One of the core ideas behind Adventure Sound Live is that great events are not just well played. They are paced. They unfold the way a good story does, with an opening, a build, moments of focus, moments of release, and a clear sense of when to turn the page.

This New Year’s Eve was a near-perfect example of that philosophy in practice.

Planning:

Hosts Tamryn and Nedal had been tossing around ideas with us for the last few years. When they decided to go all in for New Year’s Eve, the goal was not just to throw a big party, but to create a night that felt intentional from start to finish.

The booking process itself set the tone for the night. It started when Tamryn reached out by text in October.  She made it clear that she was confident in our ability to make the right choices for entertainment, and we quickly connected by phone to work through the broad strokes so I could provide an accurate quote. Early versions of the plan included a female vocalist, and initially even a larger band configuration, but as we talked through space, budget, and flow, we pared things down intentionally. For the initial quote, we removed the female vocalist and trombone and focused on a leaner setup that still allowed for flexibility and impact.

Once the deposit was accepted, we were locked in for the date and moved into a series of emails to iron out details. Tamryn sent a walkthrough video of the house, which was incredibly helpful in planning the sound system and anticipating how guests might move through the space. In return, I sent a few structured options for sharing musical preferences, plan priorities, and any special moments they wanted to make sure were part of the night.  As we clarified the vision, it became obvious that the vibrancy of the trombone should come back into the picture, and we were able to add it back.

One final phone call a few weeks out clarified the remaining variables: the exact hour guests were invited, expected attire, how midnight should feel, and a few other key timing details. By the time the event arrived, the plan was clear, but not rigid. That combination of preparation and flexibility became the backbone of the entire evening.

Setup:

I arrived at the house around 6:00 PM, about two hours before guests. Tamryn had sent a walkthrough video ahead of time, which was accurate, but with the addition of a tent over the back patio, the layout and original plan had been flipped. Instead of forcing it, I took it as a cue to rethink the opening.

The space naturally created three distinct zones: a beautifully decorated foyer, a living room cleared for dancing, and a tented outdoor bar area.

Rather than fight the space, we let it tell us how the night should begin, and how we might best position ourselves to be ready for the most likely storyline stages.

We set up our full sound system, pedalboards and stationary stage gear in the living room.  From there we transmitted a signal to a satellite speaker in the backyard bar tent, and also prepared a battery powered full range speaker for the foyer.

Showtime:

Because guests were being greeted with their first drink at the front door, the entry experience needed to feel intentional, not transitional. We placed a small speaker across the foyer facing the door and opened with electronic beats paired with live acoustic violin. Steve played chill, instrumental versions of pop songs that were instantly recognizable without being intrusive. Conversation flowed easily, but the tone of the night was already set. This was not background music. It was a signal that you were in the right place.

As guests filtered further into the house, we prepared the next chapter. At about 8:20 PM, we introduced a New Orleans–style instrumental trio in the main living room featuring acoustic piano, trombone, and drums. Familiar songs were reimagined with swing and energy, carefully scaled to the acoustic piano so the room felt alive without becoming overwhelming.

At the same time, Kenyon, aka DJ 4our5ive, quietly fed music to the tented bar area through a satellite speaker. The bar stayed connected to the energy of the house without competing for attention. Three different zones were active at once, but they all belonged to the same story.

As the night progressed, most guests naturally gravitated toward the bar. The living room thinned out, which is exactly where many events stall. Instead of waiting for the whole party to be ready, we rewarded the people who already were.

We launched a full-band wedding dance set full of classics and positivity, not to pull everyone in at once, but to give permission for dancing to exist. Roughly twenty percent of the party came into the living room to dance or actively engage with the music. Everyone else still felt the momentum through the satellite feed in the bar tent.

This is a lesson worth repeating. Momentum does not require unanimity.

Before midnight, we intentionally broadened the emotional range of the night. We moved through chill pop classics, a Latin set, and a reggae set, each long enough to register and short enough to leave people wanting more. This was not genre hopping. It was pacing.

At around 10:30 PM, Tamryn and Nedal’s youngest daughter, eight-year-old Luna, joined the band to sing This Girl Is on Fire. Luna had spent the hours before the party chatting with us about her favorite music and how much she loved to sing. We invited her to join later in the night, and she graciously accepted.

She practiced on her own, waited patiently, and let us know when she was ready.

This moment worked because of everything that came before it. The party was alive, but not yet unified. Luna’s performance brought everyone into the same room for the first time all night. It felt personal without being forced, which is where real meaning begins to show up at a party.

After that peak, the most important move was restraint.

We intentionally brought the energy down with piano-led listening music. Sinatra standards like The Way You Look Tonight, played with a small quartet feel. No full drums. No low-end push. Music that rewarded attention while still allowing conversation. This was not a lull. It was a breath.

We handed the room fully to the DJ after that reset.

At about 11:15 PM, once key guests were present, we entered the Arabic set during the DJ portion of the night. This was originally planned as a 10 to 15 minute chapter. It did not stay that way.

Cousins stepped in on doumbek. I played djembe between tracks to keep the pulse alive. What began as a segment quickly turned into a gathering. Lebanese family members and non-Lebanese guests alike were locked in. No one was ready for it to end.

What was planned as a brief spotlight naturally stretched until about 11:45 PM. This only worked because of the restraint that came before it. The culture was not presented. It was shared.

With fifteen minutes to midnight, my role shifted almost entirely to timekeeper. I watched the clock closely and chose songs that leaned into nostalgia and family rather than hype. Music that felt reflective without deflating the room.

We ended the pre-midnight arc with Castle on the Hill by Ed Sheeran. Familiar, emotional, and forward-looking. A song that feels like memory and momentum at the same time.

We counted down together. Cheers. Embraces. Relief.

Then DJ 4our5ive dropped Tamryn and Nedal’s request, C’est La Vie by Khaled.

It was the perfect release. Global, joyful, rhythmic. A reminder that celebration does not belong to one culture or one generation. It belongs to the room.

After midnight, the night opened up again. We moved into a high-energy mix of Euro dance, classic hip hop, and big rock sing-alongs, intentionally alternating every few songs between DJ-led and band-led arrangements. That back-and-forth kept the room fresh. The DJ sets allowed for momentum and familiarity, while the band sets brought people back into the room emotionally and physically. Rather than locking into one lane, we let the energy breathe, shifting leadership just often enough to keep guests surprised and engaged without breaking the flow. 

Toward the end of the night, Dave, who had introduced us to Tamryn and Nedal, requested We Are Young by fun., and the timing could not have been better, echoing a special moment from his 40th birthday celebration a few years back.

Built On Trust

None of this works without trust. Tamryn and Nedal were exceptional hosts. Calm, attentive, decisive, and present. They knew what they wanted and allowed us to lead how. Chef Chris and his catering team were equally critical, communicating constantly about food timing, bar shifts, and guest flow. Those conversations directly shaped musical decisions throughout the night.

This party worked because everyone involved was telling the same story.

A great event is not about more songs.
It is about when the music happens.

That is the work.