Disc Jockeys & DJs - NINJA ENTERTAINMENT Serving Brides & Grooms nationwide since 1998 (808) 372-9176 Weddings and Wedding Planning

Three years ago, I was hosting a party at an elegant country club on the Windward side. It was a pretty windy day, but we didn't expect that wind would affect the festivities...

We had just finished the toasts & cake-cutting and were preparing to do the bouquet presentation, which was a game that was sort of similar to musical chairs, without the chairs and with a twist. As I was explaining the activity to the guests, THE POWER GOES OUT. Imagine being plunged into total darkness except for the light of candles on each table. With no electricity, the DJ couldn't play the music for the game (which was a necessary element of the activity), and I couldn't use the microphone to finish the explanation. So what would you do to keep the guests entertained?

Using my voice and musical training (BA Music, UH Manoa, 2000), I projected my voice so that everyone could hear, and asked, under the unique circumstances, if everyone could move closer to the dancefloor. And because we couldn't play the music for the game, I got creative: I asked the groomsmen to come to the dancefloor and SERENADE THE BRIDE with her favorite song!

Of course, the guys didn't know the whole song, and when they stopped, the bride gave away the bouquet to the person she was facing! Not only was the bride laughing at the groomsmen's attempts, but she was still able to give away the bouquet in almost the same way we had originally planned!

But it wasn't over. After the bouquet presentation, we had planned to do the video slideshow, then the First Dance. With no electricity to power the projector, we skipped the slideshow and went to the First Dance. And because I had the music on my laptop, I simply put the laptop on a serving stand on the dancefloor next to the bride & groom, ran it on battery power, and announced to the audience,

"Ladies & Gentlemen, dancing for the first time as husband & wife, Gerald & Lisa Shum."

There was not a dry eye in the room at that moment. Although there was a total blackout at the venue, Lisa & Gerald were still able to enjoy the First Dance. And of course, with no power, it meant the moment was even more special, romantic, and unforgettable!

We followed the First Dance with several songs for the Money Dance, and soon, the power came back on! After watching the cleverly made slideshow, the guests spent the rest of the night dancing and partying until the banquet staff were ready to kick them out!

And that is the most memorable wedding reception that I have ever performed at.

When I'm not helping my brides & grooms plan UNIQUE and MEMORABLE celebrations, I enjoy surfing the web, networking with other wedding professionals, and going on long endurance rides on my road bike.

My computer. Many years ago, the hard drive on my office computer crashed, and I felt unproductive and helpless during the week it took to have it recovered and fixed.

Not an "award", per se, but in October 2008 I received my Certification in the field of Professional Master of Ceremonies. Anyone can pick up a microphone, crack some jokes, and be an emcee, but there are only eight of us in the state of Hawaii who underwent rigorous training to achieve the formal designation "Certified Professional Master of Ceremonies."

Anything my mom makes is comfort food.

I would LOVE to be on Oprah to talk about wedding receptions, and how a great Master of Ceremonies can really make a celebration more extraordinary and unforgettable.

I have an awesome and cute dog named Kona, who is part sausage (dachshund) and part miniature pinscher. I'm so proud of her.

I would like to establish a foundation dedicated to promoting music education, specifically the marching arts (marching band, drum corps, winter guard, etc.). I would also like to start up a professional cycling program in Hawaii, with one team mainly composed of professionals to compete in national and European races, and a second team of mainly locals to serve and promote cycling as a great sport to participate in Hawaii.