Kids at Weddings

[scoopd]

I think I mentioned on here somehere that I had 27 kids at a wedding I did last week and today I noticed this:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/7494823.stm

[mikeee]

This is not new. The weddings I have done, in the last 15 years at least, only a dozen or so weddings have aloud children.

[rob1963]

I think I mentioned on here somehere that I had 27 kids at a wedding I did last week and today I noticed this:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/7494823.stm

My personal view is that young kids should be banned from weddings.

There are several reasons for this:

They often seem to run around sliding on the dancefloor - only stopping within inches of the disco gear, parents regularly have to chase after them when they wander outside, they often talk/cry during the speeches (ruining it for everyone else, as they can't hear properly), and they probably don't understand or appreciate what's going on anyway...so what's the point?

I think that a lot of the time the only reason parents take them is because it saves the hassle of having to sort out/pay a baby sitter.

If I had a small kid and was invited to a wedding, I certainly wouldn't take them with me. It would give me a nice break and less stress. I'd therefore be able to relax & enjoy the proceedings more.

Edit: I have nothing against kids...just badly behaved & young kids at weddings.

[Sapphire Disco]

It's no place for a young goat to be :D

[nigelwright7557]

I think I mentioned on here somehere that I had 27 kids at a wedding I did last week and today I noticed this:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/7494823.stm

Kids are fine as long as they are supervised and behave themselves.

I have actually unplugged my disco once when things got out of hand with kids. They were running about on the stage and knocking into things and tripping over wires. Even an announcement from me was ignored by the parents. So I left the disco off until the client came to ask what was wrong.
I told him and he chased all the kids off the stage and told them to stay away. I then carried on.

A couple of weeks later I did another family disco and the kids were great.
They were well behaved and never went near my gear.

Some parents allow their kids to run wild while others supervise their kids properly.

[Impactdisco]

When our children were small, if we couldn't get a babysitter, we wouldn't go to a party/wedding or whatever.
There's no enjoyment in spending the whole time making sure your offspring are behaving and then having the misery of them getting overtired and crying because they want to go to bed.

[Dragonfly]

my opinion is people take kids to weddings because they have no intention of staying and "little johnny is a bit tired" is a good excuse to leave.....


I now make sure I address this problem at gigs ...... with the children ;) :D :D :D :D :D :D :D

[yourdj]

Did one on Sat and there were no children and no old people. Average age 32. nice change. got away with an old school dance set at the end!

Only problem was the sound limiter cut out the first dance three times, so i moved the plug and started again.

[rob1963]

Kids are fine as long as they are supervised and behave themselves.

That's the whole problem, as much of the time they're not & they don't!


When our children were small, if we couldn't get a babysitter, we wouldn't go to a party/wedding or whatever.
There's no enjoyment in spending the whole time making sure your offspring are behaving and then having the misery of them getting overtired and crying because they want to go to bed.

I couldn't agree more.


my opinion is people take kids to weddings because they have no intention of staying and "little johnny is a bit tired" is a good excuse to leave.....

You old cynic, Dave!

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

We've done this thread already and you can't posssibly generalise about kids and say they are all badly behaved and noisy at weddings.

And to say they shouldn't be at weddings is ridiculous. Weddings are family occasions. I don't particularly like kids skidding about and being noisy etc, but you can't not have them there.

[rob1963]

We've done this thread already and you can't posssibly generalise about kids and say they are all badly behaved and noisy at weddings.

I agree, which is why I didn't say they are ALL badly behaved.

However, in my experience I find they OFTEN are.


And to say they shouldn't be at weddings is ridiculous.

It's not ridiculous, it's just some people's opinion...and for some good, practical & sensible reasons.

We'll agree to disagree on this one.

:)

[scoopd]

The thing is when there's a few kids and they are all well behaved it's fine and fun for everyone.It's just the one's who don't behave but then that's the same for the adults!

[Shaun]

If there's a lot of kids at weddings I'll use the early part of the night to keep them entertained (with the B&G's permission). A few silly dances, some glow-sticks and a game or two is usually enough to keep the kids amused. After the 'kids' activities I'll announce on the mic that we'll be having the first dance shortly, and could the parents of the children keep the kids away from the dance floor for the time being.

I've found that if you get involved and entertain the kids early on, the parents really appreciate it and make more of an effort to control their rug-rats later on.

[rob1963]

I've found that if you get involved and entertain the kids early on, the parents really appreciate it and make more of an effort to control their rug-rats later on.

That's fine, except I'm not a kids entertainer, and have no desire to be!

I'll leave that to the experts!

:D

[Shaun]

That's fine, except I'm not a kids entertainer, and have no desire to be!

I'll leave that to the experts!

:D
Neither am I, I don't even do kids parties. However, I'll do whatever it takes to make the brides day perfect. If that means tiring the little demons out...then so be it.

[rob1963]

Neither am I, I don't even do kids parties. However, I'll do whatever it takes to make the brides day perfect. If that means tiring the little demons out...then so be it.

Rather you than me!

[JAMdisco]

I blame the parents :D :D :p :p :D :D

[ppentertainments]

Simple answer :confused:

If you don't like kids at weddings don't take the bookings.

I can't see why the big discussion about this. At the end of the day if you don't like it then don't do it !!

If you find all your bookings are weddings with kids - look for a different job or market to a different field where kids will not be present.

Yes I agree kids can be a handful but I have only ever had problem with kids at one wedding and that was when they touched my kit when left after an early setup. I do try to entertain the kids but I market myself as an all rounder and even offer to play kids tunes at the beginning of the night when everyone is arriving - and the time of night the kids get bored.

[rob1963]

If you don't like kids at weddings don't take the bookings.

I DO like kids at weddings.

I just don't like unsupervised ones or badly behaved ones, of which there seem to be quite a few.


I can't see why the big discussion about this.

It's not a BIG discussion, just a normal discussion as far as I can see...just like on any of the other threads.

As for WHY...because that's what this forum is FOR, discussing things to do with the industry we work in...isn't it?


At the end of the day if you don't like it then don't do it !!

With all due respect, I think that's rather naive.

EVERY job will have some aspects that people don't like, but there is no point is finding another job...as that job will also have aspects which people don't like.

For example, I'm sure none of us are too keen about lugging lots of big heavy equipment up stairs, through corridoors, kitchens etc to a function room & then spending an hour or more setting it all up...only to have to pack it all away again a few hours later.

I'm also sure none of us like it when drunk punters come up & give us abuse.

Do either of these things mean we need to get a different job?

Of course not!

[yourdj]

That's fine, except I'm not a kids entertainer, and have no desire to be!

I'll leave that to the experts!

:D

I love kids but i hate badly behaved kids.

On this disco the kids were wipping me with balloons. the parents were in a seperate room with the door closed and did not care. The youngest was lucky the speaker did not fall over when setting up and give him brain damage as he was being really in your face.

This was early on in my wedding experience. I only do the posh gigs now.

i carry a cordon rope and sign in the trailer if i come across a problem.

They even started eating the bloody cake and pullling down the decorations - If i did that at that age i would be killed - actually i would not have dared!!! :eek:

I normally give them a sheet of paper and do track selections and all, but i am not a children's entertainer! If i charged a bit more for weddings then fine but Im not!

Don't believe me? See here:

http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=-7862862425269578660&q=&hl=un

ps; the groom nutted someone at the end !!

[rob1963]

I love kids but i hate badly behaved kids.

Same here.


the parents were in a seperate room with the door closed and did not care.

That's half the problem.

They should get a dictionary & try looking up the word "discipline"

These days, the schools aren't ALLOWED to discipline children (or they get done for assault)...so if the PARENTS don't discipline them, we're stuffed!

[yourdj]

:D[/QUOTE]


Same here.



That's half the problem.

They should get a dictionary & try looking up the word "discipline"

These days, the schools aren't ALLOWED to discipline children (or they get done for assault)...so if the PARENTS don't discipline them, we're stuffed!

my girlfriends a teacher and has to go through all sorts of things. some kids need a good clip round the ear :) although good discipline from the beginning would be better :)

[Mayhem 1]

I guess I will be shot down in flames for this but here goes gentlemen.

A wedding day can be a very long day for the adults let alone a child so when it comes round to the reception they are bored.

I would always liase with the B&G for permission to get the kids away from the adults for their own little bit of entertainment it gives the parents a break so they can have a drink and a chat plus it makes the kids feel part of the day.

I know this is easy for me to say this because as you know children's entertainment is my speciality but...........

At the beginning of any kids slot at a wedding reception you get them sat down and explain to them that you are looking for the "Bestist boy and girl" (sorry kids party talk there lol) and who ever is the best you will introduce them to all the grown ups later.

To be the bestist they have got to 1) stay away from the equipment 2) do a lot of joining in and 3) enjoy their special bit of the evening.

Follow this with A few silly dances and maybe a game and the end of which you dispatch them (WALKING) to the bring the adults up for the last party dance.

You then line them up in two lines (kids in front and adults behind) and with the kids pointing at the grown ups they say this:-

"Grown Up's"
"Will you do me a favour"
"Please Join in with me"
"On the next party dance"
"If you do that will be great"
"If you don’t that will be sad"
"IIIIIIIIIIIF You don’t join in"
"YOU are a party pooper"
"IIIIIIIIIIIF You don’t join in"
"You've got to give me lots of money"
"But most important"
"Very important"
"If you don’t join in"
"You don’t love me"

This is followed by loads of oooh’s & smiling from the adults and you then go into the party dance.

But if you think about it what you have now is a dance floor with both adults and kids and you just slip into a "Family Dance" for them all telling the adults that you are looking for the best & happiest family you should find things go well after this.

Sorry for the long post but I have given this info out to local DJ's to me before and they has said it works very well but even if you are not into entertaining children, if you try something a bit different like the above you will find that the adults will love it.

I hope that this post may help you.