Tagas Says...

ok...

2011-01-11T01:45:00.000-08:00

ok, so now that thats taken care of, whats going on Blog world? Its been 5 months since our last post, but thats just because we've been sooo busy. Things have been very busy, lots of weddings, lots of school events, lots of corporate functions! Good stuff to come, we'll write more soon...

Tagas, out...

Tagas Says...Surprise, we're blogging again

2011-01-11T01:44:00.000-08:00

Tagas says... We're in Heaven!

2010-08-02T11:04:00.000-07:00

Great news everyone!!!!

Tagas is now officially the in-house lighting company for the Heaven Event Center!

If you've never heard of the Heaven Event Center you're seriously missing out! It's a great venue perfect for weddings, formals or corporate events. Somehow, it's in one of the most convenient places ever in Orlando. I swear, the place is minutes from everything-- the airport, the convention center, downtown...

When you book at the Heaven Event Center, Tagas is already included in the rental space price! What a deal!!!!

Check out their website at http://heaveneventcenter.com/

Tagas says...Glow furniture? IT'S ALL THE RAGGGEEEE

2010-07-25T20:07:00.000-07:00

Somehow, someway, in all this time I have been keeping up this blog I have failed to mention one of the coolest things Tagas offers: glow furniture!

Ok, so maybe glowing furniture sounds totally circa 1978 when black lights and psychedelic patterns were the hot home decor, but nowadays glow furniture can totally transform an otherwise dull room.

I've said it once and I'll say it again, lighting is key when it comes to the atmosphere of an event. You can have the best DJ in the world, or the best caterer on the planet, but if your event feels like it's in an elementary school cafeteria, people are going to notice... and they're going to make snide comments under their breath... just sayin.

Glow furniture works WONDERS in low-light situations. For instance, if you turn down the lights at your wedding when the masses hit the dance floor, glow furniture keeps things illuminated, but in a way that adds some spunk.

Here are a couple ideas of when to use glow furniture:

*On the tables to illuminate seating.

*In the hallways/foyer of your event

*The DJ's table

*To emphasize the bridal party's area

*Underneath the caterer's buffet tables

*Light pillars or walls for extra decor

Here are some examples from work we have done in the past:

Tagas Says... Fancy Stamps. Way Cool.

2010-07-20T13:45:00.000-07:00

Ya know, with all the new technology of today and all those fancy pantsy Facebook invites and e-mail blasts, so many of us forget how cool it is to actually get something in the mail... as in the postal service mail... as in, you know, that stuff that comes in envelopes from the guy who sits like he's British on the wrong side of his truck. Yes, mail. Hard-copy, glorious, mail.

Now that we've established what mail is, I fully recommend for your next event you consider the wonder that is the US Postal Service. There just isn't any method of inviting guests to a function that beats sending them something through the mail. Who doesn't like getting mail? (ok... mail other than bills... booooo bills) Let's face it, some of us even get a little giddy when something other than our electric bill comes in the mail. I know, I do... no shame.

Well, while I was perusing through some wedding ideas, I found a really cool website where you can actually custom order your stamps to correspond with your event.

Check this stuff out!

Stamp packages start at $17.95

To learn more click here to visit Zazzle.com where I found all this good stuff!

Tagas says... That's My Jam!

2010-07-12T20:43:00.000-07:00

Interested in getting a glimpse into what our very own President/CEO/Bossman DJ Tagas has to offer? Check out his Sound Cloud page! You won't be disappointed.

DJ Tagas is one of the most unique, innovative DJ's in town and his mashups are sure to keep you on your feet, even if you're just blastin your speakers while you clean.... or not clean. Whatever you're in to.

Check out his stuff here at www.DJTagas.com

That's mah jamz!

Tagas says...Pick the Perfect Cake! Expert Advice!

2010-07-08T08:59:00.000-07:00

While we may not be the experts in cakes, we sure do know a lot of talented bakers and we know that picking the perfect cake is no easy feat!

The cake selection process can be an overwhelming ordeal, so we sat down with local baker Johnnie Sue Messler owner and cake designer of the Something Sweet Cake Studio to get the low-down on how to pick the perfect, most-scrumptious cake for your special event. Fortunately enough for us, she had incredible patience while we picked her brain for as most knowledge as we could squeeze into six questions. Hopefully, her advice will lead to a much easier selection process!

Let us begin!

What is the first step in selecting a cake? How would you recommend finding a good cake designer?

"Word of mouth is the best form of advertisement, so ask around and find out who people recommend. Then check out their work and see if it fits your style!"

How do you choose between the different flavors? Are there certain flavors that go better with certain weddings/events or is it all just a matter of taste?

"It's all a matter of taste. I think the cake should reflect the bride and groom from the taste of the cake to the actual design."

When it comes to choosing icing-- what are the choices and how do you choose?

"Classic butter cream (my personal favorite--sweet crusting butter cream).

Swiss meringue butter cream (prominent butter flavor that is slightly sweet, heat is the enemy with this one)

Fondant (Rolled sugar dough, flawless finish, holds up well in the heat and seals in the moisture of the cake) Florida spells "HOT," so fondant is my first choice. The cake is frosted in your choice of butter cream first and then wrapped in fondant."

What is the process in selecting a cake/ booking a cake? (from start to finish)

"First choose a decorator that fits your style and personality. Then, make sure they are within your budget. Set up a tasting consultation. Make sure you bring with you your ideas, colors or if nothing else, know what you like (contemporary, classic elegance, fun/whimsy"

What tips would you offer to brides/event planners who don't know the first thing about cakes?

"Don't sweat the small stuff, because guess what, your NOT gonna please everyone! Example: Do not order the classic "white" wedding cake because you think that's what everyone will like and you want to play it safe when, in fact, YOU love the double chocolate toffee ganache cake."

What are some no-no's when it comes to selecting a cake? What should a bride NOT do in order to keep everyone happy including their cake artist?

"Let the cake artist do their job, and don't try to do it for them. Do not cut the wedding cake at the end of the evening, chances are half of your guests have left by then which = lots of cake left over. Don't try to pick up your wedding cake yourself or have a friend do it, pay the extra and have a professional deliver it for you."

And just for kicks and giggles, here's a few more examples of Johnnie's work, including some of her Groom's cakes, which are a nice addition to any wedding! Oh and I also through in one of her baby shower cakes because it was just too cute!

For more on Something Sweet Cake Studio visit them on Facebook by clicking here!

Tagas says... Look What We've Been Up To!!!

2010-07-05T10:31:00.001-07:00

Casa Feliz market lights and LEDs. Thank you Cory Callahan for the photos!

Tropical themed wedding...custom Palm textures, pink LEDs, and pin spotting, Radisson in Port Canaveral

Chanell and Donny's destination wedding at the Hammock Beach Resort in Palm Coast, FL. Tagas provided the white floor to ceiling drapery, LED computer programmed up-lighting, centerpiece/cake pin spotting, custom monogram and ceiling texture lighting.

Rosen Centre

Tagas Says... Make it a Full Moon!

2010-06-24T12:29:00.000-07:00

The glorious thing about finishing all the wedding planning (which by the way-- who the heck EVER finishes their wedding planning before the big day?) is that after all the decorations have been ordered and the caterer has promised to do a fantastic job, we run into one more HUGE event that still has to be organized-- the honeymoon.

It's important not to forget about your honeymoon! So often people either push it off, or "wait" and sometimes they never have one at all! What ends up happening is that the more you delay your vaca of wedded bliss, the less likely you are to ever have it. Every couple deserves some special time together before they go back the hustle and bustle of the "real world," so make sure you pencil it in!

Before your honeymood gets overshadowed, be sure to book your newlywed retreat of your dreams and live your moon to the fullest!

Some of the most romative honeymoon desintations include:

*Prague, Czech Republic'

*Venice, Italy

*San francisco, California

*Hawaii (big duh, right?)

*Jamiaca

*Fiji (I wonder if Fiji water is any cheaper there. I mean $1.99 for a liter bottle at Wal-Mart? For real???)

*Antigua (Not to be confused with the less-than-romatic nightclub in downtown Orlando)

* Savannah, Georgia (Tell Paula Dean I'm a big fan while you're there...and be sure not to float away in a river of butter.)

* Aruba

* Florida (surprise, surprise!)

If you want to do a little bit more research check out http://www.honeymoonersreviewguide.com/. It's the website I used to gather a lot of this information and it actually allows you to narrow down your perfect honeymoon destination by style, weather, activities and more. Totally legit and totally helpful!

Tagas Says...More Weddings Unveiled

2010-06-14T07:44:00.000-07:00

We had 4 of our weddings featured in the Weddings Unveiled Section of the latest issue of Central Florida Bride Magazine. Two were posted in the last blog update, now here are the other two real life Tagas weddings. Check 'em out!

Wanta have a fantastic wedding like these brides and grooms did? www.TagasEvents.com

Tagas in the Newest Issue of Central Florida Bride Magazine

2010-06-11T15:33:00.001-07:00

Tagas Says...We Were Featured! Check out the lighting article by owner Bryan Taylor and 2 of our 4 featured Weddings Unveiled!!

Tagas says...Top 5 reasons to get it on tape

2010-06-06T21:41:00.000-07:00

In honor of it being Monday, I present to you all...

The Top Five Reasons To Get Your Wedding Filmed:

1) The obvious-- to remember your joyous day, yadda yadda yadda

2) For entertainment purposes 20 years down the road. "Wow, did she REALLY wear that?" "Oh my gawwwd I was so skinny" "Oh Uncle Steve, at it again..." "Perhaps an open bar wasn't a good idea."

3) In case you don't remember the night due to aforementioned open bar.

4) To post on Facebook and make all your friends envy your perfect, newlywed life! Oh come on... you were all thinking it, you just won't admit it!

5) A good way to share your big day with every one who couldn't make it/was too lazy/ slept through it/ ditched. Just upload to YouTube, send a quick email and bam, everyone's all caught up. Sounds like a winner to me. Hey, maybe next time you can just stream it over the internet? I bet that would save a lot on air fare...

...kidding.

Tagas says... In Honor of Memorial Day-- Remember!

2010-05-31T18:30:00.000-07:00

Five Things to Remember on Memorial Day:

1) First and foremost, remember the hundreds of thousands of people who have given up or dedicated their lives for the sole purpose of protecting our freedom. We salute you today veterans, armed services and every other individual who has significantly contributed to the growth and continued care of this glorious country. There perhaps wouldn’t be weddings, or parties or even events to plan had these courageous people not sacrificed for our freedoms.

Continuing on...

2) Remember to HAVE FUN when planning your event. Whether it be your wedding or whatever, keep in mind that these are your life hours, days, weeks or even years you’re spending—so why not enjoy them! For those of us who find themselves to be on the OCD side, we love this kind of stuff! Detail can be fun, after all! Oh and if you hate this process, remember… you can always hire an event/wedding planner! Wam bam, thank you ma’am!

3) Remember to address your invitations three months in advance. Why, you say? Because they’ll be ready to send out when the time comes for mailing! Don’t forget, wedding invitations should go out six to eight weeks before your big day. Oh, and if you’re really classy you’ll send out “Save the Date” cards four to six months before your event, or 12 months before if you’re planning a destination wedding.

4) When hiring your photographer, make sure to look for a company that has a good online portfolio. Of course, you’ll want to see their work beforehand. However, it speaks volumes when a company has enough web savvy to produce an online gallery. Remember, it’s always a plus to have technologically-advanced photographers.

5) Lastly, remember to book the linens! Many times, a caterer will provide tableware including linens, but it’s certainly something you should ask about beforehand and not something you should assume. There are many places you can rent linens, all it takes is a quick Google search!

Tagas says...party with the TKEs

2010-05-26T08:28:00.001-07:00

In the past months, as mentioned before, we started a new Greek program that gives local Greek organizations discounted services AND discounted event planning. Capitalizing on our promotion, UCF's Tau Kappa Epsilon chapter hired us to plan their annual semi-formal. After much hard work, we've concluded that it was rad. Yes, rad.

The event was held at the Clarion Resort and Waterpark and kicked off with a buffet and a dance to follow.

While we didn't have a photographer there taking baller pictures, we did get some photos from the event via TKE members. So checka checka checka it out:

No parking on the dance floor!! We LOVE to see a crowded dancefloor!

DJ Marco Polo stealing someone's date. Niccceee.

Probably the poorest quality photo I've seen in awhile, but hey... it's a fraternity semi-formal, who are we to expect flawless photos? Either way, I think this probably sums up the night.

We hooked the guys up with hotel catering, discounted rooms AND access to the hotel's water park. You just can't argue that hotels + booze + a water park don't = massive amounts of fun.

We LOVED working with TKE and can only hope to do more Greek events in the future! Tell your friends! Tagas went Greek!

Tagas says.. Diamonds are a girl's best friend!

2010-05-18T07:32:00.000-07:00

Diamonds are a girl's best friend, which is why it is very important you learn about their clarity to assure you get the quality best suited for the look you want.

Here is a simple guide to clarity so you know you're getting what you pay for:

FL- Flawless
These diamonds are virtually..well.. flawless. They have few imperfections inside or out of the stone. Of course, with quality comes a high charge to your credit card, so expect these diamonds to be the most expensive.

IF- Internally Flawless
These stones are.... kinda flawless. Basically, if you use a loupe with 10 times magnification, you won't see any inclusions.

VVS1 & VVS2- Very, Very Slightly Imperfect
Personally, I love VVS because it just goes to show scientists aren't always so technical. I mean "very very slightly imperfect?" Very creative label if you ask me...
Anyway, these diamonds have small imperfections, but they're very hard to see...even with a loupe. You pretty much have to be an expert to detect anything iffy about these stones.

VS1 & VS2- Very Slightly Imperfect
Another genius name. Very slightly imperfect... talk about an oxymoron. These suckers do have imperfections, but like the VVS diamonds, they are still very hard to see under a loupe. Even those these are cheaper grade, you probably will never know the difference between this and something that's flawless... unless you're a nerd or an expert diamond looker-at-er.

SI1 & SI2- Slightly Imperfect
These diamonds have boo-boo's. That means, they have incisions you can see with a loupe and sometimes even with the naked eye. This is when you start getting into the discounted prices... But hey, if it's shiney and sparkley you may still be good to go with one of these stones... depending on who you're buying it for.

I1, I2 & I3- Imperfect
Basically, you can see the imperfections in these stones. Totally obvious. This would NOT be the stone to pick if you're going for an engagement ring to wow her.

Tagas says... a DJ's creed

2010-05-13T12:40:00.001-07:00

A good DJ should:

1. Discuss your details and plans in depth

2. Create a custom itinerary to coordinate all your vendors

3. Meet with you prior to your wedding to get acquainted and finalize plans

4. Ensure your event runs smoothly and according to your plans

5. Be friendly, personable, and helpful to all involved

6. Emcee all events in a professional manner

7. Mix and beat-match great music to keep the dance floor filled

8. Be fun and interactive with your guests

9. Check with you throughout the night to ensure your happiness

10. Go above and beyond to truly make your day

Yep... that's what we do at Tagas. Fo sho.

Tagas says... get recommended!

2010-05-12T10:17:00.000-07:00

When planning your event, things can get very overwhelming very quickly. One second your booking the venue and then you realize it's time to book the caterer, than the DJ, then oh my gosh you forgot to order tablecloths...

However, there is one quick solution to making this process a lot easier and, more importantly, a lot more time efficient: taking recommendations.

What so many brides and planners fail to realize is that the event industry is an extremely well-connected group of people all in business to serve you. The key words you should take away from that sentence were "well-connected." Go to any city and you'll see that it's not uncommon to find every event-type business aware of it's fellow event-type businesses. While this may seem like common sense, it can make a world of difference in your planning.

To begin down the path of smooth sailing, simply find one business you trust. It can be a caterer. It can be an event planning service. It can be a DJ/Video service. Heck, it can be a florist or a cake designer. Once you've found one business in the industry you respect, that business is sure to guide you to other businesses of equal stature.

Do realize, that a recommendation is far more useful than any informational pamphlet, website or portfolio. People in the industry know who is dependable. They know who is professional. And most importantly, they know who out there has the integrity to serve your best interest. Why, you might ask? Because everyone works together. While you might only know a florist you trust, that florist (I can guarantee you) has worked with dozens and dozens of companies on multiple events. Therefore, they have probably witnesses firsthand their fellow businesses at work on several occasions.

What better way to find what you're looking for than to ask someone who has seen people already in action? This way, you eliminate the frustrating inconveniences of working with duds.

So before you sit on the internet for hours on end researching companies, try asking a business you trust to make recommendations. I think you'll find it's the easiest way to a successful event.

Tagas Says... We're Going Greek!

2010-04-20T18:51:00.000-07:00

In recent months, we here at Tagas have been reaching out to the Greek community at the University of Central Florida! Check out our very first Greek gig lighting Kappa Kappa Gamma's formal Sapphire Ball.

Tagas lit up the dance floor in more than one way that night! The floor was packed all night long as we DJ'd a mix sure to please a pumped group of sorority girls and their dates! We're excited to say this is the first of many Greek events we hope to be part of in the future!

Tell your friends! Tagas is going Greek and we have started a campaign with special rates exclusively for Greek organizations!

Tagas says...a hue for every mood!

2010-04-20T18:35:00.000-07:00

You know that feeling when you walk into a Sam’s Club and the beaming florescent lights glare into your corneas like the death stare of Darth Vadar? Ok, that was dramatic. Let’s start over. You know when you go into Wal-Mart perfectly content and then after about an hour of battling the crowds and pushing through aisles, you leave in a mood less than satisfactory? Ever think that part of your mood swing could be due to the oppressive lighting in those places? I say yes. Ok, not only do I say yes, psychological studies say yes too.

Here’s the thing… lighting at your event can really make or break the mood… just like the lighting at Wal-Mart can suck the energy right out of you. But before you make some serious decisions about the lighting at your event, ask yourself, “What mood am I trying to create?”

Once you have determined the mood, you can find the corresponding color. Here is a quick guide to which colors create your chosen mood.

Blue: Blue is a color that creates a very tranquil mood that leaves guests feeling calm, relaxed and harmonious. Be wary of too much blue, though. Blue can also represent depression, which nobody wants at a party!

Black: Black represents sophistication, mystery, wealth and elegance. When planning a very posh event, use black hues to bring that side out and create a very upscale mood.

Green: Green is most often associated with nature. Therefore, for a very Earthy affair consider using shades of green. Green can exude feelings of renewal, youth, good luck and peacefulness.

Orange: Orange is in the warm spectrum and creates a sense of energy. Orange will certainly bring attention to your event, which is the color’s biggest use: attention. Orange symbolizes balance, warmth, enthusiasm and brightness.

Red: Red is the warmest and most energetic color in the spectrum… which is why Orange has such like qualities. Red relates people to feelings of love, danger, desire and sometimes anger. Red is a tough color, so use it wisely. If used wrong, you could make your guests very tense!

White: White represents simplicity and cleanliness. It also displays feelings of youth, innocence and peace. Look at places like the Apple store in the mall that showcase a lot of white hues… how does that make you react? Consider those feelings when using white.

Yellow: Yellow is a fabulous color! It represents happiness, joy and hope. Still beware, it can also represent hazard if used incorrectly… think “Slippery When Wet” signs.

Tagas says...no more punch bowls!

2010-04-14T21:32:00.000-07:00

Give a gift worth remembering!!!

Let’s all be honest for a minute here. When you get that wedding invitation in the mail, do you think YIPPEEE! Someone is getting married? No. You don’t. You think, “Oh great, now what the heck am I going to get them…”

Ok maybe you don’t think that, but I do.

I’ve always been one to thrive off of creative outlets, and that method still holds true for me when it comes to the gift-giving sector. With that in mind, I’ve put together a list of a few creative gift ideas that are sure to separate your present from the masses without breaking the bank.

1) The personality plate:
This particular artist (Wendy Mizell) is local and makes personality plates to look just like the couple! She’s based out of Titusville, Florida. This is a great way of giving that personal touch to wedding present. They can keep it forever and who doesn’t like something this adorable? Click here for the website.

2) A framed keepsake of the couple’s wedding invitation. You can either do it yourself based on the theme of the wedding or go to this company and they’ll do it for you. www.purpleraincoat.com Let your creativity get the best of you! The one below here is actually pretty lame, you can do better!!! Try shopping at stores like Michael's and JoAnne's. Visit the scrapbook section and pick out a nice paper to set as the background. From here just layer with solid colors, ribbons, whatever! The possibilities are endless!

3) A breakfast in bed kit. How fun! Include a bed-stand, some monogrammed napkins, waffle mix, a vase for flowers, etc. etc. The options are endless! You can get these trays online at Amazon, Costco or TVtraysource.com. The run on average between $40 and $50.

This fabulous breakfast in bed kit is a Beechwood foldable bed tray from tvtraysource.com and it's currently listed for $44.99!

4) Try making a personalized calendar. Places like Staples will let you send in pictures of the happy couple and they’ll make a calendar out of it! Be sure to include important dates like their wedding anniversary and major holidays! The staples kit starts at only $9.99!!! Totally cheap and totally original. Sounds like a win-win to me!

5) Make a family cookbook! Send an email around to members of the family and collect recipes. From there, put them in a nice book that’s either printed and bounded or hand-written and supply them with all the family recipes their little happy hearts could dream of! Use Zazzle for a more professional look or just buy a nice empty book/journal from Michael's, Wal-mart or Barnes and Noble—even a three-ring binder would do! Just be sure to doll it up!

There ya have it! Five easy presents to show you're gift goes beyond the housewares section at Macy's. Enjoy and remember BE CREATIVE!

Tagas Says...Shake What Ya Momma Gave Ya

2010-03-30T10:10:00.000-07:00

Tagas says… No parking on the dance floor
Now what’s a wedding without dancing? Seriously… Nothing makes a wedding more awkward then when everyone sits around kind of staring at the dance floor, but not going anywhere near it. Since we happen to be professional DJ’s here at Tagas, here are the top five songs sure to get your party started!

Tagas Top 5 get-your-booty-on-the-dance-floor songs:

5) Low (apple bottom jeans)- Flo-Rida
4) Shout- by The Isley Brothers
3) Unchained Melody (or anything similar old and slow)- The Righteous Brothers
2) I Gotta Feeling- Black Eyed Peas
1) Cupid Shuffle by Cupid

Tagas Says… Get your tan on… very carefully

2010-03-23T07:46:00.000-07:00

Ok Ok Ok… Nobody wants to be the gushing bride whose skin is the same color as her dress, right? Well, while many of you were blessed with naturally dark skin, many of you, like myself, umm… were not. In fact, I’m about as naturally pale as they come. Sometimes I think I may actually be clear.

Either way, thanks to modern technology, there are ways to get a little tan without breaking the bank or frying ourselves in the sun for four hours a day. In fact, high-end tanning salons can almost guarantee you a little color for your big day in just a few short minutes. However, having worked at a tanning salon throughout my college days, I know there are many do’s and don’t’s of tanning that you should know before you start baking yourself in a human oven roaster… oops, I mean tanning bed.

So here goes:

DO:

• Use eye protection
o You have to be an idiot not to use eye protection. UV rays in tanning beds can be strong enough to damage your retinas, corneas or even develop cataracts, Be sure to make sure that your eye-wear is of high quality before you jump in a tanning bed. Usually, the eyewear they sell at salons are suitable.
• Use trusted tanning lotion brands
o Don’t use just any ho-hum tanning lotion brand. Read reviews! A good tanning lotion could really enhance your tan and protect you from burning.
• Know your skin type.
o At the tanning salon I worked at, we made you go through a skin analysis before we even let you near a bed. You need to know your skin type because depending on how light-skinned you are you should only be in a tanning bed for so long. For instance, I have a light peachy color of skin with a rose tint, therefore, any longer than 12 minutes in a tanning bed will burn me and ruin any chance of lasting color I was hoping to get. Don’t overindulge when you’re at the tanning salon, sometimes just a short amount of time can do a world of difference!
• Shop out tanning salons
o Don’t just go somewhere because they offer unlimited tanning for $18 a month. Make sure you shop around and find a salon that offers safe beds and has proper methods of sanitation. The last thing you want to do it lie down in a puddle of sweat left over from the 400 pound man who was in there before you! Also, make sure your salon of choice changes out the bulbs in their beds frequently. If not, you’ll find you could spend 12 hours in a bed without ever getting an ounce of color. You might as well be baking under a florescent light in a high school cafeteria at that point.
DON’T
• Tan completely naked.
o There are parts of your body that just aren’t meant for tanning. Tanning your genitals or breasts can actually harm you! Be sure to cover up these areas!
• Use perfumes, deodorants or makeup right before tanning
o These things can actually increase the chance of a burn!
• Tan more than 20 minutes
o Tanning beds are often very strong, so there is no need to tan for more than 20 minutes… unless you dig cancer…
• Sign a contract with a salon
o Don’t sign up for a membership unless you have used the salon for at least three tanning sessions prior. This way, you can see for yourself how the beds effect your skin, the salon’s level of customer service and how sanitary they keep their facility. Never get caught up in a contract you can’t keep! Remember, a lot of salons make you pay a HUGE fee to cancel your membership. My salon would charge upwards of $100!!!

SPRAY TANNING

Spray tanning always sounds like a great idea, but be weary—sometimes a good thing can go very, very bad.

Don’t get a spray tan for your big day unless you have gotten one before. Test the waters a few months before! Like I mentioned previously, I am very light-skinned, so when I get a spray tan I often come out looking dirty. I don’t know why this happens, but the spray tan makes my face look… icky—like I rolled around in the dirt and called it a tan. It’s also common to come out looking Umpa Lumpa-like and orange. Also, spray tans can go horribly wrong if applied incorrectly. A good friend of mine got a spray tan and it actually flaked off of her day-by-day leaving her with what looked like leprosy or some other kind of ancient skin disease. Be careful when getting a spray tan and make sure to try it out months in advance to your actual wedding day. If it works for you, than by all means DO IT! It can save you from harmful UV rays!!!!

Tagas Says: Quality isn’t expensive, it’s priceless!

2010-03-02T13:00:00.000-08:00

Once upon a time there was a little girl that dreamed of having a purse. So one day after saving up her money, she went to the Dollar Tree. At the Dollar Tree, she sifted around through all of the off-brand candy and faulty products and found a glorious, sparkly pink, plastic purse for only ONE DOLLAR. She was so excited to find a bargain that she purchased it right away!

The next day when she was walking her dog with her sparkly pink Dollar Tree purse, a swift wind flew by and all of a sudden, the strap of her purse broke off! Oh no! Then she cried.

Later on, she thought, “Hmm, I still need a purse.” So she got in her car and went to her local Wal-Mart. After battling the crowds of anxious shoppers all trying to “Save Money and Live Better,” she found another glorious sale on a shiny black, tote bag. It was only $4.99! She bought it right away!

But two weeks later, the tote bag snagged and had a HUGE hole in the bottom. She was SO ANGRY! Why couldn’t she find a quality purse???? She called up her mom furious and said, “MOM, why on Earth can I not find a quality purse?” Her mom then replied, “Because you get what you pay for, DUH!”

So the little girl saved up her money one more time. But this time, she went to the Coach store and got a beautiful leather handbag, with complementing wallet and coin purse. That Coach bag lasted her for the rest of her life. WOW.

Now let’s review. What is the moral of the story? You get what you pay for. While it may seem like a good idea to go with the cheapest option, eventually it will come back to prove why it originated at that low price. I encourage all of you, dear readers, to consider this when booking your DJ. Just like a sparkly pink purse can appear to be a great deal, so can that dude with the speakers in the back of his car. Don’t be led astray! He may end up playing the Macarena 40 times and insulting your mother-in-law. So be wary of something that’s “too good to be true,” because chances are, it probably is. Here at Tagas, we like to think of ourselves as the Coach store of good DJ-ing. You WON’T be disappointed and we’ll even wear something leather if you absolutely insist.

The end.

New Video Completed

2010-02-23T11:32:00.000-08:00

Marisa and Kevin's Wedding from Tagas Entertainment on Vimeo.

formspring.me

2010-02-15T18:41:00.001-08:00

Ask me anything http://formspring.me/DJTagas

Tagas says…. Home sweet home

2010-02-11T10:23:00.000-08:00

In case you didn’t get the memo, Tagas is movin on up…. To the East side… err… actually the West side… of Orlando, that is.
Either way, we brought in the new office with a party hardy, Tagas style, and it was certainly an event to remember. The grand opening of this new facility is a big step for Tagas and certainly a new beginning to a long life full of bringing the “funk,” as Bossman Tagas would say, to your events.
So come visit us! We’re open Tuesday through Thursday 11 am to 7pm, Friday 11 am to 5 pm and Saturday, Sunday and Monday by appointment only. So, uh, what are you waiting for? Make an appointment or just drop by! DO ITTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT.
But in the meantime, check out our new sweet crib and the fabulous festivities we hosted inside.

Welcome to Casa ala Tagas! If we can make a parking lot glow imagine what else we can do. The new location is 8600 Commodity Circle, Suite 126 Orlando, FL 32819. HOLLA!

More deliciousity. Yes, I made up that word because food from Big City Catering makes my mouth water and start to make up words to describe its fantasmication. We know how to keep it classy people.

Some fabulously yummy treats provided by Big City Catering.

Glow tables just add such a nice touch…. Kind of wishing I had one of these beverages RIGHT NOW. I wish I had one of these in my bedroom at all times. Let’s make it happen Bryan.

Tagas Says...Boom Baby!

2010-01-22T19:01:00.000-08:00

For all those who sit in front of the boob tube, it’s no secret that it’s awards season. Yes the gowns are lovely and it’s paparazzi warfare, but who doesn’t love taking home an award, right??? Well fortunately, it seems to be that way for Tagas lately as well!!!
Granted, we aren’t taking home Golden Globes, but we were just voted the 2010 Best of Weddings in the DJ category by the TheKnot.com

And just last night…

We were voted as the 2010, 5 Carat Diamond Award winner for Best Entertainment Company in Central Florida by Central Florida Bride Magazine!!!

We are so honored to be your number one and we look forward to a new year full of even better work to come!

Tagas Says...You're Engaged, Congrats...Now what?!?!

2010-01-19T13:12:00.001-08:00

So let me ask you all something: Things getting pretty serious with the boyfriend or girlfriend? Maybe you just can’t help staring into their dreamy eyes. Maybe you can’t wrap your head around their majestic beauty. Maybe you can’t imagine a lifetime without them by your side, accompanying you to holiday parties or taking care of you when you’re old and need someone to pick out the right pair of Depends for your senile butt.

If this sounds like you, than maybe you’re about to be a part of the 70 percent of couples who get engaged between Christmas and Valentines Day.

Well Congrats! You’re engaged. Now what?

Step 1—pick a date. Sounds easy, but it takes more than closing your eyes and sticking your finger on the calendar. When doing this task, be sure to take into account holidays, vacations, weather conditions (especially with the Florida heat and menopausal rainstorms), family travel and of course, what’s best for YOU.

Step 2—hire an experienced, professional wedding planner that you click with and that you feel understands you and the wedding you’re hoping to host. These days, people go to school specifically for event planning, so it’s not hard to find someone with the skills and experience.

Step 3—create a realistic budget. This does not mean you should open seven more credit cards. Be real. From this point you can develop a theme, what sort of atmosphere you want to create and other epic ideas you may have in mind.

Step 4—Location Location Location! Pick a location and stick to it! Many venues require that you book months and months in advance so be sure to put this at the top of your To-Do’s!

Step 5—Now’s the fun part for the girls—Dress shopping! Pick out that glorious dress and start your search for a photographer and caterer. Nobody wants bad wedding pictures or nasty McNasty food. This is also about the time you should be booking your entertainment. Realize that the entertainment could make or break the entire event. I’ve been in five weddings and it’s NOT uncommon to see a fight break out between the bridal party and the DJ. This = chaos, so book with Tagas. We’re lovers, not fighters.

Step 6—After all that junk is done, now you need to book your videographer. Also, plan your lighting and hire a professional lighting technician to create a cool vibe and vibrant atmosphere (hint hint call us!). From here, book any other décor and flowers you’re going to need. You have to have a bouquet to throw, after all.

Now you’re on your way to a successful wedding. But make sure you take some time to breathe so we don’t end up seeing you featured on Bridezillas. Those are some scary women…

Tagas Says...Holiday Recap

2010-01-10T21:48:00.000-08:00

Wow. Can you believe it’s 2010??? I thought we’d be living like the
Jetsons by now. Apparently, hybrid cars and flat screen televisions
are pretty much as close as we get to that I guess.

Sorry for the hiatus, but with the holiday season comes holiday
celebrations which means us here at Tagas have been bustin our booties
all around town. Not literally, though. I’m not even sure what that would imply.

So in honor of the new year and our lack of posts here’s our holiday update.

The day after Christmas we lit a beautiful “Winter Wonderland” themed
wedding complete with blue lights, centerpiece LED’s and DJ by Bryan
“Bossman” Taylor. I’ve found he likes to be called that, so in hopes
of a new year’s bonus I’m going to call him that as much as possible.
Kidding, I swear. Moving on.
We also did DJ for Lauren and her fiance at the Omni, complementing it with some video and lighting as well. You know, for a 45 person, completely dry wedding we were pretty impressed that they danced for 5 hours!!! I dont think any of us thought that would happen! We had some nice apple bottom jeans green lighting, unfortunately, boots with the fur were not permitted.

That same day we worked with Erin, giving her a blue lighting theme for her daughter's wedding at The Tides on Melbourne Beach.

And of course, what’s better than starting a new marriage right at the new year? Makes for one heck of a resolution. Bam Bam thank you ma’am and you can cross marrying the girl of your dreams right off the list. Marco did DJ for this festive wedding in Winter Park while Bossman provided blue area lighting, pink ceiling texture lighting and DJ services for another NYE wedding, this one at the Omni. Our new office manager and videographer, Christine captured the night on video for the happy couple.
Of course what’s the holiday season without some class? We did a teal lighting motif at the Orlando Country Club New Year’s Eve as well.
However, the party was surely at Briley Farm where we decked out their venue tent with DMX intelligent lighting, glow bar, cocktail tables and totem trusses. The farm made for a beautiful celebration over a lake. It was absolutely glowing, and that’s how we like to keep it here at Tagas. Glowing like a pregnant woman ready to pop. Again, not literally. Gross.

Welcome to the New Year Errebody!

Tagas Says... the buck stops here

2009-12-22T12:29:00.000-08:00

Ahhh, Christmas time. The cookies are baked. The tree is glistening. The presents are wrapped. The lights are shining across every housetop. But what about the bank account? Oh right. That sucks.
Not to be a negative nancy, but after the cookies are eaten and the thrill of Christmas is gone, it leaves us with one teeny tiny hurdle: budgeting.

Now when planning your event, you may not have all the money in the world to go towards something like lighting, a DJ or a video, but with some helpful tools we’ll hopefully help you get the most bang for your buck.
So we here at Tagas bring to you. Bum bum bum…

The 5 hints to happier budgeting:
1) As you put together your overall budget, make sure to calculate 5 to 10 percent of it to go towards entertainment. Also be sure to determine what you want ahead of time. If you want your event to be more of a club scene, than cut into the pansy flower budget and invest in some flashy lighting.

2) Don’t put it off until the last minute. SOOOOOO many brides and planners do this. The longer you wait, the more the prices will go up because there will be no room for negotiation.

3) Know when to negotiate. If you’re going to hire some bum who has a couple of speakers in the back of his VW bus, don’t pay him what you should be paying Mr. Fancypants professional. But do realize, that sometimes companies will negotiate depending on how booked they are that month. If it’s getting slow, you’ll be able to talk them down.

4) Shop around. Here at Tagas we factor in what the competition is doing and try to out-do them to our best abilities, but a smart shopper is a safe shopper, so weigh your options.

5) Know that in most instances you get what you pay for. Sure old hank from the local pub has the equipment and is only going to charge you $50, but do you really want someone with four teeth DJ-ing your event? Unfortunately, sometimes professionalism comes at a cost, but in the end, we assure you it’s worth it.

Tagas Says...Weekend Update

2009-12-08T19:11:00.000-08:00

So we're proud to say the crew is staying busy these days! However, that doesn't mean we don't have time to book your event!
Let's see let's see. Saturday Tagas/Bossman/Bryan (yes he does have a real name, but only on Tuesdays) DJ'd a wedding at the Courtyard at Lake Lucerne in Downtown Orlando outside...in the cold...brrrrr. Marco DJ'd a wedding in the middle of nowhere, seriously. Jimmy DJ'd a cheerleading competition ALL DAY, which I'm sure he had fun with.... maybe too much fun. Paul Shot a wedding at Casa Feliz, and on Sunday Alisha shot a wedding video at Dubsdread CC.

Phew. Rockin weekend.

In the meantime, stay up-to-date with the Tagas team and follow us on twitter @TagasEvents!!! Tweeters for Life man... or until it begins to die like Myspace did a year ago.

Tagas Says...Top 10 Questions When Interviewing Videographers

2009-12-02T20:35:00.000-08:00

Top 10 questions to ask before you hire your videographer.

10) Can we see an actual recent wedding video, not just a demo reel?
The answer to this should be YES. If they can’t show you their skills from actual recent weddings, you can’t show them the money and I don’t care how much Tom Cruise tells you to do so…

9) What experience and background do you have?
The more the better. Duh.

8) Is your video High Definition?
If you haven’t been to that big wall of HD TV’s in Wal-Mart or Best Buy you’re seriously behind the times. There’s a CLEAR difference between the two and you won’t regret splurging for a company that offers HD. And the difference is, and I quote, “like watching an old 80’s movie versus the brand new Star Wars.” Please try to ignore the nerdiness that spews out of that last statement.

7) How large is your crew and will they interfere?
An ideal crew will practically blend in with the drapes.

6) How many cameras will they use?
Three or even Two is best. One is ok. If they show up empty handed, I give you permission to punch them in the face.

5) How long will it take to receive my DVDs?
Any longer than eight weeks is too long.

4) Do you offer any special features?
The best companies will offer cool stuff like 3D montages or Love Stories. Even if you don’t necessarily want it, the fact that they even offer it says something. Personally I would rather have an action flick for my wedding… but that’s just me.

3) What kind of equipment do you use?
Sony, Canon and Panasonic or better. End of story.

2) Will you do what I want?
The answer is yes, but don’t expect them to get you coffee or watch your dog. Not ok.

1) How much do you cost?
Work out a budget, but don’t be afraid to invest in this. Stayed tuned for an upcoming blog dedicated SOLELY to pricing.

Tagas Says...Videography… how to separate the pros from the average Joes

2009-11-29T23:25:00.000-08:00

There was once a great episode of Everybody Loves Raymond where Raymond’s wife finds outs that he has accidentally recorded a sports game over their wedding video. While the premise of the storyline was used for Ray Ramano to crack middle-aged humor jokes with his hallow, irritating voice, it’s a clear example of someone who obviously didn’t hire a professional videographer. So what if it’s fictional…

Had Ray and his wife gone to Tagas, they wouldn’t have this issue because we offer multiple copies in the highest of quality… But alas, the show was cancelled and here we are today.

So how do you decipher between a professional and amateur videographer? Here’s where to start…

1) Equipment—a good videographer will have professional grade camera equipment. (Versus consumer grade). To decipher between what is consumer/professional, look for labels like 3 CCD. This stands for three chips and allows for better low light picture. Also keep an eye out for professional brands like Sony, Canon and Panasonic. We use the canon XL2, GL2, and, for HD, the Canon XH A1. Rad.

2) The # of cameras—A professional videographer isn’t going to set up their digital camera behind the alter and push record. A.K.A don’t hire Ashton Kutcher and his Powershot…he just takes a bunch of pictures of himself anyway. Most professionals will insist on having at least TWO cameras. Three should be used for larger events that call for more detail.

3) Attire—A professional will come clothed appropriately without extensive help from Tim Gunn. He or she should know to wear all black (black button-downs, slacks, shoes etc.). Yes, perhaps a little gothic, but the point of wearing black is to blend in with the surroundings and not get in the way. Sounds a little Bridezilla, but it’s YOUR day.

4) Packages—a professional is going to offer much better packages than some college kid looking for a couple bucks on the weekend. Everyone can shoot a ceremony, reception and give you a highlight video. A professional would offer you cutting edge features like a Love Story documentary (think E true Hollywood story… but for you) or a 3-D photo montage or maybe, if you’re feeling extra high tech, even video invitations.

5) How well they play with others—It’s sad we have to mention this, but a big deal breaker among amateurs is that they won’t meet your needs. A professional is going to negotiate with you on price to give you as much as possible for an amount you can afford. If someone isn’t willing to work with your needs or they have “creative differences”… run… and run fast.

Tagas Says...Weekend Update (a little delayed)

2009-11-27T13:47:00.000-08:00

Ok, so we are a little delayed on this, but trust me you want to read this one...

Weekend update.

This past weekend was certainly not a dull one. Friday we DJ’d and lit a wedding in Lake Mary for a really fun, great young couple, but Saturday we ventured into the land of our finest local celebutantes.
Little did we know it right off the bat, but we were doing video, lighting, and DJ for American League Cy Young Award Winner and Kansas City Royals Pitcher Zack Greinke, who was marrying Dallas Cowboy Cheerleader and “Miss Daytona Beach” Emily Kuchar.
Granted the crowd was full of baseball players, Cowboy cheerleaders and even a Magic player (who totally let me down the other night against the Miami Heat BTW), but the real magic was the fact these two lovebirds were high school sweethearts. Now that’s not something you see every day. Let’s face it, most of us ditch the high school puppy love about six months into the college scene, or in this case, past the minor leagues. Kudos Mr. and Mrs. Greinke. Kudos.

Mission Inn Resort 11.21.09 Zack and Emily Greinke reception
photo: Bryan Taylor, Tagas Event and Production Services

Tagas Says...Weekend

2009-11-17T21:46:00.000-08:00

Saturday was our day of fiesta, only to be followed by Sunday our day of siesta. Saturday was jam packed starting with the Lake Mary High School Homecoming. It was a Vegas-type theme with red lighting everywhere. We had glow cocktail tables and uplighting throughout the lounge area. It was, in the words of the youngins,’ and I quote “sick.” But not sick in a swine flu kind of way. Heaven only knows how much of that was going around.

Additionally, Alisha shot video at the Radisson in Port Canaveral while Paul captured the nuptials of a great couple at the Maitland Art Center.

Lastly, we did lighting (GOBO and blue uplights) at the Royal Crest Room in St. Cloud while DJ Marco did his thang…

Only to be followed by Sunday, in which all of us did nada...except splash paint upon the staircase of the new office. (oh yeah, you heard right, more to come on that shortly) Amen.

Tagas says… keep the home made videos at well… home.

2009-11-10T08:22:00.000-08:00

When it comes to the big day, there’s no better way to remember a joyous occasion than by videotaping it. However, when you look back on your wedding or fabulous event, do you want to watch something that’s high quality with excellent sound and camera shots, or would you rather watch something that belongs in the same class as reruns of funniest home videos? Except, fortunately for you, yours most likely won’t include Bob Saget. Be happy about that.

If you enjoy looking through the grain or getting nauseous from your sister’s inability to hold a camera still for more than 20 seconds, you might want to consider hiring a professional videographer for your wedding and/or fiesta and/or 80^th birthday party. Whatever.

If you’re not convinced yet, maybe a few little factoids will help you make the plunge to the classy side of things:

Did you know that 98 percent of all newlyweds surveyed in the 2006 Breakthrough Marketing Survey said they would recommend future brides to have their wedding professionally videotaped? I bet you didn’t know that. Don’t lie. You totally didn’t know.

Or did you know that only 50 percent of brides-to-be considered videography one of their top 10 “must-haves?” After the wedding, the number rose to 75 percent who changed their minds about that. DUH.

But more interestingly…

38 percent of couples have their weddings videotaped compared to 98 percent that had their wedding professionally photographed. Of those that did NOT have their wedding recorded, a whopping 68 percent totally regretted it.

Let's face it, would you rather see pictures of the last "So You Think You Can Dance" episode, or would you rather watch the actual show the way it happened?

You don’t want to regret anything, so come to Tagas and get your wedding videotaped the RIGHT way with the RIGHT equipment and the RIGHT professionals. Wow, that totally sounded like one of those attorney commercials.

And if you’re not so sure about what makes it “Right” never fear, because we have more posts coming up on how to narrow down your search for the right videographer. Stay tuned!

Tagas Says...Weekend Update

2009-11-10T08:11:00.000-08:00

So it was another busy weekend homies.

Thursday: Boss man (Tagas) kept the heads ringin' at Banana Republic in the Millenia Mall.

Friday: Boss man was at it again, this time with the new guy Ryan (who will now forever be referred by me as New Guy Ryan and/or Newbie and/or Newbs). They DJ’d a Wedding at the Grand Bohemian downtown for another Pi Kappa Phi event full of shenanigans! Of course beyond the B.A. music, we lit up the room with a pinkish-white up-lighting while Alisha captured their Catholic Mass ceremony and reception on film.

Meanwhile….
DJ Tank worked a wedding at Holy Trinity with apple-green up-lighting, a glowing candy table, and a custom monogram…. Surely the green hue only capitalized on all the envious single ladies in the crowd…. Surely someone played some Beyonce shortly thereafter.

Saturday: Tagas DJ’d and lit a wedding at the Ballroom at Church Street while Marco headed up a wedding at the Lake Mary Marriott.
Alisha was found shooting the “I do’s” and party afterward at the Wyndham, last we saw her she was dodging between the circles of the grapevine exhibited at the reception. We seemed to have lost all communication with Matt...must have been one wild wedding he was shooting downtown at the University Club!

Holy cow… is it wedding season or what?

Last, but not least, we rocked out the West Orange High School Homecoming. It was held at the Buena Vista Palace (palace… fancy) and featured 2 video screens, 6 speakers, 2 subs and a full array of computerized DMX lighting. And, just when you thought it was safe to get out on the dance floor..."Party in the USA" was played...which caused the loudest scream in the history of cheerful screams to be heard across America!

And that’s all folks!

Tagas Says: DJ Hero checka checka checka it out.

2009-11-03T18:34:00.000-08:00

So the buzz circulating around the Tagas staff these days is whether or not we should purchase the new DJ Hero for “stress relief.” My vote is yes, as I condone any video game that makes you forget to blink until your eyes begin to water with pain. But on a more serious note, we figured it would only be right of us to speculate on the new play thing that hopefully won’t take away any of our business…

With that being said, let me give you the details on what the heck we’re talking about. DJ Hero is the newest game released by the creators of, you guessed right—Guitar Hero.

Now, we all love and adore Guitar Hero, but what’s up with this DJ Hero stuff? Apparently, the game is designed so that each player has a turntable that allows them to mix music from popular artists like Black Eyed Peas, 50 Cent and the Beastie Boys with hip-hop, electronica, R&B, Motown, pop and rock genres.

Apparently, you can also hook up your guitar to it and play DJ VS. Guitar. Pretty rad, really.
So it might be a better option than karaoke at your next get together, but we had to ask—how close to reality do you get with this game?

According to King Tagas (aka Bryan, our leader/boss/big kahuna), it’s “not super realistic, but it’s close.”

We figure if you want to be cheap at your event, then yeah, get the game. But if you want to stick with quality you’re obviously going to hire the Tagas staff, no?

Either way, it looks like a fun game and certainly something to try out. Heck, maybe one day we’ll use it as a testing mechanism for when we look to hire new DJ’s.

Mix on America. Mix on.

Tagas Says...Weekend Update

2009-11-03T11:38:00.000-08:00

Weekend update.

We did nothing. And it felt good. :)

Tagas Says...Weekend Update

2009-10-26T19:37:00.000-07:00

Busy weekend for Tagas!
We had weddings at the Timacuan CC, Lake Mary Event Center, Heathrow Country Club, and one on a private ranch down in Port St. Lucie.
The Timacuan wedding had purple LED up lighting throughout the room, moving stars on the ceiling over the dance floor, and pin spotting on the cake and sweetheart table. DJ Marco Polo rocked the crowd, as usual, and fun times ensued thereafter.
Likewise, the Lake Mary Event Center Wedding also had a purple theme with purple LED uplighting throughout the room and pink textured ceiling lighting.
The Heathrow Country Club wedding was run by our very own DJ Jimmy.
And finally….
The ranch wedding in Port St. Lucie was a “hick” of a good time. It was held at a cattle show barn (where people come and buy their cows). The wedding was wild and DJ Gerry played until the cows came home (aka 7.5 hours, in this case). It was a crazy scene as cowboy music was mixed with contemporary artists like Flo-Rida. It was a hoot.
Tagas would like to sincerely apologize for the overuse of extremely cheesy jokes as displayed in the blog posting. We just couldn’t resist.

Tagas Says...Weekend Update

2009-10-19T19:12:00.000-07:00

Well it was a pretty busy weekend for us here at Tagas. Thursday we helped celebrate the “I do’s” at Paradise Cove with our DJ’s and videographers. It was a beautiful ceremony on the beach area with a reception following in the pavilion.

Friday we DJ’ed at the White Room in St. Augustine Pi Kappa Phi style for a couple’s very special union. Fun was had by all, including whoever it was that insisted “Youz a Hoe” was played, as the last dance nonetheless.

Saturday we had a DJ and Lighting event for a wedding in Winter Haven at the Lake Ashton Country Club. We installed custom ceiling textured lighting, computer programmed LED uplights on the walls, a custom monogram and a custom photo montage that showed during dinner. Everybody loves a blast into the past. But of course we had to add that extra flare and sync the lights with the music when everyone hit the dance floor.

Sunday we had another DJ event for the Ocoee Student Government Association conference. DJ’s Jimmy and Marco Polo took the lead on this. Nothing says party quite like an SGA conference…

Tagas Says...Weekend Update

2009-10-15T10:47:00.000-07:00

So the thing about “getting the party started” is that you can get it “started” all you want, but to keep it “going” is a whole different battle.

I’d say the Tagas team had massive success this weekend at Apopka High School’s homecoming keeping everyone involved, dancing and enjoying the night until the very end. We contributed a huge sound system including two giant subs and seven other speakers. Since the theme was Rockin’ Roller Coaster, we went all out with the lights and added two video screens playing rollercoaster videos. We also made sure to have a full DMX set up including moving head powerspots, powerwashes, lasers, strobes, LED par64’s computer programmed, six glow cocktail tables, custom textured lighting on the ceiling and custom plexi glow DJ tables.
Phew. That’s a lot of lighting, my friends.

But with 900 kids, the cafeteria turned into a serious hot, sweaty club until the night ended. Even the teachers were shocked to see so many kids stay so long. In fact, they even ran out of bottled water due to the overwhelming majority of students that stayed til the very end! Success for Tagas! Fail for whoever had to get rid of the smell before Monday’s lunch period.
Check out some of the photos from the event:

Move over Antigua… Apopka’s runnin this.

Tagas Says...Follow these Tips for the Perfect Spookfest

2009-10-12T08:12:00.000-07:00

So Halloween is all about being spooky, right? Well as much as Halloween allows us to get outside our comfort zones and be total weirdo's, it does not excuse your party from being a big ball of awkward. So let’s do everyone a favor and make sure your party is more spooky and less of creeper convention.

So if you’re even thinking about planning a Halloween bash take some advice from the pros and try these little tips to make your party even more memorable than the many many men who will show up using this holiday as an excuse to dress in drag.

Tip #1— Create some ambiance!

Create a cool ambiance by creating a dark setting. Use black visqueen, which is that long plastic-y stuff that comes on a roll. Sometimes this is hard to come by, but you can usually get something like it at places like Party City. Party City has 100ft and 300ft rolls of plastic black table cloth covering that works just as effectively for $19.99/$24.99 respectively.

Tip #2— Make it pop!

Line your walls with the plastic visqueen and use orange, purple and black lighting to create a real spooky mood. Also consider doing something more professional and make custom programs with DMX intelligent lighting that slowly creep along the floors, walls and ceilings changing colors between orange and purple. If you want a full blow professional look, call us up at Tagas and we’ll come do it for you!

Tip #3— Fog it up!

For dance parties, try using strobe lights, lasers or fog. Nothing says Halloween like fog, right? You can buy your own fog machine for $99.99 at the Oriental Trading Company and use it time and time and time and time again… Or if you’re trying to save a few bucks you can usually rent a machine. If you’re in the Orlando area Best Rental Center rents machines for $35 a day. If you want to take it to an even greater level on the spook meter, call Tagas for chill fog…you know, the dry-ice type fog that creeps along the ground and over tables.

Tip #4—Spotlight for spooks!

Another fun trick is to spotlight ghoulish décor items, grave stones, scary creatures, etc. using light-reflecting spider webs. Put the webs overhead to create a roof like environment and shine some light on them and it’s sure to add some special flare.

Tip #5— Pump up the jam! (And no, not Smuckers)

Pick the right music. With this sort of an event, start the night off with some themed music like a remix to Monster Mash etc. But in the words of Bon Qui Qui, “Don’t get craaaaazy.” Be sure to cut the themed music once people are ready to dance, then start playing some dance floor-filling music.

If you follow some of these little tips your party is going to just SCREAM Halloween. And remember, the lighting and music completely controls the scene and with just a little tweaking in the right direction your party is sure to come alive! … or die, depending on your use of zombies..

Happy Haunts and Good Luck!!

Tagas Says...Weekend Alert

2009-10-02T11:07:00.000-07:00

New weekly post coming at ya. The Weekend Alert. You need some tunes to jam to for the weekend ahead...thats where Tagas has you covered...
This Weekend Alert is...The N.O.C. A new group, check 'em out on I-tunes. Personal faves so far, "La Romana" -a sweet reggae,salsa, hip hop blend, and "Dance Floor Queen" - a high energy, hip hop anthem that will keep you moving in the club or tapping your foot in the car.

Go get 'em!

Tagas.

Tagas Says... Cut the frills, hire a Pro DJ! Seriously...

2009-10-02T09:06:00.000-07:00

So have you ever been to a wedding that died right after dinner was served and the cake was cut? Have you ever been to a wedding where people only danced during the Macarena? Have you ever been to a wedding that only played 80’s one hit wonders? Have you ever been to a wedding that just plain failed?
I have, and I can tell you why: the DJ.
If there is one thing you must have, and I repeat MUST have, at your event, it is a good, emphasis on GOOD, DJ.
Yes events can get expensive and maybe you have to cut some corners here and there, but the last thing you should consider cutting is your DJ budget, unless of course, you want your 6 o’clock reception to be over by 7:30.
I catered a wedding last weekend that decided to “skip out” on a DJ. Instead they had a family friend play some songs, and another family friend with a very quiet voice announce the events of the evening. When the bridal party entered the room, it was like Tiger Woods had just made a putt and the crowd silently applauded with the infamous “golf clap.” It was so anti-climactic it was more like a rehearsal dinner than the real deal. Not to mention, the rest of the night (all 2 ½ hours of it) was all Big Band and 90’s music with a maximum of 6 people dancing at a time. Sad. Just sad.
But what’s the lesson learned? Cut the fancy napkins, and hire a professional DJ.
As my boss Bryan Taylor so nicely put it, “The DJ is the party. Period.”
The DJ not only provides the music, he or she provides the flow to the evening. They keep otherwise dead events, alive. Sort of like a musical paramedic.
But before you hire your DJ, you should know that there are four tiers of DJ’s you should consider.

TIER DESCRIPTION
1 First tiers are the cheap guys. The ones who use inferior equipment and simply stand behind the system playing music. These are usually very new DJs. This is the inexperienced/bad tier. NOT a Tagas DJ

2 Second tiers have decent-to-good equipment and they are experienced DJs who are knowledgeable about music and emceeing. These guys will do a nice job of making announcements and playing music, but that is about all they will do. Again, not a Tagas DJ!

3 Tier threes have good-to-excellent equipment and often have a club background. These are professional entertainers who know they have to wear many hats to coordinate the activities of the event with the other vendors. These DJs use a pre-planning packet to ensure the event runs smoothly and they make sure to interact with guests and keep the energy high. THIS is a Tagas DJ.

4 Tier 4 DJs are very much the same as Tier 3 DJs, however, they tend to be the stereotypical “wedding singer” type DJ that so many brides fear. These are the guys that bring the blow up guitars, funky hats and other silly props. They are the DJs that are so involved they are annoying to most of the guests, and they don’t even realize it. They are also the type of DJ that insists on doing the Macarena, Electric Slide, and Chicken Dance at every wedding reception or party. NOT a Tagas DJ!

And remember… anyone can play music, plug in lights, or press record. There is a difference: Tagas!

Tagas Says...Know When and Where

2009-09-28T12:59:00.000-07:00

Let’s face it, sometimes while we think we are doing something awesome it can go horribly wrong. For instance, Kanye West at the Video Music Awards, Tom Cruise on the Oprah Show, or pretty much anyone featured on Vh1’s celebrity shows.

While you’re planning your event, the last thing you’re going to want to mess up is the lighting. You can mess up the food and people will eventually get over it. You can mess up the napkin colors and people are going to get over it. But if you mess up the lighting then everyone is going to notice and they are going to continue to notice until the end of the event.

My high school prom was terrible. The whole dance floor was lit like a 50’s diner. Sure we all got over the crappy refreshments and adult supervision, but the lighting kept EVERYONE off the dance floor.

So to keep you all from recreating this sort of catastrophe, we here at Tagas have made a little reference guide on what sort of lighting goes appropriately with what individual event.

Event Type: Tagas Recommends:

Grandma’s 80^th birthday at the country club	Maybe just a few LED up-lights
An afternoon wedding reception	Probably none. Unless the room is without windows, include some up-lighting.
An evening wedding reception	Depends on the couple, vibe, décor. Anything from LED up-lights/area lights, textures, GOBO’s, pin spotting, spot lighting, glow furniture to glow dance floors.
A high school senior prom	Heavy, heavy DMX computer club lighting, strobes, lasers, glow furniture, custom GOBO’s and textures
A sorority dance-off philanthropy	Up-lights/area lights for ambiance, spot stage lighting, perhaps a custom GOBO or two.
A business awards ceremony	Stage spotlighting, up-lighting for ambiance, DMX lighting for that Grammy’s type effect (to spotlight winners at tables etc.)
A class of 1982 reunion at the Moose Lodge	Not much of anything, maybe something simple for the dance floor
A 13-year-old birthday bash/ bar/bat mitzvah	You can either go for simple or very extravagant, either would work.

Tagas Says...Lights, Camera, Action… but mostly Lights

2009-09-22T13:57:00.000-07:00

Lighting, like oxygen and other total essentials, is something we often take for granted. That is, until the power goes out, or the sun doesn’t come up or you go to a wedding where florescent cafeteria lights are illuminating the imperfections on the bride’s blemish-filled face.

Let me put this into perspective for you. I just moved in with a new roommate who is extremely frugal about the electricity bill. In an effort to lower our bill, he installed florescent lights into every lamp in the house. Well, what he failed to notice was that these lights made our apartment glow for miles. We’re talking Sam’s Club warehouse florescent lighting. Now the great thing about being home is that it doesn’t feel like an office. Well, as I sat trying to enjoy the latest episode of Gossip Girl, I couldn’t seem to relax in the neon yellow twinge of the florescent lighting. Now, don’t get me wrong florescent lighting is great, but it also comes in softer tones. The point is, the lighting changed the entire mood of our place. No longer was it a cozy home, but it was like a manufacturing plant.

Just like the like lighting changed the entire atmosphere of my home, it can change the entire atmosphere of your event.

After perusing some less-than-flattering wedding photos on Facebook, it’s not unusual for brides to completely disregard the importance of lighting or wait until the last minute to include it in their budgets. Unless you’re planning an infrared ghost hunt at your event, lighting will always be essential. In fact, lighting is the number one most noticeable décor item and it can transform an event from blah to brilliant. Not only is lighting the first thing your guests will notice, but it can define the entire feel and mood of your wedding, party or meeting.

Likewise, a lack of professionally designed lighting can ruin an otherwise lovely event. With that in mind, the Tagas staff wants you to seriously consider redefining your decorating strategy around what lighting can do to enhance your event space.

Check out below to see the before and after photos of some rooms the Tagas team has recently transformed. It’s like a Proactiv Acne Solutions commercial, but for parties!

Solivita

Winter Park Civic Center

Heaven Event Center

Private Residence Tent Wedding

Tagas says… did my voice just get a little higher?

2009-09-15T19:39:00.000-07:00

So apparently this whole event business spiel takes a whole bunch of time and effort and all that jazz. Blah blah blah. You know, lighting this, DJ-ing that, shooting a video over here and over there, basking in the glory of attending and working tons of fabulous weddings and events in Central Florida. You know us, just a typical day in the office. Well, in lieu of all that, the Tagas team has found that there just aren’t enough hours in the day to devote to the internet. What? Blasphemy.

SOOOOO, in an effort to serve you better, the Tagas team has taken on little ol’ me, Jessica Saggio, as a web intern to deliver to you the most exciting and interesting news the team has to offer. I’ll be here from now on updating all you Tagas fans out there our latest happenings, our best advice and, most importantly, what our team can offer to you and your events.

So sit back, relax and enjoy the fact that instead of marketing ourselves through rambunctious television ads, you can learn about us through the glory of the blogosphere. I voted we do a TV ad, but apparently no one can do a cartwheel, and seriously, what’s a good commercial without cartwheels or yelling about used vehicles?

Welcome to my world Tagas fans. Let the journey commence…

Tagas Says...check out some very cool lighting!

2009-09-13T21:40:00.000-07:00

Hey Peeps,
So, as the last post mentions, we've had some sweet lighting events the past few weeks...here are some pics from 2 of them...Omni @ Champions Gate, one GOBO pic from Rosen Shingle Creek, and a fun tent wedding out on a Kenansville Ranch. Thanks to www.CarrieWildes.com for the Omni pics. Shingle Creek and the Ranch Wedding were camera phone pics...please excuse the picture quality.
The Omni wedding was beautiful. We had a great team on board:

Here's the team who made it a success!
Event Coordination: Joie de Vie Weddings and Events
Venue: Omni Orlando Resort at Champions Gate
Florals: Greenery Productions
Videography: Elegante Films
Entertainment: DJ Carl Entertainment
Furniture: Room Service
Lighting: Tagas Events
Cake: Party Flavors
Make up: Lena G Creative Designs

Hair: Shades by Rint

Pin spotting the beautiful centerpieces

Video trailer which really shows off the Lighting, courtesy of Elegante Films

Shingle Creek Wedding

Inside of the tent at night

Textured Lighting on the outside of the tent

Tagas Says...Lighting!

2009-08-31T17:30:00.000-07:00

Lots of Lighting!!!
This weekend is going to be a very busy weekend for the Tagas lighting division! We will be lighting up receptions at the Omni, City Arts Factory (twice), and Shingle Creek! They will all be great and pictures will follow shortly after the weekend. Stay tunned...

Tagas Says...Trust Your Vendors!

2009-08-26T13:23:00.001-07:00

I recently had a conversation with a fellow wedding professional...a wonderful wedding planner. The conversation went something like this...her: "so how's business this summer?", me: "good, how about you?", her: "good, but I wish my brides would listen to me, I mean, they hired me, they should trust my experience."

I can't agree with her more! I guess, if I could give a bride just 1 piece of advice it would be that. Do your research and surround yourself with talented, cutting edge, experienced vendors, and trust their opinions. After all, you, the bride have maybe been to a handful of weddings as a guest or attendant, but how many have you planned? Your average full time wedding professional probably works at least 35-50 weddings per year...companies...like Tagas are involved in 300-400 each year. So, it only makes sense that if you trust your team to work your wedding, you should trust your team to design your perfect wedding.

Professional vendors always want to know your thoughts, ideas, and visions because our aim as your professional is to create your perfect look or vibe...and in doing so we make you (and ourselves) look good. Once we know what your dream is, we can create it! It is important that you are clear and as concise as possible when you relay your vision to your vendors so that it can become a reality without any stress!

As a company specializing in 3 different wedding and event related services we know that every aspect of an event demands different amounts and types of planning. For example, Lighting Design is insturmental in developing the overall look of a location. No other decor item will have as big of an impact on the look or the feel of your reception. Because of this, we take a lot of time to discuss the look and the feel that you want to achieve. You relay your vision, give us the budget parameters, and let us run...we'll make everyone look great!

Lighting is not the only area where trust is paramount with your vendors. We have entertained for weddings in the past where the bride is very into music. Some of these brides have taken it upon themselves to create a reception play list and instructed us not to deviate from it in anyway for any reason! While the wedding day is yours and we will do what is asked of us, it is not a highly recommended way to plan a fun reception. In fact, we, as DJs don't even do it...instead, the best method is to have a detailed listing of "must haves" and "do not play" songs/artists along with "can play" and "don't play" genre and icebreaker listings (which is part of our detailed planning packet). This leaves plenty of room for interaction with the crowd. A professional, experienced DJ will generally have a knack for reacting to a crowd and doing what is needed to keep the party going all night long, while playing appropriate requests from your guests. It's a win win for everyone in attendance!

Moral of the story, Tagas says...check the vendors out, make sure they're true professionals. If they are, then trust them to do their job. We wont let you down!

Tagas says time to get deep!

2009-08-17T22:54:00.000-07:00

Ok, so let me preface this with, this all started because I was listening to "Mr. Jones" by the Counting Crows. There I was, just relaxing at home, casually listening to this track that I have always felt this odd connection to...yet haven't listened to in quite some time. And I got to thinking, "man, this guy is telling quite a story here, what is he really talking about?"

So, I started to research a bit to see what others have thought, hence a journey to uncover the speculations of others as to the meaning had begun. The more I searched however, the more questions I had and the more I began to question, the more I started to look at these songs as more then just entertainment, but of a pouring out of the artist's emotions...who is Mr. Jones, why does he feel the way he does...I found a clear explanation of that...but then, other big Crow jams such as Round Here started to dangle the carrot out inches from my face. Who is Maria??!?! Go put Round Here on, take yourself back 12 years...and you too will start the questioning. From my research, no one seems to know, not even the real Mr. Jones who according to "Mr. Jones" was there when Maria showed him "some of them Spanish dances"! Here's an interesting article I came across in which Mr. Jones discusses what he knows of the mysterious "Maria" http://tinyurl.com/p9y4bh.

After reading that article I became remotely satisfied, enough to at least go to sleep...but then I saw a link to Dave Matthews Band lyrics! So, I took a gander...and now I'm up writing about music when I should be sleeping. I have been a casual DMB fan for years. The music is creative, unique, and Carter, the drummer is incredible! But when you stop and read the lyrics to many of the songs you can't help but wonder...what in the world is this guy talking about?! Some are more straightforward then others, but overall they are deep! And so many, even ones that seem fairly sophomoric can be interpruted in so many different ways. The debate could rage on indefinitely.

Long story short...you gotta love creative music that combines catchy composition with thought provoking lyrics which encourage the listener to draw his/her own conclusion as to the meaning of the song and how, if at all, it relates to his/her life. I know I do. -Bryan

Unique Event Tonight

2009-08-13T08:21:00.000-07:00

I will be DJing an interesting event tonight at the Millenia Mall. Banana Republic is having a new line roll out party for the entire south east region tonight in the Millenia Mall store. Puff n Stuff will be catering and yours truly will be spinning the tunes. Free food and beverage, plus some great tunes and maybe even a deal or two. 5pm-9pm come check it out! See you there!

Tagas Says...Get to know our Staff!

2009-08-12T14:31:00.000-07:00

Many people know Bryan (me), but not everyone knows the rest of the crew. We are very blessed to have such a wonderful team of DJs, Videographers, and all around creative people under the Tagas umbrella! Here is Tagas:

Bryan Taylor, 26, Founder, President
Alisha Bader, 26, Head of Video Department, DJ, Videographer
Marco Polo, 29, DJ, Sales Manager
Jimmy O'Neill, 20, DJ , Lighting technician
Gerry Ariemma, 32, DJ extraordinaire
Sean Schofeild, 31, DJ extraordinaire
Dan Gothe, 29, DJ extraordinaire
Matt MacQueen, 31, Videographer Extraordinaire
Paul Buzkirk, 20, Videographer Extraordinaire

5 members of the Tagas Team...
(left to right, Gerry, Alisha, Bryan, Marco, Jimmy

Stay tuned...meet and greet events will be announced shortly.

Tagas says Welcome!

2009-08-11T15:57:00.000-07:00

Tagas says Welcome to the brand new Tagas blog!
For those of you not familiar with us, hello and thanks for stopping by. Tagas is a cutting edge, enthusiastic company of professional 20 and 30 somethings dedicated to creating Platinum Weddings and Events at mainstream prices. We specialize in Lighting, Event Production, DJ, and Videography services for weddings, school events, and corporate clients.
As the first blog post, I believe we should bring you up to date on some of the coolest events we've had thus far in 2009. We will focus on very fun lighting events...Check them out and leave your comments! Talk to you soon! -Bryan Taylor, Founder, Tagas Events

Custom textured and outdoor area lighting
Venue: Winter Park Chapel
Photo: Winter Park Photography

Blue Up-Lighting, table Pin Spotting

Photo: Mike Briggs
Venue: Isleworth Country Club

Pink area lighting, cake pin spotting
Venue: Solivita
Photos: Sunshine Photographics

LED area and up-lighting, custom ceiling textured lights
Venue: Rosen Centre Hotel
Floral/Decor: Greenery Productions

Winter Wonderland Theme Wedding
LED up-lighting, custom GOBO, Plexiglas Glow Table
Venue: Winter Park Civic Center
Photos: Mike Briggs

Tagas Complete Theme/Decor Design Package
New Years Eve 2009 Miami Meets Orlando
Venue: Heaven Event Center
Photos: Elegant Imagery

Custom GOBO and LED up-lights
Venue: Wyndham International Drive