Sometimes you can’t just beat a live musical performance. There is something about it that can elevate a feeling or vibe like nothing else can. If, as a bride, you have envisioned walking down the aisle to a certain live music whether it be strings, harp, or something more contemporary we encourage you to follow through with that vision.

As London Ontario and area’s most respected DJ company, we have often been asked to recommend live musicians. Usually for the ceremony or perhaps music during cocktails and/or dinner. We have been always glad to oblige having a large network of musician friends who are all excellent players. In our pursuit, to be a one stop shop for all of our client’s entertainment needs we have finally decided to expand musically and create a live music division. We are in the process of developing a roster of some of the most talented musicians this region has to offer.

London born Don Baker, who has done several hundred weddings as a live musician as well as a DJ, is heading up this venture for Music Central. He is one of this area’s most respected musicians and has worked with the likes of Andrea Bocelli and David Foster.

Don Baker:

Vocals and keyboard/piano.

Other Recommended Live Musicians:

Although Music Central Entertainment has a growing stable of performers as part of our live music division, there are certain aspects musically whose talents we gladly defer to.

Encore Music London (String Quartet)

519-601-0505

http://www.encoremusiclondon.com

MusicalEncore@gmail.com

At Music Central we strongly believe that every event requires a team to make it run smoothly. In the event of a wedding, the bride and groom are part of this team and all the players should be working together with one common goal: a successful event. That is why when planning an event it is so important that you build a strong team and one that work well with each other.

Over the years Music Central has become the most respected DJ service in the London area and are blessed to be recommended by so many of our vendor friends.

We are continually and gradually adding to our list but for now here is a sampling of vendors we enjoy working with:

Live Musicians:

Although Music Central Entertainment has a growing stable of performers as part of our live music division, there are certain aspects musically whose talents we gladly defer to.

Encore Music London (String Quartet)

519-601-0505 http://www.encoremusiclondon.com

MusicalEncore@gmail.com

Officiants:

Kettle Creek Weddings

1-877-407-1744 (Kristen)

email: weddings@kettlecreekweddings.com

http://www.kettlecreekweddings.com/

Photographers:

HRM Photography

http://www.hrmphotography.com/

The Last Forty Percent Photography

http://www.lastfortypercent.com/

Wedding Planners/Consultants:

Preludes Marraige Proposal & Wedding Planning (Joanne Burke)

519-636-3557

joanne@preludes.ca

www.preludes.ca

What a great addition to your party! So much fun and a fantastic new way to entertain your guests. Certainly not a replacement for a professional photographer as our Photo Booth is geared to the entertainment side of things although the pictures are a wonderful keepsake for both you and your guests.

EVENTS:

The Photo Booth is a great addition to any event. Here is a sample of what is possible:
Weddings, Stag and Does, Fundraisers, High School Semi-Formals, High School Proms, School Grads, Corporate Events, Store Openings, Bar Mitzvahs, Bat Mitzvahs, B’Nai Mitzvahs, Birthday Parties, La Quinceanera, Sweet 16, Christmas Parties, Bridal Showers, Engagement Parties and Retirement Parties.

DESCRIPTION:

Our booths are designed by Open Air Photo Booths in California. As the name implies, the booth is designed to be open (no enclosure). The two main positives are that it can be moved based on the number of people in the shot. Up close for intimate shots but can be moved back to take in more people. In most cases you can fit up to 5 or 6 people into the frame. As well, it is always fun for people outside the booth to watch how much fun it is.

If you prefer to have an enclosure based on personal preference or if the event is outside we do have a tent option.

The minimum amount of room we take up is about 6 feet by 6 feet but it is always a good idea to have a little more to allow for the scrapbook table as well as the prop area.

Prints are 4″ x 6″ and are made up of two identical strips. The assistant will cut this print and, in the case of weddings, put one in the scrapbook and give the other to the guest. Copies are available on the fly if needed. The strips are printed instantly normally taking about 30 seconds. Allow a bit more time for printing if it is a green screen. At the time of the sitting your guest has the choice of a colour or a black and white print.

PACKAGES & PRICING:

As part of Music Central Entertainment, we do encourage you to take advantage of both the music (DJ or live) as well as the Photo Booth. We offer a substantial discount (almost 30%) off the booth when booking both. However, we do offer just the Photo Booth on its own.

Weddings:

Our wedding package comes with unlimited pictures, keepsake scrapbook personalized by your guests, picture disc full of all the images ready to share on facebook, an assistant to encourage your guests to dress up as well as to keep things flowing smoothly, customized footer (the place on the bottom of the strip to put your names and wedding date), backdrop with bench and, of course, our most popular collection of a wide variety of props and costumes. Depending on the number of guests, a second assistant may be present to help keep everything flowing. We have found to maximize the fun of the booth that the best times are later after speeches. However, some people to prefer to split the package up and this if possible. There may be an additional charge for the lag time. For our most popular four hour package the 8:30 to 12:30 time frame seems to work the best.

Three Hours – $739.00 with discount ($1049.00 regular price).

Four Hours – $849.00 with discount ($1199.00 regular price). (MOST POPULAR!)

Green Screen Option – $100.00

Party Upload Option (instantly upload images to your guest’s mobile device for posting on facebook etc.) – COMING SOON!

Corporate/Fundraising:

Similar to the wedding package except there is no scrapbook or, in most cases, no picture disc. For fundraisers or stag and does where money per sitting is to be collected we can provide an additional staff member to handle this. If you are a charity, please contact us directly to discuss preferred pricing as this is handled on a case by case scenario.

Three Hours – $669.00 with discount ($949.00 regular price)

Four Hours – $739.00 with discount ($1049.00 regular price)

Please note that prices do not include taxes as well they are just for the photo booth and not a combined price for both the music as well as the booth. For more info on DJ prices please go to http://www.musiccentral.ca/weddings.html.

You Tube Examples:

Girls Having Fun at the London Bridal Expo

Open Air Photo Booth Videos

Samples:

Well it’s official.  After years of planning and dreaming the School of Spin is about to open its doors for business.  Almost 4 years in the making with lots of hurdles, ups and downs and bull headed persistance my vision is about to become reality.  Very cool.  Very scary.

What is it?  It is a one of a kind learning experience.  London’s very first school to promote the enhancement of the art that is DJing.  We do teach the tricks of the trade such as scratching but approach the entire course in a much more broad based fashion.  With a fundamental ethical base we teach our students to respect one another and those that create the music we spin.   We help our students understand music fundamentals, details on equipment and it’s care as well as the basics of beatmatching and blending and so much more.

Future plans include a recording studio to allow for us to teach music production as well as rehearsal space for music lessons on various instruments.  Classes on music appreciation are also planned.  I am probably most excited about our junion division for students in grades 6 to 8 as well as our summer camp.

More details to come along with a bit of history and how I was fortunate enough to cross paths with our head instructor, DJ Ruckus, who shared my vision and passion for this artform.

For more information, visit our site at www.schoolofspin.ca.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank one of our primary supporters, the PA Shop (www.pashop.com).

Why be part of an association?  A good part of it is that I take this thing called DJing seriously.  I care about what we do and want to do whatever we can to do it as professionally as possible.  Music Central is one of the most respected providers of entertainment in the region and want to make sure we do everything we can to maintain the level of confidence our clients and the people in the industry have in us.  I believe being a member, participating as much as possible and most certainly attending as many meetings as I can, gives me a better perspective on the industry in general.  Keeping me up to date with any trends or changes.  It allows me to meet on a regular basis with my colleagues in the business and gives us a chance to talk about the various aspects of the industry.  This is definately one of the key benefits, among many, that come with being part of this group.

What are the benefits to you the consumer to hiring a C.D.J.A. member?  Well to make it easy on myself I will simply cut and paste nine of the advantages below right from their website.  However, to summarize, it really comes down to professionalism.  The annual fee is affordable and the benefits far outway any costs so there really is no reason not to for those that are serious about what they do. 

All CDJA Members:

1. must have Liability Insurance to be a member.
2. must have some form of AVLA Music (copying) Licencing.
3. must provide evidence of equipment back-up or support back-up.
4. Are serviced with a huge support system of educational material for professional development which effect performance for customers’ events.
5. Are supported by a long list of promotional benefits that lessen costs to the DJ and allows the savings to be passed on to customers.
6. Have the strongest Constitution, Code of Ethics, Privacy Policy and Mediation Service in the DJ business scene.
7. Must provide National with a copied proof of their Business Registration.
8. Must provide National with a copy of their Business Contract.
9. Must sign to accept these provisions in order to become a member of the Canadian Disc Jockey Association.

Feel free to check out their website at http://www.cdja.ca/.

When hiring a DJ certainly consider membership in this association as a plus.  Another important thing to consider when hiring a DJ is whether they use legal and licensed music but that can wait for another blog.

For information on this and other aspects of the business feel free to contact us.

  http://www.musiccentral.ca/contactus.html

Thanks,

Rob Aitken

Manager

Music Central Entertainment

Given that we are a service, the H.S.T. is going to come into play in a big way.  Please note that these details are specific to our company and how we have handled our accounting in the past so therefore may not be an accurate representation of other companies practices.  Here is the breakdown:

1. As of July 1st we will be charging 13% (H.S.T.) on all our services versus the 5% we charge now.  This represents the merging of the P.S.T. and G.S.T. on services that were prior to this exempt from the provincial tax.  Just a reminder to our corporate clients that they will be able to use the entire amount as an input tax credit.

2.  IMPORTANT IF YOU WANT TO AVOID THE NEW INCREASE!  If you have not yet booked for an event being held after July 1st, you must do so BEFORE MAY 1st.  That means that a verbal go ahead must be given prior to that date so that the paperwork can be sent out with an April 30th or before date.  As far as a deposit, it can arrive later but we need confirmation prior to May 1st.

3.  If you have not booked yet, but your event is prior to July 2010 then you only have to pay the G.S.T. (5%).

4.  If you have already booked with us for a date after July 1, 2010 and paperwork has been sent out with just the G.S.T. then you will continue to pay just the G.S.T..  An advantage for booking early!  If you have yet to send your deposit in please do so as soon as possible to make things official.

When I originally heard the Ontario governments plans to implement this harmonization I was concerned.  The Disc Jockey business has and always will have a large ’cottage industry’ componant to it.  There are alot of legitimate single operators who because they may make under the $30,000 in annual business revenue do not have to apply for this.  And there are also alot of not so legitamate people as well (another blog for another time).    I had a very frank discussion regarding this with the Revenue Canada people and they are aware that this may escalate the underground economy even further.  We will counter this by continuing to provide an excellent service and striving to give more than required (the extra 10% as I like to tell the team).  We will continue to explain the advantages of working with a multi-op company.  And, there maybe, for a period of time, an offer, some kind of discount, to soften the blow of the increase.  We are still giving this serious thought and will be sure to let you know by May, though just a heads up, that the advantage will still be to book prior to May 1st.

Hope that clears things up at least as far as our part with the new harmonized tax.  As always feel free to contact us with any questions.

Here are a few links to check out:

Preparing for the HST – What You Need to Know Checklist

cra-arc.gc.ca/harmonization

ontario.ca/taxchange

http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/gncy/hrmnztn/on/menu-eng.html

Thanks,

Rob

Manager

Questions?
feedback.rev@ontario.ca or call 1 866 ONT-TAXS (1 866 668-8297)

Well, it was suggested that I try my hand at blogging, so I figure, what better way to start then at the start? Not many people know this, but Music Central started out as a Karaoke business called ‘Jukebox DJ & Karaoke Service…

The first pro gig – 1983

Officially, it began with my very first ‘professional’ gig on December 9, 1983.  I remember this only because it happened to be my birthday.  A school dance at Westminster Secondary School, my alma mater.  Back then the company was called Jukebox DJ Service which once we began pursuing the karaoke market more heavily became Jukebox DJ & Karaoke Service.  We started small but gradually picked up more and more business.  Word of mouth started to spread until we expanded to become a 3-unit operation as well as picking up some steady bar business.

A few blasts from the past…

In 1998, I proposed to a friend and fellow DJ, Dave Smiley, owner of Smiley Music Services, who had also started in the early 80s, that we merge to become Music Central Entertainment.  The name originated from the idea that music is at the core, or in other words central, to what we do.  In 2003, Dave wanted to slow down on the DJ side and we agreed amicably that I would take full control of the company.  About that same time I decided to devote my energies to developing and growing the company on a full time basis.  We now enjoy a reputation for being leading providers of entertainment in the greater London Ontario region.  Our newest ventures include expanding our karaoke division, Star Of The Bar Karaoke as well as creating our centre for DJ training and music appreciation called School Of Spin.  I am very proud of our ever growing team and we hope to be providing excellent service for years to come.

Are you still doing that DJ thing?

Funny, but I run into friends from my past who always ask ’so you still doing that DJ thing’.  I can’t blame them as I think that one of these days I should get a real job and then I give my head a shake and think this is just too cool a career to ever give up and why would I think  that I wasn’t anything but blessed to have developed a skill that allows me to bring people such enjoyment on a weekly basis.  And so, I continue happily spinning away.

The Great Pumpkin Man

Not to get into too many details but there are three specific people, parents, who have always been very supportive, not withstanding, that I specifically need to thank for my start. My older brother Jim, who allowed me to immerse myself in his record collection when I was very young, as well as Nick D’Avirro and Rob Menegoni both high school friends who took me under their wing and showed me the ropes.  I remember my very first night helping them out was a Halloween Party and I dressed up as the Great Pumpkin Man with this huge jack o lantern on my head and a cape.  I would go out and dance and the crowd loved it.  I was hooked!

At the same time as I was starting my DJ career I was continuing my pursuit of music, playing bass in several bands as well taking Music Industry Arts (Record Production) at Fanshawe.  During this time I picked up a few bar gigs including Dillinger’s and the Wellington Tavern.  I loved Saturdays at The Well as I would take over right after the Dixie Flyers, a famous London bluegrass band, playing some more bluegrass/country music slowly moving from rockabilly and blues then to the 50s & 60s and then into classic rock which would lead into the house band Wrif Wraf.  The constant work at both those places and the exposure to different styles was essential in what I call building up my DJ chops.  My first few weddings were very nerve racking.  I had only been to two or three weddings in my entire life certainly never as a DJ or had any training in this type of function.  To say I was green would have been a serious understatement.  However, the couples were great and everything turned out okay.

600 weddings…

With over 600 weddings and hundreds of other events now under my belt I haven’t looked back since.  Although I have done everything under the sun from karaoke host to mitzvahs, I’ve come to realize that weddings is what I really love to do.  To execute efficiently a couple’s wishes and make that part of their day everything they had wanted and more is truly a rewarding experience.  If you would have asked me twenty years ago if I would still be doing this I would have thought you were crazy and yet here I am still making memories one song at a time.