It’s the details that no doubt enhance the experience of patrons. Such was the case at Sunday’s staging of Day Break, The Breakfast Party, which was held on the lawns of Sabina Park in Kingston.
Upon arrival patrons were greeted by security personnel, who checked tickets, then escorted them to an area where the tickets were scanned. Another set of security personnel did the search of each person professionally, and then patrons were issued armbands by smiling females.
The good vibes did not stop there.
The line-up of DJs, under the instructions of their MCs, did an exceptional job in keeping patrons on a musical high.
The Juggling Masters’ JJ Deadlock and Insaneo, Montego Bay’s DJ Jigga, Franco and JR, Vinchi and Fyahman, and New York-based Riggo Suave delivered the goods.
“The experience was a good one. I just finished my first round and I’m gearing up for my second round later. As DJs, we have to engage the people dem and mek dem enjoy dem self with different types of music. It’s all about getting the ladies to feel good… [I]t’s all about reading the crowd and the timing of the event,” DJ Vinchi told the Jamaica Observer.
JJ Deadlock of Juggling Masters said that, for his set, preparation was key.
“I always come with an open mind and read the crowd. Preparation is key. I try to get the songs people like in advance.”
Juggling Masters rocked the crowd in the early round with rhythm and blues selections from the 2000s, among them Dilemma by Kelly Rowland and Nelly, and Two Wrongs (Don’t Make It Right) by Wyclef Jean and Claudette Ortiz before diving into soul music from the 1990s such as Ace of Base’s 1990s chestnut Every Time It Rains, A Girl Like You by Kevon Edmonds, and Shania Twain’s crossover monster You’re Still the One.
DJ Jigga then stepped up the pace with hip hop and dancehall music from the 2000s before switching to tracks such as Beenie Man and Miss Thing’s Dude, No Games by Serani, and then touching on some hits by 50 Cent, Christ Brown, and Lil Wayne.
DJ Franco, aided by his MC, JR, worked up a storm with Ja Rule’s Put It On Me, J-Lo’s Love Don’t Cost a Thing, and Usher’s U Don’t Have to Call. Tony Kelly’s Bookshelf and Buy Out rhythms scored well with patrons.
As some patrons sampled the variety of food offerings, others chilled by the expansive bars enjoying the free-flowing music.
The in-demand Fyahman from Fyah 105 FM took the stage with Vinchi and they worked up a sweat with Natasha Beddingfield’s These Words, Uptown Funk by Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars, Cheerleader by OMI, Sugar by Maroon 5, Drop It Like It’s Hot by Snoop Dogg, Lean Back by Fat Joe, Remy Ma and Terror Squad, and Yung Jock’s It’s Going Down.
Austin Briscoe, event coordinator at The Network, promoters of Day Break was pleased with the overall execution of the event.
“The vibe for this particular execution was to give the patrons an experience; something that was clearly Jamaican, but also with a spin of something different for Christmas,” Briscoe told the Observer post-event.
He said special emphasis was placed on the customer’s experience.
“Customer service for us is paramount. We want to take the party to a different calibre with each staging. We provide shuttle bus service, check-in features, cabanas… and we’re pretty much hoping that the patrons will enjoy,” he added.
Daybreak is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. It has at least three stagings annually.
— Kevin Jackson
Patrons enjoy the offerings at Day Break, The Breakfast Party, on Sunday at Sabina Park (Photos: Karl Mclarty)