DJ James Vincent
Kailua, Hawaii, Essex
(36)
Kailua, Hawaii, Essex
(36)
New Hawaii resident DJ James Vincent has over 15 years of event experience in the New York City area as well as many locations in the mainland US, Europe, Canada, Mexico & Puerto Rico. Having provided top notch dj services for thousands of wedding guests, party revelers & club goers as well as a lengthy list of celebrity clients, James is fully insured and equipped with his own sound system & lighting.
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36 customer reviews
Tiffany Goodman
We hired DJ James as our wedding DJ and we could not be any happier that we did! DJ James is fun, energetic and a true professional.
He knows how to read a crowd and keep the energy and atmosphere lively.
DJ James is so kind, humble and fun. He also MC’ed and made our wedding day so easy. He is accommodating and truly a pleasure to work with. Thank you DJ James! Our guests still rave about how fun and awesome our wedding was, notably the DJ behind it all!
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Reply from DJ James Vincent
Tiffany & Colin, I’m so glad you guys were happy with everything I provided and that everyone had such a good time!! The weather was perfect — even by Hawaii standards. You both looked amazing! Everyone was a whole lot of fun and ready to party!! It’s awesome to see you still posting pics on Instagram 2 months later! Wishing you both a lot of love and luck in your new life together!!! All the best, James
Stephanie Woo
DJ James Vincent is top notch!
His services are the best bang for the buck! He provided more hours/time for the event.
He tailors music selection to the audience and creates/blends/overlaps music. He provided all requested songs, even foreign and older songs. There is a variety of services that he brings to the table, such as equipment, music collection, MC and lighting. His level of customer service, professionalism, responsiveness and attention to detail is top notch. He’s a great communication, is responsive, is intelligent, know what would be a good fit, competent, follows through, a good speaker (articulate, clear, very smooth and natural), and is professional, yet personable, and fun where he lightens up the mood with his humor. He’s flexible and adaptable to meet the needs and roll with the punches and any last minute changes.
His DJ booth operated on battery outside so he is not limited to constantly be plugged into a power source. His DJ booth was very stylish, elegant and esthetically appealing; it wasn’t just equipment on a table with wires all over the place. Everything was hidden. He provided microphone and enhanced the live instruments’ performance and worked together with the musicians and singer as well as their equipment. He provided the microphones for the wedding ceremony. He provided lighting at the reception for the dancefloor, where the bride/groom were sitting, and the lights danced across the entire room, so when the main lights went out the aesthetic lighting further enhanced the décor and served functionality as well.
He cut specific parts out of 5 different songs and put them together to make one medley compilation recording that we used for the first dance as husband and wife. He provided it early so that the bride and groom had time to practice their dance to the actual audio that would play at the reception.
He was recommended to us by another DJ we had seen perform/know who was very impressive. However, he was unavailable for our event. So he introduced and connected us to DJ James Vincent. So even among DJ's in the profession he is recommended.
Upon connecting with DJ James Vincent, we text messaged to get the event info packet via e-mail and to set up a telephone appointment a few weeks prior to the wedding to review the packet and ask any questions we had and he had. We communicated primarily through e-mail and text messages and his responses were always timely if not immediate.
We had a packed program. I e-mailed multiple updates to the program. I even texted last minute changes to the program the day of the event. He was able to hang with all the different activities and changes. With this DJ, all the songs for all the special events were on par. He played all the songs that we had designated as MP (Must Play). He went over how to say everyone’s name properly (pronunciation) and how would like them introduced (formally vs. informally), he even practiced saying everyone’s names. While others with microphone time butchered names, the DJ did great with the names.
Even though we had a lot of planning. What truly made things perfect and the overall event a success was in the execution and follow-through. Even the last minute changes were implemented. All messages to the guests were delivered at the correct times. Doubling as the MC, he was essential in keeping the program on track time-wise. Even though our program had very tight windows and we had a LOT of stuff to cover.
The event was amazing! DJ James Vincent being the DJ AND MC for the event played an enormous roll in that. The success of the night wouldn’t have been possible without him, he was a key player who we relied on heavily.
Even if everything hadn’t been planned out and we had left the bulk of everything up to the DJ, I have complete faith that DJ James Vincent would have provided and that we would have had a great time.
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Reply from DJ James Vincent
Stephanie, WOW!!! This is some review! Thank you very much for all the compliments and kind words!!! Thank YOU for all your help acting as wedding planner before and during you Mom & new Step-Dad’s big day! I recognize that you really put in a lot of work & effort to ensure they had an amazing wedding —and it was! So crazy to look back and realize it all came together in about a month. Thank You & Wily and Guilly & Bill very much for putting your faith in me and selecting me to play a part in their special day! Wishing the newlyweds and the whole family lots of love and luck and many more happy memories to be made in the years to come! All the best, James
Stephanie Woo
DJ James Vincent is top notch!
Summary: He provides sound and lite lighting equipment, more hours, tailors music selection, creates/blends/overlaps music, has great communication, is responsive, gives attention to detail, is intelligent, competent, follows through, and is professional, yet personable, humorous and fun.
Details: (See below)
Price: Price wise, there is cheaper and there is more expensive, but his service is the best bang for the buck! The variety of services that he brings to the table, the amount of contracted time given to the event, his level of customer service, professionalism, responsiveness, attention to details and humor are top notch. Out of the DJ’s we canvased, there were DJs that were more expensive and provided less hours and all they did was DJ.
MC Services: He not only offered being a DJ but also being an MC. So rather than having to pay 2 separate parties we only had to pay 1. And we didn’t have to force the task on anyone family/friend. He took the time to get the pronunciation of everyone’s names and even practiced saying it. And he’s funny! He’s a good speaker (articulate and clear), lightens up the mood with his humor, and is very personable. His delivery and transitions were very smooth and natural.
Hours: He offered more hours, which we needed because we had music before the wedding as the guests were arriving, at the start/end of the wedding ceremony, during cocktail hour, and at the reception.
So in terms of general details and services (Price, Hours, DJ, MC), he was the best pick. I mention that first because that’s the first things being looked at during the initial screening process. But that’s only the start of the awesomeness!
What makes him top notch is in the details and refined/specific services. There were things we had done at the wedding and reception that other DJ’s may not have been able to produce but he had it all on lock.
Equipment: His DJ booth operated on battery outside, as the wedding was outside, so he was able to set up wherever was best without the limitation of having to plug in to a power source. (His DJ booth was very stylish and esthetically appealing; it wasn’t just equipment on a table with wires all over the place. Everything was hidden, stylish yet elegant and fit the esthetics of the event.) He provided microphone and speaker support to our live instruments and the musician’s looper that connected to his equipment as the wedding party walked the aisle. He played the karaoke version of a song while there was a live singer using his microphone as the bride walked the aisle. they used his microphone during the wedding for the Reverand and exchange of vows. He also providing lighting at the reception for the dancefloor and where the bride/groom were sitting so when the main lights went out the aesthetic lighting further enhanced the décor and served functionality as well.
Music splicing/mixing/overlapping: He cut specific parts out of 5 different songs and put them together to make one medley compilation recording that we used for the first dance as husband and wife. He provided it early so that the bride and groom had time to practice their dance to the actual audio that would play at the reception. He used the music we had listed and blended/overlapped/played clips of songs as we had requested so that we could get more songs in since the dance portion of the evening was short. So he didn’t just play a song from beginning to end which anyone can make a playlist and do. We got more songs in and it made our dance portion feel longer and we all enjoyed ourselves more as that was the let loose have fun now that all the programed stuff was over with.
Music Selection: We received a packet via e-mail to fill out, which ensured that the music we and our guests would enjoy. We were able to select what music we wanted to play at what parts of the wedding (prior to the wedding while guests are waiting, during cocktail hour, during dinner, during dance portion). I’ve seen at other weddings where there was no music plan and the DJ played whatever he wanted, and maybe great for a birthday party, but it was not music for a wedding event. But for this wedding event with this DJ, the music itself was awesome. After all we personally picked it. I’ve seen DJs were they just play you-tube songs, commercials and all! And DJs were the songs they played for special events were not appropriate (like a romantic, lovey-dovey song when there was an impromptu dance for the groom with the mother- yikes!). With this DJ all the songs for all the special events were on par. He played all the songs that we had designated as MP (Must Play).
Attention to Detail: With the packet he sent out, the wedding party’s names had to be itemized, which makes sense since he is MCing and has to introduce them. He even goes over how to say everyone’s name properly (pronunciation) and how would like them introduced (formally vs. informally). For ours, we included titles when our wedding party members were introduced (doctor, esquire, professor, retired, rank, etc) because that was what the groom wanted and the DJ followed through with the request.
Communication: He has excellent communication skills. We text messaged to get the email packet and set up a telephone appointment a few weeks prior to the wedding to review the packet and ask any questions we had and he had. We communicated primarily through e-mail and text messages and his responses were always timely if not immediate. (Tip: Help him help you. Set him up for success and he’ll set your event up for success. We were very particular and he met all of our requests gracefully.)
Competence: Since everything was planned, it was perfect. We had a packed program. We had a special 70th Anniversary Dance for the groom’s parents where we played their song. For their entrance we had a special song that held special memories and value to the elders of their family. For the bride’s father and mother we had a funny song in their native dialect. We had birthday celebrant to a dance to a birthday song. For the bride-father dance we played a song that meant a lot to the bride to dance with her father with. For the groom-mother dance, the mother was 90 years old and we used a song that was a favorite of hers and fit the occasion. We had so many different things happening during the wedding reception, performances that he provided music for. I e-mailed multiple updates to the program. I even texted last minute changes to the program the day of the event. He was able to hang with all the different activities and changes.
Follow-Through: But the perfection was not just due to the planning. What truly made things perfect and the overall event a success was in the execution and follow-through. Even the last minute changes were implemented. All the messages to deliver to the guests were delivered at the correct times (last call for alcohol, location for smoking & bathroom, instructions as to what is happening next/now/and how to go about doing it). Doubling as the MC, he was essential in keeping the program on track time-wise. Even though our program had very tight windows and we had a LOT of stuff to cover. As with most schedules, not everything strictly adheres to the time line. But even with small delays, we were able to get things back on track and got it all in while staying on schedule overall.
Conclusion: The event was amazing! And DJ James Vincent DJing AND MCing the event played an enormous roll in that. While he covered the front (playing the music and doing the MC stuff), I was able to do the background stuff like running to the performer to ask if she’s ready and then giving her guidance on what to do (“go to the DJ and tell him you’re ready”). The success of the night wouldn’t have been possible without him, he was a key player who we relied on heavily.
And honestly, even if everything hadn’t been so well planned out and we had left the bulk of everything up to the DJ, I have complete faith that DJ James Vincent would have provided and that we would have had a great time. Even with just the one phone call meeting, after discussing what type of music we liked he was already naming off songs that were going to be adding onto the list (at the time of the call, we had only identified the special event songs and hadn’t selected the dance portion songs yet). So after just the one phone call, he got it! He is intelligent to know what would be a good fit, he’s flexible and adaptable to meet the needs and roll with the punches, and he's funny, articulate and personable which are desirable traits for an MC to lighten and lead any event.
He was recommended to us by another DJ we had seen perform/know who was very impressive. However, he was unavailable for our event. So he introduced and connected us to DJ James Vincent. So even among DJ's in the profession he is recommended.
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Reply from DJ James Vincent
Stephanie, WOW!!! This is some review! Thank you very much for all the compliments and kind words!!! Thank YOU for all your help acting as wedding planner before and during you Mom & new Step-Dad’s big day! I recognize that you really put in a lot of work & effort to ensure they had an amazing wedding —and it was! So crazy to look back and realize it all came together in about a month. Thank You & Wily and Guilly & Bill very much for putting your faith in me and selecting me to play a part in their special day! Wishing the newlyweds and the whole family lots of love and luck and many more happy memories to be made in the years to come! All the best, James
Brooke Morales
Wedding DJ
Me and my husband talked to many DJs for our wedding. Talking to DJ Vincent was always so great and wholesome! It felt like talking to an old friend every time. He was very communicable and understanding (even when we changed my father-daughter dance song at the last minute) He was amazing at our wedding and we’re so glad we found him! Highly recommend. And thank you so much DJ Vincent for being there 100% through everything!!! More...
Garrett Yrigoyen
Best dj ever! Highly recommend.
Our wedding coordinator recommended DJ James Vincent and we are so glad that she did because he was super easy to work with and his playlists were absolutely fire.
He didn't play any songs that we did not want, and he helped keep the flow of our wedding going right along perfectly. His mixes brought joy to everyones ears! He got everyone and kept everyone out on the dance floor the entire time because he had an unreal upbeat energy and amazing vibe. Everyone loved him and so did we. I would book him 100 times over again.
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Reply from DJ James Vincent
Garrett & Alex -- the reels of your wedding on my Instagram are still getting 'likes' 6 months later! I would totally play your wedding 100 times over again. The vibes & energy of you two and all your guests, having Jason there to accompany me with his sax--everything just came together and made for an incredible night. Thank You both for selecting me to play a part in your very special day! Cheers to many, many, happy, healthy years together!!! All the best, James
Lisa Lehner
James was wonderful to work with. He was on time and made the evening go so smoothly. He had a great selection of music and was able to accommodate all of our requests. Everyone has a great time and danced the night away. James was so kind and easy to talk to. We would use him again More...
Y Pet
We hired DJ James for our daughter's sweet 16 party and DJ James went above and beyond to make this day special for her.
He first provided a link to music he used for a recent event and then, asked our daughter to provide whatever she'd like to hear. Our daughter created a grouping of songs on Spotify abd DJ James took that, enhanced it, and totally nailed it that evening.
One aside; DJ James instigated a "father-daughter dance" like what's typically done at weddings, and well ... there wasn't a dry eye in the house as only a few days prior to the party, our daughter lost her grandpa and those that knew of the recent lost saw our daughter and my husband dance ... lots of emotion.
Mahalo nui DJ James
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Paulette B
DJ
DJ James Vincent was honestly one of the best parts about our wedding! Not only did he have everyone on the dance floor, but he also helped with detail’s beyond anything we could’ve asked for.
He sent us weather updates when we were worried, he answered questions about timeline details when we couldn't get ahold of our coordinator, he truly went above and BEYOND.
There were some unexpected things we added last minute to our timeline and he was able to accommodate without hesitation. He also made sure to play requested music (and not play requested music).
Overall James made our wedding truly spectacular. He went above and beyond what is expected from a DJ, and would HIGHLY recommend him to anyone looking!
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Christina Farmer
James was wonderful to work with and brought such a fun charismatic energy to your wedding. He was professional, on time, listened to our needs and wants and delivered exceptional service. Very personable and kind and kept us on track for pocking out songs, keeping our guests organized and gave out great directions. If you're looking for an easy going DJ look no further. Thank you so much! More...
Reply from DJ James Vincent
Hey Christina! It was definitely a beautiful day at Moana Surfrider. Thank You & Aaron very much for having me play a part in your day! All the best, James
Carly
DJ
DJ James Vincent aka DJ Vince is AMAZING! He was was so professional throughout the entire process and the playlist he had for us was the BEST! We had him play for 6 hours at my daughter's graduation party and it was awesome. We had nice Hawaiian music in the beginning, and then all the local reggae jams so we could all dance at the end! Mahalo DJ Vince! You're the best! I'll be contacting you for a hana hou soon! More...
Joshua Figueira
DJ
James was an amazing DJ, we got so many compliments from our guests impressed by his level of talent. In addition to his ability as a DJ, he aided us on our wedding day by announcing different parts of the agenda in a fun way and being able to hook up video through his sound system so eveyone could hear. He was an amazing find! I highly recommend him. More...
Reply from DJ James Vincent
Joshua & Erica— it was a whole lot of fun working with you both and helping make your wedding a great day!! Thanks very much for having me as your DJ!!! 💜🤙😎🤙💜
Tasha Wills
DJ
DJ James will definitely be our dj for future parties we have. He arrived early to set up, the lighting was perfect and music was fun for all to enjoy. It was a surprise party for my husband and DJ James was able to play my husband entrance music and even had a song that is not heard on the radio, which I had requested for my husband and daughter to dance to. Thank you James for your professionalism and talent! More...
Reply from DJ James Vincent
Thanks so much Tasha! It was #awesome to see Justin’s face as he rolled up and realized what was going on!!! You guys did a great job keeping everything a surprise😎 I can’t wait for the next #HouseOfWills party🙌🙌🙌🙌 All the best to you & the family! James
Kenneth
Wedding DJ
James is an outstanding DJ. He is an even better person. I highly recommend DJ James Vincent.
Reply from DJ James Vincent
Thanks very much for the kind words Kenneth!! I had a great time playing for you & Kessa and all your guests!! Congrats & Many Mahalos for having me as your DJ!!!
Beverly Royden
DJ
DJ James Vincent is easy to work with. I have hired him to be our DJ in June 2024. Can't give 5 stars yet because we have not seen his work yet.
Kenneth
Wedding DJ
Courteous, understanding, customer friendly and very professional.
Tiana Abbley
Dj James was the perfect DJ for our wedding. The initial DJ we booked flaked but luckily a friend referred DJ James to us. With less than 2 weeks until the wedding, he was able to work with our music selections and genres and had the dance floor packed all night. Definitely a highlight of our night! More...
Reply from DJ James Vincent
Tiana & Jazmine — i said it from the first phone call — i think it was meant to be—lol! I had soooo much fun on our calls and your wedding was definitely #LIT🔥🔥🔥 Congrats & Mahalo for having me play a part in your very special day! 💜🤙😎🤙💜
Maisie
Wedding DJ
James was so pleasant to work with and an overall genuine person. Our guests LOVED the music he played for our reception which took our suggestions and favorite songs + his expertise. He kept everyone dancing for hours. Book him!! More...
Reply from DJ James Vincent
It was a pleasure working with you over the last year to make your wedding such a great time! You & Liam and your guests were a lot of fun and I’m so glad to hear everyone had such an awesome time! Wishing you & Liam an amazing Hawaiian Honeymoon and many happy healthy years together!!!
Lori
Dj James Vincent is simply a professional and always starts with YES! He is the calmest person at any event, he's talented and honest. He also works harder than any DJ or Musical Director I know. More...
sofia
Working with DJ Vincent was one of the best decisions we made for our wedding. He was so easy to work with and helped us out so much when it came down to picking specific songs for specific parts of the wedding that my husband and I never even thought about like the song for throwing the bouquet and the song for the cake cutting. Dj Vincent also really did amazing squeezing in the hundreds of songs we had on our wedding playlist! Would 1000% recommend him for your next wedding or big event! More...
Reply from DJ James Vincent
Sofia & Tim, I'm glad to hear that I could be such a help choosing your special songs! I loved being way up in the Jumanji valley for your ceremony and then heading back over to Paliku for reception. Your friends & family were definitely ready to party when it was time to dance! I had an amazing time playing for all of you! Wishing you both a whole lot of love & luck & happy healthy years ahead! Thanks so much for having this DJ at your wedding!!! All the best, DJ James Vincent
Lauren A.
Our team absolutely loved working with DJ James! He was very open to our ideas, communicative, and a great entertainer the day of our event. He was also a great Emcee and was able to get our attendees and volunteers excited during the event. We would definitely want to work with him again and refer him to others! More...
Reply from DJ James Vincent
Thanks so much Lauren! You & Dior and the rest of your team were fantastic to work with too and I look forward to more events with you all at Chaminade U!!
Nick Wojtysiak
DJ James Vincent was the best decision we made when it came to our wedding! At first I thought I was biased because it was my own wedding, but everyone that attended the wedding kept bringing up how amazing the music, entertainment, and speeches were from our DJ. DJ James provided an amazing soundtrack, set up, and lighting system. He was also very active being a great wedding host, and is comfortable speaking in front of others making announcements throughout the wedding to keep everything on schedule. No matter your style or taste in Music, DJ James provides the highest class of entertainment! More...
Reply from DJ James Vincent
Nick - Thanks so much to you & Sue for having me play a part in your wedding. You & your guests were amazing to play for—all ages, all on the dance floor from start to finish, all loving the old school right up to the latest hits. Wishing you both a wonderful new life and many happy healthy years together!!!
Devin
James was so much fun to work with, I would highly recommend him! We didn't have to worry about anything during our reception.
He was extremely flexible, friendly and attentive to what music our guests wanted throughout the day.
We are so glad we chose him! I wish we could have another wedding JUST to have James back as our dj. If you're in need of a dj, I would choose James any day.
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Reply from DJ James Vincent
Devin - you & Eric SHOULD have another wedding! lol. Seriously --the way everything came together super quick and the result was beautiful. The two of you doing your first dance with your little baby. All of your friends & family joining you on the dance floor. I'm ready to do it all again when you guys are! Thank you again for including me in your very special day!
Gina
I can't say enough good things about DJ James. We hired him for our annual paddling hui party. From start to finish, he was an absolute pleasure to work with.
I was the go-between James and the Board of Directors of the paddling club, who all had concerns about what type of music would be played and if their needs would be met. James was so calm and kind about all of it. He was responsive to everyone's requests and made sure to incorporate all of our favorite songs into the setlist, which spanned from the 1960's to 2023.
What really stood out was his ability to read the room and keep the party going all night long. He had everyone on the dance floor and kept the energy high throughout the entire event. It's clear that he is not only talented, but truly loves what he does.
Everyone raved about how much fun they had at the party, and James played a huge part in making it such a success. If you're looking for a DJ for your next event, I highly recommend DJ James.
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Reply from DJ James Vincent
Thanks so much for all the kind words Gina!!! I had a blast playing for you & the rest of Hui Pakolea. It’s been great seeing many of you at other events since. Looking forward to seeing you & Chris and the rest of the crew at another event soon!
Caitlin
Wedding DJ
DJ Jimmy was a phenomenal addition to our wedding. He was the first vendor I booked and was helpful providing recommendations of other vendors. Jimmy was super easy to work with and he was the vendor I always went to when I needed someone to tell me to 'relax and it will all work out'. He played all the right music and was the backbone of our entire reception. I would recommend him to anyone and everyone regardless of the event! More...
Reply from DJ James Vincent
Hi Caitlin! It was a pleasure working with you from day 1! I'm so honored to hear you felt I was your 'goto' when you were stressed about wedding stuff! Super glad that everything worked out and you got your dream wedding and you guys are happy! All the best to many happy year for you & Josh!!!
Christine
Awesome DJ! Good music is the perfect entertainment for any event! DJ Jimmy understands & nails the assignment!!! Definitely on point!!!
Joy Yamane-Wong
DJ
Working with DJ James was great! When you are stressed with your wedding plans and need a DJ, he is the perfect fit. He's so friendly and personable, it seems like you are talking to a friend!
He really made the whole process so easy and everything went great!
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Ryan Michelle
Wedding DJ
If you're looking for a great local DJ to lean on for your event- you found him. James was enjoyable to work with from the very first consultation.
He is responsive, personable, and compassionate. (The latter of which is most appreciated especially with covid and other wedding stresses.) It took a few delays before I was finally able to get married and our DJ was always a call away offering flexibility and support. My husband and I had a sincerely memorable wedding reception. DJ James was able to read the room and keep the moments flowing. Not a single moment was lost that night.
James, Melvin and I are so glad you were a part of our most special day. I keep telling him I wish we could throw another party already! We only had one evening with everyone we loved... I just realized that as I typed it. I can't think of any phase of that night and not think about how much fun it was, how the music made us happy, and how you were patient and caring through every single minute. We appreciate you!
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Carol
DJ
James was very prompt in contacting me. He was very polite and friendly. I look forward to his services for our event.
Joy Yamane
DJ
He was so friendly and accomodating! Highly recommended
Natalie Curtis
Wedding DJ
I would use Jimmy for every event I ever hosted if I could! We recently hired Jimmy for our wedding and all the other positive reviews here are not exaggerating how awesome he was to work with. He really takes your music taste to heart and creates playlists tailored to you and your event. Our group would have partied all night other than the noise curfew of our venue meaning we were forced to leave (trust me no one want to)! Jimmy didn’t miss one thing from introducing the bridal party to first dance to getting the party started. I can’t recommend him enough! More...
Reply from DJ James Vincent
I’d love to make the trip to Australia and play your next big celebration!! You & Ben and your guests turned me on to some great new music (Petit Biscuit & Shallou) AND schooled me on how Tina Turners ‘Nutbush City’ is a must play when Australia or New Zealand is in the house.😜 Wishing you both a great holiday and many more happy healthy years together!!! 😎
Bryn LaReau
Wedding DJ
DJ Jimmy was awesome! He was very professional and attentive to our needs. He did everything we asked of him and made our wedding even more special!
Drake Reed
DJ
Very professional played great music would recommend him for any party
Court & Jon
My then-Fiance/now-husband and I hired DJ James “Jimmy” Vincent for our June 2017 Wedding and it was easily one of the best decisions we made throughout the wedding planning process (seriously! – we STILL get compliments from guests about our DJ). Having been through enough “wedding seasons” I knew when we started the planning process for ourselves that music was one of the most important elements to having a fun and memorable wedding reception. To start, we attempted to interview about a half-dozen local DJs but soon found ourselves exasperated – stock email responses, giving us the run around with prices, “one size fits all” party plans - these other DJs were all about making our wedding about THEM! Then we met Jimmy. One night we attended a Macy’s Registry Event where we planned to look at China patterns & choose silverware. We weren't even thinking about a DJ at the moment. Listening to the music playing during the event we soon caught ourselves commenting over and over again, “wow, I love this song” - the whole night! My fiance & I approached the DJ to ask for his card – we never looked back! DJ James Vincent --Jimmy-- couldn’t be easier to work with. He's pleasant, professional & throughout the process he patiently and quickly responded to all of our questions and last-minute adjustments. He even made a point to meet our wedding coordinator and review the set up prior to the big day (which seems small but you would be surprised how many skip this vital step!). Most importantly, Jimmy really listened to us to cultivate the perfect “sound”/music selection that all of our guests, ages 3 – 95 years old, could enjoy! There are many other things that need attention on your wedding day but music, sound, and atmosphere will not one of them if you hire Jimmy! Frankly, our only regret is that he moved from NYC-metro area and we can’t recommend him to more family and friends. More...
Ken Meisch
When you organize any event and especially a wedding, one of the key topics is for the day and night to be memorable, for everyone. Our plan was for the reception to be a non-stop party, not a traditional follow steps 1,2,3 by any means...and a DJ a REAL DJ was at the top of the priority list. We searched far and wide, and after listening to some mixes that he shared and even checking him out at a local lounge one night without telling him we were going, Jimmy's energy won us over. We had high hopes and expectations and boy did he deliver and then some! To this day, over 8 years later guests still tell us we had one of the best weddings they have ever been to and still talk about how packed the dance floor was the entire time. DJ JVC as we would know him proved he has the skill set, experience, and vision to keep things moving; if even for a moment people started dropping the energy level, he knew how to switch up the mix and keep the party going. He makes it your wedding, not just the typical set of songs that has been played 1000 other times to collect a paycheck. Jimmy personalizes the playlist, switches things up, and reads the crowd on the fly if needed, he is truly in a class of his own. The way he just commanded the crowd with his understanding and appreciation of music was impressive to say the least, with all of the weddings we have attended (a bit bias as it was our own) I have never seen anything like it before! Jimmy has a great personality, he KNOWS his field and is a pure professional; being a DJ is his career, it's his life... not a side job like many DJ gigs are. If you want someone that is going to make your event one you will never forget, or have a wedding that won't be like all of the others, you want the best... then stop reading and just book this guy already! I recommend him so highly that if we ever host something large enough in the future, I'd be willing to fly him back to NJ! More...
Michelle Collazo
My husband and I will be married 5 years this June. We booked Jimmy as our wedding DJ and all I can say is, WOW!! 5 years later and people are STILL talking about what an amazing DJ we had at our wedding. As the daughter of a club DJ (my dad has DJ’d for 30+ years around northern NJ), music was always very important and a big deal for me. So I knew I had to find the right DJ for our wedding. I was nowhere near a “traditional” bride when it came to the music I wanted played. I didn’t want top 40, pop music, slow songs, rap, country, cheesy wedding songs/dances, etc – to this day, I think Jimmy still laughs when he thinks back at our first meeting & how I had the longest “do not play list” he ever saw. I grew up listening to reggae, dub, alternative, techno, punk, hardcore, new wave, etc. I was always worried that I’d have to listen to music at my wedding that I wasn’t a fan of & I really wanted all the genres of music I liked, somehow incorporated. From our very first meeting with Jimmy to the day of our wedding, the whole process was super easy & we couldn’t be any more happier. I think I emailed him a million times and he was always on top of replying, texting or calling me to follow thru with my somewhat “needy” demands. Jimmy was very easy to talk to and once he, my husband & I started discussing what music we really wanted played, he just got it. He understood us and what we really liked and how he could deliver that to a formal event, like our wedding. This is for sure a learned skill, where any good DJ can just read you & present you his ideas that you actually agree with (and I’m not just saying that; if you look back at the beginning of this review, my dad was a DJ, so you could say, I know a thing or two, lol). He gave us some awesome suggestions -- like Vitamin String Quartet, which is a group that plays a lot of songs we’re fans of, but in a classical style. He suggested playing reggae/dub music during my cocktail hour (as a nod to my dad, who’s a huge fan of that music). And during dinner, he played some older alternative tracks, such as “Today” by the Smashing Pumpkins. We only had met with one other DJ company before meeting with Jimmy and I just felt the company wasn’t listening to me and what I wanted. When we met Jimmy, I just knew within the first few minutes, he was the right choice for us. I would hands down book him again and recommend him for any event. (And can I just add, he’s played at Coachella…how cool is that?? I literally tell everyone my wedding DJ played that event.) More...
Reply from DJ James Vincent
Thanks so much Michelle! Super glad to hear your guests still rave about your wedding after so long! I remember your very lengthy 'Do Not Play' list and I also recall being stoked to have a chance to play a whole bunch of music that I often thought would make great wedding playlist for just the right couple -- you & Will!!! I was honored that your Dad --who was a DJ I had actually admired hearing him play at clubs like Loop Lounge & Aldos years before --was up on the dance floor while I was spinning --and not just to the bride/dad dance -lol!! Wishing you both many more happy, healthy years together!!! All the best, James/Jimmy
Dana
DJ James Vincent made my wedding a party to remember!
One of my past jobs was working for an events company that specialized in booking DJ into corporate and private events.
Because of this, when I got engaged and started planning my own wedding, I was fortunate enough to have dozens of talented DJs to choose from. Topping our list was DJ James Vincent. We chose DJ James Vincent to spin our wedding because we knew that he was a true professional. I had witnessed first hand how closely Jimmy works with his wedding clients to ensure they have the perfect day. He really listens to what they want, asks great questions, and gives amazing suggestions. He's spun thousands of events so he knows what works well with crowds of all ages, and can weave that knowledge in with the tastes and requests of the couple in order to give the wedding the perfect, personal vibe.
On the day of my wedding, I was not disappointed! Jimmy followed all the musical cues during the ceremony, played the perfect mood-setting songs during cocktail hour, and then literally had the entire guest list (plus the venue staff) dancing all night. My husband and I still get comments from friends and family members about how good our DJ was, and how much fun they had dancing at the wedding. Thank you, Jimmy, for making our wedding so wonderful. You are the best!
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What’s the secret to keeping a party dancing all night long?
Knowing the crowd that is in front of me & knowing the music THEY want--the latest hits, classic floor fillers and a few things that will surprise them along the way. Reading the energy of the guests and timing when to really pump them up as well as when to give them a moment to breathe or get a drink.
How would you describe your ‘style’?
Open Format is the best overall description of my style of playing and I think it's perfect for weddings since the crowd can be very diverse. Wedding guests are almost always a very varied range of people in the couples lives. Immediate & distant family, childhood & school friends, work associates, neighbors and even drinking buddies. Young, old and everywhere in between. Growing up in New Jersey near the melting pot that is New York City I was constantly interacting & making friends with many different kinds of people. At the same time I developed a taste & love for many different styles of music. Rock, Disco, Hip Hop, New Wave, Reggae, Salsa & Merengue, House, Jazz, R&B, Doo Wop, Big Band, Funk. You may hear every DJ say this but I REALLY & truly do love music. That love & knowledge of music allows me to throw something in the mix for every guest at a wedding or event.
My main dj influences early on were hip hop and house djs that I would hear on the radio and later in bars & nightclubs. House music djs seemed to take you on a musical 'journey' always building and layering while hip hop djs served up a barrage of beats, rhymes and wonderful noise with an urgency and speed. I like to find a balance between the two with my style of playing for a crowd while incorporating music from every genre.
What do you love most about your job?
The best thing about being a DJ is the ability to make people dance and have fun while doing something I love. As a child and young teen at parties I was always going through the hosts music collection selecting what songs to play. It's something that always came naturally to me and it rarely ever feels like a job.
What inspired you to start your own business?
My first week at college I went to the school radio station where I first laid hands on Technics 1200 turntables with the production studio mixing console. I would spend hours in there whenever it was free making mix tapes. The summer after my freshman year I worked 3 jobs to save up for my own set of turntables, mixer & some speakers. When I returned for my sophomore year I started doing parties in my apartment. Sometimes they were planned, sometimes I would just be playing records and friends would show up to hang out and ended up calling more friends to come by. Pretty soon I was getting asked to dj peoples parties and functions for different organizations around campus. When that started happening I knew right away that I could start making money djing. That's exactly what I did and I haven't stopped since.
Why should our clients choose you?
I've been playing records for people at parties most of my life. DJing for me has always been more of a lifestyle than a hobby or job. Since I decided to become a dj over 15 years ago I have literally played events every week. I've spun for every kind of event you might expect to see a dj--nightclub, birthday party, wedding, school dances, concert venue--and some you may not expect--retail stores, sporting event tailgate parties, private eating clubs. My musical roots run deep in many genres. My music collection is constantly updated. My search for 'that perfect playlist' for each event is a constant journey and labor of love for me. I love to work hard at making my clients events awesome.
