Butch Gray DJ

Butch Gray, Disc Jockey/Entertainer, LLC has been selected to receive the prestigious WeddingWire Bride’s Choice Awards™ 2012

DJ Butch Gray — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 23:07:12 +0000

{Southington,CT} – January 25, 2012 – WeddingWire, the nation’s leading wedding Marketplace, is excited to announce Butch Gray, Disc Jockey/Entertainer, LLC has been selected to receive the prestigious WeddingWire Bride’s Choice Awards™ 2012 for DJ!

The esteemed annual awards program recognizes the top local wedding vendors from the WeddingWire Network who demonstrate excellence in quality, service, responsiveness and professionalism within the wedding industry. While many industry awards are selected by the organization, Butch Gray, Disc Jockey/Entertainer, LLC was selected based on its stellar reviews from past newlywed clients.

Butch Gray, Disc Jockey/Entertainer, LLC is recognized as part of the top five percent of wedding professionals in the WeddingWire local vendor community, comprised of over 200,000 wedding professionals throughout the United States and Canada. The Bride’s Choice Award recognizes the best local wedding vendors across 20 service categories, from wedding venues to wedding photographers, based on their overall professional achievements throughout the past year.

“WeddingWire is thrilled to honor the success of the top-rated wedding professionals within the WeddingWire Community,” said Timothy Chi, CEO, WeddingWire. “Since the launch of the Bride’s Choice Awards™ program four years ago, thousands of outstanding wedding professionals have been recognized by the bridal community for their supreme service and dedication to the wedding industry. It is with great pleasure that we congratulate Butch Gray, Disc Jockey/Entertainer, LLC for their continued professionalism and commitment to enriching the wedding planning experience for engaged couples.”

We are happy to announce that Butch Gray, Disc Jockey/Entertainer, LLC is one of the very best DJs within the WeddingWire Network, which includes leading wedding planning sites 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. Thanks to their positive feedback we were able to receive the WeddingWire Bride’s Choice Awards™ for 2012.

For more information, please visit our WeddingWire Storefront today at http://www.weddingwire.com/biz/butch-gray-disc-jockeyentertainer-llc-southington/45e7b899830488d6.ht.

Butch Gray, Disc Jockey/Entertainer, LLC has won the Bride’s Choice Awards™ 2012

DJ Butch Gray — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 02:55:34 +0000

We are excited to announce Butch Gray, Disc Jockey/Entertainer, LLC has won the Bride’s Choice Awards™ 2012. This prestigious award is determined by reviews from past clients and recognizes the top 5 percent of local Wedding Professionals from the WeddingWire Network.

like the bass in jazz — you don’t always notice when it’s there, but you’d know if it was missing

DJ Butch Gray — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 19:34:52 +0000

“My wife and I hired Butch to DJ our wedding reception. Our request to Butch was that he be like the bass in jazz — you don’t always notice when it’s there, but you’d know if it was missing. Butch understood what we meant. He made sure that he was not the center of attention — for reasons good or bad — but rather that my wife and I were. He played the music we requested, he read our guests well and put on the right piece at the right time. His equipment was top-rate; the room was full of sound and light, but it wasn’t overwhelming. Our guests had a great time in large part because of Butch, but without necessarily appreciating how much of a role Butch played. That’s exactly what we wanted. Thanks, Butch.”

Fun Time at The Old State House Saturday Night!

DJ Butch Gray — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 22:25:10 +0000

Congratulations Andrew and Kate! Arriving 3 hours early I had some time to take pictures of the area and a few other oddities. Enjoy.

Hurricane Irene and Flying Monkeys Will Not Stop This DJ!

DJ Butch Gray — Sat, 03 Sep 2011 14:15:13 +0000

My clients probably think it’s a sales spiel that I use when I tell them I’ve traveled through blizzards to DJ a bar mitzvah. It’s not…March 1993, my wife, pregnant with our first child, and I took our two vehicles to the Tower Ridge Country Club in Simsbury, CT. She drove because the company I rented vehicles from was closed because of the storm. My wife is awesome!

Guests of the bar mitzvah rented every 4 wheel drive vehicle available at Bradley Memorial Airport and shuttled all of the guests to the event.

This Sunday was a little different. My wife was worried about me leaving this Sunday. It looked very threatening when I left 5 hours early for the usual 45 minute trip. A huge branch was ripped from one of our beautiful trees and she took it as a sign from the Big Guy Upstairs! I looked into my wife’s beautiful blue eyes and told her, “Baby doll relax! DJ Butch Gray has got this all figured out.” (At that moment, I was really telling her the truth. When I reached exit 11 later, I realized it was total B.S.!)

I told her that my client says it’s just a light rain in Monroe, CT with an occasional wind gust. He really did write this in his email. How bad can it be, I asked myself. Meeting with my clients a week ago and going through the details a few days ago, they seemed very level headed and would not put me in harms way…

Well, I got on the highway after filling up at BJ’s ($3.66/gallon) and passing by Shell ($4.39/gallon). Is that price gouging??? McDonalds and most everything else is closed. No coffee for the road trip today.

There were not many cars to contend with on the highway and the trip on I84 was really not bad. But when I reached Monroe, I knew that I was not in Kansas anymore. Once I got off of exit 11, it really did remind me of that black and white scene from the Wizard of Oz. Trees were down and roads were shut. My trusty GPS guided me when I avoided obstacles and traveled down the unfamiliar streets. Do my eyes and ears deceive me or is that really a flying monkey shouting obscenities at me?lol

The Waterview in Monroe is about 5 miles from exit 11 but it seemed like I travelled a lot further today. Maybe due to the numerous re-routing and having to go under a huge tree supported by a power line. Fun! I actually almost drove by the Waterview because I didnt recognize the landscape. Trees lining the main entrance to the facility were knocked down! The exit had to serve as the main entrance.

Admittedly, there was only a gentle breeze and a light rain as I unloaded my equipment from the van. A relaxing hum from a huge generator powering the facility reassured me that I would be performing today. That’s a good thing. It would have been very upsetting to me if after all this effort, the event was cancelled.

Once inside, I met with the groom -to-be, his family, and the Waterview crew. We joked about the weather and crossed our fingers that guests would attend. The groom told me that he got a call from the Fire Chief telling them that a tree had fallen on their new house. Also, if the Wedding did not go on today, the venue would not return any of their money.

We never discussed my trip to Monroe. Even though I risked it a little, it was important for me to be here. They had enough going on in their world and they need me to rock it more than they will ever realize!

Thirty one of the one hundred confirmed guests arrived, the generator broke down for about 20 minutes, some staff were not able to get to the facility from their homes but the Wedding and Reception were terrific.

With the huge Ballroom and 31 guests, I invited everyone to gather around the Bride and Groom for their first dance. A moment that the Bride said was “Perfect!” when she hugged me during dinner.

All of their guests were not able to make it but the bride and groom spent more time with the ones that did. During cocktail hour, the power went down and I walked around with my iPhone playing music and joking around with the guests. They felt at ease requesting music because we knew each other! Serving the meal took a little longer but I opened up the dance floor between courses and everyone had a great time.

Am I crazy for going through the aftermath of Hurricane/Tropical Storm Irene? Maybe a little but I love to be there for people at the moment I’m needed the most!

CT ADJA May Meeting Notes, Attorney Neal Anderson and Rob Peters

DJ Butch Gray — Sun, 15 May 2011 19:34:45 +0000

Attorney Neal Anderson spoke at our local ADJA meeting about entertainment contracts. Some of the points discussed were when to question if the document is too wordy, a contracts is created to avoid a misunderstanding, avoid court-it is costly for everyone, and being careful with emails (if you both agree it’s a contract!).

One issue that I had never thought of was client confidentiality. With Facebook and other social sites, it seems like pictures are posted by everyone. We as DJ’s must understand that a picture of a client or their party may not be posted without their permission. Lighting pictures are fine, as long as faces are not. A confidentiality clause in a DJ contract might also protect the DJ from a friend demanding to discuss the Bride’s Wedding Plans.

Contract validity date, the venue’s provision of electricity, and adding addendums to the contract for providing additional services were discussed as well.

Rob Peters from Massachusetts discussed kids entertainment. You may already have something that you can development an idea for. Talk to your clients and market in parent publications, etc.

Network with inflatable companies, corporate events, party planners, even your local YMCA. Remember the importance of your website!

Market your Kid’s parties on one side of card and all of your other information can go on the other side of the card.

Most kid’s parties are 3 hours. Price accordingly and offer a multiple event discount, if you can.

Also consider providing clients a Background check, references, certificate of insurance, and potential rain dates (for outdoor events).

Great Water’s Edge Wedding!

DJ Butch Gray — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 00:29:42 +0000

Last night I DJed a Wedding Ceremony and reception for Shari and Jim. This is the same couple that lives in New York City that I wrote about awhile ago (re. New Haven Train Station PreBridal Meeting).

The weather cooperated, they looked beautiful, and everything went as planned! Sid, their NYC Choreographer, put together a great mix of All I Ask of You and In The Mood. When Shari dropped into Jim’s arms for the big finale, Sid dropped to his knees like he just won the World Cup! It was very cool.

Photographer, Jay Fleming, sent me some stunning shots and one of me… Enjoy. Jay’s an awesome photographer.

Free Lighting Until St. Patrick’s Day!

DJ Butch Gray — Sat, 12 Mar 2011 13:02:41 +0000

Two people have taken advantage of the lighting deal. It only goes until St. Patrick’s Day!

look forward to working with you next year too!

DJ Butch Gray — Sun, 06 Mar 2011 15:12:26 +0000

I wanted to applaud you for a fantastic evening for our auction. You were the best dj I have ever heard. And everyone thought you were incredible.

Thank you again and look forward to working with you next year with auction.

-Terri

Give everything that you can.

DJ Butch Gray — Sat, 05 Mar 2011 22:42:44 +0000

12:01 p.m.:

Working at the Mount Southington Luau today, playing some Top 40 stuff for some kids, a guy in a shirt approaches me. He starts getting rude over my playing some requests. Mount Southington wants me to take requests, so that customers return but I couldn’t provide him with this dose of reality for diplomatic reasons.

Blood pressure’s up! Dude. The little girls want to hear Katy Perry. Leave ‘em be.

12:05 p.m.:

No sooner do I think of posting my rant on this blog, I’m greeted by two of my former Little League players, Nick and Matt. They will be going off to college next year. We started talking about the old days (to them, 5 years is an eternity!) and my rant melts away.

Give everything that you can. Time, money, etc. When through, the return you receive on all of your small sacrifices will be returned at the most wonderfully unexpected moments

12:53 p.m.:

A pretty Jamaican woman approaches me. Extends her hand and says she loves the music! Goes off dancing in ski boots. Very cool. Little is remembered of the rude dude now.

Relax. I’m a very married man!!! As my friend Vinnie used to say, “You can look at the menu but you can’t order.”