Important Things To Keep In Mind When Looking for a DJ by Che Dar

Shopping for the services of a disc jockey or DJ is one task that should get your full attention. If you want to host a memorable party that features the vibe you are looking for and pulsating music, then it pays to work with only the best armed with the right skills. To make this happen, you need to screen all applicants and select only the best. You can do this by paying attention to some important things and issues when looking for a DJ.

Experience matters- experience matters when it comes to providing the best entertainment. This is true as well when it comes to hiring the services of a DJ. When it comes to experience, it doesn't only refer to experience and years spent in using the skills and talent. Experience can also refer to the time spent in using the latest gadgets and equipments in the industry. The number of events and weddings attended is an indication of expertise and dedication to the craft.

Networking is the best approach in looking for prospects- It is recommended to network first with friends and officemates before paying attention to advertisements and promotional materials. The referrals and personal feedbacks and comments of past clients can also help you decide on who to hire as the DJ for the event.

A written contract should be in order- Just like other professional services, it pays to have an active contract that will cover the details of the services. The contract should specific the important details of the event including the time and date, duration, cost and special requests like the songs that should be played and the genre that should be covered. The presence of a written contract is an indication that the disc jockey is for real and will provide professional services. The presentation of the contract will also help prevent misunderstandings and can help set the standard for the services that will be rendered.

A personal meeting before the actual event is necessary- Most of the top-rated DJs right now maintain their own websites where they can publish their portfolio and meet new clients. The online arrangement is good for both parties and can even simplify your search. But don't let the transactions end online. It is also recommended that you first meet with the DJ before the actual event. Though you can swap e-mails with the DJ, still a face-to-face interaction is best. The great thing about this meeting is that you can personally inform the DJ about your requests and other requirements for the event. The meeting before the actual event is also a chance for you to learn more about his other skills. For example, you will know his special skills on how to motivate the crowd and sustain the fun.

About the Author

When it comes to great and memorable parties, music plays a central role. To use music to your advantage, you need to work with a top DJ from your area that can bring and sustain the fun. For more information, just visitpartysound.com.au.

About the Blog Owner:

Donna Darrah has a brother-in-law that has been in the DJ business for a couple of decades.  Visit http://www.ultimatesoundandkaraoke.com for more information if you're in the Austin, Texas area.

Learn Spanish Effectively-How Can You Learn Spanish by Ranny

How can you learn Spanish? However, the other important question is "Why you want to learn Spanish?". Maybe you saw someone else learning Spanish and you feel jealousy at him/her, or you dream about visiting a Spanish-speaking country.

Firstly, you should know that learning Spanish is not possible overnight, but communication in Spanish will put you on the basic and the most important step to learn Spanish as fast as possible.

However, there is not just a better way to learn any language, including Spanish, of course. As we have seen it is personal preference, what you hope to learn, and when you want to learn. For example, someone who is mainly interested in the conversation must purchase a Spanish audio program. If someone else has more time to learn Spanish as a second language, he/she will probably have more luck with software.

Learning a language at your own pace is better than completing a course on a fixed period of time. It is difficult for you to go at their own pace if you're in a class, or learning a language in a group. Many people leave their countries to enter the nerve language and culture. In both cases, you must put a lot of effort, unlike if you use certain tools to help you learn Spanish at home.

The audio program in your car does not mean that it's the best method for you to learn Spanish. However, an audio course may be the perfect method for another person, while interactive lessons software can help you learn Spanish quickly.

Well! Let's see the best way to learn Spanish, I mean the easiest way which can also be considered "learn Spanish in your sleep".

The key to all this is to recognize that we all learn differently, and the time to determine the best method depends on you, only you.

Spanish audio lessons have worked for a long time, and now thanks to new technologies, it still works for you just to receive your course or even a CD in MP3 format.

It was not so long as the CD is just not available. Cassettes are countless in the music stores, and when you want to learn a new language, you should either get a private tutor or buy audio lessons on tapes.

What is the ideal size? Anyone who wants to learn on the go in the car or use an MP3 player should consider learning Spanish audio course is an effective way. You get a lot of content for the money because there are often hours and hours of vocabulary and pronunciation lessons.

Learn Spanish Software

Those who remember things they will work good with audio programs, but people are often pay more attention to interactive and video lessons that come with software such as Tell Me More In Spanish or Spanish Rosetta Stone.

Another advantage that the software offers more than audio one is the more technical course on reading and writing in Spanish. It is difficult to learn the verb in an audio lesson, while viewing it on a computer screen is much easier to remember.

Take time to consider your expectations for the learning of Spanish as how you enjoy learning as well as the amount of time you have to learn and practice. All these things together will lead you to answer the questions of Spanish courses at home, which will be the best way for you.

Learning Spanish is pretty easy when you have the right methods best suited to your learning preference. If you choose the wrong method of learning, it will take additional time to improve. It is always advisable to control each with a lesson instead of starting with a huge list of verbs and conjugations.

So what is the best method for you to learn Spanish?

Among the many books available on the market today, I believe, in fact, that any language can be learned by "listening" and "talking". Most of books focus on Spanish grammar and written language only and fill your day with exercises that you may not be able to do it at once and maybe you delay it for the next century.

Some argue that the most effective tool to learn Spanish is audio tools. This allows you to hear the language repeatedly and many people consider it as the more effective method than any other method. Such audios can be played in workplace, on the road, or at home. Audios are much more convenient to the efficiency as well as reducing your learning curve.

Learning Spanish in videos is much lower than any other format for the only reason that videos teach you through visibility, sound, and one-to-one talk. This is even better than attending a Spanish language course, since you have full control over the pace of the course.

Finally, I would like to give you some important tips to learn Spanish in an effective way. Below are those amazing tips.

Tips to talk in Spanish lips!

1. Listen to Spanish every day
Listen to Spanish radio.
Watch Spanish TV.
Watch Spanish movies.
Use online lessons; e.g. Youtube, etc..
2. Make a Spanish friend
Make up conversations.
Practice dialogues.
Use beginner textbooks.
3. Read Spanish stories and newspapers
Read storybooks,.
Read advertisements, signs, labels, magazines, newspapers.

4. Write down new words
Write down new words.
Write words in alphabetical order (A...B...C...).
Make sample sentences.
Always use a Spanish-Spanish dictionary first.
5. Keep a Spanish diary
Start with one sentence.
Write: How do you feel?
What is the weather like?
What did you do today?

6. Visit a Spanish speaking country
Learn Spanish more quickly.
Stay with a Spanish family.
Hear native speakers talk.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfsTy0Wjv_M
Learn to Speak and Understand Spanish Like a Native, While Cutting Your Learning Time In HALF!http://LearnSpanishBook.info

About the Author

Learn to Speak and Understand Spanish Like a Native, While Cutting Your Learning Time In HALF!
http://LearnSpanishBook.info

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfsTy0Wjv_M

AVON CEO Vows To Turn Company Around

The Forbes Article on February 27, 2013, focused on an interview with Avon's new CEO Sheri McCoy.  Within that article Ms. McCoy states that she does have a plan to restore the 126 year old beauty company to its former glory.  However, she doesn't really go into specifics on how she's going to do it.

To give her credit she did state that she needs to turn the focus on the representatives and ensure that they are successful.  I say great!  However, this entire new year in 2013 seems to be focused on recruiting new representatives and advertising for that instead of making the brand of Avon "hot" again.

When is Avon going to figure out that in order to make a profit the representatives have to have customers willing to buy the product? Creating more competition for the sale isn't going to help that.  Yes, the traditional way representatives and the company have been successful is by door-to-door sales.  However, since the 1970's that door-to-door market has been declining and ever to hard for a representative.  Besides, who has time for it?  Certainly not most potential customers.   This is an instant and I want it now society....They also want what works and with the economy they need it at a good price.  Our culture in the United States has changed.  We're either too busy to be bothered with door to door sales persons or we find it an intrusion of our private households.  Most Americans that I know don't like sales people at their doors anymore and see it as a bother and an intrusion.

Avon would actually benefit and so would the current representatives if they focused their advertising actually on the product and the economical side of choosing that product. Why pay so much on products when Avon actually has the equivalent or even a better product for so much less?

When Avon starts promoting their products as a great product with economical benefits the representatives will have more customers which will lead to more sales.  Those sales will benefit the representatives and the company.  Avon will become more popular and more people will want to become representatives.  It will create a domino or snowball effect.  It's not rocket science people.

Avon execs need to get out of their bubble and actually see the world for what it is.  It's changing faster than most companies can keep up and Avon just may be left behind. 

Avon would actually learn a lot from the company called Costco in regards to many things.  One issue in particular is their lines that are external products or as products known to reps as fixed-earnings products.  A few of those Avon products are just plain cheap and crappy.  As a representative I have been embarrassed sometimes because something falls apart after just a few uses. Even worse is when I get it and it's so tacky and made so poorly I don't even want to give it too my customers. I have no issue in taking those items back at all and actually recommend that they return it.  I have a reputation to uphold and my customers certainly appreciate it. 

Anyways, back on point...Costco has a great system in place to ensure that their customers get good quality products as an economical price.  The products have to meet their standards or they don't make the cut.  The process that Costco uses just to choose their toys that they sell is amazing and very stringent in itself.  CNBC had a report on The Costco Craze that is amazing to watch.  I learned a lot about customer service just by watching those reports.  Great ethics and customer service basics that my parents always talked about.  Customer Service has to go beyond lip service and just taking returns.  Customer service has to be about the quality of the product and what the customers expect out of it at a reasonable price. Avon could learn a lot from the Costco model.

The same issues are true for the quality of products that Avon provides to it representatives as sales tools. One example of Avon lowering it's standards recently was in my last order.  I ordered 1 packet of call-back forms.  These are basically order forms I can give to my customers to write down their orders on.  Many reps just tear out the forms out of the free and traditional order form books.  I went a step beyond in regards to good quality to purchase these nicer looking forms with that extra personal touch.  Well, Avon changed them without notifying us and they went to crap.  Good thing I only ordered one pad of them and had several in my inventory. The photo of the lipstick on them look cheesy and the form on the back was changed.  They made the lines smaller which is really inconveinent to my older customers to write on.  My traditional local customers are mostly older and are not comfortable with internet ordering.  Avon didn't even line the form up correctly so there is no room to write in the customer's information on them.  Avon basically changed them to the free order booklet forms.  Well, I won't be buying them again until they tell me that they changed them back!  At least on the free order booklet forms there is a little room for the customer's information.

What is up with Avon only having customer service for their representatives now Monday through Friday during business hours also?  Avon promotes their earning opportunity to work your own hours when you want and yet they do away with the Avon support lines for the reps when most reps are working?  Ugh!?!  Really?  Then Avon turns around and outsources the reps customer service line to another country where they have no clue how our culture and society works?  BOO!  AVON, BOO!  That was a bad decision and unpatriotic as you can get.  Not only that but its hard to understand them!  That was a decision purely to benefit the bottom line and NOT the representatives.  That was a bad customer service decision to enact towards their reps.  If the reps aren't happy then the company isn't going to do well.

Yes, Avon has a long road ahead as CEO McCoy indicated in her Forbes interview.  However, the road would be less bumpy and easier to traverse if they actually asked their representatives what they think would make them more successful instead of assuming that they know best.  Evidently, they don't or they wouldn't be in the situation that they're in.

*The author of this post is an actual Avon Independent Sales Representative.  I love Avon and have been very successful at it.  I have been with Avon for only six months but my sales exceeded $2300 during the last campaign and have been increasing every campaign.  Most of my sales are from direct delivery through my Avon provided internet store (Personalized Page). I plan on retiring from federal service in 7 years and conducting my Avon business full-time with my husband until we are no longer able to do so.*

Mark's Class Act Bag

I love this bag!  I bought it as a demo a couple of campaigns back and it's great!  It has a good strong material quality to it without it being too heavy.  My iPad fits in either zippered pocket easily even with the bulky cover and keyboard I have for it.  This bag is worth every cent!  It's by far the best quality of bag that I've purchased from Avon so far.  It definitely gives the higher priced named brand bags a run for their money!

This is the description that Avon gives:

CLASS ACT BAG  (<---click on link to order site)

With a luxe faux crocodile texture and a super-cool vintage-inspired shape, it's a bag you'll want to sink your chops into! 3 interior compartments: 2 zippered; middle compartment features 2 slip pockets at front, 1 zippered pocket at back and snap closure. Functional front flap pocket with hidden snap closure. Faux crocodile with goldtone hardware. 13 1/3" W x 6 1/4" D x 11" H (8 1/2" handle drop)

Item#: 568-450 Price: $45.00

06/03/13 UPDATE:  I'm still loving this bag!  It's holding up great!  I can't believe that it hasn't worn out since I travel all the time for my government job.  My iPad and its bulky case/keyboard fit great in one of the zippered pockets.  This is a very good quality bag.  I wish I had ordered two for myself!

Avon Bonus Earnings Statement from Leadership

C06 2013

This our earnings statement from Campaign 6 2013.  This is our first one that we are actually getting paid for.  However, I'm not sure that they'll actually send such a small check.  Keep in mind this is just our bonus earnings from leadership.  This doesn't include any other earnings including those from our sales or Believe bonuses checks.

I'm posting these every campaign so that you can see our progression as our leadership side of our business grows.  As of Campaign 06 we had 11 first generation.  Nine of those made orders and 4 of them were brand new so a few ordered early.

If you're interested in becoming a representative you can sign up under us using the reference code: donnadarrah at www.start.avon.com.  We're here to mentor you to help you be successful at Avon!  If you're interested in leadership let us know and we'll help you get started today too!

Women in Policing

First Female Police Officer in the USA or the World on record.

When you read this article link imagine the women of today.  Not much is really that different.  The EEO Act only just started forcing agencies in the United States to hire women in the 1970's.  Their acceptance today in some agencies among their peers is still a struggle.  Many times the agency overlooks women when (especially if that agency has so few) when it comes to special protective gear in the line of work and even training.

Shoot, my agency still has issued men's 511 pants for me even though I pointed out to them years ago that they do come in women's sizes.  Do the men's pants fit?  Hell no! So, instead of them ordering them in women's I had to go out and pay $50 so that I wouldn't be out of uniform if and when I had to wear them.  When they issued everyone boots years ago I requested a size 6 in women's clearly on the form.  They gave me a 6 in men's. They told me when I pointed that out that the boots they ordered only came in men's that they didn't have the small enough size equivalent to a women's size 6.  So, I gave them to Goodwill and just used my own that I paid over $100 for.

I'm not here to gripe about all the harassment and discrimination I've received over the years.  Lord knows that I had lots of it including being forced to take leave without pay for having children.  All the times I pumped breast milk in bathrooms and airplanes to see it trashed just to keep my milk up and breast from exploding.  The vanity mirrors being smashed in patrol vehicles and stating the "Donna was here."  "Blanca was here".  Many more countless situations that I'd rather just not go into.....

I am proud of what I've accomplished.  I had to have two degrees to break into my field unlike my H.S. Diploma male counterparts and go through the same standards years ago in a federal academy as them.  However, women deserve the recognition of the struggles that they endure for the love of the field and the patriotism they have.

I love my job and what it means when I come home and know that I kept people safe that day.  I also love the fact that I did come home (or to a hotel) safe that day.  I also love my supportive husband and two beautiful little girls who just don't understand why mommy is gone for days at a time every week.  That is what hurts me the most. The guilt is killing me but I go on because I know that I'll be done in 7 years when I'm eligible for retirement.  I'll be home with my family and lord have mercy on my daughter's boyfriends!  I plan on being the stalking mom from hell!

I have the most loving and understanding husband around.  Maybe that's because he was in the Navy Seabees his entire adult life.  He's a great guy.  I really couldn't imagine being a single parent in my line of work.  I'm not the typical cop.  Every day my hours are different and every week my days off are different.  I don't come home everyday and I'd say that is really tough on our marriage.  My husband says it's like he is a single parent.  However, we love each other tremendously and are both very stubborn people.  So, we make it work!

Poor guy, he's usually the only male spouse at most of my work social gatherings.  However, there are more male spouses showing up with the handful of women there are in my agency's local field office.  He's lead the way for them and I only hope and pray the others have as much patience, loyalty and understanding as my own.

For more information on women in policing go to the links below:
Women In Policing
Women In Law Enforcement
National Center for Women & Policing
Myth & Facts About Women in Policing
Women In Federal Law Enforcement (WIFLE)
Women In Policing by Danielle Flanagan, West Texas A&M University
If you have any experiences you'd like to share as a female in the law enforcement field or as a supportive male spouse please comment below.  I'd love to hear about you!

Cell Phone RINGS! hahahaha, What?!

Check out this latest technology!  OMG!  I thought it was a joke at first...nope....It's REAL!

CELL PHONE RINGS!

Is that not cool?  Wow...it's still funny though!  Could you imagine answering a call like this?  People around you will think you're absolutely nuts!  I don't know about you guys but enough people think I should be admitted to the loony bin already!  Plus, I'd probably loose the rings.  However, if I was 20 years younger I'd be already waiting for the delivery man on these!  Have fun with them if you ever get them because they're still in the design phase.  Click on the above link to get to the designbuzz website!  ENJOY!  LOL!

Tiny Tillia's Treasuring Photo Tote Bag

Available at my official Avon store.  Tiny Tillia's Treasuring Photo Tote Bag. Show off your little pride and joy with this 15 1/2" L x 4 1/2" D x 12" H brag bag. With 3 exterior 2 1/2" diameter photo inserts and an inside pocket. Zips to close. Polyester. Imported. Item#: 515-880 Price: $14.99 MOTHER'S DAY IS MAY 12!

You can order online with free shipping offers on my home page at the above link.  You pay Avon directly and they ship it directly to you!  Make sure you choose direct delivery only!

I love this tote bag! I can't believe it's only $14.99 on sale right now!

Ball brings back some old jars!

This is the description Ball gives us...Longer vegetables such as asparagus, cucumbers, & long beans now have a jar that’s made just for them! This 24oz jar is an excellent choice for portioning soups and sauces. Perfect when pints are too small & quarts are too big.

1 1/2 Pint Jar

This is what Ball says about the new Heritage Collection below....2013 marks the 100th anniversary of the first series of jars designed by Ball brothers, each jar intended to be better than the one before. 1913 saw the launch of the launch of the first true"Perfect Mason" jar. These limited edition jars are a celebration of the heritage featuring period-correct blue color and embossed logos on the front and back. These vintage-inspired jars maintain all of our modern standards for quality and reliability. Perfect for all of your home canning needs... or as a collectible item

Ball Heritage Collection Pint Jars

LED Stick up lighting

We love the LED Stick up lighting.  We found some online at Amazon.com.  The LED battery operated stick on tap lights I found are only $6.77 for Prime members with free two day shipping.  Yes, we are Prime members and actually love it!  But that's another post all together.  LOL.

You can use them under cabinets, in closets, coolers, etc...

Storage Geek

Storage Geek  Shared from the Storage Geek site.

This made me laugh....go check it out at their site!  It's actually glass!  found on Amazon:  Glass Bowl at Amazon

This is a great storage idea too!  DIY handbag Storage: Lucky Magazine

Avon Believe Advancement Check!

I had posted earlier in the blog that Richard and I made Unit Leader status in our Avon business during Campaign 5. We mentor, train and recruit other Independent Sales Representatives for Avon. We received a $150 check from Avon today for just making the title of Unit Leader! Woohoo! We needed that, lol.

Here's a photo of the check!

To join my team use reference code: donnadarrah and sign up at www.start.avon.com or click on Say Yes To Avon to view to video link.