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Fitbit Local Los Angeles Launch - Santa Monica Pier

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A roller coaster, Pacific Ocean, the Santa Monica Pier and a few hundred people were the perfect setting for the launch of Fitbit Local Los Angeles.

Fitbit Los Angeles ambassadors, Todd McCullough and Elise Joan.

fitbitlocalLA-namaste

I was back in Los Angeles on Saturday, March 5 with the Fitbit team to DJ another yoga and fitness event. It was also another event that adds another city to the Fitbit Local roster. Hundreds gathered for a boot camp workout and yoga flow led by Fibit LA ambassadors yoga instructor Elise Joan and personal trainer Todd McCullough. Of course this was all DJ’d by yours truly.

The Fitbit Local program is a series of monthly meet ups to encourage Fitbit users to gather, mingle, exercise and sweat. It's currently underway in San Diego, San Francisco and now Los Angeles.

The energetic duo led a 60 minute workout/yoga session on the historic Santa Monica Pier that perches over the Pacific Ocean. Not a bad setting for an outdoor, Saturday morning workout.

Despite a forecast of rain, a pier under construction and cloudy skies, the people of LA made it out and were part of a great event. A big thanks to Kind Snacks and Suja for distributing goodies to the attendees. 

During the next few months, Todd and Elise will host free meet-ups for anyone in the LA area looking to get moving and healthy. For a complete list of these free workouts, check out the Fitbit Local website.

Here’s a look at the setlist for both the boot camp workout and yoga session.

Arrivals

  • Justin Bieber - Love Yourself (RENAIR Uptempo ReDrum Edit)  
  • Major Lazer & DJ Snake ft MO - Lean On (Fabian Arche bootleg)  
  • Discotron - Disco Ballin'  
  • De La Soul - Me Myself & I
  • Anuhea - Higher Than The Clouds
  • Walk The Moon - Shut Up & Dance (G Duppy Remix)
  • Zendaya f./Chris Brown - Something New
  • TLC - Creep (Remix)
  • Who Is Fancy f./Ariana Grande & Meghan Trainor - Boys Like You
  • Jess Glynne - Don't Be So Hard On Yourself
  • Lika Morgan - Hit Me  
  • DJ Dan & DivaDanielle - I Got A Man  
  • Demi Lovato - Cool For The Summer (Suraci Radio Mix)
  • Mariah Carey - Heartbreaker
  • A-Ha - Take On Me (Kygo Remix)

Todd’s 20 Minute Workout with Todd McCullough

  • Hozier - From Eden
  • Mike Posner - I Took A Pill In Ibiza (SeeB Remix)  
  • Dillon Francis & Kygo ft James Hersey - Coming Over (Tiesto Remix)  
  • Icona Pop - Emergency (Sam Feldt Remix)  
  • Coldplay - Adventure Of A Lifetime (Freejak Remix)  
  • G-Eazy & Bebe Rexha - Me, Myself & I (Promo Only Marc Stout & Scott Svejda Remix)
  • Adele - When We Were Young (Promo Only DiscoTech 2AM Quick Edit)
  • Disclosure f./Lorde - Magnets (A-Trak Remix Radio Edit)

Yoga Flow with Elise Joan

  • Sunlounger - Sunny Tales (Chill Version)
  • Yuna ft Usher - Crush
  • Janelle Monae & Jidenna - Yoga
  • Justin Timberlake ft Jay-Z vs Biggie & Next - Suit & Tie (Too Juicy Blend)
  • The Notorious B.I.G. - Juicy
  • Ed Sheeran, Passenger - No Diggity/Thrift Shop (Kygo Remix)
  • Ice Cube - You Know How We Do It
  • Omarion ft Chris Brown & Jhene Aiko - Post To Be (Dennis Blaze Remix)
  • Justin Bieber - Sorry (Mr Collipark Remix)  
  • A Tribe Called Quest - Bonita Applebum (Pharrell Williams Remix)
  • A Tribe Called Quest - Can I Kick It (Select Mix Remix)
  • N.W.A - Express Yourself
  • P.M. Dawn - Set Adrift On Memory Bliss
  • Sunlounger - Another Day On The Terrace (Chill Mix)

Post Workout

  • Nate Ruess - Nothing Without Love
  • Ed Sheeran - Photograph (Felix Jaehn Remix Edit)
  • Ellie Goulding - Something In The Way You Move
  • The Weekend - In The Night
  • Silento - Watch Me
  • Charlie Puth - One Call Away (Lash Radio Edit)
  • Mack Wilds - Love In The 90s

What Size Dance Floor Should Be At Your Wedding Reception

The dance floor should not be too big nor too small

The size of the dance floor plays an important role in how the energy level will sustain during the wedding reception.

Dance floors can be customized to the size you need as well as the style you want it too look.

Coming from a DJ, I fully admit this statement I am about to make is completely biased, but I gotta say it.

The size of the dance floor is the most important factor to consider when planning the room layout for a wedding a reception.

The dance floor has a Goldilocks personality. It can be too big. It can be too small. What it needs to be is “juuuuuussstttt right.”

I’ve seen dance floors that had the majority of guests dancing on it, but because it was too big, felt empty and therefore negatively affected the energy level. On the opposite end, a dance floor that is too small gets packed too easily and will cause people to retreat because they’ll feel like they are getting a little bump and grind from every angle.  

Research shows that at a typical wedding reception, no more than 50% of the invited guests will be dancing at the same time. In fact, a better estimate is, on average, the dance floor will consistently have 30% of the guest count “on the floor.”

Given this information, it is best to size a dance floor based on that 30-50% maximum number.

The other number to keep in mind, is how much comfortable space a couple needs when dancing. Again, as a general rule, experts say nine square feet of dance space is about right.

So let’s do some math and for ease of computing use 50% of a final guest count of 100.

  • Final guest count: 100

  • Number of couples: 50

  • Maximum number of couples/people on the dance floor: 25 couples (50 people)

  • Square footage needed: 225 (25 couples * 9 square feet)

Of course, wedding couples planning their party know their crowd and can adjust this percentage accordingly. But from me, the most important takeaway from this article is to consider the importance of dance floor size. Do not just order a generic size and stuff it in “wherever it fits.”

Resources:
Here’s a handy dance floor sizing chart, courtesy of Raphael’s Party Rentals. It shows the appropriate size based on couple count and square footage

Other Posts You May Be Interested In

Justin Kanoya is a wedding DJ based in San Diego. He has served as a DJ and host of more than 300 weddings over the past decade and is a recommended vendor at some of San Diego's finest wedding venues, including the Hotel del Coronado and the Lodge at Torrey Pines.

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Asian Business Association of San Diego Lunar New Year Party - Emerald Chinese Cuisine

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President and CEO of the Asian Business Association, Wendy Urushima-Conn and San Diego DJ, Justin Kanoya.

The Asian Business Association of San Diego held its 22nd Annual Lunar New Year Celebration on February 23, 2016 at Emerald Chinese Cuisine restaurant.

ABA of San Diego is a non-profit organization that facilitates the growth and development of member businesses through ongoing entrepreneurial education, communication and business networking programs. Currently it has nearly 500 members.

The Lunar New Year event attracted a handful of attendees, including ABA members, San Diego community leaders and San Diego elected officials. It also featured an appearance by the Lucky Lion dancers, a delicious spread from Emerald, Starlight photobooth and of course live DJ service.

Here’s a look at the setlist for the night:

  • Rick James - Mary Jane (19Sixty Quick Hitter)
  • Mary Jane Girls - Candy Man (Hot Classics Remix)
  • Duke Dumont - Ocean Drive
  • Who Is Fancy f./Ariana Grande & Meghan Trainor - Boys Like You
  • Giacca & Flores - Last Night A DJ Saved My Life  
  • Base On & Jean Bacarreza - Back 2 Basicz  
  • Mary Jane Girls - Candy Man (Hot Classics Remix)
  • Pet Shop Boys - West End Girls Pt. 2 (Select Mix Remix)
  • Erasure - Chains of Love
  • Phil Collins - Sussudio (Select Mix Remix)
  • Usher, Nicki Minaj - She Came To Give It To You (Select Mix Remix)
  • Mariah Carey - Emotions (Select Mix Remix)
  • Patrice Rushen - Forget Me Nots  
  • Michael Jackson, Justin Timberlake - Love Never Felt So Good
  • Whitney Houston - So Emotional (Edge Remix)
  • Prince - Raspberry Beret
  • DJ Dan & WhiteNoize - Hey Ho  
  • S.W.V. - Right Here (Human Nature Duet) [Select Mix Remix]
  • Bobby Caldwell - Open Your Eyes
  • Taylor Swift vs Lauryn Hill - Blank Space (DJ Skillz Throwback Blend)
  • Lauryn Hill - Doo Wop (That Thing)
  • White Town - Your Woman (Select Mix Remix)
  • Wang Chung - Dance Hall Days (Edge Remix)
  • Terence Trent D'arby - Wishing Well (Select Mix Remix)
  • Chaka Khan - Ain't Nobody (Hot Classics Remix)
  • DJ Cassidy f./Chromeo - Future Is Mine (Promo Only Intro Edit)
  • Chainsmokers ft ROZES - Roses (Adam Foster Remix)  
  • Seinabo Sey - Younger (Kygo Remix)  
  • The Whispers - Rock Steady
  • Johnny Gill - Rub You The Right Way
  • Billy Ocean - Caribbean Queen  
  • The Spinners - I'll Be Around (70s Classics)  
  • Rappin' 4-Tay - I'll Be Around (Select Mix Remix)
  • Bell Biv DeVoe - BBD (I Thought It Was Me)
  • Stevie Wonder - I Wish (DJ Joey C Edit)
  • DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince - The Fresh Prince Of Bel Air (Le Boeuf Remix)  
  • Justin Bieber - Love Yourself (Alan V Redrum)  
  • Tori Kelly - Nobody Love (DJ Mustard Remix)
  • Justin Timberlake ft Jay-Z vs Biggie & Next - Suit & Tie (Too Juicy Blend) (Intro Clean)
  • A Tribe Called Quest - Electric Relaxation
  • P.M. Dawn - Set Adrift On Memory Bliss
  • Cassie - Me & You
  • Mya - Case of the Ex
  • Adele - When We Were Young (DiscoTech 2AM Radio Edit)
  • Laid Back - White Horse (Select Mix Remix)
  • Sa-Fire - Let Me Be The One (Select Mix Remix)
  • OMC - How Bizarre (Select Mix Remix)
  • Prince - When Doves Cry (DJ Joey C Short Edit)
  • Paula Abdul - Cold Hearted (Select Mix Remix)
  • Charlie Puth - One Call Away (Lash Radio Edit)
  • Jess Glynne - Hold My Hand
  • Big Tymers - This Is How We Do
  • Ice Cube - Check Yo Self (Select Mix Remix)
  • Ella Henderson - Ghost (Dave Aude Remix)
  • OMI - Hula Hoop
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My LA Moment; the time Josh Duhamel Rolled Up On Me

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While DJing in Los Angeles, even I was a bit surprised to see a Josh Duhamel. But moreso because I was actually playing his wife's song when he walked up to me. 

For as long as I can remember, I've had this weird “attribute” about me. It happens when I’m thinking about something and then suddenly that thing or something related to it comes up. It might be a song I'm thinking of that will come on the radio. Or I could be thinking of an actor and as I’m flipping through the TV I come across him on a random showing of a movie at 2 p.m. on a Saturday.

Well it happened again, in Los Angeles with Stacy Ferguson, A.K.A. Fergy Ferg, A.K.A. Fergie, A.K.A. Mrs. Josh Duhamel.

I was in L.A. with Fitbit to DJ at the Mile 22 cheer station of the Los Angeles Marathon. Exactly 28 songs into my “marathon, six hour” gig I figured it was time to drop the Fergie song, L.A. Love … I know, so cliche.

As I started playing it I see this guy walk up with his kid in a stroller. He starts recording me on his phone. This didn’t seem like too out of the ordinary, as it is fairly common that people will take photos or video of me DJing.

However, a minute or so later, I see him still hanging out and smiling back at me. Understand, where I was set-up was not an area that people were standing around and cheering. There were large groups gathered in other areas nearby, and here was this guy, with his kid, just standing behind me.

About 30 seconds later I look back at him, we make direct eye contact and then it hit me. It’s Josh-freaking-Duhamel .... Fergie’s husband!!

I literally shouted out “oh my god,” stunned at the coincidence that had taken place.

As I walked up to him, about five steps away, because remember he was standing so unusually close to me, and said “I just had that song ready to go, I didn’t even see you or realize you were there.”

To which he replied, “That’s funny, I just assumed you saw me walk up and decided to play it. And thanks, she will love it.”

Note he said “she will.” So I’m going to just digest the fact that at some point that day, while they were sitting on their couch at home, Josh showed Fergie a clip of me spinning L.A. Love.

And that’s a memory and an L.A. moment I’ll hold onto forever.

Here's a short video of the moment.

Josh Duhamel does a little lip sync to his wife's song, L.A. Love. F.Y.I., his wife is Fergie.

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2016 Los Angeles Marathon - Fitbit Fitness DJ

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San Diego DJ, Justin Kanoya, with the Fitbit crew at the 2016 Los Angeles Marathon.

San Diego DJ, Justin Kanoya, with the Fitbit crew at the 2016 Los Angeles Marathon.

The mile 22 cheer station at the Los Angeles Marathon had nearly as many cowbells for cheerleaders as there were runners ... okay, not really. But if you wanted a Fitbit cowbell, you received a Fitbit cowbell.

At the beginning of 2015 I wrote down a list of goals and among them were to DJ an event with at least 10,000 people and DJ at the start line of a major running event. Of course, if that second goal was met, that first one was pretty much in the bag.

A year later, I’m happy to report that I can essentially check mark both, thanks to my friends at Fitbit.

As one of the corporate sponsors for the Los Angeles Marathon, that took place on February 14, Fitbit has a major presence at all things related to the event. From the race expo, to a tent at the finish line to a cheer station at Mile 22. And that’s where I came in.

I was set-up -- along with a handful of amazing members of Fitbit’s marketing team and super volunteer Erin -- at Mile 22 to play music and cheer on runners as they made their final 4-mile push to the end.

And while it wasn’t at the start line, I can now check off “DJ for several thousand people” (20,000+ runners) and “DJ at a major running event” (the LA Marathon is kind of a big deal). You can even read about my own LA moment, with Josh Duhamel, which will probably go down as one of the most unreal coincidences in my life.


Lastly, I still have not run a marathon myself, but I can now say I DJ’d one, and in a way it was a marathon all on it’s own.

Here’s what a six hour setlist looks like.

  • Anuhea - Higher Than The Clouds
  • Crystal Bowersox - Midnight Train to Georgia
  • Oasis - Wonderwall
  • Magic! - No Way No
  • Flo Rida - My House
  • Prince Royce f./Snoop Dogg - Stuck On A Feeling
  • Charli XCX f./Rita Ora - Doing It
  • Iggy Azalea f./Jennifer Hudson - Trouble
  • Coldplay - Adventure Of A Lifetime
  • Aloe Blacc - The Man
  • Fifth Harmony - Sledgehammer
  • OneRepublic - Love Runs Out
  • Maroon 5 - Maps
  • Pitbull f./G.R.L. - Wild Wild Love
  • Demi Lovato f./Cher Lloyd - Really Don't Care
  • Kelly Clarkson - Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)
  • Pink - So What
  • Ariana Grande f./Zedd - Break Free
  • Kid N Play - Ain't Gonna Hurt Nobody (Select Mix Remix)
  • Monie Love - It's A Shame
  • MC Hammer - Turn This Mutha Out (Select Mix Remix)
  • Coolio - 1-2-3-4 (Sumpin' New) (Select Mix Remix)
  • Mariah Carey - Emotions (Select Mix Remix)
  • US3 - Cantaloop
  • Tony Toni Tone - Feels Good
  • Imagine Dragons - On Top Of The World
  • Lorde - Team (Select Mix Remix)
  • Fergie - L.A. Love (La La) (Select Mix Remix)
  • Natalie La Rose, Jeremih - Somebody (Select Mix Remix)
  • Imagine Dragons - I Bet My Life (Select Mix Remix)
  • Paramore - Ain't It Fun (Select Mix Remix)
  • Ariana Grande f./Iggy Azalea - Problem
  • Ja Rule - Livin' It Up (Select Mix Remix)
  • Nelly - Hot In Here
  • Wayne Wonder - No Letting Go
  • Fat Joe - Get It Poppin'
  • Big Tymers - This Is How We Do
  • Usher - Yeah (Wedding Crasherz Break)
  • K7 - Come Baby Come
  • Janet Jackson - Rhythm Nation (Select Mix Remix)
  • C&C Music Factory - Gonna Make You Sweat
  • Icona Pop - Emergency (Ghassemi Remix)
  • Alesso - Heroes (Basic Tape Remix)  
  • DNCE - Cake By The Ocean (Select Mix Remix)
  • Ed Sheeran - Sing
  • Pitbull, John Ryan - Fireball (Select Mix Remix)
  • Clean Bandit, Jess Glynne - Rather Be (Select Mix Remix)
  • Chromeo - Jealous (I Ain't With It) (Select Mix Remix)
  • Afrojack, Mike Taylor - SummerThing (Select Mix Remix)
  • Ariana Grande, Zedd - Break Free (Select Mix Remix)
  • Maroon 5 - Sugar
  • Robin Thicke f./Nicki Minaj - Back Together (Clean Edit)
  • Tupac - California Love (Original Version)
  • Dr Dre ft Snoop Dogg, Kurup & Nate Dogg - The Next Episode
  • Dawin f./Silento - Dessert (Remix)
  • Jackson 5 - I Want You Moombahback (FeestDJRuud & Naffz Bootleg)
  • Beyonce ft Jay-Z - Crazy In Love (Mayeda Remix)  
  • Missy Elliott - Get Ur Freak On (Mayeda Remix)
  • Discotron - Disco Ballin'  
  • DJ Cassidy f./Chromeo - Future Is Mine (Promo Only Intro Edit)
  • Boyz II Men - Motownphilly
  • INXS - New Sensation (Edge Remix)
  • J. Geils Band - Centerfold
  • Paula Abdul - Forever Your Girl
  • Paula Abdul - Opposites Attract
  • Whitney Houston - How Will I Know (Select Mix Remix)
  • Madonna - Holiday
  • Beastie Boys - Brass Monkey
  • Young MC - Bust A Move
  • Usher, Nicki Minaj - She Came To Give It To You (Select Mix Remix)
  • Justin Bieber - Love Yourself (RENAIR Uptempo ReDrum Edit)  
  • Disclosure ft Sam Smith vs Justin Faust - Latch (Digital Dave Disco Fix)
  • Avicii - Broken Arrows (Promo Only M-22 Intro Edit)
  • Adele - When We Were Young (DiscoTech 2AM Radio Edit)
  • Milky Chance - Stolen Dance (Uptempo Pop Mix)
  • Beyonce - 7/11 (Tracy Young's Smack It In The Air Radio Edit)
  • Nicki Minaj - The Night Is Still Young
  • Jess Glynne - Hold My Hand
  • LunchMoney Lewis - Bills (Promo Only Clean Edit)
  • Zedd f./Selena Gomez - I Want You To Know
  • Prince f./Zooey Deschanel - FALLINLOVE2NITE
  • Charlie Puth - One Call Away (Lash Radio Edit)
  • Krewella - Enjoy The Ride
  • Calvin Harris & Disciples - How Deep Is Your Love
  • Nelly Furtado - Do It
  • Journey - Don't Stop Believin' (Live)
  • Walk The Moon - Shut Up & Dance (G Duppy Remix)
  • A-Ha - Take On Me (Kygo Remix)
  • Disclosure ft Sam Smith - Latch (G Duppy Reggae Remix)
  • Mutya Buenya - Real Girl
  • Mack Wilds - Love In The 90z
  • Nelly f./Jeremih - The Fix (Riddler Remix - Clean)
  • Years & Years - King
  • OMI - Hula Hoop
  • Demi Lovato - Cool For The Summer
  • Hailee Steinfeld - Love Myself
  • Rudimental f./Ed Sheeran - Lay It All On Me
  • Tove Lo - Talking Body
  • Ariana Grande - One Last Time
  • Mariah Carey - Heartbreaker
  • Heavy D & The Boyz & Al B. Sure! - We Got Our Own Thang
  • Mase - Feel So Good