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Showing posts from 2012

Wishing You A Wonderful Holiday!

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Dear Friends! Just a few shopping hours left until Christmas........   We actually hope to NOT think about discounts and sales but to gather with family and friends to celebrate the holidays. Our friend Dennis Maggi from the American College of Trial Lawyers sent us a wonderful song suggestion that really drives home that point in a wonderfully tongue in cheek way. "I'm sure by now many of you have probably heard the Christmas song called "The Christmas Can-Can" by the extremely talented 10 man a cappella  sensation called " Straight No Chaser... " (particularly those that might remember me putting this song on last years Eventworks Christmas Podcast! ) If you haven't perhaps you too might feel the exuberant rush of sweet relief I did when I first heard it knowing that finally I am not alone in thinking Christmas, for all its joy and magic and good spirit, is also complete utter lunacy and only getting worse! But in such a funny, funny way, as

Please Join Us In A Moment Of Silence

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Congratulations to New Parents Katie and Eric Rogers

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Dear Friends! Katie and Eric Rogers are very happy to announce the arrival of their baby boy: Holden Jack Rogers, born November 13th, 2012 in Nashville, TN. Katie confesses to having turned into a gushy, doting Mum in about 2 seconds. "We are totally smitten!" So are we! Holden will make his debut at EventWorks' office soon, weather and his mood permitting. The Rogers household is big on music, so Holden already has a playlist. "Ho Hey" by the Lumineers was the basis for the baby shower invitation and it's our Monday song for Holden. "It's not hyperbole to say the Lumineers are one of the biggest breakout groups in the alternative rock genre this year! These champions of what is being touted as the new folk music revival bring a warm unpretentious youthful vibrancy and passion with this track, and I'm always a sucker for a good catchy hook, or in this case, chant ! Way to go baby Holden! " -DJ Matt Cornwall  Katie, Eric and Ho

EventWorks Presents: Confessions of a DJ

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Dear Friends! We are always amazed by DJ Matt's talent for choosing the greatest musical mix for any event. So we are wondering: what drives him? Where do these ideas come from? We have been probing .... Matt agreed to "confess" and reveal some of the sources of the musical magic. For starters, he reveals his admiration for David Byrne and Talking Heads. "Well, this isn't so much a confession at this point, as it is, simply sockin' it to ya with the truth!! Music is a primordial force, a life-affirming, liberating power. In the famous Walter Pater quote "All art aspires to the condition of music" I believe he meant this not only figuratively, but literally, as music literally is a physical force (that of actual physical vibrations etc ) ! This "force" has driven my entire life ever since I can remember and I have been very fortunate with my career as a DJ, not only for being hired by the great people of EventWorks, but by being able

Starting the Holiday Season With Guest Blogger John Daly from The Key Class

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Dear Friends, Most of us dream of just taking it easy as we reach decades of business experience but our Santa Barbara, CA, based friend John Daly doubles down after nearly 38 years at the helm of John Daly, Inc. We much admire his commitment and dedication to helping at-risk youth. His volunteer work as a Court Appointed Special Advocate inspired him to put together a curriculum to teach students how to do the things that are expected in everyday life. The result is The Key Class, an organization he started in May 2010 that offers of a series of classes that provide interview tools necessary to successfully secure a job or college entrance.  The results are convincing! Key Class programs that run through Teen Court, according to Program Director Ed Cue, see an impressive turnaround. "Strategies like the Key Class are the backbone to a 92% completion rate and a recidivism rate of 12%." The Key Class programs are being offered through Teen Court and in high schools in the S

This Monday: Artists You Need To Know!

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Dear Friends, We have been putting our heads together to give the Monday Music a little fresh energy and in true editorial fashion and organized manner, we have developed several categories. The first one we are happy to present: Artists You Need To Know. Matt Cornwall is truly a walking music encyclopedia and he always has his ears open for sounds that work. So, here we go! Grizzly Bear from Brooklyn. "I chose "Grizzly Bear" as an artist you need to know (if you don't already) because their music is that very rare but hugely successful blending of pop, indie, rock, ambient, retro/ current simultaneously and great for any season! One word that many critics in the past have all used unbeknownst to one another when describing the GB sound; "Gorgeous." "Sleeping Ute" is a perfect example of Grizzly Bear's detail-rich latticework melodies, soothing flamenco-like guitar work, with just enough pop / FM radio sensibility . Give a listen to wha

We Are Happy To Present Our NEW WEBSITE!

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Dear Friends, We are interrupting the Monday Music for breaking news: Once upon a long, long time ago we announced on this blog that we were busily redesigning our website. It took a little longer than we had anticipated ☺. But we are happy to say: we are done! Please visit www.eventworks.com . Our gratitude for their great work and amazing patience goes to Greg Russell and Alexander Schottky from Tandem Digital,  Ben Baker from  Premier Computer Consulting, Inc.,  and all our EventWorks staffers for their contributions. Wishing you a great week! Janet

Sometimes Music Says It Best.

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Dear Friends, Some events are so horrible that there are no words. What do you say when many friends and colleagues back East have lost so much? We struggled with our Monday Music choice this week and we hope our selection will lift your spirits a little bit. In the end we chose New Jersey's very own Bruce Springsteen. Not only because "Land of Hope and Dreams" really soars but also because we know that Bruce Springsteen really truly cares. He has a long history of playing benefits for Asbury Park and supporting other local causes. "I chose "Land of Hope and Dreams" from Bruce Springsteen's performance during last Friday's NBC benefit concert for Hurricane Sandy because he himself specifically chose to perform this song not as an ode to the devastation but to serve as a beacon of hope and strength. I've watched this performance many times over now, and am utterly, deeply moved by it's power on many levels and am reminded once again of

Sexy Sounds for a Scary Night!

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Dear Friends, Halloween truly offers a wonderful opportunity to go all out with party planning. We love the costumes and some of he amazing decorations we can spot all around the neighborhoods. But please, do not put "Thriller" on the loudspeakers! DJ Matt, a fan of the season, has truly inspiring ideas. "Happy Halloween ghouls and boys! " Mad Monster Party" has always been a childhood favorite of mine, (and I pray still played on TV!) Classic monster movies were enjoying a resurgence in popularity in the late 1960s, and humorous monsters like  The Addams Family  and  The Munsters  were enormously popular. This  campy   animated film is a spoof on horror themes, complete with musical numbers and inside jokes .  Unbeknownst to me at the time, the theme song, sung by none other than legendary Jazz vocalist Ethel Ennis, now has an even more alluring and sinfully seductive appeal to its already smooth, sultry, spooky evocation : ) Here's to a hauntingly

Live From Irvine: Guest Blogger LuAnn Jalet from JNR Inc.

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Dear Friends, Many thanks to our friend LuAnn Jalet, Chief Operations Officer for JNR Inc. who kindly takes the time to contribute to our music blog. "Music is my escape and is essential to my being; I can’t imagine life without music. Sometimes it’s the lyrics that affect me deeply and sometimes it’s simply the sound and rhythm that move me. I think the coolest thing about music is that it bridges cultural divides, and creates a sense of togetherness. I have been addicted to music as long as I can remember, from my Mom playing the soundtrack from George Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess, to Ray Charles, Johnny Mathis, Elvis, Louis Armstrong, Nat King Cole and Chubby Checker. During my pre-teen formative years, I was listening to Elvis, Ricky Nelson, The Monkeys, and most importantly The Beatles. I still remember opening my record player case, placing the 45 on the turntable and setting the needle to play “She Loves You” and then dancing and singing all by myself in my room. My te

Happy Birthday to Our Carolyn Vasi!

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Dear Friends! Tomorrow we will celebrate production manager extra-ordinaire Carolyn Vasi's birthday. In honored EW tradition, we asked Carolyn for her favorite song. When asked that tricky question to chose a song no one ever had a faster answer! Fleetwood Mac with Silver Springs with Gypsy Queen Stevie Nicks on lead vocals. "Fleetwood Mac… if ever there was a band truly worthy of being the bearers of  a U.S. Presidential Campaign theme song (Clinton/ "Don't Stop " anyone?) and now this song "Silver Springs" for someone who I KNOW works just as hard as any president , and I could not be happier to see whenever I'm fortunate enough to work with the great peeps of Eventworks! Happy Birthday Carolyn! I owe you a drink (or 2) after we wrap yet another gig somewhere out there! Many returns!! xoxoxo " DJ Matt Cornwall We will all join for drinks! Very Happy Birthday, Carolyn! Janet and everyone at EventWorks

Turn The Whole World On!

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Dear Friends, Since we all feel ready to hibernate - temperatures in Southern California have dipped into the 70ties - we thought we shake you up this morning. Put some pep in your step, get you to shake your bootie. This tune does the job! Dance floor music has a new love affair with what is known as "the anthem"…. big grandiose uplifting vocals, soaring synth symphonic stances and a kind of "we are all together-ness" to get you not only off your feet, but jumping very high whilst singing along with 200 or more others also doing the same thing.  "Static Revenger, also known as Dennis White has been making dance floor smashes for years now, seven of which have hit number one on the Billboard Club Chart. His latest bass thumping, heart pounding single is sure to climb the charts just as well with the help of a very special feature: Dev. Hope you enjoy this rather funkified Daft Punk like remix from Los Angeles based remixers "The Fat Ra

Catching a Musical Wave from Down Under

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Dear Friends, We continue to search the world for fresh musical trends. Our Australia-born Katie Rogers will really appreciate DJ Matt's selection for this Monday Music Blast! Hot on the tracks of Gotye to achieve global success is the band Alpine with "Hands". "I anticipate more and more great music coming out of Australia… Not that they've ever had a shortage of it ( AC/DC, Men at Work, The Vines, Jet, Midnight Oil, etc.) but there is definitely something stirring in the land down under.  With an invigorating blend of light synths, propulsive riffs and vocals (courtesy of front-women Phoebe and Lou) that give new meaning to the word ‘mellifluous’,  Alpine  have staked their claim to the summit of Australian music for 2012 .‘Hands’ is dynamic, surprising and just really well put together, with a distinct hint of the psychedelia, grown locally in Melbourne and sure to cast a spell over you." DJ Matt Cornwall G'Day and a good week! Janet

So Many Birthdays - So Many Different Songs

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Dear Friends, It's amazing we get anything done in September, considering all the birthdays. Finishing up the month is blogger Marion who celebrated hers this past Thursday. And yes, she finds it awkward to write about her own birthday and she realizes how much stress it is to select a song! Marion: "Thinking I'd honor the fresh music scene in the old country, I selected a German dancehall band from Berlin and then as backup a German rapper, Thankfully, DJ Matt noticed the English cuss words among the German lyrics early on. So, back to the drawing board and I decided to pick a tune by bluesman Albert Collins. Back in my younger days in Europe, I road-managed bands during my student years. Gwen and Albert Collins became good friends and invited me to come visit them in L.A.  I never left California! I spent several years with Albert Collins and the Icebreakers. I miss the great musicians many of whom since have joined the great Jam in Heaven and I am eternally grateful

Happy Birthday, Ted! Here is Your Song!

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Dear Friends, Ted Bowers likes to concentrate on the latest technology but we did see him rocking out to EWF during our Hooray L.A. event last April. So it comes as no surprise that Ted has a birthday song wish. We love the combination of music and wry humor - very "Ted"! Ted: "I always live for today and look forward to tomorrow, but on my birthday I like to look back and today I’m reflecting back on several decades of Rap music!" "What Spin magazine once described as a "rapidly becoming Time-Life collection called 'house paaarrrrtaaaay," I'd like to describe Jimmy Fallon and Justin Timberlake's "History of Rap" as stamina, wit, talent, talent, a dash more talent, poise, brains, muscle, savvy schtick and really Broadway seaworthy! Who's with me? "The History of Rap" the Musical, starring those two… (I will now patiently wait for my check in the mail and also celebrate the Birthday of Ted Bowers and rejoice i

It's Birthday Month at EventWorks! Happy Wishes to Luis Monge!

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Dear Friends, Thanks to Michael Alvarado's attention and kindness, we just found out that our floral designer Luis Monge - known as simply Monge around our offices - is celebrating his birthday today! Thankfully, Monge confessed to having a song going around in his head and on "repeat" setting on his playlist: Sabre Dance by Khachaturian. Monge, we are very happy to play it for you today! "Happy Birthday to my dear friend MONGE! …. make no mistake… Monge's scintillating birthday selection of what is now in the highest of ranks in my book called "cartoon classics" is almost as fierce, feisty and fabulous as his own talents!! …everybody Saber Dance!"  : ) DJ Matt Cornwall From all of your friends at EventWorks: Happy Birthday! Janet

Wishing Our Brynne Price a Very Happy Birthday This Week!

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Dear Friends! Let's hear it for our event coordinator Brynne Price who will celebrate her birthday this coming Friday! It's an EventWorks tradition that the birthday person of the week gets to chose a song. Brynne: "Okay, well, asking me to choose a favorite song is like asking me to pick between my children.  My favorite band IN THE WORLD EVER is Switchfoot but I can’t bear to pick one song over another, so for the sake of simplicity, I will go with an oldie but a goodie – Drive by Incubus – because I am seeing them live along with Linkin Park the day after my birthday :-) " "I dedicate this Birthday jam to one of the sweetest gals in the event biz! I'm not surprised by her excellent choice of songs, as I have long been a big fan of Incubus, and in particular, this song. This is one band that never manages to let down, mainly due to their highly skilled talent as musicians and performers, utilizing elements from a variety of styles and genres includ

Gettin' Funky With It!

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Dear Friends, We are thrilled to hear from DJ Matt that young club goers, born well after the heyday of Disco and Funk have "discovered" those driving beats. DJ Team MAM consists of Miguel Campbell and Matt Hughes, two young lads from Leeds who celebrate success on the only one year old Fina Records. Their "Modern Heat" gets them on the dance floor from Coast to Coast. "It's minimal, it's retro, it's funky, and it's all the rage in every club from L.A. to NYC … and ironically enough, much of it is imported from Europe! A current trend at the moment in many of the world's big cities is a kind of stripped down 80's funk & r&b (think Rick James pairing up with The Whispers for a rock steady beat) made mainly by young people born much much later after it's first time around, and in places like Leeds, Great Britain. Although slightly repetitive, these new 80's funk mixes are great fun and might even get you pop n lockin!

This Song Hit No 1 On Charts From Austria to Venezuela!

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Dear Friends, Leave it to the Brazilians to throw a good party! This Brazilian pop hit went global and if you google the Ai Se Eu Te Pego Dance, you can learn the moves that come with it. Just check out Joe Jonas shaking his hips at the Victoria's Secret Pink Party in Miami. "I was recently dj'ing for Starwood Hotels in South America and and it seemed everywhere I went, this song would be blasting out of clubs, pubs, bars, cars, taxis and probably those passing by me with ipods :) With it's over-the-top, festive, fiesta style, feel-good 4 on the floor-ness, "Ai Se Eu Te Pego" has become a bona fide Latin American Club Classic and even though it is sung in Portuguese , everyone I played for sang every word. This is club star David Guetta's remix (if that is any indication of something being a hit! When Mr. Guetta remixes something, you know it's a big deal.) Ciao! : )  DJ Matt Cornwall Wishing you an upbeat week! Saludos, Janet

Music For A Daytime Party!

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Dear Friends, It figures that a new trend would come out of the eclectic L.A. neighborhood of Los Feliz, home to the creators of really "chill" daytime disco: Filip Nikolic and Jeffrey Paradise, collectively known as "Poolside" - a name they thought of while listening to some new tracks in just that location. "DJ driven music and culture is not solely just about all things nocturnal; in fact, often a great majority of events I'm hired to DJ are for afternoon parties and networking functions set amongst beautiful  sunny terraces, rooftops with spectacular views, and of course, the great outdoors! "Poolside" are two dj/ musicians working in LA and at the forefront of a new and very popular music scene being called "daytime disco." Their music is a fresh take on daytime lounge sounds, combining just enough pop, with a retro disco flair, providing the perfect amount of energy without overwhelming the daylight with nighttime clubby, exub

Why Does "Amore" Sound So Much More Intriguing?

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Dear Friends, There is no denying that love declarations take on a completely different ring in a foreign language. No wonder remixer extraordinaire Bob Sinclair looked to Italy for this dance floor hit! Furthermore we love the fact that 69-year old Raffaella Carrà is still a star in the Latin and Russian world! "Amongst the many, many reasons I love being a DJ, the most important one is the sheer power of music to unite people from all over the world, together on a common neutral ground called the dance floor… this is not hyperbole… the magnitude of collective joy and love I've experienced and witnessed playing for every race, creed, nationality, age, and sexual orientation together in one room is one of a profoundly transformational nature…and fun of course!  That said, DJ/Producer Bob Sinclair's "Far l'Amore" is one of those tracks that manages to have that internationally translatable mass appeal. this may have something to do with the zesty "

Humming Along to A Favorite of The Royals

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Dear Friends, On our global search for upcoming talent, Matt went straight to the playlist of William and Kate - yes, those people in Kensington Palace. Ellie Golding was the artist invited to perform at their private wedding party after all that public kissing on the balcony had been gotten over with. "Ellie Goulding is fast becoming an international sensation, reaching the top of charts in Europe, Japan, the U.S. , China and Canada. Although released more than a year ago, "Lights" has become a humoungous hit, (so much so, that I caught my dear old grandmother singing it the other day !) with sales of over 2 million downloads in the U.S. alone, and certified double platinum by the Record Industry Association of America (RIAA). Don't be surprised if you catch yourself singing its lovely lilting melodic chorus out-loud unconsciously ! : ) DJ Matt Cornwall Don't be ashamed to hum along. It's infectious! Happy Monday and fingers crossed for our athlete

La Musique Pour Lundi - And A SEXY Video

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Chèrs Amis! We continue our Music-Around-The-Globe trip. Matt found a French gem this week, Justice - two Frenchmen who perform in English so we can understand. Being French, they included lots of pretty, art photography and skin in the video; bien sûr. Click to see. "Vive la France! The French have a long tradition as innovators and purveyors of inspired dance music, with many sub genres often falling into the category "French House" and the band "Justice" has been France's greatest successors of this great French tradition since the Daft Punk! Their latest single, "On N ON," produced by legendary hip hop impresario Rick Rubin, is a classy, well crafted gem, and accompanied by a stunningly slick and powerful music video! Ecoutez!" DJ Matt Cornwall Je vous souhaite une bonne semaine, Janet

Bringing TV's Top Game Shows To Life For A Summer Fest

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Dear Friends, Every now and then we plan an event that turns out just as we had imagined it in our optimistic brainstorming sessions! This is the case with our "Summer Picnic" we produced for a large company this past June. We expected over 12 000 guests over a two-day period at the Santa Anita Park – and everyone came to have fun!  We built a Summer Festival that could rival a County Fair – but we had to make sure to keep the guest flow going. No one wants long lines at an invitation. Blueprinting the infield was our first step before we installed many television show inspired games such as American Idol, Survivor, Minute it to Win it, Wipeout and Amazing Race. We used the very large infield to maximum advantage to spread out the attractions. Carousels, stage, games and dining areas were planned to encourage an easy flow. Thanks to Jean Jacques Pochet's wizardry – he managed to capture  the whole infield from the press box, disturbing some bewildered swallows

Queueing Up For The Games, Mates!

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Dear Friends, It seems that everyone we know is off to exotic locations this month. So we decided to go global with our music choices as well to see what gets other nations rocking. Heading straight over to rainy London  with our first musical trip. "This week we celebrate the Olympian spirit, London style, with a young British singer going by the name "Labrinth." Reaching #12 on the BBC charts, "Express Yourself" is a fun, fresh, new take on the classic soul funk groove original tune of the same name, written by "Charles Wright & the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band"  back in the summer of 1971. Labrinth premiered the song live during "Britain's Got Talent" and made a bit of a splash, with Maxumi Magazine commenting: "Labrinth's Kanye West like ability to make cracking use of samples that pay homage to their originators whilst forming the basis for inventive new tunes is spot on! " Cor blimey, that is a smashing man

Welcome Back, Kate Brack! Here Is Your Song for Daughter Mia.

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Dear Friends! We probably missed our Director of Floral and Event Design Kate Brack more than she missed us. Kate is returning to the office today - after taking a well deserved break for her best event yet: the birth of daughter Mia. Kate, husband Eric and Mia chose our song today. "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" is Mia's favorite. Kate:  "Mia Josephine Enjem made her debut on March 28th, 2012 at 8:11am. She put mom & dad to the test with 24 hours of labor but in the end it was more than worth it! She has been bright eyed and alert since day one and is already sleeping through the night!?! Her favorite activities are chill'in in her baby gym, going to swim class, taking long walks with her dog Beatrice and people watching at social events. She is our sun and moon and we are thrilled to introduce her to all of you! Thank you for all of your love, gifts and well wishes!"  xoxo,  Kate, Eric, Mia, Beatrice the Dog & Reggie the Cat (Beatr

Everyday Is The 4th of July!

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Dear Friends, We weren't quite sure whether this week warrants any blog posts since we are all thinking about BBQ and fireworks - but DJ Matt convinced us to celebrate Independence Day musically with a great Summer tune. "Well, call me corny.. (it wouldn't be the first time and my last name is Cornwall after all! ) I thought about posting songs most known for or with the title "4th of July " in them,  and most of them frankly don't quite light my fireworks that much if you get my drift : ) I'm a huge 70's lover at heart, and this particular song has always held a special place in it for all things Summer. This particular version of "Saturday In The Park" live in 1973, to me, is ample evidence of the sheer wattage and brilliance so many big bands of that decade were equipped with. If Chicago declares "everyday's a 4th of July" I think they've earned the right to represent this mighty little blog on the 4th, and to be pl

The 80ties Are Back - Premiering "Change Agents"

Dear Friends, It's undeniably an 80ties explosion and we love it! J.R. Ewing is once again winning the ratings race with the new "Dallas". Tom Cruise channels 1987 Rock Gods as Stacie Jaxx in the blockbuster Rock of Ages - and let's not forget that he became a movie star with "Top Gun" in 1986 - and the Sunset Strip really hasn't changed that much! DJ Matt has put his own spin on our favorite decade and he lets us premiere his new 80ties compilation. Tease your hair and put on the shoulder pads and get ready to rock! "That fabulous, funny, tacky, awesome, exciting, inventive decade called "the 80's" seems to be having yet another ride on the nostalgia wave, and rightly so… the 80's were nothing short of amazing (as evidenced by the youth of today copying verbatim, the look and sounds of them! ) To celebrate, please enjoy a side project of mine called "Change Agent" that makes videos composed of hundreds of video sam

What To Do With Cracked Wax Luminaries? Candles West Will Recycle!

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Dear Friends, We are lucky to work with team members who consider the environment. Our Director of Floral and Event Design Kate Brack and our Project Manager Michael Alvarado recently surveyed our inventory to check for defects and damage. They found a lot of damaged wax luminaries they did not just want to toss in the rubbish. Michael: "As you know we have been working with Candles West for many years now. I spoke to Patty Henningsen and Jason Munsayac and they decided to take back our old wax and recycle it." Our warehouse team packed! The truck left for Phoenix. It was quite a surprise for Candles West! Jason Munsayac wrote: All of us here at Candles West would like to thank you and your staff for your commitment to the environment by saving, sorting and shipping more than 2,000 lbs of candle wax back to us for recycling and re-purposing. We were very surprised to see that much wax from one customer.       I wanted to share with you the process we use when we rece

We Are Grateful To Be Featured in Event Solutions Magazine

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Dear Friends, We are happy to share Event Solution Magazine's article about our Hooray Los Angeles Gala. The event took place in late April. Naturally a time of year that should be considered "safe" for outdoor event planning in Los Angeles. But Murphy's Law applied and a storm blew in. Here is "Earth Wind Fire and Rain" Thank you for reading! Janet All Photo Credits: Nadine Froger Photography.

Happy Five-O to The Beach Boys!

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Dear Friends! What better way to start the Summer but with a tune by the quintessential California band, the venerable Beach Boys! No one conjures up surf, sand and BBQ better than them. "The Beach Boys are in that rare, exotic league of bands that have managed to cast their musical net over everyone, from every age demographic, to the hip …and not so hip, the world over; and they are still riding that endless wave 50 years later with a brand new full album release called " That's Why God Made The Radio." Being from Southern California, and growing up near the very beaches the boys of have been singing about over the decades, I am admittedly very partial to their music, and the title song from this new release makes me want to sing their praises just like they do; but alas, I cannot sing like the Beach Boys, nor can many others for that matter, and that is truly why they sound as good as they did 50 years ago, catching a wave and sitting on top of the world.

BiH: The Emerging Dance Club Hit of the Summer!

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Dear Friends, SynthPop is where it's at in the Club Scene  and - you guessed it - we only learn about it from DJ Matt who stays up late working the dance floors. This tune is fast becoming the club hit of the summer. Close your eyes and imagine the pulsing rhythms on a high tech sound system. "As summer quickly approaches, Psychedelic electro-rockers "Bear in Heaven"  heat things up even more with their scintillating new album out now called "I Love You, It's Cool" and "Reflections of You" is the new single. "BiH," hailing from Brooklyn (where so many new bands come from these days and never seem to stop working :) are sure to have a hit with this track. The splashy synths and club beat has been scientifically designed to ignite hip shaking. "Reflections of You" is an introverted jam in an extroverts clothes. It'll get ya tapping ya toe fo sho! : )"  ~  DJ Matt Cornwall Wishing you a great week! Janet

DJ Matt Caught La Havas Fever!

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Dear Friends! Since Queen Elizabeth is celebrating her Jubilee as we speak (now wouldn't that be an event to produce?!), we are especially happy about Matt's choice from across the pond. Always busy researching new material and new artists; he came across London-born and based Lianne La Havas. Her debut album won't even be released until July 9, 2012 so this is really fresh! "Riding the new wave of British female soul singers taking the world over (think late Amy Winehouse and Adele) with their sultry, earthy, from the heart honey coated voices and honesty is Lianne La Havas. At a mere 22 years of age, this neo soul singer is blessed with a gorgeously smooth voice, and true to form in this new / old school, lyrically feels like an old soul, chock full of sweet melancholic wisdom. I predict big things for this artist, especially with such a compelling hook contained within this song and guarantee heavy iPod rotation upon hearing!~ " : ) DJ Matt Cornwall Wish

Starting the Short Week With Kimbra, Mark Foster and A-Trak

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Dear Friends! She already made her mark with Gotye and Katie Rogers predicted success right then for the New Zealand born vocalist. Check Kimbra out in her Warrior Official Video with Mark Foster and A-Trak. "3 of my favorite new artists have teamed up as part of a launch by Converse footwear to promote a collection of seasonal colors, and sparking quite a colorful and exciting collaboration as a result. Mark Foster, of "Foster The People,"(the band behind the huge hit "Pumped Up Kicks")  "Kimbra" (the now famous female voice in Gotye's "Somebody I Used to Know") and world famous Canadian based DJ A-Trak produce a fantastic, highly synergetic track (and equally amusing video) called "Warrior." Converse has done these music -product launch series in the past (one of them being "Gorillaz," James Murphy of "LCD Soundsystem" and Andre 3000 of "Outkast") so def. recommend keeping an eye out in th

It's Only Rock'n Roll - But We Like It!! Meet New Band Rival Sons

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Dear Friends! This one is a surprise from DJ Matt Cornwall! New band, new song but good ole rock'n roll! Get ready to  shake your hair to the rhythms of Rival Son! "Rival Sons is a new band with unending classic rock influences. I took to them right away after accidentally going down a youtube hole and landing on their page and loving the singer Jay Buchanan's voice and 70's long hair. Though they kick up the mud and have the bluesy feel of The Black Keys, they sound a bit grungy, a bit classic, a bit soulful, but most of all, original. In other words, it’s hard to find who else they sound like in modern times, which helps make their debut album Pressure And Time more enjoyable than it already is. I've been playing their video at various gigs here and abroad and am always asked about who they are, from both men and women. Viva la Rock ! "  -DJ  Matt Cornwall  Wishing you a great week! Janet

Our "Alice in Wonderland" Photos Are Featured in Special Event!

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Dear Friends! Alice in Wonderland (Scottsdale, AZ with Kuoni) still rates among our personal favorites because we had such creative license to reproduce the whimsical world of Tim Burton. We are very grateful to Lisa Hurley for featuring us in the Special Events' Photo Gallery . Very best! Janet

Just Putting Some Fun Pep in Your Step - Deadmau5

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Dear Friends! Up and at them! Today, our hard traveling friend DJ Matt Cornwall (Santiago, Chile and San Juan, Puerto Rico in just the last 10 days, with stops in L.A. in between) has chosen a song that always re-energizes him. Just pure musical upbeat fun! Deadmau5 with Chris James - The Veldt. "Over the years being a music selector for many different kinds of needs, I often have a sort of check list that I put songs through to see if they "make the cut" for a particular event, etc. This new "Deadmau5" track, I'm happy to say, has definitely made the cut and then some! Some of the criteria of my check list for a song : 1. uplifting, positive {no doom and gloom, unless it's doom and gloomed themed } ~ check 2. new fresh original authentic sound ~ check 3. works on and off the dance floor ~ check  4. young and old can dig it : ) ~ check {but will ask my mom to see if she can bop to it }  5. down right pleasant ~ check  See what you think, I

Mother's Day Crash Course from Our Floral Designer Ariel Zazueta

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Dear Mothers and dear Friends! It seems that our friends and family members all expect wonderfully artsy decorations just because we are in the event industry. We admit that some of us have nothing but thumbs in this regard. The topic of what to get our moms came up this week and Project Manager Michael Alvarado and Floral Designer Ariel Zazueta volunteered to help. Here their crash course on how to quickly and easily create a gorgeous bouquet -  with flowers most of us will find in our gardens. 1)  Organize your flowers and greens in vases. 2) Loop and staples your tropical leaves and lilli greens 3) Leave-line your vase 4) Start by creating a triangle with your largest floral 5) Add your next floral also in triangular shape This is an example of a triangle arrangement seen from above. 6) Follow your sense of style 7) Mist the finished bouquet for freshness Extra tip: adding mint or rosemary adds a wonderful aroma to your bouquet! And voilà, your bouquet is r

Homage to Beastie Boy Adam "MCA" Yauch

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Dear Friends, Sometimes it takes sad news to realize how much a band's music is part of the sound track of our lives. All of us old enough to have lived through the 80ties still smile when we hear "Fight for the Right to Party". By the 90ties, Adam Yauch became a force for Tibetan freedom, mindfulness, peace and understanding; and he was the first rapper who spoke these words: "I want to say a little something that's long overdue/ The disrespect to women has got to be through/ To all mothers and sisters and the wives and friends/ I want to offer my love and respect to the end." "Adam "MCA" Yauch will be fondly remembered by yours truly after seeing The Beastie Boys on tour for their record "Hello Nasty" {from which this video and track "body movin" is from } back in 1998 in NYC.  I've always had a special kinship with The Beasties' as they, like myself, have had a great love for finding rare grooves and obscu

Happy Birthday Song for Katie Rogers!

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Dear Friends! We have to admit that our in-house "Aussie", Katie Rogers, was first to mention a by now famous new breakout star after her last trip to her homeland - long before we knew him. Katie heard "Someone I used to know" and predicted major success and she is right! Gotye went from playing the small El Rey in February - and yes, Katie was in the audience that night - to packing Coachella and the Nokia at L.A. LIVE just three months later. Tomorrow we will be celebrating her birthday, so here it goes: Happy Birthday, Katie! "Gotye’s music has been compared to that of Sting and Peter Gabriel, and with good reason. Not only is his sound nostalgic and bold, but Gotye is a contemporary artist that, to the inexperienced, could   feasibly belong to any era from the 1970s right up until the present day. "Somebody that I Used To Know" is a world wide wild fire anthem for good reason; It's flawless. The song is compelling enough with its in

EventWorks Is Buzzing With Anticipation! Earth Wind & Fire Live This Week!

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Dear Friends! There is a special buzz going through the office this week! We are busily setting up for "Hooray Los Angeles", the Final Night Closing Party for the 2012 International Pow Wow. We are expecting 3,500 guests and a lot of amazing entertainment but the main live concert is something we are all especially looking forward to! Courtesy of the Grammy Museum, Earth Wind & Fire will take the stage and we will all stay late, whether we have to or not! Read below how DJ Matt feels about the legendary EWF! "Probably one of the hardest things I've been asked to do in recent history is having to choose one, just one,  Earth Wind & Fire song, out of a catalog of 20 studio albums, 4 live albums, and 62 singles,   and with a music career spanning over 40 years. And PS, in my book, you'd be pretty hard pressed to find an actual bad EWF song. Seriously. Scientists have recently discovered that the music of EWF   is just as potent and powerful as any e

No More Blues for Michael Alvarado!

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Dear Friends. Thanks to those handy Facebook apps we are successfully stalking our humble co-workers who don't like to make a fuss about their special days. Of course, we should remember birthdays anyway but we admit to memory loss in that regard. Just in time we discovered that our Design Production Manager Michael Alvarado has reason to celebrate today! Very Happy Birthday, Michael! No getting away from us without a moment to toast! Michael, a man of boundless creativity (check out the  artwork quilts he makes in his little spare time to recharge his batteries), chose Coati Mundi to serenade him today. "Happy Birthday to our dear friend Michael Alvarado! I've been truly privileged to work with the Über talented Michael, in countless cities for many years, and of those many talents, is his superb taste and skill as a music selector. True to form, please enjoy Michael's pick from the artist Coati Mundi.  With over 30 years of musical mileage under his belt, C

Take Musical Flight With Andrew Bird

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Dear Friends, Trust DJ Matt, you will love singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Andrew Bird if you don't know him, yet. And we don't just say that because Andrew and Janet share Chicago as their hometown. Catch him at Coachella on the 14th and 21st if you have your tickets. Both days are sold out! "Andrew Bird is a like a rare exotic bird; his music migrates to any  land it fancies, it's flight is bright from bursting vivid hues of audible plumage. Trust me, you will become a bird watcher, or   listener, if you are not already, after experiencing the sensation of   his musical wingspan."  : ) ~ dj matt cornwall Wishing you a wonderful week! Janet

A Feast For Ears and Eyes: OneRepublic

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Dear Friends! We recently had the pleasure of working with OneRepublic. A huge success! We love their video, and we are not alone! Nearly 45 million views on YouTube - WOW! Music and video are a feast for the senses. "I've had the great pleasure of working with Eventworks dj'ing along with a favorite performer of theirs, OneRepublic and Ryan Tedder, and thought it befitting to share one of their songs. Whether performing his acoustic set or with the band OneRepublic, Ryan is simply a hoot! His music live comes straight from the heart, as do his fun and funny anecdotes, trials and tribulations and overall hilarious and touching stories of life on the exciting grammy award winning singer/songwriter road. : ) ~ DJ Matt Cornwall  Wishing you all a week free of trials and tribulations! Janet

Janet and Steve's Big Week!

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Dear Friends! Today marks the 35th wedding anniversary for Janet and Steve Elkins! To celebrate the momentous occasion we asked about their Special Song. It turns out to be ACE with "How Long Has This Been Going On". Befitting, don't you think, for two introspective and intellectual types who probably did not take it for granted way back when that they would celebrate this many years as husband and wife today! We will play their tune! But wait, there is more reason to celebrate! Tomorrow is Steve's birthday and on the 28th is Janet's turn to blow out the candles on her cake! It's a three day party but do not worry, we are at work! "A couple things about this song. 1: this is definitely in my top 5 all time favorite one hit wonders from the 70's! Its  gorgeous wistful hook /chorus  is still as captivating today as it was when it came out 38 years ago {and still rocks with its heavy lead guitar part breakdown in the middle of the song! } ...

Putting Some "Spring" In Our Dancing Steps! See and Hear Giraffage "Visible"

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Dear Friends, While we froze our derrières off in Los Angeles this past weekend we cannot deny the fact that the first Day of Spring is tomorrow. We hope that temperatures will climb back up into the 60ties to get closer to the tropical weather Chicagoans are experiencing right now. We asked Matt to select a video that gets us over our cold weather blues and into the mood for sunny, warm days to come. Our Spring soundtrack so to speak. Hear the birds chirping! "Spring is here, and what better way to celebrate then with some fresh new original music! Although seemingly quite young, the artist known as "giraffage " feels like an old soul when it comes to making music. His unique approach to what can definitely be described as the New School of electronic music, combines deep sultry low end bass sounds, interesting atmospheric  natural outdoorsy sounds, with a healthy dose of vintage "Earth Wind & Fire" like funk/soul/R&B for super sweet goo

The Quintessential Los Angeles St. Patrick's Dinner Recipe

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Dear Friends! We are feeling quite Irish this week! We checked in with our friend Richard Mooney from Kensington Caterers to find out what delicacies they are preparing for St. Paddy's. You see, Richard is Irish living in Los Angeles and our friends at Kensington are known for their amazing innovative dishes and high quality. Sure enough, Richard's chefs Michael O'Sullivan and Marvin O'Herrera came up with the quintessential L.A. St. Patrick Day Dinner: the Nuevo Irish Lamb Stew ! Richard: "The recipe is a twist on a very classic Irish recipe with a little Latin twist, inspired by our neighbors to the South and it is really delicious - we served it just recently at an US Ireland Alliance pre- Academy Awards event and it was a big hit." We will try it! Chefs Michael and Marvin SAINT PATRICK’S DAY CELEBRATION "NUEVO IRISH LAMB STEW WITH PARSLEY GREMOLATA AND CRACKED BLACK PEPPER CREMA" INGREDIENTS : 1 CUP OLIVE OIL 6 LBS WE

Sending You All Some Green Love And Irish Music

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Dear Friends, By the end of this week, everyone will feel a little Irish - or at least wear green and down a pint of ale. We are getting a head start on the party and we asked Matt to pick something Irish. It turns out that our DJ is part Irish himself. Feel free to send him some love! You can find Matt on Facebook . "Happy St. Patty's Day from DJ Matt Cornwall! Being that I am a quarter Irish, I'm not only entitled to celebrate twice as much as non Irish people , but I get to be picky about what music should be played ! : ) Two Door Cinema Club are some nice young men from Ireland (somewhat following a tad in the footsteps of another band of nice young men from Ireland with the letter U and the numeral 2 ) making charged passionate original rock dance music while managing to invoke and incorporate seamlessly, what can only be described as a pastiche or blend of various brands of something distinctly Irish in sound ...see if you can hear hints of various legendary I