Have you ever heard the term dead-air? In the radio industry there is a term, dead-air, which means that the listener is hearing nothing on the FM or AM radio station. I refer to this term at weddings too, I cannot stand the silence of dead-air! What do I mean by this term dead-air at a wedding, how can there be dead-air?

From the moment that the first guest sits down for the ceremony there should be music playing to welcome your guests. That means you need to make sure that your DJ or musician(s) start playing 30-60 minutes before you plan to walk down the aisle. Choose inviting music, love songs, happy songs, and songs that set the correct tone for your wedding vision.

You also want a seamless transition from your wedding ceremony to your cocktail hour. Remember, NO dead-air! Make sure if your ceremony and reception are in two different places that your DJ and/or musicians can be playing music in both places. Cocktail hour music should be upbeat and fun, not slow and boring. Cocktail hour is not quite dance music, but finger snapping kind of music.

If you’re serving a meal it might be a good idea to bring the music down in tempo a little during this time of the reception. Your guests will be sitting down and digesting food. Sneak in some of those slower songs that don’t fit during cocktail hour, were not played during the ceremony, and are too long for a slow dance song during dancing. Have fun picking out a few or more of your favorite songs to showcase during dinner hour.

You want to find a fabulous DJ, band, or other musicians that can transition from each moment with NO DEAD-AIR! There are times you don’t want music playing, for instance when the MC is speaking, during special toasts, etc. Ask DJ’s about how they transition into each special moment at your wedding using music as their tool? Dead-air + bad DJ = not a fun reception!

Think about your favorite movie or concert for a moment.  What made that movie or concert so great?  Often when I think of a great movie soundtrack I often refer to Forrest Gump, Dirty Dancing, Vanilla Sky, Almost Famous, The Doors and even Top Gun.  These soundtracks all have one thing in common-great direction, great song choices, timing and placement of each song.  Your wedding is the same as a movie.  Your wedding will have moments of joy, laughter, maybe some sadness, happiness, fun, maybe a little drama, and a day that will be remembered forever.  Let a professional help you choose the best songs that you love and play them all at the perfect time throughout your wedding.  A true professional uses the music as a guide and creates the right flow for the wedding and reception.  It’s ALL about the EMOTION!

Pick songs throughout your wedding that are notorious for evoking emotion.  Choose songs with strong melodies, power chords, amazing vocals, powerful strings, Latin flavor, a horn section, etc.  Below is a list of 10 powerful and emotional songs.

1. Reign Or’ Me by The Who
2. Sweet Emotion by Aerosmith
3. The Power of Love by Celine Dion
4. Maybe I’m Amazed by Paul McCartney
5. I Want to Know What Love Is by Foreigner
6. How Do I Live by LeAnn Rimes
7. By Your Side by Sade
8. Alone by Heart
9. Unbreak my Heart by Tony Braxton
10. I’ll Stand by You by The Pretenders

Call or email today here at www.megamusicent.com!

Just Push Play

This is what a bride says she is looking for to keep cost down. I understand, I just got married too and I know what it’s like to be on a budget. The problem is you get what you pay for. For example if you have a $50,000 budget for a car you will get an amazing new ride, that is super safe and luxurious. Now what happens if you have only $1,000 for a car? You get something that is very questionable, in fact so questionable you don’t know everything that’s wrong with it, but you took a chance. The paint is falling off, the emergency light won’t turn off, the steering isn’t aligned, and the brakes are almost worn out.

Here is what you get for a DJ that just pushes play. Hopefully he shows up in tasteful attire, and without a pony tail or a mullet. He will probably show up only 20-30min before your wedding, or show up a little late. He will mispronounce your last name all night long, and call you Jenny even though your name is Jessica. That DJ will drink at your wedding, hit on your bridesmaids, and only care about the dancing portion. When dancing finally starts he will pull out the only play list that he likes without any of the personal dance music you have picked. They also might have forgot your important songs like your First Dance or Grand Entrance. That’s what you get!

So do you really want to look for a DJ to just push play? If you are looking at a DJ that charges $399 or less, then you are most likely finding a DJ that just pushes play. Is that really what you want at your wedding?

I am still so excited and on cloud nine about my own wedding to the most amazing guy!  On March 24, 2012 I finally became Mrs. Simon Blanco!  My name is officially Meagan Hope Blanco!  Our lovely wedding took place at The Benson Hotel in Portland Oregon (and the sun came out). Cristy Landers did my hair and makeup.  She also did my mom and grandma’s makeup and made my 94 year old grandmother look stunning!

The ceremony was downstairs in the space that the London Grill used to occupy.  Rev. Steve Sharp was the officiant of our beautiful ceremony.  There was candlelight, family, and a few very close friends who made our day perfect.  After the ceremony we headed into the elevator and went up to our Grande Suite on the 12th floor!  We took some amazing pictures with the most amazing photographer, Eric Holen, owner of Holland Studios.  Stonebridge Video was taking video along with freelance videographer, Paul Collette. Stonebridge also provided an 8 foot camera jib to capture every moment at our reception!

After our pictures had been taken upstairs in our 750 square ft. suite, we took a moment just to breathe and take in the beauty of the city of Portland, the amazing hotel suite that every President has stayed since Taft and of course, one another!  It was now time to do our Grand Entrance into the Crystal Ballroom at the Benson Hotel (just around the corner from the front desk).  We had the most AMAZING meal anyone could ask for!  Our flowers by Alicia Goodell were over the top gorgeous and we had so many compliments from our guests about how luxurious they were.

Simon and I had a very small and intimate group of close family and friends attend our wedding.  Our cake was made from a family friend who made my favorite red velvet cake and Simon’s favorite, carrot cake.  We didn’t serve the personal cakes, instead we had the most popular dessert buffet provided by The Benson Hotel.  Our guests loved it so much, they ate everything!  MEGA Music Entertainment provided the music, entertainment, MC, DJ, and day-of-planning services (obviously)!  Jessica Dunn, MC & Planner at MEGA Music had so many compliments from our guests!  All the up-lighting was provided by MEGA Music & Paradox Productions.  Also, a HUGE shout out to Richie Royse, our amazing DJ who also works for MEGA Music and throws huge events and concerts with his own business too.  A special thank-you to Andrea Russell, the director of catering at The Benson Hotel.

Our day was literally perfect!  It pays to hire the best wedding professionals, because I could literally just sit back and enjoy my wedding day (well, maybe not sit, but you get the picture)!

My Professional Wedding Vendors:

The Benson Hotel — www.bensonhotel.com

MEGA Music Entertainment — www.megamusicent.com

• -specialty lighting
• -day-of-wedding planning

Floral Designs by Alicia — www.floraldesignsbyalicia.org

Holland Studios — www.hollandstudios.com

Stonebridge Video — www.stonebridgevideo.com

Officiant — www.abeautifulceremonynw.com

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1.  Simple Man by Lynard Skynard

2.  What a Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong

3.  Sweet Child of Mine version by Sheryl Crow

4.  God Bless the Child by Billie Holiday

5.  A Song For Mama by Boyz 2 Men

6.  I’ll Stand by You by The Pretenders

7.  Hero by Mariah Carey

8.  Dog & Butterfly by Heart

9.  I Wish You Love by Natalie Cole

10.  Oh, Mother of Mine by The Temptations

Choose wisely, choose a song that means something to you.  These songs can help out, or maybe one of these songs will be a great song for the groom and mother.  If the song you choose is over 4 minutes, you might want to cut it back because dancing with mom for over 4 minutes or longer is a long time!

I want to share with you a great deal for the bride looking for a quality, young, fresh, talented and professional, Wedding DJ. Not a DJ that is from the “nightclub” scene that now works for a local mobile DJ! Or what about the DJ that is so old that they cannot relate to the client? Or what about the DJ whose head is so big it could explode!?

MEGA Music is known for our prices being higher because we always offer a team of two! Last year we trained 2 aspiring wedding DJ’s. Kyle, a recent U of O graduate has a background as a radio DJ, studio sound recording, and live performance. Paul, our other wedding DJ we trained last year is a filmmaker and media genius who loves weddings. We only hire the best people who are educated, professional, and have a loyalty to our company. Kyle & Paul are now ready for their 1 year apprenticeship.

As you know it’s very hard to find a GREAT Wedding DJ for under $800 in Oregon and Washington. Many companies offer DJ’s for $300-$799, but you never know what you’re going to get, right? Because we all know you’re not getting the owner for that price! Too often than not the wedding DJ is cheesy, can’t keep people on the dance floor, or is just not trained well, if at all! Too many companies chew up DJ’s and spit them out for your very own wedding! Kyle and Paul from MEGA Music Entertainment are ready, prepared, and in constant communication with us when DJing a wedding or event. In fact, they have to video record themselves (we provide a small tri-pod) as part of their apprenticeship.

Why do we train and hire this way? Simple, it’s the professional way to provide great services for customers who cannot afford $1000+ for DJ/MC services. This basic wedding package comes with amazing and brand new sound equipment, dance lighting, the complete appearance package, a thorough music workbook, and a professional wedding DJ with training from us, the owners of MEGA Music Entertainment.

The price for this wedding package is only $799 and $599 during the off season or on a weekday or Sunday anytime of the year. Don’t get stuck with just a “seasonal” DJ from that other DJ company. Be careful as that is the most common complaint in the industry, don’t get stuck with “that” DJ.

Take advantage of this AMAZING offer!! This package is booking very fast, so please contact soon!

Get other great DEALS on our Facebook or Twitter pages!

So, how much is peace of mind worth to you? Is it really only worth $200-400??? Really?? Think how much this is worth and make sure you budget for peace of mind and its true value!

Go to http://www.examiner.com/wedding-planning-in-portland/best-of-2011-portland-s-best-wedding-trends

2012 Wedding Trends!

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If you are a parent getting married you want to read this article about what to do with the kids the day of the wedding!

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Parents and Wedding Planning!!! This is always a fun topic!

Pass this article onto the grooms!

Planning on having Fido participate in the wedding?