September 3, 2010

The World’s Best Party Band- The Starlight Experience

Happy Sigh from Valerie!  It was another amazing event, another night where I look around and see people joyful, smiling, dancing, celebrating, being exuberant, loving life, letting loose, going wild! And next to me I see the world’s best performers and musicians with the most astounding charisma, passion, talent; the energy rising in swirls, tangible and enlightening, enlivening.   The thing that is so hard to describe, to get across to people, is that there is TRULY NOTHING LIKE THIS PRODUCT IN THE WHOLE  WORLD OF ENTERTAINMENT!   Where can you find a performance so exciting, so polished and sharp and yet still organic and flexible, THAT IS COMPLETELY GEARED FOR PRIVATE EVENTS?  Talent of this magnitude is usually reserved for touring headline acts; Rod Stewart or Diana Krall doing cool jazz standards with a stage full of trumpets, tormbones and saxes; Black Eyed Peas with their different characters presenting their “positive hip-hop” dance hits; Lady Gaga or Madonna whose shows include awesome backup singers/dancers; Bon Jovi rocking out their old and new, Beyonce, Jay-Zee, Alicia Keys, whose shows feature the best of their material with strong backline support and many guest surprises; and the always favorite Earth, Wind and Fire who energize the stage and dazzle crowds with their heartfelt song and expressive dance. You can find those acts on arena stages throughout the world, but what you can’t find anywhere is an ensemble that delivers all of that music AND MORE, performed in a similar style with the same kind of STAR POWER, but that will customize the repertoire for each and every event; can down-play, up-play, down-size, can segueway seamlessly like the best DJ, gliding between genres in a unprecedented way; reading the crowd and switching gears, intuitively designing the play-list IN MOTION to deliver the material that is perfect for this audience, this night, in this moment. No filler songs, no monologues, just song after song, energy building and mounting, all within the parameters of music for a private party.  Not a show, not a concert, just  truly the World’s Best Party Band, The Starlight Experience. Once you have seen this live, it all makes sense.  But words cannot describe it, videos will not capture it, testimonials do not do it justice. The comments might make it sound like it is “too much,” or “over the top,” or “a show not a band…” but people who have actually experienced this product NEVER say that!  It is just the Best of the Best, time and time again.

I am gratified when we are in different cities and we work with various producers, event planners, booking agents, and people always say, “There is really nothing like this product anywhere!” It is so true, and I am excited for even more people to know this; Starlight has created an entertainment concept that is unparalleled and unrivaled, bridging the worlds of Live Music for Private Events and Headline Entertainment. It is for those discerning clients that want to present something astounding, within the parameters of what is sensible and appropriate for a private event.

“Hi Starlight! There are no words to explain the night – NO WORDS – because I listened to Valerie’s suggestions, the music (other than the bride and groom), was talked about the most! You will absolutely be getting calls, but what they won’t realize is that all the extras made it more  than “just a band” and therefore, over the top, in the best way!!  Clintons will never know what they missed – Greenbergs will never forget what they had!! Thank u so much!

With Love,

Lorie Greenberg”

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August 25, 2010

Part 2: Transformational Music, from Weddings to Concerts by Valerie Romanoff, Starlight Orchestras and Vitamin V

Even though we don’t consciously think about it, all music is “transformational” which is why we use it  to accompany so many aspects of our lives. At wedding ceremonies, for example, the music is romantic and emotive, which helps activate the tender places in our heart where we connect with love and longing. The music is also “stately” as we help to create a sense of purpose for the bridal party marching to the altar to witness and participate in the defining moment: the  marriage ceremony.  We are assisting in the energies of “transformation.”

At the party, the music is upbeat and happy, and is designed to move your soul and body in a harmonious dance of celebration and exuberance. The music, if done well, (prepared and led properly) is a catalyst for a different kind of transformation; a journey through a spectrum of energies and emotions; an evening where everyone is moved to some degree, and has participated in creating this harmonious experience together.   This is not a concert or a show with a specific list of all songs to be played, but rather a moving “work in progress” that is facilitated by a trained and initiated Creative Maestro whose gift and goal is to INTUIT what the collective crowd needs for the  co-creative experience of happiness, joy and transformation.  Believe me, I know that most music providers for weddings are not aware of this, let alone studied and practiced in the art of “Intentional Music with Purpose,” the way we are at Starlight.  But this is very real, and I use it as one example of how we may consciously use music for transformation.

Yet another example, and perhaps a more obvious one, is in the music that I am working with in my Vitamin V project.  The first CD is called “Healing Music for Massage, Meditation and Transformation” and the goal is not only to uplift  (which is really the goal of all of my musical endeavors) but also to help assist in the opening of a personal journey, unique to each person. Whether you are sitting in lotus position tapping into stillness, doing Tai Chi  on the lawn, or lying quietly on a massage table, this music of transformation helps create a sense of calm and peace by using sounds and rhythms that affect the energy within and around us. The sound waves in the music can help us delve deeper,  move higher, or perhaps even flow in a way we have not yet conceived of.  Music of transformation.

So, a “Concert of Transformation,” back to my fantasy. I have been thinking about this for a long time, in one form or fashion. And I actually did a small version of this type of “musical gathering” in Sedona, Arizona earlier this year for my CD Release Concert.  The concept is that the music is consciously geared toward creating a personal experience of transformation for everyone present, both individually and collectively. The energies embedded in the sounds are meant to have a transformative and, if you will, “healing” and uplifting affect on all present.  And by using your own focus and intentions, any  of your thoughts, desires and wishes  can be strengthened and amplified by consciously “tuning into”  and using the group energy being created in the environment.  It might sound a little “woo-woo,”  but believe me, this is the Art of the Future, and a viable modality of Holistic Healing Arts for health and wellness. Not to mention blissful and enjoyable!

I always pictured having concerts like these in beautiful outdoor venues, such as the Villa Rufolo in Ravello, Italy, which is perched high above the Amalfi coast overlooking the Mediterranean Sea.

As we begin the event, we ring soft bells and create sounds with Crystal  bowls, whose  waves gently affect our minds, hearts and souls. Slowly we introduce rhythms and textures, adding melodies and layers of harmonies, and set the stage for people to go both deeper and higher, enjoying the peace, finding their own rhythm in the stillness.  As we progress, more elements are added and the tempo and timbre escalates, weaving energetic and uplifting sounds with the Intentional Soundscapes. World beats, exotic instruments, and intuitive musicians guide us through the journey of sound and life. We find our way to a peak of good feeling, rockin’ fun music, joyful and uplifting.  No two concerts are identical, no audience has the same experience, every event is a unique occurrence. The performers are all deeply creative masters, whose contribution is to  blend their musicality with their intuition, bringing forth a new genre of sound-entertainment-experience, with an emphasis on feeling good! This is the world of Vitamin V, this is my concept of  actively engaging in the “Music of Transformation.”  Sounds good to me!

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August 25, 2010

Part 1: The Starlight Theatre and My Fantasy “Transformational Music Concert”

The Starlight Theatre in Kansas City! I had never heard of this place until today.  I was checking my Web Analytics and saw that if you “Google”  a certain theatrical production in Kansas City, you find your way to my Starlight Experience website instead.  I decided to check it out, and found that there is a beautiful building for c0ncerts as well as Broadway-style shows with the same as name as mine! The theatre was originally built in 1925 when the Queen of Rumania came to Kansas City, and the KC Federation of Music organized a showcase of local talent for the Queen that was also open to the public. The theatre was built and rebuilt over the years, with a large donation from Jerry Lewis in 1958. Today it houses such productions as “The Producers” and “Dream Girls” and concerts by Earth, Wind and Fire, Jackson Brown, Bob Dylan, and Pat Benatar this summer alone!  Of course I had an immediate wild fantasy of  doing a “Starlight on Starlight” evening; bringing my Starlight Experience to do a concert there, as well as to perform a set by my original band “Vitamin V!”  While I am on my fantasy, I will say that the flip side to performing the uptempo rockin dance music that Starlight does, is the “Transformational Experiential” music that I do as “Vitamin V.”   Well, this invites a brief explanation and look into my concept of “experiential  (or transformational) music.” So….. scroll up for the next blog post , where I talk about “Transformational Music.”  And meanwhile, if you’re ever in Kansas City, see a show at the Starlight Theatre.


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August 23, 2010

Music For Weddings- Contemporary Ceremony Playlist

Notes

This couple wanted a mix of many of their favorite tunes, and were willing to cross genres. The result, a blend of traditional and contemporary.

Pre-Ceremony Selections

As guests made their way into the ballroom for the ceremony, the string ensemble added to the romantic setting by performing  pieces from famous films, such as:

  • Pretty Woman
  • Life is Beautiful
  • West Side Story

Ceremony Music

UNCHAINED MELODY Grandparents (The Righteous Brothers)
WONDERFUL TONIGHT Groom & Parents (Eric Clapton)
ALL I ASK OF YOU Bridesmaids & Ushers (From Phantom) Lloyd Weber
SWEET CHILD OF MINE Flower Girl (Guns & Roses)
CANON IN D Bride & Parents (Pachelbel)
OH WHAT A NIGHT Recessional (Franki Valli & Four Seasons)

Ensemble

6 Piece String Group- harp, bass, 3 violins, woodwind (sax/clarinet/flute)


August 16, 2010

Broadway Ceremony Song Selections: Starlight Orchestra At A Hotel Pierre Wedding Last Night

Last night we performed for a wedding at one of my favorite venues, the Hotel Pierre. What a fantastic night it was. When I walked in several hours before the wedding was to start, the family and bridal party were having photos taken in the Cotillion Room. I could tell by the upbeat atmosphere in the room, by the big smiles and hearty hugs that this  was going to be a really great night! And so it was!! The string ensemble and I did a run-through of the ceremony selections while the family was posing for their photos. Everyone got excited when they heard the Broadway numbers that the bride and groom had chosen.  We had a harp, 2 violins, cello and bass, and with this ensemble we performed the following selections for the processional:

“Tradition” from Fiddler on The Roof for the Rabbi and 2 sets of grandparents;

“One Boy” from Bye Bye Birdie for the Best Man,

Then, the Groom and his parents walked in to “Luck Be A Lady” from Guys and Dolls.

“Seasons of Love” from Rent for the 8 sets of Bridesmaids and Ushers;

“Popular” was played for the Maid of Honor;

“Thank Heaven for Little Girls,” for the 2 little Flower Girls

Finally, and dramatically, the bride and her parents walked down the aisle to “Memory” from Cats.

At the end, after breaking the glass, everyone recessed to “You’re The One That I Want,” from Grease.

Aftr the cocktail hour, we opened the ballroom with very upbeat dance music. When the Bride and Groom did their grand entracne, they asked us to play  Michael Jackson’s “P.Y.T.!”

They came onto the dance floor and did their dance to the David Cook version of “Always Be My Baby.”

For cake cutting, they dedicated the Grateful Dead’s “Scarlet Begonias” to the Father of the Bride.

Throughout the evening, the Starlight Orchestra performed a variety of contemporary and classic dance music, concentrating on Top 40 (lots of Black Eyed Peas, Rhianna, Lady Gaga!) classic rock (Def Leppard, anyone?) to classic favorites by Abba and Madonna.

The guests had a wild and crazy night, and at this one, so did the band!

I just have to end the way I so often do, and thank my band-mates as well as the team at Starlight for their contribution to making this event as wonderful as it could be.  It takes an enormous effort to present in the maner that we do; to prepare all of the special music, learn all of the intricate parts and make it sound realistic, fresh and exciting, and then add the sparkle that makes it all seem magical!  I used a phrase in a recent article, where I alluded to the “invisible artistry” that goes into band-leading “Starlight style.”  I will leave that as an open ended mysterious statement, and one day I will write about that concept. For now, suffice to say that the result is something truly incomparable, and we are all very proud!

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August 9, 2010

How Expensive is Starlight Orchestras?…Debunking The Myth About Our Pricing!

When most people think of Starlight Orchestras they think huge bands with a big price tag.  Most people don’t realize that Starlight has a wide range of bands and styles and sizes and prices.

Really!

Without publishing prices on-line  (we prefer that you speak to one of our experienced salespeople directly so that we can give you a customized quote for your event), I can say that there is certainly a misconception that Starlight only has big orchestras that do big productions and are mucho expensive.

Here’s the truth: we certainly DO have the biggest, best, most fabulous ensembles available for private party entertainment.  We have earned a well deserved reputation for being the obvious “go-to” folks when you want the very best.

The part people don’t always remember is that we have a full roster of bands in different sizes and prices. From jazz trios, classical groups,  small combos,  specialty acts like Brazilian, Caribbean, World Music, to the Star City Bands at 5-6 pieces, to the Starlight Orchestras that start at 9 pieces, all the way to the larger 15 piece ensembles that we are known for. Not to mention the world reknowned Starlight Experience.

And it is ALL GOOD! Starlight’s quality speaks for itself, having been proven time and again over the past 15+ years.  I would even say that the name “STARLIGHT” has become synonomous with “EXCELLENCE.”  I am so very proud of this.

During this time of economic uncertainty, the team at Starlight  has periodically evaluated, re-evaluated, and made adjustments to our fee structure;  even reducing prices, offering special packages, and adding smaller options. We were featured in New York Magazine-Weddings for offering a “Ridiculously Good Band,” for a ridiculously fair price!

So please DO CALL, do pass the word, and remember that Starlight has musical offerings in a variety of shapes, colors, sizes, and PRICES!

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August 8, 2010

Modern Ceremony Music- Songs From Broadway Shows for Wedding Processional Music

People are often looking for some new ideas for Wedding Music. Here is a playlist from a recent wedding at the Hotel Pierre.
“Tradition” from Fiddler on The Roof for the Rabbi and 2 sets of grandparents;
“One Boy” from Bye Bye Birdie for the Best Man,
“Luck Be A Lady” from Guys and Dolls for the Groom and his parents;
“Seasons of Love” from Rent for the 8 sets of Bridesmaids and Ushers;
“Popular”  for the Maid of Honor;
“Thank Heaven for Little Girls” for the 2 little Flower Girls
Finally, and dramatically, the bride and her parents walked down the aisle to “Memory” from Cats.
“You’re The One That I Want” from Grease for the recessional.
Instrumentation-
The instrumention was  harp, 2 violins, cello and bass
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August 5, 2010

“The Sarah Scott Starlight Orchestra Rocked the House at the Edison Ballroom

From: Neil Zee

Sent: Tuesday, August 03, 2010 6:29 PM

To: Lauren Goldman

Hi Lauren,

The party was amazing!  Sarah and the band were unbelievable! I had many Hank Lane followers there that night.  They were blown away and not to mention I had 4 party planners at the party which I hope brings you well deserved new business.  It was a pleasure dealing with you guys and please feel free to use me as a reference any time. On a personal and professional note, Sarah is truly an amazing person.

It should also be mentioned that Constantine from Rock of Ages was hired to perform that night.  He insisted that he would only play with his guitar player for two songs.  After his gig he was hanging out listening to the band and said, ” I want to perform with this band” and to our surprise he got up and sang another song, “ Don’t Stop Believing’.  I will get the pictures and video when I return from my trip.

It will be my pleasure to supply you with pictures and videos as soon as I get them.  And you can stop by anytime for muffins!  Thanks again.

Neil

Thanks to Lauren Goldman for working so hard to make sure these clients understood what Starlight could bring to their party. This was an amazing event, which we will post more about when we get the photographs, but suffice to say that Starlight Orchestras was in good company with a lineup of impressive entertainment. And thanks to Sarah Scott for once again customizing the band and the performance concept to fit this clients’ vision!

Once again, I am so proud of our company and what we do on a daily basis.

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July 29, 2010

Sarah Scott’s Starlight Orchestra “Exceeds Already High Expectations” at The Seawane Club

Hi Sarah,

I apologize for taking so long to write you as we just got back from our honeymoon.  This is long overdue but I had some stuff to tell you…
AMAZING, INCREDIBLE, BEST BAND EVER, UNBELIEVABLE.

Those were just SOME of the words we are STILL hearing from all of our family and friends.  I can not express enough thanks for how awesome you were and are.  You made our wedding.  Literally.  You were so incredible from the moment we met you and exceeded any and all of the high expectations we had.  We had such an amazing time at our wedding and that was solely to you and your band.  You guys need to write some of your own music and come out with an album or something.  You are too good!  We want to thank you for everything you have done and for being so genuinely nice and caring.  We would recommend you to all of our friends who need a band but we don’t have to.  They heard for themselves.  You can rest assured when (if) my 2 sisters ever get married my parents will definitely be giving you a call for their weddings.  Thanks again for everything and we hope I get to see you/hear you guys again.  Your Kelly Clarkson shout out to me at the end did not go unnoticed either!!
All the best and continued success,

Rachel and David Braverman

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July 26, 2010

The Mission Statement of Starlight Orchestras

I was called upon to write a mission statement of Starlight Orchestras. I enjoyed a moment of delving into the spirit and essence behind what we do here, and got very excited to share these thoughts. I got on a major roll, and kept rolling.  Although it was too long for a “tweet,”  it was just perfect to put forth as an article.  Very often people don’t realize the large scope behind what  we do, and think it is just about being a “good band.”  The band is just the first part of it.  The magic then becomes about how we USE this wonderful band to create moods, weave contrast, orchestrate an evening.

So here is a peak behind the scenes about what motivates us and what we are always working toward…

STARLIGHT’S MISSION STATEMENT

To create excitement and celebration using music and live performance.

To knock your socks off!

To continue setting the standard for excellence and integrity in private party entertainment.

To weave a variety of musical environments throughout the course of an event; from the romance to the chic styling to the blowout party!

To uplift using music and performance.

To participate in bringing people’s dreams to reality.

To be an integral part of your happiest times.

To offer a musical work environment that musicians and performers are proud to be a part of.

To find new talent and put forth new ideas.

To spread and share love.

To do something better than it has been done before.

To continue to pose the question, “How Much Better Can This Be?” and then to go for it, against all odds!

To be on the Leading Edge of creating wonder.

To use music to heal, transcend and transform. (more on this another time!)

To exceed everyone’s expectations time and again.

To perform for people who know the difference.

To create a life opportunity where bandleaders can realize their potential as leaders, creative directors, students of human nature, musical mix-masters, intuitive artists creating music-in-motion that is ever-changing, ever-evolving.

And, lastly, to do our part in creating magical events.

We are so very grateful to our clients, musicians and performers who make it possible to continually achieve these goals, and to have the best time doing it!

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