Walking the Talk for Weddings and Parties

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Here we are last July 4th, jazzing up the pre-fireworks family picnic hosted by the City of Cupertino. We’ll be back again this Saturday evening. L–R: Dale Mills, Gary Milliken, Steve Apple, me, Bruce Jolly, and Andy Norblin. Thanks for the wonderful photo, Joy.

On to "Walking the Talk". Several months ago I accepted a challenge to write 25 interesting things about myself. The project taught me about what counts most in my life, and I recommend you try it, too.

I commented on the people who influence how I think about the world and what I like to do. Naturally, my parents appear early in the list, but I also mention many friends and colleagues throughout.

Here's where it gets interesting. We hear so much about the huge role of parents in molding a child’s character, but how about the role of our friends? And why should it matter to us? After all, we’re grown-ups, right?

I’m in the middle of Malcom Gladwell’s book, The Tipping Point, and he claims (at least regarding the rise and spread of social fads) that peer pressure beats parental pressure hands down. I agree. Lessons from our parents form only the first, though perhaps most enduring, window through which we view the world. Throughout our lives, we retain and build on that earliest viewpoint as we meet new people.

Nowadays, our friends continue to mold our perceptions, our decisions, and our character, and I’m sure we all can mention LOTS of examples to support this.

Now let’s change perspective. Think not about who influences you, but rather about who you influence. Like it or not, all the people who know us learn something from what they see us doing. So we need to "do what we say". What are we displaying — courtesy, thoughtfulness, curiosity, industry, loyalty, creativity? The list goes on.

I strive to be a thoughtful citizen of my community, and to treat people right. Day-to-day I manage the band so we entertain people, helping them enjoy their weddings and parties, and making these celebrations memorable.

This is how I make a living, trying to make everyone’s lives a little better, and I hope I’m setting a good example. Ask yourself: How do YOU model what you’d like your friends to do?

Meanwhile, the band continues to jazz up events of all sizes, and I’m always on the lookout for more opportunities. For instance, will you be celebrating a significant event soon? Throw a party and include us. Are friends talking about a wedding? Please recommend us. Today I’m talking with people hosting parties for the 4th of July and Labor Day. If you’ll have a soiree on one of these days, or on any day in between, now’s a good time to arrange the details, including the music.

Have a question? We’ll have the answer. Call us at 408-245-9120. You’ll love what we do. We’re easy to work with, so let our experience help your celebration.

In the meantime, please catch us at a few public events coming up. On Saturday, July 4th, we’ll be entertaining prior to the fireworks at the City of Cupertino’s holiday festivities. Please visit MagnoliaJazz.com for details, and I hope to see you soon.

Please take a moment to find me on Facebook and follow me on Twitter. Want to catch us in action? Please visit our Facebook Page, register as a "fan", and you’ll receive a quick email reminder before each of our public appearances.

Thanks for reading my blog. Please send me a comment (below), and I’ll reply promptly. For now, here’s a question for you: How do YOU model what you’d like your friends to do? By the way, you’ll find my entire list of 25 interesting things here.

Curious About Parties and Weddings?

Here we are playing at last month’s Baby Boomer/Senior Citizens Expo, chatting with people as they walk by. With a wide range of songs, we entertain people of all ages, from seniors to their teen-age grandkids, at parties and weddings, but who could have guessed we’d ever see a geezer trade show? I thought our society was obsessed with “youth”. The boomers strike again!

Thanks to photographer Roberto Gonzalez, of NuevaFoto Photography, for the wonderful picture. Left to right: Gary Milliken, Andy Norblin, and me. Roberto, looks like you caught Andy by surprise. Curious about what he was thinking.

Let me tell you a personal story about curiosity. I’m continually trying to learn new things, to stay on top. Sure, this routine isn’t for everyone, but for me it’s exciting and rewarding. In fact many of my friends do the same. We read a lot, talk a lot, and constantly try new ideas, wondering what would happen if we did “this” or “that”, instead. This constant eagerness to explore something new, to enhance my old tried-and-true practices, stimulates my curiosity every minute of every day. True for you, too?

How do you satisfy your curiosity? Some of the best ways I’ve found for finding new ideas is by reading -- blogs, newspapers (editorials, opinions, comics), magazines, books -- and by listening to conversations -- with friends, on radio, podcasts, or TV (especially my favorite, Charlie Rose). Whenever I encounter a novel idea, I wonder “Interesting! Now, how could I apply that to help what I’m doing?”

This “build on the best” attitude has kept new ideas blossoming throughout human history. It certainly seems to be true for the local high tech industry, which in turn sets the style for the rest of life here in Silicon Valley.

Curiosity. If the very next words you imagine are “killed the cat”, let me suggest there’s lots more to it than that. I believe that having curiosity is a blessing, and it’s best developed by practicing. Wondering about things is a basic key to success, whatever you do. Your mind stays active, constantly acquires new ideas and possibilities, and keeps your life exciting. Do you think about curiosity this way, too?

Wondering about curiosity, I found dozens of articles online. All looked interesting, and I just read several. Most suggest that to foster your own curiosity, keep an open mind, ask questions, read and listen widely, and make learning fun.

Look around. Each of us is busy being curious about how something works or about how to do something better. What are you doing right now? Maybe just busy with a hobby, or maybe working on your full-time occupation. Maybe updating something old, or maybe creating something new. Maybe “scratching” a personal “itch”, or maybe benefiting someone else. In every case, our passion always starts with curiosity, and develops as we “follow our nose” from where we’re at, to where we’re headed.

Recently I heard Charlie Rose speaking with Bill Gates, who attributed his great success ultimately to his curiosity. Of course, he also benefitted from other intellectual qualities -- his life-long love of learning, tenacity to stay on target, and remarkable memory -- but he felt everything started with his curiosity. And this morning I heard Charlie speak with J.J. Abrams, talented director of the current “Star Trek” movie, who said he envisions his movie to be the story of a dream his main character has, after which he wakes up changed for the better. What an interesting way to think about the plot! Now I wonder, how can I benefit from that idea? Stay tuned.

Now if you’re curious, the band has been entertaining lots of people this year, and I’m always on the lookout for more opportunities. For instance, will you be celebrating a significant event soon? Throw a party and include us. Are friends talking about a wedding? Please recommend us. Today I’m talking with people hosting parties for Memorial Day and Father’s Day. If you’ll have a soiree on one of these days, or on any day in between, now’s a good time to arrange the details, including the music.

Have a question? We’ll have the answer. Call us at 408-245-9120. You’ll love what we do. We’re easy to work with, so let our experience help your next celebration.

In the meantime, please catch us at a public event coming up. On Sunday, May 10, we’ll be entertaining for “Mother’s Day Brunch” at the Toll House, in Los Gatos. Please visit MagnoliaJazz.com for details, and I hope to see you soon.

Thanks for reading my blog, and I hope you enjoy considering my ideas. Please tell me what you think, and I’ll reply to all your comments. Please take a moment to find me on Facebook and follow me on Twitter. Want to catch us in action? Visit my Facebook Page, become a fan, and you’ll receive an update for each of our public appearances.

Why Do Weddings and Parties Make Me Smile?

Why are these men smiling? Here we are last summer, having a great time posing for publicity photos. Thank you to photographer Jeanine Brown for the terrific pictures that afternoon.

Please remember this: Smiling improves everything. This tip is simple, easy, and VERY powerful. No charge.

Somehow we already know that smiling is a wonderful asset for living well, and for taking care of business, too. But do you know WHY smiling is contagious? It’s still a mystery to me, and my research continues. Frequently I spend time just smiling at everyone I meet. I watch them smile back, then people THEY meet start smiling too, and bingo! Everyone around us is not only wearing a dazzling grin, but is happier than we were a moment earlier. I don’t know why it happens, but I love it!

Hospitality is an optimistic profession, so if you’re involved too, whatever you do, be optimistic. If you want to cheer up a room, smile at everyone. Often that’s all it takes. The same strategy works for “breaking the ice” whenever you meet someone.

I’ve always smiled easily. Probably from shyness when I was young (believe it or not!). I’m sure I quickly learned that smiling made me relaxed, happy, and charmed everyone around me.

My mother encouraged my smiling, too. She taught us a song about smiling, from her Girl Scout days back in the 1930’s. It’s what they call a “patter song”, with very rapid-fire lyrics that always brought down the house with us kids. Reading the words alone can be monotonous, so ask me to sing it for you.

If you will smile in the morning,
you’ll smile throughout the afternoon, and get your smiling habit soon.
Smile and the world will come
smiling back to you, and you’ll have everybody smiling too.

Smile when the skies that are blue turn to grey,
Smile and you’ll chase Mr. Trouble and his family away, keep smiling!

Smile when it’s raining and
you’ll forget to curse the fellow who has borrowed your umbrella,
Sunshine will come after a while!

Smile and be a pleasure-maker, smile and fool the undertaker,
Doctor bills you never have to pay,
You’re in style when you’re wearing a smile.

Now, I don’t know if “smilers” are better friends or more productive workers, but I’ll bet they enjoy life more than “grumps” do. Because smiling makes us happy, I enjoy working with smilers and I avoid working with grumps. Seems natural to me. You, too?

Nearly ALL my friends and colleagues smile broadly and often. It makes working with them so much smoother, especially at weddings and parties. Even chatting with them is always a treat. Some of the brightest smiles belong to Amy Frugoli, David Ethridge, Kathryn Kalabokes, Dustin Eisenhauer, Liz Guthrie, Chris Citti, Brynn Kessler, Duncan Reyes, and Kathy Goodman. Just tell ‘em I said so, and watch ‘em go! And if you're looking for any of their services, it's a good bet you'll love working with them, too.

Speaking of “smiles”, the band has been making lots of people smile this year, and I’m always on the lookout for more opportunities. For instance, will you be celebrating a significant event soon? Throw a party and include us. Are friends talking about a wedding? Please recommend us. Today I’m talking with people hosting parties for Mother’s Day and Memorial Day. If you’ll have a soiree on one of these days, or on any day in between, now’s a good time to arrange the details, including the music.

Have a question? We’ll have the answer. Call us at 408-245-9120. You’ll love what we do. We’re easy to work with, so let our experience help your celebration.

In the meantime, please catch us at a few public events coming up. On Sunday, April 26, we’ll be entertaining during a “Baby Boomers Expo” at The Santa Clara Convention Center. Three days later, on Wednesday, April 29, we’ll create a lively atmosphere for a special shopping night at Macy’s Stanford Shopping Center, in Palo Alto. Please visit MagnoliaJazz.com for details, and I hope to see you soon.

Thanks for reading my blog, and I hope you enjoy considering my ideas. Please tell me what you think, and I’ll reply to all your comments. In the meantime, please take a moment to find me on Facebook and follow me on Twitter.

Do You Live to Serve?

Here are Robbie and Andy in action last October 3rd, part of the trio entertaining at an elegant cocktail party in the Corinthian Event Center, in San Jose. Like in any conversation, we not only listen to what the other is saying, but, believe me, we play everything to make being there easier and more enjoyable for each other.

This is exactly how the Magnolia Jazz Band serves every party’s guests, whether at a wedding, banquet, or open house. You like to work this way too? Thanks to Chris Johnson for the nice photo.

Speaking of “serving”, I just had a real eye-opening experience. Recently I’ve spent a lot of time at the Stanford Hospital, sitting with a family member recovering from surgery. The nurses I met there are amazing — always cheerful & optimistic, warm & personable, and very efficient in a job that’s both demanding and life-and-death crucial. After taking care of their patients, they’re always asking “Anything else I can help with?” And they answer every request with a smile. Wonderful, and I’m sure their attitude plays a significant role in their patients’ progress.

I mention their attitude here because it reminds me so much of what we all do every day. “We” being the various professionals who serve at weddings, parties, and other social events.

“Serve” is the operational word here, and it applies to each of us. No matter what line of work we’re in, once we master the skills of our profession, the best of us use our abilities to help our clients get whatever they wish for. In a recent conversation about our previous careers, my friend David Ethridge recently put it simply, “It was a really rewarding job but I love working directly with people“. An outstanding videographer and a tireless networker, David sets a fine example for all of us.

Caterers, restaurants, hotels, and all their associates, including musicians, usually consider ourselves in the “hospitality” industry, but I think a better category would be the “service” industry. This subtle change in attitude makes a world of difference. Our job is the same, of course, but HOW we do the job changes from our thinking “Here’s what we’re selling, and I sincerely think you really need it. Please consider buying.” and becomes “Thank you for telling me what you’d like. Here’s how I can get it for you, and I’ll be honored to deliver it. Plus a little extra.” It’s all about them, not about us. No matter how much we believe in our own product, our top priority should be serving our clients’ wishes.

Like those nurses’ attitude, this eagerness to serve goes a long way toward assuring success — both for our clients and for ourselves. So, the next time you’re in a business conversation, with a client or a colleague, offer to be of service just a little more, and see how it helps.

Speaking of “service”, the band has been helping lots of people this year, and I’m always on the lookout for more opportunities. For instance, will you be celebrating a significant event soon? Throw a party and include us. Are friends talking about a wedding? Please recommend us. Today I’m talking with people hosting parties for Mother’s Day and Memorial Day. If you’ll have a soiree on one of these days, or on any day in between, now’s a good time to arrange the details, including the music.

Have a question? We’ll have the answer. Call us at 408-245-9120. You’ll love what we do. We’re easy to work with, so let our experience help your celebration.

In the meantime, please catch the Magnolia Jazz Band at a few public events coming up. On Sunday, April 12, we’ll be entertaining during Easter brunch at The Toll House Hotel, in Los Gatos. Two days later, on Tuesday, April 14, we’ll create a lively atmosphere for the annual “S.V.C.A. Hospitality Awards” at Club Auto Sport, in San Jose. Please visit MagnoliaJazz.com for details, and I hope to see you soon.

Thanks for reading my blog, and I hope you enjoy considering my ideas. Please tell me what you think. I’ll reply to all your opinions and comments. In the meantime, please take a moment to find me on Facebook and follow me on Twitter.

Solving My Facebook Problem

My Facebook page has recently become noticeably harder to use. It’s too busy with distractions that some people seem to welcome, but I don’t. Here’s how I’m fixing it. (And please see another suggestion at the end of this post.)

First some background. Please don’t get me wrong — I like Facebook. It’s amazing, and my participation brings wonderful benefits in the form of breaking news, as well as deeper personal and professional updates, from my over 180 Facebook friends.

Of course, some of my “real world” friends (that is, people with whom I talk or meet regularly) are not on Facebook, but many are. And some of my Facebook friends are people I see only occasionally, though I care how they’re doing.

Being self-employed, my business looms large in my thinking, and taking care of business is my focus on Facebook. I have plenty of personal friends, and I’ve found that nourishing these social contacts is best done face-to-face, and less well by telephone, email, or on Facebook.

I realize people are using Facebook many different ways, and for me, it is primarily a business tool. Like with any tool, I aim to use it effectively and efficiently. Here’s my problem, and maybe yours, too: Facebook’s new format litters my home page — particularly “News Feed” — with every post from every friend, and it’s become too distracting.

I regret that some of my friends are so adept at the “Hey Dude, Way Cool.” kind of post, that I usually lose focus while reading my page. So here’s some general advice for everyone: Please keep your posts concise and interesting, and they will hold my attention. Otherwise, I’m gone. Reasonable?

For me, and maybe you, too, the benefits of Facebook lie in letting me, in just a few focused moments, track the personal and professional doings of those friends with whom I regularly work and network. I’m less interested in the daily doings of those friends I seldom, if ever, work with.

I’ve always been able to handle a few occasional trivial posts, but I’m now receiving a flood of them. Where are the “privacy” controls and filters to prevent those “Oh, My Gosh!” posts from displaying on my News Feed?

So for now, here’s my response. Until Facebook gives me controls to filter out those posts that don’t relate to my business interests, I’m “hiding” the posts of those friends who most consistently make comments I find irrelevant and uninteresting, often both.

All I’m saying is “Yes, we’re friends, but if you’re in the top 10%, pal, I’m blocking all your posts on my page. You might offer one gem every hundred posts, and I’m willing to miss it, if I can also miss the other 99. I’m not saying all your comments are worthless — just that they’re not helpful to me right now — and for me, life’s too short to become distracted when it’s time to work.”

Hey, wait a minute. Aren’t we trying to expand our connections, and not constrict them? I recognize that hiding a friend’s posts is a pretty brutal tactic, but tell me what else I could do. If Facebook’s new flood of comments is a problem for you, too, how are you solving it? Like with radio or TV you dislike: Turn it off?

So, I hope Facebook creates the controls we need, and soon. And if the controls are already in place by now, I hope they’ll tell us how to use them. Listen, Facebook, please stop distracting me. I firmly believe that a healthy view of life’s “big picture” requires our curiosity and playfulness, as well as hard work, but please let me choose when to relax my focus. THAT would be Way Cool!

P.S. By the way, my friend Andy Ebon just sent me a link to a blogpost by Adam Ostrow that offers a very helpful suggestion for solving my Facebook problem. Nicely explained. Check it out.

A Dizzy Dog and The Meaning of Life

Thanks for reading my blog, and I hope you enjoy thinking about my ideas. Please tell me how you like the experience.

Here we are two Sundays ago, in the lobby of the Toll House, in Los Gatos. We’re entertaining many brides-to-be attending the hotel’s “Wedding Faire”. This was a wonderful afternoon, and I met a good number of brides, as well as new event professionals. Left to right, the band is me, Gary Milliken, and Andy Norblin. Thanks to Amy Frugoli, of Twitterpated Weddings, who posted this nice photo on her blog.

This has been one of those weeks where lots of random thoughts coalesce into a simple pattern. This week it's about simple pleasures. Where to begin? I recalled hearing radio & TV medical authority, Dr Dean Edell, once comment on dogs chasing their tails, children swinging or spinning around til they got dizzy, cats eating catnip, youthful pot-smoking, and adults having a drink -- just a few familiar examples of normal animals altering their consciousness. All human cultures (maybe all animals, for that matter) seem to have a way to elevate the spirit, all pursuing a simple pleasure. We might call it “playing”, though some consequences might be dangerous.

Then a friend recently announced the 50th anniversary of the Barbie Doll. Another simple pleasure -- Barbie dolls, teddy bears, beanie babies, and “blankies”. Kids love ‘em, as though their life’s mission is to find friends and take care of them. Actually, not such a bad idea -- can this simple notion be the “Meaning of Life” after all? Could be worse.

Last Monday I bought a book written by one of my favorite podcasters, Mark Bittman, the well-known food critic, TV personality, and New York Times columnist. In the Introduction of How to Cook Everything, he explains why “simple things are best” -- they tend to taste best and be best for you, too. The book is 944 pages of “Simple Recipes for Great Food”, and I’m tasting it a few pages at a time, as a simple snack for my soul.

Finally, for years now I’ve liked the pattern of working hard and relaxing hard, and last Tuesday I had one of those relaxing days. It was a tune-up, to “re-charge my batteries”. Like a lumberjack pausing to sharpen his saw, I joined thousands of eager people attending the “Get Motivated” seminar at the HP Pavillion, in San Jose.

What an amazing day! From 8am-5pm I listened to eight world-famous champions speaking in person about what it takes to be successful. Speakers included Olympic champion Michael Phelps, economist Steve Forbes, health expert Dr Earl Mindell, former New York mayor Rudi Giuliani, former Secretary of State Gen. Colin Powell, and motivational speaker Zig Ziglar. Their topics ranged widely -- from complex issues of financial management to simple issues of treating people fairly, and each speaker gave us tons of ideas and inspiration for greater productivity and success. Currently my favorite advice of the day is Zig Zieglar’s notion that “You can have everything you want in life if you’ll just help enough other people get what they want.” How straightforward can you get? Ah, if life were always so simple! Wouldn’t we be better off? Is this really the meaning of it all?

Actually, my life IS pretty simple. I make a living leading a band that helps people have a good time. For example, will you be celebrating a significant event soon? Throw a party and include us. Are friends talking about a wedding? Please recommend us. Today I’m talking with people hosting parties for Easter Sunday and Mother’s Day. If you’ll have a soiree on one of these days, or on any day in between, now’s a good time to arrange the details, including the music.

Have a question? We’ll have the answer. Call us at 408-245-9120. You’ll love what we do. We’re easy to work with, so let our experience help your celebration.

In the meantime, please catch us at a few public events coming up. On Friday, April 3, we’ll create an elegant mood at the Computer History Museum, in Mountain View, during cocktails at a reception and art auction to benefit the Alzheimers Association. On Sunday, April 12, we’ll be entertaining during Easter brunch at The Toll House Hotel, in Los Gatos. Two days later, on Tuesday, April 14, we’ll create a lively atmosphere for the annual “S.V.C.A. Hospitality Awards” at Club Auto Sport, in San Jose. Please visit MagnoliaJazz.com for details, and I hope to see you soon.

Please tell me what you think about any of my ideas. I’ll reply to all your opinions and comments.

An Expert Event Planner

Here we are last Sunday, right in the middle of the ballroom at the Villa Ragusa, in Campbell.

We’re entertaining about 350 moms at the “Las Madres” annual luncheon, and the ladies enjoyed an exciting afternoon. This wonderful organization provides mutual support for families in Santa Clara County. Left to right, the band is Gary Milliken, me, and Andy Norblin. Thank you to Linda Ozaki, of Wink Photography, for the terrific photos.

Special thanks to Liz Guthrie for including us in the festivities. Afterwards she told me, “You and your band were fabulous! It was the perfect sound for our Ladies' Tea. All the women have been raving about you, and I was so happy to be able to provide such wonderful entertainment at this special event. Thank You Thank You Thank You!”

Let me return the compliment. Liz is remarkable — a busy mom herself, a tireless blogger about weddings, and an expert event planner. Just from what I saw, her very long list of details included dreaming up the theme, sketching the layout, and arranging the facility, menu, vendors & silent auction items, furniture, centerpieces, volunteers, invitations & program, and marketing & publicity. Among the things no one saw was her forming teams & delegating responsibilities, rejecting ideas that wouldn’t work, and preparing for all the last-minute problems that might have come up. And once she finally had all the ducks in a row, she saw to it all the items were completed perfectly and on schedule, and then she acted as “Mistress of Ceremonies”.

What a job! One mark of a pro is the effortless way she brought it all together last Sunday, gave all her guests a memorable afternoon, and made it look SO EASY. Now, I work with event planners all the time. They range from so-so to fabulous, and although this was the first time Liz and I worked together, I feel she’s among the best.

Events vary all over the place, and so do event planners. Events can be large or small, elaborate or simple, formal or casual, “once-in-a-lifetime” or “just like last week’s”. Some event planners do a fine job with a wide variety of projects, and other tend to specialize and become experts — for example in corporate meetings & receptions, benefits for non-profit groups, conventions, banquets, hayrides & barbeques, health fairs, high school & college reunions, and of course, weddings.

Here’s my point: Especially these days, I’m seeing people doing much of their event planning themselves, and this can be wonderful for some, but a terrible idea for others — particularly for someone who wants to be a guest at her own party. Watching a trained, experienced person like Liz in action can mislead us to imagine that planning is all very easy. But believe me, whenever the occasion requires the sure hand of an expert, professional event planner, nothing less will do.

By the way, will you be celebrating a significant event soon? Throw a party and include us. And you just might want to call an event planner, too. Friends talking about their wedding? Please recommend us. Today I’m talking with people hosting parties for St Patrick’s Day and Easter Sunday. If you’ll have a soiree on one of these days, or on any day in between, now’s a good time to arrange the details, including the music.

Have a question? We’ll have the answer. Call us at 408-245-9120. You’ll love what we do. We’re easy to work with, so let our experience help your celebration.

In the meantime, please catch us at a few public events coming up. On Sunday, March 15, we’ll create an upbeat, romantic atmosphere in the “Wedding Faire” at the Toll House Hotel, in Los Gatos. On Friday, April 3, we’ll be entertaining at the Computer History Museum, in Mountain View, during cocktails at a reception and art auction to benefit the Alzheimers Association. Please visit MagnoliaJazz.com for details, and I hope to see you soon.

What do you think about all this? I’d love your opinions and comments.

Another Way Friends Help Friends

Here we are last Sunday, taking a break from creating a romantic background for the wedding fair at Palo Alto’s Crowne Plaza Cabana. This was an outstanding afternoon — you could meet over two dozen top wedding professionals, plus hear a panel discussion about “Do-It-Yourself” weddings. Meanwhile, back in the lobby, we were fascinated by Screenbooth — the new digital guestbook that recorded every guest’s photos and videos. Check them out — it’s a “fun way to create lasting memories at once-in-a-lifetime events”. The band, left to right, is Gary Milliken, Andy Norblin, and me. Thanks to Felisha Kinsella (co-owner Linda’s daughter), of Screenbooth, for posing us in this lively picture.

One look at the photo tells you we were having a great time. No surprise there. I believe that we should all be so fortunate as to spend our lives doing what we love. Still, no matter how enthusiastic we are, we all occasionally find ourselves saying “Same old, same old” more often than we like. I’ll bet that everyone who’s been in any line of work for a while will occasionally feel “down” — tired, overwhelmed, and frustrated. I’ve been there, and you’ve been there, too, I’m sure. I’m told this feeling is unavoidable, and it’s a temporary part of every job.

Well, whenever it hits you again, just bear down and work through it. Here’s one strategy I like to use. I tally up how remarkable my friends are. Really. I recommend you occasionally pause in your busy life and notice the same thing about the people around you. When you realize that these people are friends and admire you, too, your feelings are bound to improve.

Well, enough amateur psychology. Let me tell you a quick story. Since the early 1990s, I’ve been a very active member of the Silicon Valley chapter of NACE (National Association of Catering Executives). It’s a networking group of top local caterers and their associates. Last month I participated in one of their Leadership Conferences, where “movers & shakers” on the boards of directors from all the chapters nationwide met to exchange ideas and receive training to be better leaders. We were an amazing group of people — clever, energetic, resourceful, generous, and dedicated to our profession — and now that I’m back from that heady excitement, I realize that most of my friends here fit that description, too.

As my grandfather used to say, “People are more interesting than anybody.” Maybe it’s the kind of people who live around Silicon Valley, but once I took the time to pay attention, I found that nearly all my friends have unique hobbies, attitudes, and accomplishments. This makes for great conversations, successful collaborations, and rich relationships, and I’m always glad each time we meet.

Sure, I know a few dull people, too, but even they say or do something interesting from time to time. However, they’re the exception, and every day I’m appreciating my talented friends more and more. As Martha Stewart would say, “That’s a good thing.”

After working in the “hospitality” business for over 34 years now, I count hundreds of fascinating people among my friends — family, musicians, hospitality and event professionals, and clients. In a future blog I’ll describe a few. In the meantime, think about who you’d mention in your own list.

While you’re thinking about your friends, please catch us at a few public events coming up. On Sunday, March 15, we’ll create an upbeat, romantic atmosphere in the “Wedding Fair” at the Toll House Hotel, in Los Gatos. On Friday, April 3, we’ll be entertaining in Mountain View during cocktails at a reception and art auction to benefit the Alzheimers Association. You’ll find details on MagnoliaJazz.com.

By the way, will you be celebrating a significant event soon? Throw a party and include us. Friends planning a wedding? Please recommend us. Today I’m talking with people planning parties for St Patrick’s Day and Easter Sunday. If you’ll have a soiree on one of these days, or on any day in between, now’s a good time to plan the details, including the music. Have a question? We’ll have the answer.

Call us at 408-245-9120. You’ll love what we do. We’re easy to work with, so let our experience help your celebration. Please visit MagnoliaJazz.com for details, and I hope to see you soon.

What do you think about all this? I’d love your opinions and comments.

Two Outstanding Wedding Shows this Sunday

Here we are last March, just about to create an elegant background for dining and dancing at a wonderful party in Hollister. Actually, this event celebrated a birthday, but it could easily have been a company banquet or a wedding reception. Left to right, Steve Apple, me, Gary Milliken, and Andy Norblin. Thanks to Kim Staskus for the great picture.

Speaking of weddings, Valentine’s Day is approaching. Are you (or will you be) planning a wedding? Or helping friends plan theirs? You’re in luck! The South Bay hosts two extraordinary events this Sunday. Be sure to attend one. Better yet, arrange with a friend to catch both!

"The Bridal Extravaganza" and “The Wedding University” will offer two complimentary approaches to solving one of life’s big challenges — planning your wedding.

“The Bridal Extravaganza”, at the San Jose Fairmont, is Silicon Valley’s premier wedding showcase. Since the 1980s, it consistently reigns over a host of newer shows produced by local hotels, wineries, restaurants, and country clubs. Featuring a broad selection of over a hundred of the area’s top wedding professionals, it’s always well-organized, well-promoted, and well-attended. Brides- and grooms-to-be strolling through this elegant “trade show” can literally plan their entire wedding in one day, meeting and speaking with coordinators, caterers, photographers, entertainers, decorators, florists — everyone they’d otherwise have to spend weeks hunting for. They’ll even find casual “fashion shows” of wedding gowns and formalwear.

The show is produced by Sharon Sacks, a respected authority on wedding shows and past president of Bridal Show Producers International. You’ll find a list of participants and complete information for registering at bestbridalshow.com.

Also aiming at brides- and grooms-to-be, and inspired by the intensive educational seminars produced by many professional associations, “The Wedding University” offers “An Afternoon of Elegance and Education”. Attendees will experience a comprehensive program of informative presentations, panel discussions, demonstrations, displays, and informal fashion shows. Attendees will learn from the best — outstanding local professionals who will offer “How To” training, as well as their advice, insights, and tips for planning everything from decor, food, invitations, and flowers to photography & videography and music & entertainment.

New this year, “The Wedding University” is hosted by The Four Seasons, in East Palo Alto, and is coordinated by Jubilee Lau (Jubilee Lau Events) and Jean Marks (Jean Marks Weddings). You’ll find a seminar schedule, a list of participants, and complete registration information here. The show is extremely well publicized and will be well-attended.

Each show will begin at 11am this Sunday, February 8, and I’ll be participating in “The Bridal Extravaganza”. It’s a shame we can’t be in both places at once, but you should choose one, have a friend attend the other, and pool all your information afterward.

On February 14, we’ll be creating a romantic mood for Valentine’s Day dinner at the Toll House, in Los Gatos, and on March 1st we’re entertaining in the “Wedding Fair and Open House” at the Crowne Plaza Cabana, in Palo Alto. You’ll find details on MagnoliaJazz.com.

By the way, will you be celebrating a significant event soon? Throw a party and include us. Friends planning a party? Please recommend us. Today I’m talking with people planning soirees for Valentine’s Day and St Patrick’s Day. If you’ll have a party on one of these days, or on any day in between, now’s a good time to plan the details, including the music. Have a question? We’ll have the answer.

Call us at 408-245-9120. You’ll love what we do. We’re easy to work with, so let our experience help your celebration. Please visit MagnoliaJazz.com for details, and I hope to see you soon.

What do you think about all this? I’d love your opinions and comments.

Jazz, Blogs & Social Networks: “Just an Online Call Away”

Here we are last September, creating a soft mood at a benefit cocktail party for The Service League of San Mateo. We’re in the sitting room at Ralston Hall, a lovely old mansion in Belmont. Left to right, Gary Milliken, me, and Andy Norblin. Thanks to Scott (Scott Buschman Photography) for the picture.

I recently announced three of my New Year’s resolutions -- based on “something old”, “something blue”, and “something borrowed”. Here is the last, “something new”.

Look around, you’re reading my BLOG right now. This is about as new as it gets these days! Do you write one, too? My BLOG is like my own newspaper “opinion” column I create on my computer whenever I want and broadcast worldwide in an instant, to praise outstanding colleagues, promote my band, and offer random comments.

This year I resolve to get better acquainted with blogs and social networks -- Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, MySpace, Flickr -- to name a few. These are the cutting edge of how to keep in touch with our friends, colleagues, and clients.

These evolving technologies certainly aren’t for everyone, but you ignore them at your peril. They don’t replace good old face-to-face conversations or telephone calls, but they do add a new practical dimension to our communication. Today you can broadcast and receive text, pictures, videos, music, speech -- even entire multi-media presentations -- nearly everywhere in the world. And the near future promises much more, on our desktop computers, on the cellphones in our pockets, and on our TVs at home.

So for my fourth new year’s resolution, I will learn to exchange more kinds of information, more easily, to help me stay in even better touch with people and do an even better job of taking care of business more effectively. Life isn’t all about “fun and games”, I know, but they make our day-to-day lots more interesting.

In the meantime, I hope you’re enjoying a wonderful New Year. So far, I’m enjoying mine. I’m marketing more, and on February 8, I’ll be entertaining brides-to-be in the Bridal Extravaganza at the San Jose Fairmont. Details on my website.

By the way, will you be celebrating a significant event soon? Throw a party and include us. Today I'm talking with people planning parties for Valentine's Day and St Patrick’s Day. If you'll have a party on one of these days, or on any day in between, now's a good time to plan the details, including the music. Have a question? We'll have the answer.

Call us at 408-245-9120. You'll love what we do. We're easy to work with, so let our experience help your celebration. Please visit MagnoliaJazz.com for details, and I hope to see you soon.

Please leave me a comment. What do you think about all this? I'd love your opinions and comments.

A New Year’s Resolution for the Blues

Happy 2009. Here we are last Wednesday, creating a festive “Roaring 20’s” atmosphere for a swinging New Year’s Eve party in Palo Alto. Lots of dancing and requests for “the good old, good ones”, as Louis used to call them. Left to right, Gary Milliken, Steve Apple, Brian Richardson, Bruce Jolly, me, and Andy Norblin. Thanks for the wonderful photo, Adrienne. I’m glad someone brought a real camera.

Last week I announced my four New Year’s resolutions, based on “something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue”. I’ve already described the first one, “something old”, and today I’ll describe my “something blue” resolution.

OK, look who’s crying the blues these days. Not Walmart, McDonald’s, and those of us who revamped and refocused our marketing. It’s everyone else, especially the mainstream media. Newspapers & magazines have lost subscriptions, TV & radio have lost markets, and all have lost advertising, big time, to their online competitors. So now watch as all of them desperately embrace the internet. For example, all new TVs will soon be able to download movie and program videos, as well as photos, “discussion boards”, and email.

Internet news services, independent newsletters, and bloggers are killing newspapers and magazines. Last week I heard a newspaperman suggest that people who value good journalism should find a way to pay for it, rather than get it all free, online. And I agree, on principle. It’s a free market, after all.

The benefits of “good” journalism, whatever you think that means, most likely come from a trained professional, wise and skilled enough to perform well and make a living at it.

Hmmmm. This explanation sounds similar to something I might tell a client. You too? I’ll bet. Well, this will be a good subject for another day.

These days, you’ll hear and read plenty -- especially from professional journalists -- decrying the general acceptance of self-publishing bloggers, who can spread wisdom just as easily as misinformation or poorly-written, one-sided stories based on narrow opinions and a few twisted facts.

I’m awed by our ever-changing world, and I want to stay up-to-date on everything newsworthy. So for my second resolution I will subscribe to one more newspaper and one more magazine, read deeply and listen widely, online and offline, and then give myself a “news-free week” every few months, just to clear the dust.

Maybe this is like giving CPR to a dinosaur, but I want to look around, see what stories and opinions I like and what I dislike, and if they’re well-thought-out and well-written, I’ll support them. Putting my money where my mouth is. Although I think “free online” can be good, even when ads have to cover the production expenses, we risk missing an important story or viewpoint that may be unable to gain a journalist’s attention in our fad-driven world.

Hey, my notices can’t always be about weddings and parties.

In my next post I’ll describe another resolution: “something borrowed”. In the meantime, I hope you’ll enjoy a wonderful New Year. I resolve to enjoy mine. I’m marketing more, and on February 8, I’ll be entertaining brides-to-be in the Bridal Extravaganza at the San Jose Fairmont. Details on my website.

By the way, will you be celebrating a significant event soon? Throw a party and include us. Today I'm talking with people planning parties for Valentine's Day and Easter. If you'll have a party on one of these days, or on any day in between, now's a good time to plan the details, including the music. Have a question? We'll have the answer.

Call us at 408-245-9120. You'll love what we do. We're easy to work with, so let our experience help your celebration. Please visit MagnoliaJazz.com for details, and I hope to see you soon.

Please leave me a comment. What do you think about all this? I'd love your opinions and comments.

Jazzing Up A New Year's Resolution

Yes, that’s me last week, wearing my good luck scarf in the lobby at “The Nutcracker”, in San Jose. I'm on the right, and it looks like I’ll need plenty of luck. It's another photo taken on my iPhone. Thank you, Bunch.

For good luck, wedding planners often have the bride wear “something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue”, and that’s my theme today. I’ve been considering New Year’s Resolutions, and decided they have to be upbeat this year. Same with you? Anyway, today I settled on four gems, each inspired by something I read or heard last Sunday morning.

First, something OLD. How often do we hear the expression “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”? It first appeared in a 1905 book by philosopher George Santayana, and Ben Stein mentioned it in his recent column about why people continue to fall for “you-can’t-fail-to-get-rich” schemes, despite all we’ve learned about them.

Stein is a practical, sensible fellow, and he uses finances here as a springboard to talk about old, tried-and-true notions of what REALLY counts. Things your mother taught you. Hint: it’s not about money in the bank -- that stuff comes and goes. It’s what kind of person you truly are. How you treat family, friends, and strangers, and support your community and nation.

I like his message, and I’d add it’s also how you prepare for the future. So for my first resolution, I’m riffing on a theme from “random acts of kindness”. I resolve to smile at the first driver who cuts me off every morning. Wouldn’t it be nice if each of us added a little more good cheer every day?

This resolution is nothing new, but it’ll be a start. In my next blog I'll reveal another resolution: something BLUE. In the meantime, I hope you’ll enjoy a wonderful New Year’s Eve celebration. I resolve to enjoy mine. I’ll be jazzing up a private party for several hundred people in Palo Alto. In the works since last September, the party’s theme is “Fascinatin’ Rhythm”, and the place will be SWINGIN’!

By the way, will you be celebrating a significant event soon? Throw a party and include us. Today I'm talking with people planning parties for Valentine's Day and Easter. If you'll have a party on one of these days, or on any day in between, now's a good time to plan the details, including the music. Have a question? We'll have the answer.

Call us at 408-245-9120. You'll love what we do. We're easy to work with, so let our experience help your celebration. Please visit MagnoliaJazz.com for details, and I hope to see you soon.

Please leave me a comment. What do you think about all this? I'd love your opinions and comments.

Jazzing Up Support for Local Charities

November 19, 2008.

Here we are last Thursday evening, providing a lively atmosphere for a great meal, company, and conversation in the gym at Bellarmine College Prep, in San Jose. Thanks for the nice photo, Jordan (of Jordan River Productions, San Jose). Left to right: me, Andy Norblin, and Gary Milliken.

Well over 400 people attended this dinner & auction, which benefited Family Supportive Housing. This was the 22nd annual “Soup Kitchen Dinner”, and we’ve donated our services for every one! In fact, everybody involved -- all 26 restaurants & caterers, all the auction prize donors, and all the volunteers -- gave to help this worthwhile program. As I see it, generosity like this is important for a number of reasons.

First, a story. Back in the mid 1970s, a 40-year-old Portland housewife named Jean, working days and attending college at night, read about archaeologists discovering an odd human skeleton, dating back to the Ice Age. The odd part: the bones revealed a cave man who had been elderly and crippled. Jean wondered how, in that savage world, could that crippled person reach a ripe old age. Curious, she began reading everything she could find about prehistoric people, and, though she’d never written fiction before, she wound up writing a very successful series of novels, beginning with “Clan of the Cave Bear”, published in 1980.

Bottom line: That old skeleton is probably the earliest evidence of what today we’d called a civilized community, where we don’t simply let our weakest struggle and die. These days, with the world’s economy teetering, lots of local charitable organizations help sustain our community, and they need our support. Not necessarily the type of “charities” which, when they receive a donation, will send a glossy letter with thank you gifts -- a calendar, return address stickers, or a pen with their logo -- and then ask for another donation.

Worthy charities provide needed services -- like housing, healthcare, job-training, child-care, and food -- that keep our communities together, productive, and thriving. One way or another, the quality of our lives, and our ability to make a living, relies on a vibrant community. I’m very lucky to be in a position to support these efforts. How about you? Wouldn’t it be nice if all of us actively helped support our communities? Think about how you can contribute to this good work. Your reward will include not only strengthening your neighborhood, keeping your own commerce alive, and feeling good, but also you’ll get to know many like-minded people, whose friendships inevitably bring unexpected benefits.

In my case, at the start of every year, I always set aside a special fund to pay the band for playing at benefit events throughout Silicon Valley, this year including Family Supportive Housing, Second Harvest Food Bank, Peninsula Center for the Blind, and Alzheimers Association. We also actively support our community’s cultural organizations, like American Musical Theatre, Ballet San Jose, San Francisco Symphony, San Jose Museum of Art, and Broadway By The Bay.

I’m glad to join all these efforts, primarily to help my community, but also to enrich my life and to enhance the band’s visibility. Funny thing: The more we work, it seems, the more new offers we receive.

Today I'm talking with people planning parties for New Year’s Eve and Valentine’s Day. If you'll have a party on one of these days, or on any day in between, now's a good time to plan the details, including the music. Have a question? We’ll have the answer.

Call us at 408-245-9120. You'll love what we do. We're easy to work with, so let our experience help your celebration. We entertain at private parties nearly every day, and you can preview us on Thanksgiving Day, November 27 (at the newly remodeled Mountain Winery, in Saratoga) and on Wednesday, December 31 (at a festive New Year’s Eve dinner party at the Toll House Hotel, in Los Gatos). Please visit Magnoliajazz.com for details on these events and more, and I hope to see you soon.

Please leave me a comment. What do you think about all this? I’d love your opinions and comments.

It Takes Work to Do What You Love

November 6, 2008.

Maybe it’s the easy way I smile, but people are always telling me how lucky I am to make a living doing what I love. If you’ve ever caught us in action, you’ve seen it’s all about enjoying what we do. Sometime we need to be up front, in everyone’s face, keeping the joint jumping. Other times we need to stay out of the way, and let our music create the right mood. Either way, I love being able to help people have a good time.

Here we are last April 29, providing a soft background for a trade show in the Hyatt Regency Santa Clara. Our job was to keep the room upbeat and comfortable, and, sure enough, everyone there was deeply immersed in their conversations. Which is exactly what you want at a trade show. Looks like we were pretty deeply immersed, too. Whatever the event calls for, whether we’re “front and center” or “out of the way”, whether we’re playing “Summertime” or “I’ve Got the World on a String”, our beautiful music always helps the event, and we always enjoy our little “conversation”.

Thanks for the nice photo, Dave (of Lepori Photography, in Los Gatos). Left to right: Gary Milliken, me, and Andy Norblin.

I thought of this photo last week, when I read an article titled “Think Like A Millionaire”. The author describes research that shows several ways that millionaires tend to think differently from typical people. One way caught my eye: Millionaires learn to seek careers they love. Simple as that! They avoid careers that are dull or a bad fit, because they drain our energy, ambition, and productivity. The rest of the article describes several other habits that help millionaires reach their careers and accumulate serious wealth. Check it out -- it’s interesting reading.

Let me put it another way. My grandfather used to joke: “Hey kid, if you’re so smart, why aren’t you rich?” Now I think I know the answer. Just being smart isn’t enough. To succeed, we need to develop the right habits, and then keep working at them all the time.

There’s a saying: “Do what you love, and the money will follow.” Well, I think we’re better off exercising a bit more control over our destiny, and working at it every day. Everyone has the option to make a living doing what they love, but we all need to learn how to make it happen. Sure, that takes some work, but wouldn’t it be nice if we all developed some of those shrewd millionaire habits to guide our careers, and our lives? If you agree, read the article, and the book it’s based on. And this brings me back to loving what I do every day.

While I’m no millionaire (yet), we have done our homework, and we’ve become quite good. As entertainers, we’ve spent years honing our skills, learning what makes parties succeed, and we strive for our very best at every party. We can do the same for you. Is a significant event coming up in your life? Throw a party and include us. Or do you have friends planning their wedding? Please recommend us.

Today I'm talking with people planning parties for Thanksgiving and New Year’s Eve. If you'll have a party on one of these days, or on any day in between, now's a good time to plan the details, including the music. Have a question? We’ll have the answer.

Call us at 408-245-9120. You'll love what we do. We're easy to work with, so let our experience help your celebration. We play at private parties nearly every day, and you can preview us on Friday, November 7 (in the lobby at San Jose’s Center for Performing Arts), Thursday, November 13 (at a casual benefit dinner in San Jose), and on Saturday, November 15 (at an elegant benefit dinner in San Francisco). Please visit Magnoliajazz.com for details on these events and more, and I hope to see you soon.

Please leave me a comment. What do you think about all this? I’d love your opinions and comments.

Hot Trends in Entertainment

October 16, 2008.

Here we are last March, entertaining at a private birthday party in the Pavillion at the San Benito County Fairgrounds, in Hollister. This is a little beyond our customary territory, but what a celebration — like a night in Casablanca! Set in an elegant 1930s nightclub, over a hundred close friends gathered to eat, drink, dance, and toast the guest of honor. We were flexible that night, beginning as this quartet providing soft background during cocktails and dinner, and then added a saxophone and a trumpet for some pretty lively dancing afterward — from “Satin Doll” to “Fly Me to the Moon”.

Thanks for the nice photo, Kim. Left to right: Steve Apple, Gary Milliken, me, and Andy Norblin.

The economy’s on everyone’s mind these days. Practically every business is affected, and I hope you’re doing fine. Sure, the budgets might be tighter now, but, as they say, “The show must go on!” People still get married, still celebrate birthdays and anniversaries, still gather with friends at holiday parties, and businesses still celebrate their landmarks at dinner parties.

Successful businesses are adapting to keep up. Entertainment is no exception, and I’m sure you could tell me stories about how you’re coping, too. I see attendance at big concerts, sports events, and movies starting to reflect lower discretionary income, while free events are doing very well, thank you. It’s the same across the board, up and down the scale, ranging from recorded music sales to booking entertainment for special events. In my line of work, I’d expect that an upscale banquet, which hired a 15-piece dance band last year, might today invite fewer guests and opt for a trio, or even a DJ and a fortune teller.

A few trends seem to be emerging here, and they remind me of the ancient Greek fable of the Leopard and the Fox. One day the leopard, well known for his beautiful spots and fine fur, went out into the fields and saw that most of the other animals had plainer coats, and quickly concluded that the others were distinctly inferior. As the leopard was gloating about the nobility of his appearance, the sly fox cautioned him. 'Go ahead and rely on your extraordinary appearance, so long as my intelligence is more extraordinary than yours. Mental power is more impressive than the glamor of good looks!'

Well, maybe you think the moral is about beauty being only skin deep, or about the folly of believing that your own strength is more important than anyone else’s. But I think the moral is really about the virtues of exercising an agile mind.

What’s my point? This: Quick, deep thinking seems to underlie the latest trends in party entertainment. I certainly can’t speak for the entire field, but in my own corner — playing at parties — I’m seeing entertainers innovating to cope with two significant developments. First, we have fewer qualified clients, most have smaller budgets, and they all want memorable parties. Second, most of our clients need to avoid appearing too extravagant.

Successful entertainers for parties are now thinking creatively of ways to add or enhance the bang for their client’s buck — providing more for less, without going broke. In many cases, this requires digging down to find out what each client REALLY wants, and “brainstorming” new, tasteful, and economical ways to make it happen. Adding extras and some “freebies” is always possible, of course, and I’m delighted to see entertainers working more closely with other event professionals, to create what their clients want. The bottom line for success these days seems to rely on our imagination, resourcefulness, and flexibility.

If you catch the band “in action” today, you'll find us coordinating our music with a DJ, or our attire with a decorator, or the meal presentation with a caterer, or special highlights with an event planner or a photographer. Or you'll find us playing in several locations at the facility, to help guide “traffic” and create distinctive moods throughout the event. These are a few simple ways we’re offering flexibility these days.

I’m trying to take my own advice here. We’ve spent years honing our skills, learning what makes parties succeed, and we strive for our very best at every party. We can do the same for you. Is a significant event coming up in your life? Throw a party and include us. Or do you have friends planning their wedding? Please recommend us.

Today I'm talking with people planning parties for Thanksgiving and New Year’s Eve. If you'll have a party on one of these days, or on any day in between, now's a good time to plan the details, including the music. Have a question? We’ll have the answer.

Call us at 408-245-9120. You'll love what we do. We're easy to work with, so let our experience help your celebration. We play at private parties nearly every day, and you can preview us on Tuesday, October 21 (at a casual cocktail party in Saratoga), on Thursday, November 13 (at a casual benefit dinner in San Jose), and on Saturday, November 15 (at an elegant benefit dinner in San Francisco). Please visit MagnoliaJazz.com for details on these events and more, and I hope to see you soon.

Sure-Fire Tips for Planning a Great Party!

September 22, 2008.

Here we are 10 days ago, entertaining at a casual garden party at the Hayes Mansion, in San Jose. After two days of pretty intense seminars, all the guests wanted was a chance to relax, kick back, and enjoy each other’s company. It was a wonderful California evening — a fabulous dinner and the perfect background music, ranging from “Stardust” to “Tequila”. Thanks for the nice photo, JoAnn. Left to right: Dale Mills, me, Gary Milliken, and Andy Norblin.

Well, it’s been a busy summer around here! To name just a few familiar locations, we’ve entertained at hotels (Ritz-Carlton, Clarion Hotel, Dinah’s Hotel), country clubs (Ridgemark CC, University Club, Menlo CC, Palo Alto Hills CC, Decathlon Club), businesses (Mountain Terrace, Testarossa Winery, Deja Jewelry, McKormick & Kuletos) and historic facilities (Rengstorff House, Ralston Hall, Dunsmuir House, Hayes Mansion, Stanford Faculty Club). And of course, every summer we play at numerous garden parties at people’s homes.

How about you? Looking to jazz up your next party? Or do you have friends planning their wedding? Please recommend us. They can preview us in Palo Alto and San Jose on October 4th, or in San Francisco on October 7th, or right now at MagnoliaJazz.com. More about this later.

But first, a story. I love this one. About 20 years ago, a gentleman called me and invited me to lunch at his soon-to-be nightclub in downtown San Jose. When we met, he explained that he recently managed a Disneyland-type club in Florida, and he wanted some advice from me about converting the old building we were sitting in, to morph it into a hot entertainment showcase, presenting a wild party every night. Well, we began talking a little about cosmetic things like how to position the stage, the bar, the dining tables, and the doorways, when out of the blue he asked me, “By the way, when does the tourist season start around here?”

What? He was lost from the start. How could he plan a project like that without first asking, “IS there a tourist season out here?” Unbelievable. Since that time, I’ve seen plenty of small party-planning oversights, but nothing like that one.

Chances are good that you’ve planned a party sometime, or even hired a band once or twice. In the process you most likely learned a few helpful tricks and important things to consider, so the next time around your planning will be easier. I’m always helping people go through the process of planning a party (and hiring a band) for the first time, and here’s my own “How To” list (it’s on my website, too). Please look it over and tell me if I’ve skipped one of your favorite “planning” items.

By the way, you can modify this list to help you plan ANY party, or hire ANY event professional — a caterer, facility, planner, wedding coordinator, florist, photographer, decorator, etc.

Here goes...

Planning music for your party can be easy and fun. Sure, you’ll need to make many decisions, but because you have so many options, taking a systematic approach will help you make everything fit together perfectly.

The following suggestions come from experience. Playing nearly every day since January 1975, we’ve helped make thousands of special events memorable. We’ve seen that whether a party needs to be one-of-a-kind or just-like-the-last-one, the planner helps make it successful by selecting the appropriate music.

So, how do you begin? How do you select the right band for the perfect party? It’s simple — just ask yourself the right questions. They’ll help you quickly find exactly what you want.

No matter what styles of music you’re considering, ask yourself first about the atmosphere you want to create. Picture the overall mood you want for your guests. Formal, elegant and sophisticated? Casual and mellow? Upbeat and rousing? Want a unifying theme for your event?

Keep this image in mind as you continue selecting your music. And don’t plan just what it’ll look like. What do you want your party to sound like? What should being there feel like? How will your guests move around?

Continuing...

Whether your heart’s set on one favorite musical style, or if you’re open to a few different styles — for example, jazz, classical, top 40s, rock, disco, or country — examine what’s available:

Ask for recommendations:
* Friends and Colleagues
* Event Professionals (musicians, coordinators, facilities, photographers, caterers, florists, decorators)
* Event Magazines and Entertainment Agencies
* Local Entertainment Listings (internet, newspapers, radio)

Then, when you contact possible bands, here are a few points to check:
* Speak with the musician who’ll actually lead your band.
* Develop a comfortable rapport — be sure the “chemistry” is right.
* Check their experience. Get references.
* Request a free demo CD, tune list, and related information.
* Arrange to hear a live performance whenever possible.
* Other practical issues: Can they act as MC? Can they provide a PA system? Can they provide music during their breaks? Any additional fees for travel or overtime?

Finally...

Thank goodness you can choose among dozens of musical styles. The Magnolia Jazz Band specializes in entertaining people with popular swing standards, traditional jazz classics, and Latin favorites, and we’ve got what it takes to jazz up hundreds of parties every year.

While many people share our musical preferences, they’re certainly not for everyone. Whatever musical styles you prefer, searching systematically will help you select the right music to make your party perfect. Thank you for considering us, and best wishes for your next party!

So that’s my list, assembled from experience. We’ve spent years honing our skills, learning what makes parties succeed, and we strive for our very best at every party. Let us do the same for you. Is a significant event coming up in your life? Throw a party and include us.

Today I’m talking with people planning parties for Halloween and Thanksgiving. If you’ll have a party on one of these days, or on any day in between, now’s a good time to plan the details, including the music.

Call us at 408-245-9120. You’ll love what we do. We’re easy to work with, so let our experience help your celebration. We play at private parties nearly every day, and you can preview us “in action” twice on Saturday, October 4 (inside Macy’s in Palo Alto and later at an elegant benefit party in San Jose) and on Tuesday, October 7 (at a lively benefit party in San Francisco). Visit Magnoliajazz.com for details on these events and more.

Sat, Oct 4, 12–3pm
Macy’s Stanford Shopping Center
El Camino Real, Palo Alto

Sat, Oct 4, 6–9pm
Corinthian Event Center
Third Ave, at St James, San Jose

Tues, Oct 7, 5-8pm
McCormick & Kuletos
Ghirardelli Square, San Francisco

Olympic Medals for Parties?

August 31, 2008

Here we are this summer, entertaining at the city of Cupertino’s annual 4th of July festivities. 2008 is our fourth year at the celebration, and the six-man band presented a lively program for family picnickers of all ages, and many dancers, too. It was a wonderful evening, followed by a terrific fireworks show, and I hope you were there. Thanks for the nice photo, Joy. Left to right: Dale Mills, Gary Milliken, Steve Apple, me, Bruce Jolly, and Andy Norblin.

Are you looking to jazz up your next party? Or do you have friends planning their wedding? Please recommend us. They can preview us in Sunnyvale on September 13th, or Belmont on September 19th, or right now at MagnoliaJazz.com.

But first, a story. Yikes — it just happened again. A telemarketer tried to sell me a magazine subscription by asking if I wanted to “support his Foundation or let thousands go hungry”. What kind of illogical offer is that? He gave me two stark choices as though they were opposites and covered all sides of the story. I hear statements like this all the time, and they kill me. Does ridiculous stuff like this ever happen to you, too?

When most issues in the world are some shade of gray, rather than black or white, it makes no sense to select any extreme solution. Chances are it’ll be hasty, superficial, and more wrong than right. Sure, this “either-or” option helps us get off the fence when we’re stuck making a hard decision, especially when making a decision is more important than whatever we decide. But it seems like we’re given these oversimplified options all the time, especially by salesmen looking for an easy commission or politicians looking for an easy vote. “You’re either with us or you’re against us” comes to mind.

I thought about this misleading black vs white situation while watching the recent Olympics coverage. The games were exciting and inspiring, as always, but with so much emphasis on winning medals, I felt the media often verged on saying “We love you if you win a medal (especially a gold one, for our country), otherwise we’re barely interested in you!”

Hold on, the games aren’t primarily about winning medals, are they? Is winning the only thing? That simplistic viewpoint is just too black and white for me. I think it’s far more significant to be in the race at all — win, place, show, or something else. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a great honor to compete as an Olympian, and all the athletes, whether individuals or teams, want first to do their personal best. For a few at the very top, this definitely means winning a medal.

But all those medals, and the universal frenzy about national medal totals — don’t they distract from the Olympic movement’s ideal of “excelling”? After all, these athletes are the world’s champions, and at that lofty Olympic level, each one has to be totally focused on their sport. I’m not one of those athletes, so I can’t really know how they feel or exactly what they aim for, but in my heart I hope everyone was striving primarily for the love of excelling at their sport — maybe to come in first place, but always to do their best possible job.

Now don’t be surprised, but this reminds me of my band. Although no one gives a gold medal for helping people enjoy their parties, this is exactly what we aim for. In my opinion, my bandmates -- Andy Norblin, on guitar, and Gary Milliken, on clarinet -- are real champions at entertaining people and helping them have a good time. It’s what we love to do, and we do it well. We’ve spent years honing our skills, learning what makes parties succeed, and we strive for our very best at every party.

Let us do the same for you. Is a significant event coming up in your life? Throw a party and include us. You’ll love it — simple as black and white.

Today I'm talking with people planning parties for Halloween and Thanksgiving. If you'll have a party on one of these days, or on any day in between, now's a good time to plan the details, including the music.

Call us at 408-245-9120. You'll love what we do. We're veteran party-goers, easy to work with, and we know what it'll take to make your next party memorable. We've entertained people since 1975, so let our experience help your celebration.

We play at private parties nearly every day, and you can preview us “in action” on September 13 at a lively picnic celebration in Sunnyvale and on September 19 at an elegant benefit dinner party in Belmont. Visit Magnoliajazz.com for details on these events and more.

Sat, Sept 13, 12–2pm
the new Sunnyvale City Center
Mathilda Av, at McKinley, Sunnyvale

Fri, Sept 19, 6–9pm
Ralston Hall
1500 Ralston Av, Belmont

The Tradition for Celebrating with Music

July 30, 2008

Here we are, relaxing at an informal dinner party last September at Parcel 104, in Santa Clara. Setting just the right tone for a casual event! Thanks to Ryan Willis for his nice photo.

Looking to jazz up your next party? Are friends planning a wedding? Please recommend us. They can preview us right now at MagnoliaJazz.com or on Thurs, July 31, and Thurs, August 14 in a wonderful “tropical” lounge — The Island Grill, in San Jose. Details on our website.

You’ve read this before? Well, in some ways I’m just an old fashioned guy, trying hard to stay up-to-date. Though our world is changing very rapidly, I believe some old traditions are worth preserving. Like the tradition of celebrating a special event with a party!

First, a story. All of us rely on some “high tech” these days. I don’t know how you did it, but for me it all started the day I botched typing a letter. By early 1984, I’d been managing the band’s business for 9 years, all with only a pencil, a calendar, carbon paper, and a typewriter. No computer, laser printer, website, or fax — just me, my telephone, my notebook, and Kinko’s down the street. Back then, “cut & paste” meant cutting and pasting, and I did plenty of that. You, too?

One lovely spring afternoon I was sitting in my yard typing a letter to a jazz festival organizer in Colorado (we performed at lots of festivals in those days). Well, the letter had to be perfect (no “white-out”, if you remember that), and I was a poor typist. After about three hours of failing to produce one flawless page, I cried “There’s GOTTA be a better way!” and went out and bought a used Apple II computer for about $400. Turns out it was one of the best decisions I ever made, and as they say, the rest is history. Suddenly with a word processor, a database, and a spreadsheet, I was working more and better, with no limit in sight.

Today I can’t imagine how I managed to take care of business without my computer, and I can say the same thing about telephone answering machines, email, and cell phones. I haven’t tried text messaging yet — maybe that’s next. Today in thousands of new devices, computers are everywhere. We’re deluged with innovations every day, so now we can matter-of-factly say, “Oh yes, I just Googled your website on my iPhone.”

New possibilities seem to be created every day, and for me the changes in our world are astonishing! Just as for my grandparents, I’m sure, who were in their twenties when the first commercial automobiles were created, and my parents, who were in their teens when "talking" movies, radio, and sound recordings became commercial.

Yet with all this new stuff going on, I still think some things shouldn’t change. I’m happy to support a fine tradition, which is that people should celebrate their good times — whether it’s a wedding, an anniversary, a new business, or just the opportunity for friends to get together. Is a significant event coming up for you? Throw a party! When you’re considering a band for your party, call me. In fact, you can even ask me to type the invitations.

We're always ready to help with your next party, whether it's a lively bash, an elegant banquet, or something in between. Swinging standards make everything memorable. Elegant & unique. Upbeat, danceable, & mellow. Today I'm talking with people planning parties for Labor Day and Halloween. If you'll have a party on one of these days, or on any day in between, now's a good time to plan the details, including the music.

Call us at 408-245-9120. You'll love what we do. We're veteran party-goers, easy to work with, and we know what it'll take to make your party a success. We've entertained people since 1975, so let our experience help your next celebration.

We play at private parties nearly every day, and you can preview us at one of our public events. Visit Magnoliajazz.com for details on these events and more.

Thur, July 31, 9:30pm-12:30am
Thur, Aug 14, 9:30pm-12:30am
The Island Grill
Clarion Airport Hotel,
1355 N 4th St, San Jose

Sat, Aug 16, 12-4pm
Portraits by Rebecca
17265 Monterey Rd, Morgan Hill