Rich Ellis
Portland Wedding DJ: Jaclyn & Haggai (11/16/13)
The luxurious The Nines Hotel in downtown Portland, Oregon was the site of Jaclyn and Haggai’s wedding ceremony and reception on Saturday, November 16, 2013.
The formal ballroom on the 6th floor was split temporarily for the traditional Jewish ceremony led by Rabbi Zuckerman.
Portland Wedding DJ Ceremony Highlights:
- Wedding Party Entrance (Processional): Beatles – Here, There & Everywhere
- Bride Entrance: Eyal Golan – Meleat Ahava
- Bride/Groom Exit: Austin Powers Theme Song
Following the ceremony, guests gathered in the lobby for cockails while the ballroom was resent for dinner. I had a set-up a second sound system in the lobby and put together a setlist in advance to provide music during the cocktail hour. I then moved my main sound system used for the ceremony to the riser near the dance floor to complete my set-up for the reception.
Portland Wedding DJ Reception Highlights:
- Grand Entrance: Macklemore & Ryan Lewis f/Ray Dalton – Can’t Hold Us
- Cake Cutting: MGMT – Electric Feel
- First Dance: Meir Ariel – Lo Yachol Lehorid Mimench Et HaEy
- Bouquet Toss: Beyonce – Single Ladies
During the first dance, I found it comical that most guests were on one side of the dance floor with their phone cameras taking pictures… they looked like the paparazzi. I was a little late taking the photo, but you get the idea 🙂
After their first dance, we got right to the celebration with ‘The Hora’ and the chair raising that followed. All seats were vacant as all 150+ guests joined in the fun.
The dance floor never let up the rest of the night and guests got down to the big hits, including ‘Twist & Shout’, ‘Single Ladies’, ‘Sexyback’ and more. The newlyweds also requested some classic 80’s that went over well, including Blondie’s ‘Heart of Glass’ and A-ha ‘Take On Me.’
Mazel Tov! Jaclyn and Haggai and thank you for choosing PRO DJs.
Post Event Satisfaction Survey:
“Hi Rich, Haggai and I just wanted to say thank you again for DJing our wedding! You were awesome to work with and everyone had so much fun dancing all night and they loved all of the music. You thought of everything and it went so smoothly! Thank you so much again, we could not have done it without you!” -Jaclyn Rubinchik & Haggai Dziesietnik
“Once again Pro DJ’s came through and provided an excellent entertainment experience.”
-Richard Hurwitz
- Event Date: Saturday, November 16, 2013
- Event Type: Wedding & Reception
- Event Location: Nines Hotel
- 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
Bat Mitzvah DJs Pump Up Portland, Corvallis
On Saturday, October 5, 2013, Bat Mitzvah DJs performed at two events happening 85 miles apart with Portland DJ Rich Ellis at Taliana’s Bat Mitzvah held at the Treasury Historic Ballroom in the basement of the U.S. Bank Building in downtown Portland and Corvallis DJ Steve Marker at Lara’s Bat Mitzvah held at Oregon State University in the Ch2m Hill Alumni Center.
About 30 minutes after guests arrived at Taliana’s Bat Mitzvah, Rich began entertaining the kids with games, including ‘Name That Tune’ and a Scavenger Hunt.
There was a lot on the event itineary for this one, beginning with Rabbi Zuckerman leading everyone through Havdalah. Taliana then talked about and introduced family and friends during her Candle Lighting Ceremony. Next, the cake was brought out and while the kids surrounded the cake for a photo, they all began to sing along to ‘The Climb’ from Miley Cyrus (requested by mom).
A video montage followed and then about 10 people who were in the know, surprised everyone with a Flash Mob dance to ‘Footloose’.
This fired up the crowd and was the perfect lead-in to ‘Hava Nagilia’ and the chair raising.
The dance floor was hoppin’ from then on with a heavy dose of current hits and some fun group dances.
A late-night limbo also broke out with many of the adults joining in and doing quite well 🙂
Mazel Tov Taliana!
“My daughter was very excited to have Rich as her DJ, because she had been to other parties where he had DJ’d and really liked him. He was great for her party! He kept the kids going and having fun. There was never a dull moment. I never had to worry about anything, because he took care of it. He played all the music selections requested and had it all down perfectly. I’m so glad we were able to get him. As soon as we secure a date (in five years) for the next Bat Mitzvah – We want Rich!” -Shoshana Gordon
Post Event Satisfaction Survey:
- Event Date: Saturday, October 5, 2013
- Event Type: Bat Mitzvah
- Event Location: Treasury Ballroom
- 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
Portland DJ Performs At Daytime Bar Mitzvah
Mazel Tov Sam! Portland DJ Rich Ellis performed at his Bar Mitzvah celebration on Saturday, September 28, 2013.
This may be the wettest September in recent memory and it was another soaker on this day, but fortunately we were inside the Gym at McMenamins Kennedy School in Portland, Oregon.
One positive thing about a cloudy, rainy day is the gloom outside can make it feel like a Saturday night inside. The guests at Sam’s Bar Mitzvah certainly partied like it was a Saturday night.
After a round of ‘Name That Tune’, I invited everyone out for an opening swing dance, followed by several other fun hit songs, including the ‘Cha Cha Slide’ that got everyone fired up for the dance floor.
The Bar Mitzvah boy and his family all took a chair-raising ride.
If you didn’t know what time it was, you would have never guessed it was about 3pm. Judging by the activity on the dance floor, it felt much later and everyone got down to a little bit of everything, including current hits ‘Can’t Hold Us’ and ‘Safe and Sound’, along with classics like ‘Stayin’ Alive’ and ‘Billie Jean’. Sam also got Rickrolled at his own Bar Mitzvah when his parents dedicated Rick Astley’s ‘Never Gonna Give You Up’ to their son.
Thank you mom Asha for choosing PRO DJs.
Post Event Satisfaction Survey:
- Event Date: Saturday, September 28, 2013
- Event Type: Bar Mitzvah
- Event Location: Kennedy School
- 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: Good
- 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
Portland Vancouver DJs For Any Event
A wide variety of events packed the PRO DJs schedule on Saturday, September 21, 2013. Our Portland Vancouver DJs performed everything from a corporate open house to an apartment complex tenant party, a Bar Mitzvah, school dance and even a last-minute wedding.
The day began with Rich at the Western Star Truck Plant Open House on Swan Island in North Portland. From 10am-4pm, he played a variety of music and made announcments, including raffle prize winners. The last day of Summer looked more like early November as the rain fell heavily for most of this event, but guests made the most of it and enjoyed the dunk tank and classic car show.
Immediately afterwards, Rich hustled over to the Village at Lovejoy Fountain apartments in downtown Portland for an end of Summer celebration held for all 800 residents, who were treated to a barbecue and a chance to win prizes, including $500 off their rent. This event was also held outside in the courtyard, but there was no rain for this one and everyone had a good time visiting and a doing little dancing. There wasn’t an official dance floor, but small groups broke out here and there to get down 🙂
Other events taking place this day included Steve performing at Jonah’s Bar Mitzvah at Irving Street Kitchen in Northwest Portland, Rhett at the Union High School Homecoming Dance in Vancouver, Washington and Li at Brittany and Kyle’s wedding at the Fort Vancouver Artillery Barracks also in Vancouver.
It was a full slate of events, but everything went smoothly. Portland Vancouver DJs from PRO DJs have experience performing at any type of event. You can count on us for consistent, reliable, high-quality service.
Hire a professional… your celebration will be so much better!
Post Event Satisfaction Survey:
“Rich was awesome and I can’t thank him enough for all of his hard work in making our event successful. Everyone was really pleased and he really kept the event rolling – thank you Rich!” -Sabrina Miller, Village at Lovejoy Fountain
- Event Date: Saturday, September 21, 2013
- Event Type: Private Party
- Event Location: Village at Lovejoy Fountain
- 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
Post Event Satisfaction Survey:
“This felt like an end of an era. Our last event for our family and the last celebration for Jonah’s class. We wouldn’t plan a party without Steve or Pro DJs. Thanks for everything!!” -Dana Sacks (Jonah Sacks Bar Mitzvah) – Portland, OR
- Event Date: Saturday, September 21, 2013
- Event Type: Bar Mitzvah
- Event Location: Irving Street Kitchen
- Event Staff: Steve Marker
- 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
Post Event Satisfaction Survey:
“Lee was fantastic we can’t thank him enough! We could not have imagined a better DJ for our wedding, he was punctual and friendly and made the whole experience better. He even attended our rehearsal just to make sure everyone was on the same page with what my husband and I envisioned. I will absolutely recommend Pro DJ’s for any event!” -Brittany Lore’ & Kyle Nordgran Wedding – Washougal, Washington
- Event Date: Saturday, September 21, 2013
- Event Type: Wedding
- Event Location: Fort Vancouver Artillery Barracks
- Event Staff: Li Sheng
- 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
Sandy OR Wedding DJ: Casey & Dave (9/7/13)
The pattern of rain during the week and sunshine on the weeknds this summer worked out again. After thunder, lightning and heavy rain just two days earlier, it was a beautiful day for Casey and Dave’s wedding on Saturday, September 7, 2013, held at the home of their good friends right on the Sandy River in Sandy, Oregon.
This is not an official venue for weddings, but it sure looked like it should be with custom construction and landscaping for the ceremony and dance floor, a patio riser for the DJ and lush green grass to place a tent for dining.
Sandy OR Wedding DJ Ceremony Highlights:
- Bridal Party Entrance: Nostromo Pilots – A 1000 Years
- Bride Entrance: Christina Perri – A Thousand Years
- Bride/Groom Exit: Natalie Cole – This Will Be
Sandy OR Wedding DJ Reception Highlights:
- Grand Entrance: U2 – Beautiful Day
- Cake Cutting: James Taylor – How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)
- First Dance: Rascal Flatts – Here
- Bride and Father Dance: Louis Armstrong – What A Wonderful World
- Groom and Mother Dance: Nat King Cole – Unforgettable
- Bouquet Toss: Selena Gomez – Come & Get It
- Last Dance: Frank Sinatra – The Way You Look Tonight
Following the cake cutting, Casey and Dave wanted to take photos with everyone there (approximately 50 guests), so the first dance was delayed about 30 minutes.
Still, with the remaining 30 or so guests who stayed until the end, we had a great turnout on the dance floor, especially Casey, her daughters and other women in attendance… although, they chose to remove their shoes and dance in the grass, instead of the designated cobblestone area 🙂
Dave had originally requested Van Halen’s ‘Jump’ be the last song played at their reception, but Casey wanted something a little more traditional. I still played VH for him though and the 80’s rock set that followed went over big with all guests.
Congratulations Casey and Dave and thank you for choosing PRO DJs.
