This event took place at the Westin Bayshore which, as you know, is one of the premier hotels around town. In a sense this was an easy gig as I didn’t have to set up speakers but just bring my console and hard drives.

By the time I arrived by at 5 PM, much of the massive stage structure was already up and the final sound checks and lighting checks were taking place. This event was being produced by a large AV company out of the United States and tons of equipment was everywhere which was kind of exciting to start off with ….especially for a person like me.

Anyway, they showed me to my DJ table and I set up my console and hard drives and plugged into their waiting XLR cables in quick time. For this event I was doing double duty as they were having karaoke and I was going do a bit of DJ-ing at the end after the Bee Gees tribute band was finished doing their set. It was a very large crowd of about 2500 people so there was a huge PA system set up and it was a lot of fun to hear the karaoke and DJ mixes through such a large sound system.

The show started off around 7 PM and the celebrity emcees, who were out of Montréal, started warming the crowd up in both English and French. They were very good and they seemed to have a lot of good one-liners. The actual awards did not take very long and a good thing too because they had a lot of entertainment lined up.

Getting started, we began with the karaoke set up. It was great to see lyrics on the big screens all around the room and on the massive screen on stage. it was even better to see the enthusiasm of the singer’s. Apparently the company had put out a challenge to all its departments to come up with props and songs that would be entertaining and fun to watch. Well, the departments didn’t seem to disappoint. We started off with a group of about 30 people doing I Got A Feeling and in the techno-Tronic Black-Eyed Peas style. Other departments followed with their version of different popular songs and everyone enjoyed themselves. In about 45 min. the emcees came back on stage after the karaoke to present the prizes and then it was into the Bee Gees tribute band. I must say they were very good. All the lights, the projection screens plus the two dance floors and it was looking more like a concert than an awards show. Except that at this concert there were men in tuxedos and ladies in beautiful evening gowns.

After the great performance of the Bee Gees tribute band, I knew it was going be a hard act to follow. I was a little nervous but as I got into the DJ set and started seeing more and more people come to the dance floors, I knew I was on the right track. It was confirmed by the fact that, although I was only scheduled to play a half hour set, I ended up playing a full hour with the guests asking me to play longer. It was good to hear a number of couples come up and say that they were going to leave after the Bee Gees tribute band, but my music was so good that they decided to stay and party some more.

This was my second experience with doing a big awards show and was a lot of fun because I got to be featured a bit. I’m sure it will not be my last and I’m already primed and ready to go for my next one.

Oddly enough, the party didn’t take place at the Boathouse Restaurant but in a smaller venue. The venue was a quaint little restaurant in Coquitlam. It had that warm, antique feeling with low ceilings and fireplace. It actually kind of reminded me of a small European chalet.

The very beginning of Port Moody still has a small-town feel and the restaurant was tucked neatly away off of Main Street. After finding parking, I was barely able to weave my cart into the front door and then into the main dining area. The restaurant itself was very interesting with a lots of antique photos adorning the walls and a small crystal chandelier hanging in the middle of the ceiling. The owners were very friendly and helpful and soon had a small table for me to set up on.

This group had ordered the budget 12,000 song karaoke service and set up was quick and easy. With microphones plugged in, speaker set up, and the lyrics monitor up and ready to go, I awaited the arrival of the singer’s.

First to arrive was Taylor, the organizer of the event. I learned then that she had this party better organized than I expected. She had stipulated to the group that this was a costume themed karaoke party with prizes for those not only with the most interesting costume but for their karaoke performances as well. This was great because this is the way I feel a karaoke event should be run. It makes it a lot more interesting and fun not only for the performers but for the audience as well. As a matter fact Taylor started off with arriving in a cowboy outfit.

We didn’t have to wait long before the arrival of the guests. One or two started trickling in and then they soon arrived in droves. There were a lot of great costumes including a caveman, policeman, construction worker, etc.

We started out with a contestant dressed as a Spanish Matador doing Ricky Martin’s Livin’ La Vida Loca. Other favorites soon followed such as Dancing Queen, I Will Survive and stop by the Spice Girls. It was turning out to be a very karaoke varied night with the rockers requesting My Sharona and some Bon Jovi. Taylor kept up the theme of her country costume by doing a Keith urban song. We also had the” worst ever singer group”, as they call themselves, dong the signature Justin Beiber tune Baby, Baby, Baby Oh… to the shrieks of delight of the female audience.

Since this was only a four hour event, the time went very fast and as always, everyone gets going towards the end of the event so I had lots of hoots and hollers when it came time to close the event. Lots of request remained though so we did one or two songs overtime. That was about as much as we could fit in before trying the patience of the owners of the of the restaurant who kindly enough let us go that far.

It was great event with lots of great photos and accompanying memories that I am sure the staff the Boathouse Restaurant will fondly remember for a long time.

The bride and groom were from Seattle and they wanted to make this a stand out reception for their parents and guests. They were very generous in hiring lots of vendors and going for the full services of each. In addition to hiring me as DJ and karaoke entertainment as well as most of the equipment I had including projectors and screens, they also hired a lighting company to bring in wall wash lights and fabrics to transform the venue into a multicolored reception room. There was also a jazz trio that played during the reception. They were very good and they added a cool ambience to the cocktail hours of the reception.

The couple arrived in a 1934 Duisenberg convertible. This is a very nice car and if you ever have seen one you know what I mean. After arriving to much fanfare, the couple proceeded into the reception area. There was lots of mingling during the reception part of the program and since it was an open bar, the drinks flowed freely.

As the night progressed and the five course dinner was served, I played a combination of Western and Asian music for the dinner along with music videos on the video screens. One of the great things about this wedding reception was that the seating was arranged so that the Chinese bride’s relatives and friends and the groom’s European family and friends were mixed together at different tables. Before long they were all making happy conversation with each other and I could tell it was very interesting for them to meet and talk with people they had not met before.
One of the highlights of the evening was the cupcake holder that the bride’s father had made. It was constructed like the Eiffel Tower and the cupcakes sat inside the frame. It was really well done and you could see that the bride had a talented father. You can actually see it in the video on my testimonials page.

After all the great speeches were done, we got into the karaoke. There was lots of great English and Chinese karaoke songs sung from my over 135,000 song database. On the Chinese side we had songs from Chinese artists such as Amie, Leehom and Theresa Teng as well as lots of English songs. There was a great little tune from Jay Chow called Cowboy Is Very Busy that the groom, along with the support of his bride, attempted to sing in Chinese. It was very funny to watch and was much appreciated by the Chinese guests.

After an hour so of enthusiastic karaoke singers, we went to the dancing and everyone danced the night away to the wonderful backdrop of the changing colors of the room due to the wall wash lights, the music videos and the beautiful background of the lights dancing on the water viewed through the large glass windows of the room.

It was a great wedding reception and as I mentioned before, you can view highlights of it on my testimonials page of my website along with a great testimonial form the bride and groom.

These days, the cost of a wedding makes a year at Harvard and Yale look affordable. How are you going to scrape together the bucks so you can have the bash you want? Put that idea about sticking up the Federal Reserve on hold. You have options — legal, time-honored, respectable options. The kind of options that, unless you’re in the habit of bouncing checks, won’t land you behind bars. Here’s a rundown of some of them, plus their pros and cons. Keep in mind that a combination of two or more may be how you end up getting your wedding paid for.

The Bride’s Parents Pay

The traditional — and still pretty popular — way of paying for the wedding.

If everyone is contributing, pool all the money upfront and then see what your bottom line is. It’s much easier than saying “mom takes care of the gown, the flowers and the band” we take care of the rest.

The Pros

You don’t have to dip into your nest egg to pay for the wedding, which means you’ll probably be driving a better car, buying a better house and taking better vacations a year from now than your contemporaries who are paying — in full or partially — for their own wedding.

The Cons

“The person who pays ultimately gets what he or she wants,” says JoAnn Gregoli, a wedding consultant. Which means that if you want 100 guests but your parents want 250, you’ll probably end up with at least 175 to 200 people at your wedding. “Having your parents pay for the wedding doesn’t hurt your wallet,” notes Gregoli, “but you have to be willing to compromise on what the wedding will be like.” Another downside: Having your parents pay for the wedding — especially if they’re retired, on a fixed income, or just not that well off to begin with — could strap them down with some major debt.

Everyone Pays

A contemporary and, according to Gregoli, effective way of taking care of wedding expenses is for the two of you, the bride’s family, and the groom’s family to split the expenses. It works best, she says, if you simply take the whole cost of the wedding and divide it three ways, rather than dole out specific things to pay for: “For example, if you let your parents pay for the dinner, then they may be inclined to invite more guests. It can get sticky.” If you can’t divide it equally — say one party is more or less wealthy than the other two — ask that party what’s comfortable for them to give, and throw it into the pot. “But just because his family, for example, is giving four times as much money as yours doesn’t mean they get four times more say,” says Gregoli. “You’re handling this as a group, and one person can’t push his or her weight around.” The key to making this work, she cautions, is negotiation and compromise.

The Pros

By pooling your resources, you may be able to afford the kind of wedding you want. You also may not have to empty your savings account to get it. What’s more, since everyone is contributing — which means everyone gets a say — you’re not likely to make one side or the other feel left out.

The Cons

By accepting money from other people, you do give up some control. But there are always solutions, notes Gregoli. “If you want a DJ but the parents want a band, look for a band that also works with a DJ, who can play during the band’s break. Or if you want a buffet reception and your parents want a seated dinner, perhaps have food stations, but arrange for waiters to serve your parents and their friends at assigned tables.”

You Two Pay for Everything

More the norm than you might think. As more and more brides and grooms marry later — stockpiling those Christmas bonuses, merit raises, and dividend checks — more and more couples are in a good position to foot the entire wedding bill themselves.

The Pros

Money talks, and as such, you will have total control over all aspects of the wedding. If you want to get married in a bikini on the beach and dance to a reggae DJ at the reception, you do it. Your mom may think it’s an outrage, but in the end, she-who-does-not-open-her-wallet can’t dictate to you.

The Cons

You might deplete your savings (and rack up some debt if you take out a loan or charge on your credit card). You also run the risk of offending your parents if you refuse their financial help. To remedy the situation? You might accept a nominal sum from them, or let them pay for something you don’t have strong opinions about — say, the flowers. In any event, don’t shut your parents out of the wedding-planning process. Encourage their input — hey, they may even have a good idea or two — compromise where you can, and stick to your guns on the things that are really important.

“If anything creates problems in planning a wedding, it’s money,” says Gregoli. “To sidestep problems, you need to do a lot of communicating — with your partner and both families. If you don’t, there will be trouble.” Truer words were never spoken.

DJ Gary

Boogie Shoes DJ & Karaoek Services

“Your moment, your music. The way you want it played…my personal promise!”

Now with karaoke machine rentals Karaoke Rentals

www.djboogieshoes.com
www.karaokedjservices.ca
gary@djboogieshoes.com
604 – 816 – 7727

As is my custom, again I arrived early. It was a good thing too. After I got to Science World, found where I was going to set up, had the equipment loaded in, got a parking pass for the car, parked the car and returned to Science World, it was about a 30 min. process. This is one of the reasons I always arrive early. You just never know how long it is going to take to get into a new venue and quite often, it takes longer to get everything loaded in than what you expected.

After the process of loading in was completed, it was time to start setting up. I had been placed at center stage and if you know Science World, that is the main area on the lower level where they demonstrate different experiments related to science.

Whenever you’re doing big events like this, there are a number of vendors contributing to the success of the event and there’s lots to think about. While I was communicating with the AV company that was responsible for the lighting and sound, they had mentioned that I should hook into the house system that was there. However, something told me that I should bring my own system as well. There again, experience and listening to my gut instinct paid off. The small speakers that were there are perfectly adequate for speeches and for presentations of demonstrating science experiments. They are not great for reproducing music and it was less than an adequate set up for a karaoke event. But I had circumnavigated a possible disaster and proceeded to set up my high-quality speakers.

Presently, I got everything set up tested and ready to go. I had brought a few my own lights as well and the AV company set their lighting so that it complemented mine.

The event started at 8 PM and as the guest trickled in, I did some preliminary training with a new DJ that I was working with. There was a lot of mingling happening with the guests and for the first hour or so I played karaoke versions of some popular songs and let the crowd know that I was there. Presently, Suzanne came along and asked me to play some music and make special announcements. One of the great things about my karaoke and DJ set up is that I can go seamlessly from karaoke to dance music with no problems.

Around 9 PM we started the singing. I already had a few requests and we started out with those. Some of the guests crowded around the stage to watch one of their coworkers sing a few tunes. After about 15 min. I was lacking some singers so I went up and did a song. It is always interesting to note that the guests of any karaoke event always seem to crowd around when one of their coworkers or staff members sing and then trickle away when the KJ host does a tune. I hope it’s not a reflection of my singing.

In any case, as the drinks flowed, the guests crowded around the requests books and request slips soon started coming in. We really got a good singing crowd going this year and the whole area in front of the main stage was soon crowded with people. At one point, there were so many of the guests there that I guess I was stealing the show and Suzanne, the organizer of the event, asked me to announce that there was dancing in the upper rooms. Apparently, there was hardly anybody up in the DJ area dancing the night away. I had them all downstairs singing their hearts out and dancing in front of the main stage. It was a great feeling to have such great support and see the guests really enjoying the performances by the friends and coworkers.

We really had a wide variety of genres. People sang songs from groups like Erasure, Madonna, Queen, The Mamas and the Papas, Maroon 5, Jay Z, and a host of others. It was great to see that we even had a Chinese lady take advantage of my Chinese karaoke song database. With my huge database of over 135,000 karaoke songs plus the Asian karaoke songs, there was lots of songs for everyone to choose from.

We not only had some great singers and great performers, but we had some fun dancers get into the groove and dance the night away in front of the stage while friends and coworkers performed. In the end count, I had well over 80 requests with song requests pouring in right to the very end of the event.

It was truly one of my more exciting karaoke events and I expect the success of this one will result in a return to next year’s Electronic Arts annual party for the third year running.

You can view some of the highlights that I will post in the video section of my face book page here Facebook
And keep in mind that I have a new service of karaoke rentals. Get a fully contained karaoke machine with 100 watt speaker and two microphones plus500 karaoke songs for $99 a day. It is great for small gatherings or when you want to sing the night away in the privacy of your own home.

Cheers
Gary
Boogie Shoes DJ karaoke services

It was a bit longer drive to the venue this year but as usual, I arrived early. This year though, the guests were in a party mood and they also arrived early. As soon as I had everything set up, the guests started trickling in and in about 20 minutes the venue was full of happy people ready to party.

I soon had the place warmed up with the cocktail and dinner music which consisted of seasonal music Spanish guitar and soft rock tunes. This was a real fun event this year because they not only had the DJ music but they brought in some live entertainment as well. It wasn’t long before two professional dancers arrived and to my great surprise and delight they handed me salsa CDs and proceeded to teach everyone some wonderful salsa and Latin moves. This was great because it gave many of the guests something more to do than chat with colleagues and coworkers the probably see every day. It was great entertainment for those non-dancers as well because they could watch the teachers teaching and the students dancing. It really kept everyone entertained until the dinner was ready and the guests had lots of fun trying out their new salsa and Latin moves later on when the dancing began.

A wonderful buffet dinner followed. I’m sure everyone enjoyed the meal because there were lots of smiling faces and laughter throughout the dinner. Speeches and announcements were kept to a minimum and soon it was time to get the dancing going. However, the organizers of the New Year’s party had a surprise for the guests. They made an announcement to have all eyes on the dance floor and two voluptuous young ladies appeared and performed some belly dances. They not only had some great moves but they were great entertainers as well as they moved in among the crowd and picked a number of guys to come out on the floor to try some of their belly dance moves. It was pretty hilarious to see these guys trying to do their best moves and watch the girls at the same time. Everyone had a great laugh and was primed and ready to go as soon as the dancing music begin right after that.

Somewhere in between the two professional dancers appeared again and proceeded to lead everybody into trying out the new salsa and Latin dance moves. Some of the students were pretty good actually. We had about a half hour of a Latin set before going back into the mainstream music. I did have a number of Latin requests throughout the night however, so obviously the teachers had made an impression on the crowd. At one point we had so many people on the floor that the floor was moving up and down. It seemed a little scary at the time but looking back, it was great reflection of how much people were enjoying the party.

It didn’t take long for the time in which to ring in the new year arrived and after a lot of hugging and kissing and happy New Year greetings, the organizers had a midnight brunch set up and those that wanted to dance danced with those who wanted to eat got a bit fatter.

The party went beyond the contracted time but that was okay with me as overtime, especially on New Year’s, is a nice icing to the cake and besides, I always have fun DJ-ing for an appreciative and fun-loving crowd.

It was another great New Year’s party well dance, well played and will enjoyed by all.

Boogie Shoes DJ & Karaoke Services has done well over 1,500 weddings and events with traditional and high profile clients and so I do have a few tips to pass on to you.

With all the DJs out there, it is certainly hard to know what to look for in a quality DJ service, especially if you have never hired one before. That is why I’m happy to offer you a step by step process that, if followed, will get you a great DJ service and a successful event. I know you are serious about your function…so let’s get started.

*# 1 DO YOUR HOMEWORK….GO TO THEIR WEBPAGE*

This step can be before or after you phone the DJ you find interesting, but it is one you very much should do. On the DJ’s web site you can get all of the information you need to know to make an informed decision. Look at their reference page to see their testimonials. They should be recent and include a variety of events as well as doing different cultural events.

This is nice to see as it shows the DJ has a lot of experience and is able to trouble shoot effectively when a sudden challenge arises.

Look at the various packages to see if they include what you require. As well, check what extra services are available.

Another very important point is to take a look at their Face book page. Are they active. Are they posting every day. Take a look at their video section. A busy DJ is a good DJ.

*# 2 CONTACT*

Once you have decided on a few DJs you think might be just what you’re looking for, the first contact should be by phone if possible. Speak with them for a few minutes. Are they courteous? Are they open to your ideas, willing to take direction while at the same time able to offer helpful advice? Try to get a feel for the DJ’s temperament. It is your day after all and you want a DJ that you like, who is serious about giving you the best customer service they can and will be helpful with their knowledge and experience so that they can contribute to helping you have the best event
possible.

*Meeting your DJ*

Once you have decided on the DJ you would like to meet with, there are a number of things you will want to look for when you meet them. In my experience, these items help you narrow down the best DJ for you.

*# 3 PUNCTUALITY*

Your DJ should be on time for their meeting with you. If there is an unfortunate circumstance where the DJ will be late, they should phone you and keep you appraised of the situation and let you know when they expect to arrive for the meeting or if another date needs to scheduled. Here again, concern for your time shows concern for you and your event.

*# 4 RELIABILITY*

Before your DJ can play at your event, they need to be there. Punctuality is one indicator of reliability. Another is references. Good testimonials with contact information are indisputable, factual evidence that the DJ is reliable and then some… more on testimonials below.

*# 5 ATTIRE*

Is your DJ presentable? This is a business meeting for your DJ. A tie is not necessary but if your prospective DJ takes the time to dress nicely, then it is another indicator that they take your event seriously, are professional, want your business and will work with you to not only obtain it but will be conscientiously wanting to obtain the coveted “worthy of a referral” award that a happy client bestows. A nice shirt or sweater and dress slacks with proper footwear should be what to expect in your DJ’s attire upon your business meeting. It is also recommended to ask the DJ
what they will wear at your event.

*# 6 REFERNCES /TESTIMONIALS*

Any DJ worth hiring should have recent references with contact information that you should check on. This is one of the ways you can be sure that you are getting a reliable, competent & honest person to provide the music for your very special event, so ask for and check at least three of those references.

In the DJ’s testimonials, you should look for the areas where they not only met their client’s expectations but exceeded them. The more information on their testimonials the happier the client as they took the time out of their busy life to write this for the DJ service.

Please note… a quality DJ service will not give you testimonials with contact information without meeting with you. This is out of respect for their client’s privacy and to confirm a legitimate request for the information is made.

*ORGANIZATION*

99% of success in anything is organization and preparation. Your DJ needs to come to your meeting prepared and organized. An excellent DJ service will want to maximize your meeting productively and provide information, suggestions and show their ability to take your ideas and incorporate them into your event seamlessly so that you need not worry about the music portions of your function. You can then go on to organizing the other important areas of your event. These are a few of the things that are helpful in making that happen.

*# 7 CHECKLIST*

A superior DJ service should have some type of event checklist. This checklist does many things.

First, it organizes the event into sections…helping you to see what areas you need to think about and indeed, may even point out areas that you may not have even thought about.

Secondly it allows the DJ to get a feel for your function. Your tastes, likes, dislike and ideas are explored using a comprehensive checklist.

Thirdly, it helps you think of related questions you might not be aware of and allows you tap into the DJ’s vast experience with thousands of clients and functions.

Lastly, it organizes your particular event from start to finish with the least amount of work for you and gives the DJ and yourself a clear picture of what is going to happen true to your wishes.

*# 8 CONTRACT*

A contract not only shows professionalism but eliminates any confusion that might arise. It is all there on paper in black & white. It protects both parties & sets out clearly what is expected of your DJ and of yourself so that you are able to partnership in getting your event to run smoothly. Always have a contract.

*# 9 WARRANTY *

You may not think this is important but you get a warranty on everything from a toaster to the new home you buy. Why should it be any different for your DJ service? In many cases, the DJ will be providing a service for a function that is a once in a life time event. The more assurances you have that the musical portion is going to go as smoothly as possible the better.

A warranty does two things, it ensures the DJ is going to work hard to give you the best quality service possible and it gives you peace of mind to allow you to concentrate on the other areas of your function.

For example, my money back plus $100 warranty is among the best in the business.

*# 10 PRICE…A word please*

Let’s face it. Everyone is looking for the best deal they can get, but a DJ service that is really cheap is a red flag. One of the biggest mistakes I hear time and time again is on price. I have many horror stories to recount about a DJ that was cheap… and their services also.

Think about it. A DJ must have very good equipment to give great service. With new quality speakers running at $1,000 + each, computers and other equipment, a valued DJ can easily bring over $6,000 worth of resources, excluding a reliable newer vehicle, to even a small event. On top of that there is the work involved… loading from the shop into the vehicle, out of the vehicle into the venue, set up, doing the event, tear down, back into the vehicle and then load back into the shop. We haven’t even touched on upkeep yet let alone customized preparation for the function. A cheap DJ
cannot possibly have quality, guaranteed services without the financial resources to do so. The question is do you really want to risk your event? The fact is that you really get what you pay for in a DJ service so be forewarned.

That being said though, if you find a service you really like but can’t afford, ask and see if there are things in the package that can be dropped to reduce the price. Some services, such as my own, do have budget services that are paired down offerings that still get you a great music service but with less equipment and services. In any case it does not hurt to ask and you may get that quality DJ service you are wanting within reach of your budget if you are willing to do with less.

I’d also like to mention that DJ services will often offer incentives to book early. Ealry bird pricing or free gift certificates for other vendor services can go a long way to maximizing your dollars spent on your DJ service and getting the best value. In any case, don’t wait too long to book your service or you may have to choose a lesser service than you would like.

Thank you again for taking a look at what I know to be helpful information when looking for your DJ. After doing well over a 1,500 successful weddings and events for literally thousands of clients I know the effort involved in finding a quality DJ service is well worth the time when solving your need for a notable event and the peace of mind that goes along with it. I wish you great success in the hunt for your DJ.

DJ Gary

“Your moment, your music. The way you want it played…my personal promise!”

www.djboogieshoes.com
www.karaokedjservices.ca
gary@djboogieshoes.com
604 – 816 – 7727

I noticed a large number of children running around and even a lot of the staff were very excited that I was there with my karaoke set up. I do have a number of karaoke setups, and this was the 12,000 song budget karaoke set up and although it is not as extensive as the 134,000 karaoke song set up, there’s still plenty of songs to choose from.

At first everyone seemed shy to sing, but I started out one of my favorite songs from Michael Buble. Although I’m by no means as good as Michael Buble, the kids seem to enjoy it and everyone had fun and soon I had everyone requesting tunes like crazy.

As I have noticed for the Christmas season this year especially, there are a lot of Christmas songs that people do like to sing. The staff started out with Brenda Lee “Rocking Around the Christmas Tree” and from there, various staff members took over singing lots of favorite Christmas songs.

Of course the teens and preteens were having none of that and proceeded to request lots of teenybopper songs, some old Spice Girls as well some of the newer tunes that I had. Adele seemed to be to be really popular with this crowd. We also had the guys working on their rapper dreams from Jay-Z as well as other popular rap tunes. We also had some old school rap happening with tunes from Ice Cube and MC Hammer.

As is always the case and karaoke, there were a few microphone hogs and future karaoke kings… In this case. Usually, it is the girls who like to sing more than the boys but we had two brothers who just loved to get on the microphone and not only sang their requests but any karaoke song I played. It was funny to see them singing ABBA, YMCA, B-52s, etc. They were great sports and had a lot of fun entertaining themselves as well as their friends and the staff.

About the middle of the evening, the pizzas arrived. The singing didn’t stop though and in between munching on pizzas and warbling the tunes, the karaoke continued full head.

I’m sure the staff the kids at the Mount Pleasant Community Center had a great time that evening. I could tell it was a new event for them and it was nice of the staff and the community to it put on for the kids. I wish them all a great Christmas and wonderful New Year and perhaps Boogie Shoes will be back again next year to celebrate the season with them.

 The season is not done yet so in honor of the big New Year parties about to take place,I have sent along the best and worse of karaoke choices just in case your New Year party includes some singing

 I’ll admit it. It’s embarrassing, but I am a karaoke junkie. It wasn’t always this way. I would karaoke every now and then, for something different to do. Now, I crave it. I make lists of songs to sing and get excited when I come up with a good new one. I am officially a karaoke nerd.

Why do I even like karaoke? It’s such a weird thing to do. I go to a bar to listen to (usually tone deaf) amateurs singing songs they shouldn’t be singing, and I shamefully mutilate a few myself. Karaoke’s been around in Asia since the 1970s–no big surprise that Japan is credited for starting it–but it’s a fairly new form of entertainment here in Canada. And I love it. Serious karaoke fanatics buy a karaoke system and have karaoke parties in their basements. Others seek out karaoke bars and private karaoke rooms. or hire a Karaoke KJ like me with a huge karaoke database of over 134,000 English songs so they can have the ultimate choice of music. I’ve done it all, and each party or venue has its own appeal.

Now that I’ve heard my fare share of good and bad karaoke songs, I’ve got a good handle on what songs work and what songs don’t. Whether you’re new to karaoke or you’re an old veteran, this list might give you some ideas for your next karaoke outing. Instead of lazily listing good and bad songs, I’ve decided to give you categories with many songs in each. Enjoy the show

BEST:

1) The cherished (80s) rock songs – I stuck 80s in there because there are so many good ones from that era. Bon Jovi, Guns n’ Roses (though be careful with GnR cause some of their songs are LOOONG), and hair bands like Poison or Def Leppard are great karaoke fun. Who doesn’t like to hear “Pour Some Sugar on Me” in a bar? These work so well because we hardly hear these songs anywhere else these days.

People actually like this!

2) The silly, yet fun pop songs – These work well because they’re songs people secretly enjoy–and you might be surprised what people secretly enjoy. “Living La Vida Loca” by Ricky Martin was one that we tried for obnoxiousness, that the crowd actually really enjoyed. Other good ones are Ace of Base “The Sign,” Spice Girls “Wannabe or Stop,” George Michael “Faith,” “Lady Marmalade” (for true singers) and if you’re feeling really brave…try Wham “Wake Me Up Before You Go Go.”…,silly but fun

3) The successful duets – Duets are tough. Most people avoid them, but there are a few that everyone loves. “Love Shack” by the B52s and “Summer Nights” from Grease will never lead you astray.

4) Journey – Everybody loves Journey. Even if you won’t admit it, you love Journey. Journey is much more karaoke fun if the person up there can actually sing but hwne has that been necessary in karaoke?. The obvious ones are “Don’t Stop Believing” and “Faithfully,” but I’ve also seen some great renditions of “Separate Ways (Worlds Apart).” Pick a song, any song. They’re all bomb.

5) The songs everybody knows but forgot about – Bringing a song back that used to be popular is always fun. “Semi Charmed Life” by Third Eye Blind, old Elton John like “Crocodile Rock,” or songs like Natalie Imbruglia’s “Torn” can work well because people go, Oh yeah, I remember this song!! They make good karaoke songs for the nostalgia factor.

6) The girl anthems – Here you’ve got your female empowerment songs, and a few that are just awesome. Try some Tragic Kingdom-era No Doubt, Kelly Clarkson or Carrie Underwood’s “Before He Cheats” (which is vastly becoming a crowd favorite)

- Side category: The 80s girl anthem – Pat Benatar’s “Hit Me With Your Best Shot,” anything by Blondie, Cyndi Lauper, or if you really can’t think of anything else to sing, Joan Jett’s “I Love Rock ‘n Roll.”

7) The old school hits – These are the old dude favorites. But no matter your age, these songs are always good. Kicking it old school is always appreciated – Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, “What a Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong, or “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” are a few faves.

The left field crowd pleasers – If you can sing for real and you’re feeling crazy…. try some crowd pleasers most people wouldn’t think to sing for karaoke. Like “Let’s Get it On” by Marvin Gaye. Or some James Brown. Something that requires crooning or massive singing skills.

9) The dancing songs – These are the songs that are going to make people get up and dance. ABBA is great for this. Britney can also work, but it depends on the song. “Baby Got Back” is also a dancing gem, but make sure you know the words.

10) Anything singalongable – This covers any songs that people like to sing to. Weezer is a crowd pleaser, Madonna and Billy Idol too. People always enjoy “Sweet Home Alabama” too. Even though it’s overdone, it’s a fun singalongable song.

Karaoke Fail….

WORST:

1) The songs EVERYBODY sings – If I never hear “Sweet Caroline,” “Margaritaville” or “Brown Eyed Girl” ever again, it would be too soon.

2) The songs nobody knows – If your friends go “Huh?” when you mention an artist or song, it’s probably not a good one for karaoke. People will be bored if they don’t know the song you’re singing. Old dudes are infamous for pulling these out.

3) Anything old cry in my beer country - Period. Don’t do it. Nobody cares. However the new country is pretty cool, especially Taylor Swift, Keith Urban, etc.

4) No more slow songs - The biggest problem with slow songs is that they’re painfully long. An old guy favorite in this category is Elton John’s “Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me.” Anything with a similar tempo should be avoided, especially if it’s 8 minutes long.

5) No more sad songs – Anything about dying or death or songs that make people cry should not be brought into a karaoke platform. Once, a girl sang “I Will Remember You” by Sarah McLachlan and then immediately went into “Goodbye to You” by Michelle Branch as her next choice. If you’re depressed, don’t sing karaoke.

6) The awkward song – While “Baby Got Back” is fun*, don’t think risky songs fly with karaoke crowds. Once you get into “The Bad Touch” by the Bloodhound Gang or “I’ll Make Love to You” by Boyz II Men, people start to feel uncomfortable. Another one to avoid is “I Wanna — You Up” by Color Me Badd. It’s not funny- just awkward. If you have just got to do it, this song is best sung when everybody’s had a few drinks in them.

7) The rap songs, by someone who can’t rap – This doesn’t happen very often (most people know better), but I’ve seen it. Basically: White girls should not try to sing Snoop Dogg. I’m not being racist; I say this based on the fact that most white girls cannot rap. White guys also should not try Eminem songs. Just because he’s white does not mean that you, normal white guy, can rap. Leave the rapping to the rappers.

Songs that are plain annoying – My favorite in this category is LEN’s “Steal My Sunshine.” Not gonna lie- I got up with a friend and did this one. When the song title came on the screen, the audience GROANED. Groaned. No joke. Stay away from songs people just don’t like. Aqua’s “Barbie Girl” would be another groan-inducing one.

9) The 10 minute long song – I’m talking to you, “Bohemian Rapsody” and “Thriller.” It sounds like a good idea because people like these songs, but trust me…by 7 minutes, people are bored. Sure they’ll sing along for a while. But these songs are Just. Too. Long. And absolutely no “Freebird” or “Hotel California” either!!

10) Songs with very little lyrics or long instrumental sections – Usually the only time this happens is after the 10th sake bomb, but it’s a good reminder to know what you’re singing before you put it in. Songs like “Tequila!” should never be karaoke’d. This also applies for songs like “Paradise City” by GnR…it’s got a forever and ever instrumental section right in the middle, making it a weird song for karaoke. “Love is a Battlefield” by Pat Benatar…same thing. Listen to your karaoke songs before you hit the bar.
- Also: Songs with seriously repetitive lyrics like “Total Eclipse of the Heart” get old real fast too.

Ok, now that you have got some info on a bit of karaoke stylings, take a look at this s report by Dateline NBC news on the karaoke phenomenon. http://youtu.be/6fzdeubLS7Y

I was blown away when i heard that there are over 100,000 bars in the U.S. that host karaoke at least once a week. And by the way, What’s your favorite and least favorite karaoke song?

DJ Gary

“Your moment, your music. The way you want it played!”

www.djboogieshoes.com
www.karaokedjservices.ca
gary@djboogieshoes.com
604 – 816 – 7727

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