Behind the Board

Your Chance to Win a FREE Wedding!

2011-01-25T11:58:00.000-05:00

Come and join us on Sunday, January 30th for the WAZY Bridal Spectacular powered by Adelino's and enter for a chance to win a wedding package valued up to $20,000!

Where: Adelino's Old World Kitchen, 2nd Floor Function Room

When: Jan. 30th, 1-3pm

More Info: http://www.adelinos.com/events_promos.html (Scroll to bottom of page)

Free admission

Bridal Show at the Pearl Venue

2011-01-18T20:41:00.000-05:00

Come and join us this weekend for the Bridal Show at the Pearl Venue in Michigan City!

Where: 907 Franklin St., Michigan City, IN
When: Jan. 23rd, 2pm

Call 219-874-7786 for reservations!
Free admission!

We look forward to seeing you at the show!

Click here for more on our additional service area in the Region.

Northwest Indiana Bridal Expo

2011-01-12T13:00:00.005-05:00

Come and join us this weekend for the Northwest Indiana Bridal Expo 2011!

Where: Porter County Expo Center

When: Jan. 16th, Noon-4pm

Website: http://nwibridalexpo.com/

Free admission

Free parking

Click here for more on our additional service area in the Region.

We look forward to seeing you at the show!

Midwest Rentals Bridal Affair

2011-01-05T13:00:00.000-05:00

Come and join us this weekend for the 2011 Midwest Rentals Bridal Affair!

Where: University Plaza Hotel, West Lafayette

When: Jan. 8th, 10am-4pm & Jan. 9th, Noon-4pm

Website: http://www.lafayettebridalaffair.com/

Admission: $5

Brides can register on the website and get in for free!

Now Serving The Region

2011-01-04T22:15:00.000-05:00

AMP Indiana is now offering DJ services near Jon's hometown of Valparaiso, Indiana!
This new additional service area in the Region will include Porter County, LaPorte County, and parts of Lake County. These include the cities of Valparaiso, Merrillville, and Michigan City.

Prices for 2011 weddings in this area start at $750 for up to 6 hours of performance time. This rate includes the following:

Sound
Dance floor lighting
Wireless microphone
Music tailored to your event
Exclusivity: We only book one event per day.
24/7 Support: We don't just work 9-5.
Travel

Happy New Year!

2011-01-01T12:29:00.000-05:00

We wish you all a very happy New Year and all the best in 2011!

If you are planning an event this year, please contact us soon because dates started booking up for 2011 over the past couple of months. Wedding bookings in May, June, and July appear to be the most popular this year, so if you are planning any event within those months, please contact us soon!

January is bridal show month for AMP Indiana, when we most heavily book up dates. We only DJ one event per day, so when a date is gone, it's gone.

We look forward to hearing from you as you make your plans for the year!

2010: Year in Review

2010-12-31T16:13:00.000-05:00

A lot has happened during the last half of the year - my goodness, it's been too long since we posted! To catch up, check out our page on Facebook.

Milestones
There are a couple of milestones that should be noted here. DJ Jon recently celebrated 10 years as a mobile DJ. That's right, 10 years ago this past Fall, he began as a DJ for WILY radio at Purdue and has been a DJ ever since. In addition, DJ Anna celebrated 15 years as a mobile DJ as of this past June, and you can read about it here.

Music
As per the usual, we're going to wrap up the year with a brief review of tunes that really stuck out at us this year. There was no real standout genre this year at the weddings we DJed, just a great mix of a variety of tunes from the 60s through today.

Hottest Songs
"You Shook Me All Night Long" - AC/DC
"SexyBack" - Justin Timberlake
"I Gotta Feeling" - Black Eyed Peas

Other Popular Songs
"We Are Family" - Sister Sledge
"My Girl" - The Temptations
"I'll Be" - Edwin McCain
"Like A G6" - Far East Movement
"Collide" - Howie Day
"The Way You Make Me Feel" - Micheal Jackson

Popular Special Event Songs
"Cinderella" - Steven Curtis Chapman (Bride/Father Dance)
"My Wish" - Rascal Flatts
"Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)" - Beyoncé (Bouquet Toss)
"Foxy Lady" - Jimi Hendrix (Garter Toss)
"Remember When" - Alan Jackson (Anniversary Dance)

Songs We Dusted Off
"Bennie And The Jets" - Elton John
"She Don't Know She's Beautiful" - Sammy Kershaw

Started Fading in Popularity (Fewer Requests)
"Pour Some Sugar On Me"- Def Leppard (far fewer requests this year)
Zac Brown Band
Lady Gaga

Came Back to Popularity (More Requests)
"Old Time Rock And Roll" - Bob Seger (Lit up the dance floor!)
"Sweet Caroline" - Neil Diamond (many more requests this year)
The Beatles

Oddest Request
"Bennie And The Jets" - Elton John (Very popular, random song this year)

We wish you and yours a very happy New Year!

15 Years for DJ Anna!

2010-06-24T19:30:00.009-04:00

About 15 years ago this weekend, I got my start soloing as a DJ.

The event was a church festival, and I was working for my father. We set up 2 rigs, one outside and one inside, and I DJed inside pretty much all afternoon and evening.

From then on, I was hooked.

I continued to do solo work at church festivals and hold the fort behind the board for my father during other events until I moved away to college. Although most of these events were for Greek folks and involved a lot of Greek music, I learned a lot about formal events and how to work with other vendors.

During college, I got somewhat involved in college radio, but focused primarily on my studies. I was an active member of WILY Radio as a radio DJ my freshman year and for part of my sophomore year. During my senior year, I rejoined as a mobile DJ and learned a lot about putting together sets and working a crowd. I stayed on as an alum for a year, then formed AMP Indiana with my then-boyfriend (now husband!) Jon McDonald. The rest, as they say, is history!

Like Us on Facebook!

2010-04-26T08:40:00.001-04:00

Are you on Facebook? Check out our fan page!

Fan Page Link

We'll keep you updated on the latest news, photos, and blog posts. Become a fan today and don't forget to suggest the page to your friends!

2 Weddings and a Highlighter Party

2010-04-21T14:26:00.006-04:00

Since January, we have DJed 2 wonderful, fun weddings and we have another wedding coming up this weekend. We also DJed a highlighter party a few weeks ago. It was a pinch hit for the students at Meredith Hall on Purdue's campus. They were in a bind, so we jumped in and used it as a good opportunity to work with the students at Harrison Hall Radio (WHHR) and mentor them further on the flow of an event. Some pictures are shown below, with the rest posted on our Facebook album.

Weddings

Highlighter Party

See more on Facebook!

ODJT Midwest Meet-N-Greet

2010-03-15T17:08:00.003-04:00

Jon and I just spent the weekend with some wonderful DJs from the Our DJ Chat online forum. We met up right here in West Lafayette and activities included shopping at J L Records, enjoying peanut butter burgers and root beer at the Triple XXX, an afternon at the Christina & Company salon for the ladies...and LOTS of gear talk! We enjoyed hosting this Meet-N-Greet and hope to attend more in the future.

Thanks to all who attended!
Kirby & Coreen - Ball Photography and DJ Service
Randy & Carmen - Party Tunes DJ Service
Rob & Tracy - Total Impact DJ Service
Keith - Hired Power Entertainment
Scott & Hope - WHHR

A Friend in Need...

2010-03-02T11:01:00.001-05:00

My good friend, Crystal, is tying the knot this August and I have the honor of being one of her bridesmaids. As a part of that role (and just being a pal in general), I offered to help her out with her wedding plans if needed. The email asking for help came just this past Thursday.

To put a long story short, Crystal had a DJ lined up for the date and he backed out, leaving a bride out of the entertainment for her wedding. I spent the rest of that day checking out DJ websites and phoning DJs, weeding them out to give Crystal some options. Since I am a DJ, I was able to cut through the sales pitches and right to the chase with a whole slew of questions. Besides, I felt like I was a pro about this from having done the exact same thing for my own wedding last year.

I found for her some DJs that are available, do written contracts, have decent gear, and should come in around the high end of her budget. In addition, I attended a bridal show this past weekend that is near her venue, and I was able to find a couple more DJs, a florist, and some wedding cake vendors. Phew!

It was interesting to learn about the DJ scene in a different market. Last year, I learned about vendors in eastern Massachusetts. This time around, I learned about a different region of Indiana. It's amazing what a 2-hour drive can reveal, whether it's "lake effect" snow or a very different wedding market.

I've mulled over the question of what I can take from this experience and one thing comes to mind: Price
Brides here in central Indiana don't realize how lucky they are, how much money they are saving!

A Note on Professionalism

2010-01-19T13:33:00.000-05:00

I recently booked a wedding reception where we met up to discuss the reception details and contract on the day that our new clients were to attend a friend's wedding. A few days after their friend's wedding, my new client discussed in an email about the DJ from that night, that he plugged his services 3 or 4 times throughout the evening. According to my client, "he announced that he was available for weddings, graduations, parties in general, his phone number, and that he was cheap." What? WHAT?!

I didn't realize that there were vendors out there who did that, especially DJs. I think that those who bill themselves as professionals should know that! This is worse than The Banner Syndrome, which I think is already bad enough.

I assured my client - as I am assuring you all now - that we never plug ourselves on the mic. That is tacky and unnecessary. We set a few business cards in a holder by the request binder, so if people like our services, they can take a card and contact us later. Besides, it's easier than fishing around through a bag for a card. But that's all - no banners, no mic announcements, nothing else. It's your event, not ours.

Thanks for visiting!

2010-01-19T13:09:00.002-05:00

Thanks to all who visited us at the Classic Elegance Bridal Expo last Sunday at the PMU! We had a great time meeting new couples and talking to folks who decided to take a second look at us from the week before. It was also nice to network again with different vendors before bridal season comes along in full swing. We're looking forward to working with these vendors again this year.

To the many couples who visited our booth inquiring about our DJ services: We look forward to meeting with you soon!

FCC Bans Use of Mics in the 700 MHz Band

2010-01-16T23:52:00.000-05:00

"Under a new FCC rule, anyone who uses a wireless microphone that operates in the 700 MHz Band will have to stop operating their wireless microphone by June 12, 2010."

See article here: http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/wirelessmicrophones/

The 700 MHz band was reserved last year for public safety usage and I think that it was a matter of time before that frequency was completely banned from other users. Besides, who really wants to listen to an ambulance radio call in the middle of the best man's toast?

Fortunately, our wireless microphone is still FCC compliant because it does not operate in that range. We have a high-quality wireless mic that operates in the 500 MHz range, strong enough and with multiple channels to avoid other interference.

Bridal Show at PMU this Sunday!

2010-01-13T15:29:00.000-05:00

Join us this Sunday at the 2010 Classic Elegance Bridal Expo to benefit Family Services, Inc.

When: Sunday, Jan. 13th from Noon-4pm
Where: Purdue Memorial Union, North & South Ballrooms
Admission: $3 donation to Family Services, Inc.
Website: http://thebridalaffair.com/

Free parking is available in the Grant Street Parking Garage, across the street from the PMU.

Fun Time at the Show!

2010-01-11T14:47:00.000-05:00

Thanks to all those who visited our booth at the Midwest Rentals Bridal Affair this past weekend! We had a lot of fun meeting recently engaged couples and networking with local vendors.

Midwest Rentals Bridal Affair

2010-01-09T02:00:00.000-05:00

Come and join us this weekend at the 2010 Midwest Rentals Bridal Affair!

Where: University Plaza Hotel, West Lafayette

When: Jan. 9th, 10am-4pm & Jan. 10th, Noon-4pm

Website: http://www.lafayettebridalaffair.com/

Admission: 5$

Brides can register on the website and get in for free!

2009: Year in Review - Part 2

2009-12-31T15:58:00.000-05:00

As promised, here is Part 2 of our year in review. If you missed Part 1, you can read it here.

To wrap up the year, here is a list of our best and worst of 2009. While we saw some hot songs emerge this year, it was the older hip-hop tunes of the late 80s and early 90s that really got the dance floor pumping this year!

Hottest Songs
“I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho)” – Pitbull
“Low” – Flo Rida (2nd year in a row!)
"I Gotta Feelin'" - Black Eyed Peas
"Fire Burnin'" - Sean Kingston

Other Popular Songs
"Party in the USA" - Miley Cyrus
"Chicken Fried" - Zac Brown Band
"That's Not My Name" - Ting Tings

Most Popular Slow Songs
"Then" - Brad Paisley
"Whatever It Is" - Zac Brown Band
"The Climb" - Miley Cyrus

Biggest Dancefloor Fizzlers
Lil Wayne - just about anything with him
Britney Spears - especially "3"

Played and Made Popular…Before the Radio Played It
"Fallin' For You" - Colbie Caillat

Songs We Dusted Off (These returned to popularity this year.)
“It's Tricky” – Run-DMC
"Bust a Move" - Young MC
"Apache" - Sugarhill Gang
"Boogie Wonderland" - Earth, Wind & Fire

Literally Dusted Off (vinyl)
“Thriller” – Michael Jackson

These Faded in Popularity This Year
"Lost in This Moment" - Big & Rich
"Baby Got Back" - Sir Mix-a-Lot
Anything by Tim McGraw & Faith Hill (far fewer requests this year)

Oddest Requests
A couple of songs by Cake
"We Don't Have to Take Our Clothes Off" - Jermaine Stewart

Most Unique Introduction (This popped out the most this year.)
Bulls Theme - The wedding party actually formed a huddle!

Thank you again for letting us be a part of your events!
We wish you a safe and happy New Year!

2009: Year in Review - Part 1

2009-12-30T15:36:00.000-05:00

We had a very busy and successful year here at AMP Indiana. There is so much to talk about this year that I am splitting this post into two parts. This post will be brief highlights of this year's weddings and Part 2 will be about music, similar to last year's post.

For starters, we DJed our first Jewish wedding and we opened up dancing with 2 outstanding hora mixes. As shown below, the bride and groom were each hoisted up on chairs and carried around the dance floor as the rest of their friends and relatives danced around them!

Speaking of firsts, we DJed our first Halloween wedding this year. Most of the guests were in costume and Jon and I were dressed as zombies. We had fun mixing in spooky sound effects with the music!

We also DJed a Persian-American wedding and we had to mix music from both cultures to keep the dance floor moving. I took a step back to my days as my father's apprentice, when we DJed Greek-American wedding. That experience helped me a lot with this wedding. The energy was high, the music was loud, and the guests had a great time!

We DJed many fun weddings this year and rocked many crowds of guests.

We had a hot day outdoors....

We had some fun evenings....

We even had a reception where the wedding party and guests from our room formed a train, went into the other room and brought back their wedding party and many of their guests. The dance floor was overflowing with guests! (You can read more here. )

All in all, 2009 was a wonderful year! We can't wait to see what 2010 holds for us. Thank you for letting us be a part of your events!

Backstreet's Back?

2009-10-07T13:57:00.000-04:00

I just purchased the new Backstreet Boys album, This is Us, and I've gotta say that I think that they're back for sure. I don't think this is going to be a short-lived run like with the New Kids on the Block; there's more than one song that'll be hitting the Top 40 radio stations.

On the album, the group brings back their familiar, blended vocal sound to more current-sounding tracks. Add some decent lyrics and it's a pretty good album. I've heard that their first single "Straight Through My Heart" has already been on the radio, although it hasn't made it out here to the Lafayette area. Other decent tunes on the album include "All of Your Life (You Need Love)," "This is Us," and "Masquerade." You can preview the album here.

I was happy with the purchase and am looking forward to playing some of these tunes at upcoming events.

Half a Year Gone Already?!

2009-07-28T14:43:00.001-04:00

Wow! We're halfway through the summer already and we've had many wonderful weddings so far this year! Lots of wacky things have happened so far. Here are a couple to note:

Filling In...

On May 8th, I received a call from a client do DJ an event that evening. We weren't booked, so we took care of it. It was a small party for a group of wonderful teachers from a local elementary school. The other DJ had bailed on them, so we stepped up and had a fun party!

The Train

Back in June, we were DJing over at the Holiday Inn in Lafayette - a charming venue with multiple facilities. Well, there was another wedding reception in another room. Folks at our party decided to start a train line and crash the other wedding!

I thought that there'd be a train going around the foyer and that if they went through the other room, they'd just be coming back and the other folks would have a great laugh. I played "C'Mon Ride It (The Train)" by the Quad City DJs and when that train line came back, we had not just one - but two brides - in the line! Also included was the other groom and wedding party. People stayed to dance to "Low" by Flo Rida, then headed back to their reception. It was an amazing site to see the room filled!

Here are a couple of pictures of the train....

And of the packed room....

We're still working on the AMP Indiana Music Database Wiki. We have some updated titles, but we're continuing to backfill. As we were sorting for our July 18th wedding, I realized that it would be easier to find out if we have the tunes by searching on the wiki. This is proving to be a nifty tool for you to browse, but also for us to search for music we know we have. It's the perfect, searchable, online catalogue!!

There will be an actual gallery coming soon on the website, where you can actually see our equipment and what we do before you book us. For now, I might just be making an additional post and updating our new AMP Indiana fan page on Facebook. If you like us, please join and become a fan!

Speaking of seeing what we do, we will have a new page also coming to the website that describes all the work that we put into each event, from our first meeting with a client to the end of the event. While we might get into more specifics on this blog, the general overview will be viewable on the website.

There's a lot of work to be done this year - and many more events to DJ. Stay tuned for more updates!

Music Database in Progress

2009-02-10T13:34:00.000-05:00

I just wanted to drop a quick note today to let you know that I am finally posting our music library online. I decided that using a wiki-style website would be best. I am currently using a free version of the service, but I will be upgrading soon to get rid of the nasty banner ads and to make the pages look nicer.
Check out the wiki here: http://ampindiana.wikispaces.com/

The Banner Syndrome

2009-02-04T15:53:00.000-05:00

A word of caution to those who are looking for a DJ. Make sure that your DJ is working for you at your event and not making it their own event. One of the most unprofessional things a DJ can do is have a sign or banner to advertise their company at another person's formal event.

Recently, I have been surfing the sites of numerous "professional" mobile DJs to see what is outside of the Lafayette area. I was shocked to see many DJs who call themselves professionals display pictures of their DJ setups that feature a large banner, sign, even a gobo spot on a dance floor! And these pictures weren't from any sort of college party or picnic; they were clearly from formal weddings. Note: A gobo spot is an electronically projected image.

There's nothing wrong with bringing a banner to a bridal expo, where the DJ is advertising for their company in their own booth. There's also nothing wrong with bringing business cards to an event - a DJ's best advertising does come from word of mouth. I just believe that the large signs, banners, and gobo spots need to be left at home, especially when it comes to formal events like weddings.

When I DJ an event, I set out a few business cards in a discreet business card holder near the request book. This eliminates the need for me to go digging around in a bag for a card when asked. In my opinion, that is all that's needed.

Song Listings Coming Soon

2009-01-27T10:27:00.000-05:00

Many people have asked me about whether I have a database of songs online. My answer is that I am working on it and if there are requests for songs that I do not own, I will purchase them.

Most DJs have a vast collection of music and your AMP DJs are no exception. I have found this task to be a bit overwhelming. However, I might have a solution.

Originally, I was working on a cumbersome grouping of PDF files, but as I have gotten deeper into this I keep asking myself whether people will really use the lists in this format. I am trying to start off with artists that I play most often, but even that is a long list. I just do not believe that the PDF library idea will work.

I am looking into options that make navigation easier. Perhaps I will just make up a new website and perhaps I will look into a wiki service. More updates on this soon....

Monticello Bridal Show

2009-01-19T14:53:00.000-05:00

Join us in Monticello this Sunday at the 9th Annual Best Western Brandywine Bridal Show! The show runs from Noon-4pm and admission is only $3. See this website for more details: http://www.wmrsradio.com/Bridal%20Show.htm

And the Updates Keep Coming!

2009-01-16T21:50:00.000-05:00

I've added more updates to the AMP Indiana website, including a fresher blue color for the links and a new Links page, which will be updated as we meet more vendors. If you're planning an event and do not have all your vendors booked yet, this page will help you with local places to look.

http://ampindiana.com/links.html

Weddings Page Added

2009-01-15T14:33:00.000-05:00

We've now added a page on Weddings to explain more about how we work with couples on weddings. Go here to learn more: http://ampindiana.com/weddings.html

Midwest Rentals Bridal Affair

2009-01-09T11:39:00.000-05:00

Join us this weekend at the Midwest Rentals Bridal Affair show. Brides-to-be can register online to get in for free. See their website for more details: http://www.lafayettebridalaffair.com/

2008: Year in Review

2008-12-31T11:16:00.001-05:00

It has been a very busy year for us here at AMP Indiana. To wrap up the year, here is a list of our best and worst of 2008:

Hottest Songs
“All Summer Long” – Kid rock
“Low” – Flo Rida

Biggest Dancefloor Fizzlers
“Closer” – Ne-Yo
“Right Now (Na Na Na)” – Akon
Anything by Madonna

Played and Made Popular…Before the Radio Played It
“Break the Ice” – Britney Spears
“I’m Yours” – Jason Mraz (1st dance request, was on the radio a month later)
“In the Ayer” – Flo Rida

Songs We Dusted Off (These returned to popularity this year.)
“Get Low” – Lil Jon & The Eastside Boyz
“Your Song” – Elton John
“I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing” – Aerosmith
“Don’t Stop Til You Get Enough” – Michael Jackson

Literally Dusted Off (vinyl)
“Dr. Feelgood” – Motley Crue
“Hotel California” – The Eagles

Songs that Faded the Most in Popularity
“Old Time Rock and Roll” – Bob Seger
“Wonderful Tonight” – Eric Clapton
“Can’t Help Falling in Love with You” – Elvis Presley (Really, just about anything by Elvis is fading to the point where only serious Elvis fans are requesting his music.)

Most Out-of-the-Blue Requests (that we were able to fill)
“Spanish Caravan” and “Waiting for the Sun” – The Doors
“Enter Sandman” – Metallica
“Always Look on the Bright Side” from the movie, The Life of Brian
“The Candy Man” – from the movie, Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory
“The Man Song” – from the movie, Orgasmo
“The Time Warp” – from The Rocky Horror Picture Show

Most Different Introductions (These popped out the most this year.)
Cab Calloway from Blues Brothers impression
"White Wedding" - Billy Idol with the bells from AC/DC's "Hells Bells" as the attention-getter
“Rollin’” – Big & Rich
“The Muppet Show Theme” with “20th Century Fox Theme” as the attention-getter

We wish you a safe and happy New Year!

Whole Lotta Shaking Goin' On!

2008-04-21T09:52:00.000-04:00

You may have heard on the news that, among other tremors, a magnitude 5.2 earthquake struck southern Illinois. We could feel this rude awakening here in Lafayette, Indiana. This was my first experience with an earthquake, and it is one that I would never like to repeat. The mechanical shaking, the rattling of items on shelves, the total lack of control I had over the situation…not fun. Fortunately, there was no damage here, and the DJ equipment is just fine. My thoughts go out to all those who live closer to the epicenter and endured damage and/or injuries.

"Paradise by the Dashboard Light"

2008-04-10T12:55:00.000-04:00

This fun eight-and-a-half minute set from the first Bat Out of Hell album has been requested at some recent weddings that we DJ'd, and by folks who know the entire set by heart. This is one song they'll sing at the top of their lungs! I did not realize its popularity before, but I am pleasantly surprised because it is a fun song.

AMP Indiana Going Digital? Sort of....

2008-03-13T12:56:00.000-04:00

I have always believed that a good DJ should earn their keep by using such media as CDs and vinyl records, cueing up songs individually, doing all the mixing work themselves, without the aid of a laptop. In fact, I am still against the usage of a laptop and computer software to make pre-fabricated playlists where each song is automatically crossfaded into the other. The only appeal of a computer to me is the storage size, because I could have my entire music collection with me, and I would have far fewer CDs to take with me.

That said, my trusty tech guy and DJ/MC, Jon, has shown me some new technology that would remedy the song storage issue, BUT still allow us to think about what we are playing before we play it, AND still have the capability to use CDs. (Note: I'm leaving vinyl out of this post, because we will still bring it when requested. Don't worry vinyl people!!)

If I'm understanding this correctly from Jon, this new technology is a deck that allows me to plug in at least 2 hard drives via a USB port. The interface is similar to a CD player: 2 sides, each assigned to a channel; but instead of navigating a CD, I'd be navigating through files on the hard drive. This way, we can have all of our songs with us, at all times, and be able to access them easier.

As a DJ who has always used vinyl and especially compact discs, I am a bit nervous and will need to be weaned off, slowly. HOWEVER, we will never completely stop using CDs. All important songs (e.g. Intro Song, First Dance) will still be brought on CD and played on our CD player, which will remain in our rack setup. I will also keep key lifesaver songs and compilations with me on CD. And of course, for those events that require vinyl, we've got you covered.

Wedding Season Official for AMP Indiana

2008-03-12T20:32:00.000-04:00

Well, wedding season officially started for AMP Indiana last Saturday. Our congratulations goes out to Javier and Colleen. Best wishes!

This was also our first time out with our new rack system. We have compressed everything into one rack set on top of the table. Previously, we had our amps under the table and were running wires. Now, we have a much cleaner looking setup. The only downside is that it is quite heavy, but between Jon and myself - and the help of a brand new cart - we can manage it.

We still need the 2-table setup for the CDs, but we are looking at (shock!) alternative methods of song storage. And no, WE WILL NEVER BE A LAPTOP DJ. However, there are other methods of media storage on the market for mobile DJs, and we are considering them. That way, we can definitely have our entire collection of music with us, while taking up less space at venues. More on this idea as it develops....

Website Facelift

2008-02-07T21:17:00.000-05:00

AMPIndiana.com will be getting a face-lift this year. On top of a new look, we will be adding functionality that includes a discussion forum, a full-out picture gallery, and a music database of sorts. More information, including launch date, is coming soon....

Bubbles Are Here!

2008-02-05T23:53:00.000-05:00

This year, we have had many requests for bubbles to be used at events, so we decided to purchase a brand new bubble machine. It arrived today and I am told that it will shoot bubbles out 5-6 feet before they are carried about the room by the various air currents that are present.

To answer a common question, the fluid used for these bubbles is designed to not stain clothing (e.g. wedding gowns).

This should be a real treat for folks of all ages!

July 12, 2008

2008-01-17T12:33:00.000-05:00

Call this a Public Service Announcement of sorts....

One of the things I learned from last weekend's bridal show is that July 12, 2008 is a VERY popular wedding date. If you are planning a wedding - or any other large event, for that matter - book as soon as you can.

And yes, we are booked for that day.

But as of now, we do have other openings in July.

Thanks for Visiting Us!

2008-01-17T00:02:00.000-05:00

Thank you to all those who visited us at the 2008 Midwest Rentals Bridal Affair. The response has been positively overwhelming! We had folks sign on the spot and we have meetings booked over the next couple of weeks.

From a networking aspect, Jon and I got to meet some of the other DJs in town, as well as caterers, photographers, videographers, dress makers, and even a man who runs a dove-release business. Yes, now available in Lafayette is a service that offers you the opportunity to release real doves and make your wedding day really take flight. The doves were really friendly, even after a long day in a cage!

Very soon, I will be adding a page to the website that features some information about the various services offered at the Show. For now, I say good night!

Come See Us at the Bridal Affair!

2008-01-08T12:43:00.000-05:00

We've booked a booth at the Midwest Rentals Bridal Affair, to be held this weekend, January 12th & 13th, at the University Plaza Hotel (formerly University Inn) in West Lafayette.

We'll be there to answer any questions you have about our DJ services and to book events. There will be many other vendors there, so if you are planning a wedding in the Lafayette area, this is the place to be this weekend. See you there!

AMP Indiana on Facebook!

2007-10-19T10:08:00.001-04:00

AMP Indiana now has its own group on Facebook. Feel free to join and show support for your awesome DJs! Here's the link: http://tinyurl.com/2zqrsc

21 Questions to Ask a DJ

2007-09-11T22:33:00.000-04:00

Recently, I was asked by a pal from high school if I could DJ her wedding reception, and I was hoping that I could make the logistics work. However, traveling from Indiana to Massachusetts just will not work out at this point. I didn't want to leave her high and dry, because I know that she wants a DJ who will work diligently to make for an awesome event. In response, I came up with these 21 questions and criteria that I would be concerned with if I were hiring a DJ. And yes, some self-reflection has been involved in this.

1) Find someone who is personable, but not fake - genuine. They should be likable if you're going to work with them.

2) Must do requests, both before (from you) and during the reception (from anyone). After all, they need to be flexible and it helps to truly customize an event.

3) No plug-n-play with laptops or other devices (e.g. iPod, Zune). Laptops are cool for requests and looking at available music, but your DJ has got to earn their keep.

4) No straight up techno/house guy - unless that's really what you want. I went to a wedding reception once where that was all he played and it was turned up so loud, that although the lights were dimmed, they were dimming much more with each bass hit. A DJ has to be aware of their limits at a venue! Besides, everyone over 30 was complaining (and could not be heard).

5) If they do any beat mixing or matching, you may want to ask for a sample of their work. What you're looking for here is whether the DJ is going with the dance flow, or whether they're just trying to make it sound good to their ears.

6) How far will they go to get the songs you want? Seriously, they need to be willing to dig deep.

7) How much do they charge? Why do they charge those rates? Remember that just because they charge a lot, does not necessarily mean they're worth it. Of course, worthiness is why we're asking all of these questions!

8) Is the person who you are talking to going to be the DJ? If you can't talk to the DJ who is going to be at your reception, they're not worth your money. Same thing for the MC.

9) And speaking of the MC, you want to listen to their voice, preferably in person. Make sure that they have the type of voice that anybody can understand, as far as dialect and speed of speech are concerned. Nobody wants an MC who is boring or who cannot be understood by everyone. You'll want an example, either in person or on a promotional tape.

10) Attire. What do they wear? Are they willing to change it up for your reception?

11) How long have they been around? What is their background in DJing?

12) What is their personal philosophy on DJing? Why are they in the business? Money? Art? Fun?

13) Personal taste in music. Many DJs claim to be eclectic or to embrace all kinds of music, like yours truly. But what do they listen to when they turn on the radio or the CD/MP3 player? These questions are a test of honesty.

14) Are they willing to meet face-to-face to go over everything? It beats phone tag and puts a face with the name before the event.

15) Don't book by email or use PayPal. You want a written contract signed either in person or via snail mail with the deposit paid in check or cash with a receipt.

16) Did they design their own brochures and other promotional material? Another test of honesty.

17) Dinner music - are they sticking in a CD and letting it play through or are they working at it? Unless you really want a whole CD played, they need to earn their keep. Good DJs customize for the event - the whole event, not just after dinner.

18) What's the biggest mistake they ever made or the worst event they ever did? Every DJ has a bad moment or observation.

19) You can also ask the opposite, on top of #18. What's the best event they ever DJ'd or the best move they ever made?

20) Do they abide by any formula? In other words, do they ever play the same music in the same order (or roughly the same order) at each event?

21) Do they have any suggestions for the special songs?

These questions are a great start in weeding out the DJs. I'm sure I'll come up with more. And yes, of course I'm going to answer my own questions. And while I'm at it, I might just publish a document on the official AMP Indiana website, so that you can print out these questions.

From Funk to Country

2007-08-22T08:47:00.000-04:00

Looking back on the past month, I realized that we went from playing for a funk/r&b/old-school/blues crowd to a country/southern rock/rock 'n' roll crowd in two weeks - and we survived. Talk about your hardcore transition of thought processes, especially where we had to do a lot of research and collecting in the funk and country genres. I mean, these are two opposite ends of the spectrum. I learned a lot and have gained more of an appreciation for these genres. And from Earth, Wind, & Fire to Alan Jackson, I had a ton of fun!

An Interesting Question

2007-08-22T08:05:00.000-04:00

As the owner of a newer business, I've been preparing myself for all sorts of questions. My counterpart, Jon, and I have had numerous discussions about our philosophies as DJs, among other things. Recently, I got a question that I wasn't expecting, but that I was prepared for by knowing a bit about our competition.

In preparation for a meeting, I was asked by a client whether I would be the DJ at their event or if it was going to be another DJ from within the company. A fair question indeed, considering that there are so many disc jockey services out there who run more than one rig (rig=setup).

To answer the question, I explained that we're a very small company, with only two DJs, and that we BOTH attend each event. As we add on equipment, we might have a roadie or apprentice (woohoo!) accompany us, but we will always be there. Thinking about it more, I mean, why would I want to miss out on any of the fun?

Low Cost Doesn't Always Mean Low Quality

2007-08-01T15:56:00.000-04:00

...Especially not in the case of my company. There are those who venture to say that a DJ who charges a low fee for an event is inexperienced and NOT considered a professional DJ.

I find myself looking at the rate I charge for events and wonder: Would it appease people if I raised my prices? Currently, I charge enough for the overhead costs on travel, music updating, and maintenance & upgrades for my equipment. So far, I've been hired because we're a great deal, essentially the lowest bidder. I've read a lot of articles by DJs who are (of course) advertising themselves, stating that one should shoot for a DJ who bids in the middle (which of course, they are just that DJ). Supposedly, low bidders are inexperienced, desperate DJs and high bidders may not just be that much worth it.

I love what I do. I'm not making a living off it, but it is an extra job that I truly enjoy. I love making people happy, giving them a good time, even if it's just for one night. I love to attract much-needed attention for charities and businesses, boosting their development. Most of all, music and technology research is my niche. It's fun to expand my appreciation for more genres of music and to learn about their histories. The tech part is fun, too, mostly because I love shopping.

Let's see...big spending, loads of fun, good tunes, happy people.... Yup! I'm there.

Back from Leave

2007-07-24T12:27:00.000-04:00

Well, I'm back from Florida - the 5 days in the Orlando area were too quick. However, I learned a lot from the pros. I visited Disney's Pleasure Island and had a great time! I visited all of the clubs in there at least once (they have multiple clubs in the same complex, each with a different theme). Despite being located in a premium resort area, there wasn't a whole lot going on. It was a Monday night, which explained that part, but I had thought that people on vacation frequented it. The complex might be popular with people more on the weekend or something. Oh, well.
The emptiness of the clubs gave me the opportunity to really scope out how things were set up. I am working on upgrading and adding more to my current setup, because it is quite basic. I now have a better idea of what kind of lighting shows I want to put on and with what sort of equipment. Like I said, what I have now is pretty good, but I want more. (evil laugh)

Going on Leave

2007-07-03T09:04:00.000-04:00

It's been a long time since my last post - sorry about that. This whole thing with working three jobs (web designer, liquor store clerk, disc jockey) has me going in different directions. All the while, I've been helping people get a house ready for sale, straightening up my apartment, and studying more music for some upcoming wedding receptions and a family reunion. I also assisted in a wedding reception Saturday night with a friend from WILY Radio at Purdue University, where I am an alum. It's time for a break...sort of.

Next week, I will be near Orlando, Florida, where my parents have a timeshare rental at a condo for a week. I'll be taking the boyfriend along, too, for a 16-hour drive over 2 days, each way. The plan is to relax (of course) and to be inspired. We'll be visiting Disney's Pleasure Island at least once. I've never been. In fact, it's been years since I've been to a club other than a campus bar. (There really aren't clubs on Purdue's campus, just larger bars with dance floors.) Hopefully, I'll have something to bring back as far as lighting and sound ideas are concerned. I will be thinking about what sort of lighting is used for each theme; how each component comes together to produce the desired effect. I will also be noting how sound is used effectively - we have a handle on this for the business, but you never know, we could something to make it better.

So, in reality, this is not just a vacation. I really am taking time off for professional development. Yeah, that's it! I'll share what I learn when I return to Indiana. In the meantime, enjoy the fireworks!!

Theme Songs

2007-06-18T12:39:00.000-04:00

At my day job as a web designer, we'll get asked these "juicer" questions before meetings. I normally don't think of it as the best way to spend the first 5-10 minutes of a meeting, but it can get interesting sometimes.

Last week, the question was about what theme song I would choose for myself. Normally, something like that should take some deep thought. However, I'd already been thinking about it, so I actually had a sound answer (well, one that I didn't feel stupid sharing with everyone).

I actually have three theme songs that apply to me:

Work: The Bangles, "Manic Monday"
Personal: Bon Jovi, "Livin' On a Prayer"
As a DJ: Afrika Bambaataa & The Soul Sonic Force, "Planet Rock"

I think that you can learn a lot about a person by the music that they prefer to listen to, especially a DJ. Many of us claim to have eclectic tastes and no preference. We love all music, simply because we're DJs. That is not necessarily true. To me, not having a preference is just walking a fence.

I enjoy music and I'll listen to just about anything that's out there. However, I prefer to listen to music from the 90s. To be more specific, key artists include Salt 'N' Pepa, Warren G, TLC, Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, C+C Music Factory, Boys II Men, The Offspring, Nirvana, The Foo Fighters, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Goo Goo Dolls, Lifehouse, and numerous others. If it helps, I was born in 1983, so the music of the 90s really brings me back to a part of my life where I had no worries and had a lot of fun. Yeah, maybe that's what it is, or perhaps it's something deeper.

Schooled on The BeeGees

2007-06-11T12:03:00.000-04:00

Last night, I listened to The Bee Gees Greatest Hits, both discs, and I learned a lot about the famous trio. Previously, I had only associated them with the disco era and the movie, Saturday Night Fever. I now know that they recorded during the surrounding pop eras, too. I also didn’t know that they wrote that “Massachusetts” song, among others that I recognized and said, “I know that song…didn’t know that was The Bee Gees!”

This group really adapted to the changes in music styles throughout the years, and I am still sitting in amazement that their music spanned 4 decades. As a DJ, I need to know my music, and that involves a lot of learning, some of which I did last night. I have gained a whole new respect for The Bee Gees, and I will consider using more of their music in future events.

Lil Jon and Crew Make Me Blush Again!

2007-05-25T15:53:00.000-04:00

As a part of going through CDs, I've been stuck listening to Lil Jon & The Eastside Boyz. I've played one, maybe two, of their songs - the ones that made it mainstream and were almost bearable for the ears. I started with the newer of the two albums that I have, Crunk Juice, which was probably bought on a gamble. It was jam-packed with cusses to a beat. After listening to a couple of 50 Cent albums, which were fully-loaded with cusses and gunshots, this was a bit more bearable. You see, after the initial blushing of my cheeks (I've been listening to a lot of these CDs at work, on my headphones, so nobody else hears.), I grew numb to it all. But as you can tell from the title of this post, something had to give.

Today at work, I popped in an older album, Kings of Crunk by Lil Jon & The Eastside Boyz and all their crew. I'm surprised the Parental Advisory label isn't larger! I blushed even more and actually had to take a break from my desk to calm down. There are a couple of songs on this album that are sexually explicit to the extreme. I almost vomited from some of the descriptions and I was infuriated that one of the female singers was actually promoting unprotected sex! Despite the policies surrounding the Parental Advisory labels, younger teens are going to listen to this stuff, especially if they're buying the album for the song "Get Low," which they probably heard a very edited version of on a Top 40 radio station. The album also promotes smoking weed, but what gangsta rappa doesn't anymore?

As a DJ, I give my crowd what they want. Unfortunately, if it's an unedited version of "Get Low" (for an adult crowd only), I'll play it and try to forget what "skeet" means.

Learning the Blues and Remembering the Old School

2007-05-24T12:44:00.000-04:00

I've been asked to DJ an event in a couple of months where the music selection will be a challenge, once I get into the specifics. The genres of the music will be pretty much all Blues, R&B, and some funk and old-school hip-hop. I listen to this type of music on occasion, but I'm certainly not familiar enough with it all to select 5 hours worth of it - not yet anyway. While I'm still sifting through CDs, I'm also taking note of songs of interest for this event, and I'm doing a lot of online research. Soon, I'll hit up the libraries and bookstores. Of course, I'm working with my client for particular artists and songs, which helps a lot.

The hardest genre for me will be the blues, but on the plus side, I know a lot more of the modern R&B and as for the hip-hop...let's just say it brings back some real good memories of my preteen and early teenage years. As I listen to Coolio's "Fantastic Voyage," the warm fuzzies all return. I miss the fun hip-hop, but more on that later.

Another Day, Another Bunch

2007-05-18T16:18:00.000-04:00

For the past 2 weeks or so, we've been going through all the CDs and records we have, checking for skips, fuzziness, and any other uglies. I don't want any surprise skips or blips during a gig, even though that could happen from time-to-time. I take care of CDs pretty well, but things happen; they will get dirty and scratched. I guess that's better than what vinyl can do.

Between Jon and myself, we're maybe halfway through it all. In the meantime, we're buying more CDs and listening to those for the first time. This is one of the many tasks that go on behind the scenes for a DJ. It's one of the easier tasks, because it's not so intrusive. I mean, I can do this at work, in the car, and while I'm chilling or doing chores at the apartment. Besides, it's not often that I can mix hip-hop with country!

A Reintroduction to Country Music

2007-05-17T10:14:00.000-04:00

I’m currently going through and listening to every single CD in my collection to check for any that will need to be replaced. Right now, I’m listening to some of the country music that I have. I don’t normally listen to much country, but a lot of it is actually kind of relaxing for a change, especially compared to pop compilations. This morning, my ears made friends with Gary Allan and Clint Black; yesterday it was George Strait. George was a good reintroduction to the genre, Clint had a lot of crossover (fine with me!), and Gary is an “alright guy.”

Laptops Cramp My Style

2007-05-15T23:03:00.000-04:00

When I start talking about mobile DJ equipment with people, two questions tend to arise.

Q1: Do you use laptops to spin tunes?
A1: Nope.

Q2: Will you ever use laptops to spin tunes?
A2: Nope.

And the conversation continues from there with me explaining that the only place laptops will have in my rig is for people to type up requests. Sometimes, it can be difficult to read writing, especially in a darker setting, but a laptop with a low screen light is visible enough without being a distraction.

I prefer CD players over anything else. They're not as heavy as vinyl to carry and they're more durable. Practicality aside (because I know laptop lovers find MP3s to be more practical than CDs), I want to spin the tunes myself. I love to put a CD in a machine, find my cue, and use the slider on the mixer. It helps get me into the music more.

With laptops, I'd just be pressing Enter and using predetermined playlists for a gig. To me, that takes the art - and the fun - out of everything. When I'm behind the board at a gig, I don't just sit and watch the crowd, I observe them and meld with them. I'm talking about the fusion of the crowd with the music through the DJ (in this case, myself), all enhance by my lighting and sound equipment. I don't just run a business, I create an artful masterpiece.

An Introduction

2007-05-11T16:42:00.000-04:00

Good evening! I'm Anna Pentikis and I own a mobile disc jockey (DJ) service called AMP Indiana. Although I've been involved in mobile DJing since I was a kid, I'm just now getting my own business on its feet. Speaking of which, the website will be coming soon. With this blog, I plan to share my own experiences from behind the board as a DJ. (To protect my clients and other DJs, names and specific locations will be left out.)

Since this is my first post here, let me tell you a little bit about my business. It is based out of Lafayette, Indiana, near Purdue University's main campus. I'll play just about any event: college parties, weddings, proms, picnics - just name the assignment. I'll travel, too. I'll go anywhere in Indiana and surrounding states, and if you really want me for an event, I'll travel even farther.

The name, AMP Indiana, comes from my initials and the origin of this, my first business. My mission is to use the best of my skills and talents at this art of DJing to create memorable events for my clients. And yes, I really do believe that DJing is an art first and a business second. It's very expensive to get in to, and I think that a person really needs to enjoy it in order to get into it.

More's coming, so stay tuned!