“We’re telling stories with sound,” Kayla Picciuto, cofounder of Party Proper, the new luxury deejay and sound service company specializing in weddings, parties, and corporate events, told me with a smile over a glass of wine at Satellite. Picciuto’s partner in love and business, Andrew Elia (aka DJ Persian House Cat), spun the perfect funk soundtrack in the background.
“Through music we see ourselves as deeply connected to a bigger story, one of people coming together in celebration, in the spirit of togetherness,” Picciuto said. “Where there's proper sound, magic happens.” Fortunately for Santa Barbarans, it’s a nonexclusive kind of magic, as the two masterminds of fun are now holding free pop-up events around town.
I attended their first event on a Tuesday night, entirely unsure of what to expect. Walking into Sama Sama’s back patio, all my hesitation was immediately washed away by the groovy sounds of DJ Persian House Cat and Last Resort Forever joining forces behind a sleek, custom-built booth by area carpenter Nordic Woodcraft. Crisp beverages were served by Captain Fatty’s and Welcome Coffee Cart with tasty bites from Satellite and Bibi Ji. People of all ages took to the dance floor, and friends struck poses behind a photo booth. I still wasn’t sure what we were celebrating, but it didn’t matter.