About Benjie Hughes

I'm founder and CEO of Backthird Entertainment, a Chicago-area DJ and live music company, and of Backthird Audio, a membership recording studio. I arrange music and and play piano and guitar with our Twin Strings ensemble. When I'm not writing or making music, I'm reading history and theology or seeking out great stories in books, graphic novels and video games. My wife and I live on the Fox River in downtown Aurora, Illinois, close enough to walk to Backthird Audio.

What were Chicago’s best wedding DJ songs in August?

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There’s nothing like a summer wedding, and no time more “summer” than the hot days of August. As couples all over Chicago took advantage of the warm weather and Chicago’s best wedding venues, we were there to help them heat up the dance floor with with Chicago’s best DJ songs. And which songs would those be? Every Monday, we ask our wedding DJs which songs killed on dance floors over the weekend. Here are their top 15 picks for the month of August 2017. […]

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And July’s top Chicago wedding songs were…

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July is a busy month for DJs, with couples all over taking advantage of the warm weather and summer schedules to plan all-out wedding bashes. This year was no exception. But which songs were the biggest on those wedding dance floors? On Mondays, we ask our Chicago wedding DJs that very question. Here are the songs they told us were hitting big at Chicago weddings all through July 2017. […]

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For this couple, celebrating 7 years of marriage meant going right back to the start.

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Genis and Daniel had a Morton Arboretum wedding, right beneath a giant tree. I remember because I was there – the couple chose a Backthird pop strings ensemble to play their wedding ceremony and cocktail music, then one of our reception acts to cover dinner and dance times. That was 7 years ago. So last month, to celebrate 7 years of marriage – and 10 years since first meeting – they decided to go back to their wedding spot again. […]

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What were Chicago’s top 16 wedding DJ songs in June?

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What should your wedding DJ be playing? In Chicago, that answer’s as diverse as the people you’ll have at your wedding. But it’s nice to have a few ideas to get your playlist started. That’s why every Monday, we ask our Chicago wedding DJs the same question: Which songs killed it on your dance floors this past weekend? Here are their answers for June 2017.. […]

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May’s top 12 songs for our wedding DJs in Chicago were…

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Summer is here. If you’re a wedding DJ in Chicago, there’s no question – celebrations are in full swing and the crowds are dancing like crazy. But dancing to what, you ask? Each Monday, we ask one question of our wedding DJs in Chicago: Which songs killed it on your dance floors this past weekend? Here’s what they told us for May 2017. […]

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Which 12 songs killed at our Chicago weddings in April?

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April is the coolest month, as long as that’s when you’re having your awesome wedding. Our Chicago-area wedding DJs had some great chances to watch couples and their guests burn up the dance floor last month – but which songs were hottest? Each Monday, I ask our Chicago-area wedding DJs the same question: Which songs killed it on your wedding dance floors this weekend? It seems the 90s were back in a big way this month, because this is how they answered for April 2017. […]

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How we match you with a wedding DJ: Finding your dance-party style

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You want a lot of dancing at your wedding. Most professional DJ companies assume that much – and most professional DJs should know how to make it happen. But there are some things we DON’T know ’til you tell us. And they aren’t the things you think. At Backthird Entertainment, we like to match you with a DJ who’s a natural fit for the music you love and the way you want your dance party to go. All of our DJs are trained in ALL the skills it takes to make your party a success – but if your DJ happens to LOVE the kind of party you’re throwing, working together will be that much easier for you. To match you with a DJ, your Account Manager will consider several factors. We already looked at your reception style, so now let’s talk about how your dance-party style helps us match you with the right DJ. […]

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How we match you with a wedding DJ: Finding your reception style

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Which wedding DJ is right for you? At Backthird Entertainment, couples meet with their DJ several weeks before the wedding to go over plans and song requests in detail and get to know each other. All of our DJs are trained in ALL the skills it takes to make your party a success – but all of our DJs are humans, too! We all have our own personalities and our own preferred style. That’s why your Account Manager will match you with a DJ whose personal style is a natural fit for your own. How do we do that? We start by talking about your personal reception style. […]

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Stop worrying about your wedding and just do your job.

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At your wedding, you’ll have one job. Being perfect isn’t it. Trust me on this one. I’ve worked for a lot of couples at a lot of weddings: I was at the wedding with the butterfly release, when it was too cold outside for the butterflies to wake up so they just fell on the pavement and got trampled. I was at the wedding where the couple arrived late, and then the maid of honor passed out halfway through the outdoor ceremony. Then it rained. I was at the wedding where the bride and groom set up a tent in their backyard and threw a potluck instead of hiring a caterer, except nobody told the guests when they could eat so half of them went through the line and filled their plates during the cocktail hour while the bride and groom were gone somewhere taking photos. They arrived in time for dinner to find dinner had been eaten without them. I went to all those weddings. They were all fantastic. Why? Because in every case, the wedding couple knew their one job. And they nailed it. […]

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DJ vs band for weddings: How do costs compare?

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“Wedding band or DJ – or wedding band and DJ?” If you’re thinking this one through, you can’t help but compare band pricing and DJ pricing as part of the equation. My company’s been booking wedding DJs and small ensembles in Chicago since 2005 – and up until 2013, we also booked wedding dance bands. So I’ve spent plenty of time thinking about our rates and researching those of other companies. If you’re pitting DJ vs band for wedding plans, here’s what to expect from each in terms of cost. […]

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