happy made easy – Chicago wedding music tips

Band and DJ wedding at Esplanade Lakes, Downers Grove, Illinois

Posted on January 28, 2012 by benjie

Musicians playing for musicians. Time to get competitive? Hardly.

The band had a blast Saturday at the wedding of Sydney and Mike – longtime friends of Backthird Audio. Mike’s punk/metal band the Hyrax did their album at our studio a while back, and we’ve continued to root them on since. So it was an honor when Mike called me about a wedding band and DJ combo for his own reception.

Saturday also marked the launch of the reborn Backthird Party Machine – now known as No Reservations. We’ve tightened the screws, deepened the playlist – and added a lighting setup (at left) that’s custom-programmed to fit perfectly with every song. We treated Mike and Sydney to the 9-piece No Reservations Orchestra for the first half of their night, then scaled back to the 6-piece band for later dancing. DJ Chris was on hand to help MC, to host events like the bouquet toss and to play additional dance music between band sets.

That said, what I’ll really remember from Saturday won’t be my band at all – it’ll be Mike’s. A groomsman started the night off singing with the orchestra to open the dance floor – but things really got participatory when The Hyrax stepped in for a song late in the evening. We went from ballroom to rock club – and back again – in the space of about 5 minutes. I grabbed some video while the band played – can’t wait to get it online!

Thanks, Mike and Sydney – wishing you a happy and creative life together.

Posted in Band, Chris Rayford, DJ, No Reservations, Weddings | Leave a comment

DJ wedding at the Blackstone Hotel, Chicago, Illinois

Posted on January 3, 2012 by benjie

Dance-floor magic is often about hitting that sweet spot – whether it’s musical, personal… or national.

That’s what Chris Rayford got to experience at Kristina and Ryan’s wonderful New Year’s Eve wedding at the Blackstone Hotel in downtown Chicago. You couldn’t tell by looking at ‘em, but a huge portion of wedding guests made the trip down from Canada to help celebrate. Kristina was thoughtful enough to give us a heads-up – and Chris came prepared.

“It was great seeing everyone kiss thier love ones when the New Year came in,” Chris told me. “There were balloons and confetti everywhere. But my favorite moment was playing the song “Home for a Rest” by the Canadian band Spirit of the West. Everyone was dancing and doing the jig – it was like I was in a Lord of the Rings pub with Pippin and Merry!”

That’s how they roll in Canada – and Middle Earth, apparently. Thanks for letting us roll with you, Kristina and Ryan, on an important day – it was an honor.

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DJ wedding at Pazzo’s 311, Chicago, Illinois

Posted on December 3, 2011 by benjie

What happens when circus people get married? You’d better believe it isn’t mellow.

Chris Rayford did his best to avoid the usual cliches last week at the Thanksgiving Day wedding of Becky and Mario, both longtime elephant trainers who spend much of life on the road with Ringling Bros. Needless to say, their party was – well, it was fun.

Because events at Pazzo’s 311 cover two spaces – the atrium and the restaurant – Chris set up two different systems and sync’d them wirelessly to make sure guests were always on the same page. But as I’ve seen so many times, the success of this party was really about the personalities there – not primarily the DJ, but Mario and Becky themselves.

“My favorite part was when the bride and the groom made a soul train line and went around the whole building – up the stairs, then down,” Chris told me. “I saw it as a chance for everyone to get some dessert, so as everyone was passing the dessert table I announced ‘Pick up your sweets at the sweet station!’ Everyone was picking something up and laughing as they went by.”

The great moments at receptions are often the spontaneous ones. Here’s to Becky and Mario – congratulations guys!

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Piano and DJ wedding at Morton Arboretum, Lisle, Illinois

Posted on October 12, 2011 by benjie

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: Planning matters. But it’s the stuff you can’t anticipate that makes your wedding fun.

DJ Chris Rayford spend a great evening celebrating with Kristin and Cliff at their wedding last weekend. The Arboretum is a favorite place of Chris’s, and he usually knows what to expect there. But on Saturday Chris heard something unexpected while checking his DJ rig for the reception: The sound of more than 100 guests singing along to “All You Need is Love” as Cliff and Kristin made their way down the aisle!

This was their recessional song, being performed on the piano by Louise Kelly – but Louise had a little bit of unexpected help.

“It was like a big choir,” Chris told me. “There was a magical atmospheric in the air; it put us all in a good mood. And that carried over to the reception!”

As you can see from our DJ assistant’s photos, a great time was had by all. Congratulations Kristin and Cliff!

Posted in Chris Rayford, DJ, Louise Kelly, Weddings | Tagged Morton Arboretum | Leave a comment

Band and DJ wedding at the Pilot House, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Posted on August 11, 2011 by benjie

There’s a secret every good wedding band or wedding DJ knows – though they’re not always eager to share it with brides and grooms. No matter how great the music is, no matter how polished and friendly your MC and no matter how fluid the flow of events at your reception may be… It’s impossible to make your guests get up and dance.

If you’ve ever been at a wedding and heard a DJ or bandleader shouting at people to get on the dance floor, you know how desperate and unprofessional this can be. Parties, like people, are most fun when they’re free to be themselves – not forced into a mold that doesn’t fit.

So what if your guests don’t feel like dancing when it’s time to dance?

That’s kind of what happened at Sara and Richie’s wedding Saturday. This was an incredible party in an incredible space – the Pilot House overlooks Lake Michigan and downtown Milwaukee, offering almost 360-degree, unobstructed views of the city and of sparkling water dotted with sailboats. The view from the huge deck was breathtaking. So guess where guests wanted to be!

The BPM band began playing toward the end of dinner, so that dancing could begin as soon as possible. This completely avoided the “after dinner lag” that sometimes happens at receptions, with some guests waiting for the next event to start while others eat dessert. We lit the dance flame right away -but it was a slow burner. Some of Sara and Richie’s guests were still eating when dance music began, while many more were adjourning to the deck for cigars or to enjoy the view. I quickly found that the guests who did want to dance wanted slow dances – so that’s what they got! Ballad after ballad kept the mood right and the party going.

Of course, the night didn’t stay slow forever. As the sun went down I noticed the floor getting fuller and fuller. We picked up the pace again and again until, by the end of the night, we were belting out club hits and ’80s classics to a packed room. DJ Chris Rayford kept the music going between band sets, using the same philosophy.

It was a great night – ALL of it. Thanks, Sara and Richie, for trusting us to help you guys celebrate – and for reminding me that it’s the guests, not the band, who determine when it’s time to get rowdy!

Click here to see the rest of our assistant’s photos.

Posted in BPM, Band, Chris Rayford, DJ, Wedding Tips, Weddings | Tagged Pier Wisconsin | Leave a comment

Dance band, jazz band and DJ wedding at Oak Park Country Club, River Grove, Illinois

Posted on August 1, 2011 by benjie

Marriage is about twos – and two bands, we learned Saturday, can be better than one when it comes to wedding music.

We were thrilled last weekend to celebrate with Joseph and Morgan, who were familiar with Elaine Dame‘s unique jazz interpretations from the moment their family contacted me. Elaine sings every year at an uncle’s Christmas party, and this couple knew she’d be a great fit for their cocktail and dinner times. But when it came time to dance, they were looking for something contemporary and diverse. The BPM band and DJ Chris Rayford turned out to be the perfect fit.

Coordinating this many performers takes strong planning and a good MC, and I certainly had my work cut out for me! Joe and Morgan opted to keep the schedule flowing by having formal dances between dinner courses instead of waiting until after dessert. This always makes for a smooth transition to dancing after dinner, since the bandleader can open the dance floor as soon as he feels guests are ready. I kept in touch with the banquet coordinator and let the couple know each time we were ready for another dance, so all they had to do was relax and enjoy the night.

Elaine Dame’s wonderful quartet played guests into the ballroom after cocktail hour, then played Joe and Morgan’s first dance as soon as I introduced the couple. Elaine’s group played father-daughter and mother-son dances during the entree course – and even accompanied the groom’s father on a special song before dessert came out! With this many events during dinner, guests never had a chance to get bored.

DJ Chris played for a few minutes as cake was served, allowing us time to transition from Elaine’s quartet to the seven-piece Backthird Party Machine. I’m not sure what Morgan and Joe put in their guests coffee – but whatever it was, it had them up dancing from the first moment we opened the dance floor. Chris, the band and I enjoyed a wonderful night of celebrating with these two families – there were times I thought they were going to out-sing us! Thanks, Joseph and Morgan, for including us in such a fantastic day – we wish you the very best.

Click here to see the rest of our assistant’s photos.

Posted in BPM, Band, Chris Rayford, DJ, Elaine Dame, Jazz, Weddings | Tagged Oak Park Country Club | Leave a comment

DJ wedding at Concorde Banquets, Kildeer, IL

Posted on July 19, 2011 by benjie

With the right amount of planning ahead, you can avoid a lot of wedding reception mishaps – but not all of them. Sometimes all it takes is a shattered glass to turn your guests’s mood from “just dance” to “evacuate the dance floor.”

That’s what happened at Laurie and Alan’s wedding last Saturday, when a dropped drink on the dance floor presented a sudden safety hazard. Glass shards are never good – but combine them with low lighting and a busy reception, where any number of bridesmaids are likely to have kicked off their shoes for dancing, and you can end up with blood on your hands (or feet).

You also end up with a chance to get creative. “Part of MCing is making lemonade out of wedding lemons,” says Chris Rayford, who was Alan and Laurie’s DJ/MC of choice. Chris had taken some time to get to know this couple and their guests, so he had a sense of the kind of humor they’d go for. After blocking off the danger zone and making sure the capable Concorde Banquets staff knew what was going on, he got to making lemonade.

“I didn’t want the evening to die down,” Chris told me. “So I played the song ‘Safety Dance’ and informed everyone about the importance of a safe dance floor for a Safety Dance. It made guests aware of what had happened, but also kept everyone laughing and having a great time. The mood and the energy stayed high until we could use that part of the floor again.”

And use it they did! Alan and Laurie enjoyed a busy dance floor and a great party all night long. You can click here to view our assistant’s Facebook photos. Congratulations Laurie and Alan!

Posted in Chris Rayford, DJ, Weddings | Tagged Concorde Banquets | Leave a comment

DJ wedding reception at the Narnia Estate, Lemont, IL

Posted on July 13, 2011 by benjie

“Fairy tale wedding” takes on a different meaning at the Narnia Estate, where manicured gardens, charming lamp-posts and – yes – a stone lion greeted guests at Beth and Steve’s wedding last Sunday. Like at every great wedding, though, it was the human beings who took center stage.

Steve and Beth met with Anna at our studio to discuss their music needs back in February, and they laid out a simple goal: When mom dances on the table, the party is a success.

I was sure this was a joke – but DJ Chris Rayford seems to have taken the challenge personally.

“I played the Narnia theme song for dinner to get everyone in the mood,” Chris told me. “That was a surprise that the bride really liked. But the party really took off once the dance floor was open. The atmosphere was just great for everyone – you could feel it.”

Chris, who teaches hip-hop dance and exercise classes when he’s not DJ’ing, decided to up the ante by teaching guests to do the ‘Cupid Shuffle.’ It was a hit – and the bride asked him to teach more.

“I taught them a dance I created for Britney Spears’ song ‘Hold it Against Me,’” Chris said. “I taught the ‘Soldier Boy’ dance. I taught them ‘Thriller.’ I felt like I was leading a Zumba class – they kept asking for more!”

That includes Beth’s mom – who, I’m told, ended up on a table with the bride before the night was out. Steve and Beth, we were happy to deliver! Hope your honeymoon is every bit as exhilarating.

Posted in Chris Rayford, DJ, Weddings | Tagged Narnia Estate | Leave a comment

DJ wedding with pop trio ceremony and cocktails – Cantigny Park, Wheaton, IL

Posted on July 12, 2011 by benjie

Want an old-fashioned wedding ceremony? Good thing you’re not Donielle and Adam. This fabulous couple went contemporary with their music choices at a great outdoor wedding in the East Garden at Cantigny Park on Friday afternoon.

The Twin Strings pop trio started out with some classical music as guests were arriving – then segued into “Clocks” for the bridal party processional, “Bittersweet Symphony” for the bride’s entrance and the peppy Beatles classic “I Want to Hold Your Hand” as they walked back down the aisle. White shirts and skinny ties made the groomsmen look like a scene straight out of Reservoir Dogs. And this couple knew what they were getting into with an outdoor wedding in mid-July – programs were printed on hard cardstock and had handles attached, so each one doubled as a fan to ward off the late-afternoon heat.

Since the groom was a bit of a rock star himself, it was only fitting that the reception rock out in style. DJ Chris Rayford worked some recordings from Adam’s band, The Bish, into a full night of dancing and laughter.

“My favorite moment,” Chris told me later, “was when I was out on the dance floor leading the party with the song “I Gotta Feeling” and I overheard the bride’s aunt say to the bride, ‘People are really having fun – they’re not just here, but they are HERE.’ It put such a big smile on the bride’s face and it reminded me of something: A happy family equals a happy bride!”

Donielle and Adam, it was a blast to celebrate with you and your families. Thanks for the honor!

Posted in Chris Rayford, DJ, Strings, Twin Strings, Weddings | Tagged Cantigny | Leave a comment

DJ wedding with jazz and strings – Independence Grove, Libertyville IL

Posted on June 24, 2011 by benjie

Ring Bear

Every now and then, the wedding musicians or DJ come back with a story I can’t resist passing along. DJ Scott Groleske had just such a tale for me on Saturday, when he returned from Gabrielle and Jeff’s wedding at Independence Grove with this photo of their “ring bear.”

Jeff and Gabrielle chose a great diverse group of entertainers for their wedding music: a Twin Strings string trio playing ceremony music at the church, solo jazz piano during cocktail time and the Mark Nelson jazz trio playing during dinner. Scott, as always, was MC and pointperson for the reception and provided dance music.

“After dinner, I was asked to re-introduce the young ring bearer, Tyler,” Scott explained. “When he was first told that he would be the ring bearer, he thought they said ‘ring bear’ and pictured himself dressed up in a bear costume. Well, his parents didn’t disappoint him! And he spent a good portion of the night dancing with anyone that didn’t mind shakin’ it with a bear. He was adorable.”

A few of our DJ assistant’s photos – including the dancing bear – are in our Facebook gallery. Scott said the whole family – including “one really enthusiastic grandmother” – wasn’t shy about mixing it up on the dance floor all night long. And the bride and groom, for their part, were excited enough to email me literally hours after the reception ended to tell me what a great time they had!

Jeff and Gabrielle, it was a real honor! Many blessings in your life together.

Posted in DJ, Jazz, Scott Groleske, Twin Strings, Weddings | Tagged Independence Grove | 1 Comment