Cris Ratkovic (DJ BKR) has been a DJ/Composer for the better part of the last 20 years or so, starting in the late 80's. He took some time off to start a few personal music projects and to make some time for family but is now back in the swing of things!!!
A little background...after DJing house parties and private events for years, in 1999 Cris started the band named GODSPEAK, in the years 2000 he incorporated using his DJ name to help reach his goals. Also in 2000, the San Jose Sharks Organization approached him to compose a special 10th anniversary theme (GODSPEAK - Puck This!) to be played in the Shark Tank before every game! Cris went on to release 8 albums under the name GODSPEAK (with one still on the way - a MySpace page is in the works) and is currently working on an album for his group THE PROJEX (see his MySpace page @ myspace.com/theprojexmusic). He has also been mixing and producing for several other artists such as; Bay Area Freestyle Rap Champion A-Wolf, DJ Salsaman, DJ Kemars, Bay Area Soprano Vocalist Danielle Bixby, X42 and many more.
In 2006 he spent 9 months converting his DJ music library to digital form (LP's, Cassettes & CDs) so that he could make a big push in the mobile DJ business. At this time he is devoting most of his time to his Mobile DJ business as it has taken a front seat in his company, BKR Productions, Inc.
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT DJ BKR:
December 1, 2009 – Reference (Wedding) – Cris exceeded our expectations! He is professional, thorough and creative. He had back up plans in place for a dynamic event and was very professional - I would work with him again! Sarah Woodberry, WOODBERRY EVENTS, INC.
October 30, 2009 – Wedding – Cris!! Thank you so much for tracking me down and getting the CD to me! I’ve actually moved, but it was forwarded to me…it just arrived yesterday. Robby and I just had a great time looking at all the pics and watching the videos. It was so fun to have so many pics of just the party on the dance floor! I am attaching a letter that you can use as a reference, on your website, whatever you need. And we will not hesitate to refer you to anyone we know in need of a DJ. We honestly couldn’t have been happier about how the evening turned out. Four months later, our friends and family are still talking about what a great party it was. Please let us know if there’s anything else we can ever do to help support your business! Melissa Schmidt Klingenberg
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Here is the letter that was attached:
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Cris, I just wanted to write and thank you for the amazing job you did at out wedding reception. I always felt that the DJ was a crucial part of the success of a wedding reception and was a bit nervous about picking one. My friends who had seen you at another reception had amazing things to say though, and upon meeting you, I instantly felt great about my choice. I really appreciated the time that you spent with me ahead of time, looking at the site, going over the play list (and more importantly a “do not play” list), and giving me advice about timing and flow of the reception. You were also very nice about putting up with my scattered bride brain that could not get you a single decision on time.
The day of the wedding, you were unbelievably helpful. I’d decided to no hire a coordinator because I thought I could do it all myself…but I was very glad to have you there to help adjust to the delay caused by our crazy shuttle driver, and all the other little things that threw us off our schedule. I had a fabulous time at the reception and didn’t have to worry about a thing…you were a huge part of me being able to be so relaxed.
When we started planning our wedding, we decided that we wanted to do an extra long reception so that we could just throw a great party for our friends and family. I worried about it, that 6.5 hours would be too much, but it turned out to be the awesome party that we’d hoped for. I don’t think that dance floor was empty for a single minute after the dancing started. And I’ve never seen that many people remaining at the end of a reception, still wanting one more song to dance to. You completely understood the vibe that I’d wanted for the entire event, and you did a wonderful job making sure that happened. Everyone, from my teenage cousins to my husband’s grandparents, had a blast.
You were an absolute pleasure to work with and helped make my wedding day wonderful. I hope we find an excuse to throw another huge party in the future so we can hire you again! I’m also going to be sure to recommend you to anyone looking for a DJ.
Thank you so much, Melissa Schmidt Klingenberg (and Robby too!), San Francisco, CA
November 28, 2009 – Reference – Cris is an amazing DJ, being able to plan and create an unbelievable lineup of music based on your original wishes. His knowledge of music is his key to successfully fulfilling his client’s wishes and making the event a perfect day or event for them. Rob Sramek, Nokia Siemens
October 21, 2009 – Wedding – Hi Cris, Thanks so much for doing such a great job at the wedding! Even my dad commented that you did a terrific job, and he is a difficult man to please. Brady & I both really appreciate your making the trek up to Sonoma. I hope you enjoyed yourself, and the beautiful surroundings. Thanks again for doing such an awesome job! Jane Valentino, San Francisco, CA
October 11, 2009 – Wedding – Cris, We just wanted to say thank you for everything! You guys did an amazing job – can’t wait to see the pix! Thanks for sharing our most special day! Thanks, Kat & Bill Zepfel, San Carlos, CA
November 30, 2009 – Reference – Cris is a detailed disc jockey that focuses on his clients needs. As founder of the American Disc Jockey Association Silicon Valley I appreciate his attention to detail and the motivation to improve his art of entertainment. Randy Lira, RPM PRODUCTIONS
November 28, 2009 – Reference – I have hired Cris several times and never, ever have I had one negative comment. Cris is great and I would recommend his services to anyone! Rae Martin, ASSOCIATED ENTERTAINMENT CONSULTANTS
August 20, 2009 – High School Reunion – Cris was referred to me by a friend that heard we needed a DJ for our Class Reunion. As a committee, we presented our music ideas to him, which he improved upon/expanded, and also made suggestions for how we could make our dance space more inviting/workable/club-like, by adding a lounge area and hi-top tables around the dance floor. A week before the reunion, we threw him a curve – we needed to combine our party that grew up on rock/soul/disco with the reunion "next door", a class from another school that was 5 years younger, that also grew up on punk and new wave. No Problem. He changed out the planned equipment and lighting to cover the larger room/crowd, and perfectly blended the music we loved from high school, plust lots of great current music, too. The dance floor was full most of the night! Cris is very personable and has great energy, for getting a party started and keeping it going. He was awesome to work with, and hands down, our best DJ ever. Trish McDermott, Milpitas, CA
May 29, 2009 – Corporate – Dear Cris, Thank you again for working with the Western Region Greek Leadership Conference to help us host our banquet after party, So You Think You Can Dance? You and your company were very easy to work with and provided us with a great price and great service. Our dance floor was packed for the entire event and the students had a great time. It is very important for us to be able to provide our conference participants with a fun alternative to drinking during the last night of the conference. Your music, lights and talent as a DJ made this a success. Thank you again for your service. Since our conference location is moving to LA next year, we will not be able to use your company for future conferences but I wish you the best. Sincerely, Johanne Jensen, Director for Special Events, Western Region Greek Association
May 21, 2009 – Wedding – Rae (Associated Entertainment), Just wanted to let you know how happy I am with both DJ Cris and with the Quartet. Cris was awesome. He worked very hard finding the perfect music to play at the wedding. We really appreciate all of his patience’s and experience in lining up the music. He was very professional in his announcements. All in all, he was great. Will definitely hire his again if he is available. The Quartet was beautiful. We have had wonderful compliments on the music that they played. I’m so glad that we added the 4th instrument. They were wonderful. Thank you, Debi, Foster City, CA
December 1, 2009 – Reference – Excellent choice for all aspects of Music Entertainment. A real Professional. S. Christine Zanello, GCC ENTERPRISES, INC.
December 1, 2009 – Reference – Cris is a great person to work with while being very professional. I highly recommend him for all events as he is very versatile. Phil DeBono, DEBONO CONSTRUCTION
May 13, 2009 – Reference – I have had the pleasure of working with DJ BKR (Cris Ratkovic) on several events through our agency. He is never a disappointment. Whether it is a wedding, corporate function, club or kids event Cris always does an amazing job. Along with a huge music selection, Cris has a great personality. He knows how to keep the crowd going! Cris also used only the most professional equipment and it always looks amazing. He has a great selection of lighting affects. Cris is a sure bet! Jamie S. Truxler, ASSOCIATED ENTERTAINMENT CONSULTANTS
May 7, 2009 – Corporate – Thank you so much for providing you DJ services at our recent corporate event. You really have a sense of the crowd, a feel for a vibe, and all the music selections were current and upbeat. Your personality shined through, and helped get the crowd motivated. You are professional and classy. You helped make our event a stand-out among many others during the convention. Again, thanks for everything and will certainly reach out to you should we be in the San Francisco area in the future. Sincerely, Cathy Evangelista, Electro-Optical Sciences
October 12, 2008 – Wedding– Cris thank you!! That was everything I could have asked for and more. I am going to write you the best testimonial you will ever get. Honestly. You’re tips and tricks made the night so much more. Your lighting. Your announcing. Your smiling face. I was the luckiest bride in the world. Thank you. With love and gratitude, *Maggie Brown, Enterprise, Alabama
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Here is her testimonial that I received a few days later:
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BKR Productions is one of the best things that happened to my wedding. I knew that I was hiring someone who really knew what they were doing and that I could trust to take care of it all, but what I didn’t know was how far you would exceed my expectations. Cris, you absolutely made my wedding reception the exciting, fun and thoroughly entertaining night that my family and I will remember forever. I have hundreds of pictures of everyone laughing and dancing and enjoying everything you did. From kids to grandparents, my heart smiles at the thought of how many people loved hearing the music you played. I now have relatives asking for your play lists from that night because everyone is still talking about it. But to top it off Cris, you really ran the show with your MCing abilities and charisma. You knew what to do and when to do it. You were perfect. I honestly cannot thank you enough for everything you added to my wedding. From your suggestions and ideas, to the way you worked with and managed my other vendors, I know I would hate to see what my reception would have been like without you. I cannot wait to have another reason to work with you. Thank you thank you!! Also, if anyone ever wants a reference, have them call me. I meant every word I just wrote. *Maggie
September 26, 2008 – Corporate – Dear Cris, Thank you so much for being our DJ at our annual client-staff recognition dinner dance on 09/26/08. You really went above and beyond our expectations! You have a wonderfully outgoing personality that made all in attendance very comfortable with you. Your upbeat and friendly personality was a huge factor in everyone having a great time and attributed a great deal to our event’s success. The music you chose for us was exactly what we were looking for and the karaoke was so much fun! (NOTE: KJ Dave worked with me and ran the karaoke) You were also very professional in setting up your DJ station and equipment in a timely manner. You were always accessible either vie email or phone and were very easy to work with and also quite flexible. Thank you for staying an extra half hour when our program ran late. The clients, parents, and staff were all singing your praises. It was extra sweet of you to pass out beaded necklaces and glow sticks to everyone at the start of your first set! We thoroughly enjoyed having you and thank you so much for all of your efforts. Kind regards, Cathy Schiffer PARCA-Serving People with Developmental Disabilities & their Families
September 20, 2008 – Wedding – Cris, Thank you for your efforts to make our wedding reception so special. We had the perfect mix of class, fun and chaos! Thanks for a job well done! Jason & Shani, San Francisco
August 30, 2008 – Wedding — Cris, Finally able to get my head above water long enough to say thanks for your efforts at our wedding. I felt incredibly comfortable with how the night progressed and felt that you found that perfect balance between being present and involved and staying in the background seamlessly. You read the crowd amazingly well and made adjustments on the fly. I also really really appreciate you getting Ausoween for me. I don’t give a crap how confused the people were and how much they may not have enjoyed it…it was really cool for me and the few gothie friends I did have there. I hope you enjoyed yourself and look forward to recommending you to others as their weddings approach. Peace, Stephen Lasky, San Francisco
July 26, 2008 — Wedding — Cris, I wanted to formally thank you for all of your help with my reception at the Golden Gate Yacht Club in San Francisco. We worked very closely with you to put together a fabulous night! From our very first meeting, you were extremely helpful in planning out the details of the event. I felt that you were very attentive to my needs and gave lots of suggestions to make the event more special. On the day of the event, everything was left in your hands. Not once was I asked to help with anything or even ask a question. I was able to fully enjoy my day without any thoughts of what was going on behind the scenes. The guests and I had so much fun on that dance floor! Every time I heard one of my requests I went running to that floor to dance. But my favorite memory of the night had to be our entrance. I just remember the music and everyone clapping. It was exactly how I imagined it would be! Thank you once again for the fantastic reception! I couldn’t have asked for a better DJ for the event. I look forward to recommending you to my family and friends! Sincerely, Keri Ghiorso, San Mateo
July 12, 2008 – Wedding – Cris, Thanks so much for making our day so special! We’re so sorry that it’s taken this long to let you know how THRILLED we were with out wedding and all you brought to the celebration. The music was absolutely perfect and added so much to the festive and fun feeling of the whole night. It was better than anything we could have dreamt of. Thank you for all you did to make it a night to remember. Dave & Allison Baden, San Francisco
July 30, 2008 – Wedding — Cris, Thank you for taking the time out to know us prior to the wedding, it definitely came across that evening. Exceptional job, great energy, great time. You exceeded our expectations. We look forward to referring our friends. Thanks again. The photo CD you sent was completely above and beyond – so thoughtful of you…and great pics! I had 3 friends that night that said our wedding had the best music because of all the Bon Jovi songs you played! Thanks again, Cris – it was a PERFECT night. All our best, The Wises, Kacie & Jake, Oakland
July 11, 2006 – Wedding – I cannot thank you enough for the awesome job you did at my wedding. Thank you for making my day so perfect. I loved my wedding and wish I could do the party all over again! The music selection was great and the dead song “Morning Dew” (I have no clue about dead songs) was a HUGE hit with all Jon’s friends-they all thought that was the greatest and I’m sure I’ll hear all about that for years and years to come. Any way, I think you are wonderful, from your personality, announcements, introductions…down to our last dance. I will remember and cherish my wedding day forever. – Fondly, Tamara (and Jon)
July 19, 2008 – Wedding – Thank you so much for helping to make our day a special one! I received all positive feedback on “The DJ & MC” and how they did a great job. Dave & Christy Wolf, Elk Grove, CA
April 18, 2007 – Ritz Carlton HMB Crew Party – Thank you again for the great job! I have passed your info and my referral on to my MSE director and assistant director as well as my main Wedding planner Tony White. Hopefully we will see you back soon! – C2 (Combs, Christina – Ritz HMB)
June 22, 2007 – Moons After Dark (Club) – Hey Cris, Told you I would drop you a line from last weekend. I was the DJ that came in to check you out early on in that San Mateo bar gig. Loaded question to a DJ: How did the gig turn out? Lots O people were there and dancing! I am impressed with your setup. I’m very interested in converting over from CD based systems to laptop player setups similar to what you have. Let me know if there’s anything else I can do for you. – Thank you,Walter Banker / Owner of Hoopla Entertainment
August 7, 2007 – Wedding – Hi Cris! Thanks for jumping in and saving the event! Also thanks for bringing your positive energy and hanging in there despite the insane heat!! You were awesome! Will definitely give customer review on website. only the best. – Cheers, Candace and Winsor, Daly City
May 27, 2007 – Moons After Dark (Club) – Hey Mr. DJ thanks for the good tunes and business card. This is Noah Wisnia from moons last Saturday night (May 26th). Just wanted to drop you a note and let you know I had a great time and thanks again for the drink ideas! – Noah Wisnia, South San Francisco
September 10, 2007 – Wedding – we love you cris! I especially had so much fun because of you! Thank you so much again, for doing our event – it was a blast! you have to send me any funny pictures you took at our reception….. – Tina Varsanyi, Burlingame
September 22, 2007 – Moons After Dark (Club) – Thanks to YOU for being so much fun! I had a blast! I’d love to get back out there soon…is that a spot u are at normally? I’m sure he’s already said what’s up by now? Thanks for the funny pictures! – C
October 16, 2007 – Moons After Dark (Club) – HEY.. I WAS AT MOONS ON SAT… WHERE R THE PICS??? i WANT TO SEND SOME TO THE BIRTHDAY GIRL!!!!!! WE HAD A BLAST!!!! tHNX FOR MAKING IT A GREAT TIME!!!! – CHERI
November 18, 2007 – Moons After Dark (Club) – cris!!!!! met u at moons tonite…great show bro,,,, im a club promoter for sfclubs.com and u are by far on my top dj list. expect a big crowd next saturday bro because im definately gonna promote the s**t out of mooons!!!! great job tonite… keep in touch – —robert—
November 18, 2007 – Moons After Dark (Club) – last night was fun! Hey, you gave my girl and I a business card and now I found you on here so add me! Last night was fun and that nickatina set it off. – Nick
December 31, 2007 – RE: Hey! (Upcoming Wedding) – I just checked it out! I’m sooooooooooo excited! It seems like it’s so far away but I know that it’ll be here in a flash. John and I are both so happy that you’ll be doing the music. You always get me to dance! Let’s definitely talk more. Have a happy new year! – Keri Garcia, Redwood City (wedding is on 07/26/08!)
October 15, 2007 – Private Party – Hello Cris, You did an awesome job at my mom’s party. Everything was great! I hope you enjoyed it as much as we all did! Everyone was so impressed by you! Thank you so much! We would like to hire you for the next event. We are having Phil’s dads 60th birthday party. We have a place already booked. We were thinking we would do a 70’s theme with bell bottoms and afro’s. We do want music from all era’s. We don’t want it limited to just 70’s. We want to dance all night! – Thank you so much! Thanks again, Gina & Phil DeBono.
March 3, 2008 – Sweet 16 Party – Hey Cris!! I had fun thank you so much you are a great DJ! Thank you! – Natasha Modjtabavi, San Mateo
