Beginning in the mid-1980s, the wedding entertainment industry took a dramatic turn. With the introduction of DJ Entertainment, quickly taking the place of bands that had once been the standard, the wedding and banquet business would never be the same.

So here we are in 2010, some 25 years after the wedding-DJ revolution and like all great entertaining arts, this art too has undergone quite an evolution.

Today’s top-of-the-line audio and lighting equipment produce the most vivid colors and clearest, deepest sound the industry has ever experienced. Despite all the great technological improvements that the DJ industry has embraced, there is still an element of distance between the guests and the music.

The best speakers in the world can produce a near exact reproduction of Phil Collins’ voice as it enters your ear canal, but as sweet as those words may sound– Phill Collins is not at your wedding.  The wonderful thing about using a band is the dynamic between band members, performers and the audience. On the other hand, the advantage of DJ entertainment is the versatility of having a nearly endless music library with the original recording artists.

So how do you combine DJ entertainment with the live band vibe? One great way of bridging the gap is by adding a Party Percussionist to the ensemble.  A trained Party Percussionist matches the music that the DJ is spinning adding a “live-music” element that connects guests closely to the music.

The photos shown here feature a Hurricane Productions wedding entertainment package including 4 piece QSC sound system, professional lighting, multiple flat screens, and an experienced Party Percussionist front and center.  The music takes on new life as DJ and Percussionist interact and motivate the crowd; it’s truly a unique wedding reception experience.

Please contact us for more information about adding a Party Percussionist or any other element you’ve seen in this post to your wedding or private affair.

Hurricane Productions Availability Check

Email us: info@hurricaneproductions.com

OK….now I have your attention.

The truth is that we are constantly introducing new concepts, almost on a daily basis. Some stick, some become gimmicks and some fall to the wayside. But how do I know some of them are working? It is said that imitation is the best form a flattery and well, plenty of that has sprung up in the past 365 days since our last anniversary.

Strato and I have many inside jokes about “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” – one of my favorite books and movies. So I added a clip here to explain what goes on in our office and on our computers every single day of the year – “Time is a precious thing…never waste it.”

Last year I wrote that our goal was to compete with larger entertainment operations in our area. And we’ve done that. We’ve sat in client’s living rooms and sold against all of the biggest companies in New Jersey – from the ones who host bridal shows to ones who spend thousands of dollars annually on advertisements in their local town shopper.

And just like we’ve started to compete on their level, other companies have started to compete with us. For the first time in the seven years, the bulls-eye is starting to shift. That was the goal in 2003 when we unloaded speakers out of my dad’s Chevy into a Marlboro backyard to entertain an eighth grade graduation.

I am happy to see that other DJs and emcees have added a camera to their repitore – posting pics and video on Facebook for their clients.

The only warning I have to those companies is that they shouldn’t try to compete for the sake of competing. The key is to stay consistent for your clients and deliver a quality product EVERY time – not only with performance but with post production of those photos and videos. The worst thing I hear in sales calls and meetings is when concepts we sell are all of a sudden turned into “Oh yea, we do that too,” by other DJ companies.

Taking photos and shooting video is not for everyone. Sometimes it should be left to professionals and not an emcee or a dancer. Production value and packaging multimedia is just as important as playing the correct song for a couple’s first dance. At the end of the day you are responsible for the commitments you make to your client whether or not your product far exceeds ours or not.

Heading into our seventh year of operating this company our goal will be to implement newer concepts that will change the way our clients and competitors view our company and the DJ business as a whole. We own a tremendous amount of internet real-estate and we plan on using it.

Some of those concepts will be introduced as early as the DJ Expo in Atlantic City this August. But there’s no rush. Other concepts will wait until our fall season so that they’re perfected for the people who matter most – our clients.

Time is a precious thing…never waste it.

There is little question about who is to blame for the Gulf oil crisis, but pointing fingers will not help the area that needs help now.  BP continues to release erroneous data and sluggishly dole out relief funds while dozens of species of fish, birds, turtles and other animals living in the Gulf of Mexico find themselves blanketed with crude and their habitats destroyed.   To many species, this is a death sentence.

New figures suggest that the amount of oil BP has stated is spewing out daily is really the amount that has been gushing out each hour.  This could mean more than 100 million gallons of oil have already fouled the Gulf’s fragile waters and coastlines.

Every little bit of help counts. Being animal and nature enthusiasts at heart, owners Strato Doumanis and Vincent Anthony of Hurricane Productions DJ Entertainment, located in New Jersey, pledge to donate 10% of summer-party revenue to the National Wildlife Federation’s Gulf Oil Spill Restoration Fund.

The Gulf has been altered in a manner that will affect it for generations and recovery is not a certainty.

Oil, microbes and dispersants eat oxygen from the water and sludge in marshes continue to make cleanup difficult.  BP’s pockets may not be deep enough to pay for a cleanup of this scale.

If you’d like to make a donation to the NWF Gulf Oil Spill Restoration Fund, please click here.

Click here to see map of the oil slick, updated daily.

There is an endless amount of value you can place on a any type of company that handles projects with vision, creativity, and personalized service.

One of the most personal services that you’ll ever hire is DJ entertainment. Despite countless DJ companies springing up all over the tri-state area, it’s hard to find talented and skilled individuals to trust with your memories.

Some DJ companies around New Jersey boast similar features to Hurricane Productions like photo and video packages, plasma screens, uplighting and more. But the difference between Hurricane Productions and it competition is that every single detail of your party is handled by the owners of Hurricane.

Competitors outsource your photos and videos to other paid professionals. There is nothing ethically wrong with that but why let your projects be passed through so many hands? Too many ideas and opinions interfere with your initial vision of your project.

Every single picture of your photo montage is digitally scanned and then edited into a professional quality montage by Hurricane Productions owners and lead entertainers Vincent Anthony Velasquez and Strato Doumanis.
The duo also produces each of the videos and presentations you’ve viewed on Hurricane’s YouTube and website.

The Next-Day Facebook photo albums are edited and posted by Vincent and Strato before you grab a cup a coffee the morning after your event.

Vincent, a Journalism and Media Studies graduate of Rutgers University, is also a videojournalist for the Star-Ledger in Newark, NJ. His daily routine includes going out into the field, shooting video and editing into video packages that are used on NJ.com and on Cablevision’s MSG Varsity network.

Here is an example of a video piece Vincent put together for the Star-Ledger and NJ.com’s High School Athlete of the Week:

Now he takes that same set of skills and is able to put together video highlights from your party as well as create photo montages for your family.

Strato designed the entire Hurricane website that you’ve used to view pictures of us, watch videos, and even fill out a price quote request form. He is well-versed in all video and photo editing programs. In fact, the Paparazzi montage in this blog post was created by Strato as a demo to show to potential clients.

When you come to Hurricane Productions there is no doubt that you can trust our entertainers to deliver an unforgettable performances but we also give you the opportunity to relive those memories with the photo and video packages we create for you.

You can view pictures, videos, demos and more at Hurricane Productions Facebook page located at facebook.com/yourparty

The most memorable element of a Sweet 16 is watching the guest of honor share a dance with her father or any other close relative to start off the evening. It’s elegance and importance to the affair is unmatched at any other point of the night.

But you can’t trust these moments with just any DJ company. Too many of them pride themselves by producing cutter-cutter events. A Sweet 16 is a personalized affair. In order to properly plan these moments and to professionally capture them, there is no other choice than Hurricane Productions DJ entertainment.

With Sweet16CandlesSongs.com – a Sweet 16-specific planning website geared for special events – Hurricane clients can choose songs for the Sweet 16 candle lighting ceremony and spotlight dances.

Hurricane Productions offers Next-Day Facebook photos and video highlight clips available within hours of your party.

All of these features are carefully created and produced by YOUR emcees and DJs. After your party, Hurricane staff works at the office until the early morning hours to produce videos and photos. You wake up the next morning being able to relive your party.

Each photo is professionally edited to look its best. The video is created to show-off the best moments of your daughter’s perfect evening.

Hurricane Productions uses Facebook – the world’s largest social media networking site – so you can share the Sweet 16 experience with all of your family and friends … even ones who couldn’t make it the party itself.

From planning your first dance and candle ceremony, to playing your daughter’s and family’s favorite music, to capturing your party with professional quality photos and videos, there is no other choice than Hurricane Productions.

An example of a video highlight clip is below:

After documenting the recent Northeast snow storm through video, Hurricane Productions will continue to produce original content on CNN’s iReport channel.

Using the CNN network gives Hurricane Productions the ability to reach a national and international audience.
The first video, “Northeast snow storm doesn’t stop NJ DJ company” reaches an audience much larger than people just interested in New Jersey DJ entertainment or private parties.

“We’re entertainers but we’re also part of a community,” Hurricane Productions president Vincent Anthony said. “There are events that we’re apart of in New Jersey that are of interest to a much larger audience across the country and around the world.”

Adding CNN iReport to its network extends Hurricane Productions’ reach across a variety of social media platforms.

Hurricane Productions distributes original content on popular sites like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and NJ.com (The Star-Ledger).

The company’s own network of websites includes HurricaneProductions.com, newjerseysweet16.com, newjerseypromdj.com and njsweet16dj.com

Hurricane Productions will donate time and entertainment to the the New York City Housing Authority’s “Season of Sharing” – the department’s annual toy drive.

“Any cause or function that helps children is always high on our priority list,” said Hurricane Productions president Vincent Anthony. “Every entertainment company should find an event and give back to the community during the holiday season.”

The Annual Holiday Toy Drive is an opportunity for approximately 600 NYCHA resident children to celebrate the holiday season with donated toys (from Century 21 Department Stores, NY Giants, NY Knicks and Toys for Tots), refreshments (provided by Maramont Corp), and photo opportunities with Santa Claus (Community Coordinator Cornell Hampton). Other family entertainment will be provided by the Big Apple Circus, Agostino Arts Face Painters, The Lion Dancers Group, and The New York Chinese Free Mason Athletic Club.

Hurricane Productions is no stranger to working with children. The New Jersey-based DJ entertainment company also donates time and energy Rutgers University’s Dance Marathon every Spring.

Dance Marathon is a 32-hour event that raises money and awareness for the Embrace Kids Foundation located in New Brunswick, NJ. It is New Jersey’s largest student-run philanthropic event.

DJ Times 2009 International DJ Expo performances including 2008 DJ of the Year runner-up Scotty from Charizma DJ Entertainment in Chicago, DJ of the Year 2009 Steve Moody from Maryland and Vincent Anthony from Hurricane Productions represents New Jersey with his company’s original dance – The Apache Slide.

Elite Entertainment from Eatontown, NJ hosted the Mobile Kickoff Party located at the Casbah in the Trump Taj Mahal Atlantic City, NJ.

iPhones and other mobile devices, click here to view the video

The South Wall Banquet Facility located in Wall, NJ is a beautiful venue in New Jersey that hosts events like weddings, anniversaries, Sweet 16s, graduations and more.

The banquet room features a full service kitchen and accommodates 200 seated guests. The atrium and lounge is perfect for intimate gatherings of 40 seated guests, or cocktail parties for up to 100.

“The staff at the South Wall Banquet Facility is the most accommodating in New Jersey,” said Vincent Anthony, president and lead entertainer at Hurricane Productions.

Hurricane Productions is the official choice of DJ entertainment for the South Wall Banquet Facility. The banquet facility is adjacent to the South Wall Fire Company.

The South Wall Banquet facility is considerably  more affordable than other area facilities and prides itself in its flexibility in terms of catering and entertainment.

Helene Hobbis is the facility’s manager. She can be reached a 732-223-4620 ext. 1 or via email: swbanquethall@aol.com

Photos shown in this post are from a Sweet 16 at the South Wall Banquet Facility. The event included a DJ Screen and a photo montage provided by Hurricane Productions.

Relive the DJ Times’ 2009 International DJ Expo in Atlantic City, NJ!

'DJ of the Year' Steve Moody

Aside from DJ Expo photos featured on the Hurricane Productions Facebook Fan page, you can view other Facebook photo albums from this year’s event at the following locations:

• DJ of the Year courtesy of Hurricane Productions
• DJ Expo Mobile Kickoff Party courtesy of Hurricane Productions
• International DJ Expo 2009 courtesy of Mike Walter of Elite Entertainment
• DJ Convention Part 1 and Part 2 courtesy of David Friedman of Elite Entertainment
• 2009 International DJ Expo courtesy of the ‘DJ of the Year’ Steve Moody
• Atlantic City Part 1 and More AC courtesy of Ryan Levin of 4Sure Entertainment in Chicago
• DJ Expo and More! courtesy of Brad Gertz of Chicago’s Charizma Entertainment
• DJ Convention 2009 courtesy of Elisa Burg

To be added to this DJ Expo photo gallery list, please leave a comment on our blog with the link!