Gig Plans?

[womble]

Reading the threads started, and influenced by, DJFrosty’s wedding thread got me wondering if anyone has any routines or gig-plan?

It seems that some of you have specific songs that you play after the first dance, last songs of the night, etc. but wondered if anyone has a set way of working their gigs?

i.e. start off with Motown into Soul then, post-buffet, go into 70’s Disco a little bit of funk to Rock and Roll to Indie to current chart, etc…

[rob1963]

Reading the threads started, and influenced by, DJFrosty’s wedding thread got me wondering if anyone has any routines or gig-plan?

It seems that some of you have specific songs that you play after the first dance, last songs of the night, etc. but wondered if anyone has a set way of working their gigs?

i.e. start off with Motown into Soul then, post-buffet, go into 70’s Disco a little bit of funk to Rock and Roll to Indie to current chart, etc…

Apart from the background music & the song after the first dance, I have no set way of working after that.

I just play their requests in what I think is the best order, as well as any suitable requests received on the night, and if I don't have enough, I'll also include my own selection of stuff that works well.

Unlike you, I certainly don't have set types of music at set times.

I just mix it all up.

Works for me!

:)

[Vectis]

I have a gig plan that I use for weddings.

I sit down with the B+G, venue rep if possible, planner if applicable, and write a plan for each individual event. No stones unturned. Any follow-up actions are logged and chased. Any deviations agreed with the B+G or, if on the day and of a minor nature, with their nominated spokesperson (usually the best man, chief bridesmaid etc.).

This way every gig is unique, memorable and runs like clockwork.

In terms of music this also varies wildly depending on the tastes of the hirer, requests received, general running order of the night. But in general at a mixed-age gig I'll get the older stuff out of the way by about 11-ish as that's when the wrinklies and the folks with young kids tend to knock it on the head. That's usually when the fun starts ;)

[rob1963]

I have a gig plan that I use for weddings.

I sit down with the B+G, venue rep if possible, planner if applicable, and write a plan for each individual event. No stones unturned. Any follow-up actions are logged and chased. Any deviations agreed with the B+G or, if on the day and of a minor nature, with their nominated spokesperson (usually the best man, chief bridesmaid etc.).

This way every gig is unique, memorable and runs like clockwork.

Wow...that's a bit heavy! I do a bit less than that! :o

There again, I'd probably do the same if I was charging as much as you! :D

[kjdiscos]

We offer face to face meetings with the client, however must of the time they use our online tools, For there planning needs.

Here is a sample


http://img34.imageshack.us/img34/927/plann1c.jpg


http://img34.imageshack.us/img34/1562/timeline1.jpg

http://img34.imageshack.us/img34/4809/sampreq.jpg
Works for us

[Dynamic Entertainment]

Thats fairly comprehansive Jake. Looks good, but TBH, i probably wouldnt fill something like that in for my wedding, id rather give you key information and times and leave it to the professional (and a point of contact (best man maybe)). Just personal tast, some like everything planned perfectly, others dont (as the best laid plans never run on time anyway). :)

Im fairly similar to martin, but not quite organised. I have the running times, key moments planned in with times (first dance, buffet etc), but also work with be B&G on the principle of "its just rough" and leave the actual timing to the nature of the evening (bet youve all had the B&G who have said half an hour to feed 150 people is plenty.) Other than that its fairly relaxed. Like martin, get the older stuff out of the way first as ive found that the younger ones are the ones there at the end, but thats not set in stone (unless the B7G want it to be).

[kjdiscos]

Thats fairly comprehansive Jake. Looks good, but TBH, i probably wouldnt fill something like that in for my wedding, id rather give you key information and times and leave it to the professional (and a point of contact (best man maybe)). Just personal tast, some like everything planned perfectly, others dont (as the best laid plans never run on time anyway). :)

Im fairly similar to martin, but not quite organised. I have the running times, key moments planned in with times (first dance, buffet etc), but also work with be B&G on the principle of "its just rough" and leave the actual timing to the nature of the evening (bet youve all had the B&G who have said half an hour to feed 150 people is plenty.) Other than that its fairly relaxed. Like martin, get the older stuff out of the way first as ive found that the younger ones are the ones there at the end, but thats not set in stone (unless the B7G want it to be).

Your right some don't fill it completely out like that, But they always fill in the key basics, Never had a client not, And the booking process auto fills alot in when theyve made there payment online

The abvoe is one where its been used to its fullest

[Dynamic Entertainment]

Lol, im sure there are plenty of people who would sit and fill the lot in, and net try and insist on it running bang on to the second though. A useful tool mind, did you write it yourself?

[kjdiscos]

Lol, im sure there are plenty of people who would sit and fill the lot in, and net try and insist on it running bang on to the second though. A useful tool mind, did you write it yourself?

Along the top of the tool, When its configured we put its a rough guideline, And that we can't make everything run to the second, Never had any issues with it but its a handy insight to the gig before hand.

Its not something i wrote myself i pay £60 quid a year for it, To be honest its paid for itself within a few gigs, As it reduces the ammount of communcation hours incredidbly, And when the request list is completed 24 hours before the event, I get spreadsheet emailed with the years of the tracks and genre, Which can save a little time for tracks which are obscure

[rob1963]

Thats fairly comprehansive Jake. Looks good, but TBH, i probably wouldnt fill something like that in for my wedding, id rather give you key information and times and leave it to the professional (and a point of contact (best man maybe)).

Fairly comprehensive? In my opinion it's way over the top.

I also feel that the page detailing all timings is completely unnecessary, as weddings never run on time anyway.

I've had some which are running more than half an hour early, and some which are running 2 hours late, although most are somewhere in between the two.

Also, things often get changed at the last minute by the bride & groom anyway.

The key for me is to be adaptable on the night.

[kjdiscos]

Fairly comprehensive? In my opinion it's way over the top.

I also feel that the page detailing all timings is completely unnecessary, as weddings never run on time anyway.

I've had some which are running more than half an hour early, and some which are running 2 hours late, although most are somewhere in between the two.

Also, things often get changed at the last minute by the bride & groom anyway.

The key for me is to be adaptable on the night.

Can't be way over top with ammount of feedback i get regarding the system rob :).

Thanks for your prompt response all very impressive so far,

little extract from an email this morning

But each to there own opinion, The tools arent mandatory the client fills in as little or as much info as they feel is neccessary, I have secured bookings of others due to the way it can reduce stress

[rob1963]

The tools arent mandatory the client fills in as little or as much info as they feel is neccessary, I have secured bookings of others due to the way it can reduce stress

I'd have thought it could easily have the opposite effect too, as the bride might get seriously stressed when she sees it for the first time & thinks it all has be be filled in!

Anyway, if it works for you, clients like it & it secured you more work, then good luck to you.

Out of interest, have you ever had a wedding where the timings run exactly as stated on your form?

[kjdiscos]

I'd have thought it could easily have the opposite effect too, as the bride might get seriously stressed when she sees it for the first time & thinks it all has be be filled in!

Anyway, if it works for you, clients like it & it secured you more work, then good luck to you.

Out of interest, have you ever had a wedding where the timings run exactly as stated on your form?

They run quite close to the timings 75% of the time, The forms are optional they don't have to fill them in if they dont want.

She won't get seriously stressed, They have already make the booking and paid via credit / debit card, before they get into the client area

[James]

I'm spontanious when it comes to planning now, i never used to be though

Many a time i'd work everything out at home, have an idea in my head of how i'm going to start the night, then i'd turn up at the venue and it would be completely different to how i'd imagined it

So now i turn up, set-up, and play it by ear.

[rob1963]

They run quite close to the timings 75% of the time

I'm amazed!

:shrug:

[Daryll]

Ok I`ll go against the grain here.
For weddings , I`ll let the B&G put as much or as little as they want , but I will ask for a general "scene" so to speak.
To give an example:

2 weeks time : First Dance , then anything to keep the guests happy and dancing , so all up to me ;)

September wedding : mostly late 80`s and 90`s dance :thumbs_up:

Second one in September , mostly 60`s / 70`s.

November wedding : A play list that would last 17 hours :eek: and I`me only doing 2 x 1 hour slots ( need to sort that one :p )

Now for a run of the mill pub/club with no theme etc.

I load up an hours worth of music of various genre`s , if something appears to work . I have blocks of 3 to 5 songs to add , if people ask for songs to be played , I`ll slot them in , and try to do so within 5 songs , if nothing happens ( which can in some social clubs ) I`ll play a mix of everything until the end , then its usually The toy dolls - Nellie the elephant :D :D .

Daryll

[DeckstarDeluxe]

No gig lists, no pre defined genres of music in fact the only song I know I am going to play before the gig is the first dance.

Naturally if customers want a specific list playing then thats done

I belive the art of Djing is interacting with your crowd, playing the right songs at the right times. No saved playlists on Numark Cue, no grandmaster mix cds