portlandbarmitzvahdj
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!
Bat Mitzvah Celebration At Pips & Bounce
Anna and her friends and family had a great time at her Bat Mitzvah celebration held at Pips & Bounce in Portland, Oregon on Saturday, February 17, 2024.
The spacious venue that takes up nearly a full city block, featured the dance floor on one end and ping pong tables, along with gathering area for food and drinks, across the remainder.
Like most Bat Mitzvah parties, my plan was to lead the kids in some games before dinner, but with the black lights overhead and plenty of Taylor Swift (as requested by Anna), the girls just wanted to dance the night away from the beginning.
After a slide show, I began playing “The Hora” and invited everyone to dance with Anna and her family. When the time came, only a folding chair was available, but those tasked with holding it up with the Bat Mitzvah girl on board were experienced pros 🙂
Mazel Tov Anna and thank you mom Liz for again choosing PRO DJs. We had the opportunity to be the DJ at brother Steven’s Bar Mitzvah celebration in 2021.
Bat Mitzvah Party At The Foundry Lake Oswego
Hannah’s energetic Bat Mitzvah party took place at The Foundry in Lake Oswego, Oregon on Saturday, January 6, 2024.
Guests arrived around 6pm for what Hannah’s parents called a “4 hour cocktail party” and I had a variety of music playing in the background, including selections from Michael Jackson, Taylor Swift and Harry Styles.
With the dance floor in the middle of the room across from the DJ stage and the kids tables filling the space in front of me, there wasn’t much room for games, so I just had the kids remain seated and hosted rounds of Hannah Trivia and Would She Rather? followed by a scavenger hunt.
Hannah requested a father/daughter dance with her dad and they danced to Loudin Wainwright’s “Daughter” before I segued to “The Hora” and invited everyone out to the dance floor to celebrate the Bat Mitzvah girl that featured the entire family lifted high in a chair.
The kids, which included many of Hannah’s softball teammates, were wound up all evening, and the adults joined in as well for a fun time dancing to favorites, “I Gotta Feeling”, “Billie Jean”, “Cupid Shuffle” and more. An impromtu limbo also broke out just before the Voodoo Donuts dessert bar opened.
Mazel Tov Hannah and thank you parents Jaime and Brent 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)
Naomi’s High Energy Bat Mitzvah Party At Congregation Beth Israel Portland Oregon
Naomi’s high energy Bat Mitzvah party took place at Congregation Beth Israel in Portland, Oregon on Saturday, May 20, 2023.
Guests arrived from the ceremony and Havdala held across the street around 6:20pm. I had a variety of music selections playing in the background, but that didn’t last long as the kids were ready for games before dinner, including Naomi trivia and her request that we play Coke and Pepsi. She is a big fan of Taylor Swift, so we changed the team names to Taylor and Swift 🙂
Dinner started around 7pm. With many family members visiting from Detroit, I was asked to play a variety of softer Motown hits as background music for dinner. After Naomi’s parents welcomed everyone and toasted the Bat Mitzvah girl, I invited everyone out to the dance floor for “The Hora” and chair-raising.
The kids were wound up all evening, but the parents joined in as well for a good time dancing to favorites “I Gotta Feeling”, “Dancing Queen”, “Cupid Shuffle” and of course, plenty of Taylor Swift.
Mazel Tov Naomi and thank you mom Marah for choosing PRO DJs.
