Hello! Thanks for stopping by! My name is Caroline and I am the owner of Upbeat Occasions that was established in 2016. I have been a deejay and emcee for a little over 10 years. I have deejayed hundreds of weddings and other events. My passion is to deejay weddings and love to meet newly engaged couples and hear their love stories. I also dive deeper with the couples I work with when it comes to selecting music for their wedding. I LOVE music and will listen to everything from the Grateful Dead, to DMB, to Biggie, to Mary J, to EDM. I enjoy learning new artists, songs etc… so please share. For the past 17 years I have also been a Special Education Teacher in the North Colonie School District. I am able to balance both careers because of the passion I have for working with people/families/students. On a personal note, I feel in love with my husband Brian during Covid who happened to be in the wedding industry and we had a rocking wedding at Revolution Hall in December of ‘22. Cheers!!!

 Meet Mo Haskins! DEEJAY AND EMCEE

Mo has been an entertainer for about 10 years, originally playing at parties and then eventually moving into weddings and clubs. He is currently doing a variety of events, from Sweet 16’s to weddings to bars/clubs to backyard graduation events. He frequently volunteers his time and skills to benefits (most prominently Nick’s Fight to Be Healed). His favorite era of music to play is all Late 80s/90s/ Early 2000s, primarily 90s hip hop and dance pop being my favorite.

By day he is a therapist, currently within a private practice specializing in LGBTQ and Transgender adults,  but Mo has worked with children in the past as well. He currently has two Masters degrees (one in Forensic Mental Health and the other in Counseling and Community Psychology). Along with deejaying, he is a fitness coach (Crossfit, Olympic Weightlifting, and Strongman) where he has used his deejaying experience to fuse both together and has released his own types of workout mixes for anyone to listen to. Mo uses music and DJing to create a vibe and atmosphere to bring people together for a common goal. His thought process is “How can I make your event go from great to amazing?” at all times. 

“DJ Caroline says….Mo has been a great friend and mentor for many years. We had worked for the same company many years prior but unfortunately didn’t work much together. Mo reached out to me when I started Upbeat Occasions and said he would love to be part of the crew. Mo has incredible knowledge when it comes to technology and troubleshooting. Mo and I also have very similar tastes when it comes to music and we share unique songs on a daily basis. Mo has deejayed many weddings, corporate, and sporting events. I had the honor to DJ his wedding during the pandemic and now him and his wife have two beautiful girls.

Meet Chris Wright! DEEJAY, EMCEE and OFFICIANT

Chris is an experienced DJ for 25 years. He started DJ'ing Military Base Clubs while in the US Navy back in the 90s in Norfolk-Virginia Beach, VA. He started working professionally as a Wedding and Special Events DJ in 1995. He has worked venues big and small from backyard parties to some of the most elegant and extravagant venues in America! Chris knows a wide range of music from many genres and generations. From Swing to Hip-Hop or 1940s to the 21st century, he has it all and he knows it all. Chris is also a great MC with the smooth silky voice of a radio jock.

Chris is also an officiant who has been ordained since 2011. He enjoys getting to know couples on a more personal level. He is able to incorporate all ceremonies, such as religious, non- denominational, interfaith, spiritual, or commitment.

“DJ Caroline says….Chris and I worked for the same deejay company years ago but never actually got to work together as we were never scheduled on the same events. Fast forward to this year. Chris developed a passion for Real Estate about 8 years ago and is the Director of Agent Development at Coldwell Banker Prime Properties, Timberland, and Choice. I have always loved Chris’ personality and drive and thought he would be a great fit for my parents, who were looking for a home. Chris successfully helped them purchase a home and my parents couldn’t be happier! Chris and I chatted one day about business and how he still loves to deejay. The rest is history and I am happy to have Chris join the “Upbeat Team”. “

Meet Jen Cornell- DEEJAY, EMCEE AND DANCE INSTRUCTOR

Jennifer Cornell is our newest DJ to the team, but don’t let that fool you.  Within minutes of talking with her, you will see her passion for music, dance and Latin culture.  She is a frequent worldwide traveler to a variety of destinations from Kenya to The Galapagos Islands.  Jen is a Spanish Teacher and bilingual speaker with a Master’s degree, having taught 25 years from 5th grade to college level students.  Several evenings you will find Jen instructing Latin, Swing or Ballroom dance to a variety of ability levels.  Jen is familiar with numerous styles of music and many of her dance students comment that her choices in music are refreshing and exciting and lead to getting the dance floor filled up and moving. Given the opportunity, Jen would love to teach your guests a different dance move (recently she personalized a line dance for a bride).  If you would like help with choreography of your first dance, Jen can help too.

Lastly, Jen is extremely passionate about her clients, providing excellent organization, details, and continual communication from start to finish.  Jen will work with you to customize your day to meet your needs and make your day run smoothly.

Caroline says…”I met Jen at a wedding show a couple years back. She was there to speak to couples about taking professional dance lessons for their first dance etc… I loved her energy right away and the more I spoke to her I saw her passion for music and entertaining and was optimistic about her future in the industry. Fast forward…Jen has started her own deejay company and continues to teach dance lessons daily. However, Jen is excited to be part of the Upbeat team and bring her knowledge of dance and Latin music to events!

Welcome Becca Molaro! DEEJAY,EMCEE, PHOTO-BOOTH ATTENDANT

Musician, producer, and DJ, Becca has been in the music industry for 10 years. What started as a hobby, turned into a lifestyle. With an Associate’s Degree in Music Business, Becca started mixing and creating music for haunted houses. While performing as a drummer in local band, she became intrigued by the power of influencing moods with music. In 2019, with a little practice and her music theory background, she started DJing weddings, graduation parties, birthday parties and mitzvahs. When she is not performing at an event, Becca spends her time as an Office Manager in Healthcare, exploring the world, and enjoying new music in the local music scenes. For her, DJing is all about breaking the resistance barrier of the dance floor and making sure everyone is having a great time. Her favorite areas of music to play include Hip Hop, 90s, Rock N’ Roll, and EDM.

Caroline says….” I met Becca through Krest (our photo-booth manager) as she assisted with a photo-booth for a wedding in February of 2022. I remember her coming up to me and saying, “ I have the same controller as you!’ I saw it in her eyes that she was eager to jump in and do a set. I found out that she has been deejaying other events and reached out to see if she would assist in some upcoming events and weddings. Becca knows the ins and outs of the deejay equipment and has been a great asset to the Upbeat team in a short time. I am excited to have her continue to rock events for us!