What is Team Snyder Thankful For?

Whitney Cadavid for Snyder Entertainment

With Thanksgiving only a few days away, we thought it was only appropriate to be a little reflective and think about we are thankful for here at Snyder Entertainment. There is no better person to speak for the heart of our company than our fearless leader, Bradley Ford.

We got Brad to write out this thoughts about what Snyder has accomplished this year, and what he is thankful for. He perfectly captured the way we all feel. Keep scrolling to read his answers!

What are you thankful for this year when you think about Snyder?

I have a lot to be thankful for this year.  Snyder Entertainment has been a huge part of my life for 5 and a half years.  It started out for me to be a way to earn extra money.  And very quickly went from extra money to full time money to a career all the way to being a business owner in just 5 years.  It has become a center in my life of friendships and family.  A sense of pride for me.  Even before I actually owned the business I always felt a sense of ownership in it.  I’m thankful because I get to entertain and be with people on some of the happiest days of their lives and because of that I get to support my family doing something I love.  I’m thankful that people all over world have something to celebrate and the fact that I’m busy means that there’s so much good out there.  

Whitney Cadavid for Snyder Entertainment

What about the team are you thankful for?

I’m so thankful for the team we have in place.  This is the largest group of new blood we have ever had.  But we still have some tenured people on board.  We are all kind of figuring things out and I’m thankful that we don’t just have some club DJ’s pretending to be able to do the bigger events and weddings.  I strongly believe everyone one this team really cares about the clients and getting to know the clients….and ultimately wants to do an amazing job.  That’s so rare which is reason why we are a slow growing company.  It’s so hard to find entertainment talent that really wants to put in the time and make the relationship.  If it were easy we wouldn’t turn away 50 events a year because we are booked up.  There is something so unique about every single member and they are all so different from each other.  I love that.  I know that in moving forward these are the kind of guys I want to be surrounded by, representing my name and brand, and to just be friends with.  These guys make me happy so because I am so thankful to have them I want to do my best to push them and train them and help the fulfill any goals that they have in the future.  

Photo C/O The Tennesseean

What experiences have you or the company had this year that have meant a lot to you?

Over the last couple of years we saw a big jump in corporate business.  This has been a goal of mine and I’m over the top thankful to those corporate planners who have started to put their trust in us.  It means more than I can say.  I LOVE being the guy that gets all the weird questions.  That means someone, somewhere thinks I can find a way to pull it off and that is exciting.  On the personal side of things I’m thankful for partners who year after year continue to ask us to be a part of their business.  I have always believed in a win-win relationship, and I always try to keep that goal in front of me.  We have done some big events this year like Snap On Tools, Bad Boy in Biloxi, Amway and all these events have really pushed us to be creative, sharp and results driven.  We have had to learn some things.  I had to buy confetti canons.  I mean don’t think I’m not thankful for that! 

Darling Juliet Photography

So there you have it folks. Brad said what we all were feeling: we’re thankful for each other and our team; we’re thankful for what we get to experience by working at different events, and we’re thankful for you all as our fabulous clients.

2018 isn’t over yet, but we’re already looking ahead to 2019 and what it will hold for us. We hope that you will choose to bring us into your future events and special occasions!

Have a Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Friendsgiving Songs to Make You Feel Warm and Fuzzy

Ahhhh Friendsgiving. This new tradition has quickly climbed to the top of popular holiday lists everywhere. Thanksgiving is amazing in its own right, but it can cause some people to feel a little bit of dread. You want the awesome food, and you want to be with people you love, but you don’t want your uncle to ask you who you voted for and spark a political debate.

Friendsgiving is the best of both worlds. You get the yummy food, but you get to curate the guest list yourself. It’s a dream! (Not that family isn’t amazing…but you know what we mean.)

As this holiday has grown in popularity, it has become more of an annual event for many people, which can require more formal planning. Some people go so far as to treat their Friendsgiving as their main Thanksgiving! If nothing else, a meal with friends definitely requires the perfect playlist…and we’ve got you covered over here at Snyder Entertainment!

Whether this playlist serves as inspiration to get you started, or you just want to play and loop for the night, this mix of songs will put you in the mood to celebrate good food, a chill in the air, and (most importantly) good friendship.

So, who here is hosting a Friendsgiving this year? How can Snyder help you?

Nashville DJ Diaries | Brittany & Jason Aldean Baby Shower

You all know how much we love to share what we have been up to behind the scenes, and today we have a pretty cool story to share.

Darling Juliet Photography

Darling Juliet Photography

Darling Juliet Photography

Jason Aldean, and his wife Brittany Aldean’s baby shower was featured in People Magazine this week, and Snyder Entertainment was excited to be named alongside some fantastic vendors!

The expectant couple (of baby #2) had a beautiful shower at Allenbrooke Farms in Spring Hill, TN. Along with a host of other vendors (listed below), they needed a DJ for the event. They went with Snyder-specifically, our very own Bradley Ford.

Darling Juliet Photography

Event Specifics:

Venue/Rentals/Planning/Photo Booth: Allenbrooke Farms

Photographer: Darling Juliet

Floral/Custom Art/Balloon Design: Foxglove and Heather

Catering: Dannie Holmes Catering

Cake: Copper Whisk Cakes

Signage/Invites: The Artisan Abode

Bar Staff: Simply Southern Occasions

Neon Sign: Shop Narwall

Darling Juliet Photography

Darling Juliet Photography

What a beautiful shower. And what an amazing opportunity for so many talented Nashville creatives to get together and show off what they do best! We wish all of the best to the growing Aldean family!

Contact Snyder today to reserve a top-shelf DJ for your next event!

How to Host the Perfect Halloween Party

It’s Halloween week! We love Halloween over here. We especially love when we’re invited to serve a part in your Halloween parties. The truth is, we are more than just DJs over here at Snyder. We help plan, prep, and execute amazing parties and events every week. So, as you are fine-tuning your Halloween party plans this week, here are a few things to consider.

1.) Get Theme-y with Props

It’s Halloween, so you likely have asked your guests to dress up. If you want them to really get into the spirit, they should be met with a room that is as dressed up as they are. Halloween is not the time to be skimpy with a theme. After all, the theme is already done for you…no planning required! You just need plenty of props to make the theme feel real to your guests. Strategically decorate the areas that you know your guests will be spending more time at. That way, you don’t have to break the bank decorating every square inch of a room, but your guests will feel like you did.

Also, photo booths are a great way to get your guests interacting with some of the props, and they add another layer of entertainment to your event!

2.) Set the Mood with Cool Lighting

A Halloween party that is too bright can stifle the spirit of your events. You want guests to really feel the Halloween vibes as soon as they walk in. Along with props, this can be achieved with some creepy lighting. Keep things dim, and cast some different colored lights around the room. You can use lights to highlight the important things in your events (think: food, DJ Booth, Dance floor, etc.), and show off all of the creepy props and staging we references in point number 1. Casting shadows on other parts of the room creates a creepy effect, but also makes the negative space in the room less visible, so you don’t have to decorate every square inch.

3.) Let the music serve a purpose

If you’ve hung out with us on the blog for a while, you know that we feel like poorly-planned music can be the death of a good party. Whether you choose to hire a DJ, or you simply want to press play on your phone, be intentional about the flow of the music! You want your guests to be entertained!

If you need the perfect Halloween playlist for your get-together, see our post about one we already have ready for you!

As we already mentioned, we are party people here at Snyder! Whether you need custom-made props, great lighting, an emcee, or more…we have the people and ideas for you!

Contact us today to see how we can help you!

Nashville DJ Diaries | Bad Boy Mowers Dealer Event

Every once in a while, we like to take a break from event tips and advice, and show you what we’ve been up to lately. At the end of last month, Snyder Entertainment had the pleasure of serving as one of the vendors at the Bad Boy Mowers Annual Dealer Meeting, hosted in Biloxi, MS, hosted at the Beau Rivage Resort and Convention Center.

It. Was. A. Party.

The dealer’s meeting was a three-day convention, that ended with a bang. Attendees were invited on the final night to a “Vacation Movie” themed party, where National Lampoon-themed costumes were encouraged. The theme was boldly embraced, and the result was exactly as wild as you’d expect a National Lampoon party to be. Scroll to see the photos and vendors we partnered with on this epic event!

Wacky Games Casino Tables designed by Snyder Entertainment

Pig in a Poke Trivia Game provided by Snyder Entertainment

Comedian, Gary Jenkins, kept guests laughing as Cousin Eddie

Our very own Brad Ford making magic happen at the DJ booth on stage

Snyder provided a Social Roamer photo booth for the event.

Snyder was honored to serve this event by not only providing musical entertainment, but giving the event extra flair with custom-made Wacky Game Board tables, actors who led the casino games, a custom Pig-in-a-Poke Trivia game, a green screen with European Vacation backdrops for photos, a social roamer photo booth, canons stocked with plenty of confetti and streamers, and plenty of good music.

We’re not just DJs here at Snyder, we’re party planners and all-around entertainers. It was exciting to partner with these other vendors to make this party the success that it was:

Photography: Whitney Cadavid for Snyder Entertainment

Event Planner: PRA Nashville

Props and Decor: White Door Events

Want to feel like you were there partying with us? Check out Brad’s 80s playlist for this awesome evening!

Working with our good friends at Destination Nashville we got the opportunity to pull off one of the biggest events of the year. Every year Bad Boy Mower throws down an incredible party for their dealers. This year's theme was Family Vacation and yes the entire party was themed after the Vacation Movies.

Looking for some extra assistance with planning and executing your next event? We’re here to help you take it to the next level!

Fall has Arrived

Football, warmer clothes, corn mazes, pumpkin. spice. everything. Fall has arrived, and we couldn’t be more happy about it! We all took a moment this week to reflect on what we love about this season to share with you all. Nashville has no shortage of fall activities and events (can you say HOCKEY SEASON??) to offer, but fall brings its own inspiration, no matter what city you’re in!

Check out some of the things the guys on our team love most about fall, and be sure to read to the end to check out a fall playlist!

”For me, fall means one thing, the start of Hockey Season! One of my other gigs is working for the Nashville Predators as a member of the 'Energy Team' and it's always great to get to spend time with my hockey family!" -Zack McCann

“Things I love about fall: Long motorcycle rides through the country, cold mornings, festivals, crisp nights, hikes through Radnor Lake, reading outdoors, etc.” -Chase Akers

“I’m gonna say seasonal scented candles, apple cider, and pumpkins.” -Jay Psanis

“In the fall, my family and I live for hockey! My son plays for the Jr. Preds, and we love going to Preds games!” -Casey Davis

“I remember fall becoming my favorite season around 5th or 6th grade.  I started to realize that everything started to feel different and smell different.  We were always having people over and doing campfires so that smell of something burning became really important to me for some reason haha.  But I think I mostly just enjoy the change of the leaves and the coolness in the air in the mornings.  

Favorite Fall Drink:  Octoberfest Beer

Favorite Activity:  Going to a Fall Festival

Favorite Song: Can’t choose, so I made a playlist for my last fall party.”

-Brad Ford

What on that list resonates with you? Fall candles? Preds Hockey? Being outside more? Listen to Brad’s playlist and share with us what you love most about fall! What events do you have lined up for later this season or next? Be sure to reach out to our team to get ahead on planning and make your big day the best it can be!

Follow us on Instagram to see what events we can be spotted at this Fall!

FAQ Series: How Will We Know When to Eat?

A few weeks ago, we introduced our new FAQ series, where we give you a chance to learn the answers to some of the most common questions we receive here at Snyder Entertainment. We discussed whether or not guests can make song requests during an event.

Today, our FAQ series has returned with one that our DJs get asked in a variety of ways: You won’t be the one to tell us when it’s time for dinner, will you?

As a bride (or anyone planning an event), you likely have a checklist of vendors you are working to hire before your big day. You may have ended up here at our website for that very reason: you are looking to hire a DJ a check it off of your list! What can happen, however, is a variety of people offering different services show up to do their one job at your wedding, and the order of events is unclear. If you host an unconventional wedding, or you work in extra events, the flow and planning of the evening will not come intuitively to your guests. You need someone to announce the sequence of events to guests and fellow vendors.

It is not always assumed that a DJ could also manage the flow of an entire evening, which seems to be why we are asked who will let the guests know when dinner is ready. Here at Snyder, we believe that DJs can make the perfect MCs to your event, and therefore can let your guests know when dinner is ready, when to turn their attention to the first dance, a cake-cutting, or a special event. So, if you are wondering who will alert your guests to dinner time, the answer is: our DJs will!

Snyder Entertainment is not simply a group of DJs. We are planners, coordinators, MCs, and hosts. You do not simply get someone to press play on a playlist when you hire a member of our team. You invest in the quality of your event by inviting someone on board who can wear many hats and takes so much off of your plate!

Nashville DJ Diaries | Teamwork Makes the Dream Work

If you live in the greater Nashville area, (or if you’re one of the many who traveled here to attend), you’ve probably heard all about Pilgrimage Festival this weekend…or the lack thereof. The torrential rain and some scattered thunderstorms cancelled many of the shows, leaving ticket-holders frustrated and disappointed, trudging through mud to go back home.

However, a duo of our very own caught some media attention this weekend as they kept the party going outside of Mafiaoza’s in Franklin! Not just for a few minutes…but for hours. In the rain! Talk about knowing how to revive a party!

Photo c/o Jake Hess

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The rain didn’t intimidate DJs Kam Patterson and Jacob Hess. As guests were ushered out of The Park at Harlinsdale Farm, where Pilgrimage takes place, they stumbled upon a real dance party, which turned the day around for many. These two guys really demonstrated the idea of teamwork this weekend. Their energy fed off of each other, which kept the crowd around even longer, and drew the attention of dozens. The result was an epic dance party!

The party didn't even stop after it got dark!

Thanks for saving the day, guys!

We’ve boasted quite a bit on this blog about our team, and how we have a crew of DJs who strive to go above and beyond, no matter the situation. This weekend we gave the people of Pilgrimage a real taste of what we’re all about! If you want a DJ for your event who will keep the crowd moving, no matter how crazy the weather or situation may be, contact us today and get to know us a little better!

Top 20 Floor-Packing Hits

Fall is just about here, which means it’s time to bring on alllll of the Fall weddings and events. As you’re preparing for your Big Day, music is a big deal! Our DJs are great at cultivating playlists for each client, but there may be some must-play songs on your list that you want to ensure don’t get left out. It’s wise planning to come to your DJ with a few of your favorite songs to provide a sense of your taste, and to make sure that your favorites make the cut!

To inspire you, we’ve curated a list of 20 hits that always pack the floor. This will be sure to get your creative juices flowing, and get you in the mood to dance the night away this season! Or, maybe all you have on your calendar this Fall is a lot of football and backyard barbecues. These crowd-friendly songs don’t make terrible background music for an evening with friends, either! No matter what you have scheduled, you need great music to go with it. We’ve got you covered! Click the image below to listen to the playlist!

20 Songs that are sure to get your guests up and moving!

PS: Reach out to us today to learn all about our team, and how we can make your big day as perfect as possible! We can’t wait to hear from you.

Want to remember this playlist later? Pin it!