DJ Richard Mills

A few months ago I was fortunate enough to purchase an extremely compact data/video projector for an extremely reasonable price. I had the intention of using it to play video footage that I occasionally get asked to present at my client’s events. Read the rest of this entry »

The recent acquisition of a Honda EU10i portable inverter generator was a long-time coming. For years I’d wanted to have a generator so that I had the ability to provide beautiful sound virtually anywhere that my clients required it, Read the rest of this entry »

I read this recently and thought it sounded like a HUGE, yet amusing challenge for the Groom-to-be and his entourage:

Stag will be wearing a full wedding dress with a veil all day Read the rest of this entry »

It’s a sad fact of my industry that there are many operators who don’t seem to place much importance on the appearance of their equipment relative to the celebration and the venue. I attend weddings all over the country (and a few overseas) and I see how much effort Read the rest of this entry »

Will your DJ have back-up equipment in case of an emergency?

Even professional equipment can fail on occasion, so it is important to know whether your DJ has extra components, or hopefully another entire sound system available to them. Often only the top-end professional DJs invest the extra money to ensure that everything works on your event date and backup systems are in place. Read the rest of this entry »

The purchase of a new Honda EU10i portable inverter generator (known in America as the Honda EU1000i) now offers the ability for me to supply music and announcements virtually anywhere. Read the rest of this entry »

Many of you will have seen this already, but it’s such a fun clip that I thought I’d link it for your enjoyment once more. I do love it when couples put some preparation into creating something fun and memorable for their reception. Enjoy!
Read the rest of this entry »

On the evening of Friday 6th November I was the Master of Ceremonies for the auspicious Hutt Valley Business Excellence Awards. These awards recognise Read the rest of this entry »

The Corporate Events Guide People’s Choice Awards honour New Zealand companies that have excelled in their field of expertise over the last 12 months. Now in their fourth year, the Corporate Events Guide People’s Choice Awards Read the rest of this entry »

In a recent news story I read how in Australia, Austereo radio listeners will be able to control what is being played on air in real time and even nix bad song choices as they are playing in a radical new experiment that blends online and traditional broadcasts. Read the rest of this entry »

Ever doubted just how important the right song at the right time is? In this prime example, see how Beyonce’s sassy video and choreography is wickedly and amusingly made to look very, very different, simply by changing the song….

I’m sitting in a 737 waiting to take me to Auckland. It’s already been a big day, as I worked last night until 1am at the Turoa Ski Lodge in Ohakune, which was a three hour drive from Wellington airport.

I’m to be the Master of Ceremonies for the two bridal fashion parades and I’m looking forward to it very much. Lisa runs a great wedding expo and it will be a huge day. I’m planning to offer a few nuggets for brides attending to help with the planning of their big day. Should be fun!

I’ll be flying back home this evening for some much-needed catch up sleep!

What kind of equipment do they use & what is their technical expertise?

Determine if the DJ uses today’s professional technology. You are paying money for a professional and they should have modern, well maintained, quality equipment and know Read the rest of this entry »

Here’s a tip for you to help with planning your wedding ceremony, whether it’s in a church, marquee or garden. Signing the wedding register in New Zealand (unless it’s been partly completed in advance) usually takes 5 minutes or more. That’s Read the rest of this entry »

It came to my attention recently that there is a DJ operating in the lower North Island who has a conviction (and spent time in prison) for an abhorrent indecent assault on a female guest after an event. Another DJ in New Zealand had a complaint of alleged inappropriate behaviour levelled against him when he was a scout leader.

I realise that these are isolated cases, but it got me thinking about ethics, morals and scruples and it prompted me to get in touch with the Ministry of Justice to get a letter confirming my own clean criminal record. Read the rest of this entry »

I recently received the following email:

“We are paying for our wedding ourselves so have to stick to a tight budget so therefore can’t afford a professional DJ = (. But was wondering if you offer a service where u can create a playlist for me Read the rest of this entry »

Can you meet with the DJ personally?

Does the DJ you’re considering tell you anything about themselves in their website or advertising, or are you hiring an unknown? Most people would like to know a little about the person who will be entertaining at their event, particularly if it’s a wedding, and a face to face meeting is the best way Read the rest of this entry »

Ohakune Mountain Mardi Gras, 27th June 2009

Tonight is the biggest party night of the year for Ohakune. As I sit in the upstairs lounge at the Turoa Ski Lodge writing this post, teams of people are busy rigging up the main stage, the sound the lighting, Read the rest of this entry »

It is with huge sadness that I read today of Michael Jackson’s death, aged 50. Ranked as one of Rolling Stone’s top 25 singers of all time, Michael was a true chameleon, changing looks, styles, sound and entertainment style with the decades. I’ve been Read the rest of this entry »

With the H1N1 Swine Flu now officially a worldwide pandemic, what thoughts have you given to preventative measures at your event or celebration?

Do you have sterilising hand gels in the rest rooms? How about face masks? Imagine, just for fun, a wedding group photo with everyone wearing a mask! What are your thoughts?

What type of music do they provide and will they play requests?

It’s your party. Will your prospective music entertainer cheerfully accept your musical suggestions? Can they provide a play list with a wide variety of songs that you can choose from? Will they play Read the rest of this entry »

This is an incredibly novel concept. The amount of work and planning that must have gone into this is frightening, but I have to admit that it’s totally memorable. Read the rest of this entry »

By MARK HENRICKS, Entrepreneur.com

John Osher has developed hundreds of consumer products, including an electric toothbrush that became America’s best-selling toothbrush in just 15 months. He also started several successful companies, including Cap Toys. He built sales to $125 million per year and then sold the company to Hasbro Inc. in 1997. But his most lasting contribution to the business world just may be a list of screw-ups he jotted on the back of a piece of paper. Read the rest of this entry »

Take a look!

Compared with many DJs, my equipment when set up, is incredibly compact and visually discreet. The aim is to not detract from the (usually) beautifully decorated venue with big speakers, lighting frames, cables and other equipment.

When the situation requires it however, I use substantially more equipment than most. Read the rest of this entry »

Is the DJ you’re considering hiring an experienced professional, or a hobby DJ?
For some parties, all that’s required is someone with DJ equipment to turn up (some of the cheaper ones might not even do that if they get a better offer!) and play music. In this scenario, any reasonably proficient DJ will do for you.

For a corporate event where you’re wanting to reward employees, help them bond or unwind during a conference, or impress clients and say thank you, you’re going to want someone who is a true professional. Weddings and other one-off celebrations are another example where you won’t want to take the risk on a hobby DJ. Read the rest of this entry »

How will the DJ you are looking at hiring make YOUR celebration unique? What will they do to ensure that your celebration isn’t just a music playlist variation from every other similar type of event they’ve performed?

If your event is a wedding, this question is all the more important. The couples I’ve spoken with over the last 23 years really don’t want their wedding feeling like a McWedding, or to feel Read the rest of this entry »

For most people, hiring a DJ is a new experience. What do you need to ask? What are the differences between a great DJ and an average DJ? How can you be confident that you’ll get the entertainment experience you’re hoping for? How can you be sure that the DJ you choose will even show up?!

This series of comments on my blog will hopefully offer you some guidance to narrow down your choice. Once you’ve got a short list, Read the rest of this entry »

For the most part, I talk with my clients about their celebration and how I can offer ways to help bring it to life while making it unique and fun. I don’t talk much about my DJ gear as it’s really only a tool I use to provide my service and deliver my entertainment, but it’s worth mentioning a few things about it.

Over the years I’ve worked very hard at making sure my DJ equipment fits several important criteria. Read the rest of this entry »