Welcome to MiamiWMC.com

Posted on Monday, August 1st, 2011 by DannyTorres [ 0 comments ]

Hello fellow WMCers. In this article, I will recount my second WMC experience which was in 2011. I hope that the readers find my blog useful and entertaining fodder for understanding and planning for the conference. Please leave your feedback!

Living in the Midwest, I can easily tell you that as soon as it starts to get chilly around here, I start thinking about an escape. I know winter is right behind fall and I start thinking about how I can get to my beloved Miami. I love the city! Obviously I don't know what it is like to live there, but I know I enjoy going there.

When I rent a bike and ride across the waterways, I am exhilarated by the yacht views, sunsets, palm trees, and intense activity that can be felt going across these bridges. My second trip to WMC was just like that; I got to experience Miami in new and exciting ways. I happen to be very open to spontaneous adventure and getting out of my comfort zone. Of course, speaking Spanish is a nice perk and having a good sense of direction and knowing where the hell I am going helps as well.

Coral Gables ... Calle Ocho ... so many things to name and I haven't even seen everything there is to see. Each year I learn more and venture further into the entire experience. On my last WMC, I ventured into boutique parties for the first time.

Ok wow... Outside of being in house music heaven, hot women, Latin flavor and culture, craziness, and anonymous serenity, South Beach during WMC is just a smorgasbord of options. So many DJs in so many venues -- you really can't believe it until you witness it. Walking through the front of these hotels, like Delano for example, through the elegant and sexy entrances back to sprawling pools with the most incredible vibes, to a thumpin' DJ, and dancing bodies is something worth the experience alone.

You literally have to try to find a place in South Beach that isn't being fondled by WMC in some wonderful way. They come out with pamphlets that capture most of the events at WMC and it's an entire booklet broken down by date, time, party, list of DJs, etc. -- all of them with a unique theme. Huge parties in the back of oceanfront hotels and small parties bumping out of more intimate boutiques. High profile DJs like Carl Cox to local, lesser known masters of the turntables, like me, are all over the place.

It is easy to see that people come to WMC for different reasons and many ignore the seminars, but I've enjoyed them. Anyone who is in the business or just starting out will get a good hard look (not all glitter and gold) at the industry from relevant industry insiders. Gadget gurus showcase their new equipment and hopeful DJs and artists participate in question and answer sessions with panelists. I wish some of the seminars didn't overlap though. I have found myself having to choose between one and another on a few occasions.

The venues change as well. I think WMC should keep the seminars at an ocean side hotel like they have in the past. The last WMC was held at the Miami Beach Convention Center, but the vibe at Eden Roc the year before was better. You could take a break from the conference and be immediately immersed in DJs, pools, scenery, and elegance spilling right out onto the beach walkway...

Of course, there are moments where you wish all the heads would just disappear and leave you to your thoughts. But that is the allure of South Beach. It's a complex experience that just gets summed up with the joy of music, being on vacation, doing what you want, seeing those who do, and spontaneous combustion. Great food, great experiences ... I'm getting excited just writing about it!

Danny Torres
Independent Blogger

The views and opinions expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of Hudson Valley Nightlife, Inc., MiamiWMC.com, Winter Music Conference, or Ultra Music Festival.

Posted on Thursday, July 21st, 2011 by DannyTorres [ 0 comments ]

It's pretty simple actually, but it's the story that makes it so much more appealing. At the end of year in 2008, I "lost" a job that I actually didn't like anyway. In the dead of a cold and snowy Wisconsin winter, I decided in less than a few weeks to go to South America ... for two months. I sold my stuff and long story short, I was backpacking around Peru and busing it to Colombia. The whole time I had my Serato gear and laptop, hoping I would stumble upon an opportunity to spin (just maybe). It never happened, though I came closest in Cuzco. Either way, I would be going back home on April 2nd, 2009. For a final treat, I made my flight pass through Miami and would figure out a way home.

I had been to Miami and South Beach a handful of times prior to this particular visit/homecoming. Over the years, I had just passed through on my way to Key West, or had dinner in little Havana, or was only at the airport where the minute you step out you're greeted with palm trees and heat. But this particular trip back, I had planned to "stay a while." I had learned the art of budget traveling and I was ready to just be alone in South Beach for a week or two.

During my stay, I met a fellow traveler who was from France or Germany -- I can't remember. He was a younger guy, cool dude, and it turned out he had been here for the music conference. "What music conference?" I asked him. I had never heard of or been to any music conference much less one with house music. While I am a DJ and producer, I had had my head in the studio for many years before I was aware of this "community" of DJs and party animals. I was just getting back into DJing after a little hiatus. So I was more consumed with the music and getting my mix game tight. Needless to say, I had such a great time those two weeks that I fell in love with South Beach and had only thought, "Hmmm. I might try and make it out here next year for this festival." So on pins and needles I waited for the dates for WMC2010. It would be my first WMC. At this point I didn't even know Ultra existed.

If you haven't been to Miami and South Beach, well you just haven't seen something really special. But for me, going to South Beach as a DJ, producer, and party animal during WMC is absolute heaven. I soaked up all the seminars, THE SCENERY!, music, and sun. The 2010 WMC was held at the beautiful Eden Rock Hotel. Everywhere you went, even the side streets of South Beach had DJs spinning and parties to fit every budget and appetite. It's amazing. It might be too much for the light-hearted but if you want to see some crazy ass shit or even just be a fly on the wall while everyone goes nuts and you can hear house music, WMC is sooooo hot.

After my first WMC, I became more motivated as an artist and vowed to be more prepared next time for networking and getting the opportunity to spin in a place like Miami is high on my list of dreams. By the next time I came to WMC 2011, it was already giving me a different look. I experimented with new parties (boutique vs. big room), new seminars, everything. It's just a great time. At one point, I thought I might not need to come back, but the truth is that I almost feel like I can't miss it anymore. Plus, I got a gig for 2012. It's a huge party with space for industry people, artists, and party goers. I love Miami and WMC.

This story is part one of a series from the front lines of a DJ/producer with a dream.

You can catch my mixes at http://dannytorres.org/livemix.html. I also have a weekly show on http://chicagohousefm.co.uk/ every Tuesday 3-5p US Central Time.

Danny Torres
Independent Blogger

The views and opinions expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of Hudson Valley Nightlife, Inc., MiamiWMC.com, Winter Music Conference, or Ultra Music Festival.

Posted on Wednesday, July 20th, 2011 by rsmith [ 0 comments ]

International dance music producer DJ Boris spins live at Torches on the Hudson Saturday, July 23rd!

Boris joins the elite list of high profile DJ headliners who have performed at Torches, including DJ Skribble, DJ Jazzy Jeff, DJ Clinton Sparks, The Crooklyn Clan, Ted the Dillinger, DJ Vice, DJ Chachi and the late DJ AM. With its breathtaking views along the western bank of the Hudson River in Newburgh, NY, Torches has put the Hudson Valley on the map for nightlife and entertainment.

"I'm excited to see the electronic dance music (EDM) movement continue to gain traction outside of the huge mega clubs of our big cities", said Ryan Smith, owner of Hudson Valley Nightlife, Inc. "Having access to award-winning DJs, such as Boris, in our own backyard is a rewarding experience."

EDM has been woven into the fabric of Torches for years now, but each year we've seen their lineups expand to include bigger names. Artists that were exclusive to Manhattan are venturing out to attract more diverse audiences.

"The core of the Manhattan and NYC club culture comes from the outer boroughs, the rural areas, the upstate NY, CT, and NJ areas", said Boris' manager, Jonpaul Pezzo, via email. "These people drive hours, spend money on hotels, and whatever else to listen to some of their favorite artists in some of the best clubs. This is a lot for someone to do weekly, so I think it's important for the big DJs and the house music culture to get out to the outer boroughs and the rural areas, especially when they have an adequate club at their fingertips. Many people can't always make those trips to NYC clubs, so getting up and out to the outer areas is a great way to ensure that we keep the fans happy and bring them the best show possible whether in NYC or Newburgh."

DJ EZ, Torches' resident DJ, will open for Boris on Saturday and is brimming with enthusiasm. "As a fan of music, it's great for us at Torches and the Hudson Valley to have someone at our venue who has played at EDC (Electric Daisy Carnival), rooms like Space in Miami, and Wet Republic in Vegas. As a DJ I'm excited to play big room house records that most DJs only dream of playing for a room full of house music lovers. Overall this is going to be a tremendous party that everyone who attends will remember and everyone who misses will hear about."

Doors open at 10pm. General admission is $25. Contact Damien at 845-568-0100 for VIP table reservations.

About DJ Boris
A true product of Manhattan's legendary electronic scene, he has spun at many of The Big Apple's most legendary nightclubs, including Exit, Roxy and residencies first at Crobar and now Pacha. His high-energy sets are famous for their big drums and bigger builds. With a career that has spanned over 15 years, Boris has come to represent everything that's right about house music. His tenure at clubs across the country is matched only by legends such as DJ Dan, Danny Tenaglia and Junior Vasquez. His producing and engineering skills are the crème de la crème in any group of musicians. Boris has worked remixing a who's who of music industry mega stars including Janet Jackson, Missy Elliott, Jewel, Pink, Brandy, Usher, Brittney Spears, New Order, Boys to Men, 98 Degrees, Mya, Shania Twain, Salt-n-Peppa, Cindy Lauper, Jordan Knight and numerous others.

About Hudson Valley Nightlife
Hudson Valley Nightlife, Inc. specializes in event planning, marketing, and promotions through the use of technology, social media, and human interaction. A suite of custom-built software applications including e-mail newsletter tools, SMS marketing tools, and an online ticket sales platform augments their graphic design skill set. Visit http://www.HudsonValleyNightlife.com/ for more information.

Posted on Friday, November 26th, 2010 by mraman [ 5 comments ]

So the dates have been released for next year's WMC and, shock horror, it's not happening when everyone expected it to happen.

What with being a newbie, my friends and I held out for the dates. And we're so glad we did. Not that I have anything against the Ultra Music Fest, but it is just another dance music fest in a field. Yes, the lineups are awesome, but why should I fly all the way out to Miami to get messy in a field when I can do that just as easily in the UK? I never paid all that much attention to the tie-up between the 2 Events, but the split between them doesn't surprise me. When there's a lot of money, influence, and column inches involved, at some point egos will take over. It appears that the two parties responsible for WMC and Ultra have had a bit of a set-to and decided to go their separate ways.

It's only a big deal to those folks who hedged their bets and booked their flights and accommodation expecting it to be in the last week of March as is usually the case. A lot of other people don't really care. WMC is a fairly unique set of events that you don't necessarily see repeated anywhere else. Ultra, as I said above, is just another big ole' EDM festival. I have no doubt that the WMC organizers and all those who stand to make a lot of cash off the back of it, will find all sorts of fun things to fill up the time with. Gaps are constantly filled and new needs identified and trends established - so I see this as an opportunity for all sorts of new, random parties and events to spring up in place of Ultra.

Bring it on, I say!

Meena Raman
Independent Blogger

The views and opinions expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of Hudson Valley Nightlife, Inc., MiamiWMC.com, Winter Music Conference, or Ultra Music Festival.