Marcello trains with Peter Merry, the author of The Best Wedding Reception... Ever!

How does an award winning entertainment and event production company stay on top of the latest industry trends and continue to offer their clients a fun, unique and memorable experience for their once in a lifetime celebration? Simple.  They put in a lot of time and effort when it comes to continuing education.

Case in point, Peter Merry, the author of the new wedding bible, The Best Wedding Reception… Ever!, was in town to deliver his Professional Process curriculum.  My hand still hurts from taking so many notes.

Peter is considered one of the top Master of Ceremonies in the business. When my wife and I got married five years ago, we flew him in from California to make sure our event was elegant, yet festive and that our guests attended a “celebration with style.”  And boy did he deliver.  Since then, Peter and I have remained good friends- and fortunately for my clients, Peter has been a non-stop source of extraordinary ideas to implement into MMP’s social and corporate events when the need arises.

The Best Wedding Reception... Ever!

Peter is also the President of the Wedding Entertainment Directors Guild, an elite group of 20 entertainment professionals from the U.S and Canada who specialize in wedding receptions. I’m proud to be the only member from the tri-state area who qualified.  It was a rigorous application process which took over 3 months to complete.   My acceptance and current membership helps MMP’s discerning clientele distinguish our level of service and talent from all the other available alternatives- and to justify the significant difference in investment; Peter’s hands-on guidance and educational content has proven to be a priceless source of validation to this end.

I look forward to introducing all of the advanced level techniques I learned regarding entertainment, decor,  hospitality and event production concepts at our upcoming design sessions and celebrations.

It’s funny, The Professional Process made me feel like Luke Skywalker hangin’ with Yoda for two days of Jedi training.

“There are plenty of DJ Entertainment companies out there.  They all play music and they all make announcements…  but with dramatically different results.” – Peter Merry

You be the judge.  At your convenience, compare this, or this, to that.

(from Left) Dan Epstein, Maurico Lemonk, Camila Otero, Javier Seclen, Ellen Quentzel, Kurby Brown, Eric Kazmirek, Karen Farber, Artie Pellarano, David Patiño, Kerry Pratzon, Eileen Noelle, Joshua Lipnick (front) Carolina Wahnish Rivera, Wendy Robinson and John Peters

I was invited to join Mallus Award winning photographer, Wendy Robinson, and notable colleagues last night at her West Orange studio.  For those who frequent our blog, you’ll recognize Wendy’s name and her business partner, David Patiño, from our recent collaboration at the Park Avenue Club. We are also the preferred vendor at several of the same New Jersey venues like the newly renovated Orange Lawn Tennis Club.

Mauricio Lemonk was also in attendance; he and I have teamed up on many occasions including this memorable event at the Grand Summit Hotel that was featured on the MMP blog last summer.

Whenever I mention photographers in our event recaps,  I always stress how having a great personality is just as important as their artistic ability.  The tri-state area is home to some of the best photographers in the industry so finding one who will capture your significant moments with deftness is the easy part; it’s finding a skillful professional that knows how to put the subjects at ease, be unobtrusive and make great conversation throughout a session that makes the search so challenging.

Wendy Robinson and Marcello Pedalino

Last night, Wendy assembled an eclectic group of seasoned aficionados that fit the bill.    In addition to the expected exchange of pleasantries, networking and business idea nuggets,  light-hearted conversation topics included: the World Cup, Costa Rica, quitting smoking, the BP fiasco, the under-appreciated pleasure of a short commute to work, what it is really like to be a teacher in NJ, giving up Burger King and McDonalds cold turkey (that was mine) and the awesomeness of Pandora Radio on your smart phone.

In my opinion, a great photographer, like any highly sought-after professional, needs to be able to simultaneously do their job and make their clients and guests feel comfortable. The vibes last night were definitely indicative of these qualifications.   As far as their individual talents go, check out some of their sample portfolios online and judge for yourself.

Dan Epstein, Maurico Lemonk, Camila Otero, Javier Seclen,  Eric Kazmirek, Karen Farber, David Patiño, Kerry Pratzon, Eileen Noelle, Joshua Lipnick, Carolina Wahnish Rivera, Wendy Robinson and John Peters (Photo Lab).

Special thanks to Wendy for the invitation and her hospitality.   She’s opening a sister office in Morristown with David and Joshua Lipnick that promises to be as  prosperous as their West Orange location.

I wish you all continued health, happiness and success and look forward to our next collaboration.

A Special Events Dynamic Duo: Michael Cerbelli of the S.E.A.R.C.H Foundation and Jackie Bernstein of Empire Force

Congratulations to my good friend, Michael Cerbelli, who was honored at this evening’s inaugural Garden State Gala.  He was referred to as the Michael Jordan of the Special Events industry by the gala’s Emcee… for those that know him, that’s a pretty accurate description.

The dinner reception was held at The Estate at Florentine Gardens.  The ISES New Jersey North Chapter recognized industry notables who have recently produced exceptional events and who have dedicated themselves to the betterment of the production craft.  A diamond auction took place throughout the affair to raise money for Michael’s S.E.A.R.C.H Foundation.

Also featured in the photo is my good friend Jackie Bernstein, who was just inducted into the Event Solutions Magazine Hall of Fame; she is the youngest producer in the business to be included in this elite group of professionals. Brooklyn was definitely in the house!  Continued success to you both.  -mp

Michael Buble

In the mobile entertainment industry, my good friend, Jim Cerone, is known as the Perfect Host.   In the contemporary pop-jazz category that features old-school romance and classic performances  like Sinatra and the rat pack used to bring to the table, Michael Buble is as close to perfection as they come.

I know a lot of talented emcees, but I’m not sure if any of them could make 15,000 people feel like they were sitting in the front row at the Copacabana with such poise and savior-fair.  Did I mention that Michael can accomplish this without a microphone too?  (If you’ve never been to a MB show, Buble always performs one track…un-plugged-acapella.   I wouldn’t believe it either if I hadn’t seen him do it at three concerts.)

As always, Michael mixed in just the right amount of newer releases like Everything and Haven’t Met You Yet with his modernized versions of classics like Georgia and Heartache Tonight.   What everyone will be talking about today though will be his heartfelt impromptu shout-out to his grandfather who was in the audience and his mini-Michael Jackson tribute. The band ripped into Billie Jean to the delight of the crowd and Buble almost brought the house down when he did the moonwalk after singing the first chorus.

I’d like to welcome Danielle, Joanna & Luigi to the MMP family.  They sat behind us and were the perfect fans.   They were reading all of Buble’s Wikipedia stats on their iPhones before the show started, (“did you know he was Italian and that his middle same was Steven?”) and knew almost every word to every song.   They also joined our little dance party when Michael did his homage to Ferris Bueller and sang Twist and Shout! The whole stadium, (except for about 18 party poopers who refused to get their butts up off their seats, smile and enjoy life for a few minutes) was up and dancing the night away.  What a moment!

MB

When Michael Buble told us “it’s just a party for 15,000 people and you’re invited” after the first set… we believed him.

I know we’ve got readers from all over the country so check out the Crazy Love Tour dates and treat yourself to a night of what Andy Ebon and James Cameron might consider perfection, you deserve it. Special thanks to our good friends, Mike and Kelly, for treating us last night. And it was a pleasure catching up with Dominick and getting to know his girlfriend, Sarina… best wishes with your nursing career.

P.s   Kudos to Mike who got up and ran the NYC half marathon in 1:45:18 this morning.   At dinner last night, Kelly joked that Mike only scans the first section of lengthy e-mails and articles- so he probably won’t even see this.

Chic, comfortable and affordable couture at FlirtyFinds.com

I had no idea how popular Big Buddha’s were until I interviewed Jamie Hoff and Beth Roy; former executives at Ralph Lauren and Tiffany & Co. respectively.   Truth be told, I had no idea that a Big Buddha was actually a handbag.

Being blessed with a stylistic je ne sais quoi is just one of the many reasons why Jamie and Beth own and operate a successful fashion-forward enterprise called Flirty Finds; a Bergen County, NJ based online company that offers chic couture, accessories and style advice to internet savvy tweens and women all over the country.

What sets the Flirty duo apart from all of the retailers and department stores is their expert ability to sift through the abundance of fashion fails being offered out there and hand-pick what is going to make you look great, feel good and not break the bank; a true fashionista trifecta.

So, if you can’t get to Milan, New York City, Tokyo, Rome or Paris anytime soon and you want to see what you should be wearing this season; just grab your credit card and visit flirtyfinds.com from the comfort of your own home.

Flirty owners, Beth Roy and Jamie Hoff

*I asked Beth to share some of Flirty’s thoughts on e-commerce, life balance, customer service, fashion trends and what they’ve been up to lately; this is what she had to say…

How has your business changed since its inception?

“We came to this business partnership after 20 years of friendship, and had many years of business experience between us. When we launched our website almost 2 years ago, we were both brand new at e-commerce, and we have learned so much from the experience.  From the technology, to the marketing to buying and selling our products – we’ve been able to fine-tune our focus and strategies based on what works and what our customers want. We’ve evolved from a website with an email list basically consisting of our friends and family, to a strong, developing brand — we were even mentioned in People Stylewatch this month.”

Do you have any tips for other moms who are raising a family and running a business?

“The biggest challenge we’ve encountered has been not letting the business and our laptops intrude on our family lives too much. We love what we do so much, that if we could, I fear we would both work on the business around the clock. We both chose when we had kids to be home for them, and this business allows us to do that.  The challenge is limiting our work time so that our families remain the top priority.  Finding that balance is a challenge that we both work on every day.”

What is the hottest product for this season?

A Big Buddha Bag, The "Bella"

“The Big Buddha bag (the “bella” bag in blue) and it has been our hottest seller to date.  Bags and accessories in sorbet colors such as aqua, pink and yellow are the hot trends for spring.”

Are there any trends that you see on the horizon?

“Women are learning how to stretch their clothing budgets by buying the basic foundations, and using accessories to liven up and add interest to their looks.  You don’t have to spend a lot of money to create a look that is fresh, trendy and polished.”

What was the best business advice you ever got?

‘We both agree that the best advice we ever received was to do something you like and you will be successful.  Also, always stay focused on the customer and find ways to make their life easier.  Oh, and of course, the customer is always right.”

Who inspires you?

“Jamie is inspired by her husband, Mark and author/speaker Joel Osteen who both give great advice on controlling your own destiny.  I’m inspired by my girlfriends, including Jamie, many of whom are mom entrepreneurs too, and who provide endless support, inspiration and ideas.”

What are you reading?

“I’m reading Crush It by Gary Vaynerchuk.  A great book on leveraging the power of the social media to build your brand.  Jamie is currently reading The Help, one of my favorites.”

The IsABelt

Which product has made your personal life easier?

“One of our products, the IsABelt, (an invisible belt) is one of those products that is so simple, yet so effective. Jamie loves her iphone and the Keurig Coffee Maker is one of my favorite inventions of all time.”

What are you listening to?

“I’m a political junkie so it’s talk radio for me and Jamie is a fan of the The Black Eyed Peas.”

What are you watching?

“Parenthood & Modern Family; the two best shows to come around in a long time.”

What are you surfing?

“Budget Fashionista, YouLookFab, Momgenerations and  StyleBakery.”

*Thank you for your time ladies, I wish you continued success and all of the health and happiness that life has to offer.

If you are a fan of Rice Crispies, Fruit Roll Ups, Gummy Fish, Marshmallows, Chocolate Chips, and any other sugar-rush-inducing treat that is sinful and choppable, you’re going to love Candy Sushi.

The Candy Sushi station presentation has a fun, yet elegant vibe; complete with a Geisha-styled server, Japanese folding screens and several ornate decorative pieces to add to the exotic ambiance.

People are always asking for me for new ideas and for the latest trends in event planning… 

For a unique dessert alternative or a visually stimulating addition to the traditional post- meal fare for both kids and adults, I’d tell you to give me a call and to get your chopsticks ready for some Candy Sushi.

You will be saying “Domo Arigato Mr. Marcello” before you know it.

Performance Beyond Expectation. Lulu Publishing, 2010 $24.95 US

Ray Martinez’ latest literary effort, Performance Beyond Expectation, made its official debut at the Mobile Beat Convention in Las Vegas last week.  It’s a collection of success stories, anecdotes, great quotes and basic life principles. My company’s  chapter features our philosophy on the importance of image, technology, fitness, the evolution of the Mobile DJ industry, and life balance.

To be included in a book that highlights some of  my mentors and entrepreneurial inspirations  is an honor.  Then again, anytime you are featured in a book, magazine, newspaper or online and people are saying nice things about you as opposed to the alternative.. it’s a good thing.

Thanks again Ray.

The following is a blog-friendly excerpt of MMP Entertainment’s chapter.

MMP Entertainment's Executive Director, Marcello Pedalino

Marcello Pedalino

“Know,  first, who your are, and then adorn yourself accordingly.” -Epictetus

Credits: Featured speaker at the Disc Jockey News Conference in Dallas, Texas, 2006, the NJDJN National Meeting in Atlantic City, New Jersey, 2008, and the DJ Retreat in Nashville, Tennessee, 2009.

Awards: DJ Times Magazine “DJ of the Year” award winner, 2001, 2002 and 2007.  American Disc Jockey Association “Leadership Award” recipient, 2008.

Marcello Pedalino is known in our industry as the sharpest dressed man.  He is no doubt Mr. GQ; but behind this sharp dressed man, is a man of success with a very high-end entertainment company.

When asked how he got interested in becoming a mobile entertainer, Marcello responded, “I remember attending my cousin’s wedding in the mid 80’s.  The band they had was good- but not good enough to keep me on the dance floor all night.  I wandered outside and into another reception that was taking place at the same venue and saw something I’ll never forget.  It was John Murphy, from Star DJ’s, leading a huge conga line.  Everybody was dancing and the bride and groom were having a blast; the positive energy was intoxicating.  When I found out how much he was getting paid, I knew this was a career that had some potential.”

I further questioned him about his passion and the monetary awards; if he did it because he was passionate about entertainment or just an easy way to make money.

Pedalino replied, “I’m passionate about making people happy, I’m detail oriented, I have an entrepreneurial spirit, and I’ve always loved music; it was an organic path that led me here.  The money was like a cherry on top.”

He was then asked to describe his work ethic and how it has helped him become a successful entertainer and entrepreneur.

“For better or worse, it’s been an all or nothing philosophy.   If I’m determined and motivated for all the  right reasons,  I will skip lunch and the proverbial 5 o’clock whistle until the task at hand is completed and operational.  There are many times when I’ll mimic getting up from my chair like those professional poker players do when there’s a big pot  and they have to commit everything have; when I put my mind to something, I’ll get in the zone and say, “All In!” From that point on, it’s game on. When a person is comfortable being in this mindset, they tend to out-perform individuals who aren’t as motivated or who don’t have as much on the line.  The foundation of my work ethic is also based in Jimmy Valvano’s famous speech in which he said, “Don’t give up, don’t ever give up.“  That had a big effect on my psyche at the time and has had a significant impact on the success I’ve earned since.”

Marcello on fitness: "It's easier to stay in shape than it is to get into shape."

Those who know Marcello, know he’s an avid fitness buff. At most trade shows when other DJs are out until three or four in the morning, Marcello gets a good night’s rest and is up at the crack of dawn getting ready to run.  I asked him to tell me the differences between his workout training and his DJ training.

He said, “I consider my physical fitness a necessary layer of my professional training. I physically train with a group of friends at my YMCA who understand the importance of motivation and the concept that it’s easier to stay in shape than it is to get into shape.  I professionally train with a group of industry colleagues who respect the fact that complacency is the enemy of progress. Both factions are refreshingly unapologetic when it comes to prioritizing a training regimen- regardless of the occupation.”

I mentioned a moment ago about how sharply dressed Marcello is all the time.  I asked him to  share his thoughts on dressing for success and making an impression on clients as well as how it can turn into more money for the DJ, based on presentation.

“As an owner operator in the entertainment business, my company’s success depends on my appearance and well being.  I am the product, the brand, the vice president of sales and the human resources director who establishes my company’s first impression to almost all of our potential clients. If I don’t look good, I don’t feel good, if I don’t feel good, I don’t perform well, if I don’t perform well, I’m out of business.

Marcello on style: "Dress how you feel."

I’ve been in enough situations where dressing better than my equally talented competition resulted in me signing the contract to justify the few extra minutes it takes to dress for the occasion.

I also read a phrase in GQ a long time ago that stuck with me, “dress how you feel.”  It’s funny, people will sometimes say to me, “you look like a million bucks,” to which I reply, “I feel like a million bucks.”  When it’s time to do business, I reach for my Canali suits and Zegna ties.  When it’s time to chill at the condo in Costa Rica, I grab my shorts and flip flops.”

Marcello was asked how things were when he broke into the business as  a DJ and to explain the difference on the trade shows and the DJ’s approach to their work today compared to when he started.

He remarked, “I don’t see much of a principle change per se.  There were people who I met at my first show back in 1998 who were really helpful, who exuded passion and who were setting a great example.  And then there were people I met who, well let’s just say, they didn’t fit the same profile.  It’s very similar today.  You need to be open-minded but you’ve also got to be very selective when it comes to choosing your sources of inspiration.  I’m always trying weed out all of the negative influences. I like how Bryan Dodge calls them “bad seeds.”  I’m a firm believer that you are who you surround yourself with.”

Marcello’s opinion on whether technology has helped or hurt our industry was, “I can’t think of any way that technology  has hurt our industry. With programs like PCDJ and Virtual DJ, my performances have become more efficient with regards to preparation and more entertaining with regards to presentation.  The ability to adapt is essential for any industry. I think technology has helped our industry remain generationally relevant in the eyes of savvy prospects.”

What advice would he give to DJs just starting out regardless of their age or to guys who were once DJs in high school or college and decided to return to the industry?

His response was, “Follow your heart, but don’t ignore reality.  If you think this is your calling, go for it.  However, being in the right place at the right time usually requires the willingness to travel.  The key is to find a location and a demographic that will support your quest.”

Finally, I asked this extremely likable colleague what message would he share with part-time DJs doing this as just a hobby to make extra money, or who might be considering making this a full time profession.

NJDJN awards (from left) Ray Martinez, Jake Jacobsen, Randi Rae, Dr. Drax and Marcello Pedalino

“Like anything else in life, every so often, stop, take a breath and reevaluate your situation carefully. I’ve got a very good friend who has an excellent job with enviable benefits.  I’d tell your readers what I told him 8 years ago when he asked if he should become a full-time mobile entertainer.    After careful consideration of his specific wants and needs, I told him there’s no reason why he couldn’t have the best of both worlds.  With the right time management skills and the ability to choose your events wisely, you can continue with your current vocation and build an ancillary career at the same time.  He’s in a very good position in his life right now and I’m very happy for him.”

Words spoken wisely from a young man who knows what success is and is willing to pass on his wisdom to others who seek the same.

Hardy creates an original piece of art by capturing the entire scope of the festivities.

So you’ve got a great photographer and videographer to capture all of the special moments of your event, you’re all set right?  Martin Hardy, an uber-talented artist and I, might disagree.

In addition to the aforementioned professionals, Martin can compliment your ‘for posterity sake’ pallet with his ability to create a visual canvas of memories live at your event.  The end result is a one of kind, priceless work of art that you and your family can enjoy forever.

Over the past year, I’ve heard enough buzz in the industry about this special feature and Hardy’s work specifically, that it was time to share it with my readers.   I’m always being asked, “How can we make our event fun, unique and memorable?”  Having a professional artist discreetly transform your entire event into a single, all inclusive portrait would definitely fall under those categories.

Check out the time-elapsed video demonstration of “The Party Painter” below. Enjoy!

Performance Beyond Expectation Cover

I’m honored and flattered to be featured in Ray Martinez‘ new book release, “Performance Beyond Expectation.”

Martinez is a mobile industry hall of fame inductee and award winning entertainer.

Ray’s book will highlight successful entrepreneurs and inspirational anecdotes from his extensive travels and career. I offered my insights on the special events industry over the past 20 years,  my opinions on the importance of physical fitness as an entertainer and my thoughts about making life balance a priority.

The book’s release date has been tentatively set for February, 2010.

Thank you including me in your latest literary effort Ray.  I wish you continued health, happiness and success!