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Solitaire Events Ltd
09-07-2006, 03:41 AM
I had a booking last night which over ran big time.

Supposed to start at 8pm, and i eventually started at 9:40pm.

If this happens to you, do you put a smaller show in and try and get set up quicker or put your normal show in and hope people don't start moaning about the fact the disco has started late?

GrahamH
09-07-2006, 07:50 AM
Had this a couple of weeks ago... had to set up early as wedding party were due back at 5pm so had to be set up and out the way by then. There was a kids entertainer on from 6pm till 8pm and the we were on from 8pm till midnight.
After speaking with B & G the day before they said they'd like there first dance to start at 8.15pm. Time everyone got organised after the entertainer and meal we finally got started about 9pm.
We just went with what we were originally going to do... Nobody moaned about the music starting late... infact we actually had people coming up and appologising about the late start.

Ricesnaps
09-07-2006, 08:18 AM
Had this a couple of weeks ago... had to set up early as wedding party were due back at 5pm so had to be set up and out the way by then. There was a kids entertainer on from 6pm till 8pm and the we were on from 8pm till midnight.
After speaking with B & G the day before they said they'd like there first dance to start at 8.15pm. Time everyone got organised after the entertainer and meal we finally got started about 9pm.
We just went with what we were originally going to do... Nobody moaned about the music starting late... infact we actually had people coming up and appologising about the late start.
To be honest, this is really the norm with weddings. I don't think we're done one yet that runs to time. You tend to find that when you get to the day, the bride and groom usually have no real concept how long speaches are going to take or how long they'll want to spend with there evening guests at the begining.

Best advice is to try to do early morning set up where possible and be prepared to hang around with nothing to do for the early part of the evening.

CRAZY K
09-07-2006, 09:06 AM
Daz, you didnt say why you were late starting?

If its down to the function overrunning --other entertainment dragging on or stopping you setting up in normal times then its hard luck--- not your fault.

If its down to very difficult access taking a long time then thats less clear cut.

Im a bit tired myself after after playing last night in a Village Hall with no easy access and wheeling stuff around for ages.

Im doing a dodgy Marquee job on a Camp Site a week Monday and ill be there 2 and a half hours before the KO just to be sure :sad:

CRAZY K

Ricesnaps
09-07-2006, 09:27 AM
Daz, you didnt say why you were late starting?

If its down to the function overrunning --other entertainment dragging on or stopping you setting up in normal times then its hard luck--- not your fault.

If its down to very difficult access taking a long time then thats less clear cut.

Im a bit tired myself after after playing last night in a Village Hall with no easy access and wheeling stuff around for ages.

Im doing a dodgy Marquee job on a Camp Site a week Monday and ill be there 2 and a half hours before the KO just to be sure :sad:

CRAZY K
Just in case it helps...

I found out what happened to the band I was working with on Friday - you may remember they had a power problem at a marquee gig the weekend before?

It turns out it was down to the generator company - all delivered and set up by drivers, but not properly tested on site. I understand they were wired wrong and were pumping out double mains voltage. Worth checking before you plug anything in. The guy from the compan providing the bands PA also installs powerand suggested that a badly set up generator system will blow gear simply from plugging in, not just when you swich on - be careful

CRAZY K
09-07-2006, 11:55 AM
Thanks Matt -this is why I bought a couple of surge protectors-presume they will blow if they get 480 volts :sad:

I still dont understand why the band didnt have surge protection themselves?

Did the guy you spoke to who supplies band PA mention this at all?

My DJ shop says you need regulated voltage and surge protection.

Thanks

CRAZY K

st1ngo
09-07-2006, 12:48 PM
Over running .............
I had a one once where I didnt even get in the room til 10pm !!! (not our fault)
Obviously we set up as quick as poss and concentrated on sound b4 anything else.
I will never forget doing the sound check .......The floor filled almost from first beat !
Turned into a good night but I never feel "settled" when I have a late/rushed start.

ian8limelight
09-07-2006, 12:49 PM
I can count on one hand the amount of weddings that actually start on time (and dinner-dances come to that).

Certainly with weddings, I will talk through the day with the Bride & Groom to establish how long the meal and speeches is going to take. I usually suggest around the two to two and a half hour mark, depending on the venue. (It helps when your wife used to be a Wedding Co-ordinator in a Hotel).

As has already been mentioned, the speeches can go on longer than they thought. For example, I arrived one night to set up for a wedding which was due to start at 8pm. The speeches went on for 2 HOURS so I played the first dance at 9.45pm !!!!

soundtracker
09-07-2006, 12:51 PM
Well I had the mother of all over-runs last night, I was asked to provide a PA for the speeches, at 6.30 so arrived just after 6.00 ( Kit already set up a.m) When I arrived, the bridal pary hadn't even entered the Marquee, they finally got in and settled about 6.45pm. They then had their first course, and then stopped for Father of bride, and bridegrooms speech, this was followed by the main course, at which stage the B&G went outside for more photos!. They returned and we then had the "Best-men"(there were 2 of them) speeches, followed by pudding, wedding cake, petit -fours and coffee.( Time check 9.45pm) went and removed PA- had quick chat with B& G- could I start background music at 10.00pm and they would do first dance at 10.10pm- but to invite people to join in after 30 secs!. Did as requested, one couple joined them! Followed up with " I think B&G were looking for a little more support than that!" - Floor full- and just could do no wrong- 10.45 Groom comes over to ask me to get everyone outside for fireworks(GRRRR!) , 11.00 everyone returns, played Madonna- Hung up and Kylie- FLOOR FULL again- right through to 11.30- when Bride comes over to say thanks and goodbye- they're leaving now, could I get everyone outside to wave goodbye!(GRRR! and MORE GRRR!)- everyone goes out, I keep playing- owner comes in, and says wind it up- I don't want them back in here!! End of night- total playing time 75 minutes!! :teeth: :beer:

ian8limelight
09-07-2006, 12:57 PM
Well I had the mother of all over-runs last night, I was asked to provide a PA for the speeches, at 6.30 so arrived just after 6.00 ( Kit already set up a.m) When I arrived, the bridal pary hadn't even entered the Marquee, they finally got in and settled about 6.45pm. They then had their first course, and then stopped for Father of bride, and bridegrooms speech, this was followed by the main course, at which stage the B&G went outside for more photos!. They returned and we then had the "Best-men"(there were 2 of them) speeches, followed by pudding, wedding cake, petit -fours and coffee.( Time check 9.45pm) went and removed PA- had quick chat with B& G- could I start background music at 10.00pm and they would do first dance at 10.10pm- but to invite people to join in after 30 secs!. Did as requested, one couple joined them! Followed up with " I think B&G were looking for a little more support than that!" - Floor full- and just could do no wrong- 10.45 Groom comes over to ask me to get everyone outside for fireworks(GRRRR!) , 11.00 everyone returns, played Madonna- Hung up and Kylie- FLOOR FULL again- right through to 11.30- when Bride comes over to say thanks and goodbye- they're leaving now, could I get everyone outside to wave goodbye!(GRRR! and MORE GRRR!)- everyone goes out, I keep playing- owner comes in, and says wind it up- I don't want them back in here!! End of night- total playing time 75 minutes!! :teeth: :beer:


That's got to be the best one so far. I can imagine your frustration. :)

Solitaire Events Ltd
09-07-2006, 02:15 PM
Daz, you didnt say why you were late starting?

CRAZY K

Well, I sort of did - the wedding over ran...

And I wasn't trying to blame anyone - just ascertain whether you would put in a smaller show to save time.

And no-one has actually answered that question at all - we've just had stories of functions that over ran etc...

Thames Valley Discos
09-07-2006, 02:25 PM
If it was my fault i,d use smaller set up. If their fault i,d use normal set up, after all they know the time it takes to set up.

Corabar Entertainment
09-07-2006, 02:27 PM
Usual procedure for our lot is to put on the same show, but get the sound side of things done first, so that you can at least get a 'background' CD on, then get the lights & tidying up done.

Corabar Steve
09-07-2006, 03:29 PM
Did it last night.

Got to venue with half an hour more time than needed to set up to be told "You may as well go & have something to eat / drink , they've only just sat down.

By the time they're on speeches, both myself & the band have most of our kit actually set up outside the fire doors, ready to just carry it in, plug it in, soundcheck & go. (I was going to (& did) hang my lights while band were on their soundcheck)

All set, soundchecks over & background CD on (left to play on this occasion as nobody in room yet) Go to bar for drink go back & start first dance (well that was the plan :teeth: )

Get to bar, where is everyone? All outside.

Eventually get them all in & started (played Rock Swings in it's entirity except the live bonus tracks (maybe they were enjoying the album o much they wanted to hear it all before the first dance?))

DJed 15 mins, band on, DJed 15 mins, band on, DJed 20 mins "Thank you very much. Good night!"

Ho hum :)

st1ngo
09-07-2006, 03:32 PM
That's got to be the best one so far. I can imagine your frustration. :)


why frustration ??

sounds to me like a doddle of a night !

money for nothing ...........and thats the best kind !

+Scooby+
09-07-2006, 03:57 PM
why frustration ??

sounds to me like a doddle of a night !

money for nothing ...........and thats the best kind !

I agree, we are primarily wedding bashers and most of the seasoned campaigners on here know that this is par for the course. If your set becomes “More Compact” then you can loose the padding and give them all the quality tracks in one go so, “Long Live”:



Speeches
Pims on the lawn
Fireworks
Salsa workshops
Close up magicians
Photographers
Videographers
Live Bands
Solo Artists
Caricaturists
Uncle Johns solo effort
Belligerent hoteliers

Solitaire Events Ltd
09-07-2006, 04:03 PM
I agree, we are primarily wedding bashers and most of the seasoned campaigners on here know that this is par for the course. If your set becomes “More Compact” then you can loose the padding and give them all the quality tracks in one go so, “Long Live”:




Really, there shouldn't any excuse to play 'padding' in a 4 hour gig.

There's more than enough quality or party tunes to play that long without the need for 'fillers'!

Corabar Steve
09-07-2006, 05:01 PM
Really, there shouldn't any excuse to play 'padding' in a 4 hour gig.

There's more than enough quality or party tunes to play that long without the need for 'fillers'!
Unless you consider the party tunes as padding as opposed to the quality ones

Alex - Cream Ents
09-07-2006, 05:03 PM
I would say as with anything - depends on the situation. If pushed for time I'd be inclined to perhaps scale down the lighting rig and get the sound up and running as quickly as possible.

At the end of the day - no-one's going to notice if you've got a couple less lights than you would have but people will notice if there's no music on!

+Scooby+
09-07-2006, 05:03 PM
Really, there shouldn't any excuse to play 'padding' in a 4 hour gig.

There's more than enough quality or party tunes to play that long without the need for 'fillers'!

Poor choice of words, but dependant on the audience you are occasionally limited to quality songs. Therefore we have a grading system with 8-10 being high quality tunes, and I mean top tunes, with a steady fade off, being the padding, the padding still being quality songs across all genres.

We have a number of base play lists and although these are rarely adhered to they are a good framework for an evening’s entertainment and you delete and add tracks according to the mood of the dance floor.

This next statement will probably rattle a gage or two.

Social groups and level of education (In our catchment area and client base) are in general quite easy to read and can be associated with certain styles of music. I won’t go into breaking this down as it opens a can of worms but as an experienced DJ I am sure you know what I am talking about.

Working in specialist areas of music can be challenging and limit options but reinforces my original statement about using a degree of padding. An example would be “James – Sit Down” would be a must whereas “The Farm - Groovy Train” could be considered padding. Still two top tunes but in my experience have different floor filling abilities.

In short a four hour gig represents no problem, but some tunes are better than others.