Direct From Nick Cavaleri

Favorite type of music: Funk/Rock/Alternative-anything with talent and soul
Favorite sports team: New York Jets
Most Influential Person: My Father
Hometown:Point Pleasant.NJ

The term DJ is a very loose term,explain why.

     I never liked the term DJ. When I got my start in this business 19 years ago it never really sat well with me. I feel its dirty, maybe its because when I think of a DJ, I think someone who just plays music. Anyone can do that . I don't just play music. A DJ in a club who can beatmix club music like a superstar, does that take talent? Yes. Am I ever going to do that at a wedding for 5 hours? Never. Do not hire me if that is what you want. I never aspired to be a DJ in that sense of the term.

      Do I program music? Yes. Do I emcee? Do I coordinate and direct everything that has to do with your wedding? Do I give you creative ideas that will give you positive results? Do I motivate your guests to feel a sense elegance and excitement at the correct times? Do I work together as a family with all of the event professionals to provide the best possible outcome? Do I spend hours forming a relationship with you in order to give you unique ideas? Do I spend countless hours preparing? Do I stop at nothing to make sure humans have the time of their life? Do I have a deep rooted passion for bringing people together? Yes to all of that and more. If that is what an average person's perception of a DJ is, then I guess I am a DJ, but you will never hear me call myself one.

What does talent mean to you?

What is talent?
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Are you born with it?

Can a 2 year old play a guitar but still not be potty trained? I think so! Who is to say that a child should be potty trained by 2 anyway? Forget the potty training and give the child a guitar at 2 and clap when they play it and scold them when they did not. Could that child by the age of ten be best guitar player in the world? You never know. I have a feeling if you take a different child and do the same thing with him or her quite possibly they might give up on that guitar, maybe due to lack of interest or talent?

         I have one younger brother who was on a World Cup soccer team, he was amazing! Being the first child I assume my Mother and Father wanted me to be their "Boy" they put me into every single sport, football, baseball, hockey, karate and tennis. I never excelled in any of them, they cheered me on and supported me but I never could quite get it. To this day people still laugh at me for how I throw a ball. It was not until I started to get into the arts; creating things , acting, playing instruments making people laugh...that is when my brain went off. I started to excel in these areas and I also loved them. I wanted to nurture them, explore them, find others who also were into these amazing things that I had fallen so in love with.
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         To me, talent is a gift that you are born with, it is inside of you. Once you are introduced to that gift you then have the talent come to life. Talent is not cut and dry, you need to work on it constantly, research it, become better at it. Hone your skill until you retire or die. I am a constant work in progress and I am still not finished.

Why is catering to a clients visions so important?

How can you make a unique and creative amazing experience if you don't cater? A client's visions, personalities and interests are the tools I use to make a wedding different and memorable. I need to have all of the colors in front of me before I paint a picture, otherwise it just becomes a dull outline. I strive to make every wedding an "experience" not only for the guests but for the bride and groom. We want to create memories, that most of the time in life are made up of these instant flashes of time where a combination of things have come together to create something outstanding. I truly want your ideas to come to life and I take pride in making them happen. I have a huge passion for seeing things come together perfectly. This takes combining our talent and experience with what you love and truly cherish. This will paint the story of "YOU" allowing you and your guests to carry away something that will never be forgotten.

How do you feel about being a major part in the biggest day of someones life?

Humbled. Grateful. When I started doing this back in 1997 I was scared to death at my first wedding. I was working, I was going through the motions unable to realize what was actually happening around me. Two people who were once strangers have now developed a deep rooted connection, they have decided to share life with each other forever and now they want to have this huge celebration because they have this feeling called love! That in itself is simply stellar. You've asked your closest friends and family to join you at this celebration of love. You want to invite me, someone who you just met to YOUR wedding. Amazing! Here we go again, come in as a stranger and leave as a friend. I love getting to know people and hearing their story. What makes them tick individually and as a couple. All stories are beautiful to me because they end in love.

Nick Cavaleri on creating a unique event

A word from a Nick Cavaleri client

"Nick Cavaleri is amazing! We were blessed to have Nick as the DJ for our wedding. From the very beginning, Nick has been an absolute pleasure to work with. My husband and I were delayed on a flight and thus running late for our very first meeting with Nick (before we had even decided to book services with him) and Nick offered to meet us at his home which was an hour closer for us drive and only 10 minutes from our home. He opened up his home to us and made us feel completely comfortable! It was a pleasure getting to know Nick and the experience of picking out songs for our wedding was a great way for us to stop planning for a day, relax, hang out, listen to music and really get excited for our big day! On the day of our wedding Nick and his team totally rocked the house. From the introductions to the first dances, the music, to the uplighting, to Nick encouraging people to get out and dance - they were truly awesome! We couldn't have asked for a better night. People danced till the lights came on and we were all kicked out! Thank you, Nick for being the best at what you do and for being an absolute pleasure to get to know and work with! Your positive energy and passion for what you do radiates from you."
​Laura 6.13.15