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Thinking about using an ipod for your wedding or corporate party? you might want to read this before making your final decision.

An ipod is no substitution for a DJ – here’s why:

• · You will still need a live person to handle the ipod – somebody to set it up and to operate it. And if you are hosting or planning your own event, you don’t want to be fiddling with equipment – you have a lot of other things to manage.
• · You may need a microphone to make announcements and speeches. Do you have the equipment to integrate both a mic and music? And how comfortable do you feel about public speaking? A DJ can be your MC and is used to talking in front of a crowd.
• · You are probably going to have to rent equipment anyway – at least a good sound system. Please don’t use a boombox! Do you know a reliable supplier? Do you know how to set it up and connect it to your ipod? A DJ already knows all of these aspects.
• · There is no way to predict the future! There is no surety that the playlist(s) you make for your party will work with the crowd. It’s a DJ’s job to read the crowd and respond musically in the moment – it’s a skill that comes with experience. How many times have you deejayed and read a crowd? Leave it to a professional!

Bottomline – if you are a DIY-type and want to build your own music through an ipod, you’re going to create more things for yourself to do…more stress points! You have bigger and better things to plan and oversee, so hire a good DJ to handle the details of the equipment and the music.

Article by Andrew Ettenhofer

“Please pass along Michelle and I’s huge “Thank You!!” to yourself and the rest of the team at Fig.  We couldn’t have been more pleased with the personality, professionalism, and experience level of everyone.  It is clear you all enjoy very much and take pride in what you do which made our wedding day even more special.”

Michelle and Jeff 8.21.09

fig provided deejay, video and photo for Michelle and Jeff’s wedding at Hotel 71.

Check out more about how to book us for your wedding @ http://www.figgy.net/Moddeal/index.html.

At fig we constantly look at ways to increase the quality and impact of our work.  This year we decided to start doing fashion photography.  But before we did, we did some research and invested into the world of fashion.  “You can never do enough research,” once said John Lassater at Pixar, and we agree.  So first we started at trying to understand the history of fashion photography and where it all came from.  From photographers like Irving Penn, Richard Avedon, Martin Munkacsi, David Bailey, Louise Dahl-Wolfe, Helmut Newton, Herb Ritz, Patrick Demarchelier, Steven Meisel, Mario Testino, & Annie Leibovitz to name a few.  Why would we do this kind of research you might ask?

Well like all history, without understanding, it will repeat itself.  In photography and art, copying and duplicating what has been done is not what you want to be doing.  From all this research and understanding these artists, a true photographer will want to attempt to create more than a photograph but art.  So every shoot we do, we take everything into full consideration.  Light, clothes, makeup, model, hair, locations, what’s in trend, not in trend, and what would get us excited to create.  We feel that the more positive creative energy that is put into a project together as a collective, it reflects that energy in the photographs.

Here are some of our favorite inspirational photographers recently;  from Nick Knight, Paolo Reversi, Glen Luchford, Tim Walker, & Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott.

Back in the spring, long standing client Billy Dec came to Fig to design the personal branding and personal blog- A Chicago Thing. With Dec’s style and vision, Fig put together a blog suited to keep Chicago up to date with the city and Dec’s latest happenings. The site not only launched online, but launched with a huge party thrown at the Underground and appearances by Busta Rhymes and Nick Cannon.

Fig is very excited about the huge success of the blog. After the design was finished, Fig has stayed onboard consulting on ways to reach new audiences and engage with friends and visitors. Billy Dec’s blog was recently selected to be a feature blogger on ChicagoNow.com. Fig was also asked to help out with campaigns to create buzz around new Chicago 2016 Video Blog’s Dec has been working on behind the scenes.

All in all – the Billy Dec and Fig partnership has turned out to be a fun successful experiment, and has given Fig the resources and experience to leverage into other client’s social media needs.

Check out the new video:

Coming Soon! The Blow out Event of the Summer.

Fig vs. Revel video battle.
In this video, fig ramps it up as the professionals who take out the Revel thugs. Saving the world from bad video everywhere.

The Event is taking place in Chicago soon.

Check out the fig vs. Revel fan page on facebook:

Cross your fingers and toes, a fig film is in the running for winning Best Video for an Event!

Check out the Case Study and Video here:

On July 27, a group of industry professionals gathered at Trump International Hotel & Tower to judge the submissions for BizBash’s first Chicago Event Style Awards. Here’s a list of finalists; we’ll announce the winners at the BizBash Expo on August 20 at the Merchandise Mart. You’ll find more information about the show here.

Best Video for an Event
Syd Jerome’s 50th Anniversary  
Submitted by Fig Media

Toshiba’s Navy Pier Sake Ceremony
Submitted by Go West Events and Multimedia

Van Cleef & Arpels’ “High Jewelry” Dinner
Submitted by Glow Design Group

So, just what should you have your DJ play during your cocktail hour at your wedding… After all it is only an hour, which is 15-20 songs. Don’t frett because really you can play whatever the heck you would like. Here are some suggestions..

Start my considering your venue… If you are at a classic Chicago venue like Salvatore’s, Spiaggia, the Drake.. Looking over the Mag Mile then Frank just may be the way to go. Jazz can never do you no wrong in this city.

Or maybe you are at a more lounge modern loft or hotel space like Prairie Productions, Illuminating Company, or the W Hotel. I totally suggest more of a loungey feel, down tempo music, and maybe down tempo remixes. Also, some spaces totally have an artsy feel like the MCA, A New Leaf, and Catalyst Ranch… This is the perfect opportunity to kick in your Lolla fav’s and play some chill and upbeat Indie songs. Again the space of your party can totally set the backdrop for music you want to hear.

I also suggest thinking about the season that your event is in. Summer always makes me want to break out my reggae mixes if I am outside in the sun.. Perfect for an early outside wedding.. Winter events are often so romantic and cozy, and I think there are so many beautiful love songs that can work as a back drop.

These are just a few places to start… Bottom line you can do whatever ya like. I think as long as you are sensitive to people’s ears, songs are generally upbeat and fun, and have a good progression… Your mix will rock.

Here are some artist/albums I suggest:
Jazz- I love to play the Verve Remixed CD’s (Volume 1-3)
Downtempo/Lounge Music- Thievery Corporation, Hotel Costes, Bonobo, Flying Lotus, Zero 7, Morcheeba, Air
Indie Rock- Chromeo, Black Kids, MGMT, LCD System, Phoenix, Spoon, Shinjuku Zulu  

Feel free to email me to create your next playlist: megan@figgy.net