DJ Superunknown @ The Earle Brown Heritage Center 03/28/2009

Last week I was pretty jammed I had to go out to Denver for Homeland and I was planning to fly back Thursday night, but due to a blizzard I couldn’t get out until Friday morning. I hadn’t been to Colorado since I was a kid and I was amazed that a little snow could shut down the city… I could see the Rockies from my hotel, oh well we live in Minnesota and people still freak at 2-4 inches, but I digress…

So Saturday I had a MWS gig at The Earle Brown Heritage Center that included a ceremony, a cocktail hour in a separate room, and the reception that was held in the same room as the ceremony, plus I had to train in a rookie for MWS.

The ceremony started at 5PM w/ seating starting at 4:30, so I got there a couple hours early because I had to set up sound for the ceremony, set up sound in an adjacent room for the cocktail hour, and pre-plan my light set-up for the reception which would take place in the same room as the ceremony (I had to keep the light rig out of sight during the ceremony because it just didn’t look aesthetically pleasing) . It took a little hustle but I got it done, it was actually nice to have a rookie out with me to be my roadie (HA!)

Anyway, the ceremony on my part was flawless, but I did note that the lady conducting the ceremony was new at this due to the fact that she was blocking the sightline of the bride and groom from the guests during some critical times. She also had the B & G say their vows into the mic facing the audience rather than looking into each other’s eyes. I really wanted to stop her but it was too late, after the ceremony I asked her how many she had done and she said three, it showed. The B & G didn’t seem to notice probably due to nerves but I did.

After the ceremony, I ran some Rat Pack tunes for the cocktail hours on auto play and started setting up the lights back in the same room where the ceremony was for the reception. It sucked sweating again after I was dressed up but to me it was worth it. The Bride didn’t care if the lights were set up and in the background of her photos but I did (every good DJ knows that his/her gig only lasts for 6-8 hours, but pictures are forever, don’t get me wrong in that I don’t think DJing creates lasting memories, but 50 years from now… you get the picture)

So I’m set up and just in time to conduct the Grand March and everything is smooth sailing. I pretty much told my rookie to take notes and soak it all in, my only advice to him was to smile and loosen up; he looked terrified the whole night. The dance was elegantly rocked as per usual and the B & G tipped me $160 so I knew they were happy.

I’m grateful to be able to be sub-contracted by MWS and continually hone my skills but hopefully next year this is my own gig.

Lastly, I forgot my video camera. Sorry...

Word…

Venue Hunting?

If you happen to be hunting for a place to host a wedding reception, rehearsal dinner, corporate event, private party, etc. You need to make Stella’s Fish Café and Prestige Oyster Bar located in the heart of Uptown one of your choices. I've been going there since it opened, and I've also DJ'd NYE & private parties a few times and it's me & the Wifey's favorite spot in town.

Regardless of whether your location scouting or not, make sure you at least stop in and grab a table this spring on the rooftop deck for some kickass eats, drinks, and views. On Friday’s from 3-6PM, it’s Stella’s Oyster Orgy featuring: $1 Tacos of the day, $2.95 ½ lb. Peel & Eat Shrimp, $3.95 1 lb. Peel & Eat Shrimp , 50 cent Oysters!

For all of your event needs hit up Erin Mackley @ 612-455-1273 or erin@stellasfishcafe.com



Shucks… I love that place.

DJ Superunknown @ The Maple Grove Community Center 03/14/2009

I DJ'd on Saturday at the Maple Grove Community Center for Mia & Mark W. I DJ'd a reception a couple of years back that Mia was a guest at, and I guess that I impressed her enough for her to think of me when she and her fiance started their wedding plans. Plain and simple, Mark & Mia we're a DJs dream to work with... They made a handful of music requests, told me which spotlight dances they wanted to do, and left the timing, pace, and rest of the music up to me. My goal for the evening (which I accomplished btw) was to have the B & G enjoy themselves and for the guests to have a great time. In lieu of going into the details (it’s Monday) check out the video clips. Lastly, Mark & Mia THANK YOU again for letting me be a part of your wedding day!!!!!

Went to work, the Graves 601 hotel, The Chatterbox, and finally home.

Yesterday I checked out The Duel of the Design @ 601 Graves hotel (Armed with a chef and a florist, the designers have two hours to design a tabletop for eight, develop a menu, select beverages and set the mood with music. The designers will be judged on creativity, quality, usability and execution by Sara Glassman of Star Tribune, Alexis Walsko of Lola Red PR, Lindsay Graves of Content Farm Creative, Jim Leighton of Children's Cancer Research Fund and Geri Wolf of The Style Laboratory). This was my first ever industry event that wasn’t DJ focused, so I didn't know what to expect. My first thought quite honestly was that it was going to be “Highsnoberiety” and I’d feel out of place. Fortunately it wasn’t, and it was Kool & the Gang for Ms. Geri Wolf of The Style Laboratory to invite me.

When I walked into the ballroom I was immediately drawn to the flurry of activity going on at both ends of the room. I just missed the fashion show, and I love watching that shit on TV, so it was a bummer, btw my favorite designers are Tokidoki, Michael Kors, Lagerfeld, Shepard Fairey, and Dickies. Anyway, regarding the designers, I’ll let the pictures do their 1,000 words worth. I’m definitely not qualified to make any judgments, but in my opinion Summer Harsh Botanical Artistry had that shit workin’.

I’m not a foodie, thus I’m not into culinary presentation, I’m just more of a smells good, let’s eat it kinda guy, plus I enjoy White Castles. I am a little bias however, because one of the chefs had some tats, so he was cool in my book.

I had to dip outta there before the winners were announced because I had to get to my gig @ The Chatterbox Pub, so at “Superunknown press time” I had no idea which team won.

Before I left, I had the opportunity to be introduced to the designer of Geri’s dress, Ms. Pa Thao of PFT Couture. Ladies if you want to see some stunning creations, her site is a must visit!

I also met some of the artists with Pazzobello Flowers and I wanted to steal one of their designs to bring home to the Wifey. I didn’t…

All in all it was a great experience, and I’m going to try to make it a point to venture out beyond the DJ booth in future, and see what's going on in the event world. Oh, my gig @ The Box went great and I was approached by Inner Strength Fitness to DJ live for some upcoming Spin classes. I immediately thought that it would be mad decent if ISF was down with calling it “Inner Strength Fitness presents: Spin Control with DJ Superunknown” We’ll see what happens. BTW thanks Melissa for the presenting me with the opportunity!

Needless to say I got home late again, thank God Chandra is understanding! I got to bed even later because I needed to unwind by kicking the ass out of the L.A. Lakers on the 360 (it’s nasty on a big HDTV). That was my night/morning.

Word…

I decided to get a website…

I’ve been very blessed this past year to have gigged a ton considering that I put zero marketing time into my DJ adventures (word of mouth rocks!). I also work 40+ hours a week at my “important” day gig, have a wife & 2 kids, my regular Chatterbox gig every Thursday night, watch reality TV and sneak in XBOX 360 time, and sleep. So time is precious, but I’ve been really grateful to be a part of a lot of my clients special days because it’s my passion dude! Anyway, this upcoming wedding season is looking busy, and I’m already booking 2010. So I decided to hire a professional to design a website and logo to present a really polished brand for myself. I guess I’m due, and because of the fact that I didn’t have a website in the past, it may have hurt me in some ways, and I may have missed some opportunities out there by not being “professional”. I’m still going to go by DJ Superunknown and my business name will my moniker as well. If you’re into business marketing, then using my moniker is a dumb move, as I’m not using a DJ company name with the words, “sounds”, “epic”, etc., but I’m not into business, and like to march to beat of my own drum anyway. But alas, it’s time to grow up a get a website. I can assure you; however, that djsuperunknown.com will be the shit. Oops, there I go being unprofessional again…. The prose of this post may seem kinda’ “bummererish”, it’s not that I don’t want to be professional, it’s just that my day gig is very quasi military and politic ridden and I'm a professional robot, so I hate having to compete with the “real” DJ companies out there that I could out rock any day of the week, but I understand the need. Anyway , you cats stay cool, oh tomorrow I’m going to the Duel of Design @ Graves 601 hotel, I’ll let you know what went down.

Word…..

DJ Superunknown @ The Saint Paul Hotel 2/28/09

I had my first ever gig @ the SPH last Saturday and if you’re pressed for time it was great! If you have the time the following is a brake-down of what went down… I was sub-contracted by Midwest Sound & Light so my only contact with the client was via a phone call a few days prior (I’d much rather meet in person but since I was sub-contracted I didn’t have that luxury), but we hit it off on the phone anyway, and the bride and her future Mr. were looking forward to a fun time. Now on paper it seemed like I had my work cut out for me, the bride & groom were fourty-somethings, had only 70 guests, loved 70's rock, the only must play was their first dance song, and that was all the info I had besides the where and when. No biggie as I love a good challenge, and was really stoked to play at SPH and pop my cherry. The gig didn't start until 6 and I got there at 4 (I like to get to a gig early because you never known what could happen) to get set-up and changed into my "show" clothes. I rocked a skinny tie for the first time with my creepers and I have to say it looked pretty bad ass. Anyway, guests started arriving around 5 for the cocktail hour in the room next door so I took the opportunity to meet the B & G and kinda' size up the crowd for the night. Everyone seemed in great spirits and I'm sure the prospect of an open bar all night long helped out. So around 5:55 the event manager informed me that I would be introducing the B & G which was a surprise to me & the newlyweds as well. I'm steady in the pocket so I cued up "Ain't That a Kick in the Head" by Dean Martin, got the guests seated, and I grabbed the mic and said, "Ladies & Gentleman please rise for your Bride & Groom Mr. & Mrs. so & so." Simultaneously as they entered I hit play and they and worked the room, I wish I had that shit on video cause' I looked rehearsed. So anyway after the blessing and a toast by the Bride’s son I mixed dinner music for about an hour or so I kept it really low just loud enough to hear but just enough to create a back drop to the conversation. A hate it when I’m eating or talking and I have to compete with the TV or music. My technique is to observe who close people have to lean in to listen to each other and I never get complaints cause’ I do it right baby! Ok so around 7:30, I announced to the room that the couple’s first dance would take place shortly, that way people have time to grab a drink, smoke or visit the restroom and the Groom can be grabbed from the bar and the bride can take one last look in the mirror. During the lull I’ll walk around to the bar or the smokers area and politely let the guests know that the first dance is coming. At this point I’ll lie and tell them it’s going down in a minute that way they can get back in time. I personally think it’s rude when 50% of the guests are doing their own thing and miss the first dance, but that’s just me. Anyway, the first dance is flawless and I decide to play to classic slow numbers “Can’t Help Falling in Love” by Elvis and the Ghost soundtrack song by the Righteous Brothers. Everybody recognizes those two songs and their short, besides what chick doesn’t want to slow dance to the ghost song? Right after that I went into a Jive Bunny Swing melody infusing “In the Mood” by Glen Miller with a dash of Buddy Holly, Elvis, Chuck Berry, etc. classic shit with a twist. The music for this crowd was really of the KQ92 ilk but it was fun and the guests kept dancing. Around 11 I really got a nice compliment from the SPH Event Manager who said that any other DJ would’ve cleared out most of the crowd by now with 150 guests but she was amazed that this small party was going strong. I hate to boast, but I like to think that I played a part in making the night a success. Lastly, the Bride gave me a thank you hug and a pretty generous tip Word…