Wedding

Portland Vancouver DJs For Any Event

Published September 22, 2013 | By Rich Ellis

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

Posted in Bar Mitzvah, Corporate Event, Events, Homecoming Dance, Mobile DJ, Private Party, Public Function, School Dance, Wedding, Wedding DJ

Sandy OR Wedding DJ: Casey & Dave (9/7/13)

Published September 9, 2013 | By Rich Ellis

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.

Posted in Events, Wedding, Wedding DJ

SW Washington Wedding DJ: Ashley & Grant (8/31/13)

Published September 1, 2013 | By Rich Ellis

After a week of high humidity and more rain than needed in the summertime, it was nice to get back to warm, sunny weather for Ashley and Grant’s wedding on Saturday, August 31, 2013.

A family friend hosted the ceremony and reception at their picturesque home on the Columbia River in Cathlamet, Washington. I have driven Highway 4 to Long Beach in the past, but hadn’t stopped here. After driving through town, I crossed a bridge and the wedding was held on an island right in between Washington and Oregon.

SW Washington Wedding DJ Ceremony Highlights:

Bridal Party Entrance: Christina Perri – A Thousand Years
Bride Entrance: The Band Perry – All Your Life
Bride/Groom Exit: Michael Franti & Spearhead – Say Hey (I Love You)

Guests gathered for the reception under the tent while I played a variety of music that included some Country favorites as requested by the newlyweds.

After dinner and before the toast, Ashley and Grant held a wish lantern ceremony where large lanterns with real candles inside, were released as guests offered them their best wishes.

SW Washington Wedding DJ Reception Highlights:

Grand Entrance: Natalie Cole – This Will Be
Cake Cutting: Pat Benatar – Hit Me With Your Best Shot
First Dance: Shaniah Twain – When You Kiss Me (Sung Live by Ashley’s Cousin, Charlene)
Bride and Father Dance: Chris Cagle – Dance Baby Dance
Groom and Mother Dance: Shinedown – Simple Man
Dollar Dance: Kalai – Divide Me
Bouquet Toss: Flo Rida f/David Guetta – Where Them Girls At
Garter Toss: Baauer – Harlem Shake
Last Dance: Thompson Square – If I Didn’t Have You

It was a beautiful night to rock the dancefloor and everyone was excited to get going. From the opening slow dance to a mix of classics and currents, they brought a ton of energy that lit up the floor.

The groom’s mom had an especially good time, dancing to nearly every song and adding a little spice by emptying three cans of dance floor powdered wax for extra slipping and sliding fun 🙂 Fortunately, no one took a tumble and guests had a little easier time shuffling during ‘Party Rock Anthem’.

Post Event Satisfaction Survey:

Event Date: Saturday, August 31, 2013
Event Type: Wedding Reception
Event Location: Cathlamet WA
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

Posted in General, Wedding, Wedding DJ

Portland Wedding DJ: Becca & Marc (8/24/13)

Published August 25, 2013 | By Rich Ellis

Many Summer weddings in the Pacific Northwest take place outdoors, but this weekend I was the DJ at back-to-back late August indoor weddings.

Becca and Marc were married under the glass covered roof of the Multnomah Athletic Club in Portland (just above the Lownsdale Room) on Saturday, August 24, 2013.

I provided music for the reception only that followed in the main ballroom on the first floor. However, music for the cocktail hour was performed by a live group of flutists. I did interrupt them briefly to introduce the newlyweds upon their arrival and took over the background music during dinner with a setlist that included favorites requested by Becca, including Norah Jones, Paul Simon and the Indigo Girls.

Portland Wedding DJ Reception Highlights:

Grand Entrance: Stevie Wonder – Signed Sealed Delivered…
Cake Cutting: James Taylor – How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)
Bride and Father Dance: Stevie Wonder – Isn’t She Lovely
First Dance: Jesse and the Rippers – Forever
Bouquet Toss: Dusty Springfield – Wishin’ & Hopin’
Last Dance: R. Kelly – Ignition (Remix)

It’s a good thing, the MAC Club set-up a large dance floor because it seemed that nearly all 180 guests were on it at any given time. From the opening slow dance to the faster tempo numbers that followed, they kept the floor packed and had a great time celebrating Becca and Marc’s big day.

Marc’s side of the family is Jewish and he and Becca went for a chair raising ride when I played ‘The Hora’

Motown oldies and disco selections made up most of Becca and Marc’s request list, including the Jackson 5 and K.C. and the Sunshine Band. They also requested 80’s hits ‘Walking On Sunshine’ and ‘Walk Like An Egyptian’, plus some 90’s, such as Salt N’ Pepa’s ‘Shoop’ and Blackstreet’s ‘No Diggity’.

Post Event Satisfaction Survey:

“I had several party-goers approach me during the reception and compliment the fantastic work Rich did both as a DJ and as an MC to keep the event progressing as we had planned.”
-Marc Auten

Event Date: Saturday, August 24, 2013
Event Type: Wedding Reception
Event Location: Multnomah Athletic Club
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

Click Here to view professional photos from Annie Helen Photography.

Posted in Events, Wedding

Tigard Wedding DJ: Megan & Sean (8/23/13)

Published August 25, 2013 | By Rich Ellis

Most weddings I perform at each Summer normally schedule a year or more before the date, but for Megan and Sean, their DJ canceled on them for medical reasons just two weeks before their big day. I was available on Friday, August 23, 2013 and happy to fill-in at their wedding and reception held at the Embassy Suites in Tigard, Oregon near Washington Square.

The ceremony took place in Ballroom I and the reception in Ballrooms II and III. I provided music for the ceremony by patching into the house sound system. It sounded great, but provided a bit of a challenge since I was not able to see what was happening on the other side of the wall. Fortunately, I received cues from Teresa at Embassy Suites and a family friend, Emily, so everything went smoothly.

Tigard Wedding DJ Ceremony Highlights:

Bridal Party Entrance: Bruno Mars – Just The Way You Are (instrumental version)
Bride Entrance: Lionel Richie – Hello
Bride/Groom Exit: Queen – Crazy Little Thing Like Love

While the newlyweds had their photos taken with family, guests gathered for the reception. I played a variety of favorites that included classics from Jimmy Buffett and Queen, today’s hits from the Lumineers and Phillip Phillips, plus a few current Country songs.

Tigard Wedding DJ Reception Highlights:

Grand Entrance: Keith Urban – Somebody Like You
First Dance: Boys Like Girls f/Taylor Swift – Two is Better Than One
Cake Cutting: Tim McGraw – Unbroken
Bride and Father Dance: Tim McGraw – My Little Girl
Groom and Mother Dance: Shinedown – Simple Man
Dollar Dance: Josh Turner – Why Don’t We Just Dance
Bouquet Toss: Queen – Another One Bites the Dust
Garter Toss: Rob Thomas – Lonely No More
Last Dance: Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes – I’ve Had the Time Of My Life

Less than 100 people attended this one, but they brought the energy of twice that from the first song.

I spun a few oldies, including the Bee Gees and Prince, along with the current smash ‘Blurred Lines’ and the groom hammed it up to his request for Sir Mix-a-lot’s ‘Jump On It’.

Post Event Satisfaction Survey:

“With the short amount of time Rich had to put this together, he did a great job!”
-Tammy Herrmann/George Weivoda