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Thread: Wedding Discos and Xmas Discos are just the same.

  1. #21

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    Quote Originally Posted by Nakatomi View Post
    It's horses for courses really. If that's what the people want let them have it all day long I say. There are DJs out there saying a wedding should be X Y or Z but really the wedding should be whatever the customer wants. Is it cheesy? Is it even tacky? Who cares? Why should it even matter if that's what they WANT ? It's not what I would've wanted at my wedding - I can't stand all that schmaltz personally. Vive la difference!
    Yep, I just go with the flow - I always laugh when people say 'you can't do that at a wedding'. If it's what they want it is what they get.

    Like you I wouldn't want it personally, apart from the fact we had 2 bands at our wedding I just hate dancing to a disco, in fact I don't dance at all
    Semi-Retired Multi Award Winning DJ

    www.ultimateweddingdj.co.uk

  2. #22
    Shaun's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Excalibur View Post

    Shaun, function being a wedding doesn't guarantee politeness, courtesy, and good behaviour.
    I did say "for the most part".

  3. #23
    Resident Antagonist Benny Smyth's Avatar
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    I've done my one and only Christmas party a couple of weekends ago and compared to the number of weddings I've performed at in 2017, I hated the Christmas party, but still enjoy the weddings. They are certainly not the same!

    Maybe the comparison for me would be better if it was Residency vs. Private event? The reason I hated the Christmas gig so much was because I walked in blind, and communication had an agent and a venue between me and the client. Were it a private gig, maybe I would have enjoyed it more having been armed with a lot more info and being able to connect with a client.

    So perhaps, were the scenario that way, I could possibly agree that they could be the same.

  4. #24
    DJColsie's Avatar
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    For me at a wedding you are mainly trying to create the evening your bride and groom want that hopefully you have discussed with them previously. You probably have an idea of their musical likes and dislikes with their choices of music. There is much more preparation.

    With a Xmas Party there is a lot less preparation and you maybe working “on the hoof”. If you like planning and preparation this might put you out of your comfort zone. Personally, I think it challenges you and can be a lot more rewarding when things are tough but you dig in challenge yourself and pull off a great party.

    Sometimes with a wedding it is so planned and prepared you know from cake cutting exactly how it will go so there is little professional challenge. However, the bride and groom think you brilliant because of the time put in before the event which makes the wedding perfect but maybe routine from our point of view.

  5. #25
    Jim - Scotland's Party DJ's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by DJColsie View Post
    For me at a wedding you are mainly trying to create the evening your bride and groom want that hopefully you have discussed with them previously. You probably have an idea of their musical likes and dislikes with their choices of music. There is much more preparation.



    Sometimes with a wedding it is so planned and prepared you know from cake cutting exactly how it will go so there is little professional challenge. However, the bride and groom think you brilliant because of the time put in before the event which makes the wedding perfect but maybe routine from our point of view.
    The thing is that's more to do with the couples and crowds in general than anything else.

    I've had a quick badgers through my last few years of gigs and although I get to spread my wings fairly regularly with international clients or people who are right into their dance or rock music - I can count the amount of genuinely unique nights on one hand out of several hundred gigs.

    Relating this to the other thread about being unique just now, as I said elsewhere, I like to go off piste and not just play the token floor fillers anyone could drop (I mentioned my first Christmas party where this was ALL that they were wanting and there was no challenge or enjoyment in it for me) but there's only so far you can push that envelope without ruining the dancefloor.

    Case in point, when you go around asking for requests the make up is something like:

    90% the usual abba, sweet caroline, dignity, proclaimers, black eyed peas, killers or whatever based on your location
    9.5% uncle joe wanting some metallica or the token drunk bell end asking for something he knows is stupid
    0.5% something unique and cool that will actually work

    The vast majority of people know what they like and like what they know and even most brides and grooms who aren't really into that kind of thing are mindful of their guests. In fact, I'm very reluctant to take on clients who want a very genre orientated set list and don't want any guest input so it's horses for courses, I could book up a tonne of gigs punting myself as an indie DJ and have everyone but the couple and their 12 hipster pals think I'm absolutely terrible...

  6. #26
    Imagine's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Jim - Scotland's Party DJ View Post
    The thing is that's more to do with the couples and crowds in general than anything else.

    The vast majority of people know what they like and like what they know and even most brides and grooms who aren't really into that kind of thing are mindful of their guests. In fact, I'm very reluctant to take on clients who want a very genre orientated set list and don't want any guest input so it's horses for courses, I could book up a tonne of gigs punting myself as an indie DJ and have everyone but the couple and their 12 hipster pals think I'm absolutely terrible...
    He's right you know

    I've done several genre orientated weddings myself this year alone.

    * A couple of rock ones which have REALLY worked because the guests themselves were of a similar age group and into that sort of music (and they were probably the best weddings I've done this year)
    * An 80s style wedding where I was limited to playing nothing but the 80s....which died on it's backside because guess what? The guests wanted other stuff too!
    * An 80s style wedding (mainly because the groom was a DJ in the 80s) where there were no restrictions on the music (that one worked!)
    * A completely weird wedding where the entire playlist was made up of stuff I've never heard of before, but it seemed to work (that was a tough one!)
    * A Drum and Bass wedding (because he's apparently a D&B producer) that really DIDN'T work and I'll never do one of those again!. I was booked on that one as a "traditional wedding DJ" and then landed with the D&B playlist a couple of days beforehand (one of the few couples I didn't meet before the big day)

    Other than that, they've all followed the same routine and music structure, apart from the traveller's wedding I did at the start of the year which was different from anything else i've ever done.

    Would I want to go out as a specialist in a particular genre (i.e. 70s or 80s)? No - definitely not. As much as I enjoy music from those eras, it'd soon become very boring. I like a little bit of a challenge to keep me on my toes

  7. #27
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    I much prefer weddings generally speaking. I've had a couple of good Christmas parties where I've been more involved and spoken to "important" guests etc like I would for a wedding which have been fun though.

    For me I can almost go the whole year receiving mostly compliments for weddings then come Christmas parties I'm now a terrible DJ and receive a significant amount of abuse in comparison.

    Dorset DJ - Dorset based DJ service
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  8. #28
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    My personal opinion is that my Christmas season in my venue is SO much easier than the weddings, in most ways. I would liken it more to 'the same as most corporate events' or private residence parties. The differences as pointed out are:

    I general its the same kit and almost the same times, although actually the amount of time I DJ is quite a bit less as its usually 10-12.30 with the rest of the time sitting chatting to the other 2 DJ's at my venue (plus the odd one that drops by after set up). I would never dream of that at a wedding as there is always something to do or going on, even during wedding breakfast background. I play a lot of similar music, but i personally find them not only a lot easier than weddings, but also more fun and relaxing as the pressure is off a little bit. Depends on the type of wedding service you give I guess as some people literally just show up with a first dance, name and times, which is fine, but for a wedding I prefer to get to know the couple a bit better which might change the situation a little?

    Weddings:

    - The client at weddings are the B&G and I am bang on what they want over any of the guests (most the time)
    - The playlist is supplied and largely dictated by them and I always try to play a different set each wedding
    - I am conscious of the coulee, especially the bride all night and its my job to get her on the floor (plus other key guests)
    - I have a personal connection to the client as I have met them at least twice and in some cases even dinner together!!
    - there are more formalities and a lot more at stake if something should go wrong, especially at these points (Bar nye countdown)
    - The guests are largely better behaved as they have mostly been through the whole journey with the couple and respect their special day.

    Mixed xmas parties have multiple groups of people, all usually wanting something different its my job to keep as many groups up as long as possible, but at times you have to play table tennis with them and sacrifice one table for another. I can experiment a lot more with music (I find December a time that i can explore a bit more), but largely play the same tunes all night, when i get a flow going. Usually takes a few nights to get my bearings and then its dead easy. i don't advertise that I take requests and treat it largely as a corporate/club type event, where as its the complete opposite at a wedding. Recently I have been exchanging set lists with other DJ's and to my surprise the flow and selection of tracks is VERY similar, which is interesting.

    The biggest thing I find is you get people that go out on their own with work mates and can often let rip. Weddings tend to attract couples, whom are on their best behaviour, because they keep each other in check and (as mentioned) have been invited and have had a lot of money spent on them! On the same note some people at a Christmas party may not go out many times in a year (or ever) so that and the combination of alcohol and friendly banter, can really bring out the deamons or drunk idiot in a person. The company bosses or pushy PA's can be the biggest problems on the night and often are a lot worse than any bridezilla ('I have spent XYZ tonight, so put on some heavy metal now you cretin'). Its not always what they say but the manner in which they dictate to you. I command a rather nice small restaurant with a lot of women, but my compadre in the big function room has to put up with all sorts of prats on a weekly basis (this is a very nice 4 star). I have not ever worked at the 4 other venues we also do, but thats the same at times.

    Thats my thoughts anyway.
    Your DJ - Mobile DJ The New Forest, Southampton & Hampshire. Toby
    https://yourdj.co.uk/

  9. #29

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    Quote Originally Posted by yourdj View Post
    I can experiment a lot more with music (I find December a time that i can explore a bit more), but largely play the same tunes all night, when i get a flow going.
    Absolutely this.

    Christmas time is where I 'experiment' a bit too. Even the way I do interaction for weddings, I'll experiment with new things for Christmas. I'm not prepared to practise at someone's wedding. But it's far easier to do so at a Christmas Party, where I can test out new ideas.

    Quote Originally Posted by yourdj View Post
    The company bosses or pushy PA's can be the biggest problems on the night and often are a lot worse than any bridezilla
    I guess where we spend time with the bride in the planning, they're less likely to be an arse to you when they hand picked your services and know you, compared to a boss of a company who just sees you as a generic DJ.

  10. #30

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    It's funny but until recently I'd have said I preferred weddings over xmas parties because of antsy people. Not this year! Yes it's fair to say I still had a handful of cuthroaters but they got 'both barrels' over the mic (which was great fun). Not insults mind just a bit of banter. "is everyone having a good time?! (wooooo). Well somebody tell her face over there. That sort of thing & directly addressing them with a dedication even calling them the cutthroat lady. Don't cross the line though... Keep it light hearted!

    I probably wouldn't go there at a wedding, nor would I be likely to go up to a guy dancing on his own with a group of women nearby, saying "dad! Daaaad! Dad!"... Tap him on the shoulder... Turns around... Oh sorry I thought you were my dad - you dance just like him!

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