Well, I'm back at the Halftime Sportsbar for New Year's Eve. It's been a few years since I've played there, but am really excited about being back. I ran the last couple of New Year's bashes for Club Bighouse, and it will be nice to play at a different venue, especially one that brings back such great memories. This year, the Halftime has plenty of things to add to the party. Free t-shirts and party favors will be given away during the night, champagne at midnight, $25 machine play prizes to be drawn throughout the evening, and $100 in cash to one lucky winner. And, of course, plenty of music to dance to with effects lighting, drinks, and good company.

I spent last Tuesday night at the Heritage Inn with the employees of N.E.W., roughly 650 of them. The Heritage did another wonderful job of setting up and running their end of the event. Feeding that many people must be a challenge, yet they pulled it off as usual, and the place was also decorated to perfection. I really enjoyed playing music for the crowd, and provided effects lighting to add even more energy to the room. We ran a dance contest, an awards presentation, and the night was filled with door prize giveaways. It was an extremely easy night for me as far as the music selection, as the crowd was extremely diverse. I delved into just about every genre of music, and the evening was very successful. I look forward to working with them again next year.

Christmas Season is definitely here. Snow in more abundance than we have seen in years, and of course, holiday parties galore. This weekend officially kicked them off for me, starting it all off at San Remo's. I was somewhat concerned at first, as I wasn't quite sure what to expect there, but was pleasantly surprised at just how much the place felt like Christmas with the way the back restaurant has been transformed into a small event location. It was decorated with just enough of the season to make people feel the holiday spirit. Cindy's Catering did a great job taking care of the food and the bar, and we ran a chinese gift exchange which went over quite well. All in all, a successful start to the holiday season. This coming Tuesday brings another Christmas Party on a much larger scale. I'll be playing music at the Heritage Inn for N.E.W. for somewhere between 800 and 1000 people, and I'm sure it will be quite an event.

Well, I finished November off with another wedding, this time up in the Missouri Room at the Civic Center. This one was definitely a family affair, from catering to guests, and there were so many children running about. They asked for several songs in which the kids could participate in different ways, and all had fun (the chicken dance, the bunny hop, and the YMCA were crowd favorites). It has been so nice this year watching as families and friends have pulled together to make these special days come together as planned. Hopefully next year will bring more of the same.

Well, Jim and Dana from the Brick talked me into coming in and working for them over the weekend. It looks like I'll be putting some more time in there when I can fit it into my schedule. This past weekend went really well. I started it off with the Friday Night Comedy Show, MCing for the comedians from about 9 until 11. They were both hilarious. I moved over to the Club side and played dance music until closing time, and ran their Cash Box promotion for them. We tried to give away $500 in cash, and it was fun building up the suspense to see if someone would walk away with the money. The first week, we gave away $100, but haven't had another winner since then. The money goes up to $600 next week. Overall, the night was definitely successful, a good crowd and a great time. Saturday night was even better, as the Club was absolutely packed, and everyone seemed to have a blast. I was surprised at how many people came up to the DJ booth to welcome me back, and how many expressed to me just how much they wished I would come back more often. We all had a great time, and the dance floor stayed full for the entire evening. I have a weeding reception coming up this weekend at the Civic Center, and am really looking forward to it.

Well, I'm definitely back on track. Since I've been back from my honeymoon, I performed at a wedding reception in Fort Benton, played at a High School Halloween party in Vaughn, and have been booking events for the Holiday season as well as wedding receptions for next year. The Wedding Show is coming up pretty soon (mid-January), where quite a few prospects book their events, but I already have quite a few set up for next summer. Club Bighouse has also asked me to come back to work for them, even if it's only for one or two Friday nights each month. I'm giving some serious thought to it just to see some old faces again. I'll actually be running the show there this Friday and Saturday, November 11th and 12th. Regardless, I'm excited to see what next year brings, and it looks like it's going to be busy.

First Dance 

Well...I did it!!! On September 24th, I got married. We had both our ceremony and reception at the Heritage Inn, in the main convention area. Everything was set-up so beautifully, and my bride was a vision of pure wonder. The staff at the hotel did a great job of helping us to bring it all together, even to the point of going beyond what they said they could do for us. Our colors were Gold, Red, and Ivory. Usually, the Heritage has only white to work with, but they brought in an amazing ivory table cloth and arrangement for the cake table, which was under a huge canopy that was illuminated with the most amazing lights. (Baker Bob made our cake, and also did a good job of decorating with real roses and red ribbon which we provided for him...our cake topper was a WillowTree Figurine...the one called "Promise".) We put quite a bit of our own time setting rose topiaries and candle arrangement on the tables as centerpieces, and actually spent a lot of time steaming some red table overlays that we rented from National Laundry the night before. The finished product was so beautiful. The ceremony was very nice, and we spent most of the reception just visiting with family and friends. It was so strange being on the other side of a Wedding Reception, being immersed in every single aspect of the planning, having everything center around my bride and myself, and just getting lost in the joy of every moment. I planned on taking the rest of the month and all of October off from DJing, but got roped into a few events. Last weekend, I filled in for someone at Club Bighouse on Friday Night, MCing the comedy show, and playing dance music afterwards. This weekend, I'll be working there on Friday again, and helping out with Saturday night's crowd. Then Brittny and I take off for our honeymoon in Maui next Wednesday, and don't get back until the following Wednesday. The Saturday after we get back, I agreed to DJ a wedding in Fort Benton. I just can't seem to take much time off for myself, but I do enjoy the work and being involved in other people's happiness.

I just finished playing for a Wedding Reception at the Chapel Theatre here in Great Falls. I was somewhat concerned at first, as the location poses a slight problem for music...it's an acoustical nightmare. The area has vaulted ceilings, and any noise echoes horribly throughout the room. Basically, it is an old chapel in a renovated hospital that now houses businesses and apartments. It is a very beautiful location, but as I said, the sound of a dropping pin could just about bounce off of each wall on its way around the room. But everything worked out just fine for us. The most difficult part turned out to be fine tuning the microphone vocals, and even those ended up being smoothed out. The event was a simple five hour affair, and again didn't cater to only one or two music types. The guests enjoyed a good variety of music and the Bride and Groom seemed pleased at the end of a long day. I decided to take next weekend off, as my own wedding is only two weeks away. My personal experience (in the preparation of my own big day) makes it is so easy to relate with couples as I truly understand everything involved in the planning and execution of all details. It's so much work, and it's nice to see other people's stress melt away as everything comes together in the end.

Geraldine Wedding

I spent this past Saturday in Geraldine, Montana. I had to drive roughly 40 miles North of Great Falls, and then another 30 miles down a gravel road to a family Ranch. It was another small wedding, roughly 90 people, but again I had a great time entertaining a fun family. I played for the full six hours, and they danced right up until the last song. Requests varied for music, from Classic Rock to Country, and even some 70's and 80's songs. The crowd reacted best to the Country selections, both new and old. The bride and groom saw a previous post of mine about the Generations Dance and loved the idea, incorporating it into their own reception. I played Rod Stewart's "Have I Told You Lately", and after eliminating couples based on length of time being married, we were left with a couple that had been married for 64 long, wonderful years. It was very touching as the bride presented them with the bouquet. All in all, I would definitely say this was another successful wedding reception with a fantastic group of people.

BECC Wedding

I played music for a wedding reception at the Black Eagle Community Center this past weekend for a smaller crowd. It was the second time I have performed there this year, and must say that even though it was a smaller group of people, they still hung in there until the end, dancing until I had to shut down. Requests for music varied greatly, from country music to hip hop, and classic rock to some of the heavier stuff. They responded well to just about everything, and the bride's son made sure to get some requests in for himself as well as for his grandparents. The BECC catered well to the crowd, and the bar seemed to maintain a steady business for the entire evening. The Bride and Groom were successful in acquiring a photographer and a videographer through the K99 Internet Auction for an amazing price, and Randy from Haskel Studio was there taking pictures almost all night. It has been a refreshing year for myself providing DJ Services for yet another friendly crowd, and a very warm family.

Outdoor Wedding

This past Saturday was yet another success. I had a full day, and it was a scorcher. I set up for the actual Wedding Ceremony at the Milwaukee Station at about 2:00 in the afternoon, right during peak hours for heat (it was up in the 90's), but luckily I tucked my equipment just underneath a tent. I still had the pleasure of sitting in the sun, but the electronics were at least shaded. The ceremony went smoothly, and I provided the sound for a quartet that played beautifully, a guitar, two singers, and of course the officiant. After the ceremony, I packed up my things and moved them over to the reception location, which was at the Bride's mother's house, where we could walk right onto the Country Club's golf course from her back yard. It was an outdoor reception, and was layed out in such a stunning way. There were tents and lanterns over all of the tables, a dance floor set up on the lawn, and an amazing array of food. The cake was gorgeous, as well. There were somewhere between 150 and 185 guests, and after the first dances and garter/bouquet tosses, they really jumped into the entertainment. Most of them enjoyed dancing, and we even heard some more singing from a family member and from a family friend. They were both excellent. All in all, the reception was a raging success, and it was difficult to shut down just after midnight, as they wanted to keep going. I was amazed that the police weren't called in with all of the noise. It was nice to see everything wrap up to positive comments from everyone around me. Beautiful family and jovial friends. Definitely a pleasure to put in the extra hours.

Red Lodge Wedding Reception

Wow! The summer has really been flying by faster than I expected it to. My Saturdays have been booked, and this last weekend was another raging success. I traveled down to Red Lodge to DJ a wedding reception for close to four hundred guests. The wedding ceremony was beautiful, and took place outdoors at the Golf Course Country Club. I played some accompanying music for the Groom's sister as she played her flute to Canon in D as the Bride made her way down the aisle. We were all a little worried about the possibility of rain, but were lucky enough to avoid any problems from Mother Nature. After the ceremony, we moved inside, and the crowd really seemed to enjoy themselves. I played quite a variety of music, and they responded well to almost everything. One of the most touching parts of the evening came when we did a Generations Dance. We had all of the married couples dancing on the floor with their spouses to some slow songs, and gradually eliminated people from the dance floor based on the number of years they have been married. The Bride and Groom were the first to leave, of course, followed by those married less than five years, those married less than ten years, etc. etc... There were three couples still dancing who were married over fifty years, and the last couple dancing had been married for 61 wonderful years. The Bride and Groom presented them with the Bouquet and Garter, and I thought it was an incredibly touching moment, as did the guests in attendance. Overall, the reception was well received, and most of the guests stayed until closing time. I definitely enjoyed the trip down to Red Lodge, and had a great time at both the reception and while strolling through the quaint downtown area.

UGF Wedding Reception

June started off well with an amazing wedding reception at the University of Great Falls. I was a little sceptical as far as the location at first, but things really came together well. Scott and Arika had a wonderful family, very easy to get along with, and it was a pleasure to see how well they all pulled together. There were over 350 people in attendance, and the room held that number comfortably. A good portion of the crowd consisted of their college friends, and it was nice to see how respectable they all remained, even with the eight kegs of beer on hand. The reception started a little later than most, somewhere close to 8:00pm, but things moved along smoothly, still giving the guests plenty of time to dance and have fun after eating, the toast, cake cutting ceremony, first dance, and everything else invlolved. Once the dance music kicked in, everyone partied right up until closing time, which was at 1:00am. I would definitely rate this one in my top 10% of favorite wedding receptions.

Here are a few of the testimonials that I have received from past events:

"I just wanted to let you know that I would refer you to anyone I could to DJ their party or reception. I had alot of people at my daughter's wedding reception that thought you were great. You found the songs right away and there was no delay or pauses between songs. They were able to just keep right on dancing and loved it. Thanks again." Mary Derke

"Jim was the DJ at our wedding reception in August and did an amazing job. There was such a variety of music played that everyone enjoyed dancing. Our wedding party, friends, and family were out there all night and everyone continued to dance even after we left. Everyone was requesting songs that they wanted to hear and guests were dancing every time a song was played. We would recommend Jim to anyone looking to have a great DJ on top of having a wonderful time at their reception, even if they don’t like dancing that much. He just made it so much exciting. Trying to accommodate to a big crowd by playing such a variety of music for everyone to dance to is a tough thing to do but he did it and that, to us, made everyone have that much more of a wonderful time on our wedding day. Thanks Jim. "
Luke and Cassie Zuelke

"DJ Jim made our reception come to life from the beginning! We had several positive comments about him for months after our wedding from our guests that attended. Thank you again for all you do, Jim!" Jeremy and Rae Smith

"We've attended five wedding receptions with Jim as the DJ, including our son Brent's, and were impressed with every performance. We recommend Jim to anyone looking for a memorable event." Rich and Bonnie Jensen

"I was a guest at Cassie and Luke's wedding and also at the Great Falls Clinic Christmas Party and would like to tell you how much I enjoyed your music and entertainment at both functions. If I ever have an event that requires a DJ I will surely keep you in mind. Thanks for your music!" April Woods

Halloween 2004

I can't recall the last Halloween that I actually didn't DJ a party... It has probably been six or seven years... This picture is from 2004, when I worked a three day Halloween event at Club Bighouse... I played music and ran the show for all three nights, hosting a different theme for each night... We ended the weekend off with a Pimps and Hoes night on Sunday, the 31st, with prizes for the best costumes... The weekend was a blast, and it was nice to see some new faces, even though most were altered in one way or another...

Wedding Reception at the Heritage

Playing music at the Heritage Inn has become what seems to be second nature to me... It is very easy to set-up there, as their staff takes care of so much... They provide a nice platform, and the sound is very good in their large reception area, with a very accomodating dance floor... I have performed at countless wedding receptions at the Heritage, and must say that it is at the top of my list for places to work at... As a matter of fact, I am getting married at the end of September, and we chose to have both our ceremony and reception there, as they really do take care of so many things... They do a wonderful job at making everything look perfect, and all I hear are great reviews from the people I have talked to... I highly recommend the Heritage Inn to anyone looking for somewhere to hold their wedding reception...

Well, I finally did it... I went out on my own after working with Dana House for the last 6 years... I figured it was about time that I reaped the benefits for all of the hard work I put into being a good DJ... I started working with Dana part time, and ended up playing most of the music myself, almost full time... From my days of building a crowd at the Club Cigar, the JBART, and the various other venues that we frequented, I learned that for me, being a DJ was something I could excel at, and became very passionate about... Of course, a love of music certainly helped me along the way... I also enjoyed being able to manipulate the crowd with the subtle click of a button, taking them from a frenzy down to a sense of calm, and vice-versa... The contacts I made and the people that I came to know all wondered why I wasn't out on my own, and a simple sense of loyalty to a good friend held me back... When I saw how many people started to request my services for wedding receptions, my thinking slowly started to change... I now play music for over twenty wedding receptions a year, and have started to make a move toward more events as well, such as Christmas parties... I'm sure that I will continue to pursue some club nights, but will limit them to mostly big events, such as Halloween and New Year's Eve... Regardless of what the future holds for me, I am very happy to finally be out on my own...