Mixing Like A Mad Man

Lately, I've been posting mixes on my Soundcloud page.

You can visit me to download my mixes and listen to other songs I like by going here:

soundcloud.com/stevecroce

Are you here to download Side B of the Jump On The Bed mix? Right click here and choose "Save As..." to get it.

Not sure what I'm talking about?

To celebrate the relaunch of BrandCamp, I was asked to provide a custom mix of songs that make you want to get funky and turn it loose. While not all the tracks on Side B are brand spankin new, they're pretty cool nonetheless. Turn it up.Permalink

The Knot Best of Weddings Hall Of Fame

More great news! Silver Sound is the first ever DJ company in the Philadelphia area to be included in The Knot Best of Weddings Hall of Fame! Thank you to all our past brides and grooms who helped us to receive this prestigious recognition!Permalink

Wedding Wire Couples Choice Award

WeddingWire, the nation’s leading online wedding marketplace, is thrilled to announce that Silver Sound has been selected as a winner of the prestigious WeddingWire Couples’ Choice Awards™ 2014 for DJ Services in Philadelphia!

The esteemed annual awards program recognizes the top five percent of wedding professionals in the WeddingWire Network who demonstrate excellence in quality, service, responsiveness and professionalism. Silver Sound’s selection as a Choice Awards™ 2014 winner was selected based on the positive experiences expressed by past clients on WeddingWire, the world’s largest wedding review site with over one million reviews. While many industry awards are given by the host organization, the WeddingWire Couples’ Choice Awards™ 2014 winners are determined solely based on reviews from real newlyweds and their experiences working with Silver Sound.

The WeddingWire Couples’ Choice Awards™ 2014 are given to the top local wedding vendors in more than 20 service categories, from wedding venues to wedding photographers, based on professional achievements from the previous year. Award-winning vendors are distinguished for the quality, quantity, consistency and timeliness of the reviews they have received from their past clients.  As a WeddingWire Couples’ Choice Awards™ 2014 winner, Silver Sound is highlighted within the WeddingWire Network, which is comprised of over 200,000 wedding professionals throughout the United States, Canada and abroad.

"Each year, WeddingWire looks forward to celebrating the success of the top-rated wedding professionals within the WeddingWire Network," said Timothy Chi, CEO, WeddingWire. "Now in its fifth year, the Couples’ Choice Awards™ program continues to recognize the elite wedding professionals who exemplify a commitment to quality, service and professionalism. These businesses were chosen by our bridal community for their responsiveness and dedication to their clients over the past year. We are honored to recognize Silver Sound for their impressive achievements within the wedding industry."
Silver Sound is thrilled to be one of the top DJ Companies in the WeddingWire Network of sites, which include leading wedding sites such as WeddingWire, Project Wedding, Brides.com, Martha Stewart Weddings, and Weddingbee. We would like to thank our past clients for taking the time to review our business on WeddingWire. We value all of our clients and truly appreciate the positive feedback that helped us earn the WeddingWire Bride’s Choice Awards® for 2013.

For more information about Silver Sound, click Philadelphia Wedding DJ.

To learn more about the Bride’s Choice Awards®, please visit WeddingWire.com.

About WeddingWire, Inc.
WeddingWire®, the nation’s leading marketplace serving the $70 billion wedding industry, is the only online wedding planning resource designed to empower both engaged couples and wedding professionals. For engaged couples, WeddingWire offers the ability to search, compare and book over 200,000 reviewed wedding vendors, from wedding venues to wedding photographers. WeddingWire also offers a comprehensive suite of online planning tools for weddings, including wedding websites and wedding checklists, all at no charge. For wedding professionals, WeddingWire is the only all-in-one marketing platform for businesses online and on-the-go. WeddingWire offers one simple solution to build a professional network, improve search visibility, manage social media and reach mobile consumers. Businesses that advertise with WeddingWire appear on WeddingWire.com, ProjectWedding.com and other leading sites, including MarthaStewartWeddings.com (NYSE: MSO), Brides.com and Weddingbee.com.Permalink

Black Label DJ

Silver Sound is now considered Black Label quality by WeddingWire.com! How cool is that?! Permalink

Silver Sound named 2013 Best of The Main Line - Party DJ

Main Line Today’s July issue, which highlights it's annual "Best of the Main Line and Western Suburbs" feature, hit the newsstands last Friday.

Each year, the July issue of Main Line Today features the best that the area has to offer, including over 250 readers’ and editors’ picks.

To celebrate the achievement, a party will be held at Drexelbrook on Thursday, July 18 from 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. This dress to impress event is one of the most popular parties on the Main Line, drawing over 1,500 guests each year.

More importantly, the Best of the Main Line and Western Suburbs Party raises funds for a worthy, local cause through a silent auction the night of the event. All of the proceeds from the silent auction will benefit The Devereux Foundation. Many of the participants and other local businesses have generously provided auction items and packages to help support the cause. Proceeds from the party have provided tens of thousands of dollars in donations to charitable organizations to date.

"We’re happy to support our community partner, The Devereux Foundation," says JB Braun, Publisher of Main Line Today magazine. "We’re proud to play an active role in giving back in the community where we live, work and play."Permalink

Studio Time Tonight!

Tonight, I'll be heading into the studios at Silver Sound to record a chapter for an audio book!

The book is The Mobile DJ MBA, written by Stacy Zemon.

Stacy Zemon is a self-described serial entrepreneur, a distinguished industry leader who is widely considered an authority on the DJ business, a veteran disc jockey, writer for DJ Times magazine and author of the world’s best-selling DJ books: The Mobile DJ Handbook and The DJ Sales & Marketing Handbook.

Upon the release of the audio book, I'll be able to state proudly:

Recognized for talent and professionalism, Steve Croce of Silver Sound is featured in The Mobile DJ MBA – The best-selling audio book for disc jockeys.

How cool is that?!?!Permalink

Fresh! 2010 - ISES Greater Philadelphia Chapter Industry Showcase

Next Wednesday, March 24th, Silver Sound will serve as sponsors for this year's ISES Greater Philadelphia Chapter Industry Showcase, Fresh! 2010, held at the luxurious Elkins Estate in Elkins Park, PA.

The Mission of ISES (International Special Events Society) is to educate, advance and promote the special events industry and its network of professionals along with related industries.

To that end, they strive to uphold the integrity of the special events profession to the general public through their "Principles of Professional Conduct and Ethics", acquire and disseminate useful business information, foster a spirit of cooperation among its members and other special events professionals, and cultivate high standards of business practices.

Silver Sound is honored to take part in this year's big event!
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I'm in the Philadelphia Wedding Project!

I have just been welcomed to participate in the Philadelphia Wedding Project!

Jennifer Childress, Joy Moody, Pete Malone, Ryan Estes, Sofia Negron and Geoff Horowitz have gotten together to provide one couple an amazing photography package for their wedding day. The Philadelphia Wedding Project will provide one couple, who is getting married in 2010 or early 2011, with a package including an Engagement Session, Boudoir Session (if desired), all-day wedding day coverage, a custom-designed album, two parent albums and an online proofing gallery. The photographers are looking for a deserving couple who makes a difference in people's lives, has perhaps overcome great odds, gives selflessly to their community or has a unique love story that should be shared.

For more information on the Philadelphia Wedding Project and the photographers, check out their website. To submit your story email them at stories@philadelphiaweddingproject.com

I am extremely honored to be recognized by the Philadelphia Wedding Project as an individual worthy of one lucky couple's considerations for their entertainment needs.

To show my thanks, I am offering the winning couple 20% off my standard wedding presentation. This includes a premium Bose-grade sound system, four lighting effects for their dancing hours, two "Creative Consultations", and 24-hour customer service.Permalink

Best of Project Wedding

This morning, we had a very pleasant surprise arrive in our mailbox.

The professionals at Project Wedding notified us this morning that Silver Sound had been selected as a winner of the 2008 Best of Project Wedding awards.

To be honest, I was not familiar with Project Wedding until this morning. After taking a brief look at the web site, it looks similar to Wedding Wire and includes reviews!

Check it out here: projectwedding.comPermalink

I'm in DJ Times Magazine!

Click here to read the Mobile Profile of the Month in DJ Times Magazine featuring a story about me and Silver Sound DJ Gaetano Bosco!

DJ Times is a professional DJ magazine that specializes in directing DJs with their careers in fields that include nightclub work, mobile work and remixing. Every month they select one DJ (in this case, two) from across the nation to profile their career and where they're future is headed.

It's a great honor!

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Rest In Peace, Bruce Keslar

Bruce Keslar, founder of the National Association of Mobile Entertainers, passed away last Saturday while returning home from his son's wedding reception.

Bruce started N.A.M.E. with one purpose: "To provide mobile entertainers access to all the tools they need to build, grow, and sustain their businesses."

All my thoughts and prayers go out to Bruce's family during this time of sadness.

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE FROM N.A.M.E. - Celebrating the Life of Bruce Keslar

Dear NAME Members, Sponsors, friends and family,

It is with extreme sadness that we announce the passing of Bruce Keslar, founder and National Director of NAME this past Saturday May 17th 2008. Bruce suffered a massive heart attack and passed on at Montgomery County Hospital.

Bruce dedicated his mind, body, soul and his life to the entertainment industry. Bruce was the founder and driving force behind both the original ADJA and more recently of NAME, as well as the recipient of The Lifetime Achievement Award from Mobile Beat Magazine for his dedication and tireless work within the DJ and Entertainment Industry. Additionally, Bruce loved working as an entertainer and performed at over 2000 weddings during his 30 year entertainment career. On a daily basis Bruce continually sought to grow and enhance the DJ entertainment industry through strategic networking agreements, education, and reputable top quality entertainer benefits.

His vision and legacy lives on today thru NAME (National Association of Mobile Entertainers), which is quite possibly one of his proudest business accomplishments. NAME's ongoing growth, existing strength and responsive corporate staff are a testament to Bruce's vision and fortitude. The Association has been in the Keslar family for 17 years and will very proudly remain in the Keslar family. Carol his wife, whom many of you have most likely met at numerous conventions, will assume a more active corporate role as President. She will continue to be involved with Bruce's best intention and will continue in making Bruce's lifetime achievements grow even stronger.

Beth Price, who has been with NAME for over 7 years, will lead on a daily basis in the role of Managing National Director. Since NAME is still the only association with a full time staff, all operations, benefits and programs will remain intact and active, as Bruce would have wanted it. There will be no interruption in coverage's, renewals or new company, affiliate or corporate member enrollment. A more detailed corporate press release outlining our staff and modified responsibilities will appear on our web site within the next few days and an overview/tribute of Bruce's life will appear in our next magazine issue.

For questions or concerns feel free to contact our national office, however, we respectfully request that items not of immediate concern wait until we finish celebrating his life.

Bruce left behind a loving wife, Carol, 4 children and 7 granddaughters. We will all be celebrating the life of Bruce Keslar on Tuesday, May 27th, 10am to 12pm at the John R. Freed Funeral Home located on 124 N. Easton Rd. in Glenside, PA 19038.

Immediately following the viewing we will proceed to for the burial at The Hillside Cemetery on the corner of Susquehanna and Easton Rd. in Roslyn, PA.

If you are planning on attending the viewing or burial please contact NAME headquarters at 800.434.8274 or email NAME@nameentertainers.com.

In respect for the Keslar family any gifts or cards can be sent to:

349 N. York Rd. Suite 220
Willow Grove, PA 19090

The Autism Society of America will also be accepting donations in the name of Bruce Keslar on behalf of his granddaughter whom he deeply loved. NAME Headquarters will be closed Tuesday May 27th in remembrance of Bruce.

Sincerely,

The Entire Staff and Advisory board of the National Association of Mobile Entertainers

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2008 Best of The Knot Announced!

From finding the gown shop with the best service in Boston to the most professional wedding photographers in New York, Chicago's top cakes, and L.A.'s best-rated reception sites-wouldn't every engaged couple like to know the inside scoop from recent brides in their area?

The Knot, the #1 wedding website and most trusted multimedia wedding authority, announced the arrival on newsstands of The Knot Best of Weddings magazine, a "by brides for brides" guide to the top wedding sites, photographers, florists, and more in over 40 key cities across the United States.

Among the list of picks was Silver Sound!

The Knot conducted a massive survey of 25,000 recent brides and grooms-the first of its kind-to capture detailed feedback on every wedding business that couples hired, from reception sites to planners, cakes and limo companies. The newlyweds were asked to rate their vendors on multiple criteria, from creativity to professionalism, and to comment on their experiences. The resulting ratings-and detailed feedback-were aggregated by the editors of The Knot to create this one-of-a-kind publication highlighting the best wedding resources in each region according to local brides. The survey was administered by Harris Interactive.

Is that awesome or what?!?!?

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March of Dimes - March For Babies

The March of Dimes will have its annual Walk For Babies (formerly WalkAmerica) on April 26, 2008 at Kerr Park in Downingtown, PA.

The name has changed, but the goal remains the same. We're walking for the health of ALL babies!

I would like to invite everyone reading this to join me by signing up today! There is no set cost, just a request for you to set a goal to raise as much as you can for the event!

For more information regarding this event or ways to contribute to the efforts of The March of Dimes, please visit marchofdimes.com or visit marchforbabies.org and click "Sign Up as an Individual".

I hope to see you there!

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The Bridal Event at RiverCrest Golf Club

On Saturday, March 1st, join Silver Sound at The Bridal Event bridal show, hosted in the luxurious RiverCrest Golf Club & Preserve!

In addition to meeting some of the Delaware Valley's best wedding professionals, enjoying the decadent hors d'oeuvre and dessert spread from the chefs at RiverCrest Golf Club, and seeing some of the most current fashions in bridal gowns, bridesmaid dresses, and mens formalwear, you can also win:

A gift certificate to Le Bec-Fin, round-trip airline tickets, a live makeover, and prizes for grooms like DVD Players and free tuxedos!

Every bride will also receive a $5.00 coupon towards the name change service MissNowMrs.com, a $100.00 gift certificate from Philadelphia Diamond Company, and a free one-year subscription to Modern Bride magazine!

For tickets to the Bridal Event on March 1, call (610) 917-9300 and mention Silver Sound to get two tickets for the price of one!

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Magic Moments Bridal Show

Join me, Silver Sound CEO Paul Evans, and Silver Sound DJ Gaetano Bosco on Sunday, February 24th, 2008 from 11:00 AM until 1:00 PM in the Radisson Hotel Valley Forge's Grand Ballroom and the luxurious Waterford Room!

All Brides will be eligible to win great gifts, savor some fabulous hors d'oeuvres, meet many area vendors (including the area's finest photographers, creative florists and best entertainment, and enjoy a Fashion Show with the most elegant bridal gowns and the most handsome tuxedos from 1:00 PM until 2:00 PM!

You can also tour the Radisson's luxurious ballrooms and enter to win great door prizes!

I hope to see you there! You can make your reservations today by calling 610-354-8220 or registering online here! Tickets are $5 in advance, $10 at the door.

Click here to see some photos from the Radisson Hotel Valley Forge's Grand Ballroom and The Waterford!

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2008 Small Miracles Award Dinner And Casino Night

The Center for Autism will host its annual Small Miracles Award Dinner and Casino Night on April 17, 2008 at the Hyatt Regency Philadelphia at Penn’s Landing.

Rep. Dennis M. O’Brien, board member and speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, will receive the Small Miracles Award for his passionate commitment to improving the quality of life for people with autism.

I will be providing the music for this event and would like to invite everyone reading this to attend! The cost of a single ticket is $150, but you may also sponsor the event monetarily up to $10,000.

For more information regarding this event or ways to contribute to the efforts of The Center for Autism, please call 215-878-3400 or visit them online at thecenterforautism.org.

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APWWSC Best of 2007 Weddings

When looking at numerous magazine reviews and online articles about facilities to host a wedding reception, I have often wondered "Who writes these reviews?".

I don't think a majority of those reviews are completely helpful, because they are mostly written by individuals who haven't truly experienced an actual wedding reception in the places they're writing about. With that in mind, I have taken it upon myself to consider the venues I have provided wedding entertainment direction in this year and have come up with what I feel are the "cream of the crop".

In each category, I have not played favorites or written over flattering words. The winners I selected below are who I consider most deserving. Please note, I have not played in every facility in Philadelphia this year, thus not every facility in Philadelphia had a fair chance at winning. No hard feelings to those not mentioned below.

With that, I present to you, the APWWSC (A Philadelphia Wedding With Steve Croce) Best of 2007 Weddings Winners:

Caterer of the Year
Robert Ryan Catering - Web Site

Robert Ryan Catering exhausts every effort to make certain their clients leave their catered events feeling completely satiated. While some caterers take it upon themselves to reinvent menus, offering exotic and overly-refined finger foods, Robert Ryan serves traditional and comforting cuisine that suits everyone's palette. Family-owned and operated, this caterer is all heart with outstanding presentation and a commitment to execute flawless events.

Contact: Stephanie Ryan - 610.933.6336 - Email

Country Club of the Year
RiverCrest Golf Club & Preserve - Web Site

In 2006, the RiverCrest Golf Club & Preserve opened their doors, greeted with extremely high expectations. Located in the constantly growing Chester County area, their audience would be great and any failure to deliver would be scrutinized. They not only surpassed projections, but exploded onto the scene offering luxurious accommodations and intense attentiveness to detail. Having a wedding hosted at RiverCrest Golf Club & Preserve is an unspoken guarantee to the success of the event.

Contact: Ann Marie Jackson - 610.933.4700 Ext. 106 - Email

Hotel Ballroom of the Year
The Waterford at Valley Forge Radisson - Web Site

Also in 2006, after 25 years of bringing Las Vegas style shows to Valley Forge, Lily Langtry's Victorian Restaurant and Showplace closed it's doors making way for The Waterford, a luxurious, ultrachic multi-level ballroom, featuring extraordinary style and first class sophistication. The very-apparent focus of their team of sales and service managers, combined with their award-winning chefs, is to provide 100% satisfaction for the bride & groom, as well as their guests.

Contact: Clem Pascarella - 610.354.8220 - Email

Best Service Staff
Springfield Country Club - Web Site

Here is something the bride and groom don't often consider: How nice/helpful will the banquet staff be to the other professionals in the room? You can be certain, when a banquet director or member of the service staff is being rude and discourteous to the photographer or the entertainment, it can sometimes detract from the enthusiasm and motivation level to deliver the best service possible. Also, when the delivery of dinner hits a snag, does the banquet manager explode on the servers and/or interfere with the flow of event to cover their own mistakes? In 2007, no facility seemed more concerned with flawless execution and friendliness. Springfield Country Club has proven that it is possible to work with superior precision, smiling the entire time.

Contact: Andrea Salvero - 610.690.7600

Best Banquet Director
Shelley Dickinson of Sofitel Philadelphia - Email - Web Site

At Laurie & Chris' wedding, I had the distinct pleasure of working alongside the most focused, attentive, expeditious, and helpful banquet director I have ever experienced in over 15 years of wedding entertainment direction. Shelley Dickinson of Sofitel Philadelphia is a remarkable professional who, in my opinion, has no distinguishable flaws. If you have the opportunity to work with Shelley at an event, you are extremely fortunate indeed. Respectfully speaking, there are many banquet directors in the Delaware Valley who could learn a lot from someone as great as Shelley.

Best Dressed Ballroom
The Green Room at Hotel du Pont - Web Site

Restored and enhanced, the Green Room decor is a classic combination of rich wood paneling with gold leaf ceilings and chic Versace pattern china. Service at the du Pont is exquisitely old-fashioned friendly, attentive, gracious and refined. The Green Room typifies classic dining without being stuffy or obtrusive. In my opinion, it stands alone as the most elegantly appointed ballroom for 2007.

Contract: Mark Medrick or Andrea Morris - 800.441.9019
Mark's Email Andrea's Email

Congratulations to the facilities mentioned above and to all the unmentioned facilities who strive to be the best, not settling for mediocrity.

If you have any specific question regarding any of the facilities mentioned above or any of the facilities mentioned in the left column of my site, please do not hesitate to email me.

Here's to a great 2008!

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New Sound For The New Year

While speakers are not often on a bride's list of things to be concerned with, I thought I would share some news of a serious sound upgrade I have made for the new year.

Two weeks ago, I invested in the new Bose L1 Model II system, an award-winning sound system that replaces conventional monitors, mixers and PA speakers. The system's breakthrough Cylindrical Radiator® loudspeaker produces wide, uniform sound coverage on-stage and throughout an audience of up to several hundred with little dropoff in volume and tone.

What makes the L1 line array so different begins with the shape. Each L1 system contains a column of many closely spaced drivers mounted in a tall, slim enclosure. This unusual design has profound effects on the sound.

Because of its shape, the L1 system projects sound waves that expand out and to the sides, but sends very little up and down. Sound spreads more evenly across the stage and into the audience, and the sound level drops off much more slowly than from a conventional speaker.

So, what does that mean for you, the bride-to-be?

It greatly improves the quality of the sound and allows me to amplify the music enough to saturate the room with sound, without causing complaints that it is "too loud".

During dinner, your guests will be comfortable enough to have meaningful conversations at their tables without feeling the need to raise their voice, and still be able to hear the music anywhere in the room.

When the dancing time begins, the sound is not only sent out over the crowd, but is also sent through the dance floor. The difference is unmistakable.

Coming from the old school of thinking (bigger speaker cabinets are always better), I was significantly skeptical about making the investment in this premium sound system, but after owning it for a couple weeks, I can safely say:

Wedding receptions will never sound the same again.

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The W.E.D.Guild

I have just begun the application process to join Peter Merry's Wedding Entertainment Director Guild (W.E.D.Guild)!

To see what is involved with applying to this esteemed organization of passionate professionals, click here.

Wish me luck!

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The Knot Unveils Best of Weddings

From finding the gown shop with the best service in Boston to the most professional wedding photographers in New York, Chicago's top cakes, and L.A.'s best-rated reception sites-wouldn't every engaged couple like to know the inside scoop from recent brides in their area?

The Knot, the #1 wedding website and most trusted multimedia wedding authority, announced the arrival on newsstands of The Knot Best of Weddings magazine, a "by brides for brides" guide to the top wedding sites, photographers, florists, and more in over 40 key cities across the United States.

Among the list of picks was Silver Sound!

The Knot conducted a massive survey of 25,000 recent brides and grooms-the first of its kind-to capture detailed feedback on every wedding business that couples hired, from reception sites to planners, cakes and limo companies. The newlyweds were asked to rate their vendors on multiple criteria, from creativity to professionalism, and to comment on their experiences. The resulting ratings-and detailed feedback-were aggregated by the editors of The Knot to create this one-of-a-kind publication highlighting the best wedding resources in each region according to local brides. The survey was administered by Harris Interactive.

Is that awesome or what?!?!?

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