Rich Ellis
Big Time Bat Mitzvah Party At Coopers Hall
DJ Rich Ellis had the opportunity to perform at Estelle’s Bat Mitzvah Party on Saturday, November 4, 2017 at Coopers Hall in Portland, Oregon.
This was the very first Bar or Bat Mitzvah party to happen at this venue and the celebration took place on both the main lower level and upstairs in the mezzanine. Around 100 adults hung out by the bar and enjoyed a plated dinner in the main area, while about 50 kids were upstairs with me for dinner and games. As guests arrived, I played a mix of classic jazz selections as requested by Estelle’s father.
The mezzanine is not a large area, but it was a great space for games, including ‘Name That Tune’ and three rousing rounds of “Musical Chairs Scavenger Hunt’ that featured the kids having to go downstairs to retrieve items from their parents. As expected, they were in a hurry, but running on the stairs was not allowed.
Following the games and a toast from Estelle’s parents, I invited everyone out to dance to ‘The Hora’ and celebrate the bat mitzvah girl and her family with the traditional chair raising. The strung light bulbs were very low, but fortunately nobody got stuck 🙂
Many adults had a great time dancing on the main level in front of the bar, while the kids had the upstairs mostly to themselves to create a raging Saturday night dance party from the opening number. Friends and family brought the energy for the big hit songs, ‘I Gotta Feeling,’ ‘Uptown Funk,’ ‘Can’t Stop The Feeling,’ the recent smash from Portland’s own Portugal. The Man ‘Feel It Still’ and more.
Mazel Tov Estelle and thank you Mel and Janet for choosing PRO DJs.
Post Event Satisfaction Survey:
“Rich did a fantastic job. Friends who used Rich for their child’s bat mitzvah recommended him. Rich gets 5/5 across the board. He was great to do business with.” -Janet Morgan (Estelle’s Bat Mitzvah)
- Event Date: Saturday, November 4, 2017
- Event Type: Bat Mitzvah
- Event Location: Coopers Union
- Event Staff: Rich Ellis
- Quality of Customer Service via Telephone: Excellent
- Quality of Customer Service via Internet: Excellent
- Quality of Customer Service at Event: Excellent
- Friendliness of your Entertainer: Excellent
- Promptness of your Entertainer: Excellent
- Professionalism of your Entertainer: Excellent
- Entertainer’s Performance: Excellent
- Entertainer’s Appearance: Excellent
- System Appearance: Excellent
- Sound Quality: Excellent
- Overall Volume Levels: Excellent
- Music Selection: Excellent
- Incorporation of Your Requests: Excellent
- Lighting Effects: Excellent
- Equipment Appearance: Excellent
- Overall Customer Service: Excellent
- Planning Assistance: Excellent
- Entertainer’s Cooperation with Other Vendors: Excellent
- Overall Performance Rating: Excellent
- Would you recommend this service to others? Yes
Heshy and David’s MJCC Bar Mitzvah Party
It was officially Heshy’s MJCC Bar Mitzvah party on Saturday, October 21, 2017 at Mittleman Jewish Community Center in Southwest Portland, but he wanted his good friend David, who was also having a birthday the same week, to be a part of his celebration.
As guests arrived, I played a variety of background music hits from artists such as OneRepublic, Adele and Imagine Dragons. There was much to do for the kids in the lobby area, including a mechanical bull and balloon clown.
The photo booth was conveniently located next to the dance floor in the main ballroom. After dinner, I got the dance floor going for generation next with many of the latest hits, including Kendrick Lamar’s ‘Humble,’ ‘Passion Fruit’ from Heshy’s favorite artist Drake and the hot new track ‘Mi Gente’ from J Balvin and Willy William. A short time later the adults joined in as we launched into ‘The Hora’ and dual chair raising.
Mazel Tov Heshy and David and thank you Heshy’s parents Sandy and Adam for choosing PRO DJs.
Post Event Satisfaction Survey:
“We were so happy with how things turned out!! Thank you for working with us on the special Hora dances and separating the dances/songs. It was very nice.” -Sandy Nemer (Heshy’s Bar Mitzvah)
- Event Date: Saturday, October 21, 2017
- Event Type: Bar Mitzvah
- Event Location: MJCC
- Event Staff: Rich Ellis
- Quality of Customer Service via Telephone: Excellent
- Quality of Customer Service via Internet: Excellent
- Quality of Customer Service at Event: Excellent
- Friendliness of your Entertainer: Excellent
- Promptness of your Entertainer: Excellent
- Professionalism of your Entertainer: Excellent
- Entertainer’s Performance: Excellent
- Entertainer’s Appearance: Excellent
- System Appearance: Excellent
- Sound Quality: Excellent
- Overall Volume Levels: Excellent
- Music Selection: Excellent
- Incorporation of Your Requests: Excellent
- Lighting Effects: Excellent
- Equipment Appearance: Excellent
- Overall Customer Service: Excellent
- Planning Assistance: Excellent
- Entertainer’s Cooperation with Other Vendors: Excellent
- Overall Performance Rating: Excellent
- Would you recommend this service to others? Yes
Mt. Hood Organic Farms October Wedding
The summer wedding season for 2017 ended this weekend, but as the calendar flipped to the first of the month, the weather held on for a nice day at Leah and Eric’s October wedding at Mt. Hood Organic Farms in Parkdale, Oregon
The wedding ceremony took place on the lawn just outside the Cottage & Carriage House and guests were greeted by a Mariachi band who also played all the ceremony music. I setup a separate sound system to provide a lapel microphone for the officiant and vows.
Afterwards, everyone followed the Mariachi band down the gravel road to the Apple House for the reception, where the band continued playing music for the cocktail hour as guests engaged in conversation, danced, and played lawn games while the newlyweds took pictures with Mt. Hood in the background.
I was setup in the Green House, but also positioned a separate speaker inside the dining area to provide background music for dinner and for the toasts that followed.
Mt. Hood Organic Farms October Wedding Reception Highlights:
- Cake Cutting: James Taylor – How Sweet It Is
- First Dance: Frank Sinatra – Fly Me to the Moon
- Bride and Father Dance: Louis Armstrong – What A Wonderful World
- Groom and Mother Dance: Louis Armstrong – What A Wonderful World
- Bouquet Toss: Spice Girls – Wannabe
- Garter Toss: Inner Circle – Bad Boys (Theme from Cops)
Thanks to the Mariachi band, who also played a few selections during dinner, this group brought loads of energy to the dance floor from the first song as they got right to it and didn’t let up until the last song. From the classic hits, such as ‘Twist & Shout’ and ‘Billie Jean’ to recent favorites, ‘Can’t Stop The Feeling’ and ‘Despacito,’ the cool evening air was an afterthought.
It was good to see Kelly and Eric who referred me to Leah’s mom Laura for this event. I was the DJ at their wedding in July 2014 also held in Parkdale.
Congratulations Leah and Eric and thank you for choosing PRO DJs.
Fort Vancouver Artillery Barracks Wedding
Kelly and Keith’s Fort Vancouver Artillery Barracks wedding reception was held on Saturday, September 16, 2017 in Vancouver, Washington.
They were married a month earlier on a cruise in Puerto Rico and the Carribbean, so this was a reception for their friends and family who were not able to attend.
Fort Vancouver Artillery Barracks Wedding Reception Highlights:
- Grand Entrance: Stevie Wonder – Signed Sealed Delivered…
- Cake Cutting: Queen – You’re My Best Friend
- First Dance: Al Green – Let’s Stay Together
- Last Dance: Sister Sledge – We Are Family
Guests had a great time dancing to a wide variety of hits, including ‘Uptown Funk’, ‘Cupid Shuffle’, ‘Celebration’, ‘Can’t Stop the Feeling’ and more.
Congratulations Kelly and Keith and thank you for choosing PRO DJs.
Post Event Satisfaction Survey:
- Event Date: Saturday, September 16, 2017
- Event Type: Wedding Reception
- Event Location: Fort Vancouver Artillery Barracks
- Event Staff: Rich Ellis
- Quality of Customer Service via Telephone: Excellent
- Quality of Customer Service via Internet: Excellent
- Quality of Customer Service at Event: Excellent
- Friendliness of your Entertainer: Excellent
- Promptness of your Entertainer: Excellent
- Professionalism of your Entertainer: Excellent
- Entertainer’s Performance: Excellent
- Entertainer’s Appearance: Excellent
- System Appearance: Excellent
- Sound Quality: Excellent
- Overall Volume Levels: Excellent
- Music Selection: Excellent
- Incorporation of Your Requests: Excellent
- Lighting Effects: N/A
- Equipment Appearance: Excellent
- Overall Customer Service: Excellent
- Planning Assistance: Excellent
- Entertainer’s Cooperation with Other Vendors: Excellent
- Overall Performance Rating: Excellent
- Would you recommend this service to others? Yes
Fun With Friend At Leftbank Annex Wedding
Erica and Sean’s Leftbank Annex Wedding took place on Saturday, September 9, 2017 in Portland, Oregon.
And it was good to be inside on this day as we received the first rain since early June. With the Rose Quarter in the background, everyone was comfortable as they witnessed the exchange of vows in an intimate setting.
Leftbank Annex Wedding Ceremony Highlights:
- Groomsmen Entrance: Neil Young – Heart of Gold
- Bridesmaids & Bride Entrance: Lady Gaga – The Cure
- Bride/Groom Exit: Dire Straits – Money for Nothing
The entire room was arranged for dinner after all guests made their way to the back of the room for cocktails. For background music, I played a mix of classic hits, including artists Marvin Gaye, Beatles, Bob Marley and the groom’s requests for Neil Young and Built to Spill.
Leftbank Annex Reception Highlights:
- Grand Entrance: Andrew Gold – Thank You For Being A Friend
- Cake Cutting: Beatles – Twist & Shout
- Bride and Father Dance: Eric Clapton – Wonderful Tonight
The dance floor covered a lot of ground, but guests weren’t shy about getting out there and having a good time gettin’ down to Prince, Michael Jackson, Justin Timberlake and more, including requests for 2Pac and Kendrick Lamar.
Congratulations Erica and Sean.
