Check out Marcello's promo vid

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rickryan.com

rickryan.com

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I got to hear Marcello speak at an ADJA meeting once. Very inspirational guy and does a lot of high-end events. I saw this video this morning and thought it worthwhile to share. In doing some self-reflecting, I see pretty much the exact same elements that we provide for Mitzvahs yet, this guy just polishes it to a fine shine while I feel like my own efforts are more turd-ish. Check it out.

View: https://vimeo.com/112223081
 
I like Marcello and admire his work. But realistically, he's the emcee, and he's got at least a half-dozen people making the magic happen. There's a DJ in that video, a lighting guy, a percussionist, dancers, and a crew doing all of the setup work, too. Marcello's in that video for about 3 seconds, standing to the left of the stage at the 45-second mark.

He is polished, and he's a fantastic communicator. He's also got connections to make a party like that happen, but you'd be foolish to think that he owns all of that gear. It's very much a collaborative effort, with his name stamped on it.
 
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I cool thing about Marcello is that he didn't start out like where is is of course. Like a lot of guys he was "just a dj" when I met him.

I am going to blow my own horn here a bit, he credits me whenever I see him as inspiring him. Back in the day when I was doing the school panels for the DJ Times Expo (I think I did 5) and was writing for the mag, he was a start up dj. Now whenever we are at the same convention he always makes time for a piece of pie and a talk. He is a great guy and cute as a bug! LOL
 
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You inspire me too .. Chuck !
 
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Don't confuse the polish on the video for polish on the event. His events are pretty much identical to what every other troupe is doing in all the major cities. These guys copy every detail of each other to no end.

Also, it's an infringement to use an Ariana Grande song without permission as a promotional over-dub like that. The penalty is pretty stiff if you get caught. Stay with the incidental music or use a licensed and/or royalty free library for over-dubbing.

Gross price may sound like a lot but it includes a lot of sub-contracted vendors arranged and paid through the DJ. This would be stuff like tattoo artists, caricaturist, lighting, and sometimes even decor, or more. It's true that there is a crew of 4 -7 people, plus a pair of roadies but, most of those people are young and paid relatively low or moderate amounts. It is the subcontracted staff, (non-employee) vendors, etc. who get paid substantially more. Marcello himself is likely to reserve at least $1k for himself as emcee, and perhaps another $1k above all else as margin to the company.
 
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rickryan.com said:
At the talk I saw he said his average event was $10k and pretty much always multiple crew members.
Click to expand...

What you see in that video is far from an average event, but if you ever need proof that having the newest gear doesn't matter, watch that video: they're using JBL EON G2's.

Proformance said:
Marcello himself is likely to reserve at least $1k for himself as emcee, and perhaps another $1k above all else as margin to the company.
Click to expand...

It's probably closer to $5k-$7k, but you're right.
 
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Hate to say it, but Pro is spot on.

Marcello is also catering to the top 2% who have the money for this type of mitzvah. All the extra frills only amount to a little bit in terms of results in my opinion.

I am doing a mitzvah on 12/5. Had a THIRD Phone call with the parents and mitzvah girl tonight. It lasted 40 minutes. UGH. Nice people, but lots of questions, and I am certainly doing a lot more hand holding on this one than I prefer to do. I am doing this mitzvah with a "party motovator/dancer" Haven't met the dancer...Won't know who that is until they show up at the gig.

I am facilitating 5 games. They also want a grand entrance, and I offered the "Have the kids throw up their arms and create a tunnel, and have a escort bring the mitzvah girl in" idea...The Mitzvah girl wasn't thrilled with the idea. Preferred just a regular entrance into the ball room.

Anyway, the client is providing light sticks, hats etc. ...The light show I am bringing will have more lighting than what's in that video, and the agency is charging maybe $1700 for me and a dancer. The mitzvah is also in a nice ballroom in a nice hotel. Outside of flat screen TVs, and maybe some sort of multi media package, I'm not sure what paying an extra $3,300 - $5300 does for a mitzvah

The one I am doing will also have a DOC there helping make sure the timeline flows smoothly. Maybe they are paying $600 - $800 for the DOC...maybe more but doubt it.
 
After watching the video more closely, I see some more variations. They provided a drummer to beat along to the DJ which is pretty cool. That's gotta be worth another $300. They also have up lighting through out the room. ...Honestly, that COULD be thrown in to seal the deal, or added pretty inexpensively. However, it appears he had it all DMX linked and strobing to the music. Is that worth a ton more money? Probably not for most, but the wealthy clients are willing to pay for it. Totems with Moving Heads...Ehhh...I've seen it so often that it doesn't impress me any more. However, to kids who have never seen those effects it might be real cool. I could put a couple of ADJ pocket spots on the edge of my table in addition to the other light effects I typically bring, and just leave them sound active, and the resulting effect would be pretty similar.

To be honest, the moving heads mostly point up at the ceiling anyway...If they are positioned lower to the ground, on a table or table height, the beam would be seen more, and the effect actually looks better. Moving heads mounted high up should be top mounted, and pointing down at the dance floor, not standing up...just my opinion.

Overall, I think it's more about finding that client with a lot of money to spend on an "over the top event"

The end result from having an experienced DJ show up by themselves with a nice lighting display and facilitate the mitzvah will yield just as happy of a client. With all the dancers I've ever worked with, I've seen little positive need for the actual dancers. They make my job a bit easier, that's about it. Needing a set up crew is only valid when mounting multiple flat screen TVs, and setting up Totem Truss, and lighting. Outside of that, a single DJ or a DJ with an "assistant/roadie is plenty to handle a typical mitzvah. Now if we are talking a HUGE mitzvah with 200+ kids then yeah I would want at least an assistant with me to help manage all the kids.
 
DJ Ricky B said:
After watching the video more closely, I see some more variations. They provided a drummer to beat along to the DJ which is pretty cool. That's gotta be worth another $300. They also have up lighting through out the room. ...Honestly, that COULD be thrown in to seal the deal, or added pretty inexpensively. However, it appears he had it all DMX linked and strobing to the music. Is that worth a ton more money? Probably not for most, but the wealthy clients are willing to pay for it. Totems with Moving Heads...Ehhh...I've seen it so often that it doesn't impress me any more. However, to kids who have never seen those effects it might be real cool. I could put a couple of ADJ pocket spots on the edge of my table in addition to the other light effects I typically bring, and just leave them sound active, and the resulting effect would be pretty similar.

To be honest, the moving heads mostly point up at the ceiling anyway...If they are positioned lower to the ground, on a table or table height, the beam would be seen more, and the effect actually looks better. Moving heads mounted high up should be top mounted, and pointing down at the dance floor, not standing up...just my opinion.

Overall, I think it's more about finding that client with a lot of money to spend on an "over the top event"

The end result from having an experienced DJ show up by themselves with a nice lighting display and facilitate the mitzvah will yield just as happy of a client. With all the dancers I've ever worked with, I've seen little positive need for the actual dancers. They make my job a bit easier, that's about it. Needing a set up crew is only valid when mounting multiple flat screen TVs, and setting up Totem Truss, and lighting. Outside of that, a single DJ or a DJ with an "assistant/roadie is plenty to handle a typical mitzvah. Now if we are talking a HUGE mitzvah with 200+ kids then yeah I would want at least an assistant with me to help manage all the kids.
Click to expand...

You're missing the mark. It has nothing to do with the gear - this is about selling Entertainment not a disc jockey. Good dancers, or at least a really good lead dancer is crucial to winning at these gigs. Clients book their star Emcee and/or dancers - the entertainers who front the show. Clients are not really concerned with who the DJ is - that's sort of backstage where competency is a given.
 
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DJ Ricky B said:
Haven't met the dancer...Won't know who that is until they show up at the gig.
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If you both represent the 'agency' .. then I get it, the agency hired the dancer and you don't 'need' to meet them before hand. If it were me, I may want to know who it is before the event. The client most likely won't know (or care) that you and the dancer have never met.

If the dancer was hired by me .. I will know who they are before the event ever happens.
 
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I haven't seen any vids of Marcello in action. He hasn't posted any that I know of. From what I know of him I'm sure that he gets out and dances with the crowd, is a polished MC and has a lot of energy. I met him about 5 years ago and can say he's a great guy. A big part of his focus is working out and keeping in excellent shape which is why he's way more energetic than most mobile entertainers.
 
Proformance said:
No, it's not that high at all. It's much more costly than you think. A good part of the expense is overhead and insurance.
Click to expand...

In a state where parents drop $100K on a Bar Mitzvah like it's nothing, Marcello's take has to be more than $1k-$2k. Take a look at everything you see in that video - the lights, music, percussionist, etc... all subcontracted. Marcello (the guy they hired to put the entertainment together) is emceeing the event... and if you've ever met him or seen him work, you know that he's worth every dollar he asks for and more, but the overhead costs aren't his to bear and insurance is cheap.

DJ Ricky B said:
After watching the video more closely, I see some more variations. They provided a drummer to beat along to the DJ which is pretty cool. That's gotta be worth another $300.
Click to expand...

The drummer charges at least $600 to show up. He's easily a $1200 upsell.

DJ Ricky B said:
Marcello is also catering to the top 2% who have the money for this type of mitzvah.
Click to expand...

It's an outstanding business model. Those top 2% people brag about how much they spent, and in the Mitzvah circuit, parents always want to make their kid's party better than every other party they've been to. If you find 20-30 Mitzvahs that are able to put at least 5k in your pocket and likely much more, it's possible to spend your winter in the Caribbean,
 
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Proformance said:
Don't confuse the polish on the video for polish on the event. His events are pretty much identical to what every other troupe is doing in all the major cities. These guys copy every detail of each other to no end.

Also, it's an infringement to use an Ariana Grande song without permission as a promotional over-dub like that. The penalty is pretty stiff if you get caught. Stay with the incidental music or use a licensed and/or royalty free library for over-dubbing.

Gross price may sound like a lot but it includes a lot of sub-contracted vendors arranged and paid through the DJ. This would be stuff like tattoo artists, caricaturist, lighting, and sometimes even decor, or more. It's true that there is a crew of 4 -7 people, plus a pair of roadies but, most of those people are young and paid relatively low or moderate amounts. It is the subcontracted staff, (non-employee) vendors, etc. who get paid substantially more. Marcello himself is likely to reserve at least $1k for himself as emcee, and perhaps another $1k above all else as margin to the company.
Click to expand...
...and who are you?

...and how do you claim to know any of what you present as fact, when it is merely your suspicious envious opinion?

...and why should anyone trust what you say?

P.S. Your posts make you sound very jealous and presumptive and ignorant.
 
DJ Ricky B said:
I am doing a mitzvah on 12/5. Had a THIRD Phone call with the parents and mitzvah girl tonight. It lasted 40 minutes. UGH. Nice people, but lots of questions, and I am certainly doing a lot more hand holding on this one than I prefer to do. I am doing this mitzvah with a "party motovator/dancer" Haven't met the dancer...Won't know who that is until they show up at the gig.

I am facilitating 5 games. They also want a grand entrance, and I offered the "Have the kids throw up their arms and create a tunnel, and have a escort bring the mitzvah girl in" idea...The Mitzvah girl wasn't thrilled with the idea. Preferred just a regular entrance into the ball room.

Anyway, the client is providing light sticks, hats etc. ...The light show I am bringing will have more lighting than what's in that video, and the agency is charging maybe $1700 for me and a dancer. The mitzvah is also in a nice ballroom in a nice hotel. Outside of flat screen TVs, and maybe some sort of multi media package, I'm not sure what paying an extra $3,300 - $5300 does for a mitzvah

The one I am doing will also have a DOC there helping make sure the timeline flows smoothly. Maybe they are paying $600 - $800 for the DOC...maybe more but doubt it.
Click to expand...

That's pretty typical, from my limited knowledge. Mitzvahs are a LOT more hand-holding, even more than a wedding, and they just love having meetings galore. My view, these parties are probably the main statement the parent makes to the Jewish community. The name of the game is to have the biggest and best and everyone craves hearing their friends gloat over what a great, great party they threw. All of the mitzvahs I've worked here in Nashville have a large portion of their guests from New York and the object is to match up to the expectations of the New York family members. Getting good dancers is a key component and even better if you have a lead who can take a mic and work the floor with it. The object is to keep the kids engaged, then have a slamming dance party running by the time the adults re-join, later in the evening. Pull one of these things off and you're in with the community. We currently charge $3k-$4k per event. I occasionally run into families who say they don't have that kind of money to spend and we book something basic. By the time they keep adding on photobooths, dancers and lighting it ends up being the same money spent. Personally, I don't see the value either but to them, this is their child who is joining their faith. It is a huge social event in their lives. From that perspective, I can understand why they go so over the top.
 
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