Integrating a DJ into the band

 Gold Standard is a DJ+Vocals+Drums trio with many tools in our arsenal: live percussion, saxophones, flute, vocals, harmonization, and drum set, and on the electronic side: samples, looping, effects (on electronic and live instruments) and DJ techniques.

By integrating a full DJ setup into the band, we share the benefits of mixing acoustic and electronic elements which groups like Bonobo, Disclosure, Odesza, Daft Punk, Major Lazer, have used to rise to success.

Here are a few fun things that we can do as a result of integrating a DJ into the mix:

The vocals, saxes, flute, drums, and percussion all go through my DJ mixer.  As such I have access to DJ tools like live looping, echo, delay, phaser, filters, EQ, and all the other effects built into a mixer. 

Because I’m mixing live as a DJ, we keep the music flowing uninterrupted throughout our sets.  Bands may start and stop songs, pause in-between, tune guitars and have stretches of awkward silence.   Our music takes twists and turns, rises and falls, but keeps flowing as the three of us stretch and weave new spontaneous creations along with time honored hits throughout our set.

I run sound from my spot on stage with the band, whether we are performing for a large Aria Las Vegas venue or a small backyard wedding, I can keep the vocal and drum mix consistent so we sound our best.  I control stage volume and our in ear monitor mixes, eliminating the risk of noisy feedback from stage monitors or inconsistencies as we change venues.   We are set and locked in from start to finish and don’t need lengthy sound checks or separate audio engineers.  

I’m constantly updating and adding to my large and organized sample and music library to integrate new and classic sounds into our music.  While Conn is singing one of our popular songs, we might bring in a string breakdown and switch gears, changing the mood of the music behind the song on a dime, all the while improvising on our acoustic instruments.  

Photos by Pierce and Paris Tews

Photos from Summer Weddings with Pepper Nix

Pepper Nix and I have been working on events together for over 10 years now!  She is an amazing photojournalist with a talent to bring out the best in people.  Here are a few pictures of some Destination Park City Weddings from the summer.

Photos by @peppernix

Outdoor Retailer Experticity Party

Twice a year Salt Lake City Utah hosts the Outdoor Retailer Market. Retailers come from far and wide to expand their businesses. Thursday August 4th we had the privilege of being a part of it. 

Experticity hosted a special event for those in town for ODR. It was held at the Museum of Contemporary Art. 

The Red Carpet event was nothing short of extraordinary. We were placed on a white LED Stage where we started the night with Jazz/Lounge versions of Standards to welcome in the Audience. 

Then when the night progressed, we brought up the beat for some dancing. It was a perfect evening!

Experticity knows how to throw a party! 

The photo booth at the Experticity event.

The white LED stage at the event was on point.

Conn was in rare form, feeding off the energy of the crowd. It was a packed house and an unforgettable party.

The night closed with a huge dance party. Experticity does it right.

Thank you to Outdoor Retailer and Experticity for having us be a part of an amazing evening!

Why Live Music Matters

In the age of ubiquitous on-demand music, why would you ever need live musicians to perform for a concert, party, or event? Can't you just set up a couple of speakers, plug in an iPod, and play your favorite playlists from Spotify or Apple Music? The truth is, yes there is more music than ever available at our fingertips, but there is something to be said for the fact that live event ticket sales have gone up in recent years. Why is that? Because when the recorded form of music is everywhere, the live form becomes more scarce, more valuable, and more impactful. 

It is probably one of the most gratifying parts of being a musician, the part when someone comes up to you after a successful performance and thanks you for an unforgettable night. Music has the power to affect our emotions more deeply than probably any other art form, it triggers memories, it can instantly lift your spirit, it fills your heart and makes you feel alive. Even in the smallest babies you can see how music instinctively causes them to dance and celebrate. That is why music has been a part of human celebration for thousands and thousands of years, it is simply part of our DNA. 

With this in mind, you should consider your choice of live musicians the single most important decision you make when you're considering throwing a party or an event. A great planner or coordinator will make recommendations based on the kind of atmosphere that needs to be created, the ability of the group to deliver, and the professionalism with which they approach their work. A poorly chosen band can ruin the night and turn what would have been an unforgettably beautiful experience into something unforgettably devastating. 

So next time you're considering doing a concert, event, or party right, don't short change yourself and go with sub-standard live music. Get quality and watch the music transform your event into an unforgettable, soul-stirring, memory-making kind of experience, the kind that will pay dividends for decades to come.

Gold Standard performs for the White Party 2016 photo by AngelaHowardPhoto.com

A Brief History of Gold Standard

It all started back in about 1963 when Douglas Curran (Conn Curran's father) and Serge Benson (Rob Bennion's great uncle) sang together in a group in college called the "Intervals". (Doug Curran on the Left Serge Benson next to him on the right)

The Intervals (1963)

Much further down the road, Rob joined a group with Bart Olson, called "The Shriners of Ska". 

The Shriners of Ska

A little while later Rob joined a group with two of Conn's older brothers, Quinn and Shane Curran, known as "The Groove at Mikes Deli". Conn was just a little tike at the time, attending lots of their shows.

The Groove at Mike's Deli

Then in 2006, Rob joined another Curran band. Another one of Conn's brothers, Sean Curran, started a hip hop band called "Wreck Room".

Wreck Room

During this time Bart Olson was performing and touring around the country signed to Capitol Records with a band called Ryan Shupe and the RubberBand. 

Ryan Shupe & the RubberBand (2005) Colin Botts, Bart Olson, Ryan Shupe, Roger Archibald, Craig Miner

Then in 2011 Rob, Conn, and Bart became the group "Gold Standard", blending elements of Jazz, Electronic, Dance, and Soul music. In the past 5 years they've performed across the globe from Japan to New York, as passionate as ever about sharing the gift of music.

Performing at the White Party in SLC

Gold Standard in San Francisco

Hiring a Band vs. DJ for your wedding

Music is an essential part of a wedding, and the decision to hire a band or a DJ can be difficult.  Here are a few things to consider:

What is the feel or vibe you are going for?  Music is often what people remember most from a wedding.   

Whether you hire a band or a DJ for your event, a variety of music is needed to appeal to the age range which attends a wedding, keeping your grandparents and the bridal party entertained.    

Budget can be an important factor in the decision making process.  If you hire a string quartet for the ceremony, a jazz band for the cocktails and dinner portion, and a DJ for the dancing, things can get more expensive.   Swing bands can consist of 25 people or more, while DJs often come alone to do the event.  

How much room do you have to set up in at each point of the wedding, and how many different locations will music be needed?  Weddings can have up to 5 different locations for ceremony, cocktails, dinner, reception, and dancing.   Is the band or DJ able to provide music in each of these locations?  Will they need to move from one to another, or do they have enough equipment to set up multiple sound systems or speakers?

Will the band be able to keep the music going while they are on breaks?  No band will play music continuously for the 3-8 hours needed for a wedding.  What is the plan for when they take a break?

Do you want to hear music exactly as you know it, or do you want to hear a musician's interpretation of the hits?  Some bands play songs much like a karaoke track, nearly exactly like the original, some bands remake them to be their own.  Will you have a band perform your first dance, or are you thinking of having it played by a DJ?

It’s good to see the band or DJ perform live.  Also, long before the event a good band or DJ will ask you questions about your musical preferences, family songs and special song requests to make sure your event goes smoothly.  

Because Gold Standard integrates a DJ into the band, our clients can have the best of both worlds: DJ or live music for ceremony, live band for cocktails and reception, and DJ for dancing. 

Summer Mountain Weddings

We love outdoor summer weddings in the mountains.  The fresh air, beautiful flower arrangements, and natural surroundings make Utah an ideal place to get married in the summer.  Here are a few pictures taken by our good friend Mikki Platt at a Utah Summer Wedding.

Mountain Summer Weddings in Utah are always a good idea.

Utah Summer Wedding

Utah Summer Wedding