The MOTOR CITY HDJ Blog

We love to party and it shows! A lot of the Motor City HDJ experience is what you see on the dance floor. But there are a lot of "behind-the-scenes" things you don't see. This is the place to find all the finer details of the events that we've done. Who knows? Maybe you'll find something interesting you can use for your big event!

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Just uploaded March Madness Mini-Mix to Mixcloud. Listen now!

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Just uploaded New Year's Mini-Mix to Mixcloud. Listen now!

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Matt's Graduation Party // 08-09-14

It's been a jam packed month so far and today's event was a nice change of pace.

I met Matt at the South Lyon High School Senior All-Night Event. He won a free graduation party simply by being there. Pretty nice of us, huh? He was pretty stoked when I called his name.

I drove out to South Lyon for Matt's grad party. A beautiful August day, I got to celebrate with Matt and all his family and friends. Any kid that graduates from South Lyon High is cool in my book!

Congrats to you, Matt, and the class of 2014!

bc

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Meagan & Adam // 08-08-14

Less than a week later, and I'm back at Laurel Manor Banquet & Conference Center in Livonia, MI. I also made a new friend tonight. If you happen to be in the Lansing area, look up Ben of Benjamin David Photography. All of the pictures in the post are thanks to him.

This time, I played for THE HOTTEST crowd of 2014. To everyone else that I've played for this year, I'm sorry. Nothing beats the energy of an Arabic/American wedding.

But that's not what made this event special.

Yes: it's awesome when two cultures can share the same dance floor for a night. Sure, it's wonderful that a bride & groom love each other.

But when the groom beats cancer...I mean, c'mon now.

This opportunity came my way because of the groom. I've known Adam for years and in the last decade our paths crossed by way of our home base at North Ridge Church. Adam asked if I would play and I was more than happy to make that happen.

By the time the wedding rolled around, Adam had completed his final chemotherapy treatment to get rid of an ugly cancer that doctors found in his body. His beautiful bride Meagan and their families all rallied around Adam to get him through it.

And boy did he!

To say that this wedding was just "fun" doesn't do it justice.

This event was a BLAST!

Not only did the crossing of cultures bring out the best in the night, but I was also able to run in to a lot of my North Ridge crew.

A lot of the Arabic traditions were saved for during the open dancing time.

Another special moment came when one of the bridesmaids and her husband actually sang a song that they had written for the bride and groom.

Meagan and Adam: you know Who is in control of your future and I'm thankful that you recognize that. I wish you two the best and know that you can get through anything with His help.

bc

[motorcityhdj]

Amiee & Chuck // 08-01-2014

Phew! Here we are in the middle of wedding season and it's been absolutely wonderful to be so crazy busy!

I am thrilled that August started off this way with these people.

I've known Amiee and her family for years. So when she found me on Facebook and said she had to have me DJ her wedding, I was in immediately.

Amiee and Chuck had their reception at one of my favorite venues to play locally: Laurel Manor Banquet & Conference Center in Livonia, MI.

This was such a fun event to play because it involved so many people that are a part of the story of these two. Amiee's college friends were there (whom I happened to know most of) and since the two met at Crossfit, ALL of their CF pals were in attendance. Kinda made me feel a little guilty for eating all that wonderful pasta. Ah...oh well.

The party itself was all about getting down to business. There wasn't a bouquet or garter toss. The bride and groom shared a dance together, Amiee and Chuck's daughter shared a dance, and then Chuck and his girl danced together.

All we did was party.

And party.

And party.

Amiee and Chuck: thank you for letting me be a part of this very special day. I wouldn't trust anyone else to handle such a grand task for you and I'm glad you chose me. Congratulations to the two of you!

[motorcityhdj]

Allyssa & Tim // 07-25-14

Whenever I get to play a wedding for a friend from North Ridge Church, I know it's going to be a wild time.

AND THIS ONE WAS!

First, I was thrilled when Tim called me to play his wedding. I've sung on stage with him for a few years now and this guy has a heart of gold. I was honored when he asked me to be part of his special day.

More than that, I was able to be involved with the ceremony in a sound mixing capacity.

The wedding AND reception took place at a venue I was at just a few weeks before: The Dearborn Inn in Dearborn, MI.

As soon as I got everything setup inside, I headed out to the pavilion that serves as the spot for couples having their ceremony on-site. I was pleasantly surprised to find out I would be working with two other great guys I've worked with in the past at North Ridge. I got them sound checked and everything was perfect for the ceremony.

Once the ceremony was over, we made our way in to the reception where I learned that joining us all night would be our friends over at Mammoth Booth. I got to see my good friend Doug again and the night was just getting better!

And if that's not great, my main man Jesse Green of Jesse David Green Photography was on hand with the lens. What a great community of vendors!

The reception was gorgeous. The dance floor was at a full capacity all night long. I managed to get in to the booth for a few great pictures and the bride and groom had nothing but great things to say all night long.

Here's the music they chose for the special stuff:

BRIDAL PARTY INTRODUCTIONS "Supermassive Black Hole" - Muse

BRIDE & GROOM FIRST DANCE "Every Silence" - Copeland

DADDY/DAUGHTER DANCE "Cinderella" - Steven Curtis Chapman

BOUQUET TOSS "Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It)" - Beyonce

GARTER TOSS "SexyBack" - Justin Timberlake

Thank you for letting me share this day with you. It was the most fun I've had in a while. It's always a pleasure sharing the day with friends I'm glad you had me along for the ride.

bc

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Megan & Brian // 07-19-14

And here we are again with another event all thanks to our favorite repeat client Yvette.

If you've read any of the previous posts you know that Yvette has referred tons of business to Motor City HDJ over the years and this one is no exception. This time, though, she got us in touch with her cousin Megan who just happened to be getting married. Megan called Motor City HDJ and the rest is history.

Megan and Brian's reception took place at the Royal Oak Farmer's Market in Royal Oak, MI. This is a unique venue because on a normal day this is a fully functioning live market where people come to buy and sell goods. On this day, the market had already been closed so we didn't have to worry about bumping into people during load-in time.

The reception was gorgeous and Megan even decided to commission one of our custom floor monograms for the dance space.

I was pleased with how the event turned out. It was an older crowd, but everyone was able to dance to something that they enjoyed.

Here are the special songs from the night:

BRIDAL PARTY INTRODUCTIONS "Happy" - Pharrell Williams

BRIDE & GROOM FIRST DANCE "Tangled Up in You" - Staind

DADDY/DAUGHTER DANCE "The Rainbow Connection" - Kermit the Frog

ANNIVERSARY DANCE "Have I Told You Lately" - Van Morrison "Close Your Eyes" - Michael Buble

Thanks to Yvette for the connection and to Megan and Brian for the opportunity. You're wonderful people with a wonderful family. Congratulations!

[motorcityhdj]

Andrea & Crew Graduation Party // 07-11-14

'Tis the season for graduation parties!

The summer time is most definitely synonymous with celebration. And this weekend I got to celebrate with some folks that are literally helping save people's lives.

I'm talking about Andrea and her X-Ray tech pals from Beaumont Health System's program. They completed their rigorous training and decided to throw a party. So they had me along for the fun!

The event took place at the Washington Lions Club in Washington, MI.

This event was simple: PARTY. That's all we did. There was dinner and then there was dancing. That's all. No bells or whistles or frills. Just good old fashioned fun.

Congratulations to Andrea and her friends for their hard work at Beaumont! Thanks for what you do!

[motorcityhdj]

Alex & Tommy's Graduation Party // 06-28-14

I can legitimately say that I remember the time before these two fellas were born. And they turned into two of the finest young men I know.

I'm talking about Tommy & Alex. And as fate would have it, I grew up watching Alex and Tommy grow up.

At the risk of some major name-dropping I'm just going to go for it: these are two of the Duncan boys. If you're in Oakland or Livingston Counties (or even Grand Rapids) you know all about Duncan Disposal.

Well, as the story goes, I've known THE Duncan family for years! I spent my childhood and teenage (and some of my college) years getting to know this wonderful family. So when Alex and Tommy's mom's asked me to play their combined graduation party, I absolutely said yes!

This family is a tight-knit group of people. And by tight-knit I mean two of the brothers are next door neighbors and one of the brothers is straight across the common area of the subdivision. Better than that, the matriarch and patriarch of the family make up all three of those brothers' back yard! Of course, the other brother lives in Brighton and can set your back straight if you're in need (insert shameless plug here for Duncan Chiropractic.)

Alright...I think you get the point of the family rundown now. So, the party took place in the backyard of the oldest brother (Tommy's dad) and it started out as a gorgeous June day. It quickly turned in to a very humid day when a massive thunderstorm cell ripped through the area. The good news is that it barely grazed the party but dumped enough rain on us that we were scrambling to move my equipment to a safe area.

All was well and the party was a smash. When most of the guests had gone home, the party was still rocking down in the basement. Hey...when you hire Motor City HDJ I'm going to make sure you get the value of your investment. So I setup shop in the basement and we all enjoyed some wine while I kept the party going until 2 AM.

Congrats to Alex and Tommy! I'm excited to see where life's journey takes you next. It's been fun watching you grow up. Don't forget us little people. :)

bc

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Brandy & Nick // 06-27-14

Referrals make the world go 'round.

And because of friends Christina and Chad, I was called upon to share Brandy and Nick's big day with them. Here's how the story goes:

So, Chad and his family lived kiddy-corner to my family for years. A decade or so later and Chad reaches out to me to play his wedding. They've got a friend Brandy who is also getting married and she's been invited to Christina and Chad's wedding. My performance there solidified everything in her mind and she booked me as soon as she could.

On a beautiful June day, Brandy and Nick had me play their reception at one of my favorites: The Dearborn Inn in Dearborn, MI.

This was a special wedding for a few reasons. The biggest thing is that we never actually did any planning face-to-face. Thanks to FaceTime and emails, we worked out all the details AND managed to piece together a special mashup for the daddy/daughter dance during the night.

We ate, we laughed, they danced, and the night was a success! Thanks to the power of the referral for making another Motor City HDJ event happen.

Here's the music from the night:

BRIDAL PARTY INTRODUCTIONS "On Top of the World" - Imagine Dragons

BRIDE & GROOM FIRST DANCE "Heaven" - DJ Sammy & Yanou Feat. Do (Acoustic Mix)

DADDY/DAUGHTER DANCE Custom made mashup

MOTHER/SON DANCE "My Wish" - Rascal Flatts

LAST DANCE OF THE NIGHT "Dirty Bit (The Time of My Life)" - Black Eyed Peas

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Michelle & Gary // 06-20-14

Today's wedding is why I love what I do.

When Michelle and Gary called on me to play their June wedding, I was more than thrilled to be a part of the big picture. These two have a special kind of bond and it truly shows...

They both LOVE the Detroit Lions.

Right away, that made them winners in my book.

Well, that's not completely true. It was probably the fact that Gary and I have become good friends over the last 2 years and that I pushed him to consider hiring me for his wedding. And they did! Once they moved forward with me and Motor City HDJ it became clear to the 3 of us that this was a very natural decision.

In most cases, I meet with clients in a public, wi-fi hotspot public place. But because of our relationship, I was able to enjoy the planning process from the comfort of Michelle and Gary's couch while we shared Coronas and talked about the wedding. It was such an awesomely different experience.

The event took place at Fountains Golf & Banquet in Clarkston, MI. And this was a "tricks-up-my-sleeve" type wedding. Oh, not from me. But from the groom and the father of the bride.

The first part of the reception didn't really deviate much from the usual order of things. We did introductions, there were toasts, someone blessed the meal, we ate, and then we moved on to the special dances.

It was the mother/son dance where the first "trick" came in to play. From the very get-go, Gary told me that he wanted to do something special for his mom for their first dance. So, he did.

During my second consultation with them to finalize things before the wedding, I assisted in cleaning up the audio he recorded in a homemade spoken word song he wrote just for his mom. When it came time to play this at the reception, there wasn't a dry eye in the house. And yeah, I'll admit I was a little choked up at a few moments, too. It was sweet, sincere, and sentimental. Such a fitting tribute for his wonderful mom.

The second trick was my personal favorite.

I mentioned that Michelle and Gary are HUGE Lions fans. Well, at one point in the night, the guests at the reception were paid a visit by Detroit Lions mascot Roary.

He was awesome. He danced with guests, took pictures, signed autographs, and really added a unique touch to this wonderful night. I was even table to slip in for a quick pic.

Michelle and Gary, I will never forget your wedding. It was truly one of a kind and I don't think I'll ever have an experience quite like it again.

Thank you for thinking of me to share your night with you. I had a blast and I wish the two of you love and happiness forever.

bc

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LaFontaine Graduation Party // 06-14-14

It's definitely nice to have friends in high places. Okay, so they're not THAT powerful, but they're for sure the coolest repeat clients on the face of the planet.

Thanks to the home of the Family Deal, my good friend Kelley LaFontaine hired me and Motor City HDJ to entertain the guests of her son's graduation party. Second graduation party in 2 weeks...that's pretty cool!

I made the trek out to their beautiful home in Clarkston and shared an afternoon of fun, food, and great music with them.

It's always a pleasure playing for friends. Thanks for having me out, Barron and Kelley!

bc

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South Lyon High School Class of 2014 Senior All Night Event // 06-07-14

Man oh man! THIS IS IT!

The pinnacle of 2014 for Motor City HDJ!

It finally happened. Because of some great friends who happen to have graduating seniors, I was called upon to play for an entertain at my alma mater: South Lyon High School.

And I have to admit that it was very surreal walking the halls again...getting those vibes again...seeing those faces again. What an amazing feeling to be back at the place where I learned how to learn and how to entertain people.

Wow.

I also learned something tonight. I learned that I am definitely not used to staying up until 6 AM for no good reason. But that's okay. These kids worked hard and they deserved a heck of a party, so that's what we gave them!

Tom and I both played this event to make things easier for coordination and to provide relief during this 6 hour solid stint.

The theme for the event was Hollywood. As students entered the party at 10 PM, I was down the hall introducing these kids as if they were celebrities. It was a pretty cool concept and it really made these youngsters feel like a million bucks.

And yeah...it definitely made me realize how old I am.

We set up the dance space in the Commons area which is where the students eat lunch. There were many activities going on throughout the gym, lecture hall, and other stations spread out.

The highlight of my night, though, was seeing the WSLH Channel 2 sign still taped to the studio window from when we put it there back in 1998. 16 years later and it's still there!

It was an absolutely amazing time and I'm grateful to Donna, Marcie, and the SLHS 2014 SANE staff for letting me and Motor City HDJ be a part of this very special night. Thanks for the memories!

bc

[motorcityhdj]

Abby & Mike // 06-06-14

People that know me can testify to the fact that I absolutely pour my heart and soul in to every event that I do. But sometimes an event comes along that is truly more special than the rest.

This will be the most meaningful event all year. Simply because my friends Abby and Mike now share an anniversary with my wife and me! HOW EXCITING! Don't worry...we will still celebrate our big day together. :)

I had the pleasure of playing for Abby's sister Olivia last year when she and Ryan got married at Weller's in Saline. This time it was Abby and Mike's turn.

The event took place at the Meeting House Grand Ballroom in Plymouth, MI. I'm normally very complimentary of most venues where I get to play, but I was not at all impressed with the this staff operated. I wrote a Yelp review which you can read here.

Alright...with that out of the way, let's talk about Abby and Mike!

From an aesthetic standpoint, this was one of the most elegant weddings I've played for in a long time. The room has very high ceilings and a Victorian feeling to it. The floor is an original hardwood that squeaks.

As an added bonus, this event was great because of the relationship my family has with the bride's family from years of attending North Ridge Church together. It makes things easier when you get to play for friends.

Not only was I able to play for friends, I was also able to spend some time with them!

The night was an absolute blast and I'm thankful for a bride and groom like Abby and Mike who give me creative control over the entertainment. They did get me a short playlist to work off of, but most of this night was just me and my raw skill to keep their guests dancing all night...which they did.

Here's how the special stuff went:

BRIDAL PARTY INTRODUCTION "Marry You" - Bruno Mars

BRIDE & GROOM FIRST DANCE "We Found Each Other in the Dark" - City and Colour

DADDY/DAUGHTER DANCE "Earth Angel" - The Vogues

MOTHER/SON DANCE "These Are the Words I Would Say" - Sidewalk Profits

BRIDAL PARTY DANCE "In My Life" - The Beatles

BOUQUET TOSS "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" - Beyonce

GARTER TOSS "Get Lucky" - Daft Punk feat. Pharrell Williams

LAST SONG OF THE NIGHT "Iron & Wine" - Flightless Bird American Mouth

Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart for letting me and Motor City HDJ be a part of this very special day. You are two of the sweetest people I know and I'm excited to see you start a family together. And thank you for letting me share an anniversary with you two! :)

bc

[motorcityhdj]

Meredith & Josh // 06-01-14

It's been a whirlwind of a weekend and the fun comes to a close in a new location with more great people.

Meredith and Josh had me along for their beautiful (and hot) summer wedding at the historic Grosse Pointe War Memorial in Grosse Pointe Farms, MI. This venue is easily one of the most picturesque I've ever seen. Just be careful about making a call on your cell phone. The War Memorial sits on the literal edge of Lake St. Clair which puts you very close to Canada (those roaming and international charges are a beast.)

This was another double-duty event for me and Motor City HDJ. I was called upon to do sound for the ceremony which was downstairs on the steps of the memorial facing the water. Yeah...it doesn't get much better than that. I was just lucky to be in the shade.

We moved inside and upstairs for the rest of the party. The reception venue is inside the mansion and two of the walls allow a breathtaking view of the lake. Rough to have to look at that all night. ;)

I had the pleasure of working with a new photographer friend again Jesse Speelman. I first met him when I played Jess and Steve's wedding at Stoney Creek. He's a wonderful guy to work with and certainly knows what he's doing.

Here's how the music went:

BRIDAL PARTY INTRODUCTION "Gonna Fly Now" - Theme from Rocky

BRIDE/GROOM FIRST DANCE "A Thousand Years" - Christina Perri (sung live by the bride's friend) "This Guy's in Love With You" - Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass

DADDY/DAUGHTER DANCE "My Wish" - Rascal Flatts

MOTHER/SON DANCE "Over the Rainbow" - Israel Kamakawiwo'ole

BOUQUET TOSS "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" - Beyonce

What a great crowd! What a great way to wrap up a wonderful jam-packed event weekend!

You are two of the most beautiful people I've met. You've got beautiful families and I hope that your love for each other continues to grow over the years. Thanks for having me aboard for the big day!

bc

[motorcityhdj]

Riverside Middle School 8th Grade Dance // 05-31-14

Today was a nice break from the weddings.

Thanks to a few mutual friends and my two awesome nephews (for attending the school) I was able to party with the coolest bunch of 8th graders in a long time!

This was a simple 3 hours of fun and dancing. I had a blast! Congratulations to the class of 2018!

We even had a chance to get a "Harlem Shake" in.

[motorcityhdj]

Amber & Charlie // 05-30-14

It's been a long few days. The best way for me to heal is to watch people who love each other celebrate their union. So, the show must go on. But to preface it all, tonight's event was for Ginny.

Tonight, I celebrated with two such people. My new friends Amber & Charlie showed me what it really means to be in love.

The ceremony and reception both took place at Fern Hill Golf Club in Clinton Township, MI. Because of some miscommunication with the venue to the bride and groom, I was part of this beautiful outdoor ceremony.

It was a short, sweet, and "to-the-point" exchanging of vows. This bride and groom wanted to get inside and party. And that's exactly what we did.

Here's your special music list for the evening:

BRIDAL PARTY INTRODUCTIONS "Happy" - Pharrell Williams

BRIDE & GROOM FIRST DANCE "First Day of My Life" - Bright Eyes

DADDY/DAUGHTER DANCE "I Loved Her First" - Heartland

MOTHER/SON DANCE "My Wish" - Rascal Flatts

LAST DANCE OF THE NIGHT "Home" - Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros

Amber and Charlie: I knew when we sat down for our initial consultation that you would bring an energy we've never seen before. Those infectious smiles and adorable love for each other is a good vibe we're going to share with everyone we meet.

Thank you for showing us how to party and that we can celebrate love even in the midst of personal turmoil.

I wish the two of you love and happiness for years to come.

bc