Cast Party
by the other Steve Wozniak reprinted from www.asoundinvestment.com

Home Sweet Home!
It's really an honor when a previous Client contacts me to entertain at a second event...

And it's an even higher honor when a Client invites me back six... nine... twelve times...

But the icing on the cake for me personally is when that same Client is willing to fly me from Indiana to northern California to entertain in his house for his most important social event of the year before 500-guests! Now that's VERY cool!!!
This was the background leading to an actor's cast party that I entertained at the estate of one of the most legendary individuals in the Silicon Valley computer industry. Since I store a professional DJ sound system in the San Francisco/Bay Area just for occasions such as this, logistically it was no problem to have the necessary music equipment available to entertain at a moment's notice.
I arrived in the San Francisco/Bay Area the Wednesday before the gala event... and it's a good thing that I did! From the time I arrived until the day after the party, I was busy nearly 24/7 helping with party preparations for both the party host and myself. I suggested several entertainers and a professional videographer company who were contracted, helped develop the event's timeline, secured some of the prizes, assisted in the purchase of a few party-related items, and created customized music video and karaoke songlists that were designed specifically for this event. Whew!

Clearly, the easiest part of the event for me was providing my actual entertainment on party day! And for those unfortunate invited guests who were unable to attend the celebration... no problem... the party was broadcast live on the internet... from a number of different rooms! Talk about high-tech!!!
Saturday party guests began arriving at noon. As they entered the front door, they were greeted by a lively three-piece Dixieland band. While the band provided two-hours of happy tunes, guests were able to visit various areas at the estate that included an indoor/outdoor swimming pool and over 50 professional arcade games. Three special areas of the house were initially filled with thousands of balloons, several which had cards inside that awarded valuable prizes!

Following the band and balloon popping, I began my first of three entertainment sessions. This included projecting DVD music videos onto a six-by-eight-foot screen in the living room which was the party's formal entertainment area. Later, I invited guests to participate in karaoke sing-a-longs that were also projected onto the screen. This was followed by a professional puppeteer who mesmerized guests with his one-hour show. Afterwards, I then began my second set with a number of prize-winning games that included a hot potato contest (substituting Tower Record gift certificates), hula-hoop competitions, an Elvis impersonation segment, and various dance contests.

Dinner time was next as I invited guests to go outdoors to a Texas-style barbecue. With the guests outside, the evening's entertainers (two comedy magicians, a mime, a ball-bounce floor-piano player, and a hypnotist) made preparations to use portions of my sound system during their performances. After dinner was completed, guests returned to the living room to enjoy the three-hours of Las Vegas quality entertainment that these professionals provided!
To begin my third and final set, I started with a series of quick contests to award the remaining prizes. Afterwards, I once again projected music videos onto the big screen while guests danced until midnight. Many people were disappointed when I informed them on my microphone that the 12-hour party was over... they were ready for more!

"You're the one!" the party host wrote to me in one of a series of emails. "We love to have you here. You do a great job of keeping things moving. I look forward seeing you at next year's party!"

His personal assistant agreed. "We decided early on that we needed you for the cast party. People really enjoyed the music videos and karaoke that you projected onto the big screen, and all of the games that you organized. Thank you for all of your help... before, during, and after the party!"

One of the guests echoed these same sentiments. "This party was so great that I feel honored to just have been invited to attend! Everyone, including yourself, did such a fantastic job that I'll never forget it!"

This Steve Wozniak is a DJ who owns and operates
A Sound Investment Mobile DJ, Inc.
He can be reached at www.asoundinvestment.com
PO Box 1808, Elkhart, IN 46515-1808
Phone: 219-294-4700
Fax: 219-294-4744