I’m a big proponent of gorgeous venues on the water during the summer. A few that come to mind are the St. Regis in Longboat Key, Nobu Los Cabos and Oceanbleu in the Hamptons (above). Venues where you can enjoy the summer weather and see a beautiful sunset. Guests feel that energy and it translates to a great celebration…”
Logan Michaels, President and CEO, Paradigm Sounds
Paradigm Sounds is a full-service entertainment company founded by Logan Michaels, President and CEO, with hubs in New York, Florida, and Mexico. For over a decade the company has built a roster of live bands, DJs, string ensembles, and specialty acts, delivering entertainment for weddings, corporate galas, and milestone celebrations across Long Island, Tampa, Miami, Cabo, and Cancun. Under Logan’s leadership, Paradigm Sounds has become a trusted name among planners and venues for polished, high-energy performances tailored to each event. Here we discuss venues and the best playlists for summer events…
C&B: “Logan, on the the theme of fab summer parties, how does the band balance the classic 1980 soul/funk energy of Stevie Wonder’s ‘Hotter Than July’ album with modern, high-energy summer pop and dance tracks?”
LM: “An amazing album! There are so many great classic songs, my personal favourite being ‘Master Blaster’. It’s a vibe. If we were incorporating that feel into an event, we would look to build around that musical feel with artists that can keep the flow of the evening going. Some events call for those great high energy songs, some like to keep it more casual and just create a great atmosphere…”
Our vocalists can perform any of the great classics passionately and authentically. We love songs with great horn lines, and background vocals that hit. Artists like Steve Wonder, The Temptations, of course the Isley Brothers, they all keep the dance floor packed…”
Logan Michaels, President and CEO, Paradigm Sounds
C&B: “If the planner/client wishes to capture a gradual daytime-to-sunset-to-nighttime transition, how will the musical genre choices shift between sets to turn up the heat?”
LM: “We look to build a client’s musical journey on a number of factors. Creating a musical flow that incorporates the time of the evening means looking at our location, guest demographic, guest count, of course our client’s personal preferences, and what they envision. We look at musical selections methodically…”
C&B: “How do you structure the band’s medley arrangements to ensure the energy on the dance floor never dips during transitions?”
LM: “What we became aware of years ago was the shift from live bands to DJs. When we looked what made a great DJ, we discovered that smooth transitions, awareness of BPM and timing, those factors translated to great energy on the dance floor. We apply that DJ mentality to our bands, and have seen that it works every time…”
C&B: “How do you incorporate specific Afrobeat, Latin jazz, or tropical house influences into the live instruments during the cocktail hour to establish that ‘mid-summer’ atmosphere?”
LM: “Cocktail hour is a great time for our musicians to stretch. Every Paradigm Sounds musician is well versed in all styles, and if the client or moment calls for those styles, we will accommodate that…”
The end of the night is when the core memories are really created. The formalities are over, the food is gone, the drinks are flowing. There is nothing left to do but party. We create a buildup in energy with great song selections, singalongs, and crowd engagement, and by the time the last song hits, the guests don’t know what happened but know they have had the best night of their life…”
Logan Michaels, President and CEO, Paradigm Sounds
CONTACT: http://www.paradigmsounds.com
*Read our summer features on top NYC-based planners (below, l-r) Brett Galley, JoAnn Gregori, Cristina Verger at http://www.cityandbeachmag.com
