For STRANGERS, every wedding reception is a special event but on Saturday, December 19, 2009 Mother Nature took things to a whole new level.
Stephanie Sudzina, originally from the Philadelphia area but now living in Sidney, Australia and her fiance Anthony Campanale also from Sidney, Australia had been planning a Christmas Wedding in Philadelphia for almost two years.
BVT – 2009
Wow! It is amazing how time has flown and that we are now halfway through the year. BVT is looking forward to the future but I thought I would spend a moment reflecting on the progress that we have made, as well as the great performances that have taken place in the first half of 2009.
The great news is that Brandywine Valley Talent continues to be a leader in the Philadelphia entertainment field. In spite of a challenging economy, our clients understand the value of professional, dependable and overall excellent live entertainment, so our company continues to prosper. For example, since January 1st, BVT was nominated for an ISES Liberty Award and once again won “Best Of The Main Line”.
I am proud to say that BVT has supplied live entertainment at over 240 events this year. Our dance bands have performed at major high profile events. Here is a summary of some of our groups’ accomplishements:
Jellyroll continues to set the standard as the ultimate versatile and high energy dance band. Jellyroll has had the honor of performing at some amazing weddings at the Philadelphia and Delaware area’s most prestigious venues including the Crystal Tea Room, The Rittenhouse, Four Seasons, The Park Hyatt at the Bellevue, Ballroom At The Ben, Cescaphe, The Curtis Center, the Hotel du Pont as well as unique locations including F.U.E.L. and Urban Outfitters. Jellyroll has also helped to raise funds for Children’s Hospital by joining with the World Championship Philadelphia Phillies at the “Cheers To The Champs” event as well as the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation’s Hope Ball, at Wilmington’s Chase Center. Of course, Jellyroll also performed at the Philadelphia Flyer’s Wives Fight For Lives Carnival where BVT once again provided all of the live entertainment at the Wachovia Center.
The Sid Miller Dance Band rocked Philadelphia Auto Show’s Black Tie Gala for over 2,000 guests at the Convention Center’s Grand Hall while helping raise funds for Children’s Hospital Of Philadelphia. The Sid Miller Dance band covered a lot of territory, literally, as they engaged audiences from New England to Alexandria, VA where they performed for the WILD Foundation. Of course, this red hot premium dance band helped make many weddings successful with their dance music.
Midnight Hour was busy performing at the most beautiful Philadelphia weddings as well as being selected to perform at the Annual ISES Liberty Awards event where they kept the dance floor full of Philadelphia event planners and specialists. Midnight Hour is committed to community service and is very proud to have been part of Autism New Jersey’s major fund raising gala which was held in East Brunswick, NJ as well as The American Cancer Society’s gala at the Hyatt Regency Penn’s Landing. Midnight Hour continues to represent BVT well as one of its most in demand dance bands.
Contagious is a super high energy dance band that electrified the crowd at Alex’s Lemonade Stand’s annual “Lemon Ball” where the band donated their time and lent their talents to this great cause. The Lemon Ball was held this past January at the Philadelphia Marriott. Contagious was a regular at the Crystal Tea Room, not only performing at Philadelphia weddings but also for the “Crossing The Finish Line” Philadelphia charity gala. The band also rose to the occasion by making me, as president of BVT, very proud at my Alma Mater, West Chester University, where Contagious performed for 500 guests at WCU’s Annual President Scholarship Gala. I had the rare opportunity to attend an event as a guest dancing all night to one of my favorite bands!
City Rhythm (speaking of one of my favorite bands) continues its long history of successful performances as well as musical creativity. City Rhythm is a great representative of what BVT is all about! City Rhythm is the sophisticated, energetic private event band, performing at weddings from the Ritz Carlton in Philadelphia to the Annapolis Marriott. City Rhythm performs regularly for charities including the Jewish Community Center of Atlantic City, Children’s Home Society of NJ and the Elwyn Foundation Gala where they performed at Longwood Gardens. The band also rocked the annual Philadelphia Restaurant Association’s Bartender’s Ball at the Radisson Valley Forge as well as many Philadelphia public concert events held throughout the Spring of 2009.
Strangers continues to develop into a premier Brandywine Valley Talent dance band. In just the past 6 months the band has performed at such interesting venues as Valley Forge Military Academy and the Phoenixville Foundry for amazing weddings. The band is also a regular on the private club scene, performing recently at Waynesborough Country Club, as well as a repeat performance at a member event at Old York Country Club. Strangers is a shooting star on the BVT team.
Deja Groove started the year with a performance at one of our favorite venues, the Hotel du Pont for a terrific wedding where the guests danced all night long. With solid performances such as this and others this year, including another wedding at The Westin Philadelphia and a corporate event at The Union League, Deja Groove is poised to become another of BVT’s most sought after dance bands.
Back2Life exploded onto the Philadelphia event entertainment scene with a performance at The Crystal Tea Room early this year for the Main Line Magazine’s SAVOR event, where they performed for over 800 people. Back2Life is a departure from the large high energy dance band concept that many people recognize us for. With the demand for ‘80s rock, we saw the opportunity to develop this fresh new group, Back2Life, into a polished slick dance band with an emphasis on rock dance music made popular largely in the 1980’s. Now, with the recent addition of a saxophonist the band has become extremely versatile as a 6 piece band. In just the first half of 2009, the band has performed at 23 events at locations including Philadelphia Country Club, the Ritz Carlton, Aronimink Golf Club and the Desmond Hotel.
Stringsations continues to se the standard for excellence, not only in ceremony music, but also for cocktail entertainment. Stringsations provided the live sound track for many weddings already this year at weddings in just about every premier Philadelphia location. Stringsations Wired, BVT’s unique rock violin group is now rehearsed and ready to provide truly unique, (and literally) electrifying performances.
In addition to these exclusive Brandywine Valley Talent groups, we continue to supply the Philadelphia private club, hotel, corporate, social and hospitality markets with all types of quality entertainment. From the Cariibbean Authentics’ performance at Manufacturers Golf Club to our Dueling Pianos at the Desmond Hotel, the first half of this year has been a busy one for all of our entertainers.
As to the future, we will continue to work hard for all of our clients as well as our prospective clients. We will continue to set the standard for excellent showcases at the Waterford Ballroom in Valley Forge, Drexelbrook, the Crowne Plaza Valley Forge as well as other unique locations. Ou staff, and all of our bands are committed to the success of BVT, one event at a time!
Why book a party band? Want your party to be the talk of the town? There’s nothing like a party band to liven things up - from birthday parties and weddings to bat/bar mitzvahs or corporate functions. A party band will guarantee that your guests will be dancing the night away. Everyone wants to throw a successful party event. The important components of a great party are the invitation list, the venue and the food, and most importantly the party band.
How to book a party band? Listen to audio samples, read bios, watch video clips and compare party bands. Take advantage of live showcases that a talent agency holds to preview the best party bands in your area. This is your opportunity to talk to party band leaders and the musicians, helping you make an informed decision on the party band for your event.
You supply the people and your party band will supply the music. Once you’ve decided on your party band start discussing the music. The party band will provide you with their song lists and give you the opportunity to work together to discuss additional music. You want to give your guests the opportunity to mingle, enjoy and dance! Each requires special music that your party band will accommodate. Your party band will also become a big resource to you while planning your event. They will have suggestions and expertise to offer as they have most likely hosted many events in the past. Share ideas and help each other in planning and executing the perfect event.
When you choose the right party band for your event, you’ll have the right music! Remember, every great party needs music!
Planning your wedding involves every detail from who to invite, what to eat and even what wedding dance songs to choose? Using this resource may not help you with all of your decisions but it may help you choose your wedding dance songs.
Your music makes your moments. Work with your Wedding Dance Band to choose the wedding dance songs, and the memories you want to have forever.
The first dance is reserved for the bride and groom, and this music is “their” song (first choice of the wedding dance songs). There is also a choice for the father/daughter wedding dance songs, the wedding dance songs for mother and son (mother and groom), and a wedding dance songs for both sets of parents (with the bride and groom dancing with their new in-laws before reuniting). The last dance, like the first, belongs to the bride and groom alone. The music is usually the one used for the first dance, but choices for the last wedding dance songs of the night may be chosen. For your reference, listed below are the Top 10 Newest Wedding Dance songs and the Top 10 Most Requested Wedding Dance Songs.
Top 10 Newest Wedding Dance Songs
“Lucky” by Jason Mraz featuring Colbie Caillet
Who will like it: The bride and groom and the rest of the lovebirds.
When to play it: For the first wedding dance song.
“Viva La Vida” by Coldplay Top
Who will like it: Everyone.
When to play it: During the cocktail hour or between dinner courses.
“Good Time” by Alan Jackson
Who will like it: The country-music lovers.
When to play it: Right after dinner.
“The Way I Am” by Ingrid Michaelson
Who will like it: The romantics and nostalgics.
When to play it: The cake cutting.
“Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)” by Beyonce
Who will like it: All the single ladies.
When to play it: The bouquet toss.
“Beautiful” by Akon
Who will like it: Couples and hip-hop enthusiasts.
When to play it: As one of the first slow songs after dinner.
“So What” by Pink
Who will like it: All the single guests.
When to play it: Following a slow song to get everyone back out on the dance floor.
“Just Dance” by Lady GaGa
Who will like it: Your guests who like to dance.
When to play it: Once the elderly guests have left and it’s time to get the party started.
“Green Light” by John Legend
Who will like it: Couples and any singles who may have paired up at the end of the night.
When to play it: Toward the end of the evening.
“When the Night Comes” by Dan Auerbach
Who will like it: All the couples.
When to play it: As the last slow song at the end of the night.
Top 10 Most Requested Wedding Dance Songs
Whatever your age or taste, you’re sure to make the memories last with music. Remember, the first place to start is to ask your Wedding Dance Band to help you with a list of their wedding dance songs. Use resources like this to become familiar with wedding dance songs and work together to have a list of music. If you are prepared and coordinated with your band, you’ll be making happy music for the rest of your life. (more…)
For the third consecutive year Brandywine Valley Talent provided the live musical entertainment for the 32nd Flyers Wives Fight for Lives Carnival. Since it began, the Flyers Carnival has raised nearly $21 million for charities in the Philadelphia region. Brandywine Valley Talent’s exclusive dance bands, including the award winning Jellyroll, provided high energy entertainment on the Wachovia Center’s arena floor while BVT’s specialty and acoustic acts entertained throughout the carnival. BVT again partnered with Toner Sound who provided sound and lighting production on the main stage as well as DJ entertainment. We look forward to supporting the event again next year!
