RickRyan's Blog

Kendra & Hunter’ Fairytale at Riverwood Mansion

rickryan — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 17:53:00 +0000

This was certainly a night to remember at the famous Riverwood Mansion, located in Nashville TN. This was a basic DJ package (Silver) along with Photobooth service including Ceremony sound coverage. We always enjoy working at Riverwood because of the staff, as well as the venue itself. The Ceremony was held in Riverwood’s beautiful garden area with The Harpeth Strings providing music. I highly recommend Harpeth. They are one of the best string sections in town.

Kendra & Hunter are what I’d term an especially upbeat couple. Their enthusiasm and sheer joy are infectious, and it didn’t take long for that enthusiasm to spread to the rest of their party. Between the Photobooth and the dance floor, all three of our staff members (Ryan Leath, Matthew Ryan and myself) stayed busy all night.

The lucky couple

Another Dance shot

Dance shot

Event Playlist

2011-09-17 Wedding Reception – Riverwood Mansion – Nashville TN

Filename	Song	Artist	Year	Genre
C:\DJ\- Hip-Hop\Chris Brown\Forever – CLEAN.mp3	Forever	Chris Brown	2008	R&B
C:\DJ\Ray Lamontagne1 – You Are The Best Thing.mp3	You Are The Best Thing	Ray Lamontagne	2008	Rock
C:\DJ\Rascal Flatts\My Wish.mp3
C:\DJ\Various Artists\Motown\14 – My Girl.mp3	My Girl	Temptations	2008	Pop
C:\DJ\James Taylor\How Sweet It Is To Be Loved By You.mp3	How Sweet It Is To Be Loved By You	James Taylor	1975	Oldies
C:\DJ\Beyonce\Put A Ring On It-CLEAN.mp3	Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)	Beyonce	2008	Pop
C:\DJ\Various Artists\#1 Hits Of The ’50s, ’60s & ’70s\(Disc 3) 07 – Let’s Get It On.mp3	Let’s Get It On	Marvin Gaye	2008	Rock
C:\DJ\Queen3 – Another One Bites The Dust.mp3	Another One Bites The Dust	Queen	1994	Rock
C:\DJ\- downloads\mtsu-fightsong.mp3
C:\DJ\- Jazz3 afterglow.mp3	afterglow	Dwayne Jones	0	Jazz
C:\DJ\- Jazz2 If You Care.mp3	If You Care	Dwayne Jones	0	Jazz
C:\DJ\- Jazz5 steppin’ out.mp3	steppin’ out	Dwayne Jones	0	Jazz
C:\DJ\@PrimeCuts\Patrick Lamb – Sweet Tea [Radio Edit].mp3	Sweet Tea [Radio Edit]	Patrick Lamb	2011	Smooth Jazz
C:\DJ\Sara Bareilles\Little Voice\10 – Many the Miles.mp3	Many the Miles	Sara Bareilles	2007	Pop
C:\DJ\Frank Sinatra1 Come Fly with Me.mp3	Come Fly with Me	Frank Sinatra	2008	Vocal
C:\DJ\Frank Sinatra8 – Fly Me To The Moon (In Other Words) (Remastered Album V.mp3	Fly Me To The Moon (In Other Words) (Remastered Album Version) [The Frank Sinatra Collection]	Frank Sinatra	2008	Pop
C:\DJ\Michael Bubl?\Sway.mp3
C:\DJ\Michael Bubl?\Crazy Little Thing Called Love.wma
C:\DJ\Nat King Cole1 Unforgetable.mp3	Unforgetable	Nat “	0	Easy Listening
C:\DJ\Nat King Cole7 L-O-V-E.mp3	L-O-V-E	Nat “	0	Easy Listening
C:\DJ\- downloads\Diana Krall\All For You (A Dedication To The Nat King Cole Trio)7 – Hit That Jive Jack.mp3	Hit That Jive Jack	Diana Krall	1996	Jazz
C:\DJ\- downloads\Diana Krall\All For You (A Dedication To The Nat King Cole Trio)4 – Frim Fram Sauce.mp3	Frim Fram Sauce	Diana Krall	1996	Jazz
C:\DJ\Frank Sinatra1 – I’ve Got You Under My Skin (2006 Digital Remaster).mp3	I’ve Got You Under My Skin (2006 Digital Remaster)	Frank Sinatra	2007	Broadway & Vocalists
C:\DJ\Frank Sinatra7 The Girl from Ipanema.mp3	The Girl from Ipanema	Antonio Carlos Jobim	2008	Vocal
C:\DJ\Stevie Wonder7 You Are the Sunshine of My Life [Version].mp3	You Are the Sunshine of My Life [Version]	Stevie Wonder	1982	Soul And R&B
C:\DJ\Stevie Wonder2 – Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I’m Yours).mp3	Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I’m Yours)	Stevie Wonder	2000	R&B
C:\DJ\Darius Rucker7 – Alright.mp3	Alright	Darius Rucker	2008	Pop
C:\DJ\Michael Bubl?\Call Me Irresponsible9 – Everything.mp3
C:\DJ\Michael Bubl?\Put Your Head on My Shoulder.wma
C:\DJ\Frank Sinatra3 The Way You Look Tonight.mp3	The Way You Look Tonight	Frank Sinatra	2008	Vocal
C:\DJ\Frank Sinatra\11 Call Me Irresponsible.mp3	Call Me Irresponsible	Frank Sinatra	2008	Vocal
C:\DJ\Various Artists\Motown\(Disc 4) 04 – Never Can Say Goodbye.mp3	Never Can Say Goodbye	Jackson 5	2008	Pop
C:\DJ\Various Artists\Motown\(Disc 3) 09 – ABC.mp3	ABC	Jackson 5	2008	Pop
C:\DJ\Various Artists\Motown\(Disc 2) 05 – Reach Out, I’ll Be There.mp3	Reach Out, I’ll Be There	Four Tops	2008	Pop
C:\DJ\Rascal Flatts\Me And My Gang.mp3
C:\DJ\New Folder\Various Artists\202 Motown Songs_ The Complete No.1s\(Disc 3) 18 – Ain’t No Mountain High Enough.mp3	Ain’t No Mountain High Enough	Diana Ross	2008	R&B
C:\DJ\Brad Paisley\Then-slow.mp3	Then	Brad Paisley	0	Country
C:\DJ\- Hip-Hop\Flo Rida\Low – EXPLICIT (mildly).mp3	Low (Feat. T-Pain)	Flo Rida	2008	Rap & Hip-Hop
C:\DJ\- Hip-Hop\Cupid\Cupid Shuffle – CLEAN.mp3	Cupid Shuffle	Cupid	0	Other
C:\DJ\- Hip-Hop\Quad City DJ’s1 – C’mon N’ Ride It (The Train) (LP Version).mp3	C’mon N’ Ride It (The Train) (LP Version)	Quad City DJ’s	1996	Rap & Hip-Hop
C:\DJ\- Hip-Hop\Usher2 – Yeah!.mp3	Yeah!	Usher Featuring Lil’ Jon & Ludacris	2004	R&B
C:\DJ\@PrimeCuts\California Swag District – Teach Me How To Dougie.mp3	Teach Me How To Dougie	California Swag District	2010	Urban
C:\DJ\- Kids\Disney9 YMCA.mp3	YMCA	Village People	2004	Disco
C:\DJ\Otis Day\Shout.mp3	Shout	Various Artists	1999	Children’s Music
C:\DJ\Journey\Dont Stop Believin.mp3	Don’t Stop Believin’	Journey	1988	Pop
C:\DJ\Etta James\At Last.mp3	At Last	Etta James	1999	Blues
C:\DJ\- Hip-Hop\Sir Mix-A-Lot\Baby Got Back.mp3	Baby Got Back (Album Version)	Sir Mix A Lot	1992	Pop
C:\DJ\@PrimeCuts\Usher Feat. Pitbull – DJ Got Us Fallin’ In Love.mp3	DJ Got Us Fallin’ In Love	Usher Feat. Pitbull	2010	Adult Contemporary
C:\DJ\- Hip-Hop\DJ Casper\Cha Cha Slide – CLEAN.mp3	Cha Cha Slide	Org Platinum Band	0	Other
C:\DJ\@PrimeCuts\Nicki Minaj – Super Bass.mp3	Super Bass	Nicki Minaj	2011	Urban
C:\DJ\Ying Yang Twins\Me & My Brother5 – Salt Shaker (Edited).mp3	Salt Shaker (Edited)	Ying Yang Twins	2003	Rap & Hip-Hop
C:\DJ\- Hip-Hop\Will Smith\Gettin Jiggy Wit It – CLEAN.mp3	Gettin’ Jiggy Wit It	Will Smith	2002	Rap & Hip-Hop
C:\DJ\Lynyrd Skynyrd\Sweet Home Alabama.mp3	Sweet Home Alabama	Lynyrd Skynyrd	2000	Rock
C:\DJ\AC-DC\Back In Black\You Shook Me All Night Long.mp3	You Shook Me All Night Long	AC	1980	Rock
C:\DJ\V.I.C_\Wobble1 – Wobble (Radio Version).mp3	Wobble (Radio Version)	V.I.C.	2008	Rap & Hip-Hop
C:\DJ\Norah Jones\Come Away With Me.mp3	Come Away With Me	Norah Jones	2002	Jazz

Nashville Wedding DJ, Uplighting and Photobooth

www.615DJ.com – – www.615Photobooth.com

Hiring the cheapest DJ possible

rickryan — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 20:21:13 +0000

I have a DJ friend who recently posted a phone call a friend, DJ Rick Roberts received recently. I believe it illustrates just how bad shopping on price-only can be. Don’t let this happen to your wedding!

This Was a REAL phone call not a joke!!!
Caller: Hello I need to talk to the DJ who Furnished music at my wedding! It was all F*%@ed up because of him playing music that was for a teenager’s birthday party and also not having any of the music that was requested at all!! The wedding was a complete shambles my Wife was not happy at all and not to mention to much rap and rock, it was a wedding!!!! What was the Idea of not even having a microphone no one could say anything we had to talk loud in order for everyone to hear I really want my money back and will not refer your service to anyone!!
DJ: Ok sir for one when was your wedding?
Caller: August 27th 2011 at the Herrington inn!
DJ: MMMMM could I ask a few questions sir?
Caller: Yes!
DJ: one how much did you pay?
Caller: $200.00!!!!!
DJ: Could I ask your name so I may look this up on our records?
Caller: Yes, It’s David C*&^%^^&s
DJ: I do have you here calling me July 9 2011, and I quoted you $750.00 for a 5 hour wedding, but never heard from you again, so sir are you Randomly calling from a scratch pad with a bunch of numbers and don’t remember witch DJ it was???
Caller: OH, yes I am so sorry, my wife thought it was this DJ service that was there!
DJ: I do understand your Pain Sir and I do tell people to Shop around Check backgrounds before hiring a DJ That is the Most important part of a wedding “Entertainment”!
Caller: If I ever need a DJ I will call you, thank you for being understanding and hearing me out, that night was so frustrating and we have been so busy, I had no time till now to call, thank you again and Sorry!
DJ: no problem sir you have a good night!!!

Rick Ryan – Nashville wedding DJ, Uplighting and Photobooth

http://www.615DJ.com

http://www.615Lighting.com

http://www.615Photobooth.com

Justin & Lindsey – Indian Hills Country Club – Bowling Green KY

rickryan — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 21:19:16 +0000

This had to have been one of the most high-energy parties of the year. Held at the Indian Hills Country Club in Bowling Green, KY our lovely couple had their wedding Ceremony out on the green complete with a live string section. Something a bit out of the ordinary, Lindsey & Justin came back after their exit and released their guests, row by row, which gave them a chance to personally visit with each person. A very nice touch. Kudos to my good friends at B&B Portraits. It’s always a thrill to work with you guys.

After the Ceremony was over, we moved things indoors. If you haven’t been there before, Indian Hills is a first-class venue. The main banquet room is perfect for groups of 100-150 and opens out to a rear patio area that’s great for chatting or just enjoying the scenery. This event was scheduled for our Live-Pics live slideshow but when we arrived there was already a memories slideshow running, using the in-house A/V system (two large screens). After checking with the mother of the Bride as to whether she wanted me to run Live-Pics (during the dance set) or just leave it as is Lindsey piped up “What? I LOVE the Live-Pics thing.” Yes ma’am.

After dinner I ran “The Shoe Game” as a lead-in to cake-cutting. It was fantastic and, judging from the applause and laughter from the guests, I knew we had a real live one here. As soon as we hit the first tune the dance floor filled (completely) and it stayed packed the entire evening. I threw a very wide variety of material at these guys. The amazing part was that practically everyone stayed on the dance floor regardless whether it was a song from “their era” or not.

The Live-Pics and Text-messaging was also a huge hit and I’d have to say this group probably ran more text messages than any other I’ve ever seen (and almost all of them were clearn too). Lots of good-natured ribbing back and forth over college sports teams but also lots of well-wishes for the lucky couple. I normally provide my own screen, usually behind the DJ stand, but this venue was setup so we could tap into their system. The layout of these screens was perfect and I wish every venue had an A/V setup like this one.

At the end of the evening Lindsey’s dad absolutely made my night. He came up to thank me and told me that as the bride was getting into her Limo she looked at him and said “Dad, this was absolutely perfect.” Guys, all I can say is “thank you” for allowing me to be part of your “perfect” evening.

Having a little fun

Photo courtesy of B&B Portraits

The couple’s First Dance

Nice shot of the ceremony setup

Photo courtesy of B&B Portraits

Time to party!

Lindsey’s sis & dad enjoy a slow dance together

Event Playlist
2011-10-01 Wedding Reception – Indian Hills Country Club – Bowling Green KY

Filename Song Artist Year Genre
Black Eyed Peas5 – I Gotta Feeling.mp3 I Gotta Feeling Black Eyed Peas 2009 Pop
Jason Mraz\We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things_3 – Lucky featuring Colbie Caillat.mp3 Lucky featuring Colbie Caillat Jason Mraz & Colbie Caillat 2008 Pop
Louis Armstrong1 – What A Wonderful World.mp3 What A Wonderful World Louis Armstrong 2007 Jazz
10-16-2010 wedding (Megan Elliott)\GARTH BROOKS – IT’S YOUR SONG.mp3 It’s Your Song GARTH BROOKS 0 genre
Various Artists\Motown\19 – I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch).mp3 I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch) Four Tops 2008 Pop
Beyonce\Put A Ring On It-CLEAN.mp3 Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It) Beyonce 2008 Pop
- downloads\Destiny’s Child\#1′s\11 – Bootylicious.mp3 Bootylicious Destiny’s Child 0 Pop
- Hip-Hop\Nelly\Hot In Here-CLEAN.mp3 Hot In Herre Nelly 2002 Rap & Hip-Hop
@PrimeCuts\Train – Marry Me [Album Version].mp3 Marry Me [Album Version] Train 2010 AAA
Zac Brown Band2 – Whatever It Is.mp3 Whatever It Is Zac Brown Band 2008 Country
- Jazz\Steve Baxter Feat. Randy Crawford – 4 More Days [Album Version].mp3 4 More Days [Album Version] Steve Baxter Feat. Randy Crawford 2009 Smooth Jazz
@PrimeCuts\Patrick Lamb – Sweet Tea [Radio Edit].mp3 Sweet Tea [Radio Edit] Patrick Lamb 2011 Smooth Jazz
- Jazz3 afterglow.mp3 afterglow Dwayne Jones 0 Jazz
- Jazz2 If You Care.mp3 If You Care Dwayne Jones 0 Jazz
- Jazz4 any port in a storm.mp3 any port in a storm Dwayne Jones 0 Jazz
- Jazz5 steppin’ out.mp3 steppin’ out Dwayne Jones 0 Jazz
Frank Sinatra1 Come Fly with Me.mp3 Come Fly with Me Frank Sinatra 2008 Vocal
Frank Sinatra8 – Fly Me To The Moon (In Other Words) (Remastered Album V.mp3 Fly Me To The Moon (In Other Words) (Remastered Album Version) [The Frank Sinatra Collection] Frank Sinatra 2008 Pop
Frank Sinatra9 Summer Wind.mp3 Summer Wind Frank Sinatra 2008 Vocal
- downloads\Diana Krall\All For You (A Dedication To The Nat King Cole Trio)7 – Hit That Jive Jack.mp3 Hit That Jive Jack Diana Krall 1996 Jazz
Michael Bubl?\Call Me Irresponsible9 – Everything.mp3
Frank Sinatra1 – I’ve Got You Under My Skin (2006 Digital Remaster).mp3 I’ve Got You Under My Skin (2006 Digital Remaster) Frank Sinatra 2007 Broadway & Vocalists
Nat King Cole1 Unforgetable.mp3 Unforgetable Nat ” 0 Easy Listening
Michael Bubl?\Sway.mp3
Frank Sinatra7 The Girl from Ipanema.mp3 The Girl from Ipanema Antonio Carlos Jobim 2008 Vocal
- downloads\Diana Krall\All For You (A Dedication To The Nat King Cole Trio)4 – Frim Fram Sauce.mp3 Frim Fram Sauce Diana Krall 1996 Jazz
Nat King Cole7 L-O-V-E.mp3 L-O-V-E Nat ” 0 Easy Listening
Sara Bareilles\Little Voice\10 – Many the Miles.mp3 Many the Miles Sara Bareilles 2007 Pop
Various Artists\Motown\(Disc 3) 09 – ABC.mp3 ABC Jackson 5 2008 Pop
@PrimeCuts\Little Big Town – Little White Church.mp3 Little White Church Little Big Town 2010 Country
Stevie Wonder2 – Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I’m Yours).mp3 Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I’m Yours) Stevie Wonder 2000 R&B
Michael Bubl?\It’s Time\10 – How Sweet It Is.mp3
Darius Rucker7 – Alright.mp3 Alright Darius Rucker 2008 Pop
Zac Brown Band\Zac Brown Band – Toes [Single Edit - No 'Ass'].mp3 Toes [Single Edit - No 'Ass'] Zac Brown Band 2009 Adult Contemporary
Michael Bubl?\Moondance.wma
Brad Paisley\Then-slow.mp3 Then Brad Paisley 0 Country
Various Artists\Party Starter- Funk Mix2 Brick House.mp3 Brick House The Commodores 2006 Soul And R&B
Miley Cyrus\Miley Cyrus – Party In The U.S.A. [Cosmo Remix Version].mp3 Party In The U.S.A. [Cosmo Remix Version] Miley Cyrus 2009 Top 40
- Hip-Hop\Cupid\Cupid Shuffle – CLEAN.mp3 Cupid Shuffle Cupid 0 Other
- Kids\Disney9 YMCA.mp3 YMCA Village People 2004 Disco
Otis Day\Shout.mp3 Shout Various Artists 1999 Children’s Music
- Kids\18 – The Chicken Dance.mp3 The Chicken Dance KidzTown 2009 Miscellaneous
- Hip-Hop\Quad City DJ’s1 – C’mon N’ Ride It (The Train) (LP Version).mp3 C’mon N’ Ride It (The Train) (LP Version) Quad City DJ’s 1996 Rap & Hip-Hop
@PrimeCuts\Justin Bieber Feat. Jaden Smith – Never Say Never.mp3 Never Say Never Justin Bieber Feat. Jaden Smith 2011 Top 40
- Hip-Hop\Ludacris\Ludacris – How Low [Clean].mp3 How Low [Clean] Ludacris 2009 Top 40
@PrimeCuts\California Swag District – Teach Me How To Dougie.mp3 Teach Me How To Dougie California Swag District 2010 Urban
01 – Moving Like Berney.mp3 Moving Like Berney Isa 2010 Rap & Hip-Hop
Salt-N-Pepa\The Best Of Salt-N-Pepa 20th Century Masters The Millennium Collection1 – Push It.mp3 Push It Salt-N-Pepa 2008 Rap & Hip-Hop
Neil Diamond\13 – Sweet Caroline.mp3 Sweet Caroline Neil Diamond 1987 Pop
Old Crow Medicine Show\11 – Wagon Wheel.mp3 Wagon Wheel Old Crow Medicine Show 2004 Folk
Lonestar\Amazed – SLOW.mp3 Amazed Lonestar 1999 Country
ZZ Top\13 Cheap Sunglasses.mp3 Cheap Sunglasses ZZ Top 1992 Rock
Michael Jackson\Thriller.mp3 Thriller (Album Version) Michael Jackson 2008 Pop
Journey\Dont Stop Believin.mp3 Don’t Stop Believin’ Journey 1988 Pop
V.I.C_\Wobble1 – Wobble (Radio Version).mp3 Wobble (Radio Version) V.I.C. 2008 Rap & Hip-Hop
- Hip-Hop\Sir Mix-A-Lot\Baby Got Back.mp3 Baby Got Back (Album Version) Sir Mix A Lot 1992 Pop
Ying Yang Twins\Me & My Brother5 – Salt Shaker (Edited).mp3 Salt Shaker (Edited) Ying Yang Twins 2003 Rap & Hip-Hop
- Hip-Hop\DJ Casper\Cha Cha Slide – CLEAN.mp3 Cha Cha Slide Org Platinum Band 0 Other
Etta James\At Last.mp3 At Last Etta James 1999 Blues
Various Artists\Hits of The 60′s Volume 19 – The Twist.mp3 The Twist Chubby Checker 2008 Pop
@PrimeCuts\Adele – Rolling In The Deep [Radio Edit].mp3 Rolling In The Deep [Radio Edit] Adele 2010 Adult Contemporary
Lady GaGa\Just_Dance – CLEAN.mp3 Just Dance Lady GaGa 2008 Pop
Bon Jovi\Livin’ On A Prayer.mp3
Jagged Edge3 – Let’s Get Married.mp3 Let’s Get Married Jagged Edge 2006 R&B
@PrimeCuts\LMFAO Feat. Lauren Bennett And Goon Rock – Party Rock Anthem.mp3 Party Rock Anthem LMFAO Feat. Lauren Bennett And Goon Rock 2010 Adult Contemporary
Toby Keith\Greatest Hits, Vol. 2\Should’ve Been a Cowboy [#][Live].mp3 Should’ve Been a Cowboy [#][Live] Toby Keith 2004 Country
Garth Brooks\Friends In Low Places.mp3
Jason Aldean9 – Big Green Tractor.mp3 Big Green Tractor Jason Aldean 2009 Country
[Vanilla Ice] – Ice Ice Baby.mp3
Various Artists\Party Starter- Funk Mix4 Super Freak, Pt. 1.mp3 Super Freak, Pt. 1 Rick James 2006 Soul And R&B
Bee Gees _ Various Artists\11 – Stayin’ Alive.mp3 Stayin’ Alive The Bee Gees 2008 Pop
Lynyrd Skynyrd\Sweet Home Alabama.mp3 Sweet Home Alabama Lynyrd Skynyrd 2000 Rock
- Hip-Hop\[Young MC] Bust A Move – CLEAN.mp3 Bust A Move Young MC 0 Other
- Hip-Hop\Lil Wayne\Got Money – CLEAN.mp3 Got Money Lil Wayne 2008 Rap & Hip-Hop

Nashville Wedding DJ, Lighting and Photobooth

www.615DJ.com - www615Lighting.com - www.615Photobooth.com - www.RickRyan.com

13 Tips on how to find the right DJ for your wedding day

rickryan — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 19:13:44 +0000

13 Tips on how to find the right DJ for your wedding day by Rick Ryan (www.RickRyan.com)Congratulations, you’re getting married! Now the real fun begins; planning your wedding day. The food, the venue, the cake, the dress. There’s so much to do and so little time to do it. And then there’s all the pressure to “do it right” after all, you’ve got one shot. Feeling overwhelmed? It’s okay. While I can’t answer all your wedding preparation questions I will try to help with one thing; choosing the right DJ for you. Your choice of Wedding Entertainment will probably be the single most important (yet often over-looked) decision you’ll make. Here’s how to separate the “real deal” from the “posers”:
	“Great DJ”	“Avoid”
Client Reviews	Will have lots of great reviews from past clients. Even better if the reviews are hosted on an independent website where they are actually verified as legitimate.	Has no reviews posted or perhaps just a handful. Keep in mind that if you see a handful or notice that all the reviews have the same style of writing, they’ve probably been faked by the DJ.
Website	Very informative. Lots of info that educates, not just sells. There should be tons of photos from past events. Actual playlists from past events available for you to review are even better.	Not much info. Poorly arranged. Has a handful of pictures (few pictures screams “fake”). Their main selling point is “Cheap”.
Event Planning	Is willing to hold your hand to walk you through the process of planning the perfect event. Will have an Online Planner available and often willing to supplement with phone calls, emails or face-to-face meetings.	“We’ll take care of everything.” “Meetings aren’t necessary.”
Guest Requests	Knows that guest requests are vital. It’s what “hooks” your guests into staying and makes them a part of your big day.	“We don’t take requests cause we’re the experts.”
Preparation and equipment setup	Has a neat, clean setup. All cords are neatly taped to stands and the floor. Uses mats to cover cabling. All tables and stands are fully draped in either black or a neutral color. If you spent all that time in preparing your decorations, do you really want some DJ to walk in and wreck it all with his junky setup?	Doesn’t bother with “all that silly stuff”. “You want cheap, right?”
Arrival	Arrives early at the venue for setup and with plenty of time to spare. For DJ-only, 1 hour (at minimum). If Uplighting, Photobooth or a Projector is involved, it’s more like 2-4 hours in advance of the first guest.	“We can be setup and ready in just a few minutes.”
Equipment	Uses pro-quality gear and carries spares of everything; speakers, amps, laptops, cables, etc. Subwoofers are highly recommend for dance events (in addition to the speakers you see mounted on poles). “Thump” is what motivates people to dance and helps keep the system from sounding tinny and harsh.	Uses the bare minimum they can get away with. Often that will be just a pair of speakers on stands. Does not carry backup equipment because “it’s never failed me before.” (a recipe for disaster).
Uplighting, Photobooth and additional services	A great DJ understands that today’s wedding guests expect more than “just music”. From the moment your guests walk in, they’ll look at the presentation your DJ makes to know whether “This is going to be a great party” or whether “We’re gonna split right after the cake is cut.” A great presentation raises the expectation level of your guests and makes the rest of the event flow smoothly.	“We specialize in music only.” or “You want cheap, right?”
“Uncle Bob keeps making rotten requests.”	A great DJ knows how to handle bad guest requests politely and avoids having “Uncle Bob” come whine to you because he can’t hear his personal favorite song (even though it’s completely inappropriate for the occasion).	Gets into an argument with your guest or perhaps just tells Uncle Bob that “The Bride & Groom don’t want your song played.” When Uncle Bob (insert your friend/relative’s name here) has had a few drinks and can’t talk the DJ into playing “Green Grass and High Tides Forever” you can bet he’s going to make a beeline in your direction.
Demeanor – mic chatter	Makes all announcements clean, clear and concise and keeps mic-chatter to a minimum. Avoids typical “cheese-ball” antics like jumping on the dance floor and knows that his job is to keep the attention focused on the Bride & Groom.	Talks constantly in between (and on top of) songs that your guests actually wanted to hear. Keeps drawing attention to himself. Seems more eager to stroke his own ego than to insure a smooth, successful event.
Multiple DJ or Single?	A great DJ service that has multiple DJs working insures that you won’t have a “no show” at your event. A great company has clearly established standards and trains their employees to deliver a clean, consistent, professional presentation.	Often is the only DJ they book. You’ll often hear the “you know what you’re getting with me” line but, do you? Aren’t you really just taking their word for it, often without any real proof of their delivery? You may also hear the “I’ve never missed a gig” line but we all know that things do happen. It’s not wise to put all your eggs in one basket.
Is their pricing easy to understand or complicated?	A great DJ knows that you already have enough confusion in this process and will design packages with simple pricing to help make it easy for you to decide.	“Well, it’s $X for the first three hours, then $X for every hour after that. Oh, and if you want dance lights it’s $X and of course a monogram is $X and then there’s the……” This is what we call the “nickel and dime game”. They’ll shoot you a cheap price initially but after you’ve finished adding on all the little extras, it really adds up.
Are they the cheapest?	In the DJ world there’s nothing more true than “You get what you pay for.” A great DJ delivers value and that doesn’t necessarily mean the absolute cheapest price. Look for someone in the middle, price-wise, or slightly towards the top-end. Buying the most expensive DJ in town also does not assure you of great service.	A cheap, low-ball DJ is, very often, worse than no DJ and will be the first one to bail out on your event if someone else offers them $50 more, leaving you holding the bag. There’s nothing worse than the calls we get from a panic-stricken Bride whose DJ bailed out at the last minute.

About the author: Rick Ryan runs one of the most successful and well-respected DJ services in Middle Tennessee and is a regular at some of the most top-end venues in the Nashville area. For more information, please visit http://www.RickRyan.com.

Nashville Wedding DJ, Uplighting and Photobooth

http://www.RickRyan.com

http://www.615DJ.com

Haley & Kevin – Carnton Plantation – Franklin TN

rickryan — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 19:49:14 +0000

This past weekend took us out to historic Carnton Plantation in Franklin, TN for Haley & Kevin’s wedding celebration. This is a fabulous venue with tons of character and history. Carnton was originally used as a field hospital during the Civil War and has one of the largest, private Civil War cemeteries in the country. The main house was the site of the Ceremony. We setup on the porch, off to the side (to avoid being in the pictures) and a soloist sang for the bridal party entrance.

The Reception was setup about 100 yards away at The Fleming Center, on their back patio area. The bride’s father had strung rope lighting, giving it a beautiful glow. As we started into the dinner hour, Mother Nature decided to intervene and throw us a curve-ball in the form of rain. As the guests moved inside, the director (Elizabeth) asked if I could move indoors. Grabbing the ceremony system and a wireless speaker, I quickly setup inside the building and got ready for our Grand Entrance, followed by First Dance, then cutting of the cake. By the time we finished with cake-cutting, the rain had stopped and so we decided to move things back outside again.

By the time we finished with parent dances, the guests were ready to party and party they did! We started off with several classics and then got treated to a special Michael Jackson-style dance by Kevin and his best man.

There were several high points during the evening and I’m just thankful the rain finally let up. These guys make a beautiful couple and were an absolute delight to work with. Here are a few more pics and the playlist:

Playlist

2011-09-24 Wedding Reception – Carnton Plantation – Franklin TN

Filename	Song	Artist	Year	Genre
C:\DJ\Michael Jackson2 – The Way You Make Me Feel.mp3	The Way You Make Me Feel	Michael Jackson	2001	Pop
C:\DJ\Corey Smith\In The Mood3 – First Dance.mp3	First Dance	Corey Smith	2003	Country
C:\DJ\Various Artists\Motown\14 – My Girl.mp3	My Girl	Temptations	2008	Pop
C:\DJ\Rascal Flatts\My Wish.mp3
C:\DJ\Various Artists\Motown\19 – I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch).mp3	I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)	Four Tops	2008	Pop
C:\DJ\Kool & The Gang1 – Ladies Night.mp3	Ladies Night	Kool and The Gang	1996	Dance & DJ
C:\DJ\Various Artists\Party Starter- Funk Mix2 Brick House.mp3	Brick House	The Commodores	2006	Soul And R&B
C:\DJ\Frank Sinatra8 – Fly Me To The Moon (In Other Words) (Remastered Album V.mp3	Fly Me To The Moon (In Other Words) (Remastered Album Version) [The Frank Sinatra Collection]	Frank Sinatra	2008	Pop
C:\DJ\Michael Bubl?\Call Me Irresponsible9 – Everything.mp3
C:\DJ\Nat King Cole1 Unforgetable.mp3	Unforgetable	Nat “	0	Easy Listening
C:\DJ\Frank Sinatra1 Come Fly with Me.mp3	Come Fly with Me	Frank Sinatra	2008	Vocal
C:\DJ\Michael Bubl?\Sway.mp3
C:\DJ\Sara Bareilles\Little Voice\10 – Many the Miles.mp3	Many the Miles	Sara Bareilles	2007	Pop
C:\DJ\Frank Sinatra9 Summer Wind.mp3	Summer Wind	Frank Sinatra	2008	Vocal
C:\DJ\- downloads\Diana Krall\All For You (A Dedication To The Nat King Cole Trio)7 – Hit That Jive Jack.mp3	Hit That Jive Jack	Diana Krall	1996	Jazz
C:\DJ\Michael Bubl?\Moondance.wma
C:\DJ\Nat King Cole7 L-O-V-E.mp3	L-O-V-E	Nat “	0	Easy Listening
C:\DJ\Michael Bubl?\Crazy Little Thing Called Love.wma
C:\DJ\Taylor Swift3 – Love Story.mp3	Love Story	Taylor Swift	2008	Country
C:\DJ\- downloads\Diana Krall\All For You (A Dedication To The Nat King Cole Trio)4 – Frim Fram Sauce.mp3	Frim Fram Sauce	Diana Krall	1996	Jazz
C:\DJ\James Taylor\How Sweet It Is To Be Loved By You.mp3	How Sweet It Is To Be Loved By You	James Taylor	1975	Oldies
C:\DJ\Various Artists\Motown\(Disc 4) 04 – Never Can Say Goodbye.mp3	Never Can Say Goodbye	Jackson 5	2008	Pop
C:\DJ\Darius Rucker7 – Alright.mp3	Alright	Darius Rucker	2008	Pop
C:\DJ\Frank Sinatra7 The Girl from Ipanema.mp3	The Girl from Ipanema	Antonio Carlos Jobim	2008	Vocal
C:\DJ\Frank Sinatra1 – I’ve Got You Under My Skin (2006 Digital Remaster).mp3	I’ve Got You Under My Skin (2006 Digital Remaster)	Frank Sinatra	2007	Broadway & Vocalists
C:\DJ\Frank Sinatra\Sinatra_Jobim_ The Complete Reprise Recordings\18 – Wave [The Frank Sinatra Collection].mp3	Wave [The Frank Sinatra Collection]	Frank Sinatra	2010	Jazz
C:\DJ\Darius Rucker\It Won’t Be Like This For Long.mp3	It Won’t Be Like This For Long	Darius Rucker	2008	Pop
C:\DJ\Frank Sinatra4 Luck Be a Lady.mp3	Luck Be a Lady	Frank Sinatra	2008	Vocal
C:\DJ\Frank Sinatra\12 Somethin’ Stupid.mp3	Somethin’ Stupid	Frank Sinatra	2008	Vocal
C:\DJ\Stevie Wonder7 You Are the Sunshine of My Life [Version].mp3	You Are the Sunshine of My Life [Version]	Stevie Wonder	1982	Soul And R&B
C:\DJ\Various Artists\Motown\(Disc 11 – I Just Called To Say I Love You.mp3	I Just Called To Say I Love You	Stevie Wonder	2008	R&B
C:\DJ\Various Artists\Motown\(Disc 7) 01 – Cruisin’.mp3	Cruisin’	Smokey Robinson	2008	R&B
C:\DJ\New Folder\Various Artists\202 Motown Songs_ The Complete No.1s\(Disc 5) 07 – Dancing Machine.mp3	Dancing Machine	Jackson 5	2008	R&B
C:\DJ\Various Artists\Motown\(Disc 7) 10 – Endless Love.mp3	Endless Love	Lionel Richie	2008	R&B
C:\DJ\@PrimeCuts\Michael Buble – Haven’t Met You Yet [Cutmore Radio Edit].mp3	Haven’t Met You Yet [Cutmore Radio Edit]	Michael Buble	2010	Dance
C:\DJ\Various Artists\Motown\(Disc 3) 09 – ABC.mp3	ABC	Jackson 5	2008	Pop
C:\DJ\The Beach Boys\10 – Help Me, Rhonda (Mono) (2001 Digital Remaster).mp3	Help Me, Rhonda (Mono) (2001 Digital Remaster)	The Beach Boys	2003	Pop
C:\DJ\Brad Paisley\Then-slow.mp3	Then	Brad Paisley	0	Country
C:\DJ\Various Artists\Party Starter- Funk Mix3 Play That Funky Music.mp3	Play That Funky Music	Wild Cherry	2006	Soul And R&B
C:\DJ\- Hip-Hop\Cupid\Cupid Shuffle – CLEAN.mp3	Cupid Shuffle	Cupid	0	Other
C:\DJ\- Hip-Hop\Quad City DJ’s1 – C’mon N’ Ride It (The Train) (LP Version).mp3	C’mon N’ Ride It (The Train) (LP Version)	Quad City DJ’s	1996	Rap & Hip-Hop
C:\DJ\Otis Day\Shout.mp3	Shout	Various Artists	1999	Children’s Music
C:\DJ\- Kids\Disney9 YMCA.mp3	YMCA	Village People	2004	Disco
C:\DJ\Bee Gees _ Various Artists\11 – Stayin’ Alive.mp3	Stayin’ Alive	The Bee Gees	2008	Pop
C:\DJ\Osbourne Brothers\Rocky Top.mp3
C:\DJ\The Righteous Brothers1 – You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’.mp3	You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’	The Righteous Brothers	1991	Pop
C:\DJ\The Beach Boys4 – Surfin’ U.S.A. (2001 Digital Remaster).mp3	Surfin’ U.S.A. (2001 Digital Remaster)	The Beach Boys	2003	Pop
C:\DJ\- Hip-Hop\Ludacris\Ludacris – How Low [Clean].mp3	How Low [Clean]	Ludacris	2009	Top 40
C:\DJ\Lonestar\Amazed – SLOW.mp3	Amazed	Lonestar	1999	Country
C:\DJ\Ying Yang Twins\Me & My Brother5 – Salt Shaker (Edited).mp3	Salt Shaker (Edited)	Ying Yang Twins	2003	Rap & Hip-Hop
C:\DJ\Michael Jackson\Thriller.mp3	Thriller (Album Version)	Michael Jackson	2008	Pop
C:\DJ\- Hip-Hop\DJ Casper\Cha Cha Slide – CLEAN.mp3	Cha Cha Slide	Org Platinum Band	0	Other
C:\DJ\V.I.C_\Wobble1 – Wobble (Radio Version).mp3	Wobble (Radio Version)	V.I.C.	2008	Rap & Hip-Hop
C:\DJ\Michael Jackson\10 – Smooth Criminal (Radio Edit).mp3	Smooth Criminal (Radio Edit)	Michael Jackson	2001	Pop
C:\DJ\- downloads\Michael Jackson\Michael Jackson_ The Ultimate Collection\(Disc 3) 10 – Jam.mp3	Jam	Michael Jackson	2004	Pop
C:\DJ\- Hip-Hop\Sir Mix-A-Lot\Baby Got Back.mp3	Baby Got Back (Album Version)	Sir Mix A Lot	1992	Pop
C:\DJ\@PrimeCuts\LMFAO Feat. Lauren Bennett And Goon Rock – Party Rock Anthem.mp3	Party Rock Anthem	LMFAO Feat. Lauren Bennett And Goon Rock	2010	Adult Contemporary
C:\DJ\@PrimeCuts\Adele – Rolling In The Deep [Radio Edit].mp3	Rolling In The Deep [Radio Edit]	Adele	2010	Adult Contemporary
C:\DJ\Various Artists\Ultimate Reggae1 – Stir It Up.mp3	Stir It Up	Bob Marley	2008	International
C:\DJ\Mgmt\Oracular Spectacular [Explicit]4 – Electric Feel.mp3	Electric Feel	MGMT	2008	Alternative Rock
C:\DJ\Barry White\Can’t Get Enough Of Your Love, Babe.mp3	Can’t Get Enough Of Your Love, Babe	Barry White	1994	Pop
C:\DJ\Various Artists\Party Starter- Funk Mix4 Super Freak, Pt. 1.mp3	Super Freak, Pt. 1	Rick James	2006	Soul And R&B
C:\DJ\@PrimeCuts\California Swag District – Teach Me How To Dougie.mp3	Teach Me How To Dougie	California Swag District	2010	Urban
C:\DJ\- Hip-Hop\Snoop Dogg3 – Drop It Like It’s Hot.mp3	Drop It Like It’s Hot	Snoop Dogg	2004	Rap & Hip-Hop
C:\DJ\Michael Jackson\Billie Jean.mp3	Billie Jean (Single Version)	Michael Jackson	1983	Pop
C:\DJ\Norah Jones\Come Away With Me.mp3	Come Away With Me	Norah Jones	2002	Jazz

http://www.rickryan.com

http://www.615dj.com

Nashville Wedding DJ, Lighting and Photobooth

10 Tips For Better Uplighting

rickryan — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 21:07:13 +0000

It is amazing at how quickly Uplighting is becoming a “must have” item at Weddings. No, it doesn’t surprise me that discerning brides are wanting this after all, when done correctly, it adds more “pizazz” than perhaps any other single decoration you can do. That said, as a wedding vendor who does this on a regular basis, I’d like to share a few bits of wisdom that will help you with your own Uplighting.

(The Hermitage Hotel – downtown Nashville)

1) “Color selection” – I have to be honest, I generally cringe when a client says “We want a very subtle color.” The whole point in going to the time and expense of Uplighting is to enhance the facility. Vibrant colors are what make your pictures jump off the page. They also, quite noticeably change the mood of your guests. It’s been proven in Scientific studies that colors have a dramatic impact on mood and energy. If you’re really after a subdued vibe for your event, white or amber are excellent choices. However, aren’t most brides always the ones telling me they “just want our guests to have a great time”? Use color to your advantage! Magenta, Purple, Blue, or Red (or shades thereof) are some excellent choices.

(a recent event at The Nashville City Club)

2) LED or Incandescent? – Incandescent cans/fixtures still are used fairly regularly by some lighting contractors. I believe it’s primarily because these fixtures are cheaper or perhaps it happens to be what the lighting vendor has in their stock. While we do also have some incandescent fixtures, we don’t typically recommend them for Uplighting for several reasons; 1) They get hot and little ones are drawn to them like a moth to a flame. It’s a sure-fire recipe for little hands that get burned and that translates into wailing kids at YOUR event. 2) It takes a lot more power to run them and that means more and bigger extension cords to power them. 3) Limited color choice. These fixtures use gel paper to shade the bulb for whatever color you’re after and that means, no changes at the event. If your chosen gel paper color doesn’t mix well with the paint on the walls, tough luck as there’s no way to tweak the color shades on the spot.

LED fixtures are cool to the touch, use very little electricity and the colors can be changed quickly, at the venue. If the color you picked at your meeting gets changed by the color on the wall, your technician can often adjust the shading on-the-fly, prior to your guests’ arrival.

3) Table/Chair Placement – Uplighting is usually done by placing fixtures on the floor, next to the wall. We recommend a 3 foot buffer zone for all tables/chairs. This keeps guests from bumping, moving or even damaging the lighting fixtures. It also gives the lighting technician the ability to do a more even spacing between each fixture, improving the overall look of the presentation.

4) How much is enough? – One thing I tell all my clients is “Don’t skimp on the number of fixtures.” When you run short on a color presentation, it’s very apparent to everyone in attendance. It’s better to slightly over-do it than to come up short. The biggest question I hear is “How many cans do I need?” As you would expect, it obviously depends on the size of the room(s), the number of guests, and what wall-space is available for lighting. What I can tell you is, for most of our jobs (125-200 guests), the magic number always seems to come up to 20. This is roughly a 1500-2500 sq ft room and is what comes standard with our “Diamond Package”. For rooms of 2500-4000 sq ft, I generally recommend 30 cans, sometimes more.

(The Doubletree Hotel – downtown Nashville)

5) DMX vs Stand-alone (LEDs only) – LED lighting fixtures have two modes they can be operated in; stand-alone or DMX. I won’t bore you with the techy details but basically DMX means the lighting fixtures can be controlled remotely (either wireless or wired). Of the jobs we’ve done, almost all have been non-DMX. Without going into specifics, basically DMX will add $200-$400 in labor costs, not to mention the fact that it will add tons of cable and tape to your setup. For the little bit of extra flexibility it gives, our customers have stated that it’s simply not worth it. Yes, we’ll be happy to make your entire venue “beat to the music” or “make the colors change between songs” but in our experience, it’s not something we hear on a regular basis.

6) Static or Color-Change – Most LED fixtures can be programmed to roll gently from one color to the other. This is known as “color change mode”. We do have a fair portion of our wedding clients that opt for this setup, but I’d place it as the minority. Practically all of our school dances or proms use color change but weddings typically will either go with a single (static) color or perhaps may use alternating patterns of color (“red – white – red – white”). Only you can decide what works best for your color scheme and venue. One thing I will add is that it also can be dictated by the wall space available. We’ve done a number of venues where they may have a patio area with temporary sidewalls installed. These types of setups will have minimal wall space to be colored and may work better with multiple colors, rolling constantly. A hotel ballroom typically will have a lot of open wall space and will get too busy with so many colors going on. Better to choose a static color, or pattern of statics and stick with that.

7) Chair Rails, how to handle them – When we do an install, one of the things we’re always trying to do is to keep fixtures out of the way and close to the wall. First, we don’t want guests tripping over our fixtures but also (to be transparent) we really don’t want guests stepping on (and potentially breaking) our expensive fixtures. One of the problems we regularly run into are chair rails. While these do a great job at preserving paint from chairs and tables, they also block off light as it travels up the wall area. The only way to overcome this is to set fixtures further away from the wall, usually about a half-foot. However, keep in mind table and chair placement (#3 above).

8 ) Uplighting sets the tone – One of the things that I regularly preach to my clients (most of our engagements include DJ service as well) is that we create great events by setting the tone from the very start. The moment a guest walks in we want them to do “the tilt-back” (as I like to call it). That’s where they walk in the entrance, then pause as their eyes widen and they take in all the sights and sounds we’re presenting. If we’ve done our job correctly, this raises the expectation of your guests. Once that expectation is raised, it’s much easier to push it on into “off the hook” territory. Uplighting is a tremendous tool for setting the tone of an event. When a guest walks into a room with bright, vivid colors all around, they can’t help but to expect a fantastic evening and expectation creates energy.

9) Do it yourself or Pro? – I know that everyone is looking for ways to save a buck, especially in today’s economy. While it’s true that fixtures can be rented, most people don’t realize what it takes to get power to all your fixtures. By the time you rent the fixtures, then buy all the extension cords needed, it often is the same price (or more) than just paying a professional outfit to do the install, not to mention the job of tearing it all back down and returning the fixtures. But even beyond the “hassle factor” involved, having a bunch of extension cords often creates a huge mess and that’s not something you want on your special day. We use special zip cord with add-a-tap outlets for our installs. These are long strands of cable (25ft & 50ft) that have an outlet every 5 feet. It puts a much cleaner line against the wallboard but, more importantly, it helps to keep spacing even between fixtures. There’s nothing that will ruin a lighting presentation faster than to have a 5ft gap, then 7ft, then 4ft, etc.

10) Children – I debated strongly whether to mention this or not and let me say it first, I LOVE kids. I have two of my own and kids hold a near and dear place in my heart. That said, for some unknown reason, a lot of parents have a tendency to not keep watch over their kids at weddings. Add Uplighting into that picture and you have an almost guarantee that the kids will be messing with fixtures, expensive lighting fixtures. There’s nothing worse from a vendor’s perspective than to look up, as I did a couple of months back, and see some three year old walking along the wall, kicking your fixtures like a kickball. It’s a delicate subject but, if you’re going to do Uplighting, please make your guests (with children) aware of the situation and ask their assistance to keep things in control. When things get broken, it’s the client who ends up paying.

I hope the above gives you some ideas in planning lighting for your own event. If there’s anything I may do to assist, please don’t hesitate to contact me anytime. Now, light it up!

(about the author: Rick Ryan owns and operates a DJ, Lighting and Photobooth service company in the Nashville area. His company has become one of the fastest-growing and in demand wedding vendors in Middle Tennessee. For more info, please contact Rick below.)

Rick Ryan
www.RickRyan.com
Nashville Wedding DJ, Uplighting and Photobooth

Up on the 20th floor (Nashville City Club) – Kari and Dave

rickryan — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 20:30:40 +0000

What a busy day. This was actually my 2nd wedding of the day. I did one at the Cool Springs House in Brentwood, then hustled with my assistant Matthew downtown to The Nashville City Club. For those who have never been there, it’s located on 4th Ave, up on the 20th floor of the 201 building. The main room is surrounded by huge, plate glass windows that provide a stunning view of the downtown area and beyond.

The clients were Kari and Dave from Chicago, Illinois.

In addition to the bride & groom being from out of town, all of their guests and wedding party were as well. The minister even commented it was his first time to officiate a destination wedding. The entire party was warm and friendly and thoroughly enjoyed themselves.

Kari decided to go with the full Uplighting package and chose red for a dramatic effect. I’d have to agree, she nailed it. Once the sun went down the colors just made that room come alive and offered a stunning frame for the downtown skyline. The darkened windows gave a great contrast to the bright red on the walls and the blisslight star lasers really worked to give it that over-the-top feel.

Some fun on the dance floor

A shot of the cake, with pin-spotting

A wide room shot, during toasts

I’d like to say a big “Thank You” to the crew at the City Club, especially Gina Manlove (their event coordinator). These guys are at the absolute top of the game in terms of creating an unforgettable event. Highly recommended.

Event Playlist

2011-09-10 Wedding Reception – Nashville City Club – Nashville TN

http://www.rickryan.com/playlist.aspx?s=c:\DJ\-%20Playlists\2011-09-10%20Wedding%20Reception%20-%20Nashville%20City%20Club%20-%20Nashville%20TN.m3u

Filename	Song	Artist	Year	Genre
C:\DJ\Black Eyed Peas5 – I Gotta Feeling.mp3	I Gotta Feeling	Black Eyed Peas	2009	Pop
C:\DJ\@PrimeCuts\Steve Azar – Sunshine [Single Version].mp3	Sunshine [Single Version]	Steve Azar	2009	Adult Contemporary
C:\DJ\Michael Bubl?\Call Me Irresponsible9 – Everything.mp3
C:\DJ\Kenny Chesney Karaoke\Kenny Chesney_Me And You.mp3	Me And You	Kenny Chesney	2004	Other
C:\DJ\Frank Sinatra1 Come Fly with Me.mp3	Come Fly with Me	Frank Sinatra	2008	Vocal
C:\DJ\Frank Sinatra8 – Fly Me To The Moon (In Other Words) (Remastered Album V.mp3	Fly Me To The Moon (In Other Words) (Remastered Album Version) [The Frank Sinatra Collection]	Frank Sinatra	2008	Pop
C:\DJ\Frank Sinatra9 Summer Wind.mp3	Summer Wind	Frank Sinatra	2008	Vocal
C:\DJ\Frank Sinatra1 – I’ve Got You Under My Skin (2006 Digital Remaster).mp3	I’ve Got You Under My Skin (2006 Digital Remaster)	Frank Sinatra	2007	Broadway & Vocalists
C:\DJ\Michael Bubl?\Sway.mp3
C:\DJ\Michael Bubl?\Moondance.wma
C:\DJ\Michael Bubl?\Crazy Little Thing Called Love.wma
C:\DJ\Nat King Cole1 Unforgetable.mp3	Unforgetable	Nat “	0	Easy Listening
C:\DJ\Nat King Cole7 L-O-V-E.mp3	L-O-V-E	Nat “	0	Easy Listening
C:\DJ\- downloads\Diana Krall\All For You (A Dedication To The Nat King Cole Trio)7 – Hit That Jive Jack.mp3	Hit That Jive Jack	Diana Krall	1996	Jazz
C:\DJ\Sara Bareilles\Little Voice\10 – Many the Miles.mp3	Many the Miles	Sara Bareilles	2007	Pop
C:\DJ\Frank Sinatra\11 Call Me Irresponsible.mp3	Call Me Irresponsible	Frank Sinatra	2008	Vocal
C:\DJ\Frank Sinatra7 The Girl from Ipanema.mp3	The Girl from Ipanema	Antonio Carlos Jobim	2008	Vocal
C:\DJ\Frank Sinatra4 Luck Be a Lady.mp3	Luck Be a Lady	Frank Sinatra	2008	Vocal
C:\DJ\Darius Rucker7 – Alright.mp3	Alright	Darius Rucker	2008	Pop
C:\DJ\Various Artists\Motown\(Disc 4) 04 – Never Can Say Goodbye.mp3	Never Can Say Goodbye	Jackson 5	2008	Pop
C:\DJ\Stevie Wonder7 Isn’t She Lovely.mp3	Isn’t She Lovely	Stevie Wonder	1982	Soul And R&B
C:\DJ\Stevie Wonder2 – Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I’m Yours).mp3	Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I’m Yours)	Stevie Wonder	2000	R&B
C:\DJ\Music\Heidi Newfield – Johnny And June.mp3	Johnny And June	Heidi Newfield	0	Country
C:\DJ\Bonnie Raitt\Something To Talk About.mp3	Something To Talk About	Bonnie Raitt	2003	Easy Listening
C:\DJ\Frank Sinatra\10 Strangers in the Night.mp3	Strangers in the Night	Frank Sinatra	2008	Vocal
C:\DJ\Various Artists\Motown\(Disc 3) 09 – ABC.mp3	ABC	Jackson 5	2008	Pop
C:\DJ\James Taylor\Carolina In My Mind.mp3	Carolina In My Mind	James Taylor	1993	Pop
C:\DJ\@PrimeCuts\Jason Aldean – Dirt Road Anthem.mp3	Dirt Road Anthem	Jason Aldean	2011	Country
C:\DJ\George Strait\16 – You’re Something Special To Me.mp3	You’re Something Special To Me	George Strait	2007	Country
C:\DJ\Michael Bubl?\You’ll Never Find Another Love Like Mine.wma
C:\DJ\Frank Sinatra\Sinatra_Jobim_ The Complete Reprise Recordings\18 – Wave [The Frank Sinatra Collection].mp3	Wave [The Frank Sinatra Collection]	Frank Sinatra	2010	Jazz
C:\DJ\Elton John\Elton John’s Greatest Hits Volume 23 – Tiny Dancer.mp3	Tiny Dancer	Elton John	1992	Pop
C:\DJ\Frank Sinatra3 The Way You Look Tonight.mp3	The Way You Look Tonight	Frank Sinatra	2008	Vocal
C:\DJ\- downloads\Trace Adkins\Chrome1 – Chrome.mp3	Chrome	Trace Adkins	2001	Country
C:\DJ\2011-05-22\Can You Feel The Love Tonight – Elton John.mp3	Can You Feel The Love Tonight	Elton John	2011	Nhac US – UK
C:\DJ\New Folder\Various Artists\202 Motown Songs_ The Complete No.1s\(Disc 5) 07 – Dancing Machine.mp3	Dancing Machine	Jackson 5	2008	R&B
C:\DJ\@PrimeCuts\Little Big Town – Little White Church.mp3	Little White Church	Little Big Town	2010	Country
C:\DJ\- downloads\Neal McCoy\That’s Life6 – Billy’s Got His Beer Goggles On.mp3	Billy’s Got His Beer Goggles On	Neal McCoy	2005	Country
C:\DJ\@PrimeCuts\Michael Buble – Haven’t Met You Yet [Cutmore Radio Edit].mp3	Haven’t Met You Yet [Cutmore Radio Edit]	Michael Buble	2010	Dance
C:\DJ\Brooks & Dunn\Play Something Country.mp3
C:\DJ\Celine Dion\Falling Into You2 – Because You Loved Me.mp3	Because You Loved Me	Celine Dion	1996	Pop
C:\DJ\Brad Paisley\Then-slow.mp3	Then	Brad Paisley	0	Country
C:\DJ\Various Artists\Party Starter- Funk Mix3 Play That Funky Music.mp3	Play That Funky Music	Wild Cherry	2006	Soul And R&B
C:\DJ\Otis Day\Shout.mp3	Shout	Various Artists	1999	Children’s Music
C:\DJ\Michael Jackson\Billie Jean.mp3	Billie Jean (Single Version)	Michael Jackson	1983	Pop
C:\DJ\- Hip-Hop\Ludacris\Ludacris – How Low [Clean].mp3	How Low [Clean]	Ludacris	2009	Top 40
C:\DJ\- Hip-Hop\DJ Casper\Cha Cha Slide – CLEAN.mp3	Cha Cha Slide	Org Platinum Band	0	Other
C:\DJ\- Hip-Hop\Quad City DJ’s1 – C’mon N’ Ride It (The Train) (LP Version).mp3	C’mon N’ Ride It (The Train) (LP Version)	Quad City DJ’s	1996	Rap & Hip-Hop
C:\DJ\V.I.C_\Wobble1 – Wobble (Radio Version).mp3	Wobble (Radio Version)	V.I.C.	2008	Rap & Hip-Hop
C:\DJ\@PrimeCuts\Justin Bieber Feat. Jaden Smith – Never Say Never.mp3	Never Say Never	Justin Bieber Feat. Jaden Smith	2011	Top 40
C:\DJ\- Hip-Hop\Cupid\Cupid Shuffle – CLEAN.mp3	Cupid Shuffle	Cupid	0	Other
C:\DJ\Lady GaGa\Just_Dance – CLEAN.mp3	Just Dance	Lady GaGa	2008	Pop
C:\DJ\Etta James\At Last.mp3	At Last	Etta James	1999	Blues
C:\DJ\Various Artists\Motown\14 – My Girl.mp3	My Girl	Temptations	2008	Pop
C:\DJ\@PrimeCuts\Luke Bryan – Country Girl (Shake It For Me).mp3	Country Girl (Shake It For Me)	Luke Bryan	2011	Country
C:\DJ\- Country\Luke Bryan – Rain Is A Good Thing [Album Version].mp3	Rain Is A Good Thing [Album Version]	Luke Bryan	2010	Country
C:\DJ\- downloads\Travis Tritt\Greatest Hits – From The Beginning9 – T-R-O-U-B-L-E.mp3	T-R-O-U-B-L-E	Travis Tritt	2009	Country
C:\DJ\Brooks & Dunn8 Boot Scootin’ Boogie.wma	Boot Scootin’ Boogie	Brooks & Dunn	1991	Country
C:\DJ\@PrimeCuts\Jason Aldean – Crazy Town.mp3	Crazy Town	Jason Aldean	2010	Country
C:\DJ\Jason Aldean9 – Big Green Tractor.mp3	Big Green Tractor	Jason Aldean	2009	Country
C:\DJ\Blake Shelton\Blake Shelton Feat. Trace Adkins – Hillbilly Bone.mp3	Hillbilly Bone	Blake Shelton Feat. Trace Adkins	2009	Country
C:\DJ\Bob Seger1 – Old Time Rock & Roll.mp3	Old Time Rock & Roll	The Original Masters	2009	Rock
C:\DJ\AC-DC\Back In Black\You Shook Me All Night Long.mp3	You Shook Me All Night Long	AC	1980	Rock
C:\DJ\- Hip-Hop\Sir Mix-A-Lot\Baby Got Back.mp3	Baby Got Back (Album Version)	Sir Mix A Lot	1992	Pop
C:\DJ\Ying Yang Twins\Me & My Brother5 – Salt Shaker (Edited).mp3	Salt Shaker (Edited)	Ying Yang Twins	2003	Rap & Hip-Hop
C:\DJ\- Hip-Hop\Plain White T’s\Plain White T’s – 1 2 3 4.mp3	1,2,3,4	Plain White T’s	2008	Alternative

http://www.RickRyan.com
Nashville Wedding DJ, Uplighting and Photooboth

Andrea & Shea (War Memorial Plaza – Nashville, TN)

rickryan — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 02:18:58 +0000

This one turned out to be quite the social event. Got the chance to work with my new friends from Ace Photography again. Wow, do these guys do fantastic work! Lighting was provided by Nashville Event Lighting (they beat me out on this one) and they did a superb job.

The start was a bit bumpy. Power had to be drawn a fairly long distance and because of rain we had to shift our rig over to be under the plaza’s canopy. Fortunately, the rain held off and everything stayed nice and dry. Seeing how the plaza is so spread out, we dropped a wireless speaker on the opposite end. It worked like a charm and you could hear clearly, all over the plaza.

Both Andrea and Shea are precious and we enjoyed a nice first hour of just light dinner music, letting everyone visit. When the party got started, it really got started and the scenery was simply stunning:

I have to say it, these guys pulled off the absolute best garter toss I’ve seen to date. Andrea was seated and Shea really did a production for his removal. Problem was, when he went in there was no garter to be found. Andrea had Shea then turn around and sit down while she searched for it on his leg. Low and behold, there it was, and it was a University of TN, orange and white garter and the moment it came into view, Shea asked me to fire off Rocky Top. The crowd came un-glued.

The rest of the night was excellent and I was thrilled to play a part.

(Note to self: Don’t setup under the ledges. Pigeons have impeccable aim)

Playlist Used

http://www.rickryan.com/playlist.aspx?s=c:\DJ\-%20Playlists\2011-07-13%20Wedding%20Reception%20-%20War%20Memorial%20-%20Nashville%20TN.m3u
Event Playlist
2011-07-13 Wedding Reception – War Memorial – Nashville TN

Filename Song Artist Year Genre
C:\DJ\James Taylor\How Sweet It Is To Be Loved By You.mp3 How Sweet It Is To Be Loved By You James Taylor 1975 Oldies
C:\DJ\Beyonce\(Disc 2) 03 – Diva.mp3 Diva Beyonce 2008 Pop
C:\DJ\Elvis Presley\The Essential Elvis Presley\(Disc 2) 06 – A Little Less Conversation.mp3 A Little Less Conversation Elvis Presley 2007 Pop
C:\DJ\- Jazz9 ian’s smile.mp3 ian’s smile Dwayne Jones 0 Jazz
C:\DJ\- Jazz2 If You Care.mp3 If You Care Dwayne Jones 0 Jazz
C:\DJ\- Jazz3 afterglow.mp3 afterglow Dwayne Jones 0 Jazz
C:\DJ\- Jazz5 steppin’ out.mp3 steppin’ out Dwayne Jones 0 Jazz
C:\DJ\- Jazz4 any port in a storm.mp3 any port in a storm Dwayne Jones 0 Jazz
C:\DJ\- Jazz\11 one more chance.mp3 one more chance Dwayne Jones 0 Jazz
C:\DJ\- Jazz8 slow turn.mp3 slow turn Dwayne Jones 0 Jazz
C:\DJ\Frank Sinatra1 Come Fly with Me.mp3 Come Fly with Me Frank Sinatra 2008 Vocal
C:\DJ\Frank Sinatra8 – Fly Me To The Moon (In Other Words) (Remastered Album V.mp3 Fly Me To The Moon (In Other Words) (Remastered Album Version) [The Frank Sinatra Collection] Frank Sinatra 2008 Pop
C:\DJ\Michael Bubl?\Moondance.wma
C:\DJ\Michael Bubl?\Sway.mp3
C:\DJ\Nat King Cole1 Unforgetable.mp3 Unforgetable Nat ” 0 Easy Listening
C:\DJ\Nat King Cole7 L-O-V-E.mp3 L-O-V-E Nat ” 0 Easy Listening
C:\DJ\Sara Bareilles\Little Voice\10 – Many the Miles.mp3 Many the Miles Sara Bareilles 2007 Pop
C:\DJ\Taylor Swift3 – Love Story.mp3 Love Story Taylor Swift 2008 Country
C:\DJ\Stevie Wonder7 Isn’t She Lovely.mp3 Isn’t She Lovely Stevie Wonder 1982 Soul And R&B
C:\DJ\James Taylor\Carolina In My Mind.mp3 Carolina In My Mind James Taylor 1993 Pop
C:\DJ\Frank Sinatra9 Summer Wind.mp3 Summer Wind Frank Sinatra 2008 Vocal
C:\DJ\@PrimeCuts\Enrique Iglesias – I Like It [No Rap].mp3 I Like It [No Rap] Enrique Iglesias 2010 Top 40
C:\DJ\Des’ree6 – Im Kissing You.mp3 I’m Kissing You Des’Ree 1998 Pop
C:\DJ\Mikey Graham\Mikey graham Youre My Angel.mp3
C:\DJ\Stevie Wonder7 You Are the Sunshine of My Life [Version].mp3 You Are the Sunshine of My Life [Version] Stevie Wonder 1982 Soul And R&B
C:\DJ\Various Artists\Motown\(Disc 4) 04 – Never Can Say Goodbye.mp3 Never Can Say Goodbye Jackson 5 2008 Pop
C:\DJ\Eagles\31 – Love Will Keep Us Alive (Remastered LP Version).mp3 Love Will Keep Us Alive (Remastered LP Version) Eagles 2007 Rock
C:\DJ\Frank Sinatra\11 Call Me Irresponsible.mp3 Call Me Irresponsible Frank Sinatra 2008 Vocal
C:\DJ\@PrimeCuts\Rascal Flatts – I Won’t Let Go.mp3 I Won’t Let Go Rascal Flatts 2010 Country
C:\DJ\Frank Sinatra4 Luck Be a Lady.mp3 Luck Be a Lady Frank Sinatra 2008 Vocal
C:\DJ\Various Artists\Motown\14 – My Girl.mp3 My Girl Temptations 2008 Pop
C:\DJ\Michael Bubl?\Crazy Little Thing Called Love.wma
C:\DJ\Various Artists\Motown\(Disc 7) 01 – Cruisin’.mp3 Cruisin’ Smokey Robinson 2008 R&B
C:\DJ\Various Artists\Classic Soft Rock2 – Brown Eyed Girl.mp3 Brown Eyed Girl Van Morrison 2008 Rock
C:\DJ\Various Artists\Motown\(Disc 3) 09 – ABC.mp3 ABC Jackson 5 2008 Pop
C:\DJ\Sister Sledge8 – We Are Family.mp3
C:\DJ\Elvis Presley\20 – Can’t Help Falling In Love.mp3 Can’t Help Falling In Love Elvis Presley 2002 Pop
C:\DJ\Bob Marley1 – Is This Love.mp3 Is This Love Bob Marley 2002 International
C:\DJ\Michael Jackson\Billie Jean.mp3 Billie Jean (Single Version) Michael Jackson 1983 Pop
C:\DJ\Etta James\At Last.mp3 At Last Etta James 1999 Blues
C:\DJ\Etta James\A Sunday Kind Of Love.mp3 A Sunday Kind Of Love Etta James 1993 Blues
C:\DJ\Various Artists\Motown\(Disc 06 – All Night Long (All Night).mp3 All Night Long (All Night) Lionel Richie 2008 R&B
C:\DJ\Electric Slide.mp3 Electric Slide Ultimate Party Mix 0 Other
C:\DJ\- Hip-Hop\Cupid\Cupid Shuffle – CLEAN.mp3 Cupid Shuffle Cupid 0 Other
C:\DJ\@PrimeCuts\Taio Cruz – Dynamite.mp3 Dynamite Taio Cruz 2010 Adult Contemporary
C:\DJ\- Hip-Hop\DJ Casper\Cha Cha Slide – CLEAN.mp3 Cha Cha Slide Org Platinum Band 0 Other
C:\DJ\- Hip-Hop\Quad City DJ’s1 – C’mon N’ Ride It (The Train) (LP Version).mp3 C’mon N’ Ride It (The Train) (LP Version) Quad City DJ’s 1996 Rap & Hip-Hop
C:\DJ\Otis Day\Shout.mp3 Shout Various Artists 1999 Children’s Music
C:\DJ\- Hip-Hop\Usher2 – Yeah!.mp3 Yeah! Usher Featuring Lil’ Jon & Ludacris 2004 R&B
C:\DJ\@PrimeCuts\California Swag District – Teach Me How To Dougie.mp3 Teach Me How To Dougie California Swag District 2010 Urban
C:\DJ\Various Artists\NOW 10th Anniversary8 – Hips Don’t Lie.mp3 Hips Don’t Lie Shakira 2008 Pop
C:\DJ\- Hip-Hop\Sir Mix-A-Lot\Baby Got Back.mp3 Baby Got Back (Album Version) Sir Mix A Lot 1992 Pop
C:\DJ\- Hip-Hop\Ole School Players\Tootsie Roll – CLEAN.mp3 Tootsie Roll (Single Version) Old School Players 2007 Pop
C:\DJ\Various Artists\Party Starter- Funk Mix2 Brick House.mp3 Brick House The Commodores 2006 Soul And R&B
C:\DJ\- Kids\Disney9 YMCA.mp3 YMCA Village People 2004 Disco
C:\DJ\Various Artists\Party Starter- Funk Mix4 Super Freak, Pt. 1.mp3 Super Freak, Pt. 1 Rick James 2006 Soul And R&B
C:\DJ\@PrimeCuts\Usher Feat. Pitbull – DJ Got Us Fallin’ In Love.mp3 DJ Got Us Fallin’ In Love Usher Feat. Pitbull 2010 Adult Contemporary
C:\DJ\- Hip-Hop\Mc Hammer2 – U Can’t Touch This – CLEAN.mp3 U Can’t Touch This Mc Hammer 1990 Pop
C:\DJ\Osbourne Brothers\Rocky Top.mp3
C:\DJ\@PrimeCuts\Young Money Feat. Lloyd – Bedrock.mp3 Bedrock Young Money Feat. Lloyd 2009 Top 40
C:\DJ\@PrimeCuts\Katy Perry – Firework.mp3 Firework Katy Perry 2010 Top 40
C:\DJ\- Hip-Hop\Chris Brown\Forever – CLEAN.mp3 Forever Chris Brown 2008 R&B
C:\DJ\- Hip-Hop\Ludacris\Ludacris – How Low [Clean].mp3 How Low [Clean] Ludacris 2009 Top 40
C:\DJ\- Hip-Hop\Snoop Dogg3 – Drop It Like It’s Hot.mp3 Drop It Like It’s Hot Snoop Dogg 2004 Rap & Hip-Hop
C:\DJ\N Sync\Greatest Hits1 – Bye Bye Bye.mp3 Bye Bye Bye N Sync 2005 Pop
C:\DJ\Black Eyed Peas5 – I Gotta Feeling.mp3 I Gotta Feeling Black Eyed Peas 2009 Pop
C:\DJ\@PrimeCuts\Chris Brown – Yeah 3x.mp3 Yeah 3x Chris Brown 2010 Top 40
C:\DJ\@PrimeCuts\Tmp\T.I. – I’m Back.mp3 I’m Back T.I. 2010 Urban

www.RickRyan.com
Nashville Wedding DJ, Uplighting and Photobooth

Jamie & Brian – 5-22-2010 (Springfield, TN)

rickryan — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 20:00:01 +0000

This week’s reception was for Jamie & Brian and was held at the Hampton Inn in Springfield, TN. It was a small, intimate affair and we provided full up-lighting service on it (Diamond Package). Matthew went along as assistant for this event.

The couple told me, in our consultation, that they didn’t expect much dancing but I believe we did manage to get a lot more than they were expecting:

I did have a little mis-hap and stepped off a step-stool wrong, while setting up lighting. I ended up with a pretty nasty sprained ankle but give that “the show much go on” the caterer graciously gave me a bag of ice, which I taped around my ankle and hid under my tux pants. The Jamie’s dad told me later that they had no idea.

Nashville Wedding DJ, Lighting & Video

Katie & Thomas’ wedding (5-15-2010) Birmingham, AL

rickryan — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 19:50:45 +0000

This ceremony and reception (we did both services) was held at LincPoint, over on Oslo Circle in Birmingham. As it ended up I played Wedding Director on this one, giving cues to the bridal party. The ceremony was lovely and went off without a hitch. Afterwards, we moved out to the patio area for drinks while the room was being setup for dinner.

For dinner we provided a nice selection of Sinatra/Buble material and then cranked it up for some party time. It was really nice getting to work “down home” (I’m from a small town near Birmingham) and the couple were just great to work with. Everyone had a great time.

Nashville Wedding DJ, Lighting and Video