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July 30, 2009

Rockford DJs

Filed under: Rockford DJs — Tags: , , , — admin @ 1:52 am

Ameritune DJs are Rockford DJs  too! We go everywhere from DeKalb to Gurnee. From Wisconsin to Palos.  Beth Mitchell of Ameritune played a wedding this weekend in Rockford, here’s what she had to say:

This weekend I had the pleasure of providing music and entertainment for the wedding ceremony and reception of Chelsea and Brice Rawhoof. The bridal couple had a beautiful day- sunny and not too hot. The ceremony was held at the beautiful Sinnissippi Gardens in Rockford. The gardens run along the East side of the Rock river. The formal rose gardens make a stunning walk and there are pergolas at either end. The ceremony was set up between the rose gardens and the trolley tracks. There was plenty of room for this group of 125 guests. The guests all enter through one end of the pergolas, and proceed along the lawn to their chairs. An arch was set up for the minister and bridal party.

Arch at Sinnissippi Gardens

Arch at Sinnissippi Gardens

I set my equipment up behind the minister and a small garden in order to be as discreet as possible. I provided a microphone and mic stand for him and played light classical prelude music before the ceremony. More than one guest remarked that the lovely background music was a perfect compliment to the beautiful ceremony. The mothers and Groomsmen walked down the aisle to Bach’s “Jesu Joy Of Mans Desiring”. The bridemaids entered to Pachelbel’s “Canon in D”. The bride entered to the very traditional and grand “Wedding March” by Wagner. Chelsea’s Uncle officiated the ceremony, and after he instructed the Groom to kiss his Bride, the guests broke into applause. So did the folks walking along the bike path! While Chelsea and Brice greeted their guests in a receiving line, I noticed another Bride and Groom strolling through the gardens with their photographer.

What's better than roses on a piano?

What's better than roses on a piano?

I was told that many Brides and Grooms come here for pictures and you can see why. The ceremony was at 2 PM and lasted less than a half hour. For me, it was about a half block transport for electricity and equipment from the parking lot. The only real tricky thing for me was watching out for the trolley, because I had to run my electric cord over the tracks. The trolley runs once per hour starting at 11:30 am. You have to watch it because it runs forward, then back as part of its tour. I’m not sure what they charge to have a ceremony there, you can call the Rockford Park District to reserve your date. I hope the next time I DJ in Rockford, that I’ll be able to stop at this beautiful and awesome place!

Beth Mitchell is co-owner of Ameritune and has played at thousands of events since 1987. Call her at Ameritune  (630) 372-TUNE (8863) for pricing and availability. To read more helpful blog posts,  Chicago DJ .

July 29, 2009

DJ in Oakbrook

Filed under: DJ in Oakbrook — Tags: , , , — admin @ 5:13 pm

This past weekend, Ameritune DJ, Jim Schneeberger had the opportunity to DJ in Oakbrook         mut7zh36ji       Here’s what he had to say-

I had the pleasure on July 25, 2009 to DJ at the Drury Lane Theatre (Hilton Suites) for the Kay/Zmuda wedding. Upon arrival, I was amazed at all the wonderful colors in the room. The Bride and Groom chose a Hawaiian theme using florescent colored Martini type glasses with Hawaiian leis and assorted candies. (How fun is that?!!!). The room was nice and large- very easy to maneuver around in. Cocktails were held outside in the lobby. (I have been seeing more and more of this and I don’t know why. It seems that all the hotels are doing cocktails this way) It was a 5 1/2 hour reception, so timing was important. I introduced the parents of the Bride and Groom to “Who Loves You Pretty Baby” by Frankie Vallie and The Four Seasons. The wedding party came in to Van Halens “Jump” and the Newlyweds entered to the song “I’m Alright” by Kenny Loggins. The folks at Drury Lane Oakbrook requested that they cut the cake as they entered the room. (Another common hotel practice) I think it’s better to cut the cake after the speeches or after the 1st or 2nd course. While I can appreciate the hall wanting to get the cake off the floor, and get it plated (so as not to delay dessert),  a lot of times the cake just sits out there for twenty minutes before someone carts it away. I prefer that the Bride and Groom have their entrance be uninterrupted by a stop at the wedding cake. The Grand Entrance is an important moment that should be enjoyed fully, without being combined into another important moment. Plus, the change in music can feel kind of abrupt, as you go from some super high energy entrance theme to something decidedly more tame for cake cutting. I don’t think it looks good on video either. (Of course, they had wedding video from Ameritune) The cake cutting and the Grand entrance should be separate events.

They had a build your own Sundae station after dinner.

They had a build your own Sundae station after dinner.

 There were four speeches before food was served, they were fun but a little long- a good 20 minutes. We showed an eleven minute big screen video  after the entree was served. This timed out very well. As dessert was being served (first came the cake, then the ice cream), the bridal party finished taking their formal pictures. It was about 9:30 before we started dancing and the party was supposed to be over by 11:30.  Two hours for dancing is a little short, I recommend at least 2 1/2 hours with 3 to 3 1/2 hours being the ideal time for dancing. 4 hours of dancing is too long as folks just get tired of dancing at that point. (There are always exceptions- usually larger, younger crowds) I’d like to advise couples to pre-arrange the option of adding extra time and put it in the contract. Typically, the banquet halls do not want to extend your time, at the last minute, on the night of your event. It’s also a good idea to plan for your music to end 1/2 hour after the bar ends. (Halls don’t like this option either) I think its a great idea to let your guests sober up a little (or a lot) before hitting the streets. Anyway, even though the dancing portion of the night was a little short, this group was all about having fun. They danced, They laughed, and a good time was had by all. Since there was a good mix of Cubs and Sox fans, I played “Don’t Stop Believing” and “All the Way”. There were more Cubs fans than Sox fans, so I played “Go Cubs Go” near the end, and they had a fun time singing along. The very last song cemented the Hawaiian theme “‘What a Wonderful World/Somewhere Over The Rainbow” by Isreal Kamakawiwo’ole. …. and I thought I had a long last name (Schneeberger)

 Overall it really was a wonderful wedding and the Bride and Groom and all the guests were as nice as could be. Jim will DJ in Oakbrook or anywhere in the Chicago area. Ameritunes DJs are experienced, fun and dependable. Call us at (630) 372-TUNE (8863) for pricing and availability. For more wedding tips from the experts  read our  Chicago DJ blog. mut7zh36ji <a href=”http://technorati.com/faves?sub=addfavbtn&amp;add=http://www.ameritune.com/chicagoweddingdj”>Add to Technorati Favorites</a>

July 23, 2009

Schaumburg DJs

Filed under: Schaumburg DJs — Tags: , , , , — admin @ 1:25 pm

Recently, Byron Parker one of our most popular Schaumburg DJs from Ameritune, played at The Seville for the wedding of Beth and James Keathley. Here’s what he has to say: I perfomed at one of my favorite places, the Seville on Barrington Road in Streamwood.When I talked to Beth (The Bride) about details, things went very smooth, as they were very organized. She had many different ideas (as most brides do), and I was more than willing to work with her to help make the event a success. Later, James (The Groom) gave me a call and said, “Hey I’ve got a great idea- do you think it would be cool to do something a little different when we do the garter?  I’ll have a huge pair of womans bloomers up my sleeve and pull them out instead of the garter. That would be fun, and maybe I’ll get a good laugh from everyone.” I said “Its your wedding and I’ll help you pull off whatever you want.”

....Nothin up my sleeve...

....Nothin up my sleeve...

Many times things like this work out very well, and this time  it was a huge success! As the music started, James strolled up with this big smile on his face happy as could be. He went down, (and took his time might I add)

Ready to pull the suprise

Ready to pull the suprise

- and jumped up with joy as he pulled out these big bloomers, as large and white as could be, proudly holding them up for everyone to see. Beth had a huge smile on her face and everyone in the room started laughing, and cheering him on. He showed them off, twirling them around, then tossed them right away. All the guys wrestled after those bloomers. Well need I say more, the guy that wanted them the most got them- and right away started prancing around with his prize.

Would you let your daughter date this man?

Would you let your daughter date this man?

 But that just wasn’t enough for him, he decided to have some fun with them, since he had never been so close to womens underwear. As he struggled to get them on, (mostly because Beth and James were laughing so hard) he couldn’t stand up straight. Maybe it was the drinks he had (probably more than a few), but still he did it, and he posed for everyone. He was proud of those white bloomers as he stood there. I’m sure it will be a memory that he and everyone will never forget. He never let go of those bloomers, he probably has them in a special place right at this very moment. James was so happy that his plan worked out the way it did, and he couldn’t stop thanking me for helping make his moment so special. That was just one of the many things we can do to help make your wedding more unique and fun. I was so glad to be a part of another success story, and I know they’ll always remember Bloomer Boy. This is why I love what I do! Byron Parker is one of our most popular entertainers. He is available to play for all occasions. Call (630) 372-TUNE for pricing and availability. Click to read more Chicago DJ  blog tips.

July 22, 2009

McHenry DJs

Filed under: McHenry DJs — Tags: , , , , — admin @ 11:46 pm

 Ameritune DJs and Video are a popular choice if you are looking for the best  McHenry DJs . Recently I played at the backyard ceremony and reception for Matt and Jayne. I’d like to tell you about it. Matt and Jayne are personal trainers and this was a second wedding for them both. There were some friends, relatives, and clients in attendance. Second weddings are usually a little lower key than the first time around, and the beautiful backyard setting at their new home in Johnsburg was perfect. Since dress was casual, I wore a nice short sleeve short and shorts. It felt kind of underdressed to be in shorts doing a wedding, but it was hot outside, so I was grateful.

Als set up backyard wedding

Als set up backyard wedding

I was able to set up my DJ equipment the day before the actual wedding, which was a good idea because there were some pitfalls. My equipment and stairs don’t mix, so I had to get my stuff over  the lawn and a gravel walkway. It was difficult getting in, so I ended up making a ramp out of some plywood, and the equipment was a lot easier to load out that night, with some help from the very kind father of the groom. I ended up using a couple of different circuits, as the garage power was being stretched a little too thin. To get more power, I ran an extension cord up along the gutter and across the house.  As you can see, I was set up along the dancing area (patio). The ceremony was performed deeper into the backyard. I played music and supplied a wireless mic for the Justice Of The Peace. Immediately after the ceremony, there were cocktails and Hors D’oeuvres supplied by 3 chefs catering in Crystal Lake. They were a little understaffed, and when it was time to cut the wedding cake, I couldn’t find any servers. They were all gone! I had to ask the bartender to get it. It was being kept in the basement so it wouldn’t melt. She put the wedding cake out on the table and left it in the box with cellophane wrapping on it. I got the distinct feeling that she had never prepared a wedding cake before. Needless to say, the Bride wasn’t happy, lol. I fixed it and they had a nice cake cutting.

Cake Cutting On The Patio

Cake Cutting On The Patio

After the cake cutting, it was time to dance and by then the temp had cooled down a lot. We partied till about 11:30 and everyone had a good time. Lots of Jimmy Buffet. Best of all-NO RAIN! I was a little worried, being that I was uncovered. I had tarps with me just in case, but never used them. Ameritune DJs and Video are your choice if you are looking for McHenry DJs or anywhere in the greater Chicagoland area. Call us for a price quote (630) 372-TUNE (8863), you won’t be dissappointed! For more tips on how to have a great party read our blog Chicago DJ news.

July 21, 2009

Concorde Banquets

Filed under: Concorde Banquets — Tags: , , , , — admin @ 11:42 pm

This Saturday night I worked at Concorde Banquets in Killdeer, for the wedding reception of Frank and Becca Garcia. The room was available earlier in the day, so I was able to set up around noon, although the reception began at 6 pm. Whenever possible, I like to set up early in the day, then go home and shower and relax. When I get back to the party, I am fresh and feeling good. As usual, rolling my stuff through tthe kitchen at Concorde Banquets, I couldn’t help but notice how clean everything was. This place is spotless! Cocktail hour was busy and loud (good sign) although most people were seated,(bad sign) and not mingling. Hors D’ouvres were below average, but  the staff was courteous and attentive, and at that point anything was good.  I would like to discuss bridal party introductions, specifically Grandparents introductions.  So many times, GPs get omitted from the intro list by the Bride and Groom. Mainly, I think, because they are not mobile, or are not paired with someone. If they aren’t good walkers, then by all means you shouldn’t make them walk in front of the whole group. I think being recognized at their tables is the right choice. Also, if one GP isn’t walking, then they should all be introduced at their tables; if for no other reason than consistency. It’s also a good idea not to single them out as being the “cripple”. If the Grandmas are by themselves, it is customary to find an escort to walk them in. Perhaps an usher (that’s their job) or an Uncle, or other relative. Although it isn’t necessary to find a female escort for unacompanied Grandpas,  (It’s OK for men to walk in by themselves.) if you are more comfortable pairing them up, then go for it. The big celebrity at this wedding was Grandma Elanore. She had been in and out of the hospital a lot lately, and really battling to make it to the wedding. Grandma was in a wheelchair and was rolled in by the two ushers.

Grandma Elanore being introduced

Grandma Elanore being introduced

She was positively beaming when I announced her in, and everyone in the room was cheering. Sher didn’t stay the entire night, but she enjoyed every minute of that reception. People are often needing some advice on music for intros . We have a wide variety to choose from, but you can’t beat the instrumental version of the St Elmos Fire Love Theme for the GPs entrance. Even though I’ve played it a thousand times, it still sounds great!  When it’s your turn to think about Bridal Party introductions, don’t forget to include your Grandparents.  It makes them feel important, and they are aren’t they?  Bottom line is, you’ll score big browny points with the family. Ameritune DJs and Video has been voted top Chicago DJs by brides from The Knot for the last 3 years running. Call us at (630) 372-TUNE (8863). Read more Chicago Wedding DJ tips, and learn from the pros.

July 17, 2009

Palos Hills DJs

Filed under: Palos Hills DJs — Tags: , , , — admin @ 6:19 pm

Ameritune DJs and Video were Palos Hills DJs last weekend. We go all over Chicagoland, one weekend its Palos, the next, its Gurnee! I’d like to write about dance lessons for the Bride and Groom. Dan and Lisa took lessons before their wedding and put on quite a show for their first dance.

Dan and Lisa Choreographed 1st Dance

Dan and Lisa Choreographed 1st Dance

The song they chose was Feelin Good by Michael Buble. I had never heard it before but I liked it. It was an old torch song, kind of jazzy, and very sexy. Dan and Lisa had obviously practiced their dance, and finished the song with a deep, deep dip that you see pictured above. Warning to all out of shape grooms Don’t try to dip, unless you are  strong. Dan didn’t have a problem because he is in great shape and Lisa is petite, but if I tried that move, I would’ve needed a stretcher, maybe two. Having your first dance choreographed is a no lose situation. If you’re good, it’s good. If you’re bad, its great. I have seen it done many times, and it never fails to get the dancing portion of the evening started with a bang. I think your guests recognize that you have put time and energy into your dance. They think its cute, and romantic. Well, believe it or not, it’s actually better if you are bad. Not super bad, but just a little bad. People get excited if you look like you have two left feet and are stiff and struggling through your steps. They’d rather see you tryng very hard with bad rythmn than smoothly gliding through your dance like professionals. Either way, if you’re the groom, get ready for your friends to tease you. It may not be macho to take dance lessons, but your friends will be secretly delighted, and maybe a little jealous that you can be so romantic.

What Lisa and Dan did that I’ve never seen before, was have the bridal party dance choreographed. They danced to  It Takes Two by Rob Base. They did a fun hiphop dance ending in two lines facing each other. Groomsmen on one side, Bridesmaid on the other, then they went down 2 by 2 like Soul Train.

Bridal Party Dance

Bridal Party Dance

 The crowd was suprised and very appreciative. Next was open dancing, and we kicked off the party with good momentum. It was a great reception, and I think the choreographed dances had a lot to do with it. Our videographer got lots of good footage. Ameritune DJs and Video are available for your special occasion anywhere in the Chicago are. Want to read more tips?  Chicago DJ blog.

July 15, 2009

Crystal Lake Wedding

Filed under: Crystal Lake Wedding — Tags: , , , , , — admin @ 12:31 am

Ameritune DJ, Jim Schneeberger writes about his Crystal Lake Wedding this weekend.

I had the pleasure of being the DJ for the Riley/Singer wedding on Saturday July 11, 2009 at D’Andrea Banquets in Crystal Lake, Il. This was a second marriage for the couple and they had their 3 daughters as bridesmaids. It started with a simple ceremony, done at D’Andreas that was elegant but fun. It had a relaxed feeling about it.

Simple and elegant ceremony

Simple and elegant ceremony

After the ceremony we enjoyed cocktails and hors d’oeuvres. We introduced the Wedding Party to We Are Family . The youngest daughter said grace and was very cute, then we enjoyed a great meal until it was time to dance. There were a lot of children at this reception and they were a very big part of the fun. It was nice to get away from the traditional wedding format for once. These wonderful people just wanted to have a good time. I played all the fun songs including YMCA, Macarena, Electric and Cha Cha Slides, and at one point they asked me to play Who Let The Dogs Out for the Father of the Groom who could not attend due to illness. (This is his favorite song)

 

Who Let The Dogs Out -For Dad
Who Let The Dogs Out -For Dad

We placed a chair on the dancefloor and everybody came out and danced around the chair. Then they put mom in it for the end, and it was wild! Another hit song was Rock Lobster. This is a very long song and everybody came out and did fish impressions and danced all crazy. This was a riot… I also played a bunch of singalong country songs, and everybody sang along with them. This was a small but very involved crowd. The Bride and Groom sent me a list of 21 songs that they would have liked to be played. I am proud that I got them all in. The guests requested 14 songs, and I got all but 2 of them in. They were requested late with very little time left. What I really liked about this party, and I think it’s really cool, is that a wide range of ages came together and had a fun group party. The kids were well behaved and danced along with the adults. The adults had some good clean fun and danced like kids. Lots of laughing and miles of smiles around the room. This ended up being a very nice family party. This was a great example of having the type of wedding that they wanted and enjoying the good times. See a demo of Jim Schnee and book him for your celebration. Call Ameritune at (630) 372-TUNE (8863) for pricing and availability.

Read more Chicago DJ tips and blog

July 14, 2009

Belvidere Chateau Banquet Hall

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This weekend, I DJed at The Belvidere Chateau Banquet Hall in Palos Hills for Lisa and Dan Wagner. There were about 175 people in attendance and the reception went until 12:30AM. I really liked the place because it was divided into areas for two different separate weddings. There was no common area, so you felt like you had the hall to yourself.  There was another large wedding going on in the other part of the hall, but you’d never know it. The outside was nice enough, with beautiful landscaping, the inside opened up to an elegant entry area done in marble.

Marble Foyer

Marble Foyer

The banquet room was really three different rooms separated by pillars. The dinner room-

Dinner Room with staircase for intros

Dinner Room with staircase for intros

The good sized dancing room-

Wood floors with a lighted tree and fireplace in rear

Wood floors with a lighted tree and fireplace in rear

And the Bar room with lots of space for the photographer to set up in.

Bar Room

Bar Room

Food was tasty- Hors D’ouvres were served butler style and were individual portions sitting in paper sleeves. They served awesome homemade perogis, cheese sticks, chicken kabobs, and stuffed mushrooms. Dinner was family style, although I didn’t get to it right away because I was playing my live dinner music.  By the time I was able to sit down, dinner was nearly over but it was still very good. They had pork medallions, mashed potatoes, some kind of rolled up beef thing that was good, and a veggie plate. Although I had missed coffee, I asked the waitress for some and she brought it immediately. I had about 3 minutes to eat before it was time to set up our big screen equipment for the photo montage. We showed their homemade video during desert, and then after a few pictures, it was time for dancing, and a great party. Lisa and Dan had a lot of cool things at their wedding, and I will write more posts to describe them.  Click here to read more Chicago DJ tips and blog posts.

July 13, 2009

Dinolfos Banquets

Filed under: Dinolfos Banquets — Tags: , , , — admin @ 11:51 am

Recently, one of our DJs played at Dinolfos Banquets . Having had a similiar experience myself, and after speaking to several different DJs, I have come to the conclusion that Jim’s experience is the norm rather than the exception.

Jim writes-  Friday July 10, 2009 I had the opportunity to DJ at DiNolfo’s in Homer Glen. The Ceremony was done there at 6:00pm and lasted about 20 minutes. After the ceremony, the room was opened for about 35 minutes with no bar service.  Guests just roamed around with nothing to do-(not a good start for a wedding reception). They had a cash bar set up in the lobby, which was a nice feature for the guests.  The staff seemed courteus and attentive, food was good.

The place is beautiful and well maintained and the kitchen was clean, all in all, a good place. 

 

July 7, 2009

Danada House Wheaton, IL

Filed under: Danada House Wheaton IL — Tags: , , , , — admin @ 1:33 pm

I recently played for a wedding and ceremony at Danada House Wheaton, IL . The Bride and Groom, Chris and Michelle decided on having their ceremony outdoors in the garden area provided at the Danada House in Wheaton, Il. A Sunday morning ceremony at 10:30 am with cocktails immediatly following for an hour in the house. Lunch and dancing till 3 pm in the pavillion.

Danada House Wheaton, IL

You can’t see on my picture, but there is also seating on the left.

This post is all about the Sand Ceremony. A Sand Ceremony is used as a substitue for the Unity Candle Ceremony. Unity Candles can sometimes be comically difficult to light when confronted with a stiff wind. Sand Ceremonies obviously don’t have that problem, so are used mostly for outdoor weddings. I have seen them done inside as well.

Sand Ceremony

Sand Ceremony

The idea is to symbolize the joining together of different lives. His and Her bottles of sand, unique and individual, joining together to create a beautiful, new vase of sand.  Blended together, yet still maintaining the individual colors and grains of sand. The Bride and Groom have entered into a new union. They are also blended together, yet still maintain their individualism. If there are one or more children involved, they each have their own bottle of sand, combining to create a more colorful and varied vase, just as children make a more colorful and varied home.

Taking turns pouring sand

Taking turns pouring sand

Jenna is hard to see in my bad picture, but she is there holding the blue bottle, waiting her turn. While they were pouring sand, I was playing the song What A Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong. A great choice not just because of the words-but because of the length. It’s only  2:06 long, which eliminated the need to fade, and kept the ceremony interesting for the guests. About a week later, I played for another Sand Ceremony, and they chose the song Mr Sandman by the Chordettes.  Everyone got a chuckle!  If you really want to be avante garde, you can use Enter Sandman by Metallica, but I think that’s a little dark for a ceremony….. Ameritune is available for your special event.  Call us at (630) 372-TUNE (8863) for pricing and availability.  For more great party tips and Al’s blog- Chicago DJ

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