Fiesta! - Jess and Ben married....

I often say that Silverball Leisure doesn't tend to get booked for "ordinary" weddings - there is always something a bit quirky about the ones we are asked to do, and this was no exception!

Jess and Ben had a wedding that seemed quite close to a festival - they even had festival caterers!  A marquee reception in a quirky walled garden, outside games, BBQ reception, pizzas and chips for later - this wedding was so laid back yet so well organised.

For our part we arrived early so we were all set up before the guests arrived.  This allowed us to not only get all the work done and tidied up but also to provide background music (supplied by the Bride's sister) a microphone for the MC (absolute natural) and speeches as well as providing back up and support to the running of the day

First dance, then father daughter dance and a few tunes as a warm up to the band that the bride had also booked  - then a hour and a half break!  Once the band had finished it was back on with the tunes and a busy dance floor right up until 2am!

Jess had supplied a great playlist to work with, and just 10 "must play" songs, as well as very personal "last 4".  We actually did the finish early as some guests were beginning to leave, but then carried on partying and repeated those songs at 2am

Weddings are such a privilege to work at, and this one was so much fun - and it was great to meet and work closely with some fabulous suppliers who were all so friendly and flexible, even helping to load each others vans in the early hours!

Get The (kids) Party Started

Although we focus mainly on weddings, we are also rather special at Children's Parties too!  Like much of what we do, the content and method is based on seeing things that don't work - and changing it!
If you simply put on music for children, many of them won't dance, because they don't know how to, they are shy or they are being distracted.  The very simple way to deal with this is to teach them the dance steps - and yet most DJs don't do this!
We don't believe in making a party into a competition, so fewer games, our emphasis is on interaction and involvement for all
Recently I had the absolute delight of entertaining at my own God daughter's 7th birthday party, and this is how we went about it!

To Start
Interaction, Interaction, Interaction.  Simple dances at first to get everyone involved and to use up their excited energy.  The dances get a little harder as we progress stage by stage.  Drop in a small competition - who can go craziest to the song Aisy Waisy (lets go crazy).  Although this is a "contest" it is open to all, as it doesn't require any skill - in fact there are bonus points for falling over! (although we don't tell them that)

 A party isn't a party without a game, so we introduce Musical Bumps - again it is simple, its up tempo and it keeps the energy levels up.  When a child is "out" we bring out three puppets.  First children hold the puppets, subsequent children choose a "team" to go to - so we never actually use the word "out"

Just before food time we get the musical instruments out and have a bit of a carnival, and a line lead all round the room by the birthday child.  This gets the children into a line, ready to sit at the table or collect their food - Parents tend to love this idea!

After they eat, jumping around would be a BAD idea!  We then do a seated activity - we have a hilarious story, parachute play or a very fast version of pass the parcel to choose from

The final part of the party is the disco proper - lights down, disco lights up and play the birthday child's favourite songs.  Throw in some cheerleader pom poms and you have a high energy end to the party - just as all the parents arrive to collect!  The pom poms make for a great final photo too!

There you have it - party the Silverball Leisure way.  No "dance competitions", no bored children and no stress for you!  We have plenty of other activities not covered here - just ask if you'd like to know more!

Hello Again....

It is lovely to get positive reviews, thank you cards, kind comments, even recommendations - but nothing beats being asked to DJ for  family again...and again!

Around 4 years ago I was honoured to be asked to DJ for Carly and Andrew's wedding at the Preston Cross Hotel in Great Bookham (one of the last weddings ever held there) and this weekend I was delighted to be the DJ for Carly's surprise 30th birthday party.  It was of course lovely to see them both again - and many family and guests who remembered the great night we'd had - but most of all, a true delight to meet their very cheeky daughter!

From the wedding 2014...

...to 30th Birthday

And a beautiful daughter!

A surprise party is never an easy thing to organise, much planning and subterfuge is required.  I asked Andrew how he' managed to pull it off

"Just lied"

And that is probably the most accurate advice I could give anyone planning a surprise party!

"Just Lied..."

So we partied, we cut cake, we ate pizza, we danced to a wide range of (mostly cheesy) music and we rounded off the night for the die-hards with  some classic Ibiza tunes!

More pictures can be seen on our Facebook page and videos are on YouTube

Carly's Surprise Party - the arrival!