A Step Above the Same Old!

Last weekend, we had the honor of providing disc jockey entertainment and sound support for a cause very close to our hearts (both literally and figuratively!) for a pair of charity events to benefit the Northern Ohio Breast Cancer Coalition Fund (NOBCCF), a  not-for-profit organization dedicated to the empowerment of survivors of breast cancer and to improving access to and awareness of treatment and prevention measures in hopes of eradicating breast cancer.  Founded in 2000, NOBCCF programs are led by breast cancer survivors, promoting the importance of awareness and early detection, and acting as advocates for patients, encouraging research, screening, treatment, and education.

We kicked off the weekend with a high-energy Dance Cruise aboard the Goodtime III to celebrate the past accomplishments of the NOBCCF and in breast cancer research.  DJ Triple D was spinning on the ones and twos, covering a variety of genres of music including party favorites and lots of current Top 40, hip-hop, and urban tracks.  It was a hopping party that came just short of rocking the boat, LOL!

The next morning, we gathered together, again, at Gordon Park near Lakeside in Cleveland for an energizing 5K walk dedicated to fundraising and awareness.  Some 200 woman and men turned out to pledge their morning to this cause, which lasted about three and a half hours from 8:00AM to 11:30AM.  The walk was actually scheduled to last longer, in anticipation of slower walkers -- but you guys were real speed demons!  Participants finished the walk a full hour ahead of schedule.  Let's hope that this 5K walk is just the first step in a series of life-changing healthy decisions.  Cheers to all who participated.

We were honored with a service award for our services donation and received a beautiful plaque.

Both events were presented by Cleveland City Councilman Kevin Conwell, the Cleveland City Council, the City of Cleveland, LifeSkills Center, HOPE Academy, and the Cleveland Department of Public Health.  Health Commissioner Karen Butler was in attendance (she's standing next to Justin in the photo) and personally participated in the walk, leading the way.  The event was organized by Committee Chairwoman Dr. Necia Boone (2nd from the left, above), Co-Chairwoman Yvonne Conwell, and Liz Schulte from NOBCCF.

This event was also sponsored by the Goodtime III excursion ship, 93.1 WZAK FM Radio, The Cleveland Call and Post Newspaper, Boone Enterprises, Gas USA, Inc., and the Glenville Titans, with special thanks extended to Cleveland City Council Executive Assistant Paulla Ireland, City of Cleveland Graphic Designer and owner of Gimmie Graphics, Tiffaney Beasley, Freelance Marketin/Design Consultant Tom Secrest, and S Group Promotional Product's Jim Holy.

For more information about how to contribute to this worthy cause, either financially or with the donation of your time, please visit NOBCC or call 440-717-9912.

Yes, REALLY! The game is totally fun and totally free, but spots are very limited!

We're partnering up with Alson Jewelers who's putting on the event, and we're really excited about it!

Become a Facebook fan of Something New Entertainment and we'll give you a special code to become part of a select group of applicants! Just become a fan and friend DJ AJ9. Include a message in your friend request asking for the code, and I'll send it over ASAP!

Teams of two will be sent from place to place in downtown Cleveland on a high-tech treasure hunt via text message. After running, biking... dashing to each location, you will complete a quick, fun challenge or answer a question in order to earn points.

The team with the most points at the end of two hours will go home with the ring THAT DAY!  And even if you're not the lucky couple who goes home with a giant diamond engagement ring, you'll still receive a gift bag filled with exclusive discounts and other goodies just for participating!

The dash will kick off at Erieview Plaza on The Mall (next to City Hall) at 11:00 am on the 10th of July.

For more information, visit Diamond Dash, and make sure to let us know you've applied by RSVPing to our Facebook event invitation!

Pretty sweet, huh?  See you there!!!

Celebration Lighting

Celebration Lighting and UpLighting

Thanks for visiting us this past weekend while we were DJing at the Akron area singles mixer!  We had a great time playing with some of our newest DJ lights, including the newest components for Light Emitting Diode (L.E.D.) Celebration Lighting (dance floor lighting) and L.E.D. uplighting (aka up-lighting or up lighting)!

You might have already heard my opinion about L.E.D. UpLighting and Celebration Lighting if you've been following this blog or if you read Northeast Ohio Wedding Expert Brandi Hamerstone's blog "A Day in the Life of a Planner."  Last week, when All Events Planned interviewed me, they caught me raving about how gorgeous the lighting is!

Giavonna's Dance Floor -- Before

Giavonna's Dance Floor -- After

These delicious lights draw as little as 3 watts per hour (that's less than 1/33 the wattage pulled by a standard light bulb!), so they are extremely environmentally-friendly.  In most cases, we could fill your entire reception hall with these lights and still pull less energy than the existing ceiling lighting!  How green of you!  ;)

Plus, with cool temperature L.E.D. technology, you'll save energy on your venue's air-conditioning system, as well.  Really: they're so cool that after 3 hours of running continuously, Heidi (one of our 2011 brides) and I put our hands right on the L.E.D.s, and they were only slightly warmer than room temperature.

Giavonna's Dance Floor -- Before

Giavonna's Dance Floor -- After

Giavonna's Dance Floor -- Before

Giavonna's Dance Floor -- After

LED If you're looking to add drama and elegance to your venue, uplighting can transform your ballroom into something magical!  Our dynamic, state-of-the-art DMX system allows us to control the saturation, hue, and intensity of these lights with the touch of a button.  Virtually every color of light is achievable, and the lights can also be programmed to respond to sound.

Limited dates are still available for 2010 wedding Celebration Lighting and UpLighting, and just a few days remain to take advantage of the Spring Special -- add any UpLighting package of 8 fixtures or greater  and get 20% off your DJ Service.  This offer applies to existing clients, as well!

If you're interested in learning more about UpLighting or Celebration Lighting, please contact DJ AJ9 by e-mail, phone, or Facebook for details!

Celebration Lighting and Uplighting

Celebration Lighting and UpLighting

Celebration Lighting and UpLighting

Celebration Lighting

Celebration Lighting

Join Something New Entertainment this Friday Night, April 16, 2010, for a DJ dancing double-header!

Beginning at 8:00 PM, DJ Justin will be spinning at a laid-back dance at Giavonna's Banquet Hall at 740 Munroe Falls Avenue in Cuyahoga Falls.  Enjoy all your party favorites as well as newer tracks to get you on your feet!  This event is hosted by Akron-area singles, but this is a public event, and all are welcome and encouraged to attend!  Don't worry -- we know you're taken !

Photo by Chris Smanto Photography for Whiskey's Akron -- http://www.chrissmantophoto.com

Then, at 10:00 PM, it's DJ Triple D down at Whiskey's Akron for a high-energy dance party in the club!  Join us downtown at 1 West Exchange Street in Akron for some great drink specials and lots of excitement at the home of the "fishbowl!"

If you've been hoping for a chance to see Something New Entertainment in action or to check out Giavonna's Banquet Hall, these are excellent opportunities!  Please send AJ9 a quick note or RSVP on our Facebook Events so we can let the door know to expect you!  See you soon!

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.

Steel gobo projection on a dance floor

Steel gobo design

Design for a one-color glass gobo

One-color glass gobo projection on a dance floor

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!

Two-color glass gobo design

Two-color glass gobo projection on a dance floor

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 on a dance floor

Digital projection design

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!

Steel gobo projection on a wall

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

We had a great time last night down at Whiskey's located at 1 West Exchange Street in Akron hosting the first in their series of singing/performance competitions held 10:00 PM - 2:00 AM each Tuesday evening.  The Idol Challenge is great opportunity to win notoriety, prizes, and, of course, bragging rights!  Plus, enjoy great dollar drink specials including rum and coke, flavored vodka, and WD drafts!

With stellar performances from a number of awesome singers, including Whiskey's own DJ Dan and some of the guys from Ark Peninsula who gave an energetic performance of 'N Sync's "Bye Bye Bye," with surprisingly in sync (couldn't resist) improvisational dance moves.

For more hilarity or great vocals, respectively, check out DJ Dan at Whiskey's Comedy Night Open Mic this evening (Wednesday, January 20, 2010) as well as Akron's best local comedians or February 3, 2010 featuring headliner Ryan Dalton  or catch Ark Peninsula February 13, 2010 at the Robin Hood Bar and Grille in Kent.

We also had an absolutely rockin' version of "Wannabe" by the Spice Girls by five of our lovely ladies:

A performance by a lovely birthday girl!

With so many great singers, it was difficult to choose a winner!

Ultimately, it was Meghan who took home the prize with her stunning and soulful rendition of Mariah Carey's "Vision of Love" -- a generous Whiskey's gift certificate!  It was a very challenging song, and Meghan really nailed it to the wall!  She had everyone in the club up on their feet cheering.  Congratulations, Meghan, on your great talent and showmanship!

Check out Whiskey's next Tuesday evening for more fun and prizes!!!

Check out our facebook page for more pics.  Become a fan and tag yourself!

We had a great time at the Bridal Tour at Giavonna's Catering and Banquet Hall yesterday afternoon spinning some tunes, meeting some happy couples, and having an opportunity to taste Chef Frank Espositio's spectacular authentic Italian fare.  This warm, intimate venue would be especially great for smaller weddings in the 150 guests and under range, but could comfortably seat as many as 180.

Giavonna's had their 740 Munroe Falls Avenue in Cuyahoga Falls banquet hall set up formally with several different (example) colors of linens displayed -- including purple, lavender, pink, and red.  They also included some of their in-stock Eiffel tower vase centerpieces on mirrors to the table dressings, leaving a very clean, open, and uncluttered feel -- an advantage especially if you have additional items you want to incorporate into your table settings, such as placecards, table numbers, favors, etc.

The decor of their hall is also neutral enough to accommodate many themes easily.  We are currently working with a a bride planning a Halloween wedding at this location (think "fun kids/family party" in green, orange, and purple), and though many venues have too strong of background decor to accommodate this kind of theme, we think it's going to be particularly fantastic at Giavonna's.  Plus, check out their cool little adjoining lounge:

We also had the opportunity to spend some time browsing the beautiful Beadtini Boutique collection of necklaces, earrings, and more.  You might already recognize one of their Swarovski crystal necklaces; it was featured on the cover of last Spring's Today's Bride Magazine.

Beadtini Boutique offers beads and beading supplies, beading and bead-making classes, and a great workspace, as well as pre-made and custom-made beaded jewelry.  They do "Girl's Night Out" parties, bridesmaids' gifts, bridal jewelry, or even gorgeous adornments for your bouquet!  Jennie, one of the owners, told me that one bride created bouquet adornments for her wedding day, and then after the wedding, made memory jewelry out of them for her mother and mother-in-law.  What a great gift idea!

They carry a wide variety of beads -- glass, as well as Swarovski crystals, semi-precious stones, and freshwater pearls.  You can DIY or HTDIFY -- that's "Have Them Do It For You" -- either way, you'll get a unique piece made to suit your style.

Driving towards Giavonna's we saw two GIANT stretch Cadillac Escalade limousines.  We were kind of wondering who was in them and where in the WORLD they would be going at 10:30 AM on a Sunday -- then we noticed them turning into the parking lot in front of us!  These beauties are available through Accurate Limousines, and will definitely turn some heads!

Now -- I know what you may be thinking: "I thought your blog was partially dedicated to GREEN ideas, AJ9!  Is an SUV limo really GREEN?"  Well, the answer is: maybe!  Chew on this:  SUV limos get between 9 and 17 MPG, and while that may not seem like much, consider that the limo's passenger capacity is four to six times that of your car.  Translation: if it's just you and your groom all by your lonesome in the back of that big ol' limo, probably not so green, but put your whole bridal party in there, and you may actually be saving some emissions!

Here's the math: you and your groom each have four attendants. Likely, you're looking at at least 5-6 cars you would be using to transport those 10 people.  Even at 40MPG in each of those 5-6 cars, you're effectively getting 7-8 MPG for the group, so the limo would actually be better that 5 hybrids.  It's something to think about -- plus you've get free champagne upon request and a designated driver.

For those of you who were not able to make it down to Giavonna's yesterday -- check out their all-you-can-eat pasta, salad, and breadsticks deal Wednesday evenings from 5:00PM - 7:00 PM for only seven bucks ($7).  We'll definitely be down there this week!  Yum!

Something New Entertainment is excited to announce that we have been named the Exclusive DJ for the Goodtime III, Cleveland's largest excursion ship.  We have always had good times on the Goodtime in the past, and we're very happy to establish a partnership that will allow us to share those good times with all of you more regularly!

Since 1958, the Goodtime brand has been family owned and operated, providing public tours, public cruises, and charters of the Cleveland, Lake Erie, and Cuyahoga River area.  First as Goodtime Boats (1958 - 1962), then by the Goodtime II (1960-1990), and most recently by the Goodtime III (1991 - Present).

This quadruple-deck luxury ship can accommodate up to 1,000 passengers, and is the perfect venue for for many celebrations and events such as weddings, awards ceremonies, fundraisers, and corporate functions.  Notable passengers have included Clevelanders as well a friends from around the globe -- from celebrities to schoolchildren -- including Peter Jennings, Halle Berry, Willard Scott, Chuck Norris, Drew Carey, Robert Redford, Cleveland Television Anchors & Sports figures, and educational field trips from the entire Northeast Ohio area and beyond.  Charters are available at modest rates, and may also include a range of mouthwatering buffet options.

If you're looking for a unique wedding and/or wedding reception location, consider the Goodtime III.  Their wedding features include a Captain as your officiant, catering, wedding cake and display, beverage packages to suit your needs, band or DJ (that's us!), linens, table decorations, cake cutting and plating, and guest maps for your invitations!

Public cruises embark Friday and Saturday evenings June 15, 2010  through Labor Day, and Friday evenings Labor Day through September 30, 2010. Three types of cruises run regularly through the season.  Rush Hour Cruises board Fridays at 5:30 PM and dock at 8:00 PM, featuring drinks at happy hour price, snacks and sandwiches, and lots of fun!  Dance Cruises board Fridays and Saturdays at 9:00 PM and dock at 11:30 PM.  Romantic Dinner/Dance Cruises board Saturdays at 6:30 PM and include a delicious buffet dinner as well as the Saturday evening dance cruise docking at 11:30 PM (don't forget -- reservations are required for Dinner/Dance Cruises).  Check the schedule, and book early!  Some cruises are already sold out!

We hope you will join us this summer for great food, great music, and -- of course -- good times!

SHAMELESS SELF PROMOTION: We will be performing this weekend at Giavonna's Banquet and Catering's Bridal Tour from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM this Sunday, July 17, 2010, at their facility at 740 Munroe Falls Avenue in Cuyahoga Falls.  For those of you hoping to have an opportunity to see our staff in action in a reception setting, this is a great chance!

The Bridal Tour is a terrific opportunity to see the hall all dressed up for a wedding in one of the many examples of configurations and decor Giavonna's has to offer.  You can also discuss more personalized options for your wedding day!  Please feel free to bring along your groom, as well as any other guests.

This family-owned and operated catering company and banquet hall is virtually a one-stop-shop for all your reception needs (you'll have to supply the groom, of course .  Right now, Giovanna's is offering an all-inclusive package for only $29 per person!  That price already includes tax and gratuity, as well!  The package includes assorted veggies, fruits, dips, cheeses, and crackers for cocktail hour, as well as plated salads, two entrees, two side dishes, one vegetable, rolls, butter, coffee, tea, beverages, and four hours of bar service, PLUS your facility rental for five hours, set-up, tear-down, all tablewear, table decor, linens, cake cutting, staffing -- even your cake.  Definitely something to check out!

Call Giavonna's for more information at 330-316-7820 or 330-618-1634.