People poking their nose in.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Why is it ours in one of the industries where people always seem to know better or stick their nose in where it isn't wanted?

I had a wedding last Saturday near Oxford. It was in a marquee and luckily I could drive right up to the back and load in. However I got there at 6pm and started to load in at 8:15pm :eek: as it over ran slightly! I hate rushing, but managed to set up in about 45 minutes. I always use Michael Buble to test the sound, as I like the production and the sound, and the song I was testing to was 'How can you mend a broken heart'. Now, no-one has ever said anything about any background music I was playing before and as I was testing, one of the women photographers came over and said "You can't play that song - it's a wedding". I told her I was just setting the sound up (and should have told her to mind her own business too) and thought nothing more of it.

The next minute, the groom was over and asking me to play something more lively as the song wasn't suitable, so the photographer had obviously felt it her duty to inform him of the song.

I was already extremely hot and bothered trying to set up quickly and had already been asked by the photographer and the videographer when I was going to be ready (which is a pet hate of mine) as they'd had long days and wanted to get off home.

I really wish people would mind their own business sometimes. I wouldn't dream of telling a photographer how to set up a shot or sort the light out!

Anyway, it was a brilliant night with a rammed floor all night, so it all turned out well in the end. :thumbsup:

[DeckstarDeluxe]

Its people in general I find. People know very little of a subject be it disco or non disco related and form an point of view without knowing many or any of the facts.

[soundtracker]

Isn't it strange how the words "when are you going to be ready to do the first dance" from a photographer, seem to make the world revolve slightly slower on its axis! I often reply, round about 10 o'clockish, seems to go down well!

[rob1963]

You always get the odd idiot that thinks they know more than we do.

You had a great night, so I wouldn't worry about it, Darren.

It reminds me of a silly woman who came up to me once at a wedding when I was playing Candi Staton's "Young hearts" (to a packed dance floor), and demanded I take it off, asking if I knew what the words were about & telling me it was completely inappropriate for a wedding.

It had actually been requested by the bride & groom, as it often is at wedding receptions.

:bang:

[JDB Entertainment]

I would dream of telling a photographer how to set up a shot or sort the light out!


I wouldn't! :D :P

[andyw]

alls well that ends well, weddings running late are a pain in the backside, i hate sitting outside waiting, hate rushing to set up and hate people coming up bothering you when your trying to set up quickly. always one person who knows your job better than you (actually in my case everyone knows my job better than me:) )
photographer telling you how to do your job, good job you didn't SNAP:eek:

[visualdjmax]

We almost had a fight with the videographer and photographer on Saturday as they started telling us what to do with the lighting and when. Normally it doesn't bother me but they got a full course meal and wine and we got sandwiches. Oh I by the way I always sound check with a bit of Buble.

[Dynamic Entertainment]

I wouldn't dream of telling a photographer how to set up a shot or sort the light out!

I would, and have for that matter...nicely of course.

[BeerFunk]

I've been lucky with photographers - but I can quite believe they are out there! And... 'long day'??! I'm not in any way under-estimating the work involved in photography, but if they had any idea about the time and effort put into preparing and setting up a disco function, then perhaps they'd be a bit more reserved!

[Paul The Party Dj]

It's often the photographers that cause the delay at weddings, and, has been said already, they are the ones who want you to start as soon as possible so they can leave!
I'm sure some of them are nice people and that their parents were married.
It's like most situations we face - the best way forward is to build a relationship.

[Mayhem 1]

Hiya Darren,

Maybe we should tell a plumber he is using the wrong type of spanner, or a doctor he is using the wrong type of needle!!!

as mentioned mate, dont let it worry you, you know the music and if it what you use then so be it.

Ps - where near Oxford were you?

[PropellerHeadCase]

To be fair, I'd probably avoid using a song with the prominent use of 'brokenhearted' at a wedding, even if only for a sound check.

[Excalibur]

To be fair, I'd probably avoid using a song with the prominent use of 'brokenhearted' at a wedding, even if only for a sound check.

Does that mean I should stop using " Band of Gold" as my sound check at such functions? :confused:

[PropellerHeadCase]

Your call :D

[visualdjmax]

To be fair, I'd probably avoid using a song with the prominent use of 'brokenhearted' at a wedding, even if only for a sound check.

Smokey Robinson out of the window then!

[Jonny Boy]

Does that mean I should stop using " Band of Gold" as my sound check at such functions? :confused:


Good point: now you mention it, although I have found the pitch of the slide/steel guitars help me isolate any potential feedback frequencies during soundcheck , I ought to stop using Dolly Parton's version of " D.I.V.O.R.C.E. " too. :eek: ;)

!!!KIDDING!!!

[CRAZY K]

Oh good--its not just me then;)

You have been there, got the ------etc.

From time to time there are these events where I have a run in with "others"
Toast Masters, Photographers, Caterers etc.

Im old enough, ugly enough and big enough AND LOUD ENOUGH to tell them-

Ive been doing this for xxxx (insert appropriate to the situation) or substiitute--before you were born:eek:

AND I KNOW WHAT IM DOING SO JUST CONCENTRATE ON WHAT YOU ARE GOOD AT AND ILL DO THE SAME!

Loud voice so everyone around can hear:D :D :D

XXXXX( insert as appropriate to situation) Wedding receptions tells me

In unspoken language :Censored: off!

I NEVER have a problem with the CLIENT ( B and G)

CRAZY K

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Hiya Darren,

Maybe we should tell a plumber he is using the wrong type of spanner, or a doctor he is using the wrong type of needle!!!

as mentioned mate, dont let it worry you, you know the music and if it what you use then so be it.

Ps - where near Oxford were you?

More Wantage actually, but Ardington House.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Maybe, we should put together a note to give to people sticking their noses in, telling them firmly but politely to butt out!

A standard note that everyone could use...

"Dear interested party

I understand your concerns that you think I have no idea what I am doing, but...."

Anyone want to add the next line? :sj:

[SC Events]

.....I do, so get off your high horse and do me a favour.....:Censored: OFF! :D

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

.....I do, so get off your high horse and do me a favour.....:Censored: OFF! :D

I was thinking of something slightly more subtle than that really. ;)

[SC Events]

Yer, but its straight to the point. :D

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Yer, but its straight to the point. :D

And could lead straight to slap upside the head too....

[SC Events]

.....I'll try and think of something else lol.....:D

[Excalibur]

Maybe, we should put together a note to give to people sticking their noses in, telling them firmly but politely to butt out!

A standard note that everyone could use...
"Dear interested party

I understand your concerns that you think I have no idea what I am doing, but...."


Anyone want to add the next line? :sj:

"Dear interested party

I understand your concerns that you think I have no idea what I am doing, but, appearances may be deceptive, and the reason I make this job look so easy is because I'm a consumate professional. Though you as a mere amateur may believe you could do better, in real life I fear you would be rudely disavowed of this belief. As a Gentleman* ( obviously Darren will have to put something like Miserable Git here) I have refrained from telling you how best to do your job, please do me the same honour. "
Addendum to be put in brackets:
( So to alleviate the risk of me doing something impolite, like smacking you in the gob, why don't you just :Censored: off out of my sight? )

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

"Dear interested party

I understand your concerns that you think I have no idea what I am doing, but, appearances may be deceptive, and the reason I make this job look so easy is because I'm a consumate professional. Though you as a mere amateur may believe you could do better, in real life I fear you would be rudely disavowed of this belief. As a Gentleman* ( obviously Darren will have to put something like Miserable Git here) I have refrained from telling you how best to do your job, please do me the same honour. "
Addendum to be put in brackets:
( So to alleviate the risk of me doing something impolite, like smacking you in the gob, why don't you just :Censored: off out of my sight? )

:lol:

Brilliant!

[spin mobile disco]

Personally I find the live version of eagles hotel california and bee gees with celine dion imortality as very good setup songs but can fully understand using Buble for it as I think his arrangments are very good.
If I end up starting early for whatever reason and I have not been payed to start yet its my choice what I play while sound checking. If I wanted rainbow or guns n roses im going to play it. When the clock starts is when I start taking orders and when clock stops I stop lol.
Any music played early is my opinion curtosy and at my discretion if they dont like it they can sit in silence for an hour.

[OllieJames]

Personally I find the live version of eagles hotel california and bee gees with celine dion imortality as very good setup songs but can fully understand using Buble for it as I think his arrangments are very good.
If I end up starting early for whatever reason and I have not been payed to start yet its my choice what I play while sound checking. If I wanted rainbow or guns n roses im going to play it. When the clock starts is when I start taking orders and when clock stops I stop lol.

I remember when you soundchecked at the gig i went to, with a song (forgive me, i forget the name!), and the guy said "i didn't ask for this style of music", in jest, but i was like, huh? :p

[Vectis]

If there are guests around I'll always soundcheck with appropriate material. I obviously have my preferences but if you have a room half full of people chatting quietly then you must be sensitive to that.

As for background music before the start time, again if there are guests around I'll throw on something appropriate to the occasion. I have a few folders on my HD with background music suitable for different events and ages of audience - mostly low tempo and nice to strum/tap along to... warm them up nicely for later!

[Shakermaker Promotions]

Someone mentioned photographers....

A couple of weeks ago at a wedding I was doing, the photographer came over to me and said "Excuse me mate, any idea when they are doing their first dance(s)?".... I told him that I was waiting for the best man to let me know. He then said "I wish they'd hurry up. I've been here all day and they haven't even offered me any grub or anything?"...I thought it was funny and laughed at him and he said "It aint funny, I'm starving.."

He gave the impression that (A) He wanted to get out of there as soon as possible (fair enough it was a long day), and (B) That he EXPECTED to get fed and watered (which is wrong in my opinion unless it has been agreed in advance).

There are always people 'poking their noses in'.... It may be a caretaker at a village hall wanting to get out as quick as possible or a drunk who says stuff along the lines of "...chuck this on mate, they'll love it and it will pack the dancefloor.." (when the dancefloor is full already).

I once had an Assistant Manager at a hotel say to me that there was no way that I could use my Haze Machine, even after I explained that they very rarely set alarms off. I wondered what he was doing as he looked around the gear as I bought it into the function room. As soon as he noticed the box he said "Sorry, you can't use that, we don't allow smoke machines"...Trying to explain the difference between Haze and Smoke was a mission but he was adamant that I couldn't use it. About an hour into the function I was approached by another guy (The Manager)...He said to me "I used to do a bit of DJing back in the day, don't you use Smoke to highlight the lights?"..I once again explained the situation and also told him what his understudy had said. His reply was "Don't worry about that, go and get it and get it on!"...So I did!

[DJMaxG]

I was already extremely hot and bothered trying to set up quickly and had already been asked by the photographer and the videographer when I was going to be ready (which is a pet hate of mine) as they'd had long days and wanted to get off home.

That is incredibly wrong of them, wanting to get off home.
I would have pointed that out to them :D

[Musicman]

The thing that bugs me the most is guests,male and female,who come up to you for requests and say that they`ve done/do discos and the song that they`ve requested will be guaranteed to fill the floor.

Most recently a young lad at a wedding came up and asked for some drum & bass,said he does discos himself and it would get everybody up on the floor.....suffice to say I didn`t honour his request.

[ppentertainments]

You have to remember there are as many (in fact I dare to say more) cowboys in the photography industry as there are in ours.

[theoloyla]

If there are guests around I'll always soundcheck with appropriate material. I obviously have my preferences but if you have a room half full of people chatting quietly then you must be sensitive to that.

As for background music before the start time, again if there are guests around I'll throw on something appropriate to the occasion. I have a few folders on my HD with background music suitable for different events and ages of audience - mostly low tempo and nice to strum/tap along to... warm them up nicely for later!

A balanced view and reply.

I think a thick skin and patience seem to be a necessity for good dj's.