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Juan Gonzales -
A room set up and ready for a party, like the kind Juan Gonzalez and his Uncle Pedro provide DJing services for on weekends. Submitted Photo
My Uncle Pedro has been DJing parties for ten years; his company is called DJ Rockstar. I have worked for him for three years. We have a job almost every weekend, and we have traveled as far as Tyler to DJ a dance or party. I like my job.
When we DJ a Quinceñera, that is one big job! We have to place all the equipment, lights, speakers, and everything necessary to set up a stage. When everything is ready, we let the mom or dad know, and the mom tells us what time the event is going to start. Most of the time we are there an hour before the event starts.
My Uncle Pedro and I check that all the equipment and stage are working well. The other people who help us are in charge of making sure the things that we will need for the rest of the night are ready. The event begins, and Pedro announces for people to get their food and drinks. During the meal, we play quiet music.
After the meal, gifts are given to the girl who is being honored. Pedro has to call her godfathers so that they can come to the center of the court. The first godfather gives rings; the second gives earrings; the third gives a crown; the fourth gives a chain; and the last gives a doll. The godfather of the doll has to be the girl’s father so they can dance a sweet waltz together.
Then, the Chambelanes (the chamberlains) make an entrance, and Pedro calls each chamberlain by name so that he can come to the center of the floor. When everyone is ready, I'm up on the stage to play the music that they are going to dance to. The chamberlains dance a surprise dance that they have prepared for the girl who is turning fifteen.
In the next dance, anyone can dance with “the princess of the night,” as many people call her. Also people pass by her, pinning money on her. When that is finished, it is time to cut the cake, and finally it is time for the family members to make the toasts. After that the dance continues–all the people dance. The dance ends at midnight. Then we begin to clean up the stage, and then we get to eat Besides DJing quinceneras, we also DJ school dances, baptisms, and birthday parties. We have DJed a dance at Sulphur Springs High School.
What I like most about DJing is watching all the dancers; what I like least about DJing is cleaning up– that takes about two hours. But I plan to keep doing this job for a while.