I had the pleasure of being the DJ at Alex’s Bar Mitzvah on Saturday, September 1, 2012 at Royal Oaks Country Club in Vancouver, Washington from 7-11pm. It was a beautiful evening and the party started outside the main ballroom on the back deck that was set-up like a tailgate party (Alex is a big football fan) with inflatables and appetizers.
 
Around 7:45, we moved inside and Alex did a great job introducing and bringing family and friends up during the candle lighting ceremony. Next was a Challah Blessing and then me spinning ‘The Hora’ for the chair raising. The kids buffet and adult dinner followed and during this time, I passed out glow necklaces, bracelets and glasses, along with Washington Huskies stickers that went under your eyes, since Alex is big with that team.
 
After dinner, I led some games with the kids (Coke and Pepsi, Scavenger Hunt, Swing Dance) and gave out some great prizes before launching the music. The floor packed quickly and family and friends danced and enjoyed themselves. Mazel Tov Alex and thank you Carrie for choosing PRO DJs.
 
Post Event Satisfaction Survey:
 
“Steve was amazing! He was easy to work with and fun. The kids had a blast and were out on the dance floor the whole night! Everyone had a great time!”  -Carrie Schnell

• Event Date: Saturday, September 1, 2012
• Event Type: Bar Mitzvah
• Event Location: Royal Oaks Country Club, Vancouver, WA
• Event Staff: Steve Marker
• Quality of Customer Service via Telephone: Excellent
• Quality of Customer Service via Internet: Fair
• 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

 
PRO DJs Steve Marker performed at Derek’s Bar Mitzvah held at the OHSU Center for Health & Healing in Portland, Oregon on Saturday, July 14, 2012. Everyone was dressed in their most fun beach attire and Derek had requested only 2 games (Coke and Pepsi) and the appropriate, Limbo contest.
 
Following the family’s request of ‘Hava Nagiliah’ for the traditional Hora dance, the party was off and running with classic favorites and the latest top 40, including Derek favorites ‘Rapper’s Delight’ and plenty of LMFAO.
 
Mazel Tov Derek and thank you Sally for choosing PRO DJs.
 
Post Event Satisfaction Survey:

• Event Date: Saturday, July 14, 2012
• Event Type: Bar Mitzvah
• Event Location: OHSU Center for Health & Healing/Portland, Oregon
• 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

 
With hallways, courtyards and other cool spaces, McMenamins Kennedy School in Northeast Portland is a fun place for adults to explore. Turns out, kids like it as well, especially groups of boys attending a party for one of their friends. Hunter’s Bar Mitzvah celebration was held in the Gym on Saturday, June 16, 2012, and occasionally he and his buddies would dart out of the room to see what else was up. But they would always come back after a few minutes because there was much going on at the party they didn’t want to miss.
 
After a short cocktail half-hour and dinner, the kids and I got right to it with a rousing version of ‘Name That Tune’. Hunter’s team was outnumbered, but they still managed to pull off a close win. Next up was a scavenger hunt… a napkin, pen and (surprisingly) adult woman’s shoe were easy items to retrieve… a hair clip though took some time. The kids were quick to move, but respectful and the adults were good sports with all the action around them while they engaged in conversation.
 
After the early games, guests settled down to watch a video of Hunter’s life so far. Immediately after, I invited everyone out for ‘The Hora’ and chair raising. The traditional dancing eventually spilled off the dancefloor, winding it’s way through the dining tables. It was a good start and the energy was high, so everyone appeared ready for the hits from Black Eyed Peas, Maroon 5, Bee Gees, Michael Jackson, LMFAO, Flo Rida and more.
 
A little later, the kids went low for the limbo and I gave out the final prizes (Starbucks and Baskin-Robbins gift cards). They were also ready for some slow dances. Hunter didn’t want to start the snowball himself, so his friends bailed him out and everyone joined in from the opening note 🙂
 
Mazel Tov Hunter and thank you Luna and Toni for choosing PRO DJs. -Rich
 
Post Event Satisfaction Survey:
 
“We were very satisfied– the music was perfect!”-Luna Jaffe

• Event Date: Saturday, June 16, 2012
• Event Type: Bar Mitzvah
• Event Location: McMenamins Kennedy School/Portland, Oregon
• 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: N/A
• 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

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When I learned Eddie had injured his foot and would be wearing a boot for his Bar Mitzvah Party on April 28, 2012 at Urban Studio in Portland, Oregon, I had a feeling there would be no problem with this kid. It was probably more difficult for him not being able to play baseball right now than whether or not he could tear it up on the dancefloor. Certainly, he couldn’t get carried away, but he was very mobile when he had to be and living it up on his big night.
 
Still, I thought it best to feel his (foot) pain and went with one-legged games and dancing during the first hour when it was just me and the kids. Following a rip-roaring version of ‘Name That Tune’, was a one-legged hop musical freeze (similar to musical chairs), one-legged swing dance, one-legged Coke and Pepsi, one-legged ‘Cha Cha Slide’ and a challenging one-legged Limbo. The kids were great sports and had a lot of fun with it. Of course, they were also thrilled to win Starbucks, Jamba Juice and iTunes gift cards for their efforts 🙂
 
After Dinner and a video montage of Eddie’s life so far, I opened the dance floor to everyone with ‘The Hora’. With the chair raising, we had to be real careful with the injured guest of honor. It was mostly his friends holding the chair and there was a moment that looked like he might come flying out, but they held on and the party really got going. The dance floor rocked to a variety of hits early and then mostly current Top 40 the rest of the night, that included a wild slippery socks dance to ‘Party Rock Anthem’.
 
The night ended with the photo booth balloon backdrop being dismantled and tossed onto the dance floor… the kids had a great time with it (see photos). Eddie and his family were exhausted, but appeared to have a great time. Mazel Tov Eddie and thank you mom Krista and dad Burt for choosing PRO DJs. -Rich
 
Post Event Satisfaction Survey:
 
“Rich was incredible with the kids. He was so creative with coming up with games for my son who had a broken foot. It was great knowing I didn’t have to worry about a thing:) Thanks Rich!”-Krista Rosen

• Event Date: Saturday, April 28, 2012
• Event Type: Bar Mitzvah
• Event Location: Urban Studio/Portland, Oregon
• 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: N/A
• 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

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