Romantic Entertainment LLC

Posted by romantic on November 14th, 2008 in Quality DJ Standards, What's Happening

On November 13th, 2008, the Connecticut Better Business Bureau celebrated their 80 year anniversary at the annual meeting and awards banquet at Aqua Turf in Plantsville, Connecticut.  Romantic Entertainment llc founder and co-owner, Jim Aldridge accepted the coveted “Torch Award” for Quality and Trust in Business.

Romantic Entertainment llc is a Windsor, CT based DJ service specializing in personalized wedding entertainment where the bride and groom are at the center of the client experience.   There is an extensive interview process to determine the bride and groom’s wants and needs before developing a personal wedding game plan.  This includes custom introductions and recordings.  They can even write the bride and groom’s love story and perform it at the event.

Jim Aldridge, Owner of Romantic Entertainment LLC says “I am proud to be a member of the BBB.” Jim believes that building trust and ethical business go hand in hand.  Aldridge says “Providing a great customer experience is not just polite.  It really feels good to do what you love to do, give 110% and have others take notice.”  Jim Adds “I sincerely want to help my brides (and grooms) have one of the best days of their lives.  It’s an honor not to be taken lightly.”

The Connecticut Better Business Bureau is on a mission to promote and foster the highest ethical relationship between businesses and the public through voluntary self-regulation, consumer education and service excellence.  The Connecticut BBB is an independent non-profit, non-governmental organization established by businesses within our community. There are 120 Bureaus in the United States and Canada.

The BBB works to correct abuses and to serve the best interests of the consuming public and legitimate business. As a matter of policy, the Better Business Bureau does not endorse or recommend any product, service, or company.  Originally founded in 1928, the Connecticut BBB now covers all of Connecticut except for a few towns in Windham County.

To find a quality Connecticut business or learn more about the Connecticut Better Business Bureau visit their website online at http://ct.bbb.org/

www.RomanticEntertainment.com

Copyright 2008 Romantic Entertainment LLC

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Posted by romantic on March 14th, 2008 in Why we are different

When it comes to mobile entertainment, there are 3 things that truly make us stand apart from the masses:

1. Comprehensive Personalization – Your wedding day should reflect your style, taste and personality. This goes way beyond the music. Personalization is what makes your wedding unique and fun. Your opinions and desires are at the center. What did you love that you’ve seen done at other weddings? What did you hate? What is your biggest fear about your entertainment or the event as a whole? We need to recognize what you don’t like and focus on the positive to personalize your day and celebrate your relationship. After all, it’s your day.

2. Creative Involvement – Did you know that a wedding could be fun, interactive and entertaining without the chicken dance? You will be able to tap into our experiences at more than 300 wedding performances. We’re not afraid to shake things up and do things outside the “standard procedure.” When your guests are wondering what you will do next, they stay engaged and have more fun. We’ll help you through the creative process and share ideas to help create your wedding memories in a way that is as unique as your relationship.

3. Attention To Detail – You’ll have access to an extensive planning process, with pre-event questionnaires and on-site checklists to make sure every detail is taken care of. On your day, you won’t need to think about anything except having fun, because we will have already discussed your needs and wishes and make sure they are carried out. Everything is optional, and that means flexibility for you. The key to a unique performance week after week is preparation. The process is actually fun. We will discuss every aspect of your event. Things will come up you were not aware of and we all know the smallest things often make the biggest difference.

Comprehensive Personalization, Creative Involvement and Attention To Detail are the 3 things you can absolutely count on from us. A successful wedding is my goal and wish for you. Congratulations on your engagement and best of luck.

Jim Aldridge
Owner/Director of Entertainment
www.RomanticEntertainment.com
Unique, Personalized Weddings Since 1992
Serving Connecticut and Western Mass.

For a free personalized consultation and to discuss your wedding, call Jim directly at 860.966.5620. He wants to hear from you.

Copyright 2008 Romantic Entertainment LLC

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Posted by romantic on March 14th, 2008 in A Great Wedding Experience

You can imagine that after 16 years in the wedding entertainment business Jim has a few stories to share…

Jim: “One of the wildest experiences was when I played at one of the larger wedding facilities. There had to be at least three weddings going on at the same time. Things were going great; we were dancing away when a conga line from the party next door congaed right into our reception room. I quickly threw on “Hot, Hot, Hot,” and the bride/groom and guests from our party joined their line and the size doubled. They went out one door and came right back in another. I changed the music up again and they ALL stayed. They were pushing tables back to make room for everyone dancing. They formed several huge circles around both wedding couples. It was awesome! The poor DJ in the other room must have been alone for at least 20 minutes. Talk about spontaneous! We were having the time of our lives!”

Jim Aldridge
Owner/Director of Entertainment
www.RomanticEntertainment.com
Unique, Personalized Weddings Since 1992
Serving Connecticut and Western Mass.

For a free personalized consultation and to discuss your wedding, call Jim directly at 860.966.5620. He wants to hear from you.

Copyright 2008 Romantic Entertainment LLC

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Posted by romantic on March 14th, 2008 in Quality DJ Standards

Weddings are a grand event and hopefully one of the highlights of your life. The secret to great wedding entertainment is to hire a wedding specialist. In any industry, there is a career cycle. You start off a beginner in your field and as your skill level advances, your ability to accomplish tasks in a smooth professional way become second nature. Your opportunities for advancement increase and your salary increases as a result. The DJ industry is no different.

Weddings are not just another gig. As the owner of Romantic Entertainment, I am a wedding specialist, not because it is another event to do, but because I love to do it. I use a 16-page questionnaire to make sure every detail of your event is perfect. Are there really 16 pages of information a DJ needs to know? When I first started doing weddings my planner was one page, both sides. As a rookie, I didn’t know what I know now. I charged $500 and treated a wedding the same way I did a sweet 16 party. Now, I view weddings as a grand production and specialize in creating little moments throughout the day that will add up to one of the “biggest moments” in your life together. It is a lot of fun! Creating positive and memorable moments takes skill and patience. There are simple details that have a huge impact on your event. You learn these skills by repetition and repetition takes time. You learn from your mistakes. You can’t walk into a new career and be promoted to CEO your first day.

Your wedding should be “the best wedding ever.” After personally performing more than 300 weddings, all that experience becomes ideas for you. I will give you suggestions and you can embrace or reject them. You can start with an idea and tweak it to reflect your personality. I will guide you through the process and then make sure your wishes and desires are carried out on your wedding day. It’s not about me. There will be another opportunity to share my ideas. It’s about you and your special moments.

When you hire a wedding specialist, your wedding becomes much more than just the music. Details are taken care of. You won’t get push back when things have to be adjusted. You’ll receive suggestions, choose a direction and we’ll make it happen. Things just run smoother. Romantic Entertainment was built with you in mind. All we do is weddings. I have one wish for you: I hope your wedding is the best moment in your life. I’m asking you for the opportunity to help you achieve that result.

Jim Aldridge
Owner/Director of Entertainment
www.RomanticEntertainment.com
Unique, Personalized Weddings Since 1992
Serving Connecticut and Western Mass.

For a free personalized consultation and to discuss your wedding, call Jim directly at 860.966.5620. He wants to hear from you.

Copyright 2008 Romantic Entertainment LLC

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Posted by romantic on March 14th, 2008 in A Great Wedding Experience

You can imagine that after performing more than 300 weddings, Jim has a few stories to share…

Jim: “I once had the opportunity to do a wedding at a private home in Kennebunkport, Maine. The house was huge and we were outside in the yard. The place was absolutely gorgeous and decorated for royalty. When the dance portion came around, the father of the bride asked me if I would play some special music and he gave me the CDs. He explained that he was a record promoter and this was to be the next huge dance craze. It was being released in about three weeks. I threw in the disc. His daughters taught the rest of the guests and me how to do the “Cotton-Eyed Joe” from Rednex. The party really got rolling. The cops showed up at about 11:30 p.m. and the guest of honor actually convinced them to stay and hang out with us for a while. They did and the party kept going till 1 a.m.! I just kept going. I wasn’t going to stop until the bride said so!”

Jim Aldridge
Owner/Director of Entertainment
www.RomanticEntertainment.com
Unique, Personalized Weddings Since 1992
Serving Connecticut and Western Mass.

For a free personalized consultation and to discuss your wedding, call Jim directly at 860.966.5620. He wants to hear from you.

Copyright 2008 Romantic Entertainment LLC

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Posted by romantic on March 14th, 2008 in Quality DJ Standards

A bride recently told me that a wedding DJ was going to charge her extra to have backup equipment on site. Asking you to pay extra for backup equipment is like asking you to pay extra for a spare tire for your new car. The use of backup equipment is an industry standard and should make you cringe if not followed. Why is this important and what does backup equipment mean to you?

Picture your wedding day. Everything is going great. All of your family and friends are on the dance floor having a great time and all of a sudden…POP! Dead silence.

DJ Solution 1: “I am sorry my amplifier blew at your wedding. I can’t play any more tonight. I will give you half price off your next event.”

DJ Solution 2: “I am sorry. We blew an amplifier. I am going to run out to the truck and get another one. We will be back up and dancing in about 15 minutes.”

A blown amplifier is an extreme situation. Even so, which solution would you rather hear? The reality is that Solution 1 still happens today when your DJ is not prepared. You need to know your DJ is ready for anything that may happen. Make sure they have a plan in place. Anything less is absolutely unacceptable and your wedding day is too important to risk it.

There are simple backups and more costly ones. Seventy percent of the DJ industry is now on computer. What happens if the computer should crash? A second computer or hard drive is a great solution, but costly. At the very least, your DJ should have a CD Deck and some backup CDs. If he has the top 200 most requested songs and a copy of your first dance and intro music ready to go, you are covered. If the computer did go down, CDs can be played while the situation is fixed. The important thing is, there is a plan and it can be executed smoothly. You may never know there was a problem.

Other backups can include extra speakers, batteries for microphones, cables & cords, and an extra tuxedo shirt. How about a backup garter in case you forget yours? Would you like white, blue or black? It’s all about making the perfect day for you and a plan to carry that out successfully, no mater what comes up. Backups are not optional. It’s called “customer service” and you should not be expected to pay more for it. If a DJ doesn’t have a backup plan, maybe he shouldn’t be your DJ.

Jim Aldridge
Owner/Director of Entertainment
www.RomanticEntertainment.com
Serving Connecticut and Western Mass.

For a free personalized consultation and to discuss your wedding, call Jim directly at 860.966.5620. He wants to hear from you.

For more information on quality standards visit the American DJ Association at www.ADJA.org.

Footnote: To my fellow DJs: If this article offends you, put a backup plan in place, at no extra charge. Take some pride in yourself and the service you offer and then you can write an article like this one.

Copyright 2008 Romantic Entertainment LLC

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Posted by romantic on March 14th, 2008 in A Great Wedding Experience

You can imagine that after 16 years in the wedding entertainment business Jim has a few stories to share…

Jim: “One of the most interesting, and beautiful, weddings I performed was on a cruise ship. We cruised down the river, out onto the ocean and then back in the same evening. The ceremony was at sunset on the upper deck. There was a gentle warm summer breeze. It was serene. Dinner followed in the lounge below and then dancing began. I think that being on board really added to guests’ state of mind and very early it was clear that this was going to be fun. Everyone was on the dance floor the whole night and you could actually see the crowd shift with the motion of the ocean. It definitely stands out as one of the best weddings I have performed.”

Jim Aldridge
Owner/Director of Entertainment
www.RomanticEntertainment.com
Serving Connecticut and Western Mass.

For a free personalized consultation and to discuss your wedding, call Jim directly at 860.966.5620. He wants to hear from you.

Copyright 2008 Romantic Entertainment LLC

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Posted by romantic on March 14th, 2008 in Quality DJ Standards

Look for the ADJA logo and find a trusted professional. The primary goal of the American Disc Jockey Association (ADJA) is to educate disc jockeys so that each member acts ethically and responsibly. The ADJA also works to educate the consumer on how to choose a true quality professional disc jockey. If you chose to change careers, where would you begin? Wouldn’t you start with education? There are people at beginner, intermediate and advanced levels of knowledge wanting to perform at your event. We all need to continue learning, no mater what level we are at. The ADJA gives us a vehicle to do that. Understanding the difference between a quality professional and a guy with some cool gear is the first step.

The ADJA also works with other industry professionals like the National Association of Catering Executives (NACE), TheKnot.com and WeddingChannel.com to get the word out that the DJ industry has changed in the last 10 years. We want to continue growing and offer the consumer a great service, above your expectations. We are small business professionals with a stake in the success of your event. To grow as an industry, entertainment professionals must work together to achieve success.

When hiring a professional carpenter to work on your house, you would expect him to be active and educated in his field, right? The mobile DJ industry is no different. Look for the ADJA logo and you can trust that you are hiring a professional who is dedicated to their craft…a professional who wants to grow and cares about the service they offer to their clients. We only have one chance to make a memorable event. Trusting an ADJA member will help ensure the memories at your event are positive ones. I am a proud member of the ADJA. For more information on quality standards visit the American DJ Association at www.ADJA.org.

Jim Aldridge
Owner/Director of Entertainment
www.RomanticEntertainment.com
Serving Connecticut and Western Mass.
Direct Line: 860.966.5620

For a free personalized consultation and to discuss your wedding, call Jim directly at 860.966.5620. He wants to hear from you.

Copyright 2008 Romantic Entertainment LLC

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Posted by romantic on March 14th, 2008 in A Great Wedding Experience

You can imagine that after 16 years in the wedding entertainment business Jim has a few stories to share…
Jim: “Very early in my DJ career, I decided that my tuxedo jacket would stay on all night. After all, I can look classy and have a great time, too. I was performing at a smaller more intimate wedding. I introduced the bride and groom and the reception started. About half way through dinner, the bride and groom disappeared. Guests were coming up and asking me where they were. I had no idea. (Surprises are great. Tell your DJ your plans and he can help make them bigger.) When the bride and groom reentered the room, she was wearing a full, flowing white country dress with cowboy boots and a lacy cowgirl hat hanging down her back. He was in full cowboy mode with the boots, jeans (pressed, of course), a flannel shirt and cowboy hat. The guests went crazy. (It was the 90s.) I reintroduced them and asked if anyone would like to see them dance, which drew thunderous applause. Their first dance was a country song and the photo moments were awesome. After that, the groom said, “Y’all take off them fancy jackets and let’s get dancing!” My tuxedo jacket came off that night. After all, the groom said so. Who am I to say no?”

Jim Aldridge
Owner/Director of Entertainment
www.RomanticEntertainment.com
Serving Connecticut and Western Mass.

For a free personalized consultation and to discuss your wedding, call Jim directly at 860.966.5620. He wants to hear from you.

Copyright 2008 Romantic Entertainment LLC

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Posted by romantic on March 14th, 2008 in Wedding Trends

Press Release: March 13, 2008

Romantic Entertainment LLC
Contact: Jim Aldridge
Title: Owner/Director of Entertainment
Phone: 860.966.5620
Email: Jim@RomanticEntertainment.com
Website: www.RomanticEntertainment.com

Headline: Brides Trade Funky Chickens for Romantic Stories!

Planning a wedding can be overwhelming. Choosing the right entertainment can make or break your event. Most brides today want it to be unique and fun without corny dances! Popular artists and songs are hot one day and gone the next. This is reflected on the wedding reception dance floor. The trends are constantly shifting. Back in the mid 80s, a small group of DJs started using crazy props and building themes around (then) popular dances like the Chicken Dance, the YMCA and more. This actually grew and was further supported by the country line dance craze in the mid 90s. DJs scrambled to learn more and deliver what clients wanted. Like all trends, what began as a way to add fun entertainment value to your wedding is now viewed as tacky and overdone…especially at weddings. Most quality DJs will agree and are working on new and creative ways to develop new trends.

Jim Aldridge, Owner of Romantic Entertainment LLC, a DJ service based in Windsor, Conn., says “I haven’t played a chicken dance at a wedding in more than five years. It’s off my radar unless a bride requests it…and that hasn’t happened.” Jim believes that your wedding should be unique and personal. It should be romantic and yet fun. The Romantic Entertainment name reflects this belief. Aldridge says “Personalization” is the new trend. The music is personalized to your taste and style. The introductions are personalized, too. Jim writes a short script and talks about each member of your wedding party as they enter the room. “The members of your wedding party are your closest friends and family,” Aldridge said. “We want to make them feel important and welcome, which is also very entertaining, personal and a lot of fun.” Jim will also tell the bride and groom’s love story. “Telling how you met, why you love him and how he proposed is a very special way to celebrate your relationship and a new beginning,” he added. “The goal is to create an atmosphere for fun and keep your guests guessing what’s next all night long.”

The American DJ Association (www.ADJA.org), along with area DJs in the local New England chapter, strives to help brides hire quality entertainment and have a successful event. The ADJA also educates disc jockeys to ensure each member acts ethically and responsibly. They also help them stay up on current trends and quality business practices. Look for the ADJA logo and trust your day to a quality professional that will listen to you and be willing to skip the songs you don’t want to hear. Oh, and no Funky Chickens. (Fun fact: The song to which you do the Chicken Dance is actually called “The Funky Chicken.”)

To find a quality DJ professional visit the New England Chapter of the American DJ Association online at www.adja.org/chapters/newengland.

Copyright 2008 Romantic Entertainment LLC

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