On the Monday, September 8, 2014 episode of @Midnight on Comedy Central, I was featured as the subject of a bit about DJs. I was spoofed hard, but I loved every minute of it!
You may recognize @Midnight host Chris Hardwick from AMC’s Talking Dead and Talking Bad. He is the after-show guy for both Walking Dead and Breaking Bad who immediately discusses the new episodes with celebrity superfans. He is a self-proclaimed nerd as I am, so being a fan of both of the AMC award-winning shows myself, it was my great to be ribbed by one of the best.
ABOUT THE SHOW – @MIDNIGHT: This episode of Hardwick’s relatively new show @Midnight features three comedians “playing” on a game show-like set who buzz in and comment on topics like the news, the entertainment world and odd clips from the internet. This one was about WACKY DJ pictures like myself who do weddings and even more particular, BAR MITZVAHS.
BEHIND-THE-SCENES: The picture of me featured was taken at a Halloween wedding I DJ’ed for my good friend and fellow DJ, Pete Sefcik. Chris Hardwick and The Sklar Brothers really had some fun at my expense! Although it was in costume, I was supposed to be dressed as RUN-DMC’s Jam Master Jay in the picture, but really only looked whiter than WonderBread. Alas, I deserved every bit of their spoofing.
This clip is a total riot and I really loved the exposure! Thanks Chris! You are the man! 🙂
Being relatively high on web searches, due to lots of gigs, and also very affordable, I have found that it helps to book early. You usually want to book the DJ you want about 6 months ahead of time to play music at your wedding reception. This gives you plenty of time to plan and do what you need to do.
Also, another tip. Think about priorities. Before you start planning your own wedding, what do you remember about one of the best weddings you have ever gone to? Usually it was great fun (entertainment) and/or the food. If the top two things your guests will remember are entertainment and food, make these your top priorities.
Do your homework. Find the Entertainment and the food first. If you know exactly the band or DJ that you want, and/or the catering company you want, get their available dates and then start looking for the best place. Many brides book a hall on a certain date, only to find that the DJ that they really wanted or the catering company couldn’t accomodate that date. I have had many customers a year ahead of time book me BEFORE they even knew where the hall was going to be, because they liked our product and also our price.
Sometimes, people like a DJ that can actually mix and make songs. Here is sample of my mixing abilities. Tag Team’s “Whoomp There It is” with The Rocky 3 Theme “Eye of the Tiger” by Survivor.
KAMALA SPEAKS – The Official Autobiography of WWE Wrestler Kamala by DJ Kenny Casanova
This blog is mostly “Wedding & Party Planning” advice, but I wanted to take a moment to mention other genre of entertainment I have experience in, publishing. Recently, I was the ghostwriter of an autobiography for a WWE professional wrestler named…
“THE UGANDAN GIANT” KAMALA
James Harris is a former WWE headliner & main eventer. Selling out arenas internationally, “The Ugandan Giant” Kamala, wrestled for 30 years everywhere against Hulk Hogan, The Undertaker and every major star of the 80s and 90s. He was one of the most terrifying and unforgettable villainous wrestlers of all times.
DJ Kenny Casanova’s first published work
At 6’7, 385 pounds, this big man was known for wearing tribal face paint, white stars on his chest and a yellow moon on his belly. As a credit to his portrayal of this character, he was truly believed by fans to be an uncontrollable, dangerous monster. In his scariest match ever, however, he recently lost both of his legs to diabetes. Now his story is available to all.
WHY ONE OF OUR DJS AS THE WRITER? I, DJ Kenny Casanova, played Kamala’s mysterious handler “Kim Chee” on a number of occasions and worked with many top wrestlers from the 1980s on. As well as being a pro-wrestling manager since 1994 with WWE ring announcer experience, I’m also a Fulbright Scholar, an English teacher/writer, and a wedding DJ & event organizer. After learning about Kamala’s battle with diabetes, I figured Kamala’s story alone in book form could be one answer to lost earnings. So, I picked up the phone and made the call. At first, Kamala wanted to make sure my offer was real. It’s not often someone wants to do something without much back in return. Therefore, I had to be grilled by his friend, “The Birdman” Koko B. Ware.
WRITING THE BOOK – After getting The Birman’s blessing and after six months of interviewing Kamala, many more names from the wrestling world stepped up to help. I worked with Jim Ross, Mick Foley, Jake The Snake Roberts, DDP, and even The Insane Clown Posse’s Violent Jay. To write this book from all the interviews has been quite an experience to say the least. After it was written, we had some help with the fans too, to help with the project. Click here to see our successful KAMALA SPEAKS – kickstarter campaign
HOW TO BUY KAMALA SPEAKS – If you have read this far, you must want to read it or be the proud owner of an autographed copy by Kamala and Kenny. Once again, to purchase the book, just go to KamalaSpeaks.com. For more information, email me at ken@theDJservice.com.
One of TheDJservice.com’s disc jockeys, DJ Kenny Casanova, has his roots in entertainment as he is a former rign announcer and also a former wrestling personality. In early 2014, Kenny decided to try his hand at writing as well, setting out to write a book as a fundraiser for a retired WWE wrestler he had worked with who had lost both legs to diabetes.
Kamala (James Harris) Lost Both legs to diabetes.
In the past, Kenny Casanova portrayed a wrestling manager named “Kim Chee” on a number of occasions in the Northeast, for a huge monsterous wrestler named “Kamala.” Some 15 years later, Kenny heard about Kamala’s plight and figured his story in a book form could be one answer to Kamala’s lost earnings. So Kenny interviewed WWE Legend Kamala, as well as a number of other famous names in wrestling, in hopes to create Kamala’s autobiography to help him offset the double-amputee’s medical costs.
From these interviews, Kenny put book together and put it up on the social media platform, KICKSTARTER! where everybody chips in to help make something happen. Using the Kickstarter funds as a means to collect pre-sales, along with some really great reward incentives including the book itself, fans rallied behind Kenny’s idea.
Kenny went into a full-fledged self-publishing mode, creating a press called WOHW.com. He got all kinds of press for the book, additional content by famous wrestlers and arranged for countless interviews to plug the book.
DJ Kenny Casanova, ghostwriter of “Kamala Speaks”
With the Kickstarter money, Kenny hired an editor, a book layout guy and also had enough funds to actually print the book.
It is our pleasure to report that Kenny raised $17,500, which was $5,500 over goal! After the Kickstarter campaign, remaining book sales surpassed $10,000. An finally, an additional $35,000 was also raised in cash by fans wanting to help when the Kickstarter had ended on a Gofundme collection.
It has guest passages by Jim Ross, Mick Foley, Jake “The Snake” Roberts, Koko B Ware, Insane Clown Posse’s Violent J, Jerry Jarrett, Cowboy Bill Watts, Kevin Sullivan, “Brother Love” Bruce Prichard, Barry Darsow (aka Repo Man / Smash of Demolition), “The Mountie” Jacques Rougeau, Nikolai Volkoff, “The Genius” Lanny Poffo, Jesse Barr (Jimmy Jack Funk), Boris Zhukov, Ivan Koloff, Bill Anderson, Marty Jannetty, Bobby Fulton, Tom Brandi, Jimmy Hart, Ken Resnick, Bill Apter, Insane Chavo Guerrero Sr, Adrian Street, and Hacksaw Jim Duggan.
BOOK PROMOTION INTERVIEWS –
STEVE AUSTIN – After Kenny finished the first draft, he called another “wrestling bad-ass.” It turned out Stone Cold was one of “the biggest Kamala fans ever as a kid.” Therefore, Steve Austin brought in Kamala as a guest on his Aug 19, 2014 podcast, launching the Kickstarter campaign first on, “THE STEVE AUSTIN SHOW.”
ROWDY RODDY PIPER – After the dust settled from Austin’s interview, Kenny called The Hot Rod and arranged to have him chat with Kamala for the September 8th, 2014 airing of his talk show. The two of them worked together in the early 80s and certainly had a lot to talk about. James said this was his favorite interview ever, and Piper said, “I really learned a life lesson about the positive attitude that James Harris has about life.” You can listen to it and download it at “PIPER’S PIT”
“99 Problems with Tequila.” DJ Kenny Casanova’s Jay-Z & Pee Wee Herman MashUp.
DJ Kenny Casanova – Jay Z & Pee Wee Herman Mash Up
A buddy of mine sent me an email after seeing my new mashup on YouTube. “Wait, a Jay Z & Pee Wee Herman Mash up? Really? Are you kidding me?”
Yeah. I meant to do that.
Jay-Z meets Pee Wee. I decided to blend two things together that really shouldn’t go together. Technically, it was a surprizingly easy thing to mix. I had to cut up a few lines for only brief split second intervals to make it fit well and keep Jay-Z’s flow over The Champ’s “Tequila” track made popular by Pee Wee Herman. I only switched around a few of Jay Z’s words to make it fit. It still has flow and if you know the words, you can still totally sing along.
There is something really fun about mixing two things that don’t really go well together. There is an added shock value that makes people stare. It is kind of like when you see a bride wearing flip flops. The contrast is interesting. I like that.
There is definitely contrast to be had here. Jay-Z rapping over The Champ’s “Tequila” doesn’t sound very gangsta, but the finished product is pretty smooth and creamy. Here it is:
~DISCLAIMER: Jay-Z brings forth a bit of filthy gangsta language in this mashup and it may not be suitable listening material for Pee Wee, Chairy, or Miss Yvonne. (Jambi, however, would be down because he is a straight up pimp and keeps it real.) Therefore, to the kiddies out there, we ask that you do not be a Mr. Bungle and and watch this track, or speak like Jay-Z in the lunchroom cafeteria.~
Please share this on twitter and facebook, if you can… The video mix is simple, but gives you something interesting to watch. (I hate youtube audio tracks that just have you stare at one image the whole song. Pee Wee’s got the mad steps, yo, anyhow, so I had to share.)
