That nervous anticipation feeling

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

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

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

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!

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...

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

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

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!

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!

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.

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.

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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

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

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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!

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

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

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!

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...

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

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

Appreciation has its rewards.

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.

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!