Sweet 16s

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rickryan.com

DJ Extraordinaire
ODJT Supporter
Dec 9, 2009
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Hendersonville, TN
www.rickryan.com
Taso (and anyone else who wants to chime in), I need some coaching on Sweet 16s. I've done a few of these before but never did anything more than a standard birthday party. This mom has hired me for several events before and now that her little girl has grown up, she's calling me again. She mentioned the girl's wanting a black-light (glow) party. I have a blacklight cannon and 1 UV panel, but they've always been pretty underwhelming. I have $2.2k budget to work with and have offered to throw in give aways. What else would you suggest? It's in 2 months so I gotta move quick.
 
I use to rent 400 Watt HEAVY Black Lights from a production company. The darn light weighed A TON...Like 40 llbs probably. It was a bulky square light that lit up an entire room with black light. Cost was $85 or so with Tax at the time. I would literally sit the light on the table...Too heavy to get onto my light stand.
Outside of that, I would put those black light tubes from Spencers around the room in other far parts of the room...Of course I am talking back in 2007 to 2010. I haven't done a black light event in a long time.
 
I can relate to teens... kinda like their GRANDFATHER!!![emoji1]


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Me too, though I think I'm more of the weird uncle type.
 
Me too, though I think I'm more of the weird uncle type.

My only child (daughter), if she had a kid at 25, the kid would be in his/her mid teens. Sadly, no grand kids for me, since it looks pretty unlikely my daughter will be having any children.


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My only child (daughter), if she had a kid at 25, the kid would be in his/her mid teens. Sadly, no grand kids for me, since it looks pretty unlikely my daughter will be having any children.


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My oldest is 29 and just got married .. youngest is 27 .. there is still that possibility for me at some point.
 
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Black light parties nowadays seem to have no slow music and more club style playlists, dubstep, etc.
 
Speaking of blacklights, how does this strike you?

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M4K6HN1/_encoding=UTF8?coliid=I3Q2CNKXUOEYLP&colid=ICEWYYTXZM7D

I've got a high school dance this weekend, and might pickup 3 of them to try out.
Those don't seem to go low enough to get fluorescing .. you'll mainly get a purple light. You need to get below about 380nm which really requires fluorescent tubes (OK) or mercury vapor (best). If all you want is the "look" (that purple glow), then LEDs are certainly more convenient.

I have 1 ADJ UVLED BAR16 and it's not all that useful beyond about 20 feet.
 
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Those don't seem to go low enough to get fluorescing .. you'll mainly get a purple light. You need to get below about 380nm which really requires fluorescent tubes (OK) or mercury vapor (best). If all you want is the "look" (that purple glow), then LEDs are certainly more convenient.

I have 1 ADJ UVLED BAR16 and it's not all that useful beyond about 20 feet.

I'm torn on the best route to go. These would run about $300 for 3. I could get 2 more mercury vapor cannons for about $400 or I could get some beefy rgbaw+uv fixtures for a grand, which is more than I need to spend.
 
Can you rent short term to see if the parties pan out?
 
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Yeah, just rent a few for the day; done deal! I just use a crap ton of my wireless DMX, battery operated pars that way I can have them doing color chases or BANG have them all go black-out to UV, looks pretty cool! When in a gym, I use them at the front from my set up and also from both corners of the rear wall so it is surround lighting, really makes it feel like a club!
 
Taso (and anyone else who wants to chime in), I need some coaching on Sweet 16s. I've done a few of these before but never did anything more than a standard birthday party. This mom has hired me for several events before and now that her little girl has grown up, she's calling me again. She mentioned the girl's wanting a black-light (glow) party. I have a blacklight cannon and 1 UV panel, but they've always been pretty underwhelming. I have $2.2k budget to work with and have offered to throw in give aways. What else would you suggest? It's in 2 months so I gotta move quick.
I can't speak for black light sweet 16's too much, as the only way for it to be really effective is if the kids wore all white or neon... and in NJ where kids tend to arrive to them formally dressed, that isn't going to happen. However, if in your case, the kids are decked out in neon or come in white, then you can have a great outcome in results. Since I don't use blacklights too much my knowledge is limited. However, from my limited experience, I know that the LED versions don't do justice compared to the actual UV lights. Consider offering neon glow sticks or white LED batons as giveaways, or the newest trend in giveaways... LED/glowing pacifiers. If the venue allows look for white confetti poppers to do a couple of times during the night. Thats always a great effect especially if you can find white conffetti or uv reflective. Another cool thing, is to purchase white gloves like this https://www.amazon.com/eBoot-Pairs-...508213654&sr=8-1&keywords=white+server+gloves and give em out during a particular segment and have everyones hands in the air during some really high energy edm music. If you watch around the 3:40 mark in the below video, you'll see what I'm talking about.

Bottom line with any sweet 16 though is it's all about the music and energy. BE PREPARED with the latest and best. DO NOT PLAY SLOW SONGS except during dinner. KEEP IT MOSTLY CURRENT... yes some throwbacks are cool, but kids want to hear the popular stuff now. ROTATE GENRES... play abotu 10 min 128bpm top 40, switch to 10-15min 98bpm tracks, bring in some EDM (big build ups and drops), and some slower hip hop like "rolex", "ispy" etc. Kids get bored fast, so your mixes need to be faster than normal too with seamless transitions so that they don't look at you like you have 3 heads each time you're switching a song. Another reason why I think transitions are key... YOU CANT AFFORD TO LOSE ENERGY... all it takes is for one bad song to clear the dancefloor. With teenagers, if one or two decide to leave the dancefloor... 6 may follow. Know your go to music so that in case the floor clears or they go to the bathroom, you get em back quick. Songs like one dance, bodak yellow, rockstar, despacito, etc.

Lastly, to kinda show what I do musically... here is a list of music I played from this weekend's dance I did with 400 teens. This isn't the perfect example, as with 400 teens I aimed at more of a rave vibe with more songs that featured build ups and drops... which may or may not work on some smaller crowds. All this music was played in about a 1.5hr time span to give you a sense of how quickly I was mixing it:

DINNER MUSIC
Love On Top Beyoncé
One Call Away Charlie Puth
Who Says Selena Gomez & The Scene
Body Like A Back Road (Clean) Sam Hunt
Rise Up (Clean) Andra Day
Rollin (Clean) Calvin Harris Feat. Future and Khalid
1-800-273-8255 (Clean) Logic Feat. Khalid and Alessia Cara
Sorry Not Sorry (Clean) Demi Lovato
Young Dumb and Broke (Clean) Khalid
How Far I'll Go Alessia Cara

Since there were 400 guests, some had finished dinner while others got served... first few songs below were transition tracks to ease them onto the dancefloor
There It Is (David Jones Remix) Tujamo
Fogo (Clean) Garmiani Feat. Julimar Santos
Hit The Road Jack (Original Club Mix) Throttle
Is This Love Bob Marley & The Wailers Feat. LVNDSCAPE & Boiler
Attention (PeteDown NuDisco Mix) Clean Charlie Puth
Cold Water (Tom Budin Remix) Major Lazer Feat. Justin Bieber & M.O aka MO
Shape Of You (Cloak Dagger Moombahton Mix) (Clean) Ed Sheeran
Mi Gente (Clean) J Balvin Y Willy William
Get Low (Main) Zedd & Liam Payne
All Night (Clean) Chance The Rapper Feat. Knox Fortune
I Love It (Sick Individuals Remix Maestro Re-Edit) Icona Pop
Party Till We Die (Clean) MAKJ and Timmy Trumpet Feat. Andrew W.K.
Rock The Party (Original Mix) Jauz
Danza Kuduro (Original) Don Omar ft Lucenzo
Sexy Ladies Akon ft Don Omar
Bailando Por El Mundo (feat. El Cata, Pitbull) Juan Magan
Bodak Yellow (Clean) Cardi B
Thats What I Like (Extend) (Dance Version) (Clean) Bruno Mars
Bad & Boujee (Clean) Migos Feat. Lil Uzi Vert
The Hum Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike & Ummet Ozcan
We Wanna Party (Extended Mix) TJR feat. Savage
This Girl (Clean) Kungs vs Cookin On 3 Burners
Kill The Lights (Audien Remix) Alex Newell
Bend Ova [128 - 103] - Clean Lil Jon
Bird Machine DJ Snake ft Alesia
Despacito (Remix) Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee Feat. Justin Bieber
iSpy (Clean) Kyle Feat. Lil Yachty
Rolex (Clean) Ayo & Teo
Rockstar (Clean) Post Malone Feat. 21 Savage
Unforgettable - Latin Remix (Clean) French Montana & J Balvin Feat. Swae Lee
Wild Thoughts (Clean) DJ Khaled Feat. Rihanna & Bryson Tiller
Gasolina (Remix) Daddy Yankee Ft. Pitbull & N.O.R.E.
Hips Don't Lie Shakira ft Wyclef Jean
One Dance (Clean) Drake ft Wizkid & Kyla
Goldigger (clean) Kanye West
Up In Here (clean) DMX
Be Faithful (clean) Fatman Scoop
Rattle New York (Sik Suo Remix) Clean Bigo Players x Alicia Keys
Viento Gianluca Vacchi
Look What You Made Me Do (Handbag House Clean) Taylor Swift
Riot Wiwek
Booty Bounce (feat. DJ Funk) GTA
I Want You To Know (Moiez Remix) Zedd ft Selena Gomez
No Money (Main) Galantis
The Code (Original Mix) Ummet Ozcan, W&W
Mammoth Dimitri Vegas, MOGUAI & Like Mike
Party In The U.S.A. (Wideboys Club Mix) Miley Cyrus
Boy Oh Boy (Original Mix) Diplo & GTA
Shots (clean) LMFAO ft Lil Jon
Low (Clean) Flo Rida
MOVE SHAKE DROP - REMIX DJ LAZ
Calabria (Firebeatz Remix) (John Cha) (Clean) Rune RK
Krazy (Clean) Pitbull
Fergalicious Fergie
Temperature Sean Paul
move your body Nina Sky Ft Jabba
Culo Pitbull F/ Lil Jon
Conga Shake (Dj Steve1der Remix) (Dj Rukus Intro Edit) (Clean) Nina Sky
I Wanna Dance With Somebody (The Cube Guys Mix) Barbara Tucker, The Cube Guys
You Don't Know Me (Original Clean Mix) Jax Jones Feat. Raye
Ecco (Ummet Ozcan Edit) Mem
Get Loose (Clean) Lil Jon
Love Myself (Extend) (John Cha) (Clean) Hailee Steinfield
Rave After Rave W&W
Clarity (Radio Mix) Zedd ft Foxes
Reload (Original Mix) Sebastian Ingrosso, Tommy Trash
Bet You Can't Do It Like Me IAmDLOW
Gas Pedal ft. IamSu (CLEAN) Sage the Gemini
Bubble Butt (Radio Mix) [feat. Bruno Mars, 2 Chainz, Tyga & Mystic] Major Lazer
Don't Drop That Thun Thun Finatticz
Ayy Ladies (feat. Tyga) Travis Porter
679 (Remy Boyz) (Clean) Fetty Wap ft Montana Buckz
Post To Be (Clean) Omarion ft Chris Brown & Jhene Aiko
Loyal (Clean) Chris Brown ft French Montana & Lil Wayne
If you Wanna be my Lover Spice Girls
All Night (Filip Jenven and Mike Perry Remix) Icona Pop
Don't You Worry Child (feat. John Martin) (Extended Mix) Swedish House Mafia
Club Can't Handle Me - Sidney Samson Remix David Guetta, Flo Rida
Pursuit Of Happiness (Steve Aoki Mix) Kid Cudi
Don't Wake Me Up (Benny Benassi Remix) Chris Brown
What Makes You Beautiful (DJ Jeff Hype Remix) One Direction
 
Thanks for the list, Taso. In regards to special events on Sweet16s, I'm assuming you do a big grand entrance? Are there any other special events that you use? I'm having a hard time coming up with anything more than singing happy birthday. On this gig, I'm providing give aways and white gloves (for the blacklight). On lights, I think I'm going to hold off on knee-jerking and spending a grand on UV LED fixtures. Since this is the first BL party inquiry I've had in 5 years, I think the best course of action is to just buy a 2nd UV Cannon (mercury vapor) and use what I've got. I'm having a hard time seeing BL as being useful with weddings. Proms/Mitzvahs, maybe, but NOBODY is asking for it. I think in regards to this party I'm likely going to put my 20 year old son out in front. The young girls go nutz for him and I can just fill in with MC as needed. I'm probably going to do the same this weekend on the high school dance we're doing.
 
Thanks for the list, Taso. In regards to special events on Sweet16s, I'm assuming you do a big grand entrance? Are there any other special events that you use? I'm having a hard time coming up with anything more than singing happy birthday. On this gig, I'm providing give aways and white gloves (for the blacklight). On lights, I think I'm going to hold off on knee-jerking and spending a grand on UV LED fixtures. Since this is the first BL party inquiry I've had in 5 years, I think the best course of action is to just buy a 2nd UV Cannon (mercury vapor) and use what I've got. I'm having a hard time seeing BL as being useful with weddings. Proms/Mitzvahs, maybe, but NOBODY is asking for it. I think in regards to this party I'm likely going to put my 20 year old son out in front. The young girls go nutz for him and I can just fill in with MC as needed. I'm probably going to do the same this weekend on the high school dance we're doing.

As I mentioned in a previous post, try to hit the dance area from the front and the rear for the best, most engulfing blacklight experience.
 
As I mentioned in a previous post, try to hit the dance area from the front and the rear for the best, most engulfing blacklight experience.

If I'm shooting a cannon from the front (DJ table), I don't have a lot of throw. My understanding, you need some distance to make that cannon spread out more. I was thinking to shoot from left-right sides, about 30 feet away. Any thoughts? BTW, I just finished ordering my 2nd cannon and hoping it will be here before the weekend. If it does, I'm going to set them up and try out this setup. I'm planning to just let my son run with this one, so hopefully I can just play with lights all night (3.5 hours). I have to admit, if I can consistently get $2k+ plus for kid events, maybe I'm going to re-think my direction. Maybe we need a big production Sweet16 DJ in this area.