Marino's Blog

Marino's Wedding Entertainment Blog is moving!

2009-03-02T15:23:00.003-10:00

One of the things I learned at the conferences I attended over the last two weeks is that

A BLOG ISN'T AS EFFECTIVE IF IT ISN'T HOSTED ON YOUR WEBSITE.

As much as I loved using Blogger/Blogspot to host my blog (mainly because of its ease of use and constant uptime), it just wasn't helping me as effectively in reaching you. So I finally "bit the bullet" and switched over to Wordpress.

The old content will remain with blogger, but new content starting in March 2009 will be based at my website.here. So please go there for information, ideas, stories, pictures, and more! I look forward to serving you.

My Wedding DJ Buddy & his family = Famous

2009-02-19T17:28:00.002-10:00

DON FAUMUINA runs Spin Doctors Mobile Disco/I Do Wedding Entertainment here in Honolulu, HI. He is a very good friend of mine. His wife BELLA sings in a local musical group called NA WAI HO'OLU'U O KE 'ANUENUE (The Colors of the RAinbow). Last year they released a music video of "Oh Boy," one of their hits, and their video is exploding on YouTube and on local TV! Check it out! You will see Bella throughout the video, but look for cameos of Don and their two boys! My DJ friend is famous!

Vegas Day Zero

2009-02-16T16:17:00.005-10:00

It's been quite a day! I'm in the room relaxing before the big Welcome Get-Together later tonight. It has been a very intense day, with LOTS of learning and ideas, ultimately which will be shared with you to help you make your wedding day more FUN, UNIQUE, STRESS-FREE, and MEMORABLE.

Here are some highlights from today's seminars and workshops:

JIMMY JOHNSON warmed up the audience before the first seminar.

PAUL KIDA talked about finding inspiration, and being inspiring to your clients. From this seminar, I picked up a BRAND NEW table release activity that is VERY INTERACTIVE and A LOT OF FUN.

ROB PETERS, MIKE FERNINO, and SCOTT FAVER spoke about tax strategies, doing events for non-profits, and maximizing your exposure in dealing with these organizations.

The ThinkCycle Session was a workshop on maximizing your business and performance. Everyone shared ideas and gave constructive criticisms on how we market our businesses and communicate with our clients. I was able to pick the brains of some people from Kansas, Indianapolis, and Chicago; get their insights on how they communicate in their markets; and adapt what I learn to the brides & grooms I meet in Hawaii.

Officially, the day is over, but there is still a lot going on! There's the Welcome Party tonight, and I'm going over to Bucca de Beppo with some good friends for dinner. There are over 70 of us going, so the experience should be interesting!

Come back tomorrow for more stories and images from my adventures here in Las Vegas at the Mobile Beat DJ Conference!

Aloha from Vegas!

2009-02-16T02:43:00.004-10:00

I finally made it! I'm in my room here at the Riviera, and it's the morning of the first "unofficial" day of the MOBILE BEAT DJ CONFERENCE. The flight itself was uneventful.

Thumbs up, we are a Go for takeoff!

DON from I Do Wedding Entertainment/Spin Doctors Mobile Disco and I finally arrived at 11:30pm Pacific Time. Although we didn't get to our room until around 1:30am (due to many factors), we were still in pretty good spirits.

After dropping off our stuff in the room, we went out for food. We ended up meeting JERRY, a DJ from San Diego, and his wife LISA, and having breakfast with them. It was cool to pick their brains and see what unique things they are doing for their brides and clients in their market; likewise, we shared some of the original things we do for you in Hawaii. In the end, Don and I picked up some very good ideas that we can use to make your wedding more FUN & UNIQUE! And the seminars haven't even started! By the end of the week, I'll have many more ideas, which will ultimately help you have a more FUN, UNIQUE, STRESS-FREE, and MEMORABLE experience at YOUR wedding!

Stay tuned throughout the week as I post new ideas, thoughts, and experiences that I will learn about! Check back often for the latest!

More learning = more unique presentations for you

2009-02-13T14:48:00.005-10:00

On Sunday, I leave for Vegas for two conferences, where I will learn about new trends and ideas to help you make your wedding day more FUN, UNIQUE, STRESS-FREE, and MEMORABLE. The first one is the Mobile Beat DJ Conference, held officially on February 17-19, but with more educational seminars on February 16 as well.

I'll be learning and developing new games, activities, routines, and more, which in turn will help you have a more personalized, interactive, and original experience at your wedding, since many of these games and ideas originated from conferences like these.

The week after is the Catersource/Event Solutions Conference & Tradeshow, held this year at the Las Vegas Hilton. This is where I network and learn about the latest wedding trends for 2009: what's "in" (candy buffets, going "green", value-oriented presentations), what's cool (linens, chair covers, photobooths), and what's "out" (chocolate fountains, Hummer limos, extravagant events). When I get back, I'll have more ideas to help you make your wedding look "current" but still within budget!

And when I get back, I have some business training workshops to attend to here in Honolulu. These workshops will help to streamline my business, which ultimately will help me save time and money to better serve you!

Over the next three weeks, there will be a lot of learning, but it is necessary to consistently provide you with a fresh, original, and unique palette from which to create your own celebration.

Of course, while I'm away, I will still be checking my email and voicemail, so please feel free to call or email! You won't wait too long for a reply! Or if you're going to be in Vegas for the next two weeks, call me; let's get together and hang out while we're there!

Get Motivated!

2009-02-12T11:59:00.003-10:00

Last Monday (Feb 9), I attended the Get Motivated! Conference at the Blaisdell Arena. As a person who motivates audiences at weddings and parties, it was good for me to get some motivation as well! Seminar topics included leadership, business, and building relationships with people--skills that I need to have as a party host and Certified Professional Master of Ceremonies. These skills allow me to motivate your guests and make sure everyone feels comfortable at your event. So this day was a day of personal and professional development, and I was taught by some very inspiring teachers.

ELI MANNING, quarterback for the 2008 Super Bowl Champions New York Jets, talked about leading and inspiring a team towards a common goal. I got some great ideas on how to keep an audience going and moving towards a common goal--a fun and lively wedding.

The great ZIG ZIGLAR, a master sales trainer, spoke about the importance of building relationships. Relationships are the key to bringing out the best in people, from your wedding party to the guest of your parents whom you have never met.

University of Hawaii head football coach GREG MCMACKIN talked about goal-setting, and how your values are directly tied to whether or not you achieve those goals. If you create a wedding that doesn't fit who you are and your core values, don't expect it to have the same impact as one that is directly rooted in your goals.

TAMARA LOWE was a fantastic Master of Ceremonies. She really knew how to keep the energy up between speakers and how to get people motivated. I learned many new things from her.

Former New York mayor RUDY GUILIANI spoke about leadership through difficulty. He shared his experiences in dealing with 9/11 and how people remained calm through the tragedy. Likewise, if things go wrong at your wedding, try to remain calm and remember that you have a great team surrounding you. From your vendors to your wedding party, they will work hard to help you overcome whatever obstacle that comes up.

The crowd was huge! It was sold-out on the day I attended.

And of course, being the gearhead, I had to take the obligatory picture of the audio rig, which was provided by Rhema Systems. (From what I was told, Hawaii Stage & Lighting Rentals provided by the lighting & staging. Not sure who provided the video, but they were awesome too.)

Overall, it was a very educational day, and a lot of the things I learned will be applied to your wedding or special event in order to make it more FUN, STRESS-FREE, UNIQUE, and MEMORABLE! By becoming motivated, I can have YOUR guests GET MOTIVATED!

Linked to Facebook!

2009-02-09T00:50:00.003-10:00

In an earlier post, I wrote about how I now have a Facebook page to stay in touch with my friends, clients, and you. Today, I think I figured out how to link this blog to the page so that every time I post a blog entry, it will be reflected on Facebook as well. This is the first post that should be cross-posted between this blogsite and FB. Let's see what happens. (And if I crash the World Wide Internets, my apologies. :)

"I thought it was pepper."

2009-02-05T13:49:00.003-10:00

At many weddings during the toasts, the bride & groom may wish to "open the floor" to guests who wish to say a few words to them. At this one wedding, one guest wasn't paying attention to what was going on and was handed the microphone. Hilarity ensues. (No, it wasn't one of my weddings, but I did laugh when I found the clip on the web.)

INCREDIBLE Offer for Videography from Advanced Visual Arts

2009-02-05T11:48:00.003-10:00

Are you still looking for a great videographer to document your day? GREG and the guys from Advanced Visual Arts have an incredible offer.

AVA has two videography packages. The Basic Package includes:

1 Camera at your Ceremony
1 Camera at your Reception
6 Hour Coverage
Professionally edited with Music and Titles
Custom Designed Video Case
3 Complimentary DVD Copies

The Classic Package gets you:

1 Camera at your Ceremony
1 Camera at your Reception
Professionally edited with Music and Titles
Custom Designed Video Case
8 Hour Coverage, instead of six hours
Prebridal Coverage
Records the Photo Session
Interviews with Bridal Party & Family
5 Complimentary DVD Copies, instead of three

Normally the investment for the Basic Package is $895, and the investment for the Classic Package is $1095. But GREG (AVA's owner) is offering you the opportunity to have the Classic Package for the same investment as the Basic Package. This gives you so much more value to your videography package!

To be eligible for this offer, you need to...

Already be my client. So if you haven't booked me yet to be your Certified Professional Master of Ceremonies, this is another good reason to.
Understand that Greg will not be onsite on the day of your wedding, but he will edit the final copy of your video. Greg has a wonderful team of experienced videographers to capture your day. I have worked with them; they are superb guys.

I have worked with Advanced Visual Arts on many occasions. They are outstanding people with incredible product. Get more info and check out samples of their work by visiting

http://www.advancedvisualarts.com

Tell GREG that Marino sent you!

One of my favorite Super Bowl commercials

2009-02-02T10:14:00.003-10:00

If you have ever worked backstage at a concert or live theatre, you will really appreciate this clip. And if you haven't, you'll appreciate the lighthearted approach to it. In some ways, it does happen like this...

They didn't work out.

2009-01-30T15:01:00.006-10:00

One of the joys I get out of doing this is seeing how happy brides and grooms are on their wedding day. With so much emotion invested into this day, it feels really good to see them have the time of their lives.

While I try to stay in touch with my friends (because at that point, I consider my clients my friends), it gets hard sometimes, and occasionally, we lose touch with one another.

So it saddens me when I find out that things didn't work out. Which is what happened today. While on Facebook, I ran into a good friend of a couple who I helped in 2006, a couple whose wedding was one of the craziest, wildest parties I have ever performed. In fact, I still use their clip of the Reverse Garter in my expo booth presentation. Sadly, a few months after the wedding, trouble started brewing, and a year after the wedding, this couple had separated. According to the friend, the bride has already moved on, and the groom lost touch with all of his friends because it was simply awkward to hang out with them when their whole group was tight.

I'm a romantic at heart, and it saddens me to hear stories like this. In a perfect world, every romance is a fairy tale punctuated by the "happily ever after"...but the reality is that the hard part begins after the "I Do's" are said and done with.

Here's my point: cherish your relationships. And realize that while the wedding day can be a challenging time...the real test happens after.

What keeps me going are the many SUCCESS STORIES that happen.

It's always great to hear of couples who are STILL happily married to each other, who have gone on to raise families, buy homes, etc. Like CELIA & NATE, happily married way back in 2000...today, they are still very much in love, raising a wonderful family, and living the dream...

For every couple that didn't work out, it feels good to know that there are 2-3 that do...And that's one of the reasons I keep doing this.

OWA Fun!

2009-01-28T13:19:00.007-10:00

I belong to a great group of wedding professionals, and every month, the Oahu Wedding Association has a get-together, to socialize, network, learn about industry happenings, and to have fun. Yesterday's meeting at Anela Garden was no exception. The location was beautiful, and the food was very good. The presentation was a lot of fun too, as we all shared ideas on advertising and using "new media" and "social networking" (Facebook, blogging, etc.) to build our business in 2009.

And of course, guess who was the Master of Ceremonies and ringmaster of the whole thing?

Of course, this was a party, so there was the ever important socializing and having a good time.

Thanks to the OWA Board for putting this presentation together. Dave, Michelle, Merri, Susan, Emi, Jen Ramsey, Eugene...they all worked very hard to create something very seamless, smooth, informative, and fun for all to enjoy.

Thanks to Geralyn Camarillo with Hokuli'i Images for being our official "press photographer" and for taking such awesome images. The pictures in this post were all taken by her! You can find more images of last night's party on the OWA facebook page. (You don't need to be a member to look at the images.)

Thanks to Pumehana Davis for the delightful harp music during cocktails and dinner.

A special mahalo to Tom Sasagake for hosting the event at Anela Garden!

And of course, to all who came...

THANK YOU FOR COMING.

This party could not have been a success without YOU.

Save The Date: MELISSA & TOM

2009-01-23T15:36:00.003-10:00

MELISSA & TOM will be getting married on September 19, 2009 at the Turtle Bay Resort. This will be a fun wedding; Melissa was a theatre major in college, so she is very outgoing and entertaining. Tom is a gamer: Melissa says he owns over 200 games on various platforms. They met online, and after dating long-distance while Tom served our country, and after he asked Melissa's father for her father's permission, Tom proposed on New Year's Eve in such a storybook way.

Details for their celebration are still very much under development, but there is a lot of material to work with. Their reception will truly be a reflection of who they are, how much fun they are, and how stress-free it will be. It will be exciting!

LEGO buffet table release for weddings

2009-01-22T09:24:00.005-10:00

A delightful conversation with VERMA (wedding on Aug 8, 2009) brought to mind an original and fun way to release the tables to the buffet, using LEGO--those bright yellow, blue, red, and white bricks that we all loved playing with when we were younger.

Several years ago, I did a wedding for JOSHUA & SAMANTHA. Joshua was a contractor/builder, and Samantha had a two year old boy who loved playing with LEGO. So I incorporated both concepts into the reception with a very creative table release! Here's what I did.

Before the reception began, Samantha's "setup crew" and decorators placed several pieces of LEGO on each table next to the centerpieces.

When it was time to release the tables, I told the guests that the banquet captain would NOT release the tables. Instead, I would ask the guests to use the LEGO pieces to build homes, tying in Joshua's career as a contractor into Samantha's son's love for LEGO. The first three teams to complete the project to specifications would go next to the buffet. For example, I could ask for a two-bedroom, one-bath single story home, with two doors and five windows. Using the LEGO pieces, guests on each table built the house I asked for, and they got very creative with the construction. And of course, the first three teams to complete the project went next to the buffet.

While the houses didn't come out exactly like how you see above, the activity was a lot of fun, very personalized, and for many guests, it brought back wonderful memories of their childhood!

And finally, for VERMA, since she and DARREN are also big LEGO fans, here's an original "Save-The-Date" I found on the web.

Save The Date: MARIBETH & PAT

2009-01-22T09:20:00.003-10:00

MARIBETH & PAT are planning a fun and original wedding on July 18, 2009, at the Hale Koa Hotel. It's still a long time until the wedding, but there are a lot of creative ideas we could incorporate into their celebration. Besides a Chinese Lion Dance, they are planning to have some hula kahiko, play some pranks on the garter winner, and many other original ideas. It will be a lot of fun!

Congratulations to IANDELL & FINLEY!

2009-01-22T09:03:00.002-10:00

IANDELL & FINLEY got married last November, and they had a fantastic time with the celebration we helped them to create.

They are proud to announce the upcoming birth of their baby! Iandell is due in August, and we wish her and Finley the very best. Congratulations!

I'm on Facebook!

2009-01-21T12:22:00.004-10:00

My profile is still very much a work in progress, but you are invited to drop in and be a friend! :)

Thank you for coming!

2009-01-19T18:08:00.003-10:00

To all of the brides and friends who dropped by my booth at the Hawaii Bridal Expo this weekend: thank you for coming! It was great meeting you and hearing your stories about your upcoming wedding.

To my past clients (Sunny [and her mother and sister Summer], Kris & Christy): it was AWESOME to see you again! It is so nice to catch up and see how things have changed since your wedding, and how some things have stayed the same! Special thanks to KRIS, who was gracious enough to hang out and help me in my booth even though he missed the Baltimore game! Thank you thank you thank you!

Thank you to all my photographer & videographer friends who helped contribute images and video to my booth presentation! Your generosity, and more importantly, your friendship, is very much appreciated!

Over the next few weeks, I will be following up with those of you who are planning your wedding soon, and I look forward to helping you create a party that is so very FUN, STRESS-FREE, UNIQUE, and something that will give you HAPPY MEMORIES THAT WILL LAST FOREVER!

Don't forget to register for the Wedding VIP Club! Visit

http://weddingvip.ninjaentertainment.com

Hawaii Bridal Expo = Arrgghhh

2009-01-15T12:26:00.004-10:00

Leading up to the Hawaii Bridal Expo this weekend, there is a flurry of activity here at the Ninja Entertainment office:

The website has been updated...again. Check it out.
The office printer is busy...printing. It is printing a bunch of stuff to be given away.
I'm racking my brain figuring out how to approach this expo this time.

Each show is different, and what may work at one show may not work at the other. Part of the fun of these productions is trying to figure out what's hot and what's not, and what will bring brides to my booth or drive them away.

If you are going to be at the show, drop by, say hello, and watch some of the funny videos I'll be showing throughout the day! It will certainly be fun!

Oh, and don't forget to download a $1 coupon to save on your admission!

Fun with Married Names

2009-01-14T01:03:00.010-10:00

I had the privilege of having lunch and a superb conversation yesterday with LESA, an upcoming bride-to-be, about the hilarity of married names. You see, her full name is LESA K. CHOCK-HUNT. When Lesa's mother got married a long time ago, Lesa's mother decided to hyphenate her name, and when Lesa was born, it was decided that Lesa would take the hyphenated name as well.

Now that Lesa is getting married, she wants to still keep "Chock-Hunt", but she realizes how ridiculously long her whole name will be if she decides to go for it.

LESA K. CHOCK-HUNT-KODAYAMA

Imagine having to sign that on all of your legal documents! Oh, and that doesn't include her full Hawaiian middle name, which starts with a "K", ends with an "a", and has an ARMY of vowels and consonants in between!

So she's undecided as of now. Should she go for the long string of letters, or simply go by Lesa K.C.H. Kodayama? Lesa and I had a good laugh about her unique situation, and about how I would introduce her and her husband for the Grand Entrance:

Ladies & Gentlemen, please rise and help me welcome your guests of honor, MR. DAVID KODAYAMA & MRS. LESA K. CHOCK-HUNT-KODAYAMA!

Even Lesa had to admit that it would be quite a mouthful.

Dear readers, any advice for Lesa? Feel free to leave a comment, as she is a regular reader of this blog and will GREATLY appreciate your thoughts.

Website updated...again.

2009-01-13T10:22:00.004-10:00

Have I mentioned lately that I work for the BEST brides-to-be EVER??

Thank you to Lisa, Corrine, Kehau, and numerous other brides-to-be who wrote in recently to tell me that there was a problem with the navigational menu on the Ninja Entertainment website. Apparently, the old java applet used to code the menu wasn't as universally compatible as I thought it was. So those brides (and probably many more) could not get past the first "movie" page on my website because there was no way of moving to the other pages!

So I spent a few hours yesterday re-coding the menu into javascript. The resulting menu should be more compatible with most operating systems and browsers. So if the last time you visited my website and could not get past the "welcome movie" page, you might want to go back and check it out now. You will be able to access the rest of the movies, including some samples of me performing at various weddings and some testimonials from the many wonderful brides I have performed for in the past. Check it out at

http://www.ninjaentertainment.com

And if it still doesn't work, email me please! I appreciate your input.

Weekly Tips Are Out!

2009-01-12T14:09:00.009-10:00

Members of my Wedding VIP Club, check your inboxes: the Weekly Wedding and Romance Tips are out!

If I was your Master of Ceremonies or DJ for your wedding, you will be getting a great tip on keeping the romance alive in your marriage. This week's tip is especially useful if you live on the mainland, on the west side of Oahu, or in a place where you must deal with a lot of traffic every day!
If you are a future client or have not yet reserved me for your date, you will be getting some great tips to make your visit to the Hawaii Bridal Expo this weekend (January 16-18) more productive!

So if you aren't getting these weekly tips, you can easily get them by joining my Wedding VIP Club. Simply register at

http://WeddingVIP.ninjaentertainment.com

Here is one free tip from the Weekly Wedding Tip newsletter, and this is a tip your man will truly appreciate if he is a football fan:

Sunday, January 18, are the conference championships for NFL Football. These games determine who will be in the Super Bowl on February 1. If your man enjoys football, he won't be thinking of your wedding if you bring him on Sunday. He may even feel some animosity towards you for taking him away from the games on TV!

Your solution: bring him with you on Friday evening, January 16, or on Saturday, January 17, so he can watch his games on Sunday. He will GREATLY appreciate you for it!

Did I mention that becoming a member of my Wedding VIP Club was free?

New for 2009: Wedding Reception Workshops

2009-01-09T14:53:00.004-10:00

New for 2008: I am presenting three FREE Wedding Reception Workshops this month and next month. The workshops are entitled

Creative Ways To Make Your Celebration More Fun, Unique, Stress-Free, & Memorable

These workshops will be creative brainstorming sessions in which I will share some creative ideas to personalize your party and make it very interactive and involving for your guests. These workshops will be limited to only four couples per session to make sure that each couple gets at least a few ideas for their own personalized party.

The workshops will be held on Thursday, January 29, February 5, and February 12. Each workshop will be held at My Office at 1019 Waimanu Street Suite 101 (Honolulu, HI 96814), and will begin at 6:30pm.

(For those working with KELLY SUGANO or MARY CACHUELA with A Perfect Day, NAOMI LEE with Les Saisons, or JAMES CHUN with Crane Media Productions, yes, it is the same office. We share office space.)

To register for any of the workshops, please visit

WeddingVIP.ninjaentertainment.com

Space is limited for each free session, so let me know ASAP when you are interested in attending!

Waxing.

2009-01-08T15:47:00.004-10:00

I work with the greatest brides EVER. LESA, who is getting married in 2010, sent me this post on weddingbee.com to share with you. This is especially helpful if you are having a destination wedding or honeymoon in Hawaii, where you will be spending a lot of time on the beach in a bikini. These are great tips for ladies who have never gone in for a wax before.

Check it out!

New Issue of Wedding VIP Club Newsletter is OUT!

2009-01-06T16:49:00.007-10:00

The January issue of the Wedding VIP Club Newsletter is out, and it's a good one! It is filled with great advice for the bride-to-be, as well as useful romance tips for the already-married bride. If you aren't getting it yet, you can become a member of the Wedding VIP Club by visiting

http://WeddingVIP.ninjaentertainment.com

The big news...starting this year, the newsletter will come to you WEEKLY. Ok, maybe not the full newsletter, but this is how it will break down:

Brides-to-be will get Weekly Wedding Tips to make your wedding day more FUN, UNIQUE, STRESS-FREE, and MEMORABLE!
Brides (those already married) will get tips on romance to keep the fires of love burning!

And at the beginning of every month, everybody gets the FULL newsletter, which combines both the Wedding Tips and Romance Tips, as well as Anniversaries & Events and Tips for the Guys!

So remember, to become a member of the Wedding VIP Club, simply register at

http://WeddingVIP.ninjaentertainment.com

Making your wedding more FUN, UNIQUE, STRESS-FREE, and MEMORABLE can really be that simple.

Happy New Year!

2008-12-31T20:04:00.009-10:00

So I'm waiting here in my room at the Hilton Hawaiian Village blogging away and having a great time. My friends scooped us some tickets to the Bangles New Year's Eve concert, and we're still a few hours to go until they go on. It's pretty exciting just waiting. And it's only three and a half hours until midnight!

Earlier we had a very nice dinner at Sergio's, a fine-dining Italian restaurant also at the Hilton.

Reflecting back on 2008, it's so amazing to see how successful this year was, and it was very much due to YOU. To my 2008 brides & grooms, thank you so much for entrusting me with your day. Words cannot express my gratitude; I truly appreciate you for choosing me to help you create a fun, unique, and stress-free celebration that you and your guests will remember forever.

To my 2009 brides, get ready: your wedding will come upon you soon, and we will be meeting in the near future to begin putting together a presentation that is as unique and special as you are. If you are not yet excited, it's time to become excited!

Where ever you are and whatever you are doing tonight, have a safe and enjoyable New Year's Eve, and a very prosperous 2009!

Much love,

Marino M. Regalado
Certified Professional Master of Ceremonies & Entertainment Specialist
Ninja Entertainment

Wrap This!

2008-12-29T22:16:00.002-10:00

In the spirit of the holiday season, here is a fun game that I recently presented to several of my corporate clients' holiday parties (I do team-building exercises and motivational speaking for companies and corporations in addition to weddings). This game can easily be adapted to a wedding, where the wedding party can compete against each other. Or, representatives from each table can compete to win the right to go next to the buffet. The ideas are limitless.

Each contestant gets an assistant of his or her own choosing. The contestant also gets two oven mitts, one scissors, a roll of tape, a roll of wrapping paper, and a gift box (the type that holds clothes, like the ones you can get from Macy's, are best.) When the Master of Ceremonies says go, each contestant must wrap his or her box using the wrapping paper, scissors, and roll of tape. The first one to complete the task wins! Simple, right? Oh yeah, there's a twist--each contestant will be wearing the oven mitts during the task. The assistant's job is to help cut measure out and cut the tape, but the assistant cannot touch the box or wrapping paper.

This game gets CRAZY! Don't believe me? The next time you have to wrap a gift, try it while wearing oven mitts, and give yourself a time limit of five minutes. It's not so easy! When we did it for the corporate holiday parties, the audiences were on their feet and screaming & cheering for their favorites!

New for 2009: We're going WEEKLY!

2008-12-29T21:55:00.005-10:00

Starting with the new year, I'm rolling out a plethora of new things and ideas which will be announced in due time and with much excitement. But here's one to whet the appetite: for those of you who are part of the Wedding VIP Club and receive our monthly newsletter and tips...we're going weekly! Expect a new wedding tip each week to help you create a fun, stress-free, and unique celebration that your guests will remember forever! And depending on how successful this gets, the Romance Tips we send out to married couples may go out weekly too! It is an exciting time, and I really appreciate your support and feedback!

Not part of the Wedding VIP Club yet? Get your membership by visiting

weddingvip.ninjaentertainment.com

Have a great New Year!

Warmly,

Marino M. Regalado
Certified Professional Master of Ceremonies
Ninja Entertainment

Happy Holidays!

2008-12-29T21:29:00.005-10:00

I hope you are all having a FABULOUS time! On Christmas Eve, I invited a bunch of friends & family over to my place, and we had a delightful wine tasting! Lots of great wines and foods to go along with it.

The next day, I invited more people over and had a fun barbeque. Lots of great food and fun times. It truly was a great way to cap off the Christmas Holiday.

Of course, this holiday season is a great time to reflect on the true meaning of Christmas. On the Tuesday before Christmas, I did a benefit presentation for Lokahi Giving Project.

This is an organization that helps the needy, and during the holiday season, they coordinate special drives that bring together the community to help the less fortunate have things that they may need and enjoy. On December 23, I partnered with Lokahi and Creations in Catering to put on a fun and lively party for five deserving families in the Lokahi program who normally would not have anything special for the holidays. Creations in Catering put together a delicious spread of food, and I provided some great karaoke entertainment. The children especially had a blast, coming to the microphone often to merrily sing holiday tunes. It truly was a memorable experience watching these families' faces light up as they enjoyed themselves and, for a moment, forgot about the challenges they faced.

It reminded me of what this holiday season is all about: giving.

Special thanks to MIKE RABE, Ted, Frances, Ron, Barbara, and the rest of the Creations in Catering staff for helping to create such a very special production. To JOHN ROGERS with A Special Moment Photo & Video for documenting this event and giving the families a gift of memories. John went out of his way to get a copy of the portraits he took of the families to the families--THAT NIGHT. Is that not classy? John truly has a heart of gold. And to the staff of Lokahi, they definitely deserve kudos for what they selflessly do.

So as you enjoy the week leading up to the New Year, I hope you had a memorable and fun Christmas holiday. May you also have a safe and enjoyable New Year's Eve celebration, and a successful New Year.

All the very best,

Marino M. Regalado
Certified Professional Master of Ceremonies
Ninja Entertainment

This if funny.

2008-12-17T11:48:00.002-10:00

Jeremy Jones, a fellow Certified Professional Master of Ceremonies based in Chatanooga, TN, told me about this awesome blog by a cake decorator, and I just spent the last 30 minutes looking at the pictures and laughing so hard. The blog is called CakeWrecks, and it shows bad cake designs and constructions.

Hope you enjoy it as much as I have!

http://cakewrecks.blogspot.com/2008/12/wedding-wrecks.html

Rebranding.

2008-12-16T13:47:00.002-10:00

2009 looks to be a year of rebranding. While I will still use the name Ninja Entertainment for other types of parties, a new name is being created to service my wedding clients. The new name will directly reflect the quality of service and commitment to excellence that I have always given to my clients. Details to be announced soon. It is an exciting time.

Congratulations to Mike & Tracey!

2008-12-16T12:24:00.002-10:00

This is why I love my job.

Meet MIKE & TRACEY. They were happily married in March 2005 and one of the first couples I blogged about.

I often run into them around town, and it is always a treat to catch up and see how they are doing.

I recently ran into them at Walmart, and this time it was different. It wasn't the two of them...now it was three! You see, Tracey just gave birth to their son BRADEN, and he is the cutest little baby ever. He is the spitting image of Mike.

Welcome to Braden, who was born on Halloween night, October 31, 2008. And congratulations to Mike & Tracey!

Hugh Jackman & Your Wedding

2008-12-12T10:31:00.012-10:00

The Associated Press reports that Hugh Jackman, who played Wolverine in the "X-Men" movies, Van Helsing in the 2004 motion picture of the same name, and who will star in the upcoming "Australia" with Nicole Kidman, will host the 81st annual Academy Awards.

So what does this have to do with your wedding? Plenty!

YOUR WEDDING IS VERY MUCH LIKE THE ACADEMY AWARDS.

You and your guests are the stars of the night, and you are planning a lavish evening with great food and great entertainment at a very nice location.

Many of you will hire a producer to help you scout locations and organize the finer details of the evening...in other words, you will hire a coordinator who will help you find locations for your ceremony & reception and help you put everything together.

You will hire a Hair & makeup artist to make you look stunning.

You will wear a gorgeous dress to walk down the red carpet...umm, aisle.

The men, of course, will be in tuxedoes.

Your set designer...ummm, decorator/linen specialist/florist will help you with the decor and look of the room.

Like the Academy Awards, you will have photojournalists & cinematographers (photographers & videographers) to document the evening and take pictures of your guests (which hopefully won't get splashed on the tabloids the next day... :)

The awards show will have many important presenters and speakers. Your wedding will have speeches by the Best Man, Maid of Honor, and other important guests.

The organizers of the Academy Awards take a year or more to plan for the awards show. Most of you will take a year or more to plan for your wedding.

The Academy Awards is a big-budget production. Your wedding may be a big-budget production.

And of course, there is Hugh Jackman. As the Master of Ceremonies for the evening, he is in charge of keeping the party interesting, flowing smoothly, and dealing with any awkward pauses in the presentation. He informs the audience as to what is going on, directs the activities, and guides the presentation.

OVER THE NEXT THREE MONTHS, HUGH JACKMAN WILL PREPARE & REHEARSE FOR HIS ROLE AS THE MASTER OF CEREMONIES.

He will not go into it unprepared. With the awards show in February, Mr. Jackman will take the next three months preparing his presentation, going over what he has to say, and rehearsing it over and over until it becomes second nature.

The result of all of Hugh Jackman's preparation and rehearsal will be a very smooth, very entertaining awards show that will be enjoyed by everyone. Those who attend will have some very good memories of what happened, especially if their movie won an award.

HUGH JACKMAN WILL NOT SIMPLY SHOW UP ON FEBRUARY 22 AND TRY TO "WING IT."

If he did, don't you think the awards show would look very unpolished and unprofessional? If the audience tuned out of the broadcast because they were not entertained, don't you think that the organizers wasted their time and money? And wouldn't the terrible news be all over the tabloids and Internet the next day, as what happened with Britney Spears' "comeback performance" at the 2007 MTV VMAs?

So for your wedding "awards show"...will you have a Master of Ceremonies like Hugh Jackman, who will be well-prepared and rehearsed for the presentation, and give you a party that you and your guests will happily remember forever? Or will you have someone who has had little preparation and will try to "wing it", potentially giving you a bad party that will be the hot topic of watercooler gossip at work or among family for years?

Stuff to think about...

For the Guys...

2008-12-11T10:10:00.007-10:00

Fellas: still need to do your last minute Christmas shopping for that special woman in your life?

Sarah, my friend at the Wedding Ring Shop, sent me this, which I am passing on to all of you.

The Wedding Ring Shop
and Morgan Beret present
Men’s Night at The Wedding Ring Shop

HONOLULU, HI (December 8, 2008)— On Thursday, December 18th from 6 - 9 p.m., The Wedding Ring Shop will transform into a last minute shopping destination offering a selection of gifts that keep on giving.

Guests will enjoy complimentary wine and champagne, informal lingerie modeling and valet parking while selecting their last minute gifts. The Wedding Ring Shop will be featuring their expanded selection of Rhonda Faber Green fine jewelry and will be giving away a gift with every jewelry purchase, valued at $50. Morgan Beret will be offering 15% off a wide selection of lingerie and gift products. Medical Spa Skin Care Hawaii consultants will be available to offer gift certificates. This event is open to Men only and all attendees must RSVP to deana@weddingringshop.com by December 15th.

The Wedding Ring Shop is located at 1181 Kapiolani Blvd. For more information call (808) 945-7766 or email deana@weddingringshop.com.

This would be a very good opportunity for you to find a great gift for her, or else you could end up in the Doghouse.

Just got a facelift!

2008-12-10T18:39:00.003-10:00

My blog, that is. I just updated the software, and while the look is similar to what it was before, there are a few notable changes. On the right side of the screen, you can find a picture of my "Highlighted Wedding Couple," which in this case is Iandell & Finley. You will also find the Labels (finally), as well as an updated blog archive list that is much more user friendly. It is an effort to stay in touch with you, keep you informed, and make your experience reading this much more pleasurable.

Hope you enjoy the new stuff! Let me know how it is, and what can be improved upon. I value your input, as it makes me better!

I Will Miss My Microphones

2008-12-10T13:59:00.002-10:00

This is the Audio Technica ATW-1400 series of wireless microphones.

I have owned four of them since 2003, and I love 'em to death. They fit well in my hand and make me sound good.

Unfortunately, due to the changeover to digital TV next year, I will not be able to use them after January 15. I do have some new microphones on order which will be dTV compliant, although I will miss my old AT mics. They served me (and many of you) very well at various weddings, parties, and functions over the years. Many of you even used the microphones for your Thank You Speech at your wedding, or your Maid of Honor & Best Man used the microphones for their toasts. The microphones had their "closing night performance" at last evening's NACE Holiday Party, and, barring any last-minute parties that come my way, this truly was their final "curtain call."

Holiday Group Fun!

2008-12-10T12:28:00.008-10:00

Several weeks ago, I served as the Master of Ceremonies for the Holiday Party of the Oahu Wedding Association at Ploi Thai Restaurant, and just yesterday, I was honored to play the same role at the holiday party for the Hawaii chapter of the National Association of Catering Executives, held at the Moana Surfrider Hotel. Yesterday's party was great! The food was 'ono (delicious) as usual, and I helped NACE create an organized, well-presented, and fun presentation. To kick off the fun after dinner, the audience participated in a really fun and lively icebreaker. The Holiday Music Challenge by DAVID LOUIS added even more momentum to the production; it was down to the wire with the final two teams, when the dominant team was INSTANTLY eliminated with one wrong answer. And of course, the highlight of the evening was the Twisted Santa Gift Giveaway, in which guests would choose a gift among a group of gifts, and then before opening that present, got to choose from other gifts that had already been opened! For some who decided to give up their unopened gift, it came as a major surprise when they learned that the gift they gave up had a better value to them than the gift they ended up with!

Association members also did their part to help the needy during the holidays by bringing canned good donations to benefit Aloha Harvest, which distributes food to the less fortunate.

It was a fun time by all, and all for a great cause! Hopefully I will get pictures up soon of this event, and the OWA celebration as well.

Here is the timeline for the NACE-Hawaii Holiday Party:

Sequence	Time	Event
1	6:00pm	Doors open; cocktail hour; tours of the Spa every 10 minutes
2	6:30pm	Welcome of guests; chapter president DIANNA talks about NACE
3		Dinner; interactive game to entertain guests as they wait for the buffet
4	7:30pm	DAVID LOUIS to present a new holiday interactive game
5		Raffle Prize Drawings (tickets from canned good donations or winnings from interactive game)
5a		~~Centerpiece Giveaway?~~ ~~(tentative)~~
6		Secret Santa Giveaway
7		Music by DJ Troy Michael
8	9:00pm	Party Ends

For the NACE Holiday Party, special thanks to the following "production crew" for making this party a success:

DIANNA SHITANISHI, Hawaii Weddings & Events, for putting it all together
TONI TAKATA, Moana Surfrider Hotel, a Westin Resort, for the great food and hosting us in such a beautiful location (beachfront, with superb views of the sunset!)
NAOMI LEE, Les Saisons, for the gorgeous decor
TROY TERAZONO, Troy Michael DJ Entertainment, for the fine music to set the cool holiday atmosphere
DAVID LOUIS, Dynamic Sounds, for the fun interactive game

And to those who came, THANK YOU! Your participation made the party truly memorable!

Fun Icebreaker Wedding Game for People Who LOVE Going to Vegas

2008-12-08T15:31:00.005-10:00

Here is a game we recently played at a wedding where the bride, groom, and their families LOVE going to Vegas. (In fact, that is where they went for their bachelor parties...and honeymoon. And of course, the families had to go too because they all LOVE going to Vegas.) It is very fun, interactive, and involving for your guests.

As each guest arrives and checks in at the registration table, they are each handed a playing card with specific instructions "not to lose the card, since you will be using to win some fabulous prizes later on tonight."

Right before dinner, I will recognize the banquet captain and remind the guests to please wait for him (the banquet captain) to release their table to the buffet. "In the meantime, as you are waiting..."

Throughout dinner, I will call out a poker hand. Guests will introduce themselves to other guests and try to build the poker hand I asked for. The first team that shows me their hand would win a poker chip for each member of that team.

At the end of the night, the person on each table with the most poker chips wins the centerpiece!

This is a highly fun and addictive game that can be played throughout the night. It will motivate your guests and keep the energy going throughout the presentation!

Website is updated

2008-12-05T14:50:00.002-10:00

Ninja Entertainment's website was recently updated to make it more search-engine friendly and a lot less "cluttered." Some of the older information was taken out. Videos remain the same for now, but I am waiting for some videographer colleagues who said they would get me some recent footage to get me some footage. Keep an eye out for the next few months to see what changes are in store!

Please look it over and tell me what you think! I value your input.

Wedding VIP Club News December issue is out

2008-12-05T09:10:00.004-10:00

Attention Wedding VIP Club members: the latest issue of the Wedding VIP news is out, so you should be getting it in your inbox soon! If it did not come in, please check your bulk mail folder as well, as it may have been accidentally routed to it.

For those of you who are not members of the Wedding VIP Club, here is what you are missing:

Tips on balancing wedding planning and holiday stress
Holiday-themed romantic ideas to do with your partner
For the guys, a reminder to get your holiday shopping done early!

There is a lot of great information for both past clients and upcoming brides-to-be, as well as stories from recent weddings and anniversaries. So check it out! To become a member of the Wedding VIP Club, simply surf on over to

http://weddingVIP.ninjaentertainment.com

Fill out the necessary information, and you will be a member. It is that simple!

As a gift to you for joining, you will receive a free article I wrote entitled Thinking Outside The Box, which lists five creative (and affordable) ways to make your reception more unique. These tips well help you develop a more original, personal reception that ultimately make your reception more memorable.

The Time It Takes...

2008-12-03T15:25:00.008-10:00

A bride recently wrote in a local wedding forum about her experiences with a particular dj/emcee and how disappointed she was with this vendor. While many of her other vendors did well, this vendor will stick out in her memories and the memories of her guests. This is what she wrote:

xxxxxxxx got pretty good reviews from the knot so I was more than excited to work with him. He was always quick to respond to my emails. I really like his set up online where you can go through his music and pick out which songs to play. That was helpful. But come day of, everything changed. I am reluctant to give him a B-, but only because he was helpful beforehand. For starters, I was able to look back at the videotape and oohhh and ahhh over things but I was soooooo sad that our bridesmaids didn’t get to walk down to the song I had picked for them. I had 8 bridesmaids and only the last 3 were able to. They let the mom’s processional song play on and on…and didn’t even know the processional for the bridesmaids had begun. They started the song so late! Then when my father and I walked (keep in mind, the walk was VERY far), they didn’t get that music cued on time. We arrived to the reception and it was complete chaos. We hired him to be the MC as well. I assumed he would have order and get things in order for us to all be announced. He didn’t do this. My maid of honor had to do his job. Instead of going over some of the last names and making sure he was able to pronounce them correctly, he just read them and really messed them up. During the dinner music, after every song was over, there would be a long pause. It sounded terrible. People would look around with an uncomfortable stare. There was NOT a good flow! Lastly, many of our guests would request songs to be played and he would turn them down. OMG, I had had it! I sent my DH over there to handle it. Never ever turn down suggestions. He told them things like “we’re only playing hip hop right now”, “we have to go in this order, sorry.” NOT HAPPY AT ALL!!

I know this vendor well. He is a good DJ and very affordable. His emcee service costs only $100. So aside from the price, what is the difference between a budget emcee and a Certified Professional Master of Ceremonies?

For one, the time invested into each wedding is very different. Because he only charges $100 for his emcee services, a budget emcee has to work a full-time day job, which prevents him from having the time to practice the names of the people he must introduce, program & edit the music so that there are no awkward silences, and rehearse the entire presentation. Overall, he probably puts in less than two hours of prep time into a wedding. The result is a disappointed and unhappy couple who now have some unfortunately sad memories of their wedding day.

What would a Certified Professional Master of Ceremonies have done differently?

For one, he would have sat down with the couple, by phone or in person, long before the event to go over all of the details. All of the names would have been rehearsed in front of them to make sure he was pronouncing them correctly. The Certified Professional Master of Ceremonies would have helped them organize the timeline to make sure that it will flow very well, with no awkward pauses.

The Certified Professional Master of Ceremonies would have attended the wedding rehearsal to understand the music cues and timing of the presentation. After the rehearsal, he would have had an understanding of how long each song would be, and then make the time to edit the songs so that they properly fit.

The Certified Professional Master of Ceremonies generally invests 40-60 hours of preparation & rehearsal BEFORE the wedding in order to ensure a FUN, UNIQUE, STRESS-FREE, and MEMORABLE experience for his clients.

A budget emcee sees the wedding as another gig.

The Certified Professional Master of Ceremonies see a wedding as the most important day in a woman's life, and it is his job to direct the presentation, inform the guests as to what is going on, and guide the festivities to a predetermined outcome. And like the great Masters of Ceremonies like Billy Crystal, he will have prepared and rehearsed his role to make sure the presentation turns out right.

Of course, there is a greater investment in a Certified Professional Master of Ceremonies, but the overall return on investment makes him a better value.

On the positive side, the bride did save a lot of money by hiring a budget emcee. But is it worth the stress and bad memories? When it is your turn to make a decision as to who will represent you, will it be about saving money or getting the best value on the quality of memories for your special day?

Stuff to think about...

Iandell & Finley's Superbly Fun Wedding!

2008-11-28T09:55:00.011-10:00

IANDELL & FINLEY were one couple you just absolutely love to work with. They had an amazing cast of characters and crew for their presentation, and although it was a daytime event, we helped them create a celebration that was full of energy and excitement!

I first met IANDELL and her coordinator PENNY at The Wedding Cafe by accident. I was there for another meeting, and they were meeting KRIS from On3 Photography. IANDELL had heard some very good things about me, so they called a few days later to set an appointment to meet at My Office.

From the first meeting, we knew that this would be a special party. IANDELL had very specific ideas about the look and direction she wanted her celebration to go, but she was also very open to the ideas I presented to help personalize her event and motivate her guests. Over the course of the next few months, Iandell introduced me to her "supporting cast," and I got to know Iandell's mother, her sisters, her brother, and a few of Finley's friends. Iandell, Penny, and I also worked together to create an original soundtrack for her celebration, which reflected her and Finley's unique tastes in music.

By the time November 22 rolled around, everything was set for the big premiere of Iandell & Finley's wedding at the Hale Koa Hotel. Not even dark skies and rain could have put a damper on their spirits. After a wedding ceremony in the backup location, we started the party, and guests took advantage of all of the FUN activities Iandell planned during lunchtime. Throughout the day, the mood remained festive, and the big highlight for everyone was the games to give away the bouquet & garter. The ladies played a round of Circle Dance to give away the bouquet.

The men competed in Last Man Sitting to win the garter. The two finalists were MACOY the Best Man and GRAN, a groomsman. Upon finding out what the last object was, they scrambled around the room to find it, with Macoy even grabbing the microphone and pleading with the audience to help him locate it! When Macoy finally found the object, he picked it up and tried carrying it back to the dancefloor for the win, but he had to get past Gran first, who was trying to steal the winning item away from Macoy! By this time, the audience was rolling with laughter at the hilarity of the entire moment!

Overall, it was truly a sensational event that gave a lot of happy & lasting memories to Iandell, Finley, and their guests. On a more personal note, their wedding was a reminder to me about why I enjoy doing this.

Here is a copy of their reception timeline.

Sequence	Time	Event
0	9:30am	Wedding Ceremony
1	10:00am	Cocktail Hour; Doors to the DeRussy Hall open to the guests; iVideo Guestbook and Candy Bar to entertain guests
2	10:45am	Welcoming of Guests; Grand Entrance
3		First Dance; Greetings & Welcome by the Newlyweds
4	11:00am	Announcements (e.g., parking validations, restrooms, candy bar, ivideo guestbook, etc.); Invocation/Prayer Before The Meal by Iandell’s aunt SUSAN
5	11:15am	Meal; IANDELL & FINLEY to take table photos and release the tables; Kissing Games to honor the sponsors & entertain the guests
6		Song serenade by Iandell’s brother AARON; hula performance by Iandell’s friend PENNY
7		Recognition of Family, Sponsors, Out-Of-Town Guests
8		Cake Cutting
9		Toast & speech by Maid of Honor CHARISSE; Speech & Mabuhay toast by Best Man MACOY
10		Bouquet & Garter activities (Bouquet Surprise; Circle Dance; special gift presentation; garter removal; Last Man Sitting; Reverse Garter)
11		Centerpiece Giveaway (Hot Centerpiece Time)
12		Video slideshow produced by TROY; Ceremony Highlights presented by ADVANCED VISUAL ARTS
13		Money Dance
14		Open Dancing
15	2:00pm	Music ends

And here is the soundtrack for their celebration.

Pitbull - Lets Get Krazy (Grand Entrance background riff)
Pitbull - Lets Get Krazy (Grand Entrance main riff)
Visa commercial clip (for Grand Entrance)
American Idol sound clip (for Grand Entrance)
Estelle - American Boy (Grand Entrance main riff)
Estelle - American Boy (Grand Entrance background riff)
Hail to the Chief (Macoy Grand Entrance intro)
Lil Wayne - Fireman (Grand Entrance Instrumental edit)
Motley Crue - Without You (First Dance)
Jessica Simpson - Angels (karaoke version) (song performance by AARON)
Keali'i Reichel - Kawaipunahele (hula by PENNY)
Aerosmith - Sweet Emotion (cakecutting edit)
Guns N' Roses - Sweet Child Of Mine (CHARISSE’S toast intro edit)
Akon - Locked Up (MACOY’S toast intro edit)
INXS - Need You Tonight (bouquet ladies to floor instrumental edit)
INXS - Need You Tonight (Circle Dance edit)
Natalie Merchant - Kind & Generous (bouquet presentation edit)
Herb Alpert - Love Potion #9 (Garter Removal)
Guns N Roses - Welcome to the Jungle (Last Man Sitting)
Marvin Gaye - Let's Get It On (Reverse Garter)
Shrek soundtrack - I'm A Believer (Reprise) (Reverse Garter Reveal)
Vengaboys - We Like To Party (Centerpiece Game)
Various - Love Remix (Money Dance)
Petula Clark - You & I (dedication to Iandell’s mom JOSEPHINE)
B52s - Love Shack (Grand Finale/Last Song)

Special thanks to the following "production crew" who helped make this presentation very FUN, STRESS-FREE, UNIQUE, and MEMORABLE for Iandell & Finley.

PENNY SNELL, Iandell's good friend & coordinator, and Penny's awesome husband TROY
KRIS LABANG with On3 Photography (many of the pictures on this post were taken by him! Thank you, Kris!)
GREG VENTURA, ANDY, BRUCE, & KYLE with Advanced Visual Arts
TONY BARNHILL with iVideo Guestbook
TANNA & BRYSON DANG with The Wedding Cafe, for ideas & support

Paradigm Shift

2008-10-31T00:02:00.002-10:00

There's a saying that goes "When the student is ready, the Master/Teacher will appear." Lately, that statement has been resonating loudly with me, considering how many of my mentors have come into my life recently. Tom Hopkins in September. Mark Ferrell this month. Tom & Mark had always been in my life, but never to the degree in which they influenced me until recently. Perhaps back then I simply was not ready to fully grasp their messages. But God/Source/Universe, in Its infinite wisdom, deigned that they come into my life at full force, and this time, I was fully prepared.

What is weird is how there have been many other synchronocities relating to this quote: In the last two weeks, I heard it from several colleagues and even clients I met with! Usually it was said in passing or paraphrased to make a point about an unrelated topic, but still...how much coincidence can it be? The latest was earlier today, when I saw it on TV in a commercial for Victoria's Secret (I kid you not!). Amazing, isn't it?

There is one particular person who recently came into my life, and that person's message resonates very very deeply into my core. I cannot quite explain it; it feels weird yet right at the same time. It's like the Universe is saying, "Marino wasn't ready to hear THIS message for 32 years, but now...it's time. He's ready. At this time, in this place, Marino is ready to learn, and ultimately, to serve."

If I learn my lessons correctly from this new teacher, expect a MAJOR shift in paradigm from me. Whereas the business model I currently have is pretty awesome...the future business model will be undescribably extraordinary.

Details will be released in due course...but it will be an exciting time.

With much love & aloha,

Marino
Your Certified Professional Master of Ceremonies
Ninja Entertainment

OWA Halloween Fun

2008-10-29T13:16:00.000-10:00

Yesterday, I provided music and served as the Master of Ceremonies for the Oahu Wedding Association's annual Halloween Party.

This year, the event was held at WENDY ROBIN'S Studio W of Honolulu. The fun was evident from the get-go, with people arriving in costume:

The low-key costume contest was entertaining, and the delicious food by VANESSA HOLINGER with Beaches & Backyards Catering was 'ono (delicious). The food was sooo good that all of it (except for six pieces of sushi) were eaten!

All in all, it was a very lively and entertaining experience.

Special thanks to last night's "Production Crew" for making the event such a success:

Dave Miyamoto & Michelle Gouda, Dave Miyamoto & Co.
Wendy Robin, Studio W of Honolulu
Vanessa Hollinger, Beaches & Backyards Catering
Kris Labang, On3 Photography, for taking all of these great images
Dina (Wendy's friend), for letting us use her studio next door as well

Thanks also to Ryan Pierce from Lift Your Spiritz for the fun spontaneous flair bartending demonstration!

And to those who came, thank you!

Find more images of this event here on the Oahu Wedding Association blog.

I am CERTIFIED

2008-10-23T15:43:00.005-10:00

My clients always tell me that I am a great Master of Ceremonies, but I am always looking to improve on my craft and to become a more valuable resource to you. Which is why I spent the past few days attending an intense advanced training course on learning the art of being a Professional Master of Ceremonies. I'm not talking about the guys who simply emcee weddings as a side hobby. I'm talking about learning how guys like David Letterman, Jay Leno, and Billy Crystal do it. After all, a wedding reception is very much like the Academy Awards--it is a $20,000-40,000 live theatre event that has been produced for over a year, and the Master of Ceremonies is in charge of making sure that everything looks like it is running smoothly. Quite a monumental task indeed.

My instructors were Mark & Rebecca Ferrell, dear friends and mentors of mine. Over the past few days, I spent a lot of time behind the microphone working on what I do, and they spent a lot of time offering constructive criticism and giving me encouragement to do what I do...but better.

Graduation from the class was one of the most important days in my professional career, perhaps even more so than finishing college. After all, the Marbecca Method (which is the system that I learned) is one of only a few systems of certification for the career field of Masters of Ceremonies. And out of the many emcees in the state, there are only EIGHT (yes, count 'em on two hands, EIGHT) certified Professional Masters of Ceremonies here in Hawaii. That means I belong to an elite bunch. But what makes the eight of us very special is that we do not just see your wedding as a side hobby to give you a cookie-cutter presentation...but as helping you create a unique, stress-free, and memorable experience on the most important day of your life.

Here we are, with the Master himself. Thank you, Mark & Rebecca, for bringing the workshop here to Hawaii.

To my clients, I am excited to meet with you again soon, as I have a lot of great ideas to share with you in order to make your own wedding day much more personal, unique, stress-free, and memorable!

To brides who have not booked me yet but read this blog regularly, when it is time to book your Master of Ceremonies, ask them if they are certified. If not, ask them why not. If they tell you that they don't need it, consider this: would you trust your health to a doctor who is not licensed and certified by the state Board of Health?

Things to consider...

Diamond Event at the Wedding Ring Shop

2008-10-17T10:48:00.003-10:00

My friend SARAH from Wanna Hula does some consulting on the side with diamond shops, particularly the Wedding Ring Shop. She recently alerted me to a very special Diamond Event that will happen at the Wedding Ring Shop on October 24-26. Diamonds from the S. Muller & Sons Collection will be available at a superb value. This opportunity is not to be missed.

To my male readers/grooms-to-be: If you are planning to buy a very special ring for your special someone at a good value, you should attend this event.

To my female readers/brides-to-be: If you do not own your wedding ring yet, drop by to take a look at the selection. At the very least, it can give you some ideas on what your own ring may be like.

To receive your own invitation, call 808.945.7766 and ask for SARAH CHANG. Tell her Marino sent you!

Images & more from Chris & Tia's wedding

2008-10-09T10:00:00.010-10:00

In my last blog post, I wrote about how honored I was to be performing at Chris & Tia's wedding last Saturday. I wrote about how I wasn't just making announcements for five hours...I helped them and their families create a lifetime of memories.

Documenting the memories were Kim & Nate from Aihara Visuals, and they have teaser pics up on their blog. Check it out!

This is one of my favorites:

Tia, Chris, and their guests are surely having a lot of fun, aren't they?

Here's another one:

You may be wondering why there is a picture of a Heineken bottle instead of a table number. It was one of the fun ways we personalized Chris & Tia's wedding and how we got the guests involved during dinner.

Those who know Chris & Tia know that they are very social drinkers and connoisseurs of beers and spirits, and they and their friends are very knowledgeable about drinks. So instead of the banquet captain traditionally releasing their tables to the buffet, we played a game! Each table was named after one of Chris & Tia's favorite beers or spirits, and throughout the evening, I would read trivia about these drinks. Guests would guess which spirit or drink I was speaking of, and when they guessed correctly, the table named after the spirit would go next to the buffet. Instead of guests simply sitting bored at their tables, guests got into the fun by yelling out the answers and encouraging the correct tables to go to the buffet! And for those guests who were not drinkers, it helped them to understand one of Chris & Tia's major passions.

Tables were named after the following spirits and were released in random order unless otherwise noted:

Dirty Skyy Vodka Martini - Chappell/Waits Family Table, first to be released
Jameson Whiskey - Sablan/Hayami Family Table, second to be released
Newcastle English brown ale
Bass English pale ale
Guiness Irish dry stout (mmmm...Guinness...yum)
Red Stripe Jamaican lager beer
Boddingtons English bitter, "the Cream of Manchester"
Heineken Dutch pale lager
Pabst Blue Ribbon American beer
Spicy Bloody Mary
Bushmill Irish Whiskey

Here's how Chris & Tia's final timeline looked like:

Sequence	Time	Event
0	4:30pm	Wedding Ceremony in the Maile Gardens
1	5:30pm	Doors to the Waikiki Ballroom open to the Guests; Cocktail Hour; Receiving Line
2	6:30pm	Welcoming of Guests, Grand Entrance, Greetings & Welcome by the Newlyweds
3		Announcements (e.g., parking validations, restrooms, etc.); Invocation/Blessing of the Meal by Chris’ uncle TIM
4		Meal (Favorite Beers Table Release; Kissing Games)
5	7:30pm	Recognition of Family & Out-Of-Town Guests
6		Cake Cutting
7		Toasts & Speeches by Maid of Honor MYLA; Best Man DAMON; Chris’ father GEORGE; Chris’ stepfather WAYNE
8		Bouquet & Garter Activities (Bouquet Surprise; Traditional Bouquet Toss; Traditional Garter Removal & Toss; Reverse Garter)
9		Centerpiece Giveaway (Hot Centerpiece Time)
10		Video Slideshow, presented by NORTH SHORE VIDEO PRODUCTIONS
11		Mother/Son Dance (Chris dances with his mother TERRI) (No Father/Daughter Dance)
12		“Father/Daughter” Dance (Chris dances with Tia’s daughter ABIGAIL)
13		First Dance, into Money Dance
14		Open Dancing
15		Grand Finale

And here is Chris & Tia's final reception soundtrack:

Kool & The Gang - Celebration (Bridal Party Grand Entrance edit)
KC & The Sunshine Band - Get Down Tonight (Chris & Tia's Entrance edit)
Bryan Adams - Cuts Like a Knife (cake-cutting)
Natasha Beddingfield - Pocketful Of Sunshine (Maid of Honor toast intro edit)
Bob Marley - Jammin (Best Man toast intro edit)
AHA - Take On Me (instrumental - women to floor for bouquet)
The Police - Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic (bouquet catch edit)
Guns N Roses - Welcome to the Jungle (instrumental - men to floor for garter)
Herb Alpert - Love Potion #9 (Garter Removal & Toss)
Marvin Gaye - Let's Get It On (Reverse Garter)
Shrek soundtrack - I'm A Believer Reprise (RGarter Reveal)
Vengaboys - We Like To Party (Centerpiece Game)
Kenny Rogers - Through the Years (Mother/Son Dance edit)
Temptations - My Girl (Father/Daughter Dance edit)
Jimmy Cliff - Rebel In Me (First Dance)
Spandau Ballet - True (Money Dance)
Percy Sledge - I'll Be Your Everything (Special Dedication to Rachell & Shawn)
Semisonic - Closing Time (Last Dance)

Special thanks again to Kim & Nate from Aihara Visuals, as well as Les from North Shore Video Productions, for documenting Chris & Tia's story. They are all awesome people to work with! Mahalo to the catering and banquet staffs at the Hale Koa Hotel for being so super, too!

This is why I do this.

2008-10-07T09:57:00.008-10:00

Meet RACHELL & SHAWN, happily married three years ago, on September 17, 2005.

It was truly an honor to be a part of their celebration and the wonderful memories that were created that night. They have such a loving and supportive family and friends,and I was blessed to be a part of all of it three years ago.

So three years later, when Shawn's brother CHRIS finally decided to marry his longtime love TIA on October 4, they called me. They had told me that, in between Shawn & Rachell's wedding and now, they had been to several other weddings, but none matched the passion, romance, and fun as they had experienced at Shawn & Rachell's celebration. So it was again an honor to be asked to be a part of this family's memories.

So when October 4 arrived, it felt great to see everyone again. Family who I had met three years ago greeted me like no time had passed, and it was amazing to see just how people have changed in three years...and how people have stayed the same. Shawn & Rachell now have a darling baby boy. Chris' mother TERRI is still looking lovely as ever, and Tia's daughter ABIGAIL, who was a wee little lass when I first met her, is now blooming into a precocious and active ten year old.

It dawned on me as I welcomed the guests at the start of the festivities just how special this day meant, not just to Chris & Tia, but to their families and friends. This wasn't just about five hours of eating, laughing, and socializing...this was about coming together as a family and creating a lifetime of happy memories.

And once again, I felt truly blessed to be a part of it all.

Congratulations, Tia & Chris, on your wedding day. It was indeed an honor to be a part of your memories...and that of your family. I look forward to continuing to be your family's preferred party host for all of life's most significant milestones.

To my readers:

If you are already married, drop me a line and let me know how you have been doing since your wedding. It's always nice to hear from you, and how things are different now...and how some things are still the same.

If you are getting married soon and have already reserved me for your wedding day, I look forward to helping you create a lot of positive and happy memories for you...and your family. Memories that will indeed last a lifetime.

If you haven't booked me yet...what are you waiting for? After all, I'm not just providing 4-5 hours of MC'ing...I will help you create a lifetime of happy memories for you and your cherished ones.

And on that note...the October edition of the VIP Wedding Newsletter will be arriving in your inboxes shortly! Please check it for more tips and advice to make your wedding more FUN, STRESS-FREE, UNIQUE, and MEMORABLE. This issue's main topic is on ethnic toasts: the information will help the people you ask to deliver the banzai, Mabuhay, or any other ethnic toast.

As for my married couples, read about how you and others have been faring since saying your "I Do's". For some of you who just started a family, your first Halloween with children may be right around the corner. The newsletter has some tips on how to have a safe, family-friendly Halloween.

And if you are not a member of the VIP club yet, shoot me an email so we can activate your VIP membership.

I look forward to serving you.

More from the seminar.

2008-09-29T16:39:00.003-10:00

I'm on break again. Here are some pictures.

Here are Tom and I. He is awesome.

Tom shares his knowledge and expertise.

Blogging from a seminar

2008-09-29T14:36:00.003-10:00

One of the things that makes me different from other wedding entertainers is that I take the time to invest in continued education, in order to stay on top of current wedding trends. By staying on the cutting edge, I am able to provide better service and a more unique wedding planning experience for my clients.

So I'm blogging in the middle of a seminar by Tom Hopkins, a noted motivational speaker, and he is speaking about current techniques to get clients more involved with me and my service. It's a lot of stuff to take in, but very very good information. I look forward to sharing this with all of you when I meet you to talk about your wedding and event! More later...we were on break, but the seminar is starting up again!

Birthday fun.

2008-09-13T23:59:00.005-10:00

Not too long ago was my birthday...and to celebrate, some friends took me out to dinner at Sam Snead's Tavern at the Pearl Harbor Golf Course. Yummy food, good times, and great friends...it was nice to simply relax and not have to rehearse for a wedding the next day.

Here's the handsome birthday boy.

And my goofy nieces. They are awesome.

The food was good.

So was the Guiness.

No birthday cake, but a scoop of ice cream makes a worthy substitute.

I would like to take a moment and say "Happy Birthday" to my "birthday twin" NAOMI LEE with Les Saisons Fine Linens...born on the same date, just several years apart.

Photo teasers from Dayna & Garrett's wedding

2008-09-08T14:49:00.004-10:00

Last week we helped DAYNA & GARRETT have a fun and entertaining wedding at the Willows Restaurant. (Special thanks to TRACY & KERI, the catering directors at the Willows, for being so fabulous to work with.)

They were a great couple to work with, and I really enjoyed working with them through the entire planning process, which led to a very elegant and entertaining wedding day.

KYLER & KAYOKO, their photographers with Kai Photo, recently added teaser images from Dianna & Garrett's wedding on Kai Photo's Blog. Go check it out! (And yes, the handcuffs and the song "At Last" were prominent elements throughout the wedding and reception. :)

September issue of the Wedding Newsletter is out!

2008-09-02T17:07:00.005-10:00

The September edition of our VIP Wedding Newsletter is out! If you are not a member of our VIP club, shoot me an email and I will make sure you get registered. This issue has great ideas to help your Best Man & Maid of Honor come up with their speeches. For married couples, there is advice on handling one of the more traumatic experiences you could ever experience in a marriage. And for the guys, there are some ideas to score brownie points with your partner...for free! If you are not yet a member of my VIP club, send me an email and I will send you the current issue and get you signed up!

Ed & Monica Pingol = Awesome

2008-09-02T16:44:00.006-10:00

Back in July, we helped Christy & Kris create a very unique, very memorable, very exciting presentation for their wedding celebration. They had games, surprise dances (including their version of the Evolution of Dance), and even a surprise birthday cake for the bride. Many guests approached the newlyweds at the end of the night telling them just how original and inspiring their celebration was.

To document all of this, Christy & Kris asked Ed & Monica Pingol to photograph their wedding day.

Ed & Monica recently posted some teaser shots on Ed's blog.

I have worked with many photographers...but very few artists. Ed & Monica Pingol are artists.

You can find images of their work at Kris & Christy's wedding.

Here is my favorite, a series of photos of the Reverse Garter:

Notice how much FUN everyone is having!

The pictures will show two things:

How awesome your wedding can be if you have your wedding hosted by me!
How awesome your wedding pictures will be if you have your wedding documented by Ed & Monica!

Where's Marino?

2008-09-02T16:29:00.003-10:00

Yes, it has been a while since I last posted. Summertime is usually busy with weddings, and this summer was no exception. In between performing at weddings, preparing and rehearsing for weddings, and traveling, finding time to blog becomes a little challenging. But I appreciate all of the support and patience!

Recent weddings include Rayna & Tyrone on August 2:

Celeste & Craig on August 30:

Dayna & Garrett on August 31:

All were very successful, very original, and very entertaining parties. Each one had unique elements to them that made each very special. At Celeste & Craig's reception, for instance, the big highlight was the garter removal. After setting it up like a traditional garter removal, Craig went underneath Celeste's dress and pulled out..."Superman" boxers. As if that was not funny enough, Celeste then stood up, pushed Craig into the chair, and removed the garter from Craig's leg. The audience went crazy!

Superferry = impressive

2008-07-03T06:07:00.002-10:00

This weekend (July 4) will be spent on Maui for a mix of business (meeting with some clients, colleagues, wedding planners, and catering managers) and pleasure (spending time with family, watching the fireworks show in Lahaina). While the rest of the ohana will be flying in tomorrow, I have the pleasure of taking the van (along with everybody else's "junk") on the Hawaii Superferry the day before. And so far, I AM IMPRESSED. Not only was the check-in smooth, but the ride so far has been pretty good. What sealed the deal was the available electrical outlets to power my laptop, and the free WiFi internet access. In fact, I am posting this onboard! Is this cool or what??

Shawn Starr pics of Jennifer & Kevin's wedding

2008-06-23T16:13:00.004-10:00

Back in October, we helped Jennifer & Kevin make their Big Island wedding celebration very fun, unique, and memorable. Their photographer SHAWN STARR recently put up pictures of Jennifer & Kevin's wedding on his website. Shawn has a fabulous eye for taking fantastic wedding images, so if you want to see a sample of his work, check it out.

Work and My New Addiction

2008-06-20T08:32:00.004-10:00

A week ago, I picked up this game at Costco. Two days ago, I got the hang of the online multiplayer mode. And with my bluetooth headset to talk to my teammates, this game has become my addiction, consistently keeping me up until the wee hours of the morning...

Once the novelty of online play wears out, it will be back to normal...

Speaking of work, ROY from Kahana writes in to ask:

Since you do this full-time, what do you do during the day while the rest of us work?

Thank you, Roy, for the wonderful question.

During the week, I actually work for this company I run. Officially, Ninja Entertainment is my employer, and like a good employee, I do have a set time that I go in to work on a daily basis. But because I know the owner, and the owner likes me, I have the flexibility to adjust my day accordingly. :) But in general, this is how my day goes.

I wake up around 6:30am almost every morning, have breakfast with my family, send them off to work, and then take care of my household chores, which include washing the dishes, restocking the water cooler, and making sure the dog has food and fresh water. Then after getting ready, I head out to the office.

At the office, I do paperwork. Like any good business, there is the administrative side of things, so during that time I return calls, set appointments, work on reception timelines, contact wedding vendors who I will be working with soon at upcoming weddings, rehearse the presentation and assemble the musical soundtrack for the next wedding, and write on my blog. Sometimes I will have a meeting with a catering director for a walkthrough of a reception site that I soon will be performing at. At other times, I will have lunch with another wedding vendor, to share ideas and to network. Most people see the five hours of the wedding reception and think that is all I do.

The reality is that I put in at least 40-60 hours before a wedding in order to ensure the success of those five hours of the event.

In the afternoon, if I have a meeting with a client, I stay later in the office for the consultation. If there is no meeting, I get off work around 5:30pm to go for a cardio workout on my road bike or do some weight-training at the gym. By 7pm, I am home, where I have dinner, spend time with family, shower, and get a hit of my new addiction. Somewhere around 2am, I go to bed.

And that is what a typical weekday is for me. Of course, things are different the week of a wedding, because the rehearsals for the wedding presentation intensify. You can read about the experience here.

And you can also read about what happens on the wedding day by clicking here.

Lucky part 3

2008-06-09T14:38:00.007-10:00

For 6/7/08, I must have been the only wedding vendor not working on that date. The couple who originally had the date, VANGE & RODEL, moved their date to 6/14, and I was not able to rebook any other brides in that time. But that was okay because it gave me the day off to relax and do something I really enjoy doing in my spare time: ride my road bike. Cycling is my sport and passion (in addition to helping brides & grooms have awesome wedding receptions), and I manage to put in in an hour or two on the bike at least three times a week. It is rare, though, to get in a long ride, simply because there is not enough hours in the day, and on weekends, I am usually performing at a wedding. Since there was no wedding last Saturday, this was the perfect opportunity to get in a long ride. And because I had the whole day to myself (since my family had made other plans), I decided to ride around Oahu.

You did read right, I planned to ride around Oahu. For those of you interested in measuring that, it comes out to about 112 miles, and for you sports trivia buffs out there, the distance is the inspiration for the 112-mile bike leg of the Ironman triathlon. But I digress.

I started out at 7:30pm from my home in Liliha, a little later than I originally planned, but I was hoping to make good time. At my pace, it should have taken me six hours to complete the ride, 7-8 if you count in the stops here and there to refuel and rest. By 9am I was in Hawaii Kai, and by 11am I was in Kailua. My first real "pit stop" was at the Makapu'u Lookout. The weather was gorgeous, and the beach looked really inviting.

7-Eleven across from the Hygienic Store in Kahalu'u was the next stop:

I'd say I still look pretty good after riding 45+ miles.

By 1:30pm, I was in Kahuku, where I stopped for Lunch at one of the many shrimp trucks.

Icee never tasted soooo good.

By 2:45pm I was at Sunset Beach, where the weather was still just as gorgeous as it was on the east side of the island.

I reached Haleiwa at 3:15pm. The stretch of road between Haleiwa and Wahiawa (affectionately known locally here as "Pineapple Hill" because of the pineapple fields that the road intersects) is an incline, and when you couple it with a fierce headwind, made for a very, very painful experience. This killed the ride, and fortunately, I had friends who just got off work at Wheeler Army Airfield, and they graciously offered to pick me and my bike up and take me home.

Oh well, maybe next time I'll make it around the island, when I'm in better shape...

My point in sharing this with you? First, to give you a glimpse of what I do when I am not helping a bride create a fun and memorable party experience. Secondly, to show you just how lucky it is to live in Hawaii!

June issue of Ninja Wedding News is out!

2008-06-05T13:29:00.004-10:00

The June edition of the Ninja Wedding News is out! If you are not on the VIP list, visit my website at http://www.ninjaentertainment.com to register. This newsletter is filled with a lot of great information, including some ideas on how to make the cake-cutting fun; how to stay in touch with your guests, family, and friends after the wedding; and for the guys, there is a section on the meanings of different colors of roses. (Handy for those times in which they want to say something special to their mate!) Drop by my website to sign up.

NACE 50th Anniversary Party = success!

2008-06-05T11:18:00.006-10:00

So we had the 50th Anniversary Party for the National Association of Catering Executives, of which I am a member, and the event turned out to be a smashing success! We had over 100 guests, lots of great food, great entertainment, and tons of fun. The money raised went to some great causes, including the Lokahi Giving Project to support former Aloha Airlines employees; Aloha Harvest, which helps distribute food to the needy; and the NACE Hawaii Scholarship Fund, which helps to support up-and-coming catering executives.

What made it great was how everybody all worked together to put on this awesome event. Members of the board and the chapter graciously donated their time and talents, and the results were very impressive. As one of the hosts of the event (sharing hosting duties with local celebrity JIM LEAHEY), and I received many positive comments--a good sign.

Our next fundraiser will be sometime in October...If everyone pitches in again and comes together, it should be just as successful as this one.

Astrid & Charlie's fun, chic, and memorable wedding reception

2008-06-02T15:37:00.021-10:00

After months of planning and preparation (even down to the wire by the newlyweds), the wedding of ASTRID & CHARLIE last Saturday, May 31, happened even beyond their expectations! When I first met them, they said that they wanted a really interactive, really fun, and very chic and elegant party to entertain their guests, many of whom had flown in from around the world to be there. We had guests not only from Hawaii and California, but also family from as far as the Philippines and London. (Complete with sexy British accent!)

Before going further, it's helpful to read what went into preparing for Astrid & Charlie's wedding day, in order to give you some perspective into what was done to ensure a successful celebration. This post will be more about the results, and Astrid & Charlie's "return on investment".

As I wrote in my last post, I had gotten up on Saturday, May 31, actually around 8:30am. I had breakfast, spent some time with my nieces, and hung out with family. Around 2:30pm, we left home for the beautiful drive to Ko Olina. Arriving at 3:00pm at the JW Marriott Ihilani Resort, the weather was gorgeous and sunny--a perfect day for a wedding! After quickly unloading the sound equipment and moving the van to the parking structure, we began setup around 3:30pm. By then, DIANNA with Hawaii Weddings and Events was putting the final touches on the decor and working well with the banquet staff at the Ihilani to ensure a stunning and chic atmosphere.

RICK & SASHA from Cakelava were there too, setting up the beautiful wedding cake.

I quickly set up the sound equipment, ran through the soundcheck, and changed into my tuxedo--ready for Astrid & Charlie to arrive.

By 5:30pm, most of the guests had arrived, and they were enjoying pupu (appetizers), drinks, and beautiful weather on the lanai outside of the Lurline Room. After quickly sitting the guests, lining up the wedding party, and warming up the audience, it was showtime!

"On behalf of the Flores & Ruiz families, it is my pleasure to introduce to you...your wedding party!"

With that, the presentation was underway! The Grand Entrance was a fun and exciting affair, with the party dancing their way in to the music of Pink's Get This Party Started. Not to be outdone, the newlyweds came in with arms above their heads to a standing ovation. The atmosphere was electric! And it remained that way throughout the evening. A fun trivia game kept the guests guessing, laughing, and running to the podium in between courses. The ladies had a fun time with the Circle Dance, a bouquet presentation activity. The highlight for many was the garter game Last Man Sitting, an activity that involved not only the unmarried men, but the audience as well. Because it was a small intimate group (around 65 guests), the action was fast & furious as the men worked with the audience to stay in competition. When we were down to the final two, the game became even more crazy, since the winner would be the first man to text message Charlie with Astrid's married name! The game even went outside to the lanai because the groom and final two contestants lost cellular signal halfway through the texting!

The rest of the night was fun and full of energy. The centerpiece game kept the momentum going. Guests enjoyed the slideshow produced by the newlyweds. And after an original and choreographed First Dance by Astrid & Charlie, the guests took to the dancefloor and danced to almost every song, even doing the Electric Slide to Rihanna's Don't Stop The Music!

All in all, from start to finish, it was an energetic and exciting affair--and most definitely memorable. After the reception, many guests told Astrid that their wedding certainly stands out as being one of the most memorable ones. Behind the five hours of superb celebrating, the 40-60 hours of preparation and rehearsals really made a difference in the success of the party. In the end, it's not about the time spent preparing for the wedding, nor the five hours of the party...it's about the memories that last a LIFETIME.

Special thanks also to JAMES, JOHN, & MARTY from Crane Media Productions, as well as PAUL HAYASHI and his assistant JENNY for documenting this event. Mahalo kakou (Thank you) to RENEE, KEITH (awesome banquet captain), GIDGET, KALAI, DEAN, and the rest of the Ihilani staff for taking care of the newlyweds and guests, and for the ono (delicious) food. Thank you to LESLEY (my assistant), not only for being a super-fantastic assistant and for hitting all the music cues perfectly, but also for taking the great photos you see in this post. Along with DIANNA from Hawaii Weddings and Events, they were all fabulous to work with and made my job as the emcee/entertainer so much easier. If you are looking for a great team to make your wedding day as stress-free as possible, consider these vendors (with me, of course!).

Here is the final timeline for Astrid & Charlie's celebration:

Sequence	Time	Event
0	2:00pm	Convalidation Ceremony at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace
1	4:30pm	Cocktail Hour outside on the lanai; Doors to the Lurline Room open only after ASTRID & CHARLIE have seen the untouched room; ASTRID & CHARLIE to take photos around property
2	6:00pm	Welcoming of Guests, Grand Entrance
3		Greetings, Welcome, & Acknowledgements by the Newlyweds
4		Announcements (e.g., parking validations, restrooms, etc.)
5		Invocation/Prayer Before The Meal by Charlie’s niece JESSICA
6		First course (soup) (Trivia Game to determine first table to be served; Song Serenade to include & entertain the guests; both activities repeat throughout the evening during and between all courses)
7		Recognition of Family & special guests
8		Second course (salad) (see special note below)
9		Main course (entrée)
10		Toasts & speeches by Astrid’s sister AYESA; Best Man DANIEL
11		Dance Performance by Charlie’s family
12		Cake Cutting
13		Dessert course
14		Video/slide Show
15		Bouquet & Garter Activities (Circle Dance, Last Man Sitting)
16		Centerpiece Giveaway (Hot Centerpiece Time)
17		Father/Daughter Dance
18		Mother/Son Dance
19		First Dance (choreographed) (no money dance)
20		Open Dancing
21		Grand Finale

		* Special note: ASTRID & CHARLIE to take sunset photos with PAUL around 6:40pm; sunset @ 7:18pm

Here is their soundtrack:

Pink - Get the Party Started (Wedding Party Grand Entrance Extended Instrumental) (6:17)
Ventures - Hawaii 5-0 (Bride & Groom Entrance) (1:54)
Alisha's Attic - Alisha Rules The World (Bridesmaid toast intro edit) (1:30)
Duran Duran - Wild Boys (Best Man toast intro edit) (1:52)
James Taylor - How Sweet it is (cake cutting) (3:39)
Weather Girls - It's Raining Men (instrumental) (unmarried women to the dancefloor)(4:08)
Weather Girls - It's Raining Men (circle dance edit) (0:18)
Baha Men - Who Let The Dogs Out (instrumental) (single men to dancefloor) (3:16)
U2 - Mission Impossible Theme (Last Man Sitting Edit) (3:14)
Vengaboys - We Like To Party (Centerpiece Game edit) (3:14)
Natalie & Nat King Cole - Unforgettable (Father/Daughter dance edit) (1:58)
Israel Kamakawiwoole - Somewhere Over The Rainbow What A Wonderful World (Mother/Daughter Dance edit) (2:06)
Julia Fordham ft the Foundations - Hope Prayer and Time (Buttercup edit) (First Dance) (3:53)
Kool & The Gang - Celebration (First song to open dancefloor)(5:00)
Patti Austin - If I Believe (Special dedication to VIVIENNE & ADEL) (3:28)
Seals & Crofts - Summer Breeze (3:25)
Joshua Kadison - Beautiful in my Eyes (4:09)
Maureen Mcgovern - Very Special Love (4:13)
Simply Red - Stars (4:08)
Van Morrison - Brown Eyed Girl (3:05)
KT Tunstall - Big Black Horse and the Cherry Tree (4:56)
Santana ft Rob Thomas - Smooth (4:58)
Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes - (I've Had) The Time of My Life (Last Dance/Grand Finale) (4:45)

Music for cocktail hour and dinner was a mix of Hawaiian music and Broadway love songs. For dancing, a wide mix of music was requested, and we played everything from some oldies all the way to Rihanna and Justin Timberlake. My favorite part during the open dancing was the cool mix of 80s music that was requested and played, including some classic Michael Jackson, Madonna, ABBA, and Bee Gees. When the guests started doing the whole "Stayin' Alive" thing, there was no turning back...

That nervous anticipation feeling

2008-05-30T13:32:00.012-10:00

Maybe you can relate to this: you have a BIG presentation at work tomorrow, and you are going over your entire performance over and over to make sure it will turn out well. You have written it out, edited it, and now you practice your timing and delivery, synch it up to the powerpoint presentation, and repeat it again. After all, it's the day before the presentation, and did I mention this presentation is BIG? Like, if it doesn't turn out well, your company loses a key client, and your employers not only terminate you for being incompetent, but also sue you for botching up the relationship with their audience? And because you screwed up, you get blacklisted in your career field, meaning that no one wants to hire you? Really, there's no pressure...

In a way, that's what it's like to be me the week of a wedding. Except I do this almost every weekend. A wedding, after all, is the most important day in a bride's life, and it's up to me to make sure that it (and please excuse my bluntness) doesn't suck.

So what did I do this week for ASTRID & CHARLIE'S wedding this Saturday?

Earlier this month, I had a planning meeting with them by phone to finalize the details of the reception. For local clients, I meet them in person, but because Astrid & Charlie are planning this from California, we spoke for about two hours one Friday evening earlier this month and hashed out the specifics of their presentation. They chose the music for certain events (e.g., cake cutting, bouquet presentation, etc.), chose the unique activities to include (e.g., Circle Dance bouquet presentation), and I went over with them the pronunciations of their wedding party and all of the important guests I will need to recognize on May 31.

After the meeting, I got in touch with DIANNA SHITANISHI from Hawaii Weddings & Events (their coordinator), JAMES CHUN from Crane Media Productions (their videographer), and PAUL HAYASHI (photographer) to make sure we were all on the same page, and that they understood all of the unique elements that Astrid & Charlie are including in the presentation. A month before the wedding, things were starting to move fast.

Fast forward to this past Monday, May 26: I had my final in-person meeting with Astrid & Charlie to tie up the loose threads. After the meeting, the final program was put together.

Tuesday May 27, and Wednesday, May 28: scriptwriting, revising, and rehearsing. Taking all of the information that was given to me by the newlyweds, as well as from their coordinator and other vendors, I began putting together a rough script as to what I need to say, and how I should say it. Unlike other MCs who try to wing it through, my take on it is that the bride & groom have spent countless months planning and preparing for this big day. To go in unprepared and try to "wing it" means that an MC disregards all of the planning and prep that the couple has put in to make this day perfect.

Thursday, May 29: The script is finalized, and rehearsals intensify. There's a saying in radio called "hitting the post": this is where the on-air DJ talks over the instrumental introduction of a song and times it perfectly to end his speech right when the vocals of the song begin. At a wedding, there are times like the Grand Entrance in which "hitting the post" makes a subtle yet huge impact on the presentation. It may look easy, but it's not. The reason I make it look easy is because of the hours of practicing and rehearsing beforehand just so that it looks perfect on the day of the wedding.

Also, I begin putting together the musical soundtrack of the event, including making any necessary edits to songs and sound effects to generate a bigger emotional impact on the guests. Some songs are trimmed to start at the beginning of the chorus. Some songs (like the Father/Daughter Dance) are edited to be shorter, so the bride and her dad are not on the floor for a long time. For some moments, an instrumental version of a song would make a greater impact on the event than its normal version, so I scour iTunes, Musicmatch, and Yahoo! Music to find these tracks. Some song requests are not in my collection, so I also look for them.

I also start calling all of the presenters and speakers to make sure they all know their roles, and I can have a better idea of what they will be speaking about. If they are giving a toast, delivering the blessing, serenading the newlyweds, or performing a special dance, then I touch base with them.

Friday, May 30, the day before the wedding: three copies of the final script and timeline are printed and bound, along with some copies of the timeline to share with the other vendors. The musical soundtrack is finalized, and two copies will be burned. Tonight, I go to my storage locker to prep the sound equipment and load it into the van.

Saturday, May 31, the day of the wedding: I will get up late, around 9am, have brunch with my family, and relax all morning. Of course, the presentation will always be in the back of my mind, but I'm not one of those guys who will obsess over it. If I do not know it hours before the wedding, then I will not know it at all. (Just like finals in college!) Fortunately, because I have been rehearsing it over the past few days, I do know my stuff.

Because doors to the ballroom open around 4:30pm, I plan on leaving my house around 2:00pm, giving me enough time to drive down to the Ihilani without rushing. When I get there, I unload the sound equipment, move everything to an area near the ballroom, and wait until I can get access to it around 3:30pm. I quickly set up, soundcheck, and by 4:30pm...it's showtime.

Bonita & Victor, happily married May 2004,
at the JW Marriott Ihilani Resort (same ballroom as Astrid & Charlie's)

With everything right on schedule, I am excited about tomorrow's wedding! It will be a great time!

More networking

2008-05-29T03:29:00.003-10:00

In two days' time, I did a lot of networking with fellow wedding vendors and colleagues, and it was a fun whirlwind of a time! Tuesday night was the monthly Oahu Wedding Association meeting; this month it was held at the Mid-Pacific Country Club in Lanikai. Laura from the club gave us the tour of the facilities, and the place is gorgeous. If you are still looking for your location and want an outdoor wedding that is an alternative to the overcrowded beaches and ballrooms of Waikiki, then Mid-Pacific Country Club is the answer for you.

Yesterday, the Hawaii chapter of the American Disc Jockey Association met, and I spent time hanging out with some of the smartest and most successful DJs in the state. The highlight was spending time with Ed Frank and Dave Green, two dear friends, emcees, and DJs from KENTUCKY. They are here in the islands to help another friend with several Project Grads. In our conversations, I picked up a bunch of great "nuggets" to help make my wedding presentations so much more elegant and exciting!

Overall, while the last two days have been busy, they also have been quite rewarding. Learning from others and making oneself better in order to better serve one's clients...isn't that what it's all about?

North Shore Fun - Lucky We Live Hawaii 2

2008-05-28T11:54:00.005-10:00

With no weddings this past Memorial Day weekend, I was able to spend time with family & friends and hang out at the North Shore. When some of my friends said they were going to be at Kualoa Ranch for an airsoft/paintball contest, I couldn't pass up the chance to be there, not for the shooting, but to ride my bike on that side of the island. (Most of my workout rides are in town, and it's rare that I get out there for leisure.) So while they were running around in the dirt "killing" each other, I was in sexy spandex/lycra cruising along Kamehameha Highway at 17-20 miles per hour. Went as far as Turtle Bay, turned around, and even managed to ride past the awards ceremony for the Hawaii State Time Trial bike race, which was wrapping up by Malaekahana.

My apologies for the small pics, but my phone camera apparently was reset and took the images in its smallest resolution.

With so much beauty and sunshine here in the islands, I am constantly reminded about how very fortunate and blessed I am to be here, in this place, at this moment in time.

Lucky we live Hawaii!

Wonderful Hawaiian cultural resources for your wedding in Hawaii

2008-05-28T08:47:00.016-10:00

Many destination brides I speak to often ask me for ideas to add a touch of Hawaii to their event. One way is to use the Hawaiian language ('olelo) in your Save The Dates, invitations, and stationery at the wedding. Hawaiian phrases always add a touch of authenticity and personalization to any wedding in Hawaii. To help, I found this great website with a variety of useful Hawaiian words and phrases; use this as you write out what your invitations will say, or memorize a handful and use them when you are here in the islands and dealing with the locals!

Find it at

http://www.alohafriendsluau.com/words.html

Another way to add a touch of Hawaii to your event is to use Hawaiian music (mele) at the wedding and reception. I am talking about authentic Hawaiian music and not the trite, touristy "Tiny Bubbles" or "Hawaii Five-O" or the like. You can find great Hawaiian music at

http://www.mele.com

They have music samples so you can hear what the songs are like before you buy them. And please do buy them; your support helps artists pay for studio time and rehearsal space to record new music and to keep Hawaiian music alive.

For cocktail hour, I recommend some upbeat Hawaiian music. Israel Kamakawiwo'ole (IZ) works great, as well as Makaha Sons (Iz's old group).

For dinner, I suggest some mellower type Hawaiian music. Artists like Keali'i Reichel and collections of ki ho'alu/slack key guitar music are perfect for the occasion.

For walking down the aisle, instead of doing the "Hawaiian Wedding Song" that almost every destination bride chooses, I recommend The Road That Never Ends by Keali'i Reichel. The song is beautifully written, and the words will fit your wedding perfectly.

One more thing, for people who like Israel Kamakawiwo'ole's music but just know his "Somewhere Over The Rainbow/Wonderful World" song: there is much more music that he has put out besides that song. Many of his songs are beautiful songs that would totally be appropriate at your wedding, and it would set you apart from the rest by choosing a unique and original song. One of my favorites is White Sandy Beach of Hawai'i. Check it out!

If you really want to take it a step further, why not learn how to hula? SARAH CHANG with Wanna Hula? gives simple, easy-to-understand hula lessons for all ages. She can even teach the bride to dance a beautiful hula on the bride's wedding day--no previous hula experience necessary! Visit her website, and if you like what you see, give her a call. When you do, mention that I sent you, so she will take very good care of you!

By adding authentic 'olelo, mele, and even hula into your stationery, wedding day soundtrack, and presentation, you can make your wedding in Hawaii more unique and certainly more personal!

Pomaika'i kakou! Aloha!

Marino

Staying fresh!

2008-05-14T16:51:00.001-10:00

One of the things to consider when hiring an MC for your event is how eager they are at bettering themselves and learning something new. I know MANY MCs out there who are so content with their services that they "don't need to take any classes or workshops to get better." But if you look at other industries, you need to take classes to stay on top of your field. Real Estate agents need to take classes every two years to get re-certified. Doctors need to attend seminars to learn the newest breakthroughs and medicinal techniques. Even teachers in Hawaii have "Teachers Institute Day" every quarter, in which teachers attend seminars and workshops to learn new techniques and ideas (meaning that the kids get a day off!!). What about MCs & DJs?

The consequence of this "Know-It-All-Already" mentality is this: it often leads to stale presentations and cookie-cutter wedding receptions. Is it any wonder that when I first meet a bride-to-be, she says that all of the weddings she's been to have looked the same? Many local comedians who host weddings on the side often use the same jokes because it works for them. But as a guest, if you've been to more than one wedding with the same MC, pretty soon you will get to know all of the jokes, and may even learn the punchlines. Where's the originality in that?

The best hosts constantly hone their craft by attending conventions, seminars, and by purchasing educational DVDs, in order to learn something new and to offer their clients something unique. With every wedding being different, it really helps to have a huge "arsenal" of ideas to creatively personalize every wedding, making it a very unique reflection of the bride & groom's style & tastes.

So when you meet with your prospective MC, ask what he has done in the last three months to improve his skills, and what he will do in the next three months to improve his skills. If they tell you they do not need to learn anything new because they already know it all...RUN. Unless, of course, you want an average, cookie-cutter reception...

As for me...I will be attending the MC Workshop in October in Honolulu. This workshop is an advanced hands-on workshop which will help me improve my presentation skills to better serve my clients. I'm excited about it!

Jazzed about things...

2008-05-14T01:18:00.003-10:00

I attended the NACE meeting earlier tonight and had a great time! I met a lot of awesome wedding vendors and made some excellent contacts. The big news is that the NACE 50th Anniversary Party is coming together very nicely. Later today I will try to write more info on it, but suffice to say, I am very jazzed about it!

Another thing that's going to be in development is an improv production I am working on with Lawrence at Crane Media Productions. Plans are still very much in the elementary stages, with nothing firmly set yet, but if things fly, it will be a very fun and interactive activity...

Think experimental, experiential live theatre...I am jazzed about it too. When things get more firm, I will write more about it!

Jantzen & Brenda's wedding

2008-05-13T10:47:00.000-10:00

We helped BRENDA & JANTZEN create a really fun, stress-free, and memorable daytime reception back in July last year. This video was created by our good friends Janice & Davis at Video 21 Productions. If you are looking for a great videographers, check these guys out!

(Hit play, and wait for the video to take a minute or two to load, since it was documented in High Definition. The wait will be absolutely worth it.)

Lucky we live Hawaii

2008-05-13T10:22:00.007-10:00

Every day I never regret the fact that I live and work in beautiful Hawaii. I am truly blessed to be here, doing what I love, and meeting brides & grooms I enjoy working with. I was on my workout ride yesterday (cycling is my sport) and came across this reminder of how lucky I truly am to be here:

This photo of Ala Moana Beach was taken with my cell phone camera. Time of day was late afternoon, around 630pm, right around sunset. Gorgeous view, right?

And just to show proof that I was on my workout, here's a pic of me:

Tonight is the monthly NACE meeting. The big discussion will probably focus on our upcoming 50th Anniversary Party on June 3, which will double as a fundraiser for Aloha Harvest and the Lokahi Program, which will benefit families affected by the shutdown of Aloha Airlines. Tickets will be in the $50-60 range but will go to a good cause. If you are free on the evening of June 3rd, come on by! There will be games, good food, free drinks, and much more. I will be providing the sound system for the evening's entertainment.

Happy Mother's Day!

2008-05-09T23:18:00.007-10:00

I love my Mum. She is awesome. She and my Dad made a lot of sacrifices to get me where I am today, and I am forever grateful to them.

This is my family:

Me, my brother, my Dad, and my Mum.

On this Mother's Day holiday,

Happy Mother's Day

to all mothers.

Aloha to our new readers!

2008-05-09T23:04:00.003-10:00

The latest Wedding Newsletter is out, and there are a bunch of links within it to this blog! So all of my new readers and visitors...

The latest newsletter has a bunch of ideas and links to help brides-to-be create really FUN, STRESS-FREE, and UNIQUE receptions that they and their guests will REMEMBER FOREVER. There also some ideas for newlyweds on how to keep the romance and passion going long after the "I Do's" have been said.

If you are not on the VIP List, shoot me an email at weddings[at]ninjaentertainment.com, and I will certainly add you!

I am happy.

2008-05-09T09:03:00.003-10:00

I enjoy efficiency, especially when it comes to computer systems which allow me to do my job and serve my clients. So when my trusty HP desktop-replacement PC finally bit the bullet last year, I was heartbroken. So I replaced it with another laptop computer, and I thought life would go on the way it was, and all would be well. Unfortunately, like all PCs sold after the first quarter of 2007, this one was loaded with...Windows Vista.

I had heard horror stories about Vista from IT friends and other colleagues, but I wasn't expecting it to be that bad. To say that Vista was a resource hog is an understatement. Whereas my portable laptop would fly along under Windows XP, the new one would painfully crawl under Vista. I beared it long enough until just recently, when I reached my breaking point and went out to buy a new copy of XP.

It took a day to wipe all traces of Vista from my computer and install XP, then another day to replace all of the drivers and reinstall all of the software I normally use. But after all of that, I am quite happy. My computer flies along really well, and efficiency is back where it is supposed to be.

Since we are talking about efficiency, here is an idea on how to make your wedding reception run more smoothly and efficiently. If you are having someone bless the meal from the podium, it will take some time for that person to walk from his seat to the podium to deliver the blessing. During this time, in order to not have any "dead air" (awkward silence), have your MC handle all of the "housekeeping" announcements--restroom locations, where to find parking validations, where to smoke (for the smokers in your audience), and any other significant announcements that must be made. By the time your MC is done making the announcements, the person blessing the meal should be standing at the foot of the stage or nearby, ready to approach the podium and deliver his presentation.

After the blessing, your MC can make a smooth transition into dinner by recognizing the banquet captain and reminding the guests to wait for the banquet captain to release their tables to the buffet. Your MC should also remind the guests that you have a fun and entertaining program for them after dinner, so please stay after the meal to enjoy the evening's presentation.

Of course, as your MC and party host, I would handle these announcements with style and make sure it all runs smoothly, so that you and your guests can simply enjoy yourselves throughout the entire event!

Building REALationships

2008-04-30T09:00:00.004-10:00

As part of my commitment to serving my clients and making their wedding day as stress-free and smooth as possible, I attended a meeting of the Oahu Wedding Association last night at RumFire in the Sheraton Waikiki Hotel. I attend these wedding industry functions in order to network and get to know a lot of my colleagues. By building REALationships and getting to know one another before the wedding day, it makes it easier to work with your photographer, videographer, etc. on the day of YOUR wedding. I had a great time, spent some quality face-to-face time with some photographers, videographers, florists, and entertainers I really enjoy working with, and had some good food.

Before that, I spent the day following up with brides I met at the World Class Wedding Expo two weekends ago. I met a lot of 2008-2009 brides who are looking for something unique and different for their celebration, and many were turned on to the fact that what I can help them create is something that will make their celebration more lively, fun, unique, and memorable. So if you haven't heard from me yet or if you were strongly interested in knowing more about what I do, check out my website today! You can find it at www.ninjaentertainment.com

Since we're talking about building REALationships, here's a good low-key icebreaker-type game you can play at the beginning of your reception as your guests arrive.

For many of your guests, particularly your co-workers, friends, and extended family, your wedding may be the first time they have met each other. So have some fun with them as they get to know one another--after all, everyone is now one big ohana/family, right?

As the guests check in, each guest is given a sheet with boxes of different categories that may describe your guests. It may look something like this:

Is one of the bride's best friends	Drives the same type of car as the groom	Owns a car like the bride
Is directly related to the bride	Works with the groom	Went to college with the bride
Traveled the farthest to be here	Lives a block away from the bride	Is wearing a tux

More categories can be added and personalized to fit the bride & groom's personal styles and tastes, and to more accurately reflect who the guests are.

During cocktail hour, guests are invited to go around to meet each guest and see if that other guest applies to any of the given categories. If that guest fits, then he or she places his signature in the box underneath the category.

And the end of dinner, the guest who has collected the most signatures wins! A good prize to reward their efforts may be to send them FIRST to the buffet line, after the bride & groom's families have gone through.

To take it a step further, you can even make this game more exciting during dinner, although a little more prep work may be involved. To do this, a few weeks before the wedding, the bride, groom, and their families get together and play the game, but instead of looking for signatures, they try to imagine who among their guests best fits each category. Hopefully they come up with 2-3 or more names per category. Each name is then put on a strip of paper along with the related category, and then put in a box.

During dinner at the reception, the guests will play bingo with their funsheets! The bride & groom will randomly pull a name out of the box, and if a guest has gotten THAT particular signature in THAT particular category, they cross out the box, just like in bingo! The first person to cross out a row, column, or diagonal wins! This addition makes mealtime much more entertaining, since the guests are actively involved rather than simply sitting around waiting for their turn to the buffet.

Happy Blogiversary!

2008-04-25T03:41:00.004-10:00

Yes, it has been two years since I started writing this, so it's nice to see how it has developed, as well as how Ninja Entertainment and I have evolved over the past few years. I'm not going to go through the laundry list of what's different then and now, but I will say that I am quite satisfied with where I am and where the company is headed.

This anniversary is also another excuse to have some ice cream cake. Yummy.

Blowing Kisses

2008-04-25T03:08:00.004-10:00

Here's a fun wedding game that I recently picked up at a workshop. It's called "Blowing Kisses."

Ideally, you will need two teams, with 3-5 members per team. You can make teams from table representatives, bridal party members, etc. This is best done at small, intimate celebrations, although I've heard it's been done at larger parties, with more tables, teams, and contestants. Adults can play, but it's also a cute game for children to do.

Each contestant is given a straw. Each team is given a Hershey's Kiss. The Kisses are placed on their sides on one end of a long table. When the emcee says "Go!", contestants use their straws to blow the Kiss across the table. First team to blow their candy off the far end wins!

A few rules:

No hands or body parts must touch the candy. Movement of the candy can only be accomplished by the breath of air from a straw.

Teams may take a moment before the game starts to develop a "strategy" to accomplish the feat. Some teams require all three members to blow at the same time. Others have players alternate. Still others may have one team member blow until exhaustion, and then another team member takes over. Ultimately, each team decides HOW they want to accomplish the task.

If the candy falls off the table, the team automatically forfeits the race, so team members must always be aware of where the candy is on the table, and be prepared to do something if it comes too close to the edge!

This is a great game to play during a buffet dinner, while guests are waiting for their turn to the buffet. It is something entertaining for them to watch and participate in instead of simply sitting around being bored and doing nothing. This game also works great during cocktail hour, as an icebreaker among groups of friends and relatives who may have not met before!

Fun Thing To Do During Dinner #4252

2008-04-23T08:44:00.004-10:00

As your guests are waiting for their turn to the buffet, here's another original idea to entertain them. This is something we did at LORIEDEL & KEITH'S wedding.

Blindfold the bride. Have the Best Man put some trinkets (e.g., watch, ring, $50 bill, spoon, etc.) somewhere on the groom. Once trinkets have been hidden, the bride must find these objects. This is where the audience participation kicks in. If the bride gets close to an object, encourage the guests to yell out "Warm", and "warmer" as she gets closer, and "HOT!!" if she's really close. Conversely, if she's moving away from an object, guests can yell out "cold", "colder" if she's really moving away, and "FREEZING!" if the bride is way off.

With the right bride & groom, this is a fun activity that is sure to entertain the guests as they wait for their turn to the buffet.

Thanks for dropping by!

2008-04-23T08:25:00.005-10:00

The World Class Wedding Expo was this past weekend, and we had a wonderful time! Thank you to all of the brides who dropped by my booth to say hello, talk about their wedding day, and get excited about their wedding reception! I look forward to meeting with you as we get closer to your wedding date.

The fashion show went off quite well. Considering how little time I had to prep for it, it's amazing that it worked out well. It goes to show the quality of professionals who come together for this presentation. Special mahalos goes out to DUN, who produced the show, and ERICA, who directed it. Sound and stage lighting were provided by GIL & ROMEL with ND Mixx Productions. The models were also great to work with. And of course, the interactive games and hosting for this event was presented by...moi. If I get invited to do the October show, expect greater things, since I will have even more time to prepare and rehearse!

To the brides who I met at the expo: have you signed up for my VIP list yet? If not, email me so I can add you to it! Membership gets you access to my monthly Wedding Newsletter, filled with tips and ideas to help you create a FUN, STRESS-FREE, and UNIQUE wedding celebration that you and your guests will REMEMBER FOREVER. And the cost for VIP membership? Absolutely nothing...

2008-04-17T21:36:00.004-10:00

So the World Class Wedding Expo starts tomorrow, and I am approaching it with both a sense of excitement and a sense of nervousness.

Excitement because I love these events! I enjoy meeting new brides-to-be and getting them excited about their celebrations! So if you are reading this and plan to drop by the expo tomorrow, visit my booth to say hi!

I'm experiencing some nervousness because I have been asked to host the fashions show. THIS...IS...BIG. I know that I've done large crowds before and performed at several large weddings, but for some reason, I am actually more nervous about tomorrow than anything previously! I guess a part of me is afraid that I am going to choke so badly tomorrow that no one will want to work with me again. But the professional in me says to focus in, forget all of the things going on around, and just nail the performance, like I usually do! Positive thinking can do wonders, so I definitely should psych myself up for this!

Sooo...if you're in the neighborhood tomorrow, drop by, say hello, see me at the fashion show, and let's all have a fabulous time.

The Invitation

2008-04-16T02:26:00.003-10:00

Forget what you know about the typical wedding invitation. This is cool!

Appreciation has its rewards.

2008-04-16T01:31:00.004-10:00

This is a true story.

A photographer friend was shooting a wedding I was performing at. For him, it was a fairly typical wedding event. He had a "shoot list" to fulfill, in addition to capturing all of the important events of the reception in his typical photojournalistic style. Nothing really out of the ordinary.

Sometime during dinner, after the pomp & circumstance of the Grand Entrance had subsided and everyone was settling into the delicious meal, the bride made her way to the ladies' room to freshen up. But before leaving the ballroom, she paused for a moment to speak privately with the photographer. She said only a few words to him and went on her merry way. But something changed in the demeanor of the photographer for the rest of the night. He smiled more. He seemed livelier and more animated. He seemed to take more photos. Instead of just slogging away at his "job," he seemed more passionate about this wedding in particular.

Two weeks later, when the photographer delivered the wedding photo album, the bride & groom were surprised to see that the photographer had included two "mini-albums" for the newlyweds to share with their families.

What did the bride say to my photographer friend on her wedding day?

"Thank you for all the work you're doing tonight. I really appreciate it."

Your wedding day is going to be a hectic day. But sometimes just taking a brief moment to genuinely show your gratitude to your vendors can make them remember how much you appreciate them, and in turn they may go above and beyond to serve you.

Have you hugged your vendors lately? :)

Marino M. Regalado
Master of Ceremonies & Interactive Entertainment Specialist
Ninja Entertainment

I've got great friends.

2008-04-14T23:44:00.005-10:00

I've got great friends.

Just in time for the wedding expo, ERIC KIM from Imaginewurks has put together an awesome demo video based on our work at Wini & Kin Wai's wedding in January 2008. Here's a little teaser. The titles were added by me, but the footage and editing is Eric's creation. If you are looking for a great videographer for your wedding, check out Imaginewurks' website, give Eric a call, mention that Marino from Ninja Entertainment sent you, and Eric will take good care of you!

Thanks to Eric & the Imaginewurks team for the awesome job! It was a pleasure working with you!

More videos to come in the next few days, as we ramp up towards the wedding expo! Stay tuned!

How to stay busy and not go crazy.

2008-04-13T10:55:00.006-10:00

It's April, and it's been busy since the last update, but I don't have the time right now to go into depth, so here's what's important.

We did a wedding on March 29 for LORIEDEL & KEITH. They were an awesome couple to work with, and they had wonderful guests & families as well! We helped them have a really interactive and fun party--very creative as well. Lorie had a lot of original games and ideas that she wanted to incorporate into the presentation, and we were able to include them. In the end, everyone had a great time, especially Keith's family who flew in from the Midwest to celebrate the wedding! It truly was an excellent way to cap off a fabulous Hawaiian vacation!

With the new month comes a new newsletter. If you haven't received your copy of the Wedding Newsletter, let me know so I can add you to the VIP list. This month's edition includes tips on delivering a great toast (it's great advice for your Best Man & Maid of Honor), as well as tips on how to keep the romance once you're married. Of course, we celebrate the weddings from the last three months as well the anniversaries, so there's a lot of good stuff in this issue. Email me if you want to get it!

Finally, the World Class Wedding Expo at the Convention Center is coming up next week, so if you haven't made any plans this weekend, come check it out! It's a great opportunity to meet with wedding vendors in one place, and many of them are eager to help you create a wonderful and memorable event.

Some techie Q&A

2008-03-04T17:34:00.007-10:00

Sam from Pasadena writes in with a technical question:

What kind of microphone do you use?

Wonderful question, Sam. Generally most grooms don't care about what type of microphone I use, so it is quite cool to get a techie question once in a while. Anyway, I prefer AudioTechnica microphones. I've been using them for so long that I've grown accustomed to their weight and feel in my hands. In fact, recently when I needed to use a backup Shure microphone (this event needed at least three wireless microphones to be effective), it felt...weird. Not saying that I don't like Shure mics, it's just that I'm so used to AT mics that a Shure mic feels different.

I use cordless microphones, as this allows me to be interactive and personable with the guests. As such, I am able to make announcements and interact with people from among the audience, at the head table, near the buffet line, etc., rather than being tied down to a podium. This makes for a much livelier and more personalized presentation!

In a similar question, Lani from Wahiawa writes:

Do you ever use the house sound system, or do you use your own sound system at weddings?

Generally, I use my own sound system, or I tie into whatever DJ the client has hired. This is because my presentation is tied very deeply to the music, and most ballroom sound systems aren't capable of providing the range, volume, and depth of a professional audio system. Consider this: David Letterman's many punchlines and gags are tied directly to the music of Paul Schaeffer and the CBS Orchestra. How effective would Letterman's presentation be if the music sounded hollow and flat?

Not very.

I still keep the house sound system plugged in and ready to go, as a backup just in case the professional sound system goes down, but it hasn't happened yet and hopefully never will.

Thanks to Sam, Lani, and all for the great questions!

Marino
Ninja Entertainment

On the Go!

2008-03-03T17:15:00.006-10:00

It's amazing how long a month is.

It's been quite a whirlwind month that I must apologize for not posting here recently. I haven't even been able to send out the February newsletter!

Anyway, here we are in March, and I've got some catching up to do.

Last month saw two wonderful weddings, of which I will put together a full write-up hopefully soon. Suffice to say, as in all the weddings I perform at, those two weddings involve a lot of preparation and rehearsal in order to ensure that they run as smoothly and stress-free as possible, and because they ran almost back-to-back (both on the same weekend), it was much more challenging. Congratulations to AIMEE & JUSTIN, and PRESCOTT & HIDEMI!

The weekend after was my high school BFF's wedding. (Yes, guys have BFFs too, although we generally don't use the term...) Although I attended as a guest, I knew the DJs and had heard good things about the MC. Everything went as smoothly as possible. To LLOYD & MARGARET, congratulations! (It's about time!)

Last week and into the weekend was spent traveling for a combination of both business (attending classes on entertainment on the mainland) as well as spending time with family.

And of course, here and there, I'm taking care of my current clients, meeting with new clients, and providing the fulltime customer service I'm known for. Most people just see the five hours of the wedding and think "That's all he does." In reality, those five hours are just the tip of the iceberg. When you take into account all of the time involved in making sure that each wedding is well-rehearsed, prepared, and personalized, you realize that it's much more than five hours of party. By the time your wedding arrives, I would have already invested 40-60 hours of my time into the success of your celebration. But the result, after seeing the smiling faces of my brides & grooms at the end of the night, reminds me why I still do it.

A hui hou,

Marino
Ninja Entertainment

We're back!

2008-02-04T01:58:00.000-10:00

Maui was great! Spending the weekend there was a great way to unstress after the last few weeks--wedding expo, two weddings and a birthday party over three weeks...

But it wasn't all play. On Friday (when I flew up in the morning), I spent the time meeting with several brides who are getting married on the Valley Isle and looking for a unique, original, and interactive presentation to give to their guests. To BARBARA & TOM and PUALANI & KEOLA, thank you for the awesome conversations! I hope you enjoyed it, and that you got some pretty good ideas on how to make your parties very fun and lively! When you are ready, let me know so I can send you the paperwork to get started...

I was supposed to meet another client on Saturday morning, but she called Friday night to reschedule to a later undetermined time. I was also supposed to meet my good friend Chuck the DJ from Maui Mobile Music for lunch on Sunday, but something came up, and unfortunately we couldn't get together.

The rest of the weekend was spent hanging out, relaxing, and doing the things that tourists do when they're on vacation. On Saturday night, Lesley (one of my assistants) and I went running, stayed in, and had dinner. On Sunday, we went to the beach and took in a whale-watching cruise before flying home.

We took a lot of pictures. Lesley has a good eye for taking photos, so she maybe with some formal training, she may become our new special events photographer...we'll see.

How's that gorgeous Maui sunset?

Aloha from Maui!

2008-02-01T11:25:00.000-10:00

Aloha from the beautiful Valley Isle of Maui! I'm here at the Krispy Kreme (the only KK in the state) checking my email, doing some work, and posting on my blog!

Many locals make it a point to stop here on their way to the airport on the return home, but since I was on my way in and barely had breakfast this morning, that would be a good excuse to pick up some doughnuts.

Yummmm...bad for my fitness, but good for my tummy :) (And yes, there were originally six in the box, but somehow two managed to disappear into my mouth, never to be seen again...BWAHAHAHAHA)

I'm here this weekend to meet with some brides-to-be, to network with some wedding vendors, and to have lunch with some local DJs and MCs. Based on the response I got from the recent Hawaii Bridal Expo and the success of Jennifer & Kevin's wedding on the Big Island last October, I may be hosting more neighbor island events in the near future. While other MCs may shy away from hosting neighbor island events because of time away from their day job, I welcome it! After all, since I do this full time, I'm better able to serve my neighbor island clients by offering awesome customer service, which includes traveling to their island to meet them! Besides, any excuse to travel is a welcome one!

Since I'm traveling this weekend, today's Wedding Tip Of The Day is geared towards my destination couples, but could also be applied to local couples with many out-of-town guests.

For all of the key people involved in your wedding (e.g., wedding party, parents, etc.) who are flying into Hawaii, insist that they try to arrive at least three days before the wedding. While scheduling days off may be beyond their control, at the very least they should try. With the delays in air travel these days, the slightest delay can have a profound effect on your wedding. We recently did a wedding for a couple who was traveling from the East Coast. Most of their wedding party and parents were on the same flight that was supposed to come in on the Thursday before the wedding. But due to horrible weather in Chicago (where the flight stopped over on its way west), the flight was delayed for a day. Then the bad weather continued, and the flight was pushed to the night before the wedding. Fortunately, they landed just in time to go straight to the church, get ready quickly, and have the wedding, but needless to say, the bride-to-be was very very concerned up until the limo pulled up to the church and the wedding party spilled out.

Save yourself the terror, frustration, and stress on your wedding day. Make sure your wedding party books their flights early enough so that any delay in the air travel system will be of minimal impact to your celebration!

Travel safe,

Marino M. Regalado
Ninja Entertainment

Games, games, and more games

2008-01-29T20:45:00.000-10:00

With the success of Wini & Kin Wai's reception last Saturday, I've been inspired to offer more "Game-alternative" receptions rather than the typical "formal program followed by dancing" that most weddings end up being. For Wini's wedding, she knew that most of her guests wouldn't dance, so we helped her design a program that had the guests playing a variety of interactive games instead. The guests really competed and had fun, and many stayed all the way to the end, in order to see who the grand champions would be.

So when I met with HIDEMI & PRESCOTT for their wedding next month, I mentioned it...and was pleasantly surprised when they took to the idea. Because of limitations in the ballroom and the timing of certain events beyond our control, dancing would have been awkward...but having interactive games would certainly work! And because of the unique nature of it, it would certainly be more memorable.

Then I met with CELESTE & CRAIG for their wedding in August. She originally had some fun ideas she wanted to incorporate into her party. We took her ideas, brainstormed a little, and came up with a whole plethora of games and crazy activities to involve and inspire their guests! Here's what's funny: their party will be at Rumours nightclub at the Ala Moana Hotel, originally because they wanted to have dancing at the end of the night. But after talking to her, she may want to simply have interactive games throughout the evening!

Interactive games...this may be the new thing in wedding receptions...

It also proves that having a good DJ is nice...but having an extraordinary Master of Ceremonies will help to make the party even more fun and memorable. In these cases, these weddings aren't even having dancing...but they will still be very lively and exciting!

Today's Tip of the Day comes from my conversation with CELESTE. Here's a fun activity to play during dinner. It's based on the Newlywed Game, so if you're having a lot of couples at your reception, this would be a lot of fun. Basically, call outgoing couples to the dancefloor, and have them stand back to back holding their shoes in their hands. Each person holds one of her shoes in one hand, and her partner's shoe in the other. Like in the Newlywed Game, the host will read a question about the couple (e.g., "Who does the cooking?") and the couple raises the shoe of the person who best answers the question. If the shoes (and answers match), then the couple goes on to the next round. If they don't, we jokingly tease the couple for not knowing each other that well, and then thank them for participating. It's going to be a very fun and wild activity, especially if there's a lot of missed answers among the couples!

Wini & Kin's wedding celebration!

2008-01-28T14:51:00.006-10:00

WINI & KIN's wedding last Saturday was certainly a unique one: NO DANCING. Yep, the couple were sure that their guests would not dance, so instead they wanted to do something different to entertain them. In fact, Wini & Kin did not even have a First Dance or Money Dance!

So with no dancing, how do you keep 280 guests entertained so as to prevent them from leaving early?

You create a very personalized party that involves the guests throughout the presentation and is a reflection of who the bride & groom is.

We helped Wini & Kin create a celebration fully loaded with interactive activities that engaged the audience throughout the whole night. From the moment they arrived, there was something going on. As they checked in, guests were offered scrips, which they would redeem later on that night for prizes. During dinnertime, the guests tapped the glasses eagerly to see other people kiss, as we did the Kissing Games to keep the guests entertained as they waited for their turn to the buffet. Instead of the traditional bouquet toss, the ladies participated in the Circle Dance, a unique and organized way of presenting the bouquet.

After the traditional garter toss, the garter winner (BEN, one of the groomsmen) thought he was putting the garter on DIANNA, the woman who won the bouquet, but instead, we did the Reverse Garter. Ben, blindfolded and unaware, actually put the garter on another man's leg, and the audience went crazy!

After a "surprise" song serenade by the groom (which caused many of the guests to cry), we played more games like Last Man Sitting, Golf Ball Chop, and The Raffle. In a reception where you would think many would go home once the formal events ended, surprisingly, many guests remained until the very end!

It just goes to show that having a good DJ is nice to have at the end of the night...but having someone who knows how to emcee and entertain the guests for the four hours of the formal program is even much more important! After all, you can hire the best DJ with the best sound system and biggest music library in the whole world...but if your guests do not enjoy themselves during the program and leave once dancing starts, was it not a waste of money and time?

On the other hand, you can have a mediocre DJ at the end of the night, but if your emcee creates such a lively and engaging program which your guests will remember forever, wasn't it worth the investment in a great emcee? Especially if your guests stick around to dance because they had such a great time beforehand?

For Wini & Kin, having music at their reception was not really important...but having a stress-free, unique, and memorable celebration was.

This is the final timeline for Wini & Kin's wedding reception:

Sequence	Time	Event
0	2:00pm	Wedding Ceremony at Atherton Chapel (Central Union Church), followed by photos with SHAWN STARR
1	5:30pm	Cocktail Hour; Doors to the Leahi Ballroom open to the guests; Receiving Line
2	6:30pm	Welcoming of Guests, Grand Entrance
3		Greetings & Welcome by the Newlyweds
4		Announcements (e.g., parking validations, restrooms, etc.)
5		Lion Dance by the WAH NGAI LION DANCE ASSOCIATION
6		Recognition & stories about the Families, by Wini’s friends ALAN & JAN
7	7:00pm	Meal Kissing Games to entertain the guests as they wait for their turn to the buffet Sometime during dinner, WINI to change into 2^nd gown Towards the end of dinner, WINI & KIN WAI to go around & toast each table After toasting all of the tables, WINI to change into 3^rd gown
8	8:00pm	Video/slide Show, presented by WINI & KIN WAI
9		Speeches & stories by ALAN & JAN, followed by open floor
10		Speech of Gratitude & Acknowledgments by WINI & KIN WAI (they will also recognize out-of-town guests)
11		Cake Cutting
12		Bouquet & Garter Activities (Circle Dance; traditional garter removal & toss; Reverse Garter)
13		"Surprise" Musical Performance by KIN WAI
14		Interactive Games
15		Centerpiece Giveaway (Hot Centerpiece Time)

And here's their soundtrack. Please note that the links to youtube videos may not represent the final edits used for each song. In some cases, the songs were edited or cued to certain points of the music for greater impact on the presentation, or to time the music better with my vocal cues for the activity at hand. These edits were done for several days before the wedding, as part of the prep work for Wini & Kin Wai's celebration.

Dido - Thank You sample (thank you speech) (0:53)
Justin Lo - Best Thing in My Life (cake-cutting)(3:09)
Nelly - Hot in herre instrumental sample (unmarried women to dancefloor) (3:36)
Black Eyed Peas - Let's Get It Started (Circle Dance Edit) (0:24)
Black Eyed Peas - Let's Get It Started instrumental(unmarried men to floor) (4:47)
Herb Alpert - Love Potion #9 (Garter Removal & Toss) (3:03)
Marvin Gaye - Let's Get It On (Reverse Garter)(4:03)
Shrek soundtrack - I'm A Believer(Reverse Garter Reveal) (1:12)
TV THEMES - Price Is Right (Raffle Game) (7:55)
U2 - Mission Impossible Theme (Last Man Sitting Edit) (3:14)
Danny Elfman - PeeWee edit (Golf Ball Chop edit) (3:45)
Boots Randolph - Yakety Sax (Benny Hill Theme - Heineken/chopsticks game) (4:28)
FRANK SINATRA - LOVE AND MARRIAGE (Newspaper poetry game edit)(2:35)
Vengaboys - We Like To Party (Centerpiece Game) (3:14)

Music for cocktails and dinner consisted of a great mix of jazz, love songs, and Chinese music specifically chosen by Wini & Kin. Grand entrance music was performed live by Wini's cousin PATRICK, a classically trained violinist, who played Pachelbel's Canon in D as the wedding party entered.

Special thanks to ALAN & JAN, who co-hosted the party with me last Saturday. Originally, they were asked to emcee the entire five-hour event, but thankfully for them, they only had to tell stories about the couple and make a few announcements in Chinese for the Chinese-speaking-only guests. Most of the time, ALAN relaxed with friends and his girlfriend at his table, and JAN enjoyed herself among her friends, many of which she told me later that she had not seen since they had left for the mainland many many years ago! This was one big class reunion for them!

Wini & Kin's wedding was an awesome way to kick off the new year!

Hawaii Bridal Expo

2008-01-28T14:49:00.000-10:00

To all of the brides-to-be who dropped by my booth at the Hawaii Bridal Expo two weekends ago: thank you! It was a pleasure meeting all of you. I look forward to hearing your stories and sharing what I can do to help you make your wedding celebration very fun, memorable, stress-free, and unique!

Iris & Casey's fun wedding celebration

2008-01-07T13:35:00.001-10:00

December 8 marked the wedding of IRIS & CASEY. They wanted a fun, unique, and entertaining party full of surprises! And we helped them to create it. Throughout the night, we surprised the guests with a variety of games and activities to keep them entertained and smiling throughout the night. The biggest surprise was a toast that Iris, the videographer, and I knew about, and the "victim" was the groom! This was the surprise:

Casey is very very close to one of his cousins. In fact, in our meetings, Casey had mentioned that his cousin Ty would have been one of the members of the wedding party. Unfortunately, for one reason or another, Ty could not make it to the wedding. So Iris & I conspired to have him be there...by having him record a toast and greetings to the newlyweds, which we would play back at the reception. Ty made the toast even more special by recording a VIDEO toast, so not only did Casey get to hear his cousin on his wedding day, but he got to SEE Ty...

Watching Casey's reaction as he witnessed this surprise was one of the most dramatic moments of the reception. It's moments like these that remind me of how much of an impact a good Master of Ceremonies & entertainer can make to the success of the reception.