Bar Mitzvah
Kai’s MJCC High Energy Bar Mitzvah Bash
Kai and his friends and family had a great time at his Bar Mitzvah bash held at Mittleman Jewish Community Center in Portland, Oregon on Saturday, April 13, 2024.
As guests arrived, I played a variety of background music selections before leading the kids in some games, including Kai’s request for a Scavenger Hunt plus Coke & Pepsi. There was also an airbrush table and photo booth.
Following dinner was a slideshow and then I invited everyone to the dance floor for the traditional “The Hora” with chair raising of Kai and his family.
Kai’s father Mark informed me at the start that this group liked to dance and they did not disappoint, bringing the energy the entire evening. Everyone had fun dancing to hit music (“Can’t Stop The Feeling”, “Cha Cha Slide”, “Party In The USA” and more) plus classic 80’s new wave tracks requested by the parents.
Mazel Tov Kai and thank you mom Lorissa for choosing PRO DJs!
Bar Mitzvah Bat Mitzvah Parties Portland And Sherwood Oregon
Rich Ellis had the honor of being the DJ at two separate Bar Mitzvah and Bat Mitvah parites on Saturday, June 24, 2023, starting with Rose, Max and Jonah’s B’nai Mitzvah celebration held in Community Hall at the Southeast Campus of Portland Community College in Portland, Oregon.
Guests were already seated for the ceremony in the same room as I quietly setup the equipment. As soon as it concluded, lunch was ready and the background music began, featuring classical selections as requested by the family.
The kids went through the buffet first and after eating were ready for some games that included name that tune, a scavenger hunt and Coke & Pepsi. They also did the limbo before all guests were invited to the dance floor for “The Hora” and chair raising. Most everyone joined in, lifting and celebrating the kids and their family.
There were requests for everything from “Dancing Queen” to “Boot Scootin’ Boogie”, “I Will Survive” and even “The Charleston”.
Two hours later, I traveled to Sherwood for Tyce’s Bar Mitzvah party at Heart of Rock Farm.
There were about 60 guests in attendance with ample space inside and out to gather. I learned later that many of the kids were cousins who only see each other every four years or so and they spent a lot of time outside catching up with each other. Still, we managed a scavenger hunt after dinner before all guests came together on the dance floor for “The Hora” and chair raising.
Mazel Tov Rose, Max, Jonah and Tyce and thank you to Rose’s mom Davida and Tyce’s mom Kim for choosing PRO DJs.
Post Event Feedback:
“Rich was amazing with the kids. He had fun games to keep them entertained. Everyone had so much fun! Thank you for making our son’s Bar Mitzvah extra special. We appreciate how easy you made it.” -Kim & Ed (Tyce’s Bar Mitzvah)
“Thank you, Rich. We had a great time.” -Davida (Rose’s Bat Mitzvah)
Bat Mitzvah DJ Embassy Suites Portland
Bat Mitzvah DJ Steve Marker performed at Natalie’s Bat Mitzvah celebration on Saturday, September 17, 2022, at Downtown Embassy Suites Portland, Oregon.
Post Event Satisfaction Survey:
“Steve did an awesome job!!! So fun! Everyone had a great time!”
-Stephanie Hollander (Natalie’s Bat Mitzvah) – Camas, WA
- Event Date: Saturday, September 17, 2022
- Event Type: Bat Mitzvah
- Event Location: Embassy Suites Portland
- 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: 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 Bar Mitzvah Columbia Edgewater Country Club
Asher was ready to have a good time at his Portland Bar Mitzvah Columbia Edgewater Country Club held on Saturday, June 4, 2022 with most of his friends having arrived before the 6pm start time. This event was originally scheduled for October 2021, but delayed because of Covid.
There were many things planned including gaming tables (blackjack and poker), as well as games with the DJ (me) before dinner. Asher’s favorite sports are basketball and football, perfect for the ice breaker basketball vs. football pass. The kids had a great time with that and the scavenger that followed, as well Blazers vs. Eagles (a variation of the soda drink game) and a limbo that ended right before everyone gathered for Havdalah and several speeches by the family.
After dinner, Asher’s dad Scott sung and played guitar on two original songs he had written, including one called “Runnin’ from Covid-19”. Guests enjoyed singing along and right after he was finished, Scott asked me to play the electric version of the song recorded in a studio. That led nicely into me inviting everyone out for dancing to “The Hora” and chair raising.
From there, adults and kids danced for almost two hours to fun hit songs like I Gotta Feeling” and “Shut Up and Dance”, along with family favorites “September” by Earth, Wind and Fire, “Super Freak” by Rick James and more.
Mazel Tov Asher and thank you mom Joni for choosing PRO DJs.
Ari’s MJCC Bar Mitzvah Celebration
The last event I performed before the Covid shutdown was Noah’s Bar Mitzvah on March 7, 2020. Almost two years later, it was his brother Ari’s turn for his MJCC Bar Mitzvah Celebration held at Mittleman Jewish Community Center on Saturday, December 18, 2021.
The entire venue was open for guests for this event that began at 6pm, including the gym where the kids played basketball and the foyer where air hockey and cornhole games were set-up.
Around 6:45, everyone gathered in the main ballroom for Havdalah, which was led by family friend Joel, who also played acoustic guitar. We then picked up the energy with “The Hora” and chair raising of Ari and his family, followed by some additional pre-dinner dancing.
A slideshow ran thoughout the night on the big screen, but it was also showcased with music near the end of dinner. I then invited all the kids to the dance floor for some games that included a scavenger hunt, limbo and Blazers vs. Timbers (new name for Coke & Pepsi).
For the last hour, everyone had a great time dancing to fun hit music… everything from “Uptown Funk” and “Levitating” to “Cupid Shuffle” and Ari’s mom’s request for “Party In The USA.”
Mazel Tov Ari and thank you parents Mindy and Mark for again choosing PRO DJs!
