The first thing I heard when I walked in was the birthday host’s best friend laughing: “You look like a Bond girl.” Exactly the right note for a James Bond themed birthday at The Amador Club, the private club at the top of a historic Financial District building in San Francisco. The suits were sharp, the dresses were sharper, and the whole evening felt like a film set.
Planner Kendra Chao brought me in for Tony P.’s birthday on May 15, and it turned into one of the most fun nights of my spring: a comedian, a magician, a photo room, and a dance party two floors up.
Cocktail Hour on the 10th Floor, Through the Club’s Own Sound System
Guests arrived on the 10th floor for appetizers and cocktails. Instead of bringing in a second rig, I ran the background music through the club’s in-house system and devices, coordinating directly with the AV team. They were still learning the evening’s flow, so I helped them with it, cue by cue.
The photographers had a separate room, and early on they were a little alone in there. So between songs I guided guests over for portraits, and the room filled up. Then came the show: a comedian on stage, followed by a magician who had the whole room leaning in.
Reading the Room: A San Francisco Private Club Dance Floor on the 11th Floor
After the show, the party moved upstairs for dancing, where I took over as the DJ. Here is the part every DJ will recognize. The birthday host’s own taste leans away from dance music, and once the party moved up, he was off celebrating with friends around the club. The dance floor belonged to his guests.
So I watched them: their era, what made them look up, what made them grab a friend. Within a few songs I was tuned in to their radar, and the floor filled and stayed full. People came up all night with requests, and I took them.
One guest asked for rock, right in the middle of a dance set. Rock and a packed dance floor can feel like two different parties, so I found the bridge and blended it into what the floor was already enjoying. He got his song, nobody left the floor, and he later wrote a review about the night.
“Lolah was so amazing at the Amador Club in San Fran on May 15. She mixed it up, I heard songs I haven’t in a long time, she played the hits and took requests. She made the evening so memorable. Highly recommend.”
Nicholas Di Iorio, guest (Google review)
Watch the Night
Daniel Chao filmed the evening. Here is a look at the party:
What Made It Work
Two floors, a house sound system, an AV team, a photo room, a comedian, a magician and a dance floor, all in one evening. The music was the thread that tied them together. Being the person who knows the whole run of show, not just the playlist, is what lets a host relax and enjoy their own party.
Party at a Glance
| Venue | The Amador Club, 550 Montgomery St, San Francisco (10th and 11th floors) |
|---|---|
| Date | May 15, 2026 |
| Occasion | Private birthday party, James Bond theme |
| Cocktail hour | Background music through the club’s in-house system, with the venue AV team |
| Program | Photo room, comedian, magician |
| Dance party | Live DJ set with guest requests on the 11th floor |
| Planner | Kendra Chao |
| Entertainment | LOLAH, LOLAH Entertainment (San Jose, serving San Francisco and the Bay Area) |
The Party Team
- Venue: The Amador Club, San Francisco
- Planning: Kendra Chao
- Videography: Daniel Chao (watch the video)
- DJ, music and event flow: LOLAH Entertainment
Planning your own 007 night? Here is the full James Bond party music playlist from this party, from the entrance themes to the dance floor.
Questions Hosts Ask About Private Club Party DJs
Can a DJ use a venue’s in-house sound system?
Often, yes. At The Amador Club I ran cocktail-hour music through the club’s own system and devices on the 10th floor, working with the AV team, then moved to my own DJ setup for the dance floor upstairs. A quick check with the venue’s AV contact before the event is all it takes.
How do you DJ a party that moves between two floors?
Plan the handoff like a scene change. Background music on the first floor carries guests through arrival, the photo room and the show, and the DJ booth upstairs is set and tested before anyone climbs the stairs, so the energy never drops.
What if a guest requests a song that doesn’t fit the dance floor?
Find the bridge. When a guest asked for rock in the middle of a dance set, I blended it into what the floor was already enjoying, so he got his song and nobody left the dance floor.
Planning a Themed Party in San Francisco?
Whether it’s a Bond night, a Gatsby gala or a milestone birthday at a private club, I’d love to hear the theme. See my DJ services and party entertainment options, or check availability for your date below.
