Jimmy Maxwell Thursday, September 12, 2013 at 10:33AM Always such a pleasure to play at the D-Day Museum. In this clip, Ms. Jenny Leigh sings "Summer of 69" for a corporate party, accompanied by the full JMO horn section.
JMO is available for parties of all shape and size. To talk about booking this great New Orleans band at your next affair, give us a call today!
Jimmy Maxwell Wednesday, August 14, 2013 at 10:24AM JMO is the perfect solution for corporate event music. Our years of experience make us confident that we can provide the entertainment that will make your event the best it can be. We can make sure there will be great music when you want it and not when you don’t. From revving up the dance party to providing soft background music, JMO is a master at navigating each and every special occasion.
You want to match the right entertainment to the goals of the event. If it’s a corporate motivational speech convention you are giving, that’s a different type of entertainment music than say a corporate Christmas party for the employees, staff and their partners. Depending on the type of corporate gathering, you may want New Orleans jazz, a DJ, or both! JMO can provide any and all of these services for you. They are the most trustworthy experts in the southern U.S. when it comes to music for events of all sizes.
If you are the person in charge of finding great corporate event music, then you will find JMO to be a tremendous resource in achieving all the events of your company’s goals. We will make you shine as we are the best of the best. We take our events as seriously as you do. By hiring corporate entertainment like JMO, we understand that you are responsible for coordinating 
every aspect of your convention's goals. We want to do our part to help you, the event coordinator, shine, and we do this by making the music the hit of the gathering! Of that you can be sure.
JMO is dependable, trustworthy, and guaranteed fun corporate event entertainment. Our musicians are world-renowned and the music is simply the best. Get in touch today to talk about pricing and details!
Jimmy Maxwell Wednesday, July 31, 2013 at 11:27AM At JMO, we've been producing entertainment for more than a few decades. Our extensive experience gives us a particular vantage point on the field, and today we'd like to offer a few things you might not have thought to consider as you book music for a business affair.
So, what should you look for in a band? Here are 6 tips to choosing the perfect entertainment for a corporate event!
A good first step is to the song list of the band you're considering. Most bands post a list of songs on their website but the question to ask yourself is “what am I looking for”? A good place to start is by organization of the song list. Does it make sense? How is it grouped, by decades, by artist, by genre? Or is half of the listed devoted to original music? For most corporate events, original music is not what you have in mind. You’re looking for a band that covers the popular genre(s) that appeal to your guests. It may be a blue-collar good time country music party which can include old and new country songs along with cajun and zydeco music.
JMO plays the JAFRA convention in New Orleans, July 2013It may be that you're taking your corporate event to the next level and hosting an upper-end awards banquet that rewards top sales associates or devisions. In this case you may want Broadway style or Academy Award type theme music. Some companies will go even heavier down the "theme night" route (i.e. James Bond themed entertainment, Dixieland jazz band with a classic second line, etc.), which can be a fun way to make "just another convention" actually a pretty fun party. The point is matching the right band for the right set of circumstances. You may want to consider a band that focuses on a wide variety of entertainment. These types of groups are known to play just about anything, anytime and anywhere.
Ok, you’ve checked the song list and decided on the genre of the party, but what does the band look like? Or, what do they sound like? Check their photos and video pages of their website. Do they wear various costumes? Costumes is a term borrowed from the theatrical world, but in band lingo means a wide variety of things. Your concern is do they show up in boots to a black tie affair (thank you Garth Brooks!). Do they wear tuxedos and formal gowns, or do are they bluejeans/flannel/t-shirts to a formal event? There’s nothing that says you can’t mix and match these concepts now-a-days. It's just important to remember that 1) it’s your decision, and 2) you should be aware of these variables as you book the entertainment.
Remember, the band is a major driver in the "feel" of the evening and of your event. The band is often on stage all night, and will at some point have the focus every event attendee (including your boss and co-workers) as the evening progresses.
The entertainment you choose also drives the energy of the audience which is something else you can secretly check out in the videos. It's easy to get a feel for the band, but equally important is to watch for how the crowd is reacting to the band. Is this the one time each year when your company gets to let loose (dance all night, sing along, participate in line dances, be pulled up on stage) or the only chance to have meaningful conversations outside of the office (network, enjoy the background music, connect with the CEO at a sophisticated and timeless party)? It's your choice, but remember that the band you hire will make all the difference!
You’re right, no body uses press clippings any more. What an archaic term that has become. But most bands also have their online equivalent called “comments” or “reviews.” This is that peer review process that has come to work so well. Are they drawing good reviews on their website? How many followers do they have on Facebook? Are they on other social media sites? Do they have comments or subscribers on YouTube? This is not a tell all or end all decision maker for the band but it will offer you some guidance.
Be sure to ask the band if they are flexible in terms of set up, break time, green room accommodations and most of all, volume levels. There’s nothing worse than the band that won’t turn down the volume while people are having dinner conversation. Conversely, your party can be a dud if the band can’t step up to the plate (so to speak) and take the evening to the next level once the crowd has finished dinner. That’s the time to kick up your heels and dance the night away.
Does the band have a profile that includes: photos, video, audio, and song list? Do they have recommendations and or comments critiquing or thanking them for a great job? Do they seem able to provide exactly the kind of evening you were imagining in terms of dress, theme, dancing, and logistical flexibility? If you take care of all of these variables in advance, you're all set to have a great party that will keep business flowing all year long.
If you're in the New Orleans area or would like to book JMO for your next business affair anywhere in the nation, check out our corporate event music page to give you an idea of what JMO can offer. Whether you choose us or someone else, best of luck in your search and we hope you have a great party!
Jimmy Maxwell Saturday, May 18, 2013 at 6:29AM DO YOU NEED FLOWERS AT YOUR EVENT?
Yes. No. Maybe. It depends.
No one NEEDS flowers but as you create an environment conducive to being in harmony with your goals and desires (think feng shui), then flowers may add an excellent detail to the room or space. Maybe a few roses here or a few hydrangeas there. Maybe a room full of flowers, but whatever you choose, it will have an impact on your space and hence your guests.
Music is similar, weather it s for a corporate event or non-profit gala. It can do many things from add to the atmosphere to entertaining a small group or it may even provide for social interaction. Dancing is always a nice way to meet and interact with people. It provides for some non-verbal input; a way to evaluate social skills, or it may pull people to your event. Think about what a celebrity named entertainer could do to help you draw a crowd.
When selecting musical entertainment, the first things to consider are your vision and goal. Is it to raise funds, thank patrons, raise awareness or all three? Also consider space, number of guest, the "feel" for the event and if some level of music would enhance that event.
Then consider the budgets. There's the food budget, decor (flowers) budget, room rental budget, and printing budget. Music is one of those items.
If you'd like to discuss musical styles and their influence on events, then give us a call. Perhaps we can be of help, or point you in the right direction or maybe just offer some friendly advice and suggestions. In any event, (Ok. That's a REALLY bad pun!) give us a call. We're happy to talk about your vision and what we can do to help.
From annual galas to benefit dinners, JMO understands relationships and how to play for parties. Our goal is to allow you as the event planner to focus on your mission. We are proud of our ties to so many wonderful non-profit organizations that return year after year to allow us to entertain at their most significant fundraising events.
Jimmy Maxwell Sunday, January 27, 2013 at 5:07PM Whether it's a wedding reception, gala fund raiser, or corporate event, muisic adds an extra demension to the these special occasions. With that in mind, we were recently asked about possible venues. Here are a few of our favorites:
Each of these venues offer unique ambience but you can be sure the professionalism, service and attention to detail is first rate for each of them. Be sure to ask about dance floor and staging options. You may have to pay extra for lighting the room. Those instruments draw a lot of power. For various possibilities of corporate event music, give us a call. You'll be glad you did! We can either provide the entertainment you have in mind, or point you in a direction of where to find it. We recognize that your needs can be varied and you can count on our year of experience to help complete your vision.
