Happy Halloween!
Check out these cool Van Halen pumpkins.
Tag: guitar
Viral Royal Wedding Video
I am guessing this is not how the Royal Wedding actually went down. Amazing how much some of these actors look like the Royals. Enjoy!
If you need anything regarding your wedding music please contact me, Mike.
Mike check:
My Last Wedding of the Season, A San Diego Guitarist Wedding Blog
October means two things to me as a guitarist. First, believe it or not October is usually my busiest month for weddings. A fitting punctuation as it is also the ‘end’ of the ‘wedding season.’
Although I play weddings year round April through October are the months I am busiest performing for couple’s big day. I am still not sure why October is the busiest, but it is! And yes, I have even done Halloween Weddings, and no, they were not holiday themed…just regular ol’ weddings!
With October coming to a close, this past weekend marked the end of my wedding season. I played a new venue, to me, and one I thought was really cool! It is called LevyLand. The venue is just a house, like a typical summer rental, in Carlsbad, CA. But just a house does not do it justice. It is a really nice house in a really nice area near the beach in the San Diego area, with a great garden for hosting events, such as, weddings.
A great wedding, great people…a great way to end my 2012 wedding season. This was also special because the bride was a former student of mine. I am always honored when former students and clients keep me in mind for their music needs.
Best to K n R! Thanks for having me out to play for you!
Now time to gear up for Holiday Events, student recordings, a few weddings and whatever music comes my way until 2013 wedding season!
Click for previous wedding posts.
Met some great vendors as well:
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It Takes a Village…?
…At least that is what they say. Anyway, I am always happy and proud to share support (links or ?) of others who are passionate about their craft!
Here are a few folks who have linked or promoted my website and now its my chance to pay it forward. Thanks everyone!!
Been having fun chatting regularly with a few fellow music bloggers. Mixolydianblog for all things music focusing on composition, ethnomusicology and of course a love of the GUITAR! Heavy Metal Overload A great read for all types of music, as well as, Heavy Metal. Last but not least Zombiemisntrel another comprehensive music blog also leaning towards rock and metal!
A wedding photographer from the Philippines shared my blog post Ten Tips for Planning Wedding Music
An arts magazine called Yareah shared my blog Dodecaphonic Sudoku
Right to Bitch a new blog to me, shared John Bonham 32 Years Missed Check out his blog regarding Bonham’s influence on him as a young drummer. Funny guy!
A local San Diego photographer Nathan Petty …thanks for keeping in touch!
Sharing is caring! If I missed anyone feel free to remind me…I’m always glad to network with like minded people out there working hard at their creative endeavors!
Mike
Mike check:
I See the Evening Star Rise Up, Shining Out On Me- Peace to a Fallen Friend!
Today is the Celebration of Life for a fallen bro, much too young. I’m honored to be asked to play guitar for the event. Thoughts to Patrick, Tiffanie, PJ and all family and friends who his light touched.
Peace Jim!
I’m home once more, much better for
The things that I have found
Much wiser now, so simple how
Each time I turn around
I see the evening star rise up
Shining out on me
And now I understand at last what it means
What it all means
Mike check:
Chuck Berry, Rock & Roll’s First Guitar Hero is 86!
You can’t be a guitar aficionado and not at least have an appreciation for Chuck Berry. The man is the first true rock n roll guitar hero! The duck-walk, the hairstyle and of course the, “Johnny B. Good,” guitar riff, one of the most popular and influential in rock n roll history!
Chuck Berry the energized rocker is 86!! That is crazy but so glad he is still around. He is definitely on my list of must see live performers…hopefully I will still get a chance. He is said to still play a club in St. Louis regularly.
Happy Birthday Chuck Berry, here’s to many more joyful guitar playing years before you!
Watch both the classic version and see the influence he had years later making his way into this classic clip from, “Back to the Future,” where Michael J. Fox introduces the 50’s to Chuck Berry before… Chuck Berry.
Mike check:
The Elusive Daring, Crazy, Adventurous Wedding Ceremony- A San Diego Wedding Guiarist Blog
I have been playing guitar for weddings for a long time. I have played a lot of traditional weddings and quite a few unique ones. I’ve played everything from Here Comes the Bride to Metallica. However, I am a little shocked that I haven’t had the opportunity to play a down right crazy wedding yet.
You always hear about couples getting married in ‘odd’ places; football games, NASCAR events, scuba diving, hot air balloons, etc., you get the idea. There are lots of people who just like to be different…really different. 20 plus years of playing guitar for weddings I am yet to play one of these unique ceremonies.
I’ve always pictured an adventurous couple where the bride and groom enter on zip lines or repel down the side of a building and I get to play something like the theme from Mission Impossible. Maybe even on electric guitar with effects.
I did play “Wipeout,” for one of my good friend’s wedding, an avid surfer, as he and the guys walked up to the altar. It was a quick and fitting entrance but just a quick playful joke. Kind of like when the groomsman all pretend they’ve lost the wedding rings.
I’ve mentioned before on this blog that I enjoy playing all types of weddings. I really do! Each one is different, challenging and fun to play.
That said…This is an open invitation for any of you daring, crazy, adventurous couples to hire a guitarist who is on board with you! I would love to have just one wedding where all bets are off. Scuba dive(I am certified), a flash mob, a “Punked” moment for your guests, your call! The crazier the better(although legal is a good idea)! We can collaborate and choreograph the music to fit your idea!
Mike check:
I am Not a Wedding Singer!- A San Diego Wedding Guitarist Blog
Adam Sandler’s movie, “The Wedding Singer,” was hilarious. It followed Robbie Hart a disgruntled musician whose dream of becoming a rock star falls through and he ends up singing at weddings. He became a burned out, bitter, resentful musician, who had to play weddings. He had to play the part of the ‘Wedding Singer’ to entertain the crowds, young and old and all in between.
Thankfully, my career is much different!! Everyday I wake up and have a chance to share music with others it’s a great day, whether it’s a wedding, a corporate event, a concert, a class, a rehearsal, etc. I am truly fortunate to be a working musician. Honestly, I don’t even do the same ‘job’ as Sandler’s character. I usually play the ceremony, cocktail hour and receptions when folks don’t want the over the top wedding band or DJ. The Wedding Singer was definitely over the top!
There is one similarity between me and the character, however, I thought I was going to be a rock star too. Once I heard Eddie Van Halen when I was a kid that was it, I knew what I wanted to do. My musical path since has followed the saying, “Life is what happens while you are making other plans.”
Somewhere down the line I realized that I REALLY wanted to be a musician first and rock star second. Then I realized I wanted to be a musician first, make a living in my field and be a rock star 3rd. Not til I got older I realized, I just always wanted to be a musician. Rock music will always be a part of who I am but not what I am. Having studied classical, jazz and world music among other disciplines in college I get to work in any style I want and get the same energy I did as a kid trying to be the next guitar hero.
There are some of my old friends who are still living the rock star dream. They tour the world, hang out with famous musicians we grew up idolizing and have tons of fans following them on Facebook and MySpace. More power to them! I love to hear their stories when we get together. Funny thing is they love to hear about what I am doing too!
Everyday, I get to do some combination of play, perform, teach, compose, listen to, write about, record, study, absorb, eat, drink and sleep music! I get to make a living in a tough field in my native San Diego. Life is good!
Click here for more info on planning your wedding music. Let me know if I can help you in any way.
Mike check:
Ten Tips for Planning Wedding Music
Having played weddings in San Diego, Los Angeles, Riverside, Palm Springs area and throughout Southern California for 20 years I’ve learned so much. This post is a chance to share some of this info with you!
Here are ten tips to help you plan your wedding music to the fullest. Feel free to share this page with your wedding planners, friends and family.
-These tips are not in any particular order except #10 may be the most important!
-Not all these tips may apply to your specific plans but some of them definitely will.
If you have any questions I would be glad to help!
1) Ceremony Events.
Although all weddings are different most have some semblance of the following events requiring music; pre-music as guests are being seated, seating of parents, bridal party and couples recession. Often music is needed for an interlude; a prayer or sand/candle ceremony, etc.
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Mike check:
Here Comes the Bride, A San Diego Wedding Guitarist Blog-Bride’s Procession
One of the first things people ask me when they find out I play guitar for weddings is, “Do you get tired of playing, ‘Here Comes the Bride’?”
My answer is NO! I enjoy playing for all of my clients big day. Each wedding is different and has it’s own energy. It is important to make the atmosphere of the event special for each couple and their guests. Second, I really don’t play it as often as one might think.
To some the “Bridal Chorus,” Here Comes the Bride’s, real title, has become cliché or cartoon-ish due to having been placed in so much media over the years; movies, commercials, cartoons, etc. It also has the feel of ‘My parents wedding march’ to many of my clients.
The irony is that I have handfuls of clients who say NO WAY to the traditional marches and a handful of those who wouldn’t have it any other way. There is no right or wrong, it is each couples decision.
That said there are a few popular alternatives that have trended over the years. Some are short lived trendy and some have become the new traditional, like Pachelbel’s, “Canon in D.” Without doubt the Canon is the most popular piece I play for the Bridal procession. It is classy and timeless but has a more modern feel than the “Bridal Chorus.” “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring,” by J.S. Bach and Handel’s, “Harmonious Blacksmith,” are two other in demand classical pieces that I am often asked to play.
Then there are the non-traditional options, for those who want their wedding to display something uniquely them. I have played Metallica, Journey, Gypsy Kings, Enya, George Harrison, The Beatles to name a few. There are also trends that are born from mass media, like when the big wedding episode of “Friends,” the 90’s sitcom, used Eric Clapton’s, “Wonderful Tonight.” I played that one quite a bit back then, although I think that song always makes a great procession.
The idea of a piece becoming trendy is not really a new idea to these times. ‘Here Comes the Bride,’ as I mentioned, is really entitled, “Bridal Chorus,” and was adapted from Wagner’s opera, “Lohengrin.” It only became traditional due to its extended trendiness.
So there it is a post about Bridal March music. Hope this helps you pick your music whether you like traditional, semi-traditional or something unique. I am always glad to go over options and ideas with my clients to help them if they don’t already have a clear idea of the music they want.
To see other wedding music posts.
If you need a guitarist or info for your wedding music please check out my Wedding Center.
Mike Slayen ~ Guitarist 