By Krys Longan

Michael Arbeeny is the President of 107 Productions, a licensed entertainment agency that represents over a dozen bands that are hired to play at nightclubs and bars, corporate events, and weddings all over the Northeast. He is also a professional musician, and as the drummer for the band Tyketto, scored a #1 hit single with their song "Forever Young". But despite the fact that 107 Productions is hugely successful, and that he has enjoyed a musical career that has allowed him to tour the world, Arbeeny remains a sentimental soul.

"107 Productions is named after the address of the house I grew up in on Staten Island," he explained. "When I was first in a band, we slept on the floor of my parents' house for a year! It was like a rock hotel. My parents still live there...they have for 43 years." Arbeeny's warm upbringing obviously helped to mold the outgoing, enthusiastic businessman who saw a unique gap in the entertainment industry and filled it. His parents, he assured me, are still as welcoming to strangers today as they were four decades ago. "It's where you go to get great home-cooked Italian food. Just walk in, and my father will hand you some meatballs and tell you to start eating."

Not on the menu at the Arbeeny household is Spit Roast Muppet. Sure that might sound delicious, but it's actually the name of one of the many bands that Arbeeny represents. "Once you hear that name, you will never forget it," he laughed, and it's true. Other bands on the 107 roster include Lifespeed and Big Bang Baby, but those are just a few of the titles on an impressive list of artists. People who want to book bands have their choice of genres from rock to disco tribute, from swing to jazz. You can even hire a 1980s metal band for your next event.

107 Productions specializes in getting the best bands for nightclubs and bars, but their wedding business is booming as well. "We already have 121 weddings booked for 2006," Arbeeny said. But he is adamant about the fact that his client list is not your typical Wedding Singer fare. "I don't want my bands to be wedding bands," he explained. "They need to maintain their credibility.

But 107 is a great alternative for people who don't want traditional, cheesy wedding bands." And Arbeeny certainly knows a thing or two about untraditional weddings. Pressed for details, he has a cache of hilarious stories that he tells with such panache you begin to think he could start a third career as a comedian. For example, there's the one about the very rich guy who married a beautiful-but somewhat unstable-younger woman who had an equally crazy brother. Halfway through the reception, he took a flying leap into their custom-designed wedding cake. "He was actually airborne for about 10 seconds," Arbeeny laughed. "I heard the lead singer [from the 107 Productions band] stop singing and actually said, 'Oh my God'...I looked over, and there was this hillbilly guy rolling around in the cake." Another tale involves a groom getting so drunk he was ejected from his own wedding, leaving his bride to attend the reception by herself. But there are happy stories as well. "When the couple belongs together, it just feels right and you can tell it will last," said Arbeeny. And for those smaller weddings that only require solo artists such as a keyboard player or violinist, 107 Productions can also meet those needs.

107 Productions is now one of the largest entertainment agencies in the Northeast, but perhaps no one is more surprised at the growth of the company than Arbeeny himself. "This was just supposed to be a little side business to being a drummer," he said. "Now we're celebrating our 10th anniversary in 2006. I foresee a whole new generation of club goers enjoying music provided by 107." And when those club goers mature and start planning their own weddings, they know who to call for an untraditional twist on their reception entertainment.

For more information on 107 Productions, or to book a band or musician for your upcoming event, visit their website at www.107productions.net.