Paisley Park Review 2017

So the biggest thing on my Prince bucket list was to tour Paisley Park & to attend an "after dark dance party" which happened in these last two nights.

Prince had a standing policy of no cell phones or cameras inside Paisley Park and the people handling the estate are honoring his rule. Which I respect 110%

YES I did dance & can finally say I did it at Paisley Park! The best thing about tonight was people focused on the music and the vibe the DJ was laying down (which was all Prince music). No one was distracted by staring at their cell phones or checking social media or anything like that.

People interacted with each other and everyone had a genuine good time. Like the "good ole days" when folks went out, tonight was a welcome breath of fresh air.

Just as important, the dj did not have to overplay the wobble or Cupid shuffle to get people to dance. People appreciated good music and made that the focus of the evening. I envied that dj tonight..

Wait, there's more..

First off to be able to dj at Paisley Park is a big deal. Here is a quick critique of this cat..

DJ: "Do we have any Prince fans in the house? Make some noise"

Dude, what kind of question is that? We are here at Paisley Park. DUH!

He was playing Erotic City and telling us not to cuss because we were in "Princes house" and that was his rule. He may have been making light of it but anyone that knows anything about Prince knows he didn't do the "nasty songs" for many years.

He stopped the music and wanted to get everyone to the dance floor so he could play "lets go crazy". We headed to the dance floor but for this 48 year old guy that can barely dance, "when doves cry" would have helped my non-rhythmic ass much better.

And now the BIGGEST fail of the night..

He starts playing Vanity "Nasty Girl" and gets on the mic and says...

"How many people remember this from Purple Rain.."

No one made any noise because Vanity nor that song was in the movie you CLOWN!!! If Prince was alive he would have kicked him off the turntables the same way he booted Kim Kardashian from the stage during a concert cause she couldn't dance.

Never the less it was fun and that was most important thing of all..

Happy Fathers Day

My Dad was born in Yugoslavia and came to this country from a refugee camp with the rest of his family in 1952 and settled in Gary Indiana.

He learned the language, went to school, worked multiple jobs to help support the family. Served in the US Army where he met my Mom while stationed in Germany then she came to this country as well.

It is without question that my hustle is inspired by him. Once discharged from the Army he ended up at US Steel in Gary and then they started our family. He opened up a TV Repair Shop and ran that when he was not working in the mill. From a provider standpoint he busted his ass when he got here "fresh off the boat"

Sent my Sisters and I to Catholic School and was always working on something. I would sit in his TV shop amazed at the stuff he was working on sometimes still in his clothes from the mill. Until him and my Mom split, we never did without. Also, his unmentioned generosity with regards to his siblings and such is immeasurable.

So when you see my posts of always working Indiana Grand/Peppers and rarely getting any sleep you now know where I get it from. You get up and get out and provide leaving little room for excuse not to.

Lots of times I get asked from my family, friends & co-workers "Man, I don't see how you do it" my answer is simple "My Dad did it"

Happy Fathers Day, Anthony Bodo

So about last night

To the Righteous Oaks Ballroom..

I've played venues all over the place, worked for NFL, NCAA & Big Ten Events, been on the radio just to name a few things I've done professionally. Google "iamalexb" if u need a credibility check

Tonight was the most unprofessional group of people I've worked with in my life. I wouldn't return even if I was paid double and trust me, I ain't cheap!

And they said..

Alex was present for two hours of the entire event… His substitute DJ arrived two hours late, the speakers were crackly and disruptive during the speeches, and the other DJ didn't play any music for the guests while setting up his reception lights until reminded...Probably 15 or 20 minutes after the guests were back in the ballroom. Alex may not be cheap, but just because you played some big places doesn't mean you know how to hire a DJ to replace you or have any idea how many of the policies of our facility were broken and pushed and questioned repeatedly before the level of rudeness to staff was such that we shut the bar down until the bride and groom could get things under control. The bar has been open from 530 until 9 o'clock at that point… It was shut down an hour before it was scheduled to close. The couple elected not to reopen. It was completely up to them at all times. We do not run our facility like a bar or nightclub… And the vast majority of our clientele appreciate that our conservative approach maintains a decorum and quality to the experience of our families on a special day. By all means if you want a free-for-all, the Oaks is not for you. If you want to have a beautiful celebration where your liability is protected and the quality of your event is insured, then you'll see this review for what it is. We certainly missed our house DJ tonight…

And I said..

 I don't think anyone wanted a "free for all" so maybe you should just turn it back into a Church since you want to run it that way. To have someone tell me they wanted to "talk to me" because I made the entire audience laugh is ridiculous.

As I was trying to finish the garter toss and this lunatic owner is yelling at my partner in front of everyone is more like a "free for all" than anything you allege.

I'm sorry you missed your "house Dj" tonight. Hopefully he had a nice night off building up his iTunes library to gouge the next client that may not want to venture past Wilkinson Indiana to have a better time.

Purple Rain And..

I hate when media says "the purple rain singer" when they talk about Prince and his passing. I know that is the most identifiable album in his career but wait, there is more..

When he released his first album he didn't have musicians brought in from the record label, he didn't have any crazy financing. In fact he played all 27 instruments himself to get the record done. He plays 27 INSTRUMENTS people!

Since he hit the scene is 1978, it went something like this..
Studio albums 39
Live albums 4
Compilation albums 6
Video albums 17
Music videos 136
EPs 13
Singles 104
Remix albums 1

So now some possible drug use may overshadow the accomplishments and genius that he was and still will be for a long while. There are plenty of today’s musicians that use drugs for various reasons but everyone seems to ignore that. As long as we have music to listen to or a concert to attend, we ignore it until something fatal happens then people jump on the bandwagon of “drug addict” and all the other negative name calling that goes with the stigma

Anyone that knows anything about Prince would know he was always making music non-stop, touring and his “pop up concerts” that happen and turn into almost all night party. So with those demands put on by himself and his hungry fans wanting more, is it that unrealistic if he was “medicating” to continue at the pace that he was? It’s not like he dropped off the planet and was playing video games and shooting up like when Alice in Chains lead singer was found.

If the overdose story was true think about leading up to it. He was scheduled to play Atlanta and had to cancel because he was sick. He rescheduled to make everyone happy, played his ass off and obviously may have overdone it on painkillers after the show. He wasn’t just flying around getting high, he was in true pain to keep up. If you have ever been to a Prince concert (I’ve been to 6), you will know what a product he delivers

I am not condoning or cursing the situation but, he is not the only person famous or non that might have been in the situation to medicate to keep going. I chose to remember the genius that was Prince and not judge whatever may have aided him along the way..

Been a LONG while

Man it has been ages since I have had a few free minutes. Standby

Labor Day

Everytime Labor Day comes around I take a good look at how fortunate I am to have the careers that I do and with schedules and such that let me be as many places as I can and provide for my family the best way I know how. For the last TWENTY YEARS I have worked my full time job and worked as a club DJ from 3-4 nights a week. Plus, can't forget side jobs with The Colts. NCAA, Big Ten and other projects releated to entertainment as well.

Not bad from a kid from Gary who was told more often than not how I was going to end up and quite frankly has ended up opposite from what the naysayers including some family who have dogged me out throughout the years have said. It's all good, it motivates me to keep doing what I do as best as I can.

So to everyone who earns an honest living and busts thier ass day in and day out I salute you and we all should keep doing what we do. I am proud of where I came from and where I have yet to go. I will never say I am "the best" at what I do but, It has gotten me this far and with no signs of slowing down anytime soon.

Happy Labor Day

Alex

Family Tree & Some Broken Branches

A few weeks ago I learned that My Aunt's health was in decline due to the return of her Cancer. My wife and I made two trips up to Northwest Indiana to visit her. One visit she was alert & the other she was in Hospice in her final days. She was a very private person and wanted her passing to be very low key with not many people knowing so of course we all respected that.

When she passed I was sad and also sad for my Father who was by her side for at least 3 years battling this horrible disease. They were not only brother & sister, they were like "buddies". As the Memorial & Burial were being planned, my sister mentioned that my Dad wanted me to give the Eulogy . I did stress over it but was able to get it written and delivered it proudly to those in attendance.

The Memorial service was on a Monday so our plan was to drive up on Sunday, spend time with my Dad & Sis and try and swing by my Mom's and see her as well. For some reason I have family that don't want to spend any time with me and give every excuse on why "they can't make it". It makes me sad with one main reason that I work two jobs that aren't typical 9-5 gigs. I have projects related to those jobs as well that keep me busy every week at 70+ hours not to mention traveling for them.

If I can make time to find someone to watch our dogs, make the 2.5 hour trip to Northwest Indiana, spend the $100 in gas then there has to be some give on the other end.

As I was stressing over writing the Eulogy on that Sunday morning I jump on Facebook & learn that my Godmother was in Indianapolis to visit. She has two kids that live out here that know how to get a hold of me, she has my number and not one attempt was made to contact me. I would never expect anyone to do what I do to make a visit happen but knowing there was a chance in a public setting when folks were "out & about" when she was here that I could have dropped by to say hello and I was denied, really hurts. It hurts even more as My Aunt had just passed, I was sad and worried about my Dad & the rest of my family and it would have been a nice shoulder to cry on if only for a few minutes.

Heading North on that Sunday I tried to call my Mother to set up a visit with her and she had a few reasons of "being tired", "not in a good mood", etc. I respect that and I still love her but that started to hurt as well. I didn't want to give her the news over the phone so I told her I would just try the next day (after the Memorial service).

Monday after the Memorial Service & Lunch we tried again to "swing by Crown Point" to see my Mom and she said she "had plans". Did I cry? Yes I did. Was I still looking for another shoulder to lean on? Absolutely! I am bad at calling and checking in on the family, sadly I am and I am working on that. But I would think being able to see me in person would trump the rest. Spending time in person catching up, grabbing a bite to eat or whatever would be awesome. I know if any of my family came to Indy, I would do EVERYTHING in my power to spend that precious time together.

Maybe I am the one that is wrong, maybe my basic expectations of the family dynamic is just way off base. Or is it??

Happy Easter to Everyone and ALL of my Family..