Today we’d like to introduce you to Susie Hansen.
Susie, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
The Susie Hansen Latin Band has been playing 110 to 150 events in Southern California for the past 25 years. We are a popular and well-known band. Our specialty is Latin dance music — Salsa, Cumbia, Merengue, Bachata, Bolero and Cha Cha Cha. We also play a wide variety of pop/rock/oldies — disco, classic rock, funk, R&B, swing (like Frank Sinatra), Motown and more. We’re great emcees! We’ll emcee and coordinate your event!
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
The recession has been tough for most entertainers and party planners, but things seem to be smoothing out these days.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Susie Hansen Latin Band story. Tell us more about the business.
We love to help clients by not only providing the entertainment, but also the planning and coordination.
First of all, we have found that there seems to be a growing trend in events of having both a live band and a DJ. That’s why we have created our band-and-DJ package. Typically, live music is played during cocktail hour, dinner and dancing. During dinner, the band’s beautiful music is never too loud for the guests to speak comfortably with each other. The live music sets a sophisticated but fun atmosphere for the entire event.
The band usually plays two lively dance sets, with our DJ playing during the band’s breaks. After the band’s final dance set, the DJ takes over, spinning music until the wee hours of the morning. He can play a wide variety of dance music, using a playlist chosen by the client, including lots of contemporary dance music.
This seems to be the magic formula that really pleases the clients we have worked recently. The band alone or just the DJ doesn’t seem to be enough for today’s parties. The contemporary client wants a good party planner, great live music, a terrific DJ and an excellent emcee!!
Most clients we speak to definitely want us to coordinate and help them with the planning as well, especially weddings.
For a wedding, we meet with the bridal couple about three or four months before their wedding to work out their entire timeline. We start by discussing the prelude (music that is played as guests are being seated for the ceremony) and the wedding ceremony music, with its many processionals and recessionals. The timeline we create then continues through their cocktail hour, the dinner and dancing, with all of their formalities included. We create the script through which we emcee the grand entrance, the first dance, the toasts, a centerpiece game, the father/daughter and mother/son dances, the cake cutting, the money dance, the bouquet and garter toss, and more. Both the band and DJ can emcee in English and Spanish.
When you hire the Susie Hansen Latin Band, you get a full package. You even get a coordinator and emcee for free!
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
Lots of good luck!
Contact Info:
- Address: Mt Washington, Los Angeles CA
- Website: www.susiehansen.com
- Phone: 323-224-8006
- Email: [email protected]
- Other: Susie Hansen Latin Band
Image Credit:
Photo credit: Steve Shoemaker
