Novotel Holiday Party

On Saturday the 14th I packed my gear and headed into the city to work a gig at the Novotel Convention Center on the Esplanade.  It was a holiday party for hotel staff, a gig that I got being refered from a Christmas party back in Decemeber (thanks Julie!!)

Usually with larger hotels it is very difficult getting the gear into the room however hotel staff let me park in shipping and recieving and it was a short walk to the service elevator.  So much easier then sharing elevators with hotel guests let me tell you!

Jeff Day the housekeeping manager hired me for the gig and he did an excellent job of organizing the event.  The room was clad with black drapery with LED lights shining through tubes of colored fabrics adding a real nice touch.  The table set-ups were immaculate giving it that touch of class fit for a king and queen or for tonight the hard working hotel staff...

Room is a view...

Jeff also hired an illusionist to perform during dinner.  Vladomir the Magnificent did a handfull of tricks with his act very comedic at times.  I was impressed with his table trick shown below...

Vladomir the Mangificent!

Another nice touch was the use of the projector.  We had several movies playing during the night.  Dance favorites...Footloose and Dirty Dancing made the movie playlist and I couldn't help but to throw on Breakin' a movie from 1984 about the world of breakdancing....horrible movie...lol.   Thinking back though Saturday Night Fever would have been even better.  Travolta rocks...but I digress...

The hotel staff ethnicity was varied bringing with it different musical tastes.  Top40 was still the common theme with some reggae and latin thrown into the mix.  Dinner started at 8pm so by the time dinner finished I only had around 2 hours to play since they wanted to close down early to prep for some big events the next day.  I only wish I had more Calypso music with me.  I played "Follow the Leader" which was probably the track of the night bringing everyone together on the dance floor.  But that track along with "Hot Hot Hot" is a rather (poor) selection of Calypso a genre I am lacking severely...but I am working on fixing that!

Dance Floor Opens

Follow the Leader!

Pitbull's "Shake Senora", Don Omar's "Danza Koduro" and "Lengon" by Banda Blanca also seemed to be the crowd pleasers on the night.  I have to say I had a great time.  The staff was there to enjoy themselves.  They were super nice and very hospitable.  Probably why they are employed by the hotel to begin with.  I am hopefull for some future events with this group and am thankfull to Jeff for hiring me. 

Oh and on a side note...special shout out to Jeremiah...thanks bro!

Here is the set list:

1 - September - Earth Wind & Fire
2 - Got To Be Real - Chery Lynn
3 - Don't Stop Till You Get Enough - Michael Jackson
4 - Village People - Y.M.C.A
5 - Moves Like Jagger  - Maroon 5
6 - I Got That Feeling  - Black Eyed Peas
7 - Party Rock Anthem  - LMFAO
8 - The Time (Dirty Bit) - Black Eyed Peas
9 - Don't Know Why - Norah Jones
10 - Lady In Red - Chris De Burgh
11 - I Got That Feeling  - Black Eyed Peas
12 - Good Feeling  - Flo Rida
13 - Shake Senora  - Pitbull ft. T-Pain
14 - I Know You Want Me  - Pitbull
15 - Calabria 2008 - Enur feat. Natasja
16 - Rasputin - Boney M
17 - Le Freak - Chic
18 - Life (Is What You Make It) - Colonel Lite and Frighty
19 - Murder She Wrote - Chaka Demus
20 - Twice My Age - Shabba Ranks
21 - Action - Nadine Suntherland
22 - Follow the Leader - Soca Boys
23 - Danza Kudoro - Don Omar
24 - Club Can't Handle Me  - Flo Rida
25 - We No Speak Americano  - Yolanda Be Cool VS D Cup
26 - Bon, Bon  - Pitbull
27 - Suavemente - Elvis Crespo
28 - Lengon - Banda Blanca
29 - On The Floor - Jennifer Lopez ft. Pitbull
30 - We Found Love  - Rihanna ft. Calvin Harris
31 - Only Girl (In The World)  - Rihanna
32 - DJ Got Us Fallin' In Love  - Usher ft. Pitbull
------------
Prizes Interlude with some fun tunes...
33 - Chicken Dance
34 - Macarena - Los Del Rio
35 - In The Navy - Village People
36 - You Shook Me All Night Long - AC/DC
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37 - You're Still The One - Shania Twain
38 - Angels - Robbie Williams
39 - All Night Long - Lionel Richie
40 - Billie Jean - Michael Jackson
41 - Just Can't Get Enough - The Black Eyed Peas
42 - Suavemente (Kiss Me)  - Nayer ft. Mohombi & Pitbull
43 - Give Me Everything  - Pitbull ft. Ne-Yo, Afrojack & Nayer
44 - Memories  - David Guetta ft. Kid Cudi
45 - Dirty Talks - Wynter Gordon
46 - S & M Remix  - Rihanna Featuring Britney Spears
47 - Mr. Saxobeat  - Alexandra Stan
48 - Criminal  - Britney Spears
49 - If We Ever Meet Again - Timbaland featuring Katy Perry
50 - Sexy And I Know It  - LMFAO
51 - Levels  - Acivii
52 - Latin Moon  - Mia Martina
53 - You Make Me Feel… - Cobra Starship

Soundspin02

Well it is a new year and what better way to start it off with a new mix upload for your ears to enjoy!  Unlike the first mix which was more of a "housey" affair this mix features some pretty heavy and dirty techno tracks which may do some damage to your speakers...

Look out for Poison by Lauhaus.  I absolutely love this track which I talked about in one of my earlier posts.  The mix starts off with a nice little melodic vocal number in "Changed" and then slowly gets heavier and harder towards the middle of the mix where "Special Stuff" and "Follow" adds a little darker element.  Both "Follow" and "Finally Mine" were both featured on John Digweeds "Structures Two" release which means these tracks are time and tested on dance floors throughout the world...

1.     Changed – Mario Basanov

2.     Desitination Education – Gui Boratto

3.     Finally Mine (Gorge Remix) – Misstress Barbara

4.     Nope – John Lagora

5.     Limiter (Dualton Remix) – Erphun & Jim Rivers

6.     Poison (Anton Pieete & Bart Skils Remix) – Lauhaus

7.     Special Stuff (Tony DeClerque Remix) – Flow Superstars

8.     Follow – Phaneoh Feat Maetrik

9.     While My Wiki Gently Leaks -  John Acquaviva & Olivier Giacomotto

10.   Krakra Hurricane – Luigi Rocca

11.   Animals (Manuel De La Mare Savanha Remix)

12.   Fact – Stefano Nofereni

Here is the mixcloud post:

Soundspin02 (Jan 2012) by Soundspin on Mixcloud

To download the mix click here

New Year's at The Ben Wicks

Four years ago a good friend of mine Larry hooked me up with a New Year's gig at the Ben Wicks Restaurant and Pub in Cabbage Town.  Last night was my fourth time Djing, owner Robert and his wife Andrea having me back to ring in the new year and as usual it was good times.   No where near as hectic as last year...apparently a facebook post went a bit viral causing mass numbers to show up... however the vibe was great as usual. 

The Ben Wicks Restaurant and Pub

The pub being a hangout for local residents draws in lots of people with varying musical tastes and age groups ranging between 25 and 55 and thus requring a wide range of track selection.  Top40 was still the main genre with lots of disco and retro 80s added in the mix. 

Here are some pics thru the years...

Larry, Karen & Myself 2011

Early on in the night 2011

Packed dance floor 2010

New Years 2009

I am getting in the habit of forgetting to save the set-list...I keep getting distracted at the end of the night and then shut down before remembering :(  Anyhow, here is hoping to a super 2012!

If you happen to be Cabbage town make sure to visit The Ben Wicks the Burgers are fabulous.

Happy New Year everyone!