660 Years of Warmth, Wit and Wisdom

When you put together an eclectic mix of people that includes a pediatric neurologist, former teacher, martial arts instructor, fly fisherman, golf course superintendent and various executives from the corporate world and motion picture industry, the conversation is destined to be filled with golden nuggets of life lessons learned. 

My dear friends, Norma and Ken Kahn, always make me feel like I’m part of the family when I’m traveling through Central America.  At their lovely home, over-looking the sun-kissed ocean yesterday, we had a delightful lunch gathering.  I’ve come to the conclusion that I prefer to hang around people that actually talk to each other instead of send texts and facebook messages all day. 

I’m far from being anti-technology, but the current anti-social trend is a bit alarming for those of us who enjoy a good eye to eye exchange of thoughts and laughter.  That’s why lunch was so enjoyable. 

Sometimes you take for granted the amount of experience, intelligence and entertaining interactions that are right in front of you.   Today, I made sure that wasn’t the case and just soaked it all in. 

Out of curiosity, I asked how old everyone was… some were twice my age.  All together, I was surrounded by 660 years of life.  That’s a lot to celebrate.   -mp

Sharpen the Saw with a Fun Game and Some Global Photography- Marcello Recommends: Norma’s Blooms

With two nieces under ten and a very competitive family, I’m always looking for a new game to bring to the next holiday get-together or special dinner for some spirited interaction.  As a professional event producer and Bar Mitzvah host,  I’m always  looking for something different to keep the young-adult guests entertained and out of trouble during cocktail hour.   Well, sometimes I have to travel a bit further than the local mall or get off the internet to find it.

On a recent excursion to the pacific coast of Costa Rica, I had dinner with my dear friend, Dr. Norma Kahn.  She showed me her brand-new spin on the classic game, Concentration, called Norma’s Blooms.   Kahn, an abstract painter and educator,  has a passion for photographing flowers from around the world as she and her husband, Ken, travel the globe.  She chose the top 30 images from her exclusive collection and created a customized version of concentration that fits in your pocket, sets up in seconds, is fun to play and… is beautiful to look at!

In case you’ve never played before;

 

There are 30 sets of each photo.  Mix the cards and place face down in rows.  Each player, in turn, turns 2 cards over and replaces them face down if they do not match.  The object of the game is to remember where the particular flower is so that you can make a match.  When you have a pair, place it in front of you.  If you make a match, you get another turn.  Whoever has the most matches when there are no cards left… wins!

Norma’s Blooms can be played individually for pure enjoyment, against the clock to sharpen the saw, or against other players and teams for some friendly competition.   Speaking of friendly competition, the first 3 readers to correctly identify all five of Norma’s Blooms that are featured in this article by January 20, 2011, will win a free set!

Reply to this entry or our facebook page with your answers.  Have fun and good luck!  

Norma’s Blooms is available for $15, plus delivery.

Orders can be placed directly with Norma via  e-mail at kahnk@gmail.com or by phone, (506)2-643-1896.

MMP Entertainment will also be happy to assist with your order.  mmp@mmpentertainment.com or (732)-547-1677

Pura Vida!  -mp

Encore Gallery:

A Functional Hybrid- Marcello Recommends: The Response by Adidas

Maybe I got lucky, but the young salesman from Dick’s Sporting Goods actually knew what he was talking about and recommended a great sneaker. Did I mention that he was also friendly and not texting his girlfriend during the sale? Like Whitney, I still believe that children are the future and as scary as that notion seems sometimes; we just might be ok.

I told Justin what I wanted… “a sneaker that could handle about 15 miles per week and be worn on the road and the trail… It should also be able to be worn as a cross trainer for my circuit training workouts.” Without hesitation, he showed me the The Response by Adidas and said this is just what you’re looking for. He read about the sneaker in Runner’s World and already had two pair himself.

After six months of workouts and epic mileage in the mountains of Costa Rica, on  the strip in Las Vegas and all over the local country roads of Sussex County, NJ; it’s safe to say that this is one of the most versatile and comfortable pair of sneakers I’ve owned.

p.s Don’t forget the stylistically-hip and functional “no show” socks.

Old school white tubes will seriously throw off your mojo unless you’re going for the Dr. “J” retro vibe.

Have a great workout! -mp

The Happiest Place On Earth: Costa Rica

It’s official!  Costa Rica is the happiest place on earth!  Even CNN said so this morning.     If you like nice people, the sun, the surf, outdoor sports or just a good book with your toes in the sand… I’ll see you next winter.  Pura Vida!

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/living/2010/05/19/pkg.elam.happy.locations.cnn

Marcello’s Business Philosophy and Life Principles Get Published In”Performance Beyond Expectation”

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.

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.”

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.

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.

“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.

« Previous Page — Next Page »