Venue Staff, helpful as ever!

[Spirits High]

Hi guys,

I should think I like many of us like to checkout new venues before you play them, meet the Event manager etc etc.

So today I went to one that's quite local to me in Chesterfield but for whatever reason haven't gigged at before. Arrived there, introduced myself and told them why I was there, the name of the client and the date of the wedding, all quite self explanatory or so you would think!

Got shown the Ringwood suite as they (hotel staff) told me that's the one it was in. All good, nice big room , huge mirror ball etc. Gave them copies of PLI and PAT and off I went.

Met the clients tonight for the pre event meeting and the Bride mentioned that it was a nice room apart from the pillars! At this point I got a bit confused as I didn't see any pillars in the room I was shown.

Anyway to cut a long story short...... I'd got onto the wedding planner and it turns out that i'd been shown the wrong room :bang:


So another trip for me later this week then :mad:



Anyone else had similar with venues?

[Danno13]

Last year I called a venue I was booked for to arrange a look around, "no problem" they say. So I drive just over 20 miles to be told that the room is in use all day and I can't go in to look! I did get to check out the access though, which was a nightmare! So at least I knew to arrive with plenty of time to spare.

[rob1963]

I have to say that venue staff vary as much as the British weather.

Last year I had a staff member who initially wouldn't let me use a table, even though there was one a few yards away that was not being used.

I've also had a number of venue staff who have been very abrupt with me.

On the other hand, there are others like the guy a couple of weeks ago. He had acquired a trolley for me to use (even though I hadn't asked for one), he held open doors for me, and also helped by carrying in some of my gear.

I've never visited a venue & been shown the wrong room, though. However, I hardly ever visit a venue beforehand, as I've always lived in the same area, so I rarely find I'm working somewhere where I haven't worked on more than one occasion in the past.

In my opinion, showing you the wrong room is a sign of complete incompetence by the staff member concerned.

[Spirits High]

In my opinion, showing you the wrong room is a sign of complete incompetence by the staff member concerned.


Rob, I Totaly agree. While I was having the client meeting last night I didn't make it obvious to the B &G that this had happened as it probably would have unsettled them.

Was quite suprised by the staff as it's not a 2 bob venue.

[CRAZY K]

Rob, I Totaly agree. While I was having the client meeting last night I didn't make it obvious to the B &G that this had happened as it probably would have unsettled them.

Was quite suprised by the staff as it's not a 2 bob venue.

Sadly Paul people working in these places arent hired for brain power--as you have noticed!

My worst was in a Golf Club in Northampton where the staff sat around moaning about a late night whilst smoking and drinking watching me get my gear out the place and quite a long way to the vehicle.

I really couldnt be bothered to state the b.......n obvious.

If you help me you get home quicker:rolleyes:

However a lot of caretakers at Halls actually understand this and pile in with help--if your lucky:D

Fortunately this happened the last time I played at a Town Hall which had outside Fire escape access and three flights of stairs:eek: :eek: :eek:

I would have been there all night getting out on my own:D

Not mentioned by the client ---of course!!


CRAZY K

[soundtracker]

First time I did our local townhall I had 2 jobsworths hanging around the whole time I was setting up and packing down - When the final piece of kit was put in the van I said - "Phew- that was hard worked! " One of them chipped in with "Yeah, you should have used the trolley" indicating a cupboard off to the side.

Thanks a bleeding bunch

[CRAZY K]

First time I did our local townhall I had 2 jobsworths hanging around the whole time I was setting up and packing down - When the final piece of kit was put in the van I said - "Phew- that was hard worked! " One of them chipped in with "Yeah, you should have used the trolley" indicating a cupboard off to the side.

Thanks a bleeding bunch

OH DEAR--the chap at mine--Tenterden (Kent) wanted an early night and didnt get paid as much as me ---he told me about 10 times:eek:

CRAZY K

[Excalibur]

I have to say that venue staff vary as much as the British weather.

Last year I had a staff member who initially wouldn't let me use a table, even though there was one a few yards away that was not being used.

I've also had a number of venue staff who have been very abrupt with me..
I'd be abrupt with you, if you came in demanding the use of tables designated for guest use only! :mad: Cheeky oik! You'll be wanting electricity next! :eek: :eek: :D



On the other hand, there are others like the guy a couple of weeks ago. He had acquired a trolley for me to use (even though I hadn't asked for one), he held open doors for me, and also helped by carrying in some of my gear..
Do you think he fancied you? ;) ;) :D




I've never visited a venue & been shown the wrong room, though. However, I hardly ever visit a venue beforehand, as I've always lived in the same area, so I rarely find I'm working somewhere where I haven't worked on more than one occasion in the past.

In my opinion, showing you the wrong room is a sign of complete incompetence by the staff member concerned.
I have on one occasion, in a very upmarket hotel and function, been given nothing but incorrect information, right until I got hold of the manager, just before the function started!:bang: :bang: :bang:


OH DEAR--the chap at mine--Tenterden (Kent) wanted an early night and didnt get paid as much as me ---he told me about 10 times:eek:

CRAZY K
No surprises there then! :p :p :D :D

[Royalblue]

Did a gig a while back at a venue in Truro. Phoned beforehand and was told to park out front and they would let me in. Did so and was told I had to wait for the function room to be unlocked but it was ok to get the gear in first. Fair enough I thought. Only place to leave the gear whilst waiting was at the top of the stairs. Went back and moved the car to the car park at rear. In the meantime some jobsworth shows up and has a right go at me for blocking the stairs. 'What am I supposed to do?' I say and then he starts threatening to report me to HSE etc and got really abusive. I told him if he didnt shut up he would have no DJ and would have to explain to the clients why there was no DJ. He piped down at that and then showed me the stage exit that led down a small flight of stairs into the car park as opposed to having to stop on double yellows in a busy city centre.:bang: :bang: :bang:

[Jaggiebunnett]

Did a gig in this place that had awesome access! right next to the set up area was the exit so no more than 3 metres from trailer to set-up...I was fair chuffed until the assistant manager told me that "you can't use that door because of insurance reasons"....HA! I started arguing with her:mad: because the only other alternative was the side door (3 doors to prop) then OUTSIDE the garden area so 3 metres tunned into 150!:confused: she would not budge (like some kind of "jobsworth" exercise, I was even looking for the hidden camera!)
I had a look outside the door and there were delivery trucks and comings and goings and yet I could not us that door!! pfft!!:mad:
was going to give her a piece of my tiny mind when I thought about the B&G and maybe me getting booted out for ****ing off the management would not be a good thing.:rolleyes:
It turned out to be a great night!:beer1: :beer1:

[CRAZY K]

Did a gig a while back at a venue in Truro. Phoned beforehand and was told to park out front and they would let me in. Did so and was told I had to wait for the function room to be unlocked but it was ok to get the gear in first. Fair enough I thought. Only place to leave the gear whilst waiting was at the top of the stairs. Went back and moved the car to the car park at rear. In the meantime some jobsworth shows up and has a right go at me for blocking the stairs. 'What am I supposed to do?' I say and then he starts threatening to report me to HSE etc and got really abusive. I told him if he didnt shut up he would have no DJ and would have to explain to the clients why there was no DJ. He piped down at that and then showed me the stage exit that led down a small flight of stairs into the car park as opposed to having to stop on double yellows in a busy city centre.:bang: :bang: :bang:

Yes you will have this H and S thing thrown at you more and more as the jobsworths get more powerful--I ran into this--you cant leave your speakers there cos its H and S hazard-- at The Forest of Arden, Meriden, but managed to negotiate with the management who were eventually helpful.

They wanted a quick turn round but didnt want me to bring everything up 3 flights of stairs in advance!

I warned the client and said blame the Hotel if theres a delay--its not my fault !!!!!!!

Fortunately negotiation worked.;)

CRAZY K

[Vectis]

I warned the client and said blame the Hotel if theres a delay--its not my fault !!!!!!!

Fortunately negotiation worked.;)


On my booking forms I have a section titled "VectisVibe Concerns About XXXX" where XXXX is the Venue Name.

I can then elaborate about tricky access, sound limiters, anti-haze policy and anything else that might spoil their enjoyment which they may not have been told about in the hotel sales blurb.

More than once it's resulted in a venue change and many B+G's have thanked me for pointing certain things out... like a popular wedding venue in Newport who, although they have a 1am bar licence, only have an 11pm entertainments licence :bang: Do you think they tell prospective customers about the 11pm entertainments restriction? Nope! But I DO!

[mark@pegasus]

I have a local venue that don't tell the clients that the hire period has to include clearing up time and are disappointed when I ask what time thay have the hall booked until and I then tell them I will have to finish an hour earlier than that otherwise they won't be able to get their deposit back from the venue

[CRAZY K]

On my booking forms I have a section titled "VectisVibe Concerns About XXXX" where XXXX is the Venue Name.

I can then elaborate about tricky access, sound limiters, anti-haze policy and anything else that might spoil their enjoyment which they may not have been told about in the hotel sales blurb.

More than once it's resulted in a venue change and many B+G's have thanked me for pointing certain things out... like a popular wedding venue in Newport who, although they have a 1am bar licence, only have an 11pm entertainments licence :bang: Do you think they tell prospective customers about the 11pm entertainments restriction? Nope! But I DO!

Your fortunate working in a small compact area VV so you will know probably every venue on the Island and your customers certainly benefit.

Unfortunately some of us travel a lot so its not so easy to keep up--although I do find myself talking a lot about sound limiters these days:eek:

CRAZY K

[DJ Knight]

I Did a gig a couple of years ago and as usual checked with the hotel Duty manager if smoke machines set their fire alarm off she said No it was fine to use them. so I used the smoke machine but kept it to a minimum just incase as I could see there where sensors. half way through the night the dam fire alarm went off and evacuation to outside, where the same manager promptly blamed me for setting it off telling everyone it was my smoke machine. I later found out that it was infact a candle that had set fire to the paper napkins the hotel had used but lucky someone had the presense of mind to douse it with a glass of Cola. I announced that over the Microphoneand made sure everyone knew the real culprit. Bloody cheek blaming me. Any good hotel staff will know that you never use "Paper Napkins" if you're using tea lites or low candles Hello BIG fire risk Mrs Hotel Manager .
PS excuse bad spelling and Grammer it never was my strong point

[DazzyD]

I once did a gig in bar in a fire station (the room was right above where they keep the fire engines!). I saw that they had smoke detectors and a sprinkler system installed in the room so I started to take the smoke machine back to the van. One guy in the room, who was a fireman, asked if everything was alright and I said yes but I couldn't use the smoke machine so I was taking it back to the van out of the way. He asked why I couldn't use it and I explained about the smoke detectors and sprinklers even though I thought a fireman should have realised this. Anyway, what happened next really surprised me. He said to set up the smoke machine and he'd sort things. He went and got a step ladder and covered up the sensors with what looked like little blue elasticated shower caps. I queried his actions stating that wouldn't covering up the sensors be a little unsafe? His reply was that we've got a full fire station ready if anything went wrong! Well, what could I say? I just got on with the show and we all had a really good night!

[CRAZY K]

Did a gig in this place that had awesome access! right next to the set up area was the exit so no more than 3 metres from trailer to set-up...I was fair chuffed until the assistant manager told me that "you can't use that door because of insurance reasons"....HA! I started arguing with her:mad: because the only other alternative was the side door (3 doors to prop) then OUTSIDE the garden area so 3 metres tunned into 150!:confused: she would not budge (like some kind of "jobsworth" exercise, I was even looking for the hidden camera!)
I had a look outside the door and there were delivery trucks and comings and goings and yet I could not us that door!! pfft!!:mad:
was going to give her a piece of my tiny mind when I thought about the B&G and maybe me getting booted out for ****ing off the management would not be a good thing.:rolleyes:
It turned out to be a great night!:beer1: :beer1:

No chance--the client is paying their wages:D :D :D

The client is king--I would have said to the assistant manager--im going to discuss this with the best man as this might hold up the start of the music which they might not be happy about--usually the best man will be taking no ...t from anyone if its going to involve upsetting the event.

Worth a shot--;) ;) ;)

Northing to lose.

Unless its different in America?

CRAZY K

[Corabar Steve]

Anybody remember this? (http://www.mobilediscodirectory.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=4118&highlight=Paddington)

[Penfold42]

Anybody remember this? (http://www.mobilediscodirectory.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=4118&highlight=Paddington)

..No but i bet you can.....what a nightmare......:)