Michael Spinnato’s passion for music started early, with a turntable in a Brooklyn basement.
As a teenager, Spinnato became captivated by a neighborhood DJ who showed him how two records could blend seamlessly and transform the energy of a room. Soon after, his father helped him buy his first DJ equipment. Spinnato spent his free time practicing before taking on his first event, a neighborhood block party
Watching people react to the music became addictive.
"I felt this rush of watching people react to the music I was playing," Spinnato recalls. "I knew this was what I wanted to do."
More than three decades later, that same excitement continues to fuel Eclipse Events, a full-service event production company that has grown from one teenager with milk crates full of vinyl records into a team producing nearly 400 celebrations each year.
The journey, however, was anything but overnight.
While DJing throughout high school and college, Spinnato pursued a career in information technology. Rather than searching for a corporate position, he decided to bet on himself. For several years, he worked any job he could find—from painting houses and delivering pizza to driving limousines—all while building his entertainment business one event at a time.
By 2005, Eclipse Events had grown enough for him to make it his full-time career. A year later, he hired his first employee, who remains with the company to this day. What began in a basement office has grown into a full-service event company with a warehouse, dedicated staff and hundreds of celebrations each year.
Despite that growth, Spinnato believes the company's greatest strength comes down to one simple philosophy: every event should feel completely personal.
"It could be very cookie-cutter," he says. "We are absolutely not."
Rather than beginning conversations with timelines and logistics, the Eclipse Events team spends time getting to know each client first. They learn how couples met, what music shaped their lives and what kind of atmosphere they hope to create before discussing playlists or lighting packages.
Those conversations allow the team to match every client with DJs, MCs and production specialists whose personalities and musical styles align with the vision for the celebration.
Through a custom online planning portal, clients build playlists featuring songs they love, songs they dislike and musical styles they want to avoid. Instead of scripting every moment, the information gives the entertainment team creative direction while leaving room for authenticity.
The result is an event that reflects the people being celebrated rather than a standard production repeated weekend after weekend.
From weddings and mitzvahs to corporate meetings, galas and celebrations, Eclipse offers entertainment and production under one roof. Services include DJ and MC entertainment, live music, photography, cinematography, lighting, audio and video, staging, décor, drapery, special effects, live streaming and interactive experiences. The company’s one-stop approach helps clients simplify planning while creating a cohesive experience from beginning to end.
While Eclipse Events offers lighting, staging, décor, drapery, photography, videography, special effects and more, the team frequently collaborates with outside planners to ensure every moving piece comes together seamlessly. That collaborative approach allows the company to become an extension of each event team, working behind the scenes to make sure the final experience feels effortless for both hosts and guests. From the first planning meeting through the final song, their attention to detail helps create a polished celebration where every element feels intentional, cohesive and true to the client’s vision.
For Spinnato, successful events aren't measured solely by packed dance floors.
Instead, they're defined by the feeling in the room.
From electrifying wedding receptions to vibrant afternoon corporate events, he knows a great event comes down to one thing: bringing people together and sparking pure, contagious joy. Whether guests are tearing up the dance floor or completely immersed in great conversation, everyone walks away with the exact same feeling—they just experienced something unforgettable.
Looking ahead, Eclipse Events continues investing in both innovation and education.
The company is also introducing new interactive experiences, including a vintage-style video phone booth where guests can record personal messages for couples and hosts, along with AI-powered photo booths that offer a fresh take on event entertainment.
Behind the scenes, Eclipse University, a weekly in-house training program, helps DJs, MCs and event professionals sharpen their skills and maintain the company’s service standards.
After more than 30 years in the industry, Spinnato still believes the most important part of any event isn't the lighting design or playlist.
It's the connection.
"The event should feel like your personal vibe," he says. "When guests leave, they should remember it as your wedding, your party or your milestone—not just another event."
For Eclipse Events, creating unforgettable celebrations has never been about simply entertaining a crowd. It's about understanding people, earning their trust and turning life's biggest moments into memories that last long after the music fades.
Start planning at eclipseevents.com and follow along on Instagram @eclipseeventsnj.
”It could be very cookie-cutter, we are absolutely not." — Michael Spinnato.
“The event should feel like your celebration, when guests leave, they should remember it as your wedding, your party or your milestone—not just another event." — Michael Spinnato.