In 2017, Craft Event Bar got into the DJ business when our bartender, now DJ Carolina, decided to make the leap from behind the bar to behind the turntables. She made it her mission to be like the best and better than the rest. Since then, as we saw a demand for more quality DJs in our area, we’ve expanded to include another DJ: Aaron Benanzer.

We approach our job as your DJ with multiple goals:

  1. To have a thorough understanding of your vision for the day, including all specific song selections, timelines, and musical preferences.

  2. To walk you through every stage of the music planning process—We’ll send you our customized online form with links to pre-made playlists or the option to upload your own. The week before the event, your DJ will plan a call to go over all the details with you and/or your event planner.

  3. We make sure we’re familiar with and ready to meet all sound needs at your chosen venue.

  4. We heartily engage your guests and add structure to the party by announcing all event features.

  5. The dance floor is our time to shine! We LOVE showing off our skills on the turntables, both our wide range of musical knowledge and our ability to mix and blend songs together for a dance floor that goes fast and slow, but never stops.

Both DJ Carolina and DJ Benanzer are here for the love of music! We think music is the most powerful tool available to set the mood for any social occasion. We love nothing more than that feeling of connection we get when your guests are jumping up and down, singing at the top of their lungs, forming dance circles, and yes, maybe even doing the worm.

MEET OUR DJS

DJ CAROLINA

As someone who thrives at the center of a party, being a wedding DJ is the perfect job for me.

Since before I first raided my parents’ CD collection or played my first note on the saxophone, I had a passion and appreciation for all kinds of music. I love to embody a couple’s musical personality whatever that may be. In my eight years as a wedding DJ, I’ve done many themes; I have a crate of Ugandan dance music, an array of Cumbia selections, Norwegian folk music, and playlists to recreate the feeling of being in a medieval tavern! But my favorite songs are ones that everyone recognizes. Playing those gems that get your whole wedding party out there, dancing like there’s no tomorrow, that’s what I live for.

When I think of some of my favorite events, I remember a father-of-the-bride speech that incorporated ELEVEN different songs at specific cue points throughout. When it came together perfectly, I breathed a huge sigh of relief! Another one I loved featured a groom who had recorded a locally popular rap song. He sent it to me to play, and I saved it for near the end of the night. As I was leading up to it, I dropped the hook into the background of the previous song a few times and watched people react. When I let it rip they hit the roof and sang along to every word at the top of their lungs.

—DJ Carolina

DJ AARON BENANZER

I love being a DJ because I’m continuously introduced to new music. My favorite way to play is by incorporating older songs, emphasizing their hooks, and mixing them with newer songs that sampled or were influenced by them. When the guests notice, you can see the different generations giving each other a nod of recognition while they're grooving together.

One of my favorite memories is from the end of a high energy wedding reception where every guest from the youngest to oldest seemed to be on the dance floor all night. When it came time for the last song, the bride had requested "Lil Boo Thang" by Paul Russell. I announced the end of the evening and pressed play; the newlyweds and guests were delighted and danced like they could keep going all night. Tapping into their energy and as the song approached its end, I grabbed the mic to say, "y'all have been so great..." And the moment the guests turned their attention toward me expecting departing instructions, I said "...we gotta run that back!" and restarted the song from the top. Everybody was so elated, it was as if they were dancing on the ceiling. To that, I couldn't help but go out and dance to the last, last song with them. These moments are what make my job so much fun.

—DJ Aaron Benanzer

Headshots by Tall James Photography

DJ PRICING

DJ & MC

Choose the hourly rate if Craft Event Bar will not be providing bar or planning services at your event. You only pay for the hours when we are playing music.

$375/hour

When you book our DJ services alongside a bar or planning package, you get up to 6 hours of musical entertainment for one flat rate.

$1695 with bar package

ADDITIONAL SOUND

If you would like us to handle the music at a ceremony outside of the main reception site, add a mobile, battery-powered sound system with a corded microphone for your officiant.

$400

LIGHTING

A laser light comes with every DJ package, but if you’d like to create atmosphere with our LED uplighting, we’re happy to set the mood with up to 16 lights set to your color preference.

$40/light

Make a statement and see your guest’s eyes literally light up when we fire our Sparkular machines. Cold Sparklers bring the look of fireworks, without the fire.

$425

Contact Us:

Drop us a line and we’ll be in touch to ensure that you get the right package for your event. If you’d like to speak to DJ Carolina, send a text to 937-308-0655 and she’ll call you as soon as she can.