Bar Mitzvah
Bennett’s Bar Mitzvah At West End Ballroom
Bennett’s Bar Mitzvah party took place on Saturday, October 26, 2019 at West End Ballroom in Dowtown Portland, Oregon.
Just over 100 guests came together to celebrate the occasion. As they arrived around 6:30pm, I played a variety of upbeat background music. Although most of the adults hung out in the adjacent bar area while many of Bennett’s friends engaged in the “Pop-A-Shot” basketball game setup just outside the ballroom. There were a few remaining kids who could not get in on the basketball game, so I led them in a scavenger hunt.
After dinner was a short video and then I revved up the energy by encourging everyone to gather on the dance floor for ‘The Hora’ and chair raising.
A few other traditional Israeli dances followed before I began spinning the latest hits along with a few classics.
Mazel Tov Bennett! And thank you dad, Doug for choosing PRO DJs.
Post Event Satisfaction Survey:
Submitted By: Doug Miller
- Event Date: Saturday, October 26, 2019
- Event Type: Bar Mitzvah
- Event Location: West End 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
Nate’s Portland Bar Mitzvah At The Evergreen
Nate’s Bar Mitzvah celebration was held at The Evergreen in Southeast Portland, Oregon on Saturday, October 12, 2019. Less than two years ago, I had the opportunity to also DJ his brother Jack’s Bar Mitzvah party.
Guests began arriving around 6:30 and only 20 minutes later, we launched into some games for the kids. The family brought a giant glow in the dark jump rope and with black lights postioned over the dance floor, this provided a cool effect and the energy was immediate. There were also other activites upstairs, including photo booth and face painting.
After dinner, it was just one big party, as the dancing kicked off with the traditional “The Hora” and chair raising. Since the kids had all the great space upstairs, the adults owned the dance floor for the first 30 minutes, getting down to classic and recent hits, “September,” “Uptown Funk” and more.
The kids then joined in for “Old Town Road,” several tracks from Drake, current smash “Bad Guy” by Billie Eilish and more.
Mazel Tov Nate and thank you mom Deborah for again choosing PRO DJs.
Dassi’s Bat Mitzvah Party At Treasury Ballroom
Dassi’s memorable Bat Mitzvah party took place at the Historic Treasury Ballroom in Portland, Oregon on Saturday, September 14, 2019. I was also the DJ for her sister, Taliana’s Bat Mitzvah in October, 2013.
Just like six years before, there was a lot on the itinerary for this event, including games, Havdalah, the chair raising dance to “Hava Nagilah,” Candle Lighting ceremony and Flash Mob dance.
Guests began arriving around 7pm and about 20 minutes later, the kids had a great time playing games, including “Would You Rather?” where beforehand I had Dassi answer some questions… the same questions I asked her sister in 2013, such as “Would you rather live without music or live without the Internet?” or “would you rather always have to say everything on your mind or never speak again?” Her friends on the dance floor had to pick a side of the floor for which answer they thought she chose and we did this until there was one friend left who knew her best 🙂
Following the Candle Lighting ceremony, cake cutting and video presentation, Dassi and some of her friends surprised the guests with a Flash Mob dance to “The Greatest Show” from the musical “The Greatest Showman.”
Not surprisingly, there was a lot of energy in the room following the flash mob and the dance floor was hoppin’ all evening to hot hits “Cupid Shuffle” and “Uptown Funk,” plus favorites of the Bat Mitzvah girl, Jonas Brothers, Katy Perry and YouTube tween sensation, JoJo Siwa.
Mazel Tov Dassi and thank you mom Soshana for again choosing PRO DJs.
Post Event Satisfaction Survey:
“Rich did another fabulous job! I knew we were in good hands with Rich and he didn’t disappoint. He kept the teens and adults entertained. He was on point with the music selection for the candle lighting ceremony. The whole event was flawless!” -Shoshana Gordon (Dassi’s Bat Mitzvah)
- Event Date: Saturday, September 14, 2019
- 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
Bar Mitzvah At Porter Portland Hotel
Nelson’s Bar Mitzvah celebration was held at the new Porter Portland Hotel on Saturday, August 24, 2019 in Portland, Oregon. This was my first time performing here as this Hilton property just opened in April of this year.
Guests gathered first for cocktails on the Pendleton Patio outside and what a view between this hotel and the KOIN tower next door.
The main party was held in the Rose City Ballroom. While the adults were on the patio, Nelson and his friends were in the ballroom with me and I led them in a scavenger hunt before everyone found their seats for dinner.
The main entertainment was Hart Keene, who performs a unique style of interactive illusion and mentalism all over the country and has appeared on numerous television programs, including “America’s Got Talent,” “The Librarians” and “Penn and Teller: Fool Us!” After his opener was turning an empty soda bottle into a full glass of wine, the crowd was in for a treat as he wowed everyone with his magic.
Hart was a tough act to follow, but most everyone joined in the fun for “The Hora” and danced to a variety of uptempo hit music in the short time we had left… everything from “Happy” and “I Gotta Feeling” to “Uptown Funk” and “Shut Up and Dance.”
Mazel Tov Nelson and thank you parents Robin and Lee for choosing PRO DJs.
Magical Bat Mitzvah Party On Sauvie Island
DJ Rich Ellis had the opportunity to perform at Ava’s Bat Mitzvah Party on Sauvie Island on Saturday, July 20, 2019 at Kruger’s Farm. He was also the DJ at sister Ella’s bat mitzvah party in 2015 and Steve Marker was the DJ for older brother Benny’s bar mitzvah in 2013. There will be one more for this family coming up in five years 🙂
Taking place outdoors under the giant oak tree behind Kruger’s Market, this open air celebration under string vintage lights, was described by one guest upon arrival as magical.
At most bar mitzvah and bat mitzvah parties, I normally lead the kids in some games before or after dinner. However, for this event, there was so much to do, including games like Cornhole, Croquet and a giant Jenga, plus hay rides.
Near the end of dinner, quite a few guests were dancing to the background music (always a good sign) and not long after ‘The Hora’ got everyone else out of their chairs immediately to begin a great night of dancing on the farm.
The floor was packed for every song from start to finish and the 160 guests in attendance brought the energy for big hit songs, “Stayin’ Alive” “Happy,” “Uptown Funk,” “Cant’ Stop the Feeling” and more.
Most guests were dancing on the main floor, but some were dancing where they were, like around the camp fire for s’mores
As twilight set in, the energy ramped up even more.
Mazel Tov Ava and thank you mom Anne for again choosing PRO DJs.
