.  For more information about how much I love my dogs (or to schedule a consultation to talk about your DJ or up-lighting services for your wedding) contact DJ AJ9 at (330) 253-2900

As you may already know, Something New Entertainment is more than just a DJ, and we do much more than just play music.  We are always striving to find new and exciting ways to add value to our services to make your overall wedding experience even more magical, including tasteful Master of Ceremonies (MC) duties, dance floor and party lighting, multimedia presentations, and more.  I wrote to you last week about our latest addition and improvements for custom monogram projection and included some sample photographs of the different methods from other sources.  Today, I'm going to walk you through the pros and cons of each kind of lighted monogram projection and share some of our own photographs.

We had the opportunity to play around with our newest toys for our lighted monogram projection services during Giavonna's Banquet Hall's March Bridal Tour this past Saturday in on Munroe Falls Avenue in Cuyahoga Falls!  We have three great projection methods to choose from, including glass gobos in monochrome or color, steel gobos, and digital projection.  Here's a look at each of those projection methods and how they compare, as well as some photos to inspire you!  As always, design services for any method of projection are complimentary.  We'll incorporate your wedding colors, theme, and even the fonts you used on your wedding stationary!

STEEL GOBO PROJECTION

Steel gobos are small metal discs custom-cut to your design and used as a lens to direct the beam of light from a a high-powered theatrical lighting instrument.

Glass gobos provide the same crisp, bright, easy-to-read projection image, with greater design latitude to your image, and the ability to incorporate colors into your design -- as much and as many as you like!

Whereas steel gobos require a tabbed design and can cast only a single-color projection, glass gobos are available in monochrome or multi-colored designs, and offer an improvement above the more common steel gobos by allowing free-formed design not restricted by tabs.  Glass gobos are also more durable than steel gobos, so if you're thinking of using the gobo, again, at an anniversary party in the future, etc., choose glass.  Brides and grooms using steel gobos using glass gobo projection will also be offered their custom glass gobo as a unique keepsake!

DIGITAL PROJECTION

Like glass gobos, digital projection offers a nearly limitless amount of colors, but unlike either gobo projection method, digital projection does not require the costly production of a custom steel or glass disc and is inherently more inexpensive.

Digital projection also offers the ability to scroll between multiple images, but it is not as high-powered as the traditional methods and some designs may be more difficult to read on darker surfaces.

MORE FUN IDEAS

After your first dance, you can choose to keep the projection on the dance floor, or, move it to the wall or ceiling!

For more information about Something New Entertainment's projection services, contact DJ AJ9 via e-mail or phone at 330-253-2900.

Looking for a little extra sparkle to add that personal touch to your venue?  Maybe you're working with a monogram theme, or maybe you just want to make sure your guests remember whose wedding reception they're at!  Good news!  Beginning this season, Something New Entertainment Bridal DJ Service will be offering a new and romantic way to make your mark.

In addition to providing highly-personalized custom disc jockey entertainment, master of ceremonies services, dance and party lighting, ceremony music, and multimedia memory slide show presentations for weddings, parties, and corporate events around Northeast Ohio, we are now able to add a more affordable option for custom projection to display your monogram (or other moniker, logo, etc.) on your dance floor in lights as an optional addition to our existing lighting package!  It's a breathtaking and memorable addition to your first dance and a great way to create brand recognition at your corporate event!

We have always offered this service (and will continue to do so) in its most traditional form -- a custom steel gobo for black-and-white or a custom glass gobo for color paired with a high-intensity theatrical stage light.  A gobo is a small, steel or glass disk that focuses and/or colors the projection of light into your intended shape.  Though "stock" or pre-made standard gobos are available commercially for basic patterns as might be used in a theatrical setting to simulate light coming through a window or the shadow of a tree, personalized gobos are individually crafted to suit your style including your names or initials, preferred fonts and embellishments, and, in the case of glass gobos, colors.

Steel gobos are designed in a "tabbed" format and can also be projected through a gel to produce a one-color projection.

Gels come in nearly every color you can imagine!

These options will still be available for those wanting a higher-powered, crisper projection.  However, because of the cost involved in production of the gobos themselves, these options are inherently more expensive, and many brides and grooms have requested a lower-cost alternative.  For that reason, lighted monograms will now also be available via digital projection using a powerful, high-lumen multimedia projector.

While not as bright as a the pricier method, digital projection offers a wider variety of design choices and will not require the costly production of custom gobo or an additional charge for color.  For smaller, more intimate settings, the lower lumen output provides a better option than traditional stage lighting, since the intense beam of light can travel less distance to project a smaller brand.

No matter which projection method you choose, design services are always complimentary.  We will work carefully with you to make sure you get the shape you want and consider the colors you choose for your monogram, since the color of your projection canvas and the amount of ambient light in your venue affects the delicate balance of light and color.

For more information or if you are interested in adding projection services to your existing engagement, please contact DJ AJ9 via email or phone at 330-253-2900!  If lighting is something that catches your eye, stay tuned!  We will soon be offering extended lighting options in easier-to-understand packages including our architectural lighting and uplighting services!