Shakermaker Promotions
07-06-2009, 05:23 PM
Hi all,
I realise that to some extent, I have been a bit of a Victor Meldrew lately. Over the last few months I seem to have noticed the negatives more than the positives. I suppose it's because I want everything to be perfect but in reality, most of the time that isn't possible is it?
Anyway, last night I was covering someone elses gig. It was a bit of a weird situation actually. Here's the background to it... About 6 weeks ago I didn't have a booking for last night..up until 2 weeks ago that was still the case so I agreed to cover a regular Disco/Karaoke night for a friend of mine as he was invited to a family wedding. There wasn't a problem with that at all. An easy night on the cards with me working from 8pm - 11.30pm (more on that in a second)...Around 2 weeks ago I had a booking come in so I took it and contacted my regular DJ who said they would cover it but would need me to set up etc etc as they were away for the day. Again, not a problem for me. This was a wedding and would be finishing later than my cover job so all should be sorted.
***Can I just add that the reason I got my regular DJ to cover the wedding was NOT because I wanted an easy night but because they have never done a karaoke night and do not have the equipment to do it either***
The gig I was covering was worth half of what I would normally get but with my slice of the other booking, it added up ok. I set up the equipment for the wedding in the morning, soundchecked etc...everything ok. Contacted my DJ telling them all was well and DJ forms etc were with the equipment. No problems whatsoever. After a few texts during the evening it seemed like they were having a great night....
My gig?...Well, I get into the place and the area that I have allocated to me is very, very tight. The place is very small too. I speak to the boss on entry and tell him I am there to cover my mate "I hope you're good!" he says.. I laughed. I set the equipment up as quick as I can. (Got there at 6.30pm for 8.00pm start and finally finished setting up at 7.45pm due to people getting in the way etc etc). The boss comes over to me and says "We're expecting 60 people but I've been told it's now 40"... "No problem" I reply. The function is for a volleyball team who have won both their leagues (Ladies and Gentlemen)...It's a fancy dress event too and the organiser (manager of the club), is dressed as Vicky Pollard from Little Britain.
Everything seemed to be going ok, people were up dancing and the karaoke requests were coming in well. The area was cramped though and I had to watch closely as I was worried people were going to bump into speakers etc.. So, not only being on edge watching that my equipment was safe but we went through almost an hour of stop/start/stop/start...because the organiser wanted to hog the mic as much as possible. I would be in the middle of a song and he would come up and say "Give us the mic mate!"..He would say a few thank you's etc etc...Then he would do an awards ceremony (2 awards which he strung out for ages by trying to be a comedian or shushing people that were talking...he became very annoying and it wasn't belong before people were shouting to get him off...his reaction??....to tell them to :Censored: which he also thought was funny). So, we get going again after that episode and then about 20 minutes later he comes up again as the buffet is being brought out...
He walks over towards me, beer in hand so I guess he is going to ask me to announce that the food is available..."Do you want me to announce that the buffet is ready?" I ask... "Give me the mic mate, I want to do it!" he shouts. "No problem" I replied..."Can you put your beer on the table please".... He turns around to me and says "Why?" really sarcastically... "Because I don't want you spilling it near all of the electrics ok" I reply and he moves to put it on the table. He then leans on the karaoke monitor and stand so I get out from behind the decks and tap him on the shoulder..."Look, I don't want to sound like a pain mate but can you not lean on the equipment" I ask nicely.... He simply looks at me up and down and stops leaning on it before going into yet another speech... to more moans and groans and "Get off!" chants from the others.
I am beginning to get a tad narked (to put it politely) with this bloke and then I notice a friend of mine walk through the door dressed as one of the Thunderbirds. He comes straight over, we shake hands and then I ask him if the organiser is always a pain in the backside...the reply was "YES!". Oh great!!
So, the night continues...some good singing on the karaoke and everyone up dancing along to the tunes I am playing. A great atmosphere to be fair and Mr 'pain in the backside' organiser has obviously been hit on the head by the alcohol monkey as he is sat slumped in a chair almost asleep whilst everyone around him is enjoying themselves. We're into the last hour so I mention over the mic "Ladies and Gentlemen, let's make this last hour a classic"...Within about 2 minutes of me saying it, I am approached by the boss. "What do you mean by last hour?"...I reply "Well, it's an 11pm finish isn't it"..."Oh no it isn't" he replies..."You're here until half eleven" and he storms off. I was told by the guy I am covering that it was an 8-11 job and I had organised to go and get my other equipment from the wedding at midnight when it finished. About 5 minutes later my mobile starts ringing and it's the guy I am covering. I couldn't answer it so I let it go to voicemail. As soon as I had the chance to listen to it I nipped outside and the message said that he was really sorry but he mucked (sp) up and it should've been 11.30pm. The boss had called him and also informed him that if I didn't play until 11.30pm, I would not get paid at the end of the night. By now I am really angry...totally wound up. I don't like being mucked about or being threatened like that.
I walk back into the venue, back behind my decks with obviously a face like thunder. A nice looking young lady says "Cheer up mate" and I laugh and just get on with it. I really don't want to be there at this moment. I then see the boss staring over at me so I put on 'Blue Monday' which gets everyone up and I make my way through them all to where he is. I explain the situation in that I was told it was 11pm finish and that I have arranged to get other equipment etc etc and he doesn't look interested at all...All he says is "Look mate, it's a great night, people are having a great time and this is my business so I need to keep them here until 11.30pm"...I reply "That's fair enough mate but this isn't my fault. I am a business too and I don't appreciate being threatened with non payment if I don't do what you say". I explained that it was an awkward situation but I would play until 11.30pm. I texted my DJ at the wedding and asked them to stay with the equipment until I got there. They agreed and all was cool. The boss was happy but I still was'nt!
I made my way back to the decks and got there just in time before 2 big blokes (they are volleyball players remember), nearly knocked over my karaoke monitor and stand. They had beers in their hands too. I had no problem whatsoever telling them to clear off away from the equipment and they looked at me as if I had told them I was going to kill them! So, we continue with the karaoke and the next singer up is brilliant. She does an excellent version of 'I'm outta love' by Anastacia and the place erupts. I play another song and then announce the next 2 singers who just happen to be (unknown to me at the time), the 2 guys I have just had a moan at. They walk up with their beers in their hands and pick up the mics. Nothing comes out of them yet as I haven't switched them on and they look at me, look at the mics etc etc... "Can you put your drinks on the table please guys" I ask them nicely...They ignore me, still trying to get the mics to work. "Excuse me, put your drinks on the table!" I say..."The mics aren't working" shouts one one them... "and they won't work until you put your drinks on the table" I shout back...They do as their told and then proceed to totally murder 'Wonderwall' by Oasis. Once they've finished singing they turn to me and both apologise!!
Last few songs of the night went really quickly. Mr 'pain in the backside' organiser comes over and asks for the mic again. He thanks everyone for turning up, thanks the venue and then goes to give me the mic back before someone shouts out "Thanks to the DJ"...he then gets back on the mic and says "Oh yeh..big thanks to the DJ"...everyone cheers and as he hands me the mic back I joke with him "Don't go over the top will you"...he laughs but you can tell he doesn't know what I am on about.
Overall a night of mixed emotions. Some people have no respect for equipment but fair do's it was cramped. Some people want to hog the mic and take as much limelight as they can which can sometimes spoil it for others. Some venue's think that they can treat you like a puppet and refuse to pay you unless you do as you're told...not always the case I'll agree. I gave out 4 business cards so all was not bad and I had some comments from some of the guests that it was a great night. Like I said at the beginning of this post...I feel like Victor Meldrew but think I have every right to be on this occasion. At the end of the day, no equipment was damaged and things that could've gone wrong didn't go wrong...(payments etc). On the way out, the 2 guys that I had a moan at came up and shook my hand and apologised again for being (their words) 'Plonkers'. The wedding went well too so that was good.
Around an hour ago I had a chat with the guy I was covering. He got the message that I wasn't happy and also apologised but he also said that the boss was happy with what I did and would have me back anytime. Would I ever go back in there? Possibly but I would still be worrying about the equipment because it was so cramped in there.
Apologies for yet another long post but I wanted to give you as much information from the night as possible so you could get the picture of how it went. I think I kept my cool as best I could.
I realise that to some extent, I have been a bit of a Victor Meldrew lately. Over the last few months I seem to have noticed the negatives more than the positives. I suppose it's because I want everything to be perfect but in reality, most of the time that isn't possible is it?
Anyway, last night I was covering someone elses gig. It was a bit of a weird situation actually. Here's the background to it... About 6 weeks ago I didn't have a booking for last night..up until 2 weeks ago that was still the case so I agreed to cover a regular Disco/Karaoke night for a friend of mine as he was invited to a family wedding. There wasn't a problem with that at all. An easy night on the cards with me working from 8pm - 11.30pm (more on that in a second)...Around 2 weeks ago I had a booking come in so I took it and contacted my regular DJ who said they would cover it but would need me to set up etc etc as they were away for the day. Again, not a problem for me. This was a wedding and would be finishing later than my cover job so all should be sorted.
***Can I just add that the reason I got my regular DJ to cover the wedding was NOT because I wanted an easy night but because they have never done a karaoke night and do not have the equipment to do it either***
The gig I was covering was worth half of what I would normally get but with my slice of the other booking, it added up ok. I set up the equipment for the wedding in the morning, soundchecked etc...everything ok. Contacted my DJ telling them all was well and DJ forms etc were with the equipment. No problems whatsoever. After a few texts during the evening it seemed like they were having a great night....
My gig?...Well, I get into the place and the area that I have allocated to me is very, very tight. The place is very small too. I speak to the boss on entry and tell him I am there to cover my mate "I hope you're good!" he says.. I laughed. I set the equipment up as quick as I can. (Got there at 6.30pm for 8.00pm start and finally finished setting up at 7.45pm due to people getting in the way etc etc). The boss comes over to me and says "We're expecting 60 people but I've been told it's now 40"... "No problem" I reply. The function is for a volleyball team who have won both their leagues (Ladies and Gentlemen)...It's a fancy dress event too and the organiser (manager of the club), is dressed as Vicky Pollard from Little Britain.
Everything seemed to be going ok, people were up dancing and the karaoke requests were coming in well. The area was cramped though and I had to watch closely as I was worried people were going to bump into speakers etc.. So, not only being on edge watching that my equipment was safe but we went through almost an hour of stop/start/stop/start...because the organiser wanted to hog the mic as much as possible. I would be in the middle of a song and he would come up and say "Give us the mic mate!"..He would say a few thank you's etc etc...Then he would do an awards ceremony (2 awards which he strung out for ages by trying to be a comedian or shushing people that were talking...he became very annoying and it wasn't belong before people were shouting to get him off...his reaction??....to tell them to :Censored: which he also thought was funny). So, we get going again after that episode and then about 20 minutes later he comes up again as the buffet is being brought out...
He walks over towards me, beer in hand so I guess he is going to ask me to announce that the food is available..."Do you want me to announce that the buffet is ready?" I ask... "Give me the mic mate, I want to do it!" he shouts. "No problem" I replied..."Can you put your beer on the table please".... He turns around to me and says "Why?" really sarcastically... "Because I don't want you spilling it near all of the electrics ok" I reply and he moves to put it on the table. He then leans on the karaoke monitor and stand so I get out from behind the decks and tap him on the shoulder..."Look, I don't want to sound like a pain mate but can you not lean on the equipment" I ask nicely.... He simply looks at me up and down and stops leaning on it before going into yet another speech... to more moans and groans and "Get off!" chants from the others.
I am beginning to get a tad narked (to put it politely) with this bloke and then I notice a friend of mine walk through the door dressed as one of the Thunderbirds. He comes straight over, we shake hands and then I ask him if the organiser is always a pain in the backside...the reply was "YES!". Oh great!!
So, the night continues...some good singing on the karaoke and everyone up dancing along to the tunes I am playing. A great atmosphere to be fair and Mr 'pain in the backside' organiser has obviously been hit on the head by the alcohol monkey as he is sat slumped in a chair almost asleep whilst everyone around him is enjoying themselves. We're into the last hour so I mention over the mic "Ladies and Gentlemen, let's make this last hour a classic"...Within about 2 minutes of me saying it, I am approached by the boss. "What do you mean by last hour?"...I reply "Well, it's an 11pm finish isn't it"..."Oh no it isn't" he replies..."You're here until half eleven" and he storms off. I was told by the guy I am covering that it was an 8-11 job and I had organised to go and get my other equipment from the wedding at midnight when it finished. About 5 minutes later my mobile starts ringing and it's the guy I am covering. I couldn't answer it so I let it go to voicemail. As soon as I had the chance to listen to it I nipped outside and the message said that he was really sorry but he mucked (sp) up and it should've been 11.30pm. The boss had called him and also informed him that if I didn't play until 11.30pm, I would not get paid at the end of the night. By now I am really angry...totally wound up. I don't like being mucked about or being threatened like that.
I walk back into the venue, back behind my decks with obviously a face like thunder. A nice looking young lady says "Cheer up mate" and I laugh and just get on with it. I really don't want to be there at this moment. I then see the boss staring over at me so I put on 'Blue Monday' which gets everyone up and I make my way through them all to where he is. I explain the situation in that I was told it was 11pm finish and that I have arranged to get other equipment etc etc and he doesn't look interested at all...All he says is "Look mate, it's a great night, people are having a great time and this is my business so I need to keep them here until 11.30pm"...I reply "That's fair enough mate but this isn't my fault. I am a business too and I don't appreciate being threatened with non payment if I don't do what you say". I explained that it was an awkward situation but I would play until 11.30pm. I texted my DJ at the wedding and asked them to stay with the equipment until I got there. They agreed and all was cool. The boss was happy but I still was'nt!
I made my way back to the decks and got there just in time before 2 big blokes (they are volleyball players remember), nearly knocked over my karaoke monitor and stand. They had beers in their hands too. I had no problem whatsoever telling them to clear off away from the equipment and they looked at me as if I had told them I was going to kill them! So, we continue with the karaoke and the next singer up is brilliant. She does an excellent version of 'I'm outta love' by Anastacia and the place erupts. I play another song and then announce the next 2 singers who just happen to be (unknown to me at the time), the 2 guys I have just had a moan at. They walk up with their beers in their hands and pick up the mics. Nothing comes out of them yet as I haven't switched them on and they look at me, look at the mics etc etc... "Can you put your drinks on the table please guys" I ask them nicely...They ignore me, still trying to get the mics to work. "Excuse me, put your drinks on the table!" I say..."The mics aren't working" shouts one one them... "and they won't work until you put your drinks on the table" I shout back...They do as their told and then proceed to totally murder 'Wonderwall' by Oasis. Once they've finished singing they turn to me and both apologise!!
Last few songs of the night went really quickly. Mr 'pain in the backside' organiser comes over and asks for the mic again. He thanks everyone for turning up, thanks the venue and then goes to give me the mic back before someone shouts out "Thanks to the DJ"...he then gets back on the mic and says "Oh yeh..big thanks to the DJ"...everyone cheers and as he hands me the mic back I joke with him "Don't go over the top will you"...he laughs but you can tell he doesn't know what I am on about.
Overall a night of mixed emotions. Some people have no respect for equipment but fair do's it was cramped. Some people want to hog the mic and take as much limelight as they can which can sometimes spoil it for others. Some venue's think that they can treat you like a puppet and refuse to pay you unless you do as you're told...not always the case I'll agree. I gave out 4 business cards so all was not bad and I had some comments from some of the guests that it was a great night. Like I said at the beginning of this post...I feel like Victor Meldrew but think I have every right to be on this occasion. At the end of the day, no equipment was damaged and things that could've gone wrong didn't go wrong...(payments etc). On the way out, the 2 guys that I had a moan at came up and shook my hand and apologised again for being (their words) 'Plonkers'. The wedding went well too so that was good.
Around an hour ago I had a chat with the guy I was covering. He got the message that I wasn't happy and also apologised but he also said that the boss was happy with what I did and would have me back anytime. Would I ever go back in there? Possibly but I would still be worrying about the equipment because it was so cramped in there.
Apologies for yet another long post but I wanted to give you as much information from the night as possible so you could get the picture of how it went. I think I kept my cool as best I could.