CAISO Steel Drum Band

Welcome to the Cyber Home of the Famous C.A.I.S.O. Steeldrum Band

Thank you for visiting the cyber home of C.A.I.S.O. - the hottest steeldrum band in the surrounding DC and Baltimore area. C.A.I.S.O. music draws from Calypso, Soca, Reggae, and Latin Jazz influences. This combination brings the right variety in a band that can certainly make an event special.

The Famous C.A.I.S.O. Steeldrum Band brings their easy going music of the Caribbean to your event along with the Professionalism of a Band that has been performing and entertaining for over 30 years. From headlining concert events, opening for nationally known touring bands, turning a wedding into a true celebration, to branding and promoting a product or company - C.A.I.S.O. is the right choice for your celebration!

Just as the right background music makes a movie that much better, it also makes a party a success. We bring the sunny feeling of the Caribbean as a background to your event. For a festive musical atmosphere that will provide the right background music for your celebration, you have to choose a Band that knows how to not only perform but entertain as well. Booking C.A.I.S.O. shows that you care about your event and your guests. They may not remember the decorations, or the variety of the menu, but they WILL remember how your party made them feel. C.A.I.S.O. brings the steel drum music of the Caribbean to your event to punctuate that this is a special one, a celebration, one to be remembered. There will be smiles, swaying shoulders, a carefree mood, and a festive atmosphere brought together by the professional vibes of a Band that wants your event to be as successful as you do!

Hit the play button, stay awhile, and cruise around our site. Here you can find a portal to easily book us for your event or request a free quote. Read comments from a few of our MANY satisfied customers and learn more about the history of C.A.I.S.O. You can join us on facebook, follow us on Twitter, check out our upcoming performances, buy our latest CD, find a cool shirt to sport about town (YES! It will make you COOL!), and keep up with our latest news through our blog posts.

To bring a bit of C.A.I.S.O. to your everyday, which is sure to make you have a better one, you can download a few ring-tones for your mobile phone. So, cruise around our site, and then go ahead and contact us - we'd love to make your event special. We are happy to entertain at events in the DC-Baltimore area, Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and surrounding West Virginia territory. Let C.A.I.S.O. be a part of your plans and send your guests home with the feeling that it truly was everything you wanted it to be - a wondrous, joyful, and happy celebration!

Please stay awhile and read through our blog posts below:

Posted in Advertising, Business, CAISO Events, Music, Party and Event Planning, Steeldrum/Steelpan Facts, Weblogs, Weddings | Permalink | Comments (0)

05/20/2013

Remembering on Memorial Day and Recapturing Its True Purpose

Memorial Day is a National Holiday and one that marks the transition into summer for many. Unfortunately much of the holiday has been lost and replaced with the celebrations that go hand in hand with a long weekend. It is time to once again capture the meaning of the holiday and the purpose of the day which is reflection and gratitude for the lives of those lost while serving in the U.S. armed services. It is not to be confused with Veterans Day which celebrates the service of all military personnel both living and dead.

Many are unaware that there was an official “National Moment of Remembrance Act” passed by Congress and signed into law by President Clinton in 2000 to form the White House Commission on the National Moment of Remembrance. There is encouragement for all Americans to pause wherever they are at 3PM local time on Memorial Day for a minute of silence to honor and remember all military service men and women that died in service to their nation.

By sharing the knowledge of this Memorial Day Remembrance Event you can help encourage others to honor our fallen heroes.

A great place to spend Memorial Day, Monday, May 27 is in the DC area. On the Thursday before Memorial Day soldiers will be placing American flags in the front of every gravestone in Arlington National Cemetery. Monday will mark an especially touching wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The U.S. Army Band will conduct a grand parade at Arlington after the wreath-laying ceremony.

The eve before Memorial Day, Sunday, May 26th, from 8:00 to 9:30 pm ET on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol there is a free Memorial Day Concert with special guest artists sponsored by PBS with broadcast on the PBS network. The concert includes the National Symphony Orchestra as well as other groups and singing artists such as Chris Mann and Katherine Jenkins. Colin Powell is slated to speak about the meaning of Memorial Day and there will be other appearances including Joe Mantegna and Gary Sinise.

A very special Virtual Wall of Remembrance can be visited online and you can also leave a note of remembrance. Your remembrance can also be delivered directly to the DC Memorial that relates to the war conflict that involved your friend or family member. For more information click here: Virtual Wall of Remembrance.

The history, venues and slated special events make DC a very special place to spend Memorial Day which is observed on Monday, May 27. There are hundreds of thousands of celebratory events being held across the nation. Most will occur on Monday, May 27 but some events will be held on Thursday, May 30 which is the official and traditional Memorial Day with the last Monday of the month being the federal holiday observance. Support those organizations that will honor Memorial Day on the 30^th as well by attending traditional Memorial Day observances.

As a reminder, days following Memorial Day the countdown will begin for to the annual DC Jazz Festival to be held June 5 to June 16. Across numerous stages including The Kennedy Center, the Kastles Stadium at the Wharf, and various clubs and locations there will be over 125 performances. There are a variety of favorite performers to be on hand as well as new exciting acts. For details on the performers and the locations visit the official DC Jazz Fest Web site. Make sure to come by and see CAISO perform again this year at the DC Jazz Fest. We will be performing on June 8 from 7PM to 8:30PM at Gallery O on H Street (1354 H Street NE, DC). Stay afterwards to see Little Red and the Renegades. Hope to see you there!

Posted in Public Events | Permalink | Comments (0)

05/14/2013

Custom Written Wedding Songs are the New Posh Items Sought by Brides

Nothing can better evoke a feeling than music. It can set the tone and ambiance of a setting. We all know what music can do for a movie scene so consider music at an event as equally powerful. Picture everyone gathered at your wedding and rather than everyone hearing a song that will likely be chosen by many other brides why not have a custom written wedding song all your own. Imagine a custom song for walking down the aisle, another for when the mothers enter the Chapel and another for the first dance between bride and groom. What a touching moment it would be for the bride’s dance with her father to have background music that recalls key moments from childhood? There wouldn’t be a dry eye among the guests.

As brides seek to make their wedding days more personal and emotionally filled it is not surprising that there are those seeking custom written wedding songs. It is in fact the new “in” for weddings. The custom written songs could then be replayed on anniversaries and passed along to future generations for their own weddings.

The good news is that such a special feature of a wedding is affordable to almost any bride. Custom written songs can be written and set to existing music or both the words and music can be original. Of course words are optional and sometimes music is stirring enough to stand on its own. There are many professional song writers that are available for commissioned work including members of the CAISO band.

Song writers do their best without pressure of fast approaching deadlines so plan ahead if you want customized songs for your wedding. Many song writers will provide you with hand written lyrics on printed music sheets for framing. You can always have the lyrics and music professionally written by someone with exquisite handwriting for a really special framed item. Contacting local music departments of colleges will offer you talented songwriters. Also consider coffee houses that have “open mic” nights as they will have sources that could be helpful and many church music directors will know who you could contact for songwriting services. With the Internet you are not limited to your area and could find someone in your native family land to write the song or someone from the town in which the couple met to write the song. There are many possibilities to make the song not only unique but also relevant to the couple’s history.

If you would like to know more about getting your own customized wedding song or songs, please contact CAISO today! We are the best wedding band in the DMV area. Choose THE professionals for your special day. Check out our booking info page here.

Posted in Wedding Planning | Permalink | Comments (0)

05/09/2013

Discover the Designer Wedding Dress of Your Dreams for Half or Less – Even One Worn by Beyoncé

One of the top expenses for a wedding is the wedding dress. Brides spend many sleepless nights tossing and turning wondering which dress they should pick and how they are going to fit the cost into their overall budget. Now there is the possibility of getting the wedding dress of your dreams and saying goodbye to budget concerns. A site simply and smartly called PreOwnedWeddingDresses.com has a lot of possibility to offer a bride looking for the perfect and often one-of-a-kind designer gown.

Not only can you save on a dress’ cost but many of the dresses available for purchase are one-of-a-kind creations, top couture and some have been worn by celebrities. For instance the wedding dress worn by Beyoncé in her “Best Thing I Never Had” video, which is a crystal encrusted Barraci gown, was listed originally for $85,000 but can be purchased for less than half of that amount for only $30,000.

Perhaps you want to sell your gown? You can do that too. It is easy to find the value of your gown through the site’s Wedding Dress Value Calculator.

The site connects brides for the transaction and many form relationships where one will attend the wedding of the new bride wearing the gown. Past brides are happy to see the gown worn again and bringing joy to another bride. Most of those selling believe that keeping their gown for their unborn daughter to wear decades into the future is bestowing a fashion nightmare on their daughter. Rather than storing the gown away in a box they sell the gown now and get some of the money back on their gown while knowing someone else is getting the joy of wearing the gown.

At the time of this writing there were over 14,785 designer wedding gowns waiting to be discovered by the bride that wants something unique and beautiful and never thought her dream dress could be so affordable. Of course there are also 14,785 married women hoping someone will fall in love with the gown they did and give it a new home. Maybe you fit one of the categories of wanting to buy or wanting to sell. Try out the site and if we’ve led you to the match that made your wedding dreams come true – let us know! Good luck!

Finding your live wedding reception band can be just as easy and affordable – give CAISO a call and make your wedding reception dreams come true!!!

Posted in Wedding Planning | Permalink | Comments (0)

05/02/2013

When The Best Laid Plans for a Wedding, Birthday, or Other Event Go Wrong...

No matter how much we plan for big events it is the flow of the universe that something will go wrong. I see it as confirmation that we just aren't perfect, no matter how we strive. Shouldn't that mean we need to give ourselves a break when it happens?

The more emotional the event and time spent on an event can mean that when something goes wrong the ending reaction will be much more magnified. Television has made money on that pure statement. Take for instance "Bridezilla" or shows like that. Yet, the event planning emotional stress breakdown due to bumps and jumps in the plans isn't confined to just weddings. It can include the reception, showers, & other big events like anniversary and birthday parties.

Being in the business of making events a better one through music, we have had to pull out our hero's capes a few times. While our music and entertainment finesse came into play to help soften the blow, in no way could our music fix the problem. We could only help devert, bring the atmosphere up a notch or two, or take the focus totally away as people swayed and danced and smiled. (Hint: Another reason you should always use a professional live band that has experience - it isn't just about the music as we say!)

In 99.9% of the situations, there were only a few people that even knew the plans had gone awry.

What totally mattered is if the person planning, or the guest of honor took it in stride and realized that it wasn't a problem that was going to take away from the event. If the Birthday cake had the wrong color icing, it was still a Birthday and the celebration was not dependent on the icing, nor the cake. If the Bridal bouquet fell apart the Bride would still be as beautiful to the Groom holding one flower as she would with 30 - and probably even more so with the focus on her and not the massive bouquet.

The important thing is that sometimes a mishap, is just a bump to get us back into focus that the whole purpose of the event was to celebrate. The celebration is what is important, whether or not rain is fore-casted, the bows were placed too high on the pews, or the caterer served the meal too early. So what? Your guests didn't come because they expected a perfect evening, they came to celebrate - with you.

As a Bride, Hostess, or Guest of Honor, as the big day comes up or as you look back at the memories, it should all be about the reason for the celebration. If you can take those errors, mistakes, accidents, overlooks, misplanned, miscommunicated challenges and hiccups along the way for the big day, then you will be well set for life ahead. After all, it's all about the striving, the journey, the overcoming, the holding your head high, the kicking off your shoes and dancing when the heel of your shoe breaks that gives you character and the ability to see life with grace. Oh, and when your heel breaks and you kick off those shoes, we'd be happy to play the music for you to dance - and dance you will!

Posted in marketing, Music, Party and Event Planning, Wedding Planning | Permalink | Comments (0)

04/30/2013

DC Jazz Festival Coming in June

It’s time to save the date. The DC Jazz Festival will be kicking off June 5^th, and the sweet sounds resonating through the city will continue through the 16^th. The annual festival will once again feature jazz musicians from around the world and bring to the stage some of the hottest new talent. Now is the time to mark your calendars and start setting the itinerary up for some great performances.

Multiple venues will be used for the Jazz Festival, including museums, hotels, restaurants and clubs. Talent for this year’s event includes a long list of accomplished artists - Roy Haynes Fountain of Youth Band, Stefon Harris & Blackout, the Roy Hargrove Quintet, the Poncho Sanchez Latin Jazz Band, the Cyrus Chestnut Trio, the Ron Carter Golden Striker Trio, Nicholas Payton XXX, Terri Lyne Carrington, the Brubeck Brothers Quartet, and the Brass-A-Holics Go Go Brass Funk Bank, just to name a few.

Other artists making appearances at the festival include: Grammy Award-winning Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra with special guests Steven Bernstein and Anat Cohen. Latin jazz legends such as Tito Puente, Machito, and Chico O’Farrill, as well as traditional Jewish melodies will also be playing to the masses.

The DC Jazz Festival, started in 2004, was initially named the Duke Ellington Jazz Festival. Its purpose was, and still is to bring the biggest names to the stage and celebrate the history of this great music. Six years later the festival was renamed the DC Jazz Festival. A primary goal of the DCJF is to cultivate a deeper understanding of the importance jazz music has played in the nation’s capital. Additionally, the DCJF seeks to promote and educate through programs integrated into school curricula, thus discovering a more diverse audience of jazz music.

The DC Jazz Festival is sponsored partly by the National Endowment for the Arts, the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities and the Mid-Atlantic Arts Foundation.

Hope to see you there!!!

Posted in Music | Permalink | Comments (0)

04/23/2013

Brides, Weddings and Social Media Etiquette

Brides today are faced with a dilemma that was not necessary a decade ago. If left to their mothers or older wedding planners the dilemma could go undetected and end up causing a fret before, during and even after the wedding. The dilemma comes from the extensive use of social media.

In making plans for the wedding, Brides must now take into consideration social media and how they will use it as well as how they will allow their own wedding to be shared across the globe by others. Overlooking the issue could cause problems and therefore a Bride and those assisting in preparations, whether it's the mother, aunt, friend or professional planner, everyone involved needs to face the issue head on.

In the beginning stages of planning, a Bride must consider if she wants to use social media to share information about her plans. Bridesmaids and Groomsmen will be quite excited and are likely to share much of the preparations and plans online. Some will go as far as to post pictures of themselves trying on their wedding attire. Therefore the Bride and Groom must express their wishes in the very beginning as to how much and what can be shared online.

If the Bride wants the bridal party’s wedding attire to be publically seen for the first time as the attendants come down the aisle then she needs to express that she does not want any pictures or details shared online.

Experts even warn that shower pictures should be censored so that gifts are not shown in pictures or thieves will have a full view of what could be stolen while everyone is away at the wedding venue or on the honeymoon. Posting information about being gifted Great-Grandma’s complete 12-piece serving of antique silver might not be something to share with the general public.

The day of the wedding has its own special considerations and need for set guidelines. Will guests be asked to put away their electronic devices? Will they be allowed to personally film the ceremony with their smartphones or iPads and then self-post them to YouTube? How will the reception be handled and what will be allowed to be recorded and posted? Can guest immediately share your reception photos on Instagram?

It is unstated that people should allow the Bride and Groom to first publish their own photos and guests post their own afterwards, but not everyone will take social manners into consideration. Guidelines should clearly be set. Wishes of the couple can be communicated subtly through the wedding program, through a framed message on the guest book table, or announced live by the wedding officiate or reception’s master of ceremony.

Social media can enhance a wedding by offering the opportunity for those that want to share in the planning process or those not attending the event to participate. Many couples use Twitter hashtags for posts and set up Twitter and Facebook Fan Pages for their wedding and put up regular updates. Some couples also blog regularly from their engagement through their honeymoon to share info and photos.

There are many places to discover ideas and considerations concerning social media use online including sites such as The Knot and Pinterest. By being prepared and making preparations the couple can consider social media an asset rather than a hindrance to making their wedding day special.

If you are looking for a professional live band in the DMV area, we invite you to discover more about CAISO and take time to look at our site. You can download some of our tracks free in our downloads section, view our booking info, and quickly get a response to any questions. We have a long history of assisting wedding planners and Brides with their reception music planning and assuring that everything goes as expected. We deliver above and beyond and set the ambiance for a rememberable event. Contact us today – our calendar is open through 2014 and we are already filling it up quickly!

Posted in Wedding Planning | Permalink | Comments (0)

04/20/2013

Twitter Users to Fill Tweets with Music

Those hoping to discover new artists and music and those hoping to be discovered by the masses should be paying attention to the new music twitter app. The app has many layers to it which will be appealing. The app recommends tracks based on the Twitter account follows, it allows a person to tweet the songs they are listening to and like, users can discover tracks through a listing of the most popular tracks or those up and coming, and it also allows users to preview tracks through iTunes, Spotify, or Rdio.

The new music app was launched online Thursday. It is a highly anticipated app and according to a reliable source the Twitter platform is a popular platform to reach new fans and to launch a music career. It is estimated that eight of the top most followed Twitter accounts are held by music artists. As consumer use changes it is important for music artists to discover how to use social media to their advantage especially since the music industry has been deeply impacted by changes in consumer demand and how they discover and purchase music. According to the Recording Industry Association of America, over one half of the music industry’s revenues came from digital downloads, subscription revenue and advertising through digital music services.

The ability for artists to reach potential listeners will be offered by following searches and twitter posts of those people pushing their admiration for similar artists. It also provides the same opportunity for listeners to find similar artists by looking for tweets that are posted by other accounts that like similar music.

Time will tell if the app is as well received as is expected. While the abilities offered to Twitter users is attractive, without the adaption of the app it loses its wide spread appeal. If you would like to know more about the app you can do so here. Make sure to follow us on Twitter and we’d appreciate you sharing tweets about CAISO.

Posted in Music | Permalink | Comments (0)

04/12/2013

Tiki Bar Solomons Island Season Opener

Are you ready for Spring and Tiki?

Tiki Opening will be on Friday, April 19th of this year and we hope you're ready to get your tiki pants back on for another annual opening party that's always a blast! There will be warm weather, tropical drinks, live entertainment, and the best crowd around. No one should miss the party, so get the date on your calendars and start planning with all your friends.

Check out this clip from Caiso SteelBand's performance at Tiki Bar Solomons Island:

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See you at the Tiki!

Posted in CAISO Events, Music, Party and Event Planning | Permalink | Comments (0)

04/06/2013

Steel Drum Music Industry is a Woman’s World Too

The sound of the steel drum is easily recognizable and no other instrument sounds like it or can evoke such a strong emotional response. When you hear the sound of a steel drum you can quickly imagine the surf lapping up on the beach. In your head you can see the pannist expertly calling upon the instrument to give up its distinctive sound. Most likely that image is of a male steel drum player or pannist as they are often called. That would be a normal response since males are often the ones seen playing a steel drum.

There was a time when there were only male musicians allowed to play the steel drum. It was a male dominated music field and there was little to no opportunity for a girl to play the steel drum. Playing professionally was a total impossibility. Today there are many more opportunities and the trend for women making the steel drum their instrument of choice is more common and growing.

Online there is an extensive amount of information on the women that paved the way for others in the steelpan or steeldrum music industry. One good source is the section on the Celebration of Women and the Steelpan Art-Form on the site of When Steel Talks.

The key to getting more women into playing the steeldrum is for there to be opportunities for young women and girls to learn. Luckily there are many new support organizations developing all over the world that are offering not only instruction but the instruments as well. The Internet has made it easier to obtain a quality steel drum and affordable beginner “tools”. There are also instructional videos, books, and tutorial sites that can make it possible for a young girl to develop an interest in a musical instrument that is not as common to be seen played by a woman. It is a unique learning opportunity that can lend to establishing skills that are beneficial in life such as discipline, self-confidence, as well as establishing and working toward goals.

We salute those women that have paved the way for not only other women in the steel drum musical industry but for bringing their beautiful steel drum music into the world.

Photo credit: http://www.culturemixarts.co.uk

Posted in Music | Permalink | Comments (0)

02/14/2013

Valentine's Day Gestures and Gifts to Win Their Heart

Often times it can be daunting to figure out what gift to give someone. On Valentine's Day it can be very intimidating. How are you suppose to come up with a gift that will represent your love for someone? How can a gift ever express it enough or be enough? Yet we try every year and hope with fingers crossed that it will be just perfect.

(History of Valentine's Day)

In a recent survey of women concerning Valentine's Day gifts most said they just want to feel appreciated. Men say they would like the same. So put it in perspective that the gift should portray appreciation and you can better choose your gift.

For women that could mean a romantic dinner, jewelry representing love such as a heart necklace, and even a play list of songs that would represent your journey of love together. The gift should say "I love you, I appreciate you, and I get you" said one survey responder.

(100 Most Romantic Movies - Choose from this list for a Romantic Viewing at Home)

Don't be pulled toward highly decorated last minute gifts seen at retailers hoping to grab your money at the benefit of fancy wrappings. What is inside does matter. It would be better to show you actually spent time to get your gift together such as pre-purchased movie tickets or a dinner reservation. It shows it wasn't a last minute thought.

For men, it could mean tickets to a sporting event later in the week, a certificate for a round of golf, or anything that shows you know how they like to play - afterall you are the one that can still understand the man you love has a boy's heart when it comes to games and fun!

(Top Most Romantic Love Songs)

Don't forget the music either. A request by a local DJ to play "your song" while you enjoy dinner together at home or a new download of love songs that mark your relationship through the years. The music will last long after the meal is over, the movie has ended, and the day is over. The music will bring back the feelings of years past, rekindle the butterfly in the stomach, and be remembered next week and next month when played again. Nothing can say "I love you" like music and beautiful lyrics. Either choose one you know or perhaps you might want to give a try at writing your own... that will for sure be remembered days ahead and no matter what her friends received - a song just for her, written by you, is definitely a winner. Even if it never wins a Grammy!

If you are still in need of an idea then take a moment to watch this video by Nick Dietz - it is sure to give you a great idea and a smile! Happy Valentine's Day!