John Sullivan’s 50th Birthday

Name: John Sullivan’s 50th Birthday 50th Birthday Party
Start: 2024-08-24
Location: ArrowCreek, Reno, NV

50th Birthday Party, ArrowCreek, Reno, NV

The Details

A 50th birthday at home in ArrowCreek with paella, three Spotify playlists from the birthday guy and the biggest setup I own, moved inside when the night dropped to 50 degrees.

Client: John Sullivan’s 50th Birthday
Event: 50th Birthday Party
Location: ArrowCreek, Reno, NV
DJ: Jon Alder
Setting: Indoors at a private home
Guests: ~60
Lighting: Laser, strobes, fog, Chauvet 6 spot, ADJ light bar

The Story

John found me through my website in July and called his party his LEGENDARY 50th, so I knew what kind of night he had in mind. The invite said 5:30 with a mellow start at his home in ArrowCreek, and there was paella for everyone.

The covered patio and grill looking out over the ArrowCreek golf course and the Reno valley

The patio sectional and heater with the valley view behind the house before guests arrived

String lights over the round tables on the lawn under a cloudy afternoon sky

Paella pans set up under the white tent on the lawn

Late sun over the hills and the Reno valley from the back of the house

The golf course and the valley at sunset from the backyard

Guests gathering at the paella tent beside the stone columns

Guests lining up as the paella is served under the tent

Round tables, string lights and the tent on the lawn at golden hour

A few days before, John sent me three Spotify playlists: Dance Party, EDM and All Good. He told me he loved every song on them. I opened with the relaxed ones, Five O’Clock Somewhere, Brown Eyed Girl and Margaritaville, and saved the lights and the volume for dancing time.

Guests talking by the open glass doors with the tent outside

Guests at the round tables under the string lights after dark

Guests on the lawn under the string lights and patio heaters at night

Guests on the lawn under the string lights and the paella tent

I brought my biggest setup for this one: the big subwoofer, the laser, strobes and fog, a Chauvet 6 spot and an ADJ light bar. By late afternoon it was 50 degrees and still dropping, so we moved the music inside where people would actually dance.

The DJ mixer and headphones set up inside the house

The dance floor inside the house seen from behind the DJ booth

A guest in a yellow shirt and cowboy hat dancing near the DJ booth

Guests dancing under the party lights in the living room

Guests dancing under the lasers and party lights in the living room

His daughter Molly gave a speech for her dad, and then the room took off with Sweet Caroline, Kiss, Cold Heart, Electric Boogie, Don’t You Want Me and Fancy Like for about 60 guests. The next day John texted me: “You were the best last night! Thanks for putting up w me and my friends!”

A packed dance floor in the living room under blue lights

Guests dancing by the patio doors with the string lights outside

Guests dancing right in front of the DJ booth

The dance floor under blue and white lights late in the night

Guests with their hands up on the dance floor

Friends dancing together in the green and orange lights

Guests dancing in the fog and colored lights

A full dance floor in the living room late in the night

Guests still dancing in the living room as the night went on

Guests with their arms up under the party lights

The dance floor with the patio string lights glowing through the doors

Guests on the dance floor for the last songs of the night

Key Songs

Straight from my play history for John Sullivan’s 50th Birthday

Opener: Alan Jackson & Jimmy Buffett - It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere
Early evening: Van Morrison - Brown Eyed Girl
Early evening: Jimmy Buffett - Margaritaville
Dance floor: Neil Diamond - Sweet Caroline
Dance floor: Prince - Kiss
Dance floor: Elton John & Dua Lipa - Cold Heart (PNAU Remix)
Dance floor: Marcia Griffiths - Electric Boogie
Dance floor: The Human League - Don’t You Want Me
Dance floor: Walker Hayes - Fancy Like
Last song: Chris Stapleton - White Horse

In Their Words

★★★★★

“Jon Alder was an enthusiastic and fun DJ here in Reno! I loved his setup, with his music system. He could take song requests, play off a playlist we sent, and mix in his own music. It's great when a DJ can take requests and play off a playlist, but it's also really unique to have a DJ that will also add and mix in his own music to create something unique and special.”

Molly SullivanGoogle, 09-24-2024

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