It's no secret we live in a world where the "PC" culture runs amok. Everything is offensive. Everything "triggers" someone. Statues, flags and historical markers are being torn down and removed from public view at an alarming rate. Some for good reason and others for reasons a little more obscure. The music industry hasn't been exempt from scrutiny either. There has been much debate lately over playing songs from artists like Michael Jackson and R. Kelly - not because they wrote songs that are particularly offensive or racist, but because of actions in their personal lives. Whether or not they've actually been convicted of a crime in a court of law has no bearing on the court of public opinion. read more]

I've always been a big fan of science fiction and weird stuff. Recently I was hooked on a Netflix series called "Altered Carbon". In the future our "bodies" were nothing more than interchangeable meat suits because we had discovered how to down load the human conscious and transfer it from one shell to another. A new form of immortality. Instead of having a mortgage on a house and car payments, people would pay for "skins" to continue their existence.   Does that sound too far fetched? The Trans Humanist movement has grown tremendously over the last two decades. Their goal is the integration of technology with the human body. Scientists have... [read more]

Spring is here and wedding season is almost in full swing for many of us in colder climates. Time to go through all our wedding gear and test everything. It's also time for a playlist tune up. Like most of you I have a ton of crates built up with wedding playlists covering all the relevant genres and music styles. Each spring I go through and update those crates with more current song choices and weed out less popular tunes. A few years ago I wrote an article for Mobile Beat Magazine focusing on using acoustic versions or different arrangements of popular songs to shake up your playlists and create a different vibe for your weddings. I wrot... [read more]

Next to Christmas and Thanksgiving, Easter is one of the biggest family holidays of the year. Religion aside, most families put on their Sunday best and spend the day celebrating with egg hunts, tons of food and desserts. Easter also means the beginning of spring and the start of a new busy DJ season (at least in New England). Soon there will be proms, weddings, field days and graduation parties. We go from zero to slammed in a weekend! The renewed busy season also brings the welcome opportunity to see industry friends you haven't worked with in a while or seen since the last bridal show you did. Sometimes those reunions can be bittersweet when you find out a colleague or banquet person you enjoyed working with passed away suddenly. I unfortunately experienced that recently. A friend of mine who helped ... [read more]

Another amazing Mobile Beat Las Vegas conference has come and gone. It always takes me a week or so to decompress and really absorb everything I learned. The seminars were nothing short of informative, inspiring and down right emotional at times to the point where the whole ballroom was either laughing, cheering or crying. Mike Walters crushed it from the opening with his "Why People Dance" seminar. Big Daddy Sean McKee had everyone singing and dancing in the aisles (at 9 am), Br... [read more]

Mobile Beat Las Vegas 23 is less than a week away. Time to start packing and finalizing all your travel details. At my house we all sit down and make a travel list before we leave on any vacation. I'm one of those people that start packing two weeks early. My wife and daughter usually wait until the night before, which always means last minute runs to Walmart to get something before we go. Hopefully you enjoyed my article in the January issue of Mobile Beat Magazine for first time attendees. Here is a quick packing and planning list to help get you on your way.

1. Travel documents, hotel reservation, Plane tickets, boarding passes, confirmation numbers
2. Credit cards, drivers license, cash ( large and small bills)
3. TSA approved carry on bag and items
4. Rental car reser... [read more]

Seems like New Years Eve was only a week ago. March has just begun and I wonder how many of you are have already forsaken those resolutions and goals you set for 2019? Did you just stop trying? Has life got you side tracked? Don't let it get you down. The fact is 90% of us don't follow through with the majority of New Years resolutions anyway. Why? Basically because they lack real commitment and planning. One of the main culprits is expectations. We live in a "Now" society. We expect big results in little time. I stopped eating donuts and ice cream for a week; how come I haven't lost forty pounds yet? Accomplishing goals takes a lot of planning and serious... [read more]

Mobile Beat Las Vegas may seem like a perfect guys week get away. Each year has seen an increase in the number of spouses attending the conference. It is really is a great place to have fun, learn and see the sights. The perfect mix of business and pleasure. Besides award winning entertainment and top notch casinos, Las Vegas hosts some beautiful nature parks and remarkable architecture on and off the strip. I've taken my wife many times to Mobile Beat and we've always tried to experience something new and still visit our favorite spots. Here's a list of ideas comprised from some of the experiences my wife and I have enjoyed while at MBLV. My Top Th... [read more]

For the last decade social media marketing has steadily replaced traditional forms of advertising like print media, postal mailings and cold calling. Over the years the algorithm for what works has changed almost as much. Ten years ago all you had to worry about was Facebook and My Space. Now there’s Instagram, Tumblr, Twitter, Pinterest, Linked In and many others to contend with. How do you know which content to add to which site that will get you bookings? It’s seems like one big crap shoot. I reached out to Andrea Eppolito, owner of Andrea Eppolito Events in Las Vegas (A luxury wedding planning and event service) for insight. She is presenting a must see seminar at MBLV23 titled “Social Stature and Selling”. Andrea’s seminar is going to discuss the most widely used platforms fo... [read more]

In the first part of this blog I touched on how Millennial's interact and make connections. They value authenticity and like to follow people's "stories". Millennial's follow You Tubers more than TV shows. A big part of making a connection with them is personality and how you tell your story. Millennial's want to be part of your journey. Recently, I took part in a webinar series from my Alma Mater Johnson & Wales University. The webinar focused on the importance of personal branding and changes in how companies hire and fire personnel. Your online presence will count more than your physical resume in the near future. The webinar broke dow... [read more]