Shakermaker Promotions
23-03-2009, 01:45 PM
Hi all,
Not sure why they call it that but I had one this weekend. I was invited to my sister in law's wedding just outside Norwich and it was the usual scenario. I would have liked to have worked but they wanted me there as a guest so along I went. I had it firmly in my mind that I would observe and try to enjoy the night as much as I could. I've been back home now for about an hour and to be honest, I was itching to write this review the moment I left the wedding.
So, we turn up at 7.00pm (for a 7.30pm start), and my wife goes off to sort out her sisters dress etc. I go to the bar but can't resist having a nose about around the function room. Quite a big function room actually and looking very nice however....where was the Disco? After a couple of minutes I noticed a big wooden box by the side of the dancefloor. On the front of it was the name of the hotel and there was a circle of spotlights on the front of the box surrounding the name. I walked over and looked behind the box and the amp, mixer and Denon 4500 were all embedded into it. The box also had 3 drawers which housed the DJ's CD's (noticed that later). The only lights were 2 x Twister III's which were up high either side of the console and the speakers (didn't see the make of them), were on the floor and not on stands. There were leads everywhere and not taped down and to me, it looked terrible.
Anyway, the DJ appeared from nowhere and started playing chart music as background music. There were a few kids there so they got up and slid acros the dancefloor or did little dance routines. The sound was surprisingly ok at the time. Whenever the DJ spoke on the mic though, he sounded muffled and the way he 'mixed' some of the tracks wasn't that great if I am honest. No'one seemed to notice but obviously I did.
The DJ was smart in appearance, shirt, trousers and shoes and seemed ok but he was nipping off every 10 minutes or so (not sure where?) and there were times when he had his hands in his pockets, looking bored. I was taking all of this and imagined myself standing there and how I act and come across. I found myself comparing us both. There were a number of times when members of the family asked me "What do you think?" and I said "He's ok". The age group of the guests was varied but there were quite a few 30/40 somethings. I think he got to the stage where he finally sussed out what they liked when everyone got up to Macarena. It was then that he went through the cheesy stage and it worked. I was sat with my brother in law and got 6 songs correctly predicted in a row.
Overall, I would say that he was ok. On first impressions I thought "Oh my god" when I saw the equipment but then gave him the benefit of the doubt as it was the hotels in-house equipment. I said to someone that it didn't matter what the gear was like, if he was good then it would outshine it.
Talking to family afterwards, they all seemed to think he did a good job and that he got people up dancing, which he did. I think it was simply ok but I will also take into consideration that I know what I am doing and the guests don't. Most of them didn't have a clue and were just there for a boogie. None of them would've noticed half of the things that I did (hands in the pockets etc) and it made me think (although I will NOT change) that maybe sometimes I worry too much.
I also wanted to say that I went with every intention of maybe learning something from whoever was DJing but I didn't see or learn anything new or different from what I do and to be honest, I thought that I was much better but then again, I am going to say that aren't I?...Honestly though...No, I wouldn't because anything that helps make me better is welcomed. I just didn't learn anything this weekend.
G
Not sure why they call it that but I had one this weekend. I was invited to my sister in law's wedding just outside Norwich and it was the usual scenario. I would have liked to have worked but they wanted me there as a guest so along I went. I had it firmly in my mind that I would observe and try to enjoy the night as much as I could. I've been back home now for about an hour and to be honest, I was itching to write this review the moment I left the wedding.
So, we turn up at 7.00pm (for a 7.30pm start), and my wife goes off to sort out her sisters dress etc. I go to the bar but can't resist having a nose about around the function room. Quite a big function room actually and looking very nice however....where was the Disco? After a couple of minutes I noticed a big wooden box by the side of the dancefloor. On the front of it was the name of the hotel and there was a circle of spotlights on the front of the box surrounding the name. I walked over and looked behind the box and the amp, mixer and Denon 4500 were all embedded into it. The box also had 3 drawers which housed the DJ's CD's (noticed that later). The only lights were 2 x Twister III's which were up high either side of the console and the speakers (didn't see the make of them), were on the floor and not on stands. There were leads everywhere and not taped down and to me, it looked terrible.
Anyway, the DJ appeared from nowhere and started playing chart music as background music. There were a few kids there so they got up and slid acros the dancefloor or did little dance routines. The sound was surprisingly ok at the time. Whenever the DJ spoke on the mic though, he sounded muffled and the way he 'mixed' some of the tracks wasn't that great if I am honest. No'one seemed to notice but obviously I did.
The DJ was smart in appearance, shirt, trousers and shoes and seemed ok but he was nipping off every 10 minutes or so (not sure where?) and there were times when he had his hands in his pockets, looking bored. I was taking all of this and imagined myself standing there and how I act and come across. I found myself comparing us both. There were a number of times when members of the family asked me "What do you think?" and I said "He's ok". The age group of the guests was varied but there were quite a few 30/40 somethings. I think he got to the stage where he finally sussed out what they liked when everyone got up to Macarena. It was then that he went through the cheesy stage and it worked. I was sat with my brother in law and got 6 songs correctly predicted in a row.
Overall, I would say that he was ok. On first impressions I thought "Oh my god" when I saw the equipment but then gave him the benefit of the doubt as it was the hotels in-house equipment. I said to someone that it didn't matter what the gear was like, if he was good then it would outshine it.
Talking to family afterwards, they all seemed to think he did a good job and that he got people up dancing, which he did. I think it was simply ok but I will also take into consideration that I know what I am doing and the guests don't. Most of them didn't have a clue and were just there for a boogie. None of them would've noticed half of the things that I did (hands in the pockets etc) and it made me think (although I will NOT change) that maybe sometimes I worry too much.
I also wanted to say that I went with every intention of maybe learning something from whoever was DJing but I didn't see or learn anything new or different from what I do and to be honest, I thought that I was much better but then again, I am going to say that aren't I?...Honestly though...No, I wouldn't because anything that helps make me better is welcomed. I just didn't learn anything this weekend.
G