We hope you’ve been practicing your dance moves to Michael Jackson’s “Thriller”, because October has arrived.   With changing leaves, apple cider, pumpkin picking, and Halloween festivities filling up this month, you can feel the excitement and mischief brewing.

We love Halloween parties, because they bring about a surge of creativity from hosts and guests alike.  From the costumes, to the party favors and decorations, the wild and spooky ideas keep on coming.

This year, think about adding some mystery to your Halloween party.  Hire a Fortune Teller, a Hypnotist, or Costumed Character to keep your guests on their toes.

And how about making your Halloween celebration a theme party?  This year, we think a “Where the Wild Things Are” party is a great idea, and will come just in time to celebrate Spike Jonze’s movie adaptation of the much-loved Maurice Sendak story, which comes out on October 16, 2009.  Check out the movie trailer here for inspiration on how to turn your gathering into a real Monster Mash. 

Happy Halloween!

Anniversary parties take place all year round, and are unique to each couple and family.  Every couple has their own love story, and celebrating that story makes for a truly special event. 
 
Inspired by our own parents’ anniversaries, GigMasters staff members realize how important it is to take the time to celebrate love and family.   
 
If you or your parents were married in the 1970’s, this upcoming wedding anniversary illuminates a lasting love, and certainly an occasion worth celebrating to the fullest.
 
You might consider hiring a 70’s Band, Funk Band, or a DJ, to help bring everyone back to an era of funk, soul, and arguably the most influential popular dance music in history.
 
Here are our top ten song picks that are sure to keep party guests out of their seats and on the dance floor: 
 
 
The GigMasters Top 10 70’s Party Songs:
 
1. Let It Whip – Dazz Band
2. Brick House – The Commodores
3. Superstition – Stevie Wonder
4. I Want You Back – The Jackson 5
5. Boogie Shoes – KC & the Sunshine Band
6. Let’s Groove – Earth, Wind & Fire
7. Celebration – Kool & The Gang
8. Bennie and the Jets – Elton John
9. Play That Funky Music – Wild Cherry
10. September – Earth, Wind & Fire

  

 After speaking with some of our top booked and highest rated performers, we have compiled some steps to follow when hiring an Acoustic Guitarist for your next event.

If you are choosing the authentic and unpretentious entertainment that an Acoustic Guitarist can provide, then you’ve got good taste.  But for those who are new to the looking/booking process, here are some tips to help you through the searching, negotiating, planning, and hiring of a quality entertainer.

1.  Before you start your search, figure out what’s most important to you.  What style of music are you hoping to hear?  Many of our performers are talented across different genres – rock, jazz, classical, Flamenco, pop, folk - but narrow your search to find the right fit.  Also, are you looking for an Acoustic Guitarist who is also a vocalist, or are you looking solely for instrumental music?  Vocals add a unique style and personality to a performance, so our next tip is extra important.

2.  Ask the performer for video samples, live audio tracks, and past client reviews.  To understand an Acoustic Guitarist’s true level of talent, you must take the time to watch or listen to past performances.  And make sure they are live recordings, not just studio tracks.  You should also look and ask for references.  Speaking with another party-planner, venue owner, or bride/groom about their experience with a particular performer will clear up a lot of the unknown – like the musician’s level of talent, and also their level of professionalism. 

3. Cover all the details.  Decide early how this performer will fit into your event.  Will they play an extended performance throughout your event, or shorter sets?  Will they be a central focus for your guests, or more background accompaniment?  This will make a discussion about performance duration and break time easier. 

Also, be sure to describe your venue.  While most Acoustic Guitarists bring their own equipment, they need to know if they will be playing indoors or outdoors.  Certain details may change a performer’s needs.  For example, an outdoor event may require the use of a battery powered amp, or an extension cord.  (Remember that you should always provide a chair, access to an electrical outlet, and sufficient lighting or shade to accommodate the performer.)

4. Go over the song selection.  If there are specific songs that you would like to hear, or specific songs that you would NOT like to hear, you should discuss this before your event.  Please note that special requests may require your performer to learn a new song, so you should give them enough time to do so. 

5. Be courteous to the performer you hire, especially if the individual you hire is traveling to your event destination.  Be sure to discuss travel or lodging expenses, and provide a parking space or proper/timely transportation to your event.  Depending on the type of event you are throwing, you should also offer food and beverage during their breaks, or after their performance has taken place.

Matthew Cutillo, a GigMasters member, describes the right Acoustic Guitarist perfectly:

“The performer should ooze with a reasonable excitement for their craft.”

So keep that in mind – good luck in your search, and have fun!

With summer soon coming to a close, you may feel the need to spend as much time outdoors as possible – by the beach, by the lake, or just your backyard.  Even if you live in a city, finding spots of greenery can be relaxing and rejuvenating. 

The atmosphere of the outdoors works wonders when throwing all types of parties – weddings, birthday celebrations, company picnics, and other corporate events.  When the main décor is your landscape, your event becomes whimsical.    

This is why we are spotlighting Botanical Gardens as a great idea for a party venue.  For one thing, you can find them located in and outside of cities across the country.  They also provide gorgeous indoor and outdoor spaces available all year round to visit, and to host your next event. 

The New York Botanical Garden advertises their seasonal exhibits, and also features a Children’s Adventure Garden.  This is a perfectly unique idea for your child’s next birthday party.  Hire a face painter or a magician to make this adventureland complete.

Many Botanical Gardens also boast banquet halls and patios ideal for wedding and anniversary celebrations.  At a special request, you can even have your ceremony take place in the garden landscape of your choice.  A solo guitarist, violinist, or a classical singer, would fit elegantly into this type of ceremony.

By hosting an event at a Botanical Garden, you are also supporting community greening projects, as well as laboratory research.  By becoming a member, you too can be involved in efforts to improve surrounding communities, and to better our environment.

Take some time to stop, have fun, get involved, and smell the flowers…           

Visit the American Public Gardens Association website and use their Public Garden Search to find a garden in your area.

Marissa Latshaw, a member of the GigMasters team, was recently featured on Precious Nuptials & Destinations:: Coffee Break with the Wedding Planner. 

Take a look at what Marissa recommends for couples who want to use entertainment to put a personal stamp on their wedding day.  Both Marissa and Precious agree, it's all about celebrating what makes the couple unique!

Precious Nuptials & Destinations is a Houston, Texas-based wedding and event planning boutique.  Precious Richardson's blog is a great source of creative inspiration and practical advice for wedding planning professionals.  And, yes, that's her real name!

You might be surprised to hear that requests for Variety Entertainment at weddings has increased by 17% this past year.  But we found an article by Erika Lovley of POLITICO.com that shares some interesting info about prominent political figures making it onto the guest list for hundreds of weddings, even graduation parties, each year.
 
Lovley writes:
 
“The White House has received a range of invitations, occasionally with a letter from or a picture of the couple tucked inside.  Even save the dates have arrived.  The White House typically responds with a congratulatory note stamped with an official seal that many brides covet as a scrapbook centerpiece.”

So how does this new trend fit in with GigMasters Variety Entertainment?  It’s all about clients getting the next best thing: Celebrity Impersonators.

And it just so happens that GigMasters recently sent two Sales Representatives, Rick and Alfred, to the 9th Annual Celebrity Impersonators Convention in Las Vegas, Nevada. 

Rick tells us firsthand about the experience, the talent, and the new members to GigMasters.com:

“What a trip – literally.  Last month, we were privileged to mingle and schmooze with some of the world’s finest celebrity impersonators, look-a-likes, and tribute acts.  It was an honor to finally meet some of our current members, with whom we had previously only spoken to through email or over the phone for so long. 

Alfred and I attended on behalf of GigMasters.  Alfred was mistaken for a Dustin Hoffman Impersonator on more than one occasion, which surely can’t be a bad thing.  (Unless, of course, they were referring to the hit movie “Rain Man” and the scene with Hoffman playing Blackjack.) 

Now, we all know that Impersonators are entertainers who look, dress, speak, and behave just like our favorite celebrities.  These Celebrity Impersonators entertain us with their great talent, and also fill that nostalgia for the real thing.  Whether they impersonate a celebrity that may have passed away, or one that is still living, these professionals are superb at what they do, and never cease to amaze us.

Although the timeless phrase, “What Happens in Vegas – Stays in Vegas,” may just be a little bit true, we did take home a great deal of insight, and many new signups.  We also had a great time!  We met everyone from Robert DeNiro and Michael Jackson, to Sarah Palin, and more than one Barack Obama.” – Rick

You can find a complete list of our Celebrity Impersonators and Look-a-likes here.  We at GigMasters think that hiring an Impersonator to make an appearance at your reception, graduation party, corporate dinner, or birthday celebration – is way better than getting turned down by the celebrity.  Instead of filling your scrapbook with a decline to your invitation, fill it with some great pictures, and even better memories. 

 

When you think, “destination wedding,” you probably picture ocean side ceremonies and a smaller, close-knit group of family and friends.  While a paradise wedding sounds lovely and serene, the intense planning that goes into this type of celebration is mind-boggling.  Even with a shorter guest list, the flowers, food, table settings, decorations, entertainment, and travel arrangements must be handled from all the way back home.
 
One of our GigMasters clients came up with a great way to have their destination wedding without a lot of added stress.  Picture California wine country – an elegant, isolated winery, with beautiful architecture, endless views, and all-inclusive arrangements for private parties. 
 
For this bride-to-be, an upscale, yet welcoming atmosphere was at the top of her wish list for both her wedding ceremony and reception.  The Eagle Castle Winery in Paso Robles, California fit these criteria, and boasts some impressive amenities as well.  This winery, in particular, provides full catering, and a tasty menu.  They are even able to provide the wedding cake.
 
We found this choice for a wedding venue to be unique and inspired.  While one could host a variety of private parties at a winery, the location, food, and, of course, the wine, make for a sophisticated - and delicious - wedding celebration.

With a more intimate setting and guest list, hiring a solo musician such as a Flamenco Guitarist or Italian Singer would accent the tranquil mood of this location.

Having your wedding at a winery also makes for some great wedding favor ideas, including personalized glassware, bottle openers, and sampled selections of wine.
 
Thanks again to our client for sharing her wedding plans – we wish her a successful and memorable celebration.

If your event is coming up soon, then you have, by now, chosen your party venue, hired entertainment, organized the seating chart for your guests, picked the lineup of hors devours, and re-stocked the bar.  You have also learned that every detail counts! 

One detail you may not have thought about is the attire of your hired entertainment.  We went ahead and asked our performers what clients should expect from their wardrobes, and how much say clients should have in the outfit choice.

All of our performers explained that their attire is dependent on the event, the venue, and the client’s needs. 

We found out that, firstly, looking professional, yet comfortable, was most important to bands, string ensembles, solo musicians, DJ’s, dancers, and other variety entertainers.  Dressing appropriately for outdoor conditions, or indoor lighting, is essential to performing with ease.  Be sure to let your entertainer know about the particulars of your party venue – indoors or outdoors, formal or casual, on a stage under lights, or underneath a tent.  All of these factors will contribute to their clothing choice, as well as other aspects of their setup.

We also found that performers welcome special requests from their clients.  For example, if they are performing in a wedding ceremony, they are often willing to coordinate their outfit with the bridal party or the overall color scheme of the wedding.

Also, let them know if your event has a special theme.  They have heard it all – even requests for 80’s band costumes:  One of our members, Deja Blu Variety Dance Band told us,

“The wildest event we were asked to play was for a construction company whose theme song was “Working in the Coal Mine” – they asked us to dress up like DEVO, from the 80’s.  They lost their budget so we never got to do the DEVO thing.  Don’t know what I would have done since there were no females in that band. :o) ”

Most performers are willing to accommodate unusual requests, as they share the same goal as the host: to make the event a success.

We hope this information is helpful!

GigMasters recently added “Americana” to its roster of Live Band categories.

What we find most intriguing about this musical genre is both the history and the wide range of influences it echoes.  Americana music blurs the lines between country, rock & roll, rhythm & blues, bluegrass, and folk genres.  It is often described as “Roots Rock” – music that runs deep and carries the sounds and stories of American culture. 

Some notable Americana musicians include Johnny Cash, Lucinda Williams, Willie Nelson, Van Morrison, Alison Krauss, Grateful Dead, Elvis Presley, and Wilco.

Pete Knapp of Shut Eye Records promotes Americana music under some other clever names, my favorites being “Cow Punk” and “Y’allternative.”  These names certainly characterize the banjo, guitar, and fiddling of this genre.   

Be sure to check out our Americana Bands, just in time for our most patriotic holidays – these musicians will set the tone for Memorial Day and 4th of July parties across the country.