Ungrateful guests etc...

[Shakermaker Promotions]

Hi all,

I've mentioned something like this before but I wanted to touch on it again after last nights wedding...

When I had my meeting with the bride and groom a few weeks back, the bride explained to me when going through the Do and Don't plays that if it was at all possible, could I not play any Abba. I told her that of course I would do my best as it was her day and she could have whatever she wanted but to also take into account that there may well be requests for Abba because they are one of the bands that someone will always ask for at a wedding. She was fine with that and explained that she works with handicapped children who all love Abba so she hears them 5 days a week and is sick of them!! (I don't blame her).

Anyway, I started at 7.30pm and within seconds of 'Beautiful Day' by U2 starting, some hippo in a dress 3 sizes too small comes up and says "Oi..Play 'Mama Mia' mate!"... I thought "Here we go" so leant over towards her and said.."I will later on no problem but not right now if that's ok as it's not a favourite of the bride and groom, bear with me"...She stormed off shaking her head. After that everything was fine and there were about 10 bridesmaids all around 6 years old so I played to them at the start doing songs with actions in, funnily enough....the dancefloor was full up with everyone joining in.

Halfway through the night I needed to go to the loo and on my way, I pass 'Hippo Woman' and around 4 clones of her too..."DJ! DJ!" she shouted.."Hold on, I'll be back in a second" I replied. As I was on my way back, she ran up to me and shouted "Where's 'Mama Mia then?"....I explained once again that I would try and get it on for her but it wasn't a favourite of the bride and groom and it was their day and I wanted to keep them happy"... I couldn't actually believe what I heard next!!!!....

"Stuff them (word changed to avoid censorship)...it's our party too..." she said. I shook my head and said.. "That is really rude". I can't believe that she had the cheek to say something like that. Especially when she and all the other guests had been scoffing on the buffet like they had never seen food before plus they had free wine all night etc etc...To actually say something like that about someone who is supposed to be their friend is in my view, absolutely outrageous. I thought to myself "There's no chance you are getting flippin' 'Mama Mia' now you ungrateful....." but later on a little girl (bridesmaid) came up with her mum all shy and said it was her favourite song so I played it for her. The dancefloor was full and funnily enough, the bride and groom danced to it even after I announced on the mic "Put your earplugs in".

It was a great night with a full dancefloor most of the night and everyone was up for it but it was what Missus Hippo and her mates that said that made me quite angry.

Just wanted to get that off my chest - Anyone had the same thing happen?

[501damian501]

some people just dont appreciate these days, or too narrow minded to get things into their NUMB SKULLS

[leighinstoke]

In the great scheme of life, people forget the little cost of manners.

I always say "Please?" if I get requests without manners and expect 'Thank You'.

[spin mobile disco]

Always happens, last night iwas asked by the bride and groom not to play any cheesy music at all. They included a list ..cha cha slide, ymca , macarena etc. And of course 10 minutes in can we have the cha cha slide mate.
No sorry, oh how about macarena then? nope , ymca lol no and had to explain the list to them.
I don't mind when the bride and groom give you a printed list of what not to play as you can show it to the trouble makers as proof.

[djsteve10]

I had a wedding a few years back and they had requested serious indie such as The Seahorses ect, was playing all the requests and the dancefloor was dead so i started playing some 80s and hey presto the floor was rammed, then the sister of the groom came up "we didnt ask for this :Censored: we are paying you so we will play what we want you to play, so i replied and explained about her guests and she was rather rude back to me with alot of swearing, so i carried on with the 80s music as the groom was up dancing aswell as over 100 people, the woman came back up and grabbed hold of me and started swearing at me, so i pulled the volume off and told her if she doesn't back off then the music won't be going back on and she can explain it to the guests as well as the bride and groom for wrecking their day, she soon walked off.

[Shakermaker Promotions]

I still think we have a hard job doing what we do. We are stuck in the middle all of the time because obviously we want to make sure that the Bride and Groom, whom at the end of the day are the most important, get exactly what they want on their big day etc etc but I still think we need to educate them in that they need to realise that it's a day of celebration for them but also a party for themselves and their guests. They obviously want their guests to enjoy themselves and specific playlists should have room for adjustments. I would have loved to have had a playlist consisting of Indie/Alternative tracks all night at my wedding and I know a lot of my guests would have enjoyed it but it's the relatives and everyone else that I know wouldn't have been that keen. It was mine and my wife's day but we wanted everyone to have a good time...and that's how I think everyone should think.

Also, I can't say it enough.... everytime we play we are there advertising ourselves and there are potential follow on bookings if it goes well. If Brides and Grooms stick to their guns and say "No way, we definitely do not want such and such a song under any circumstances..." then sometimes it can make us look not as good and also....I actually think it can make us look rude sometimes.
Take 'Spin's' example from last night - If someone came up to me and rattled off 4 songs in a row and I turned them all down because the bride and groom didn't want to hear them, I would think that the person that asked for them would walk off thinking that I aint really that great or co-operative.

Some guests DO understand the situation we are in but some clearly don't... I was actually lucky last night because the Bride and Groom stated in the pre wedding meeting that they didn't want any Abba or Bryan Adams...I told them that I had various requests for both and they said "Go for it then"...so I did. The bride and groom last night put their trust in me and said "You're the expert"...at the end of the night they couldn't praise me enough so job done.

People think what we do is easy - It is....and it isn't.

[Andy Westcott]

What can I say, other than that I agree?

Rude people are about the only thing that would make me decide to give up this line of work. They can utterly spoil an evening for the DJ, and that is likely to be noticed by the audience. Ban all rude hippos, I say!

[rob1963]

What can I say, other than that I agree?

Rude people are about the only thing that would make me decide to give up this line of work. They can utterly spoil an evening for the DJ, and that is likely to be noticed by the audience. Ban all rude hippos, I say!

:thumbsup:

[theoloyla]

Yet again another example of the lack of respect nowadays. Sad.

[Shaun]

had one of those types of guests last night, funnily enough.

The B&G stated that no slows songs were to be played except at the beginning and end of the evening. Mid-way through a guy comes up asking for a slow song, and I explained the B&G's wishes. "Just put one :Censored: on NEXT!

Charming I thought! I just turned my back on him and got back to the job at hand. He stood for about a minute afterwards waiting on a reply....he didn't get one. I've no time for idiots.

[rob1963]

had one of those types of guests last night, funnily enough.
.


:jawdrop:

[Andy Westcott]

You and your smutty thoughts... :)

[CRAZY K]

Hi all,

I've mentioned something like this before but I wanted to touch on it again after last nights wedding...

When I had my meeting with the bride and groom a few weeks back, the bride explained to me when going through the Do and Don't plays that if it was at all possible, could I not play any Abba. I told her that of course I would do my best as it was her day and she could have whatever she wanted but to also take into account that there may well be requests for Abba because they are one of the bands that someone will always ask for at a wedding. She was fine with that and explained that she works with handicapped children who all love Abba so she hears them 5 days a week and is sick of them!! (I don't blame her).

Anyway, I started at 7.30pm and within seconds of 'Beautiful Day' by U2 starting, some hippo in a dress 3 sizes too small comes up and says "Oi..Play 'Mama Mia' mate!"... I thought "Here we go" so leant over towards her and said.."I will later on no problem but not right now if that's ok as it's not a favourite of the bride and groom, bear with me"...She stormed off shaking her head. After that everything was fine and there were about 10 bridesmaids all around 6 years old so I played to them at the start doing songs with actions in, funnily enough....the dancefloor was full up with everyone joining in.

Halfway through the night I needed to go to the loo and on my way, I pass 'Hippo Woman' and around 4 clones of her too..."DJ! DJ!" she shouted.."Hold on, I'll be back in a second" I replied. As I was on my way back, she ran up to me and shouted "Where's 'Mama Mia then?"....I explained once again that I would try and get it on for her but it wasn't a favourite of the bride and groom and it was their day and I wanted to keep them happy"... I couldn't actually believe what I heard next!!!!....

"Stuff them (word changed to avoid censorship)...it's our party too..." she said. I shook my head and said.. "That is really rude". I can't believe that she had the cheek to say something like that. Especially when she and all the other guests had been scoffing on the buffet like they had never seen food before plus they had free wine all night etc etc...To actually say something like that about someone who is supposed to be their friend is in my view, absolutely outrageous. I thought to myself "There's no chance you are getting flippin' 'Mama Mia' now you ungrateful....." but later on a little girl (bridesmaid) came up with her mum all shy and said it was her favourite song so I played it for her. The dancefloor was full and funnily enough, the bride and groom danced to it even after I announced on the mic "Put your earplugs in".

It was a great night with a full dancefloor most of the night and everyone was up for it but it was what Missus Hippo and her mates that said that made me quite angry.

Just wanted to get that off my chest - Anyone had the same thing happen?

I understand the problem--you have to decide where your loyalties lie--
the client who pays you or the partygoers and thats been discussed on here a fair bit maybe theres an old thread someone can dig up--I cetainly gave a lot of input last time:D

Personally I go with the client every time BUT there are times when you have to tell the client a few home truths and I wont go there very specifically, however in view of the huge publicity from the massive success of the musical ( I have been myself ) plus the launch of the film I guess that Mama Mia is going to be requested a fair bit now?

Im surprised the Bride didnt think this---being so in tune with Abba:eek:

Im glad the B and G gave you the ok to take the party on to success--they obviously didnt know their guests as well as they thought they did!

Luckily I havent had people being rude--maybe they think im going to pistol whip them--like a real Cowboy would :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D

CRAZY K

[nigelwright7557]

This often happens where there are different groups who like different types of music.

I did a 60th birthday party and the kids kept asking for new stuff while the birthday girl wanted 60's music.
I played about a dozen 60's songs then played on new one and the birthday ame storming up and told me to get the new stuff off as she wanted to dance to 60's music.

While she wasnt the paying client she was the center of the party so I did as she said.

[Shakermaker Promotions]

It's funny really isn't it...I mean, I'm no puppet and I won't be told what I can and can't do but when it comes to the person that's paying your wages for the night then really you are a puppet and you DO do what they want you to, to some extent. I have no time for rude people either and as soon as someone is rude to me, guest or paying client...I turn off. I always try to be as professional as possible but I don't take any rubbish off people day to day and I won't take it when I am doing the job I love doing. I like to think that I know what I am doing and that I can pass on my experience and expertise to them so that they have a great function...most times they will listen, sometimes they have their own ideas and in the end they come round to that but once in a blue moon (and very very rarely), they may have their own ways of how they think the night should go and won't compromise and so there is nothing that I can do. It's uncomfortable and not nice but it doesn't happen that often.

[PropellerHeadCase]

Sadly, the 'Stuff the B&G I/WE want this song' club have a very large paid up membership. I reckon I get that comment, or something similar (maybe not uite so rude) at 10% of gigs.

[Vectis]

Where the host has made their preferences known (ie in about 90% of gigs) I'll make a point of announcing at the beginning of the night that we're working to a playlist of XXXs favourites but we're happy to take similar requests from the floor - and we'll try to "slip them in if we can" - whilst waving a couple of sheets of paper around as a visual cue.

Occasionally you get someone trying to stretch a boundary - good example recently being B&G had said 'No Country Music' but guest wanted Country Music. So they took the list away and came back 10 minutes having deliberated later with "OK - please play 9 to 5"! :D

The most annoying are quite simply those who come up and ask for totally inappropriate stuff (as already mentioned) eg. Soulja Boy at a silver wedding :bang:

[Penfold42]

It's amazing what alcohol can do!

Still no need for it..:)

[Shaun]

It's amazing what alcohol can do!

Still no need for it..:)

[SPITS OUT COFFEE]

What do you mean there's no need for alcohol?. :eek: :eek:


:d

[Penfold42]

[SPITS OUT COFFEE]
Coffee....yeah right, it's passed 11 o'beer time....:ph34r: :D


What do you mean there's no need for alcohol?. :eek: :eek:

You know what I mean.........:handbag:

I believe no one would be that rude with out a drink or three inside them and if they are, well they don't deserve friends.....

[CRAZY K]

Where the host has made their preferences known (ie in about 90% of gigs) I'll make a point of announcing at the beginning of the night that we're working to a playlist of XXXs favourites but we're happy to take similar requests from the floor - and we'll try to "slip them in if we can" - whilst waving a couple of sheets of paper around as a visual cue.

Occasionally you get someone trying to stretch a boundary - good example recently being B&G had said 'No Country Music' but guest wanted Country Music. So they took the list away and came back 10 minutes having deliberated later with "OK - please play 9 to 5"! :D

The most annoying are quite simply those who come up and ask for totally inappropriate stuff (as already mentioned) eg. Soulja Boy at a silver wedding :bang:

My view would be that 9 to 5, Dance the Night Away and Achy Breaky Heart have crossed over into general Party/Disco music so I wouldnt really say you breached the clients requirements playing Dolly---the backing to the track certainly isnt Country:D

Now if you played something a bit off beat like I wont go Huntin with you Jake--but ill go chasin women :) then maybe your in trouble
:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D

CRAZY K

[Vectis]

My view would be that 9 to 5, Dance the Night Away and Achy Breaky Heart have crossed over into general Party/Disco music so I wouldnt really say you breached the clients requirements playing Dolly---the backing to the track certainly isnt Country:D

Now if you played something a bit off beat like I wont go Huntin with you Jake--but ill go chasin women :) then maybe your in trouble
:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D

CRAZY K


Hmmm... not sure I'd agree with Achy Breaky Heart....

Although I am partial to introducing 9 to 5 as "one of Dolly Parton's biggest hits" :D :D ... usually gets a smile, but depends on the crowd of course! :p

[Impactdisco]

Now if you played something a bit off beat like I wont go Huntin with you Jake--but ill go chasin women :) then maybe your in trouble
:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D

CRAZY K

Hate country, love that song. Got it by Jimmy Dean - Classic!

[DK Karaoke]

I was doing a standard Karaoke disco recently, not a big function or anything, playing to those that like 70's to 80's stuff, and popular chart stuff.

Anyway, this young kid, say around 18-19 year old, who was drunk, just came over and ripped out the cables on the back of my players and mixer amp, saying "I don't want this :Censored:"

It all happened so fast, and I was not expecting anything like this, so couldn't prevent it. I went absolutely berserk. Stopped the show, and announced over the Mic, 'If my gear is broken, you are going to be liable, and I want that jerk removed" and said other stuff, but don't want to repeat here.

Anyway to cut a long story short, the landlord and other punters ganged up on him, and moved him outside. The next time, I went there - just recently, the same kid, came up to me. I didn't recognise him, as he was totally different, being sober, and he profusely apologised for his behaviour.

You see all sorts in our business.