The Art of the Quinceañera – By Cheryl Q.

The Art of the Quinceañera

By Cheryl Q.

TRADITIONS, PAGEANTRY AND MUSIC: THE QUINCEAÑERA IS AN IMPORTANT CELEBRATION IN THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY

Quinceañera (pronounced keen-see-ahn-yair-ah) traditions have a long history dating back to the Aztec Indians and are very symbolic. The custom celebrates the 15th birthday of a Hispanic girl who is leaving childhood behind and now is assuming the responsibilities of womanhood. It is very religious in nature beginning with a Catholic mass where the Quinceañera reaffirms her faith in God. Family is important in this rite of passage.

VIPS

Some key people who may be acknowledged during the reception or may be introduced as a part of the entrance are:

• Abuelos (ah-boo-ay-lows) – Grandparents
• Padrinos (pah-dree-knows) – Godparents, whose spiritual responsibility to the Quinceañera ends.
• Patrones (pah-trown-ace) – Sponsors, who are people who contribute to the success of the celebration.

The Quinceaños (“fifteen years” – one of the three terms used to identify the celebration—see if you can find the other two in this article) is a very elaborate event (even more than some weddings), is very expensive to put on (thus the importance of the Patrones), is usually a formal affair, and may revolve around a theme. Since this is such a major event, and involves extensive, wedding-style preparation on the DJ’s end, I typically charge the same as I do for a wedding.

The Quinceañera (also referring to the guest of honor) is dressed in a princess-like ball gown complete with petticoats and hoops. She has an Honor Court consisting of Damas (dah-mas) and Chambelanes (cham-bay-lahn-ace) similar to bridesmaids and groomsmen. Her escort is a Chambelan. While past tradition dictated 14 couples in the Honor Court (one couple for each year of the Quinceañera’s life), current trends are toward seven couples (one person for each year).

TRADITIONS

A number of traditions are usually part of the event, including the following.

Crowning – This is usually done by the mother and can be done at the church or reception. The crown signifies that the Quinceañera is a princess in the eyes of God. It also signifies the responsibilities she is now assuming. If your client says the crowning will be done at the church, you don’t have to do anything else. If it is going to be done at the reception, then ask who is going to do it, when it will be done and if any special music is required.

Changing of the Shoes – It is thought that up until this time, the Quinceañera hasn’t been able to walk in high-heeled shoes. It isn’t unusual for her to wear flats during the religious ceremony. At some point during the reception, her shoes will be changed from flats to high heels. This is done by her father, brother, padrino or other important male figure in the Quinceañera’s life. This signifies leaving behind childhood and entering adulthood. Special music is usually played during this tradition. Your client will let you know if they are going to do the Changing of the Shoes, who will do it, and when.

Presentation of the Last Doll – This is the last doll the Quinceañera will ever receive as a child. There are a number of ways the presentation can be made. There is a dance with the doll that may or may not be done. If the Quinceañera is not going to dance with the doll, I suggest that her grandmother present the doll to her.

The Dance (El Vals) – The highlight of the entire celebration is a well-rehearsed and choreographed dance involving the entire Honor Court. This is one of the first things the Quinceañera does as an adult. To be prepared, I strongly suggest that find out who the dance instructor is and go to some of the rehearsals. This is also a great way to cultivate new clients and meet an important vendor who can send business your way. The dance instructor may provide the music for the dance (or dances, if there will be a second special dance). They may also help with the entrance.

In each of these traditions, it’s important to let the guests know what’s going on and why.

MUSIC

Latin music and how it is used in the event is a regional matter. For example, in Arizona salsa is only something that is eaten, while in Miami it is something that is danced to. Rancheras, Bandas, Boleros, Cumbias, Nortena, and Corridos are some of the styles popular in the western states, while Salsa, Merengue, Reggaeton, Bachata, and Reggae are styles most requested on the east coast. Promo Only has “Tropical” (East Coast) and “Regional” (West Coast) music collections available, and TM Studios has incorporated both on one disc. Latin Grammy CDs are also a good source for a wide variety of popular music. The DJ Intelligence Top 200 has lists of wedding music that can also be used for entrances and dances with parents. Keep it age-appropriate when helping your client select their music. Interestingly, most of the requests I receive are first by type of music (such as Salsa, Bachata), then by artist, rather than song title.

RECEPTION

A typical order of events at the reception is as follows:

1. Entrance – announcing the Honor Court and Quinceañera (special songs)
2. Dance/Crowning//Changing of Shoes (order can be changed) (special songs)
3. Specialty Dance (optional) (special songs)
4. Father-Daughter Dance (special songs)
5. Last Doll Presentation (possibly special song)
6. Toasts
7. Thank You’s (usually done by Parents and Quinceañera)
8. Cake Cutting (may need “Las Mañanitas,” a traditional birthday song)
9. Candle Lighting or similar (may need special song)

IMPRESS YOUR CLIENT AND HELP YOURSELF

When you impress your client, you have the opportunity to earn big bucks. Do whatever you can to help them make the event a success. Sit with them face to face and help them plan the reception. Use the correct terminology—call the Quinceañera’s escort a Chambelan and the grandparents Abuelos. Some of the traditions have gotten lost over time, so suggest them and let your client know what they mean. Work with them on the dancing and music suggestions. Go to the dance rehearsals. And lastly, give your client “stuff’ such as music selection lists or a handy checklist of items they might need for the day.

FINDING CLIENTS

As most of the Quinceañeras are Catholic celebrations, call your local Catholic churches and ask about advertising in their bulletins. Go to Mexican restaurants and leave some business cards or fliers. You might ask if they know any Quinceañera dance instructors. If so, call them, as well as your local dance studios. Partner with local photographers who do “Quinces.” And there are supermarket bulletin boards that are usually free.

Have fun with Quinceañeras, and remember, when you participate in one, you are a significant part of a family milestone that will be remembered for a lifetime.

“Who Let The Kids Out?”… The real difference between Bar and Bat Mitzvahs

So you’ve done about a dozen or so Bar/ Bat Mitzvahs and you have the basics down. Let’s assume you know the general sequence of events and the traditions that are germane to your locale. By now, you understand the concept of guest interaction and you are able to successfully lead several games with the children. Congratulations, you have just graduated to the 200 level course in Mitzvahs. Now you’re ready to fine-tune your performance. How does a Bar Mitzvah party really differ from a Bat Mitzvah (besides the obvious gender difference!)?This article will offer several tips on modifying your approach to Bar Mitzvahs when necessary. We will focus on the full-scale party with adult and children as guests- not the record hop dance that’s mainly for kids. The child that has a record hop dance usually does so because he likes to dance, so many of the following scenarios may not apply to the record hop. We have found that Bar Mitzvahs may differ from Bat Mitzvahs due to four variations: maturity/social skills, dance aptitude, guest mix, and gross motor/ technical inclination.

The young male guests at a Bar Mitzvah will run the gamete in level of maturity. You’ll encounter everything from the cool kids, to the “young” thirteen year-olds, to the well-behaved but withdrawn kids. The affairs that are at the beginning of the circuit in your area are more apt to have kids that are on the immature side. (The “circuit” is defined as the school year from the first Mitzvah in the demographic group. It usually starts in August/ September and ends in July or September.) They may start cocktail hour running around, throwing food, shirttails hanging out, and avoiding the girls. These kids are going to require a lot more control and structure from your crew. Never discipline the kids on the mic. You may have to set limits, but do so discreetly. You need to incorporate short, more frequent games into the party. You may even want to have the games linked to a color-war theme. The kids will divide into two teams and remain in those teams for the duration of the party. Every individual who participates in any game wins points for their team all night long. Refer back to Games 101 for more game ideas.

Another strategy for that young crowd is to bring party enhancers that will mix well with them. Find out ahead of time of the ratio of boys to girls. If there are many more boys than girls, ask the family if they would like two female party enhancers. Sometimes the boy is really shy, so we supply one guy and one female party enhancer. Usually, the boys hang out with the male dancer first and try to emulate him. During cocktail hour, the staff becomes their buddy. The kids play games during that hour and begin to let their guard down. You can modify most games for use during cocktail hour. Keep in mind that space availability is usually limited during cocktail hour unless the kids have a separate room. Parents are so grateful when you engage the kids in activity during this hour. Be creative since it can be the most crucial hour of your event.

Conversely, you may encounter that cool crowd of boys. The guest of honor usually looks the part sporting the latest hairstyle. He usually has an even mix of boys and girls at the party. With this client, you may want to suggest a creative grand entrance. Have him escorted in by your female staff, or have him dressed up in a macho costume. You can even go as far as bringing him in on a moped! This guest of honor may want two female dancers, so here’s your opportunity to upsell the job. Add a staff member, and I would still have a male there for the girls in attendance as well. Plan ahead and you’ll have an easier time.

The second variation between Bar and Bat Mitzvahs is dance aptitude. It’s pretty rare to find a thirteen year-old boy who is a good dancer. If the boys can dance, they’ll stay on the dance floor. If they can’t dance, they may boycott your attempts to coax them on the floor. Why would they want to dance when you’re calling them over on the mic, and the videographer is following them for some footage!!! Try the subtle approach. Have your staff take a quick survey during cocktail hour and ask them if they dance. Teach them a cool move or a short dance during cocktail hour. Put it in terms they’ll understand and tell them they can use the steps later in a lip synch contest. Bring the new rave sticks. They are the 4″ glow sticks. Teach them how to dance with them. There are many cool moves you can do with your hands. When you send out your planning worksheets to your families, ask them if they are interested in pre-event dance lessons. Offer them individual or family lessons. If you can’t teach them, contact a local dance studio and subcontract a dancer.

Dance lessons can be a fun icebreaker prior to the affair. You can gain valuable information about the personality of the family to help plan your event. Lessons should include: the basic fast dance step (step-touch); hand use while dancing; Electric Slide; hand moves (raise the roof, stir the soup, etc); and any follow-a-long novelty routine you plan on using on the day of the affair. If the guest of honor is nervous about his dance with his mother, suggest that half way through the dance, their guests join them on the dance floor. Remember, if the parents aren’t big dancers then their guests will take their lead. If they sit all evening, their guests will be less likely to dance. Encourage the parents to take their conversations to the perimeter of the dance floor to draw their guests towards the floor.

The third factor to consider when entertaining at a Bar Mitzvah is the guest mix. As we mentioned earlier, some parties have an even number of boys and girls. These are usually the dancing crowds. If there are 40 boys and 5 girls, 2 of who are cousins, then you know that slow dance games are out. Have your female staff dance with the boys. Remember the age difference though. There should not be any bumping and grinding with the kids! The boys usually enjoy singing in groups in the microphone. Therefore, arrange sing-a-longs with clean edits of their music, or lip synch contests between teams.

If there are at least 5 or 6 girls you can try to play the matching game called Single Out. Collect trivia about the guest of honor and ask the girls the questions. Whichever girl has the most correct answers wins. She gets a spotlight dance with the guest of honor. The videographer and photographer will love you for the photo opportunity!

If you know the anticipated guest mix ahead of time, suggest a separate cocktail hour for the kids. Fill the room with carnival type games, sports games, basketball shots, or even a game show or video games. Supply a small sound system and play the kids’ requests. They’re usually songs that are not very danceable but are priceless in winning the kids over for the rest of the evening when cocktail hour ends.

You may also want to book side entertainment for your client. Give the kids the option to play or dance. Limit the chances of the group causing damage in the bathroom! Side entertainment usually starts at cocktail hour and stays for at least 3 more hours. Suggestions are: karaoke, wax hand carts, make your own music videos, virtual reality games, Velcro wall climbing, photo buttons, and the list goes on. Have your staff play the games with them as a means of building that ever-so-important rapport.

The fourth main difference we find is the gross motor and technical interests of the boys versus girls. “Boys will be boys” pretty much sums it up. They love the running relay race games more than the girls in their thigh high dresses do. Tailor your games to their needs. Bring a collapsible basketball game. Conduct a tricycle relay race. Again, it’s all about games, games, and more games. Just be careful at the dressy black tie affairs and don’t have the kids roll on the ground in their new suits and tuxedos.

Catch their attention right from the start. Start a sign up list to be a “Guest DJ”. During the party, call them up one or two at a time and have your DJ show them your gear. They love to learn about the technology and “push buttons.” Let them cue a CD and listen in the headphones. When appropriate, allow them to dedicate a song over the mic. What a cool experience and another great photo opportunity. I have kids come back to me years later and still remember their turn as “guest DJ.”

Some parents will ask you for planning suggestions at the time of booking. They may tell you that their child does not want the traditional dance party and that they expect mostly boys. Suggest a non-traditional venue. Have the party at a video arcade type of facility. Sports complexes also have catering capabilities. In that case, the music would not be the focus of the party. You will have more difficulty entertaining in a non-traditional venue due to the competition with the attractions. The family may not need to hire an interactive entertainer and may want to consider just piping in music from the facility.

The bottom line is to make sure that there is a good match between your company and the client. Don’t accept a job that you are not prepared to handle. Continue to read, learn and change. The recipe for success in the Mitzvah market is: do not use a recipe. Read the crowd and get to know the kids and each party will take on its own flavor

Art of Mitzvah Game

Bar and Bat Mitzvahs can be among the most rewarding occasions for which a Disc Jockey can perform. Yes, there are so many details to consider while preparing and during the event itself, but the better prepared you are the better the results. I always find myself thinking two steps ahead of the game at every Mitzvah I do. This article focuses on the art of presenting games in a way that are spontaneous and fun for your guests while the hard work you’re doing looks like fun too. And, with a little practice on your part…it will be!Games can be a very important part of the mitzvah agenda. However, they may not be for your client’s event. The maturity level of the boy or girl and their friends as well as what part (of what the industry calls) “the circuit” they are in will be the deciding factors. The circuit is the time frame from when the Mitzvahs start in the year till the end of its’ season. These are two very important pieces of information to find out when you are interviewing your potential clients. I find that games are best used in situations where the kids have not yet found their “independence” and are still looking for someone to lead them. However, if the boys and girls seem to be more mature, I have a tendency to forgo the games and concentrate on dancing.

I usually use the standard games (Pepsi/Seven Up, Limbo and Hula-Hoop) for the parties that are at the beginning of the circuit. Now if the kids have been to a fair amount of Mitzvahs by the time they attend the party I’m working at, I find it best to use games that are more recent and fresh (Musical Chair Scavenger Hunt, Pass the Hula-Hoop, T-shirt Balloon game). Remember one of the most important tasks you will have that night is connecting with the kids. If you can’t connect with them from the get go then chances are you will not get the respect that you need to last through the whole event.

So now that we’ve gotten the psychological stuff worked out, let’s move on to what type of games are available and when they should be played. There are two places in the course of the event that are ideal for games. The first is during the cocktail hour. At this time I use games that are not necessarily structured but available for the kids to play with. The second time is while the adults are finishing their lunch/dinner. Usually the kids are finished with their meal in 15 minutes and the adults haven’t even started with the main course so I need some great games to occupy their time until lunch/dinner is done.

This is when I’ll use the type of games in which all the kids can participate.

COCKTAIL HOUR GAMES: The cocktail hour is an opportunity for the adults to socialize. So what are the kids doing? Too often they are running around creating havoc. It is during this time that you’ll want to break the ice with some simple games that the kids can play on their own. If the parents don’t have it in their budget to hire someone to entertain them like a magician, caricaturist, Karaoke or Game Show Mania, it’s up to you to entertain. Keep in mind though that all these types of vendors can be a great up-sale for your package so you may want to propose these services first.

The games I use are The Human Puzzle, Gyro Ball and Hula-Hoops. After so many years of being frustrated by the boys running around the dance floor and bunches of girls heading for the restroom or pay phone I said to myself “enough is enough”! I wanted to connect with these kids and keep them occupied all at the same time so these games became my solution. All I do is keep the games by the DJ booth and start hanging out with them. Let’s take a look at each game:

The Human Puzzle: The Human Puzzle is a problem solving game. Two people play the actual game but it also attracts attention and you will find all the other kids gathering around to watch. It involves two ropes that the players have wrapped around their wrists in the shape of bracelets. The contestants are connected together by the two ropes and the object of the game is for them to separate from each other. It is a very easy task but the kids tend to make it more difficult than it really is. As a result it takes a long time to figure out. When this is the case, after about 10 minutes of trying to undo themselves, I will start giving them clues. The first couple to get out of the human puzzle will get a prize. I usually bring 4 sets of this game and the kids really love it. You can order The Human Puzzle though one of the vendors in Mobile Beat and they always have them available at all the conventions.

Gyro Ball: Gyro Ball is a test of skill and coordination. You can have anywhere from one to four people play at a time. Gyro ball is a plastic cylinder shaped object that comes with a ball. The object of the game is to place the ball in the cylinder and attempt to get the ball circulating inside it. Once they have achieved this task, the next attempt is to pass it onto the next person while the ball is still circulating. This game is available at toy stores and again at the conventions

Hula-Hoops: Hula-Hoops are pretty straightforward. I usually bring about eight to a party and place them on the dance floor. The girls especially love to play with them and I usually mention over the microphone that this is a great opportunity to practice for the contest that will be coming up later on in the party. You will also find the adults joining in because this is such a nostalgic toy for them.

All three games are going on simultaneously. The best part is that you will break the ice with the kids and get to know them by name. A good 40 minutes passes by with all the kids hanging out in one area. Let me tell you the adults will love you for it!

DINNER GAMES: There are at least 5 games that you can use during dinner. As I mentioned before the most popular ones are Pepsi/Seven Up, Limbo and a Hula-Hoop contest. There are also the more recent games like Pass the Hula-Hoop, Balloon T-shirt Game and Musical Chairs Scavenger Hunt. If you are just starting to get into the mitzvah scene, I suggest you familiarize yourself thoroughly with these games before you walk into any event. Quite simply, if you don’t know how to do the games well, it will show in your performance and you might end up with egg on your face. These kids can be very demanding and if you don’t know what you are doing, they can really break you down. So before you go to an event, try these games out on your kids or friends at home. Perhaps this sounds a bit odd to you but in the long run you will be grateful that you did. Here is a brief explanation of each of the games:

Pepsi/Seven Up: This is also commonly referred to as Coke & Pepsi. P/S is an elimination game. You will ask the kids to grab a partner. Have each group of two line up across from each other at either end of the dance floor. One side of the dance floor will be named Pepsi and the other will be Seven Up. You then explain the object of the game by telling them you will either be saying Pepsi or Seven Up. If you say Pepsi, the Pepsi side has to run over and sit on Seven Up’s lap. If you say Seven Up, the Seven Up side has to run across and sit on Pepsi’s lap. There is also one more soft drink involved and that is Dr. Pepper. If you say “Dr. Pepper, all the kids have to run to the center of the dance floor. At that time the DJ will put on a style of music the kids have to dance to. For instance if the song is “Staying Alive”, than they will have to dance like John Travolta. If it is a country tune, then of course have them Doe C Doe and if you have a classical song, have them dance like ballerinas. The last one is my personal favorite because the boys really ham it up! The object of this game is to get to your partner’s side of the dance floor when your soft drink is mentioned as fast as you can. The last person to get to the other side is out until the last team is left. Let them run back and forth a couple of times before you start eliminating. Use Dr. Pepper about three or four times during the game and have your DJ ready with four different styles of music ahead of time so that when you say Dr. Pepper he is ready to play the song. You can also psyche the kids out by saying the same drink twice and pointing in the other direction. Usually 3 sets of kids will move and you can eliminate them faster. Once you start getting the hang of this game you can start making it your own by creatively adding ideas to the basic game.

Limbo Contest: Limbo is also an elimination game and great because it’s for all ages. Little kids can play as well as the adults and believe it or not some adults will come up to play. You will have all the kids line up behind the Mitzvah child and then explain the rules. Ask two kids who are not really participating in the games to hold the Limbo stick. This will help break the ice with them because they will feel like they are part of the party without playing what they think is a child’s game (pretty clever huh?). The rules for Limbo are as follows: First, I tell them they must go feet first head last (no surfing either). In addition I also mention that they may not touch the Limbo stick at any time with any part of their body. Finally, they are not allowed to have their hands, knees or bottom touch the floor and at no time can they jump over the Limbo stick. The last person left will win a prize. I usually have a junior winner for the little ones and the grand prize goes to one of the older kids.

Hula-Hoop: Hula-Hoop is yet another elimination game. I will have all the kids who want to play line up against the wall and have four kids compete at a time. Once the music starts, they can begin. The last person still going in each group of four will then go into the semi finals. The semi finalists will then start competing against each other until there is a winner. If they are skilled at this game, you may want to make it more difficult by having them tap their hand to their head, lift up their left foot up in the air or twirl around in a circle. Most likely you will have to do this as you get towards the end of the game. Again, you may have some adults participate which always makes for a more exciting event.

Pass the Hula hoop: Pass the Hula Hoop is a more recent game and one I play at most every Mitzvah I do. I ask all the kids to get into a big circle and hold hands. I will place two Hula-Hoops in the circle by having two sets of kids put their hands through the Hula-Hoops and hold hands again. The object of the game is to pass the Hula-Hoop though their body and onto the next person as fast as they can with out letting go of hands while the music is playing. Whoever has the hula-hoop wrapped around their body when the music stops will be out until the last person is left. Have your DJ play an up tempo song like The Twist for about 15 seconds at a time so that the game won’t go on too long. This game is exciting because the kids gather around to route for their favorite person as they are eliminated.

Balloon T-Shirt Game: This game is really fun and all the kids can participate for the whole game. This is the beauty of the game because you are not eliminating kids and will have their full attention at all times. You must supply five XXXL T-shirts and at least 150 nine-inch balloons. Have the kids get into 5 groups of 6. Have each group pick the smallest person to be the balloon person. At that time the person chosen will put on the oversized T-shirt. The object of the game is to blow up as many balloons as they possibly can and stuff them under the T shirt while the DJ plays the song “I’m Fat” by Weird Al. They will have approximately 4 minutes to complete this task. The group with the most balloons stuffed will be the winners. I usually have everyone gather around as we count the balloons by pulling them out of the T-shirt and popping them with a pin. DO NOT, I REPEAT…DO NOT pop the balloons while they are inside the shirt; the child will get stung. Instead, have one of the kids from each group help you pull them out while you pop them. I will also have one adult help out in each group because some of the kids might not be able to tie the balloons and it’s always good to have some adult participation.

Musical Chairs Scavenger Hunt: This game is quickly becoming the most popular game in Southern California; all the kids dig it. If they’ve been to a lot of Mitzvahs, this game is a must. Musical Chairs Scavenger Hunt is Musical Chairs with a twist. It is played just like regular MCs but when the music stops, you will shout out an object for instance “a tie.” The kids then have to go out into the audience, find a tie and get back to a seat before they are all taken. This will continue with other objects that you shout out but before they get a new object, they must return the object they have in their hand back to the person they got it from. They may not take an object from their own body. It must be from another source. A couple of examples of items you can use are ties, shoes, sunglasses, a spoon, lipstick, a comb, etc. The last item I usually call out is always a perfectly square piece of toilet paper from the restroom. This gets quite a laugh and ends the game with a bang.

So there you have it. There are many games to choose from and I’ve only mentioned a handful in this article. However, these are the easiest and most popular in the Mitzvah scene right now. One last thing to mention, you will want to have prizes available for the winners. I usually have the moms bring at least 15 prizes to give away. The most popular and easy prizes to get are $2.00 bills, gift certificates to Baskin Robins or gift certificates from your local music store. Let the kids know that they will be competing for “Fabulous Prizes”. This will encourage them to participate.

In closing let me say you will find that games will: 1) totally enhance the party; 2) keep the kids occupied; and 3) allow the adults to enjoy the party just as much as the kids since, in essence, you will be watching their kids for them. Remember the adults (especially moms) want a chance to just be people instead of parents while attending a party and this will allow them to do just that. Enjoy!

Performing Bar/Bat Mitzvahs

As you veer into the Bar/Bat Mitzvah market, keep one very important thing in mind: they can be very challenging. On the same token they can also be very rewarding.When a Jewish boy (Bar Mitzvah) or girl (Bat or Bas Mitzvah) turns 13, a religious service is held at his or her Synagogue, usually on a Saturday morning. A celebration or Simcha follows the service. The celebration following is what this lesson will address. Keeping in the mind the regional differences that exist, I will address the Mitzvah performing from the perspective of how we do them in our market area in southern Arizona.

The Cocktail Hour

Usually there is a cocktail hour prior to the party. In our area the cocktail hour is typically held outside of the main room in the foyer. Sometimes the adults would like to be alone, allowing the kids to go into the main room. If this is the case, be prepared to keep the kids busy with games and dancing. Otherwise, if everyone is together in the foyer, there are numerous ways of entertaining the kids. A small stage set-up with karaoke is a great way to keep them occupied. You may also want to consider supplying the client with a face painter or balloonist. I have also seen inflatables brought in early in the evening for the kids to play with, but be advised you must have an ending time for these, otherwise you will be competing with the inflatables as the evening goes on.

Grand Entrance

As the guests enter the room, this is your opportunity for your first big impression. Upbeat music, lights going, dancers/party prompters on the dance floor urging the guests to join in, is a great combination to start the evening. After a few minutes we introduce the Mitzvah, usually alone without the family, with some high-energy music that is related to the theme. For instance “Rock & Roll Part 2″ or “Get Ready For This” for a sports theme, a Broadway song for a performing arts theme, “Dance To The Music” for a music theme are just a few suggestions. The Mitzvah may simply walk into the room waving to the guests, or you might try something like a motorcycle entrance, or maybe have the Mitzvah carried in by family members, or simply escorted by your dancers. Crank up the energy by having everyone clapping their hands and cheering for the Mitzvah!

The Hora

The traditional Jewish dance called the Hora is the next item on the list immediately after the introduction. I suggest either Bobby Morganstein’s “Hora Medley”, or if you can get a copy, Steven Seigel’s “Ultimate Hora Medley” is incredible. Do an announcement something like, “Ladies and Gentlemen we like to start (Mitzvah’s name) special night off right, so we’d like to invite everyone onto the dance floor for the Hora.” Start the song, crank up the lights, have the dancers assist and watch the fun begin. Be prepared also to give a little guidance if the guests are unsure what exactly to do. Have them form a circle or circles, holding the person’s hand next to them. You may also need to let them know which direction. “Outside circle to the left, inside circle to the right”, etc. If your client has purchased giveaways, now is a great time to pass some of them out to assist with the overall energy level.

The Prayers

After the Hora we may follow it with a few more dance songs, depending on the client’s wishes, but usually we prepare for the traditional prayers or blessings. The Motzi is the blessing over the Challah or bread. Sometimes the client may want to have a Havdalah service. This is a traditional prayer and singing that signifies the end of Shabbot, the holy day. It is done a short while after sundown. Typically, the Mitzvah will do the prayer(s) alone or with family members or a friend or cousin. Never be afraid to ask someone at your local Temple for assistance with the intricacies of Judism. They are usually very helpful in educating you, and this will only help you in projecting a confident and educated presence to your client.

Lunch/Dinner

During the meal we typically will try to play more of the adults requests. Motown, oldies, show tunes, Sinatra, etc., usually work well. However, be prepared for some complaints from the kids. Simply reassure them that their requests will be played very soon. In our area the most popular way of serving the meal is a plated meal for the adult and a buffet for the kids. The end result is that the kids are done with their meal in 10-20 minutes and the adults are still eating while the kids are anxious to do something “fun”.

1st Activity For The Kids

Because we try to allow the adult guests at our Bar/Bat Mitzvahs as much “adult time” as they can have, we normally will do a game or two and possibly a few dances after the kids finish eating while the adults are continuing their meal. While upbeat, high-energy can and does work, we try to keep a somewhat more subdued level of energy on the dance floor so the adults can have a nice meal and have conversation with their friends and/or family members. Therefore, a favorite in our area is the limbo. Everyone is familiar with the limbo so I won’t mention any more on it. Other favorites like Coke & Pepsi are also a big hit at anytime for the kids but, early on keep in mind that the more energy and noise the activity makes, the less time the adults have to enjoy their meal and adult conversation.

Candlelighting

The candlelighting ceremony is a traditional activity done at Bar/Bat Mitzvahs. While it may differ in some areas, it typically involves the Mitzvah calling up 13 or 14 individuals or groups of individuals that have been important in their Jewish life. Normally the Great Grandparents are first, followed by Grandparents, Aunts and Uncles, cousins, teachers, close friends of the family, school and/or Hebrew school friends, siblings and then parents.

Many times in our area the Mitzvah will also light a candle for him/herself. We will make an announcement like, “Ladies and Gentlemen at this time we are going to have our traditional candlelighting ceremony, so if we can ask for undivided attention, and welcome to the microphone, (Mitzvah’s name)!” From there, the Mitzvah will begin the candlelighting on the mic and normally alone. They usually start by reading a short paragraph, poem, or limerick about the person(s) that they are asking to come up and a light a candle. Many times the clients will want specific songs played as the individual(s) come up to light the candle. For instance, the Mitzvah may be talking about his or her favorite cousins and how they’ve always enjoyed surfing together. Then as they begin to walk up to light their candle, the DJ starts a song like, “Surfin’ Safari” by the Beach Boys at the hook of the song. For a group of Aunts, Uncles and Cousins you might play a song like, “We Are Family.”

This part of coordinating the event may, and many times does, take more time on your part. Your client may ask for assistance in coming up with 13 or 14 specific songs about a number of different topics. If they prefer, you might suggest a medley of popular Jewish songs that can be found on the Jewish Party CD by Bobby Morganstein.

The Rest of The Evening

Discovering the “magic” of what makes a successful Bar/Bat Mitzvah celebration has been an ongoing learning experience over my last 20 years of performing. I will admit that it has been in the last 7 or 8 years that I finally figured out what works and what doesn’t.

From the very beginning of meeting with the client, (we will discuss this in more detail in a later lesson) I find out what their definition of a successful party is. Is it one that has adults and kids dancing together on the dance floor? Is it only the kids having a great time with the adults either watching or picking the kids up later? Or are the adults the focus of the entertainment, and the kids are bored to tears throwing paper wads at each other in the hallways?

For the most part, especially if you’re new to this market, centering the entertainment for everyone’s enjoyment is your best bet and more often than not very successful. Here-in lies your biggest challenge: How do you get the testosterone-ridden boys to mingle with the sweet girls, while at the same time you want Mom, Dad, the Aunts, Uncles and Grandparents on the dance floor too? Interaction is the key! Interactive dances and games are the sure way to involve everyone. Time-honored interactives and follow-alongs like the Stroll, the Slide, YMCA, and Shout are always enjoyed by all ages. Newer ones like Men In Black, Tongoneo, the Train go over just as well.

The answer to your next question is No. No, you’re not going to do interactive dances all night, but be prepared to do lots of them. Ten to fifteen is normal and will keep everyone happy. You can still do some rap for the kids at appropriate times, and throw in some oldies or Motown for the adults but think about your programming like any other show you do. At a wedding, do you play “Baby Got Back” right after a Sinatra song brings out all the 50-70 year olds? Conversely, you probably wouldn’t play “Come On Eileen” for a bunch of screaming 30-somethings followed by “Chances Are” by Johnny Mathis. The same goes for Mitzvahs.

A few key suggestions:

Take advantage of having all the kids at the ice-cream bar by turning the music towards the adults.
Be ready for a game or kids’ dance right after dinner because the adults will still be eating when the kids are ready for fun.
When you do a game, try to make it enjoyable for everyone, whether or not they are involved in the game, by interjecting enthusiasm and humor.
Remind yourself and everyone on your performance staff to have fun and look like they are. Enthusiasm is contagious!
Never be afraid to ask your client what they have seen at other celebrations that they have liked or disliked.
Ask the child too. He or she may become one of your best salespeople by telling their friends what a great time they had at their Bar/Bat Mitzvah.
Remember, you need to balance what your client requests and what your experience with parties in general has taught you about reading a crowd. Spend the time to get to understand the traditions involved in the mitzvah celebration. It would certainly be worth your while to study up on the religious ceremony that the party celebrates. Ask questions ahead of time so that you can be prepared for the event. These events can be great fun for the guests and for you. Once you develop a good reputation in this market, you will be in demand again and again. It’s well worth doing the “homework” up front…it will pay off!

Mitzvah Mobile Marketing: It’s All About Getting That First Gig

The following is our first installment in a series of articles by mobile scribe Jeff Stiles on ways DJs can better their marketing tactics. This month Stiles explores what mobile jocks on both coasts are doing to capitalize on the financially lucrative bar/bat mitzvah market.
When mobile jocks prepare to entertain at a bar mitzvah, they take with them their music library, their dual CD players, their light shows and their roadies, and dress in their tuxedos just as they would for any other gig.It’s what they do differently, however, that enables them to capitalize on the lucrative and rewarding bar/bat mitzvah scene

Webster’s dictionary defines “mitzvah” as 1) a commandment of the Jewish law, and 2) a meritorious or charitable act. A Jewish rabbi in San Diego adds that “bar” is an Aramaic word meaning “son” and “mitzvah” refers to a son accepting responsibility for the commandments of Jewish law and adulthood.

To be tops in the bar mitzvah market, DJs need professionalism, personality and perseverance. But according to DJs who specialize in this specialty market, the hardest part is getting that ever-elusive first gig.

Sundance Productions

Eric Sands of Sundance Productions in San Diego was mitzvahed himself when he was young. Of course, when Sands was honored at the Wailing Wall in Israel in the summer of 1977, it was about 115 degrees, he had to recite from the Torah for a full 45 minutes, and girls were not allowed near the actual ceremony. A full DJ party, obviously, would have not been kosher.

Sands started DJing in 1982, when as a college student he would lead dormitory parties “for 500 sweaty drunk students” every weekend. From there he graduated to the wedding scene and eventually started specializing in bar mitzvahs. Although he’s a single-unit operator, eight assistants work with him for each show. “My roadies are actually much different than conventional roadies because they help me set up and actually do the party with me. You really have to have at least one assistant, if not more, with you when you do these parties, as well as the dancers.” Sands has four dancers that he uses regularly.

Why is marketing so important in the mitzvah realm? Well, for the basic bar mitzvah, the revenue is almost twice that of a wedding reception or other private parties. And for the more elaborate bar mitzvah, mobile jocks can often get over three times their normal rates. “My rates are $975 for four hours, that includes myself and my assistant, basic lights, bubbles and prizes,” says Sands. “That does not include dancers or props. Our high end could be $2400 or more, and that would include a minimum of two dancers, props and sometimes big-screen video.”

DJs are different than other vendors in the bar mitzvah scene, according to Sands, because DJs are the only vendors in the industry that can get considerably more than they can in the wedding scene. “All other vendors-photographers, video, caterers, florists-pretty much get the same or less for doing a bar mitzvah than they would for the typical wedding,” he explains.

Once you’re established in the mitzvah industry, marketing is a cinch-it’s basically all word-of-mouth from there within tightly bound Jewish communities. The trick is breaking into that market.

“To know the Jewish community-where the temples are and to personally know the rabbis-is definitely important,” says Sands. “Word-of-mouth between all the parents is especially important, because that’s what’s going to keep things going once you’re in the business. The goal is that you’re able to quote several people from a temple where you’ve done a bar mitzvah, so when the next person calls who belongs to that temple you can say, ‘Oh yeah, I just did the Schwartz’s bar mitzvah!’ They like to keep it in the family.”

But to get into the business, you’ve got to start somewhere, and that’s often by advertising within that community. According to Sands, temple newspapers can be a good source of exposure for mitzvah jocks: “You’ve got to find the main temple publications within your community and then commit yourself to them for two or three years.”

Sands, having grown up in a Jewish family, says that although having a Jewish DJ might be what a lot of what parents want to see, it’s not altogether necessary. “It’s just important to know the terms,” he says. “For example, you don’t want the bar mitzvah parents to see that you’re announcing the blessing over the bread; what you’re doing is announcing the motzi over the harma. Terminology is important.”

Would a DJ want to go to the extreme of putting their logo on a yarmulke (beanie) and handing it out at a bar mitzvah? “I don’t think that’s appropriate,” laughs Sands, “but it would make you stand out!”

Randy Rae

While most DJ companies specialize in either weddings or bar mitzvahs, New Jersey jock Randy Rae makes just as much of her living doing either one. In fact, her base price on both weddings and bar mitzvahs is the same. But her prices on mitzvahs can escalate quite high-depending on lighting, staging, the number of dancers provided, and if the client wants karaoke or magicians.

“I believe that I’m doing the same thing whether I’m doing a wedding or a bar mitzvah,” Rae says. “I’m bringing in gear and setting it up, I’m playing music, I’m working with photographers, videographers, caterers. Yes, bar mitzvahs are more work because you have more children and more things to do,” but for Rae it’s worth the extra work because of the additional revenue generated.

As far as marketing her business, Rae says she’s very involved with her clients. “I know that time is money,” she explains, “and when you spend more than a half hour with a client it can seem like you’re wasting time. But I tell my clients when they come to see me that they’ll be there with me for at least an hour. I tell them to bring a notebook and encourage them to bring the whole family. I think the kids really set the tone of the party-if they’re mature or immature, cool or nerdy, girls or boys, if they like to dance. And the relationships between the parents and kids are also a good determination of what kind of money you’re going to get.”

The first question Rae asks mitzvah clients at these consultations is what they’ve seen before and liked and what they’ve seen and disliked. “I think the first part of sales and marketing is listening, listening, listening,” she says. “I start writing everything down-I take a gizillion notes. That’s how you know where their head level is, and that’s how you know what package you’re gonna sell them. As soon as the first words out of their mouths is, ‘I love those giveaways!’ you know you need to set up a nice bulky giveaway package for them. As soon as they say, ‘I don’t like the music too loud’ then you know that they’re a little more conservative and they don’t like what we call here the Long Island Style, which is very pumped up and high energy, nonstop aerobic-styled dancing.”

Rae’s first recommendation for mitzvah advertising is to be in Jewish publications. “You want to be where the clientele is,” she says. “Most people don’t shop for mitzvah DJs out of the phone book, except the very low-end clients. And you won’t get much from advertising on the walls in kosher delis and places like that.”

Rae also suggests advertising in Hebrew schools. “I actually do 6-week sessions in these schools for the kids who are graduating, and we teach them the actual dances so that if they’ve never been to a bar mitzvah they won’t feel uncomfortable.”

Although Rae says that having a Jewish heritage is not essential for a mitzvah jock, it does help. “It helps because people know that I understand about Jewish religion and about kosher and non-kosher. You listen to me talk, and you know I’m Jewish. I can do certain things in selling a job, like using terms and knowing the prayers.

“I think if you educate yourself, you’re okay. I’ve done Russian weddings, Polish weddings, Italian weddings, Spanish weddings, and introductions in those languages. You should see me lead the Electric Slide in Russian! It’s all about entertainment, and I educate myself about these things.”

Bobby Morganstein Productions

“All my marketing revolves around how to get bar mitzvahs,” says Bobby Morganstein of Philadelphia-based BMP Productions. “Less than 1% of what we do is weddings, and the only way we’ll take a reception is if someone was at a bar/bat mitzvah we did and want that style for their wedding reception.

There’s just a lot more competition in that market and we can’t demand the prices we’re getting for bar mitzvahs.”

While BMP does demand quite a large price for mitzvahs, Morganstein says that he concentrates on sending out large packages for more money. “With my larger packages, it may start out at $3000 with two dancers, going up to about $7000 for some of the fuller packages. My average personally for a Saturday night is around $5000, although some of my guys work for less than that. It really depends on what the customer is looking for when it comes to staff.”

Morganstein has a marketing angle for everything his company does. “For a Friday night school dance that we may do,” he says as an example, “the max we can get is about $300-$500. But for me, that’s a marketing angle to get more business. I tend not to book any parties that don’t give me a marketing angle to get more bar and bat mitzvahs.”

Morganstein says his best advice is for mitzvah DJs is to get that first job . . . and to get the first job, you have to do some networking. “You really have to get involved a little bit with the Jewish community,” he says. “That might mean going to a synagogue and doing a free party for Hanakkah, or telling them that you’re going to do a one-hour free party so the kids get to hear your name.”

Crunching prices or cutting production costs won’t do the job, he says. “People really want to be happy with who’s running their party. And once you get that first job you need to really spend a lot of money on that job to do it right. You have to hire dancers, you have to get a good DJ so you can stay on the floor with a wireless microphone, you have to go the extra mile, because doing a great job is the only way you’re going to build a bar mitzvah clientele.”

For advertising, Morganstein recommends a variety of avenues. “Number one, advertise in any Jewish periodicals in your market such as a synagogue newsletter to let people know that you’re out there. It’s pretty inexpensive to advertise in the classifieds. Some of the Jewish newspapers have bar and bat mitzvah issues, and we sometimes put an ad in those just to let our customers know we’re here.”

Other areas of marketing he advises would include party showcases. “At the showcases you get to either perform or set up a booth to show your video to people who are walking around. For a new company looking to break in and show their stuff, it’s a great forum.”

Morganstein says the greatest marketing tool his company utilizes is a summer camp tour among all the main summer youth camps in the Philadelphia market. The company usually will charge a very low amount-just enough to cover prizes-and then run a mini-bar mitzvah.

Morganstein is quick to admit that he used to think a DJ had to be Jewish to do bar mitzvahs, until he found non-Jewish DJs with great personalities.

“In the old days I thought everyone wanted a Jewish male to run their parties, but now in my company I have a female MC who’s the most requested MC in my company; Byron is a Jamaican guy who used to be a dancer and is a a fun, funky person; another of my DJs is from Trinidad, and I also have another female MC.

“Oh yeah,” he adds, laughing, “then I have a couple Jewish guys! “That’s the bottom line-if you’ve got the personality that’s all you need. Once you get a job, just take care of your customer and always put them first. As the old saying goes, good news travels slowly but bad news travels about twenty times faster

Jewish Trivia

1. What do Jews get married under? Chupa
2. What is the English translation of Bar Mitzvah? Son of the commandment.
3. What is the most sacred day on the Jewish calendar? Shabbat
4. When is a Bris done? Eight days after birth.
5. What is a Ketubah? Marriage Contract
6. Which one of the following animals is kosher? Rat, grasshopper, rabbit, mouse? Grasshopper
7. How do you say hebrew in hebrew? Ivrit
8. What is the name of the Israeli ambulance service? Magen David Edom
9. What is the hebrew title for a Torah scribe? Sofer
10. What is the hebrew title for a cantor? Chazan
11. What is the Kotel? The Western Wall
12. What is the hebrew name for Israel Independence Day? Yom Ha-atzma-ut
13. What does pareve mean? Not meat or dairy.
14. The patriarchs of the Jewish people are Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Who are the matriarchs? Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel, and Leah
15. What is hidden during the passover seder? The afikomen
16. What are Tekiah, Shevarim, and Teruah? Shofar notes
17. Who spent 3 days in the belly of a whale? Jonah
18. Who was the first prime minister of Israel? David Ben Gurion
19. What Jewish holiday do you dress in costume for? Purim
20. What is the standard pastry for that holiday? Hamantaschen
21. What is the name of the Israeli national anthem? Hatikva