The Hollow

The Place for Sharing Thoughts

January 18 2019 J.J. Aguilar

Planning a special event for a special person

Planning a special event for a special person

You are planning a special event for a special person or maybe a large event for a lot of special people, and you’re looking for an entertaining DJ who will treat you professionally but still be fun and easy to work with, right? Please take a moment and READ OUR REVIEWS, and then when you are ready to schedule a consultation with your DJ give us a contact, and we will take care of the rest.

We are professionals who know music and understand planning. We have A LOT of experience with every kind of event, from birthday parties to anniversary parties. Our reviews are excellent, and our clients regularly rehire us for their next event! Our pricing is fair, honest, and open, and it is readily available on the Hollow House Entertainment Rates Page.

If you are planning a party that you want your guests to remember for years to come, then it is important to remember that the entertainment is very important. It is likely that you won’t remember the food or the decorations, but you will definitely remember if your music and dancing was great! It doesn’t make sense to put so much time and effort into planning the guest list, organizing the seating arrangements, food, and decorations only to hire amateur DJ talent, so make sure you hire the best. SCHEDULE YOUR CONSULTATION with Hollow House Entertainment today.

January 08 2019 DJ Lux

Much Appreciation

Much Appreciation

I am very humbled by all the support that I received from my clients who keep on requesting my DJ skills.  I greatly appreciate my booking manager who keeps my schedule filled, plus it helps me to pay my bills and keep my girlfriend happy (that is the most important thing to do).  So here is to another great year with all my fans.

October 08 2018 J.J. Aguilar

31 Garter Toss Songs for Your Wedding Reception

31 Garter Toss Songs for Your Wedding Reception

Welcome to All Hollow House Entertainment!  Are you looking for a fun song for your wedding Garter Toss?  You’ve found the list of our 30 favorite Garter Toss songs below. We are a wedding DJ company based in Austin, TX.  We do a lot of weddings and we think these are great garter toss songs for your wedding.  Some I’ve seen and played and some are just my picks that I’m hoping to see one day.  Enjoy and have fun!

  • Hot in Here
  • Beat It
  • Legs
  • Rico Suave
  • Bad to the Bone
  • Stray Cat Strut
  • Let’s Get it On
  • I Like It Like that
  • I’m Just a Gigalo 
  • Shaft
  • Another One Bites the Dust
  • If You Think I’m Sexy
  • Baby Daddy
  • Secret Agent Man
  • Keeps Your Hands to Yourself
  • Freddie’s Dead
  • Mission Impossible Theme    
  • Oh Yeah
  • Pretty Woman
  • The Stripper
  • Super freak
  • Wild Thing
  • Strokin’
  • Da Butt
  • Bad Boys
  • Foxy Lady
  • Just a Gigilo
  • Sharp Dressed Man
  • I’m Too Sexy
  • Treat her Like a Lady
July 23 2017 J.J. Aguilar

What a Summer

What a Summer

Wow this Summer Season has been over the top on bookings.  We must have struck a chord somewhere, because my phone has been blowing up on requests.  Remember, you can use our on-line Contact Form to get ahold of me if you cannot get through on my phone 512-695-1891.  I will try to get back in contact with you as soon as I can or one of the staff who helps with event set-ups will get in touch with you.

September 15 2014 J.J. Aguilar

How Hollow House Entertainment DJs Differ From Other Austin DJ Companies

How Hollow House Entertainment DJs Differ From Other Austin DJ Companies

When you’re looking for a DJ in Austin for your special event, are you aware of what the differences are between each DJ or DJ company besides pricing? We’d like to help you by covering some key topics and features that will help you know what to look for and to really get to know your DJ so you can make the best decision on who to hire for your special day.

Who will your event or wedding DJ be?

Some Austin DJ companies will have you speak to a salesperson who will tell you all about the company and it’s services and pricing, they’ll learn a little bit about you and your event and then distribute the job to a DJ they feel would be a good fit for you. With these companies, you’re not even talking to the person who will organize and plan your event with you. There are companies whose business model is to not assign the DJ to your event until a week or two before your event. We’ve heard of companies who simply collect your money and then send an email that says “Thank you for your business, your DJ will contact you in the weeks leading up to your event. Have a great day.” This feels very automated and impersonal. It also makes it hard to build a connection and really get a DJ who specifically fits your needs for your special occasion. You don’t really get to “choose” your DJ. You won’t know some of the key factors that make a DJ/MC great. You won’t know if they have good MC skills, or if they are really familiar with all of the intricate details you’ve planned for and dreamed of. These are not questions you want answered weeks or days before or especially the day of your event!

At Hollow House Entertainment you are contacted directly by your DJ from the start. We like to be very involved in the planning process and really get to know our clients personally. Many of our clients become friends and it’s common for us to be invited to birthdays and dinners with them long after their event with us has passed. We’ve even heard guests asks the bride and groom, “how long have you known your DJ?” often thinking our clients hired a friend because we take the time to really get to know our clients, to know the names of their honored guests, and to at least “seem” like we’re very familiar with the client and their immediate family/friends. For us it’s not just the music but it’s knowing and being able to convey the client or couple’s “story”. We build a relationship that lasts. It shows a level of professionalism, but also a connection greater than just being all about the money and the business. We take great care in getting to know our client’s and creating a unique, personal experience for them and their guests. Leaving it up to chance with who will be your DJ is not an option with us. We look forward to knowing our clients and their family and friends.

How will you get in touch with your DJ and when will you be contacted back?

One of the things we pride ourselves on is our prompt communication. You’ll have our direct cell number and email from the start if you ever have any questions. Our goal is always 24 hours or less on returning your call or email. Don’t be surprised if you are contacted immediately though. We do this not just for our clients, but for wedding planners and vendors as well. We like to stay on the same page with everyone and when you don’t hear back from people it leaves a lot of guesswork that can be stressful. Many clients thank us and are amazed when we return their calls promptly, they even leave reviews about our outstanding communication. Like any business, we do have boundaries, we try not to accept calls really late at night or on holidays, and during peak event/wedding season we can’t always get right back to people, but we make our clients a priority where other DJ’s might wait several days to respond. That’s just unacceptable to us.

“Don’t put off tomorrow, what you can do today.” We check our emails regularly on the go. I mean, who isn’t carrying their phone with them everywhere these days? We are easy to reach and even if your DJ is working an event and you need some general information, our team will try get back to you with an answer usually within 24 hours max. There’s also an accountant and web developer to help you troubleshoot through any areas of the website or contract; should you need it. Communication is what keeps things running smoothly and is a standard practice at Elegant Event Entertainment.

How can you make sure all your songs/Wedding information/announcement requests are received, stored and seen by your DJ?

While some DJ’s may ask you to fill out a form and fax or email a sheet of songs, we would rather not take the chance of missing a song or activity that’s special to you. We use a custom “Online Event Planning System”. This very modern tool helps keeps you in control of the songs and timeline information and stores it permanently for you and your DJ to see. You get a personal log in and password to access your own planner through our website client login link. The planner also has suggestions for Top Dance/Highlight Songs (e.g. Wedding Ceremony Processional Songs, Grand Entrance, First dance, Father/Daughter, Cake Cutting, Bouquet; Garter Toss etc.) to help with those songs that can be a bit tricky to figure out.

You can preview songs before you select them, add notes to special songs you’d like dedicated to someone special, and even choose songs for a “Do Not Play List” which we adhere to in our contract. There’s also a place to structure your timeline and add your wedding party information. The best part is that all of this can be done from your smartphone or tablet!! So if you’re out and about and a song starts playing that you think would go great at your event, just log on and throw it in your planner! Anyday, anytime!

Mobile convenience is a standard in today’s society and we enjoy bringing that convenience to our clients. You can even give your access to friends or family members to help with music planning but do so sparingly, remember, it’s your wedding! With all the planning you have ahead of you it’s nice to have a system you can manage from anywhere you are, whenever you’d like. Our online event planning system is viewed and edited by your DJ as well, so he is always aware of changes you’re making, and when it’s time to have your Final planning meeting, all of that pertinent info is kept safe in one area.

These are just a few of the ways we stand out from many of our competitors and keep our reputation so solid. In our opinion, a top notch event requires great entertainment and the best ways to insure that starts with great communication with your DJ (the DJ who is actually going to be helping with all of your planning and performing at and executing your event), personalized services tailored to your individual needs, and an online system that makes planning a breeze. Your DJ should be someone you trust and believe in to do a great job, not only because we’re being paid to, but because we have an actual relationship and we want to see you and your guests happy. As we say “we’re fully invested in your event until the very last song”and when the music stops, we guarantee that we’re your DJ company of choice for life. Several things really make an event amazing; the venue, the food, and the party! You don’t want to skimp on these or enter in blindly making your decision. It’s your biggest day, make it count! We hope this has helped you in some way and you see the level we go to making sure the planning is easy and you’re confident in our Event Wedding DJ Services in Austin! Have a great time setting up your special occasion and we look forward to hearing from you to meet and hopefully hire one of our Hollow House Entertainment DJs soon!

October 01 2012 J.J. Aguilar

Austin DJ: Party DJ vs. an iPod or CD Player

Austin DJ: Party DJ vs. an iPod or CD Player

It is easy to think that you can replace an Austin DJ service with a CD player but an Austin DJ provides more than just music. An Austin DJ helps set the atmosphere of a party. A great party DJ will be able to keep the audience engaged by responding to their musical requests and providing friendly conversation. The DJs choice of music and talents at reading a crowd will help to create the atmosphere of your event. Through the use of the right type of music at an appropriate volume your DJ will provide the backdrop to many activities such as gift-opening at a bir

Playing a radio at a party may seem like the easy option but you run the risk of boring your guests with unwanted advertisements and announcements by radio DJs or offending them with inappropriate songs. Of course you can avoid these problems by hiring a party DJ who will play music chosen in advance and interact with the crowd in the manner you require and of course will not play any adverts.

Often DJs will bring their own disco lights. If you want your party to be a success, make sure you hire an Austin DJ. The service includes all the music and entertainment as well as high quality professional equipment to ensure the perfect party atmosphere. For an unforgettable experience there is not much that can beat a live DJ mixing your favorite tunes. It is certainly way beyond the effect a boombox can provide. If you want to transform your simple gathering into the event of the century make sure you engage the services of a quality party DJ.

If you’ve been handed the task of providing the entertainment for a friend’s birthday party or organizing an evening of activities for a wedding reception make sure that your first port of call is a quality party DJ. The addition of DJ music to your event will overawe your family, friends and co-workers.

When you hire an Austin DJ they may also help you with the event planning as well as give you recommendations on suppliers and other party vendors. A good party DJ will have a professional yet fun-loving attitude as well as a willingness to help you with all the aspects of your event. However, at the end of the day you’ll get the credit for finding and hiring such a talented individual.

September 01 2012 J.J. Aguilar

Austin DJ: The Function of a Party DJ

Austin DJ: The Function of a Party DJ

For any party DJ their first job is supplying the music. A good Austin DJ will know when the music needs to be loud and when it needs to be quiet, for example during a speech or a meal. Knowledge regarding the placement and operation of equipment is also important in a good Austin DJ, who will know how to place equipment so that it is out of the way but still works effectively. Before the actual day of the event invite your party DJ to view the space so that he can work out how best to utilize the room.

Your Austin DJ can do more besides spinning discs. Your Austin DJ may also be a talented MC, so check to see if they can MC your event. This is a role that DJs hired for professional award ceremonies or wedding receptions are used to filling and means that they will be directing and introducing the entertainment for the evening. Your Austin DJ will introduce various sections of the event such as musical acts, speakers or even games and also make announcements. All these functions make up the role of MC or ‘master of ceremonies’.

The presence of a professional and accomplished speaker at a professional function or wedding reception can not be underestimated. As the MC your lively Austin DJ may be able to help timid speakers out with their speeches or even turn a potentially boring awards ceremony into an entertaining evening. You can also experiment with genres, for example, an Austin DJ mixing old ‘30s songs into the play list may add an interesting twist to a friend’s birthday. A techno DJ, may be an inspiration at an offi

Your Austin DJ may also be a skilled event planner. As well as DJing they may be willing to help you coordinate other aspects of your event, other acts for example or basic needs like caterers and drivers. When you’re trying to coordinate all the elements of a large event having someone to help you out can be a big relief. Working in the party industry means that DJs have access to a variety of party supplies vendors and service providers and are often able to make recommendations. This way your Austin DJ is more than just a service person, they are a helpful connection to the ‘party service’ network.

The key function of an Austin DJ is the injection of enough energy into an event to turn it from a gathering of awkward people into a lively party. When you are choosing an Austin DJ, make sure you have them perform a ‘test run’ for you and a few friends in your chosen party space. This will allow you to gauge at first hand the personality, voice and energy of your chosen DJ. You may also want to consider the style of your event, one particular Austin DJ may be perfect for your friends wedding reception but you may need a different Austin DJ for your mother’

August 01 2012 J.J. Aguilar

Party like You’re Rich and Famous with an Austin DJ

Party like You’re Rich and Famous with an Austin DJ

Every large party needs the services of an Austin DJ. As the host you need to be able to mix and mingle with your guests and the last thing you need is to worry about is the music. Let a party DJ take care of it for you. They will make sure that the correct mood and atmosphere is created to help make your party successful.

The phrase "party DJ" may automatically make you think of rap or rave music. However, the play list is actually chosen by you. Should rock music be your favorite genre then your Austin DJ will bring plenty of CDS or .mp3s of bands like U2 and Led Zeppelin. You can listen to your own customized song list without having to worry about owning all the music yourself when you hire an Austin DJ. Instead your Austin DJ will make sure to double check with you that all the songs you require are in his CD collection. When it comes to music the decision is yours whether it’s a techno DJ you want, or some other type of DJ. If you need your party DJ to work with ‘80s pop-rock, that is also possible. Key to the role of a DJ is the possession of a large collection of 'DJ music' which covers many genres.

July 01 2012 J.J. Aguilar

What Make a Good DJ?

What Make a Good DJ?

What’s makes a good DJ? Someone that can hit the play button on an i-Pod? Or someone that can actually love spinning music to please your crowd? That’s why Hollow House Entertainment can provide your event with great music of your choice to your event from the start till you tell us when to stop the tunes. Hollow is a local Austin DJ, not some commercial drone. 

DJ Hollow will do private parties, birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, benefits, and much more. If you are looking for a professional to do your event, then call now. We have very competitive prices and will also give discounts for any event booked before the end of the year 2012.

Looking for a DJ for your fall, Christmas, wedding or party? Or maybe you need the perfect personality for your New Years Eve Party. Look no further. Send me an email with your name and phone number where I can contact you our call us. I am looking forward to hearing from you. 

October 08 2011 J.J. Aguilar

54 New Current Wedding Cocktail Love Songs or First Dance Songs

54 New Current Wedding Cocktail Love Songs or First Dance Songs

Here is a great 2011 list of 54 Modern Current Contemporary Love Songs from Hollow House Entertainment that would be great for weddings and wedding receptions. There is no reason why your wedding reception DJ needs to be old, stale and cheesy! These songs are new and fresh and wonderful! Please take a look and don't forget to leave me a comment if I left anything off.

  • Nothing Left to Lose
  • Half of My Heart
  • She's My Kind of Rain
  • Everybody
  • The Way I Am
  • Wagon Wheel
  • One Day
  • I Do
  • Haven't Met You Yet
  • Marry Me
  • Wedding Dress
  • One Friend
  • You and Me
  • Sweet and Low
  • Lucky
  • Last Request
  • You Are the Best Thing
  • Whatever It Is
  • Honey Let Me Sing You a Song
  • You Picked Me
  • Diamonds
  • Because of You
  • Better Together
  • Seeds of Love
  • I Knew I Loved You
  • Come Away With Me
  • Don't Know Why
  • Sunday Morning
  • Love Story
  • Our Song
  • Realize
  • Falling For You
  • Just the Way You Are
  • Smile
  • Rhythm of Love
  • 1 2 3 4
  • Somewhere Over the Rainbow/Wonderful World
  • I'm Yours
  • You and Me
  • When You Say Nothing At All
  • Then
  • Banana Pancakes
  • Love Song
  • Bubbly
  • Sweetest Thing
  • Heaven
  • Beautiful
  • My Moon, My Man
  • Clumsy
  • I Saw
  • I Love Your Smile
  • All I Want Is You
  • The One Who Loves You The Most
  • Lost Without You
July 01 2010 J.J. Aguilar

What do people look for in a DJ?

What do people look for in a DJ?

I’m sure most people have heard that a good or bad Disc Jockey can make or break (as in ruin) just about any event. So it really pays to do your homework and know what to look for when you go shopping around for a DJ for your special event. It never ceases to amaze me that most folks will pay more attention to, and be willing to spend more money on, other aspects of a typical event; such as catering, photographers,venues…etc. But when it comes to the DJ; the source of entertainment; the person that is going to be responsible for all the announcements, introductions, and overall tempo of the event; it becomes almost an afterthought. A vendor that some people will try to save money on; after already spending so much on the catering and the photographers. BIG MISTAKE!!! After all when it’s all said and done just what do you think people are going to remember the most about the wedding,anniversary, birthday or whatever event it was that they attended? Sure they’ll remember how beautiful the bride looked and how nice the ceremony was. But will they really remember and think fondly about the food that was served….well maybe, if it’s that good:-) or the photographer that was taking pictures? I don’t think so. But what they will remember, is the good time they had dancing to all their favorite tunes. They will remember that the DJ created a fun, festive atmosphere; that they were compelled to dance to the great music that he or she played. They’ll remember that this DJ welcomed and actually played their request. That he/she was all over the place interacting with the guest; making them feel important by including them in the festivities, and making him or herself accessible to them. That is,if you hired a true professional DJ; that knows how to organize and run a party. These attributes (and more) are all important aspects of being a good DJ and entertainer. So what does it take to find the right DJ for your important event? It takes knowledge and understanding of just what a DJ does, or better yet; should do in order to make any event a fun & memorable experience for all those in attendance. You should always ask for, and check references (word of mouth is also good). Look for business associations such as the: American DJ Association (ADJA), National Association of Mobile Entertainers (NAME) or the local Chamber of Commerce. Equally important, is to personally interview and get a feel for the person that is going to act as DJ/Emcee for your event. Do not shop or hire a DJ solely on the basis of price. I know it’s so cliche` to say this, but in this business, as is true for most products & services…..YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR!!!

Another important thing that a good DJ should do for you, is help you plan and organize your event. For example, the planning for any announcements, introductions, and most importantly the timing of all the above. The DJ should provide you with either paperwork or online tools for making a outline of the chain of events that happens at most functions. Sort of a guideline for the DJ to follow; as well as to communicate any needed info to the other vendors such as the caterers, photographers, and staff at the venue. He should also be able to share any unique knowledge and creative ideas he has with you based on his years of experience. If he’s been in this business for a while, and done many different types of events, then he should have all kinds of thoughts on this matter; and be willing to share them with you. Speaking of paperwork; make sure you get everything in writing. Any true professional DJ will provide you with a contract. Spelling out the date, time, price and other agreed upon specifics of the event. An event such as wedding is just too important to cut corners when it comes to an area where most of the focus (aside from the Bride & Groom) is going to be directed to. On that same note, a good wedding DJ should control & direct most of that focus not at himself,but towards the Bride & Groom. After all, it is their day and the very reason why everyone is there to begin with; therefore they should be the focus of all the attention. So do yourself a favor, do your homework and know exactly what it is your looking for in a Disc Jockey for your special event. Here are some interesting statistics to consider (compiled by USA Today from several national sources): 72% of all brides say they wished they would have spent more time choosing their reception entertainment. Almost 100% say they regretted not spending more on their wedding reception entertainment. During wedding planning, brides say their highest priority is their attire, followed by the reception site and caterer;reception entertainment is among the least of their priorities. Yet, within one week after their reception, 78% say they regret not making the entertainment their highest priority. When asked, 81% of guest say that the entertainment is what they remembered most about the reception they attended. If your going to pinch pennies for your reception; the ENTERTAINMENT is the one thing you should NOT skimp on!!!

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