It’s Our 35^th Anniversary!

Hard to believe, but we have begun our 35^th year in the mobile DJ business!

Wow, the changes that have occurred in our industry are truly amazing.

My father was a finalist on Ted Mack’s Original Amateur Hour in New York City.

He is a semi-professional singer who has been said to sound like Bing Crosby. So entertainment seems to be in my genes.

In the early 1970’s, I was a promotional announcer for a major New York Department Store, and also operated my own “pirate” radio station on Staten Island.

Steve Cie at a live performance circa 1982

Back in 1975, two close friends, Ray Hogrefe and Maryann Perragallo, suggested that

I “DJ” a New Year’s Eve Party in Keyport New Jersey. They had listened to my “pirate” radio show for several years, and thought that having a “DJ” at a party would be better than having a live band.

After all, it would be less expensive; only one person to feed, and the music would be continuous. One problem—the only music I owned was by The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, Crosby Stills & Nash, and some Led Zeppelin. So, with Maryann’s husband Steve’s reel-to-reel tape recorder, and a pile of borrowed records, I recorded 6 hours of taped music, along with a few 45’s, a small pile of LP’s, one turntable, a Realistic (Radio Shack) 4 channel mixer, a Capehart Stereo Amp, and a lot of optimism, proceeded to perform my first “live” DJ show!

It was held at The Veteran’s Of Foreign Wars Hall on the corner of Third & Waverly Streets in Keyport NJ. Over 100 people crammed into the tiny hall, and the party was a huge success! Several inquiries for upcoming events prompted me to invest in a venture that would eventually become known as “The Steve Cie Show”.

Ken Miller & Steve Cie 1980

I started purchasing records, mostly compilation albums, to broaden my music library.

Several major department stores became my weekly destination to purchase Top 20 45’s .

The business took off, and I found myself performing at local school dances, fund raisers, and weddings. Buck Smith’s House of Brides in Middletown NJ made me their recommended “House DJ’, funneling more than 50 weddings a year to me. I learned much of what I know about handling a crowd from Mr. Smith and his daughter , Marilyn.

In 1977, I was invited to make an appearance on a fledgling local FM radio station. After hearing me on the air, I was offered a daily 10 minute show during the evening drive time, called “Break 89”. The show was news and commentary about the bustling CB Radio craze which was sweeping the country. A few weeks later, I was offered the morning drive-time slot, and The Steve Cie Show was born.  The station was known as “The Big V” and my by-line was Steve Cie on The Big V. The Show would run successfully for the next 5 years, at which point I decided to put more time into the blossoming Mobile DJ business.

One of the lynch pins of my act, was a color light show, attenuated to the beat of the music. I was one of the very first mobile DJ’s in New Jersey, and the first to incorporate this mobile color light show in my events. A simple 3 channel color organ, three strings of 100 watt colored flood lamps which clipped to the ceiling of the venue, and the atmosphere was set for a great party. The mood was set by my personality, and the sound was generated by an assortment of band style amplifiers and speakers.

I would lug 8 to 10 milk crates of LP’s, along with my ever growing collection of 45’s, to each event, taking requests and mixing medley’s of pop music. Eventually, technology evolved to permit digital tape recording of my music, later Compact Discs, and now, Digital Recordings of my library. It’s a good thing, since today, I would be hard pressed to carry all of my music on CD, let alone vinyl as in the old days. Digital Media allows me to carry 40,000 songs on a “Hard Drive” that weighs less than one pound!

Technology has also provided me with a fantastic light show. Computer controlled, these lights are known as DMX, and provide spectacular dance hall effects that wow the crowds, and set the atmosphere for fantastic parties!

With the advent of the internet, the Mobile DJ Industry is expanding and improving, and has become the standard for entertainment at Sweet 16’s, Weddings, Bar Mitzvah’s, and Corporate Events.

American DJ Assn

The industry of late, has become organized, with several local and national organizations sprouting up to develop Mobile DJ’ing into a respectable and reliable industry. I am a proud member of a national concern, The American Disc Jockey Association, as well as a local state organization known as The New Jersey Disc Jockey Network. I also participate in several national conventions each year, where the latest entertainment techniques, business management tricks of the trade, and technology are unveiled.

Buck Smith’s House of Brides is no more, and most of the well known catering halls have changed hands, and names. Broadcast radio has peaked and is now declining and the expectations of a demanding clientele cause DJ performers to be at the top of their game at all times! Although the music and technology have changed over the decades, one thing, my business by-line, has remained unchanged. “ Having an Affair?….Make Sure it’s with Steve Cie!”

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