First Dance Disaster

[rob1963]

Tonight I had a wedding at a nice hotel on Wimbledon Common (right near the Wombles home!) called Cannizaro House. Since I was last there, They've acquired a new toy...a sound limiter :bang:

It was the type where you plug into a special socket on the wall, and it has a green LED, a couple of amber ones & three red ones - and when the third red one comes on, you wave au revoir to the power for about 10 seconds.

I hate these things, so was careful to play at a low volume, but this thing seemed to have a mind of its own. Most of the time I had just the green LED on, and occasionally the first amber one...then the LEDs would gradually come on all the way up to the third red one, and off went the power.

By the time this happened for the fourth time, I was really wound up, so I went to the socket, unplugged my power block & plugged it into a normal socket on the wall. This resulted in the lights on the limiter still working, but the socket I was now plugged into did not cut off, so at least the last 45 minutes went well, and I enjoyed it more, as I was able to relax.

What made things worse was that the first time the limiter tripped was right in the middle of the first dance...the one time where it's crucial for things to go without a hitch. I apologised, re-cued the track & played it again at an even lower volume.

This was the first time I've had something go wrong during the first dance, and it got me thinking...

...have any of YOU had something go wrong right at the beginning of / in the middle of the first dance, such as the power going off, the track refusing to play, the track suddenly stopping or maybe your part of your equipment packing up?

I'm hoping some of you HAVE, because then I won't feel so bad about tonight!

[JAMdisco]

Sorry to hear about that Rob, and no, (fingers crossed) it hasn't happened to me so far, but then again, I've only done half a dozen-or-so weddings. Were the happy couple ok about it?

[rob1963]

Sorry to hear about that Rob, and no, (fingers crossed) it hasn't happened to me so far, but then again, I've only done half a dozen-or-so weddings. Were the happy couple ok about it?

They were absolutely fine, JayDee. At the time when it happened, I made some joke about out of all my CDs which could be dodgy, it had to be the one with the first dance on (even though the CD itself was fine).

At the end of the evening I went up to the bride & said I was sorry about the venue's sound limiter, which seemed to have a mind of its own when it came to cutting off my power, and told her I had been playing at a much lower volume than usual - to try & avoid this problem.

She was absolutely fine about it, saying it wasn't my fault & that it had been a really good night. She also thanked me for playing nearly all the requests she'd asked for (I only missed about 10 of her 50 requests, but this was simply because I ran out of time).

I guess you've been lucky, JD, but I've probably done around a thousand weddings & I've never had anything go wrong during the first dance before, so I guess I was overdue for something to happen!

[Shaun]

Luckily I've never had any sorts of problems during a first dance. Sorry to hear about your experience though, Rob. There's a few venues local to me that I actively avoid due to over-sensitive sound limiters. I can only see the problem getting worse, I predict some venues will take a 'knee-jerk' reaction to the new noise at work regulations and more and more of these limiters will pop up.

[rob1963]

Luckily I've never had any sorts of problems during a first dance. Sorry to hear about your experience though, Rob. There's a few venues local to me that I actively avoid due to over-sensitive sound limiters. I can only see the problem getting worse, I predict some venues will take a 'knee-jerk' reaction to the new noise at work regulations and more and more of these limiters will pop up.

I'm seriously thinking of putting something on my website that I don't work in venues with limiters, and adding something to the terms & conditions stating that if, on arrival there is a sound limiter which I was not previously advised about, I could terminate the contract.

These things really are more trouble than they are worth.

If it means I lose a few bookings each year, so be it.

[Shaun]

I'm seriously thinking of putting something on my website that I don't work in venues with limiters, and adding something to the terms & conditions stating that if, on arrival there is a sound limiter which I was not previously advised about, I could terminate the contract.

These things really are more trouble than they are worth.

If it means I lose a few bookings each year, so be it.


I have a piece regarding limiters in my F.A.Q section, but it's not in a prominent position .

[mike8863]

I did a gig at Tranmere Rovers ground in january. The room there also had a limiter. I had to sign a form to say that if the limiter kicked in and cut the power a third time, i could no longer play.Fortunately it didn't kick in once and I never got above 2nd amber on purpose.
I understand your frustration Rob and agree wholer heartedly with your future clause re limiters, i may do the same.
To be honest though, as you said for the amount of weddings you have done and problems you have experienced, it's not a bad ratio......!!!

Mike

[Impactdisco]

At my niece's wedding, the CD started jumping during the first dance. I won't name the DJ (who has a very high opinion of himself and, knowing I also had a disco, proceeded to tell me how his disco was one of the best in London) who isn't on this forum.
Friends at the wedding kept coming up and asking why I wasn't doing the disco as they felt her was poor as he wouldn't play requests.
I will say however, the floor was busy all night - but that's down to the fact that my family and their friends do like a dance and would have danced whoever was DJ.

Even so I did feel sorry for him when the CD started jumping.

[chorleyjim]

I had a first dance disaster not so long ago, right in the middle of the track the laptop just decided to stop playing it, for no particular reason. Luckily I always have my backup laptop playing the same track in parallel for the first dance so there was not much of a break.

[discomobiledj]

I had a disco last night where there wasn't a sound limiter but a moany caretaker with her sound reader!

I was told thaty the music couldn't go above 95db otherwise the police would be called and she would be in trouble! Bloody jobsworth!

[CRAZY K]

Tonight I had a wedding at a nice hotel on Wimbledon Common (right near the Wombles home!) called Cannizaro House. Since I was last there, They've acquired a new toy...a sound limiter :bang:

It was the type where you plug into a special socket on the wall, and it has a green LED, a couple of amber ones & three red ones - and when the third red one comes on, you wave au revoir to the power for about 10 seconds.

I hate these things, so was careful to play at a low volume, but this thing seemed to have a mind of its own. Most of the time I had just the green LED on, and occasionally the first amber one...then the LEDs would gradually come on all the way up to the third red one, and off went the power.

By the time this happened for the fourth time, I was really wound up, so I went to the socket, unplugged my power block & plugged it into a normal socket on the wall. This resulted in the lights on the limiter still working, but the socket I was now plugged into did not cut off, so at least the last 45 minutes went well, and I enjoyed it more, as I was able to relax.

What made things worse was that the first time the limiter tripped was right in the middle of the first dance...the one time where it's crucial for things to go without a hitch. I apologised, re-cued the track & played it again at an even lower volume.

This was the first time I've had something go wrong during the first dance, and it got me thinking...

...have any of YOU had something go wrong right at the beginning of / in the middle of the first dance, such as the power going off, the track refusing to play, the track suddenly stopping or maybe your part of your equipment packing up?

I'm hoping some of you HAVE, because then I won't feel so bad about tonight!

Repeat the immortal James Brown--I FEEEEEL GOOD!!!!!!!!!

Last year at the Wedding gig in Tenterden Town Hall---extremely awful conditions for loading/unloading--- I was asked to play the first dance as per normal.

This was a hot May day--off we go but half way through it became obvious NO one was taking any notice :eek: :eek: :eek:

Bride got upset realising the big moment was being ignored---despite plenty of vocal intro from myself--so she shouts out to me--cut it --well do it again later :bang: :confused: :confused: :confused:

So we did---and it was fine:beer1:

This was also the gig that went very well but the Groom insisted I go and pull people off chairs to get them dancing if necessary--sorry guvnor insurance doesnt cover that :D

I used a CD last year that was given to me by B and G for the first dance by Satchmo--- I played the WRONG track:eek:

Before I could say anything the floor was packed with well wishers, Family and friends singing along ---finished on a massive round of applause.

So I then played what should have been the first dance and the party carried on--another massive round of applause--

Bride and groom smiled at me--I smiled back --yes we knew the truth:rolleyes:

Then I hit them with the first Barn Dance--job done:cool: :cool: :cool:

CRAZY K

[Tony Scott]

Only happened once and it wrecked the whole night!

I had been looking forward to this gig for months and had put a massive amount of effort into getting it spot-on, they wanted the works!
It was a big wedding on a farm with a marquee, huge barn for the dancing and beautiful gardens.......really nice venue.

I put in the full sound and light show and took about 3 hours setting up. I also agreed to let the Ceilidh Band use my PA, no problem as just put them through the desk, soundchecked & EQ'd everything - sweet!

The band were on 1st and had 200 people up on the floor rocking the barn, everybody myself including was in a great mood, 2 hrs of 'swinging-ya-partner' type stuff! :approve:

Then it was my turn, I thanked the band, who were awsome, did a quick introduction & called th B&G to the floor for their 1st dance and then nothing....................the track was playing on the PC but nothing getting to the mixer, 200 people started murmering, the band started smirking & the B&G glared at me!!!

I went cold with fear and started scrabling around for a CD vesion of the song, found it after about 30 seconds and played it.
I had to try and recover from this but because at that time I had no back-up PC based music and had to struggle with a less than perfect back-up CD collection I lost the 200 strong crowd, they quickly left after the 1st dance into the Marquee and never came back!

I had no more than 20 or 30 people in the Barn all night, disaster!!!

My only bit of cumfort was from the Brides father who came over at the end and explained that the band had worn them out early on, but I know he was just being polite!

I now have a full PC back-up with identicle files and playout software and always have a CD copy of the 1st dance ready to go. I also regularly go through my CD back-up and use it occasionaly so I remember where stuff is.

Turned out to be an internal PC board fault, never bought a cheap PC again!

Sorry to ramble but this has haunted for years and it's good to unload it. :D

[Corabar Steve]

...have any of YOU had something go wrong right at the beginning of / in the middle of the first dance, such as the power going off, the track refusing to play, the track suddenly stopping or maybe your part of your equipment packing up?

I'm hoping some of you HAVE, because then I won't feel so bad about tonight!

Yep, at a mate's wedding a few (alright a lot of) years back. Their first dance was Sonny & Cher - I've got you babe, the only version of which I had at the time was on vinyl. It refused to play point blank without skipping.

After several attempts, balancing various permutations of small coins on the tonearm, I gave up & ended up using a CD version................




Cher with Beavis & Butthead.

Everyone had a good laugh & there wasn't a problem. I'm just glad it was somebody I knew.

[CRAZY K]

Only happened once and it wrecked the whole night!

I had been looking forward to this gig for months and had put a massive amount of effort into getting it spot-on, they wanted the works!
It was a big wedding on a farm with a marquee, huge barn for the dancing and beautiful gardens.......really nice venue.

I put in the full sound and light show and took about 3 hours setting up. I also agreed to let the Ceilidh Band use my PA, no problem as just put them through the desk, soundchecked & EQ'd everything - sweet!

The band were on 1st and had 200 people up on the floor rocking the barn, everybody myself including was in a great mood, 2 hrs of 'swinging-ya-partner' type stuff! :approve:

Then it was my turn, I thanked the band, who were awsome, did a quick introduction & called th B&G to the floor for their 1st dance and then nothing....................the track was playing on the PC but nothing getting to the mixer, 200 people started murmering, the band started smirking & the B&G glared at me!!!

I went cold with fear and started scrabling around for a CD vesion of the song, found it after about 30 seconds and played it.
I had to try and recover from this but because at that time I had no back-up PC based music and had to struggle with a less than perfect back-up CD collection I lost the 200 strong crowd, they quickly left after the 1st dance into the Marquee and never came back!

I had no more than 20 or 30 people in the Barn all night, disaster!!!

My only bit of cumfort was from the Brides father who came over at the end and explained that the band had worn them out early on, but I know he was just being polite!

I now have a full PC back-up with identicle files and playout software and always have a CD copy of the 1st dance ready to go. I also regularly go through my CD back-up and use it occasionaly so I remember where stuff is.

Turned out to be an internal PC board fault, never bought a cheap PC again!

Sorry to ramble but this has haunted for years and it's good to unload it. :D

Tony, I can cheer you up here--as you may know Barn Dance Disco Weddings are my speciality. Whole evening or just the Barn Dance bit.

A lot of Wedding events I appear at ( not that many each year ) are deliberately split down the middle between Barn Dance and Disco--

I do the Barn Dance for about an 60 to 90 minutes then move on to Disco and Party, sometimes going back to Barn Dance later ( not often)

I did a great Wedding last year where I followed my usual first 60 minutes of Barn Dance with the Disco+ Party playlist very carefully prepared by the B and G.

However after an hour of Disco they all said--hey we want more Barn Dance this is getting boring--bear in mind its THEIR playlist boring them.

You didnt have that option, also possibly a lot of guests would have gone home early having enjoyed the early part of the evening anyway.

Sooo I was able to keep the event a high energy level by doing another hour of Barn Dance--then moving on to the final Disco session.

If I had handed over to a separate DJ and gone home---which I often do, then its up to the DJ and the audience--mainly its fine--like the one I did with Steve the other week:D

So its quite believable that the Barn Dance tired people out and I would expect a fair few would have gone home after that anyway.

I really dont think the equipment breakdown was a major factor--even though it doesnt help to make you feel better on the night.

The reality is a mixed Barn Dance/Disco Wedding can be unpredictable.

Must admit I see USB readers and Hard drives less likely to fail--but the jury is out for a few years on that--no one knows.

CRAZY K

[Tony Scott]

Tony, I can cheer you up here--as you may know Barn Dance Disco Weddings are my speciality. Whole evening or just the Barn Dance bit.

A lot of Wedding events I appear at ( not that many each year ) are deliberately split down the middle between Barn Dance and Disco--

I do the Barn Dance for about an 60 to 90 minutes then move on to Disco and Party, sometimes going back to Barn Dance later ( not often)

I did a great Wedding last year where I followed my usual first 60 minutes of Barn Dance with the Disco+ Party playlist very carefully prepared by the B and G.

However after an hour of Disco they all said--hey we want more Barn Dance this is getting boring--bear in mind its THEIR playlist boring them.

You didnt have that option, also possibly a lot of guests would have gone home early having enjoyed the early part of the evening anyway.

Sooo I was able to keep the event a high energy level by doing another hour of Barn Dance--then moving on to the final Disco session.

If I had handed over to a separate DJ and gone home---which I often do, then its up to the DJ and the audience--mainly its fine--like the one I did with Steve the other week:D

So its quite believable that the Barn Dance tired people out and I would expect a fair few would have gone home after that anyway.

I really dont think the equipment breakdown was a major factor--even though it doesnt help to make you feel better on the night.

The reality is a mixed Barn Dance/Disco Wedding can be unpredictable.

Must admit I see USB readers and Hard drives less likely to fail--but the jury is out for a few years on that--no one knows.

CRAZY K

Thanks for that, it does make me feel a bit better, I always feel bad if the night doesn't rock. By contrast I've nearly always had great nights following Barn dances so I know it can work. :)

[wensleydale]

rob- why didnt you just plug into the other socket initially?

or alternatively do the old dummy cable from the limiter socket?

[Vectis]

Touch wood never had a musical ****-up during a first dance, but I did once call the bride by the wrong name at the end of the dance :eek: to a glare that would've melted Maggie Thatcher's heart...

Thought I'd got away with it, but turns out the name I used just happened to correspond with the groom's ex... :bang: :bang: :bang:

She chilled once she started getting tipsy but I could tell it wasn't forgotten. :( Funnily enough, didn't get the questionnaire back from that one either... :zip:

[Shakermaker Promotions]

So far (fingers crossed, touch wood etc etc)...nothing has gone wrong during the first dances. I feel for you lot though, sorry to hear about the problems but it's all experience and makes us aware that things can and will go wrong at times.

Funny thing happened to me on saturday though. There was a goth girl at the party that I did and she came up and asked for Siouxie & The Creatures version of 'Right Now'. I really like the track and although it wasn't on the playlist I thought I would play it as it's been years since I did. Half way through it, the MP3 started skipping...now that may sound bad but the wierd thing is....no'one noticed except me because it sounded like a remix and actually extended the track. It got to about 40 seconds remaining and then skipped back to about 90 seconds remaining - Wierd!

[OllieJames]

Touch wood never had a musical ****-up during a first dance, but I did once call the bride by the wrong name at the end of the dance :eek: to a glare that would've melted Maggie Thatcher's heart...

Thought I'd got away with it, but turns out the name I used just happened to correspond with the groom's ex... :bang: :bang: :bang:

She chilled once she started getting tipsy but I could tell it wasn't forgotten. :( Funnily enough, didn't get the questionnaire back from that one either... :zip:
Bet that was a bit awkward!

I've never done a wedding, just school discos and 16th & 18th parties, aswell as a couple of 50ths. Never had a limiter either!

[pagan_flame]

Well I got lucky... now I always have the first dance cued on the laptop AND have it on CD cued up, never been caught out yet...

But at one venue with sound limiter, I had been told to plug in to the non-limiter socket by the manager.

Good job - as the first dance started (with limiter in the green), all the guests clapped, cheered etc which put the limiter straight into the red! :eek:

[DazzyD]

I'm very lucky in that I specialize in wedding functions and have yet to have a problem during the first dance (although I do take extra special care for that moment and plan it like a military operation!).

I also dislike sound limiters but I've gotten so used to them now that I can pull off events without any problems.

I did a wedding disco last friday night. Lovely big stage so plenty of room to setup and freely move around behind the decks - just the way I like it. Everything was set up and I was ready to plug in. I fed the main extension cables over to the block of power sockets and - to my horror - saw a sticker on them saying "The power will go off if you are too loud!". Looked around the room for alternative sockets but they each say the same thing. So I decided just to plug in and hope the sound monitor was far enough away from my speakers to make it ok. I did a quick sound check (not too loud just in case) and couldn't see any indicator lights anywhere around the room. I thought the maybe the stickers were just to worry djs in to not going to loud. But then my roadie spotted the sound monitor - right above my speaker! I did a second sound check and pushed my mixer as far as it would go. Two green lights was the most that came on! Not a very sensitive sound monitor and it turned out to be a very good night! Although, during the second sound check, one old biddy came up and shouted "You're not going to be that loud all night are you? I can't hear myself think!". I explained that I wouldn't be going that loud as I was just testing the sound monitor and she said "Thank god for that!", shook my hand and disappeared!

[rob1963]

rob - why didnt you just plug into the other socket initially?

Rich,

I didn't plug into the other socket initially because I didn't think there would be a problem.

When I was setting up, the woman in charge came to introduce herself to me, told me about the sound limiter and asked me to plug into that socket.

After I'd set up, I did a quick sound check to test the limiter, and only the first couple of LEDs came on, so I didn't think I'd have a problem.


or alternatively do the old dummy cable from the limiter socket?

When the limiter first triggered during the first dance, that's exactly what i thought!

To be honest, if I'd known in advance what would happen, I'd have plugged into a normal socket (like I eventually did anyway) and just plugged an extention lead into the limiter, run it to my set up, but not had anything plugged into it.

As long as the woman saw I had a plug in the limiter, there is no way she'd have known it was a dummy one, and I was actually using a normal socket for my deck.

[DazzyD]

When the limiter first triggered during the first dance, that's exactly what i thought!

To be honest, if I'd known in advance what would happen, I'd have plugged into a normal socket (like I eventually did anyway) and just plugged an extention lead into the limiter, run it to my set up, but not had anything plugged into it.

As long as the woman saw I had a plug in the limiter, there is no way she'd have known it was a dummy one, and I was actually using a normal socket for my deck.

Rob, if we knew these things were going to happen before they happened, we'd all give up the DJing and make loads more money as professional psychics!

The only way that we could possibly eliminate these risks is by doing a comprehensive risk assessment at the venue whereby we'd need to be there about three weeks before the event with a truckload of scientific equipment, a magnifying glass and fifteen guys from RoSPA with even more truckloads of testing gear!

And you still couldn't prepare for every eventuality! Isn't this something to do with Murphys Law?

[Tony Scott]

Rich,

To be honest, if I'd known in advance what would happen, I'd have plugged into a normal socket (like I eventually did anyway) and just plugged an extention lead into the limiter, run it to my set up, but not had anything plugged into it.

As long as the woman saw I had a plug in the limiter, there is no way she'd have known it was a dummy one, and I was actually using a normal socket for my deck.

I try and do this everytime if I can get away with it! :D

These limiters are so hit and miss aren't they, I worked with one at a social club near me.

It had been set up at to trigger at 95db but only at mid range frequencies and above so I could have the Bass as loud as I wanted. Crazy as it's surely the bass which causes most problems?

[rob1963]

The only way that we could possibly eliminate these risks is by doing a comprehensive risk assessment at the venue whereby we'd need to be there about three weeks before the event with a truckload of scientific equipment, a magnifying glass and fifteen guys from RoSPA with even more truckloads of testing gear!

Dazzy,

I've just been putting the final touches to my new comprehensive risk assessment process for all venues with limiters.

It involves asking the client if their venue has a sound limiter.

If they say yes, I tell them to find another disco.

:D :D :D

[Tony Scott]

Dazzy,

I've just been putting the final touches to my new comprehensive risk assessment process for all venues with limiters.

It involves asking the client if their venue has a sound limiter.

If they say yes, I tell them to find another disco.

:D :D :D :lol:

[DazzyD]

Dazzy,

I've just been putting the final touches to my new comprehensive risk assessment process for all venues with limiters.

It involves asking the client if their venue has a sound limiter.

If they say yes, I tell them to find another disco.

:D :D :D

:Laugh:

I wish I'd thought off that one! :doh:

[CRAZY K]

Rich,

I didn't plug into the other socket initially because I didn't think there would be a problem.

When I was setting up, the woman in charge came to introduce herself to me, told me about the sound limiter and asked me to plug into that socket.

After I'd set up, I did a quick sound check to test the limiter, and only the first couple of LEDs came on, so I didn't think I'd have a problem.



When the limiter first triggered during the first dance, that's exactly what i thought!

To be honest, if I'd known in advance what would happen, I'd have plugged into a normal socket (like I eventually did anyway) and just plugged an extention lead into the limiter, run it to my set up, but not had anything plugged into it.

As long as the woman saw I had a plug in the limiter, there is no way she'd have known it was a dummy one, and I was actually using a normal socket for my deck.

Your lucky they let you plug into the normal mains:eek:

I did a gig in a small hall in the middle of a tiny village with a limiter--

The first thing the Bar staff said was--you will have a problem with it:eek:

The bar staff were paranoid, checking all the time I hadnt tried to plug in elsewhere--they said if theres any complaints we will lose our licence.

It completely ruined the whole event and made my job almost impossible.

Although I managed to make it reasonably successful that was because I got the audience to sing the usual things like Happy Birthday and Auld Lang syne, plus some Scottish favourites--My Bonnie etc.

These type of Hall owners are taking money under false pretences and should be exposed.

I believe VV is doing his best on the IOW--quite riight too!

CRAZY K

[rob1963]

Your lucky they let you plug into the normal mains

They didn't!

It was just something I decided to do after the power went off for the 4th time!

By this time there was only about 45 minutes to go, and the woman in charge was too busy to notice anyway.

:D

[DazzyD]

I think we should remember that a lot of these venues wouldn't have entertainment licences granted to them if it wasn't for them installing these limiters. They are usually part of the licence conditions imposed at licencing hearings/reviews when the council/police have received complaints of excessive noise from nearby residents.

I'm not saying that I agree with them just that I can understand why they are installed. I'm sure the venues wouldn't fork out for them unless they were made to.

[Tony Scott]

I think we should remember that a lot of these venues wouldn't have entertainment licences granted to them if it wasn't for them installing these limiters. They are usually part of the licence conditions imposed at licencing hearings/reviews when the council/police have received complaints of excessive noise from nearby residents.

I'm not saying that I agree with them just that I can understand why they are installed. I'm sure the venues wouldn't fork out for them unless they were made to.

Better sound insulation is the way forward, I know it's more difficult for retro fit-outs but there is no excuse, other than financial, for new-build projects.

[theoloyla]

First off I too hate sound limiters but hey chaps I am afraid we had better get used to them as they are here to stay and even increase.
I had a first dance **** up once a few years ago. It was a wedding where the hotel had booked me and I had not had any contact with the b & g before the evening. I asked them for their first dance and they told me "Lets Get It On" by Marvin Gaye. I said fine no problem but for some stupid reason I went back and cued up "Sexual Healing". When I announced the first dance the couple stopped and the bride yelled at me "Thats not the song". I quickly changed track but boy did I have a red face!
I have also mistakenly called Brides and grooms by wrong names. I now make sure I write them down on a small piece of paper which I keep handy.

[DazzyD]

Better sound insulation is the way forward, I know it's more difficult for retro fit-outs but there is no excuse, other than financial, for new-build projects.

This I do agree with. Sound insulation padding could easily be built in to the walls of an entertainment venue but this doesn't come cheap. When I had my home recording studio, I forked out over £2,500 for a small room to be fitted out with insulating panels. For this application it wasn't so much to stop sound escaping but rather to stop sound from outside being picked up during recording.

The problem with venues nowadays is that the doors are often being opened as people go to the toilet or go outside for a smoke and this lets noise escape. There's no easy way to guard against this other than to have external doors in other rooms than the function room. It is workable but, like you said, may be a problem in older buildings.

And I'm sure limiters cost a great deal less than this option.

[Tony Scott]

I had a first dance **** up once a few years ago. It was a wedding where the hotel had booked me and I had not had any contact with the b & g before the evening. I asked them for their first dance and they told me "Lets Get It On" by Marvin Gaye. I said fine no problem but for some stupid reason I went back and cued up "Sexual Healing". When I announced the first dance the couple stopped and the bride yelled at me "Thats not the song". I quickly changed track but boy did I have a red face!


Ooooh! :o :o :o

[rob1963]

First off I too hate sound limiters but hey chaps I am afraid we had better get used to them as they are here to stay and even increase.

We DON'T have to get used to them, though.

We can decide to flatly refuse to work in venues which have them, as I'm seriously considering.

If it means a few less bookings each year, so be it.


I have also mistakenly called Brides and grooms by wrong names.

That's why I simply refer to them as "The bride & groom" which avoids the chance of either getting their names wrong, or having to look down at bits of paper.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

...have any of YOU had something go wrong right at the beginning of / in the middle of the first dance, such as the power going off, the track refusing to play, the track suddenly stopping or maybe your part of your equipment packing up?



A couple of years ago, I introduced the B&G and played their first song and the software that I was using at the time crashed. Luckily, the song kept playing and I had a backup laptop under the deckstand, so I talked over the end of the song and my roadie started the next song on the other laptop which I couldn't reach.

[rob1963]

I've never done a wedding, just school discos and 16th & 18th parties, aswell as a couple of 50ths. Never had a limiter either!

Your time will come, Ollie!

By the way, are you my long lost brother by any chance?

:rolleyes:


Well I got lucky... now I always have the first dance cued on the laptop AND have it on CD cued up, never been caught out yet...

Interestng idea, Pagan. I might consider that when I've gone digital, as my new console will also include a single CD player.


I also dislike sound limiters but I've gotten so used to them now that I can pull off events without any problems.

But how can you say that when every one is completely different?

:confused:

I'm guessing you've never had to work with a limiter which cuts off the power even at your usual background music volume level.


These limiters are so hit and miss aren't they?

This is the whole problem...there is no set standard & they are all completely different. I've worked at venues where even playing at background music levels (peaking on the 2nd LED on my mixer) has triggered the limiter, and others where I could play at my normal volume with no problems whatsoever...as well as everything else in between.

[wensleydale]

Dazzy,

I've just been putting the final touches to my new comprehensive risk assessment process for all venues with limiters.

It involves asking the client if their venue has a sound limiter.

If they say yes, I tell them to find another disco.

:D :D :D


fair enough, they are not ideal. but i dont see the point of turning work away just because of the sound limiter.
you either work around it (by using other sockets) even if you need to run cables from other rooms.

or just explain to the client the issue you are having.
if you explain that whoever they booked would have exactly the same problem I dont see what the issue would be.

[rob1963]

fair enough, they are not ideal. but i dont see the point of turning work away just because of the sound limiter.
you either work around it (by using other sockets) even if you need to run cables from other rooms.

or just explain to the client the issue you are having.
if you explain that whoever they booked would have exactly the same problem I dont see what the issue would be.

I take it you haven't worked at that place in Surbiton, the name of which escapes me for the moment, where a cough would set the limiter off?

[dancopp]

Worked with limiters a few times. I have been in the amber in a hall for a kids disco with no music playing!!!

i reckon when they are installed they forget about the crowd noise and just concentrate on the disco noise??

[wensleydale]

I take it you haven't worked at that place in Surbiton, the name of which escapes me for the moment, where a cough would set the limiter off?

the half price curry house?

[CRAZY K]

fair enough, they are not ideal. but i dont see the point of turning work away just because of the sound limiter.
you either work around it (by using other sockets) even if you need to run cables from other rooms.

or just explain to the client the issue you are having.
if you explain that whoever they booked would have exactly the same problem I dont see what the issue would be.

Unrealistic.

Its all very well until a smart a...e notices its louder than usual and twigs what you have done.

The people in these places are smarter than we might think.

And they have their jobs on the line--if the council takes away the licence.

You would have to turn everything off and start again when they notice.

Im with Rob--if you know---refuse the job AND tell the client why in terms that wont get you sued by the venue:eek: :eek: :eek:

Im completely ......off at venues that shut down my show with limiters because people are clapping and cheering.

We cant have people enjoying themselves:(

Unless they are plugged into the actual Disco system directly they are in Trading Standards terms---unfit for intended pupose---

My favourite venue--St Albans where the sound limiter is a Granny of 80 who " will let you know if its too loud!

CRAZY K

[wensleydale]

Unrealistic.

Its all very well until a smart a...e notices its louder than usual and twigs what you have done.

The people in these places are smarter than we might think.

And they have their jobs on the line--if the council takes away the licence.

You would have to turn everything off and start again when they notice.

Im with Rob--if you know---refuse the job AND tell the client why in terms that wont get you sued by the venue:eek: :eek: :eek:

Im completely ......off at venues that shut down my show with limiters because people are clapping and cheering.

We cant have people enjoying themselves:(

Unless they are plugged into the actual Disco system directly they are in Trading Standards terms---unfit for intended pupose---

My favourite venue--St Albans where the sound limiter is a Granny of 80 who " will let you know if its too loud!

CRAZY K

not incorrect at all.
you plug into another socket but then monitor it on the limiter which is still on.
you dont go any louder, you just ensure your power is not cut.

still dont see the reason to not take work.
its not our fault.

[rob1963]

the half price curry house?

No, a hall...just can't remember its name or which road it's in, but it's definately in Surbiton, and it has the worst limiter I've ever known.

[wensleydale]

No, a hall...just can't remember its name or which road it's in, but it's definately in Surbiton, and it has the worst limiter I've ever known.

assembly rooms?

[DazzyD]

But how can you say that when every one is completely different?

:confused:

I'm guessing you've never had to work with a limiter which cuts off the power even at your usual background music volume level.

This is the whole problem...there is no set standard & they are all completely different. I've worked at venues where even playing at background music levels (peaking on the 2nd LED on my mixer) has triggered the limiter, and others where I could play at my normal volume with no problems whatsoever...as well as everything else in between.

Rob, I'm surprised at you giving me a very easy answer to this.

"Sound Check".

Before every gig I do a comprehensive sound check. If the limiter lights are going daft, especially at low levels, then the venue environment is deemed as unsuitable for the booking and I will discuss this with the client. If the client cannot get it sorted then I can cancel the gig at no financial loss to myself. It states so in my contract.

I agree that every limiter is different. Like I've said, the one on Friday was only going 2 green lights up with my mixer 2 amber lights off the red. Others have gone red just by people talking loud. But during the sound check I push my mixer hard so that if the limiter is going to kick in I'll know what I can get away with before the gig. I use a 1200w system for small to medium sized venues so I do know what I'm capable of and how to avoid these problems. If the problem is too severe and the client cannot resolve it with the venue then it's an early night. Simple as that.

[rob1963]

still dont see the reason to not take work.


Because I can't relax & enjoy myself when there is a limiter, and I therefore can't give my best performance, and that's not fair on the clients.

Apart from that, I don't want to be at a gig where the music keeps cutting off which ruins the evening & also makes people think I must have crap equipment.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Because I can't relax & enjoy myself when there is a limiter, and I therefore can't give my best performance, and that's not fair on the clients.

Apart from that, I don't want to be at a gig where the music keeps cutting off which ruins the evening & also makes people think I must have crap equipment.

I agree and don't feel comfortable at all.

[djsteve10]

Some of the sound limiters that i have worked with have been badly fitted, There was one at a venue that i worked at and the limiters microphone was straight above the dancefloor and when we were doing come on eileen the guests stomping their feet and clapping aswell as the music sent the limiter over the edge and tripped the electric.

I felt so small that night but could only apologise.

[Sam]

Yup, a gig we did with a limiter when caput.. but they all clapped while we re-routed the power using our massive all weather extension cable lol.
Lessons learnt: if sound limiter.. try to get away with using a different socket.

[BeerFunk]

I'm seriously thinking of putting something on my website that I don't work in venues with limiters, and adding something to the terms & conditions stating that if, on arrival there is a sound limiter which I was not previously advised about, I could terminate the contract.

These things really are more trouble than they are worth.

If it means I lose a few bookings each year, so be it.Absolutely, I will not work with sound limiters, full stop.


This was a hot May day--off we go but half way through it became obvious NO one was taking any notice :eek: :eek: :eek:

Bride got upset realising the big moment was being ignored---despite plenty of vocal intro from myself--so she shouts out to me--cut it --well do it again later :bang: :confused: :confused: :confused:That's just plain rude - some friends she has! :mad:


I think we should remember that a lot of these venues wouldn't have entertainment licences granted to them if it wasn't for them installing these limiters. They are usually part of the licence conditions imposed at licencing hearings/reviews when the council/police have received complaints of excessive noise from nearby residents.

I'm not saying that I agree with them just that I can understand why they are installed. I'm sure the venues wouldn't fork out for them unless they were made to.That's fair enough, but I still won't work with them! C'est la vie.


First off I too hate sound limiters but hey chaps I am afraid we had better get used to them as they are here to stay and even increase.I'm not going to get used to them, but I can understand some of us won't be able to avoid them. Perhaps we need to come up with solutions...


We DON'T have to get used to them, though.

We can decide to flatly refuse to work in venues which have them, as I'm seriously considering.

If it means a few less bookings each year, so be it.Yes, although as I said, if you're running a business, you can't afford to turn away a top paying job because of a sound limiter in the venue.

Although, on the same token, if your music is way too quiet or cutting out - it is a terrible reflection on your business and reputation too.


Because I can't relax & enjoy myself when there is a limiter, and I therefore can't give my best performance, and that's not fair on the clients.

Apart from that, I don't want to be at a gig where the music keeps cutting off which ruins the evening & also makes people think I must have crap equipment.Yes, and the best DJs need piece of mind to concentrate on what they're doing - like cueing up in the headphones! :p

[rob1963]

Easy, Beerfunk...unless I'm mistaken, you agreed with me three times in the same post there!

Have you been drinking?

:rolleyes:

[rob1963]

if you're running a business, you can't afford to turn away a top paying job because of a sound limiter in the venue.

I can...and so can anyone else who isn't desperate for work!

:D

[robbiedj]

I have worked with them but never tripped one with the music. But the crowd singing and shouting has.

I have now got a clause in T&Cs stating "We reserve the right to refuse to play in venues fitted with a sound limiter". I always ask if there is one and like to find out where it is monitoring the volume from. One we saw was a microphone dangling from it's lead over the middle of the dance floor. Not a good idea I thought. naturally, Living On A Prayer = switch off.

My favourite one was a function room over a local pub. It tripped early on, turning of ALL the electricity, including downstairs. :whistle: The manager came up, said "Sorry, should have told you. The switch is behind you on the stage. Turn it off." My kind of man. :thumbs_up:

[BeerFunk]

Easy, Beerfunk...unless I'm mistaken, you agreed with me three times in the same post there!

Have you been drinking?

:rolleyes:I think you must have been drinking Rob, to post some sensible comments that I was able to agree with! :p


I can...and so can anyone else who isn't desperate for work!

:DWell yes, but I think you are in a similar boat to me, in that you don't have a family to support, and can be a bit more selective about what you take on?

[rob1963]

Well yes, but I think you are in a similar boat to me, in that you don't have a family to support, and can be a bit more selective about what you take on?

Very true.

:D

[Danno13]

Ok, so what do you do when the sound limiter is in the form of a member of staff who keeps coming over telling you its too loud, and the mic is too loud - the idiot even did this whilst I was trying to introduce the first dance too.. after I'd already told him I would turn it down after I'd done this.. as this was obviously quite important and needed everyones attention.

End result was barely above background level all night, nowhere near as good an atmosphere as there should have been.

And I'm back there again in August :(

[Steve the DJ]

No, a hall...just can't remember its name or which road it's in, but it's definately in Surbiton, and it has the worst limiter I've ever known.

It's not Glenmore House (http://www.smh-glenmorehouse.org.uk/contactdetails.html), The Surbiton Masonic Hall is it?

[rob1963]

It's not Glenmore House (http://www.smh-glenmorehouse.org.uk/contactdetails.html), The Surbiton Masonic Hall is it?

Well remembered FDDJ...that's the place! :D

I can honestly say that due to the ridiculously low level the limiter is set at, I would never work there again under ANY circumstances...even if I was offered £1,000...and that's the truth!

I take it you've also had the mis-fortune to work there?

Spill the beans!

:)

[Steve the DJ]

Well remembered FDDJ...that's the place! :D

I can honestly say that due to the ridiculously low level the limiter is set at, I would never work there again under ANY circumstances...even if I was offered £1,000...and that's the truth!

I take it you've also had the mis-fortune to work there?

Spill the beans!

:)

Not yet, I am booked for a Wedding there on the 21st June but the Bride neglected to mention the limiter...:bang:

I know they have just had a refurb so I think a call is in order to see if the limiter still lives!

[rob1963]

Not yet, I am booked for a Wedding there on the 21st June but the Bride neglected to mention the limiter...:bang:

I know they have just had a refurb so I think a call is in order to see if the limiter still lives!

Maybe the bride didn't ask them if there was a limiter.

To be honest, It's probably about 10 years since I worked there, so the limiter may well have been changed, moved or re-calibrated since then.

As already stated, it's the worst limiter I've ever had to work with, and I clearly remember having to play background music all night, resulting in not much of an atmosphere & very little dancing.

You definately need to speak to & possibly visit the venue, though, because things could be very different since I worked there.

Good luck!

:)

[Steve the DJ]

Maybe the bride didn't ask them if there was a limiter.

If there was one I would expect the venue to explain why it is there and what effect it will have when they are looking to book, but most of them don't.

In fact the only venue that I have found that does tell potential clients about the limiters (yes there are two!) is the Tithe Barn in Ditcham.


To be honest, It's probably about 10 years since I worked there, so the limiter may well have been changed, moved or re-calibrated since then.

I hope so, I have sent them an email as I want the response in writing...;)



You definately need to speak to & possibly visit the venue, though, because things could be very different since I worked there.

I was hoping to visit with the Bride & Groom in the next week or so but they no longer want/need to meet up so I'll see what the email says and then tell the wife I want to take her shopping to Kingston...:D



Good luck!

Thanks, I'll let you know what they say.

[rob1963]

I'll let you know what they say.

Thanks, I'll be interested to know.

:)

[djqacy]

Questions:

What is a sound limiter?
Is there a Regulation (European or British) that sound limiters must be placed in venues? Are these limiters at venues for years or recently?

We dont have any of these in our country, or not yet.

[soundtracker]

And I'm back there again in August :(

Where Dan - just in case!

[rob1963]

Questions:

What is a sound limiter?
Is there a Regulation (European or British) that sound limiters must be placed in venues? Are these limiters at venues for years or recently?

We dont have any of these in our country, or not yet.

Hi djqacy,

A sound limiter is a device which stops discos playing too loud & disturbing nearby residents by cutting off the power when the sound level reaches a pre-set limit.

It is not a regulation that they must be placed in all venues, but some establishments are told to fit them as a condition of their licence.

To be honest, there aren't many venues which have them, but the ones which do can be a pain, as there is no set standard, and they all cut off at different levels.

Also, they are all different as to when & how the power comes back. Some come back after 5-10 seconds, some are longer and some have to be manually re-set by an official at the venue.

These devices are not a recent thing. I'm pretty sure they have been around as long as I've been in the business, which is over 20 years.

Hope this helps.

:)

[DJ INDIE]

hi all,

ive had to deal with the problem of sound meters and limiters in the past - nightmare!

i feel for anyone who has had the first dance go wrong on them - its a heart stopping moment having to press 'play' for the first dance - never mind if it goes wrong! - good to hear you laughed it off and made light of it - thats all you can do at the end of the day!

the problem ive had with limiters (and i presume others have too) is that you can sound check beforehand quiet easily and not have the levels hit red - but its easy to forget that once the gig is in full full you can have 200 boozed up people adding their noise too (which is easy to forget about) so you hae to turn even lower! doh!

also from experience, if anyone uses laptops and MP3s they differ massively in frequency levels so any unexpected bass heavy track can really send the meter haywire - its good to have a bass eq cutter or a secondary flat EQ setting ready just in case - either a bypass on your mixer or on your laptop - very difficult to tell which songs are very bass heavy until theyre played loud!


theres some good advice in these threads - hope mine are of some use to someone?! cheers

[sleah]

you plug into another socket but then monitor it on the limiter which is still on.

Which defeats the object of why the venue has it installed, hence why you may well be banned from ever playing there again if they find out.
If it's a council venue, it may include a ban from any council venue.
If the venue manager suggests you plug in elsewhere then that's different, it's their responsibility then, but DJ's can't just blantently disregard venue rules.


you dont go any louder, you just ensure your power is not cut.

But if you are going to monitor as closely as if you were connected to the limiter, you may as well be connected to it.......:rolleyes:


its not our fault.

Errr.... actually it IS OUR fault! Well, maybe not YOUR fault or MY fault, but as an industry it is our fault.
OK, so maybe not quite that simple and straight forward, but we are the ones making the noise! so it's only fair to at least try to co-operate with the rest of the community.:)

Don't get me wrong, I hate sound limiters. I also take the view that where a venue has one set so low it means a party isn't a party, then the venue should not be hosting music based entertainment events.:mad:

My view is to firstly avoid venues with limiters, and secondly if you do play at such a venue, get your digital systems protected with a UPS.:cool:

The rest of the kit should be able to survive power cycling.
I don't think trying to make 3rd parties responsible for damages is likely to work. You can't sue the national grid when there is a power outage, they just tell you to have power protection or take the risk!
Provided you are made aware of a limiter then I think it is your risk:(

[Steve the DJ]

Thanks, I'll be interested to know.

Well after two chases Mr Personality Bypass from the venue has called to discuss my PLI (all sorted) and the limiter.

He decided to tell me that yes they do have a limiter set at 100 decibels and the usual people that "do" the venue know how to keep the right level so it was my problem if I couldn't.

I said it wasn't an issue, I just needed to explain to the client how it may effect the overall volume at her function and that any requests by her guests to "turn it up" would need to be graciously declined.

Well, he said, we will not be dictated to by the clients as we have our licence and that is that. :eek:

No one said you would I thought, I have the inkling we have a cracking jobs worth here! :bang:

Our conversation continued...

Him: What time will you be setting up?

Me: About 6 PM, just after the Wedding Breakfast.

Him: We want you to set up before they arrive.

Me: The client doesn't want to pay for me to be on site from 2 PM, so they have asked me to set up in the turnaround.

Him: Hmmm....whatever.

I am looking forward to a cracking night methinks... :whistle:

[rob1963]

Well after two chases Mr Personality Bypass from the venue has called to discuss my PLI (all sorted) and the limiter.

He decided to tell me that yes they do have a limiter set at 100 decibels and the usual people that "do" the venue know how to keep the right level so it was my problem if I couldn't.

I said it wasn't an issue, I just needed to explain to the client how it may effect the overall volume at her function and that any requests by her guests to "turn it up" would need to be graciously declined.

Well, he said, we will not be dictated to by the clients as we have our licence and that is that. :eek:

No one said you would I thought, I have the inkling we have a cracking jobs worth here! :bang:

Our conversation continued...

Him: What time will you be setting up?

Me: About 6 PM, just after the Wedding Breakfast.

Him: We want you to set up before they arrive.

Me: The client doesn't want to pay for me to be on site from 2 PM, so they have asked me to set up in the turnaround.

Him: Hmmm....whatever.

I am looking forward to a cracking night methinks... :whistle:

Thanks for the update.

Despite what he said, be prepared for a gig where even playing at background levels trips the limiter.

After the gig, I'm expecting you to refuse to ever work at the venue again (as I did...the only venue I've said that for!), unless of course the limiter HAS been adjusted since my last gig there...although I wouldn't hold your breath!

Good luck.

:)

[Steve the DJ]

Thanks, although I am adding the venue to my blacklist because of this idiot anyway!

When I finally managed to get the person who answered the phone to understand who I was asking for I had to spend time chatting to Mr Jobsworth Happy B%*$@#&s who appears to be so far up his own that he must have trouble seeing daylight. :cool:

I haven't got the time nor the inclination to waste my life placating people with such a serious case of delusional self importance.

[CRAZY K]

If there was one I would expect the venue to explain why it is there and what effect it will have when they are looking to book, but most of them don't.

In fact the only venue that I have found that does tell potential clients about the limiters (yes there are two!) is the Tithe Barn in Ditcham.



I hope so, I have sent them an email as I want the response in writing...;)



I was hoping to visit with the Bride & Groom in the next week or so but they no longer want/need to meet up so I'll see what the email says and then tell the wife I want to take her shopping to Kingston...:D



Thanks, I'll let you know what they say.

Isnt it more likely Rob that the limiter would be at a lower level now--allowing for the way local Councils are restricting sound incidents.

Friend of mine got a letter from the Council cos his young son HAS ALLEGEDLY been playing his electric guitar a bit too loud!!

No mention of who complained---but his house is SEMI -DETATCHED :rolleyes:

:D :D :D :D :D :D :D

CRAZY K

[Richard Veal]

I have had a sound limiter spoil a first dance - well sort of - The guests cheered as they entered and tripped the limiter.

After i told them that too much enjoyment was forbidden everything was fine (joke)

[DJ Sheppy]

Because I can't relax & enjoy myself when there is a limiter, and I therefore can't give my best performance, and that's not fair on the clients.

Apart from that, I don't want to be at a gig where the music keeps cutting off which ruins the evening & also makes people think I must have crap equipment.

Well said........ Its impossible to relax and give of your best when you are waiting for the power to cut at any moment. And yes people always point and s****** at the power cut assuming you must be at fault. Ive never been one for having the music ear splitting but have done venues where the loudest you could go was background music. Totally useless, I understand why some venues have these limiters but something should be dne about the way they are set up. At a recent venue i was told by someone in charge " under no circumstances use the limiter its just for show. Plug into that and you wont play one song. He was right as i tested it by coughing and it went right off the scale. However other venues leave no choice but to plug through the limiter and i have noticed some where there are no longer any plugs near to plug into instead. One venue i did the band playing upstairs( with no limiter ) sent the limiter in the other function room downstairs of the scale.

[Steve the DJ]

Despite what he said, be prepared for a gig where even playing at background levels trips the limiter.

After the gig, I'm expecting you to refuse to ever work at the venue again (as I did...the only venue I've said that for!), unless of course the limiter HAS been adjusted since my last gig there...although I wouldn't hold your breath!

Good luck.

:)

Update for Rob:

Well yesterday evening the Wedding took place at this venue (Glenmore House) and I came face to face with the "dreaded limiter".

It is certainly old and could well have been there when you were, but it wasn't as vicious as I suspected. I ran 2 12" active tops and a 15" active sub and had a good level of volume on the dancefloor throughout the night.

The limiter did trip twice, but this was due to the guests singing (Living On A Prayer & New York, New York) rather than the volume I was playing at.

I was typically professional upon arrival despite my poor experience on the phone to the venue management (I expected the worst jobsworths ever) but they were in fact very polite, helpful and actually good fun.

The night itself was excellent and probably one of the best gigs I have done (for personal enjoyment) in ages. All in all the venue is a bit fiddly in terms of initial access and with the limiter you are at the mercy of the crowd but it isn't too bad.

Would I work there again? Yes I think I would. Any venue that has mini TV screens built into the beer pumps is OK by me...:D

[rob1963]

Update for Rob:

Well yesterday evening the Wedding took place at this venue (Glenmore House) and I came face to face with the "dreaded limiter".

It is certainly old and could well have been there when you were, but it wasn't as vicious as I suspected. I ran 2 12" active tops and a 15" active sub and had a good level of volume on the dancefloor throughout the night.

The limiter did trip twice, but this was due to the guests singing (Living On A Prayer & New York, New York) rather than the volume I was playing at.

I was typically professional upon arrival despite my poor experience on the phone to the venue management (I expected the worst jobsworths ever) but they were in fact very polite, helpful and actually good fun.

The night itself was excellent and probably one of the best gigs I have done (for personal enjoyment) in ages. All in all the venue is a bit fiddly in terms of initial access and with the limiter you are at the mercy of the crowd but it isn't too bad.

Would I work there again? Yes I think I would. Any venue that has mini TV screens built into the beer pumps is OK by me...:D

Thanks for the update.

They've clearly adjusted the limiter since I last worked there, as your report was very different to what I was expecting.

I'm glad to hear you had a good one!

:D

[nigelwright7557]

Tonight I had a wedding at a nice hotel on Wimbledon Common (right near the Wombles home!) called Cannizaro House. Since I was last there, They've acquired a new toy...a sound limiter :bang:

It was the type where you plug into a special socket on the wall, and it has a green LED, a couple of amber ones & three red ones - and when the third red one comes on, you wave au revoir to the power for about 10 seconds.

I hate these things, so was careful to play at a low volume, but this thing seemed to have a mind of its own. Most of the time I had just the green LED on, and occasionally the first amber one...then the LEDs would gradually come on all the way up to the third red one, and off went the power.

By the time this happened for the fourth time, I was really wound up, so I went to the socket, unplugged my power block & plugged it into a normal socket on the wall. This resulted in the lights on the limiter still working, but the socket I was now plugged into did not cut off, so at least the last 45 minutes went well, and I enjoyed it more, as I was able to relax.

What made things worse was that the first time the limiter tripped was right in the middle of the first dance...the one time where it's crucial for things to go without a hitch. I apologised, re-cued the track & played it again at an even lower volume.

This was the first time I've had something go wrong during the first dance, and it got me thinking...

...have any of YOU had something go wrong right at the beginning of / in the middle of the first dance, such as the power going off, the track refusing to play, the track suddenly stopping or maybe your part of your equipment packing up?

I'm hoping some of you HAVE, because then I won't feel so bad about tonight!


Many many years ago I did a disco in a local village hall.
We had just got started when I walked over to move a speaker and tripped over the speaker lead and pulled it out shorting the amp.
It blew the fuses in the amp. Luckily I had packed some spares so replaced the fuses and off we went again.
I stopped using jack sockets after that and started using American mains plugs for my speakers.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Or you could have been a bit more careful taping cable down.

[nigelwright7557]

Or you could have been a bit more careful taping cable down.

I am too tight to buy tape !

[theoloyla]

I am too tight to buy tape !
Why does that not surprise me.:confused: :)

[CRAZY K]

Many many years ago I did a disco in a local village hall.
We had just got started when I walked over to move a speaker and tripped over the speaker lead and pulled it out shorting the amp.
It blew the fuses in the amp. Luckily I had packed some spares so replaced the fuses and off we went again.
I stopped using jack sockets after that and started using American mains plugs for my speakers.

You just need to sharpen up a bit---thats why I play competitive League Table Tennis even at my age:D :D :D

CRAZY K

[theoloyla]

You just need to sharpen up a bit---thats why I play competitive League Table Tennis even at my age:D :D :D

CRAZY K
Do you really!? Now there's something I didnt know.