It's all down to the guests at the end of the day!

[Shakermaker Promotions]

I've just posted a reply on the 'Recommendations' thread and it got me thinking about something else pretty similar.

Most of us on this forum do this week in, week out. We may have a certain way of doing things that works for us and certain tracks that will work without fail and in general, we get the desired result in a succesful function with everybody happy. That includes the customer, the guests and the venue.

Let's just say for example that you go to a new venue and you give the owner the usual sales pitch etc etc and you really 'big yourself up'. All is going to plan and they are looking forward to seeing you do your thing and you are up for showing them what you can do.....BUT, the guests at the function you are doing on this occasion are really hard work. It could be that the usual tracks that would normally get everyone up aren't working or that they just aren't interested.

Does this make you look bad? Do you think that the owner or entertainments person takes the guests into consideration or do you think that they just think you aren't that great?

There could be loads of reasons as to why it isn't working that well...
For example: If it's a wedding then it has generally been a long day. Some of the older guests may not be up for it and may leave early. In some venues, the bar may not be in the same location as the Disco and people may congregate in the bar area. These are just a couple of reasons and I know there are loads more. What I am getting at is that whether you have been recommended by a venue or maybe someone has booked you before and passed on your details, it's all down to the guests at the end of the day. Ok, there ARE some bad DJ's out there and we have all seen one I guess but in my opinion it's the guests that make the function.

I remember a long time ago, a friend of mine used to DJ and he was excellent. He could read a crowd easily, he had the banter on the mic and was always busy via recommendations. Infact, he hardly advertised..he didn't need to! I remember him telling me that he had done a fantastic wedding one night...everyone was up for it and nearly everyone danced all night. He had someone call him up shortly afterwards who was the best friend of the bride because she wanted to book him for her wedding too. I went along with him to that one. The bride was really looking forward to the night yet her guests were some of the dullest people I had ever had the misfortune to be in the same room as. My friend struggled to be honest..he was so used to getting excellent results and dealing with situations but on this occasion he just lost it totally. There were around 150 people there and it was a great venue too but hardly anyone danced at all. He was playing good music and had a good set up yet no'one seemed interested. I remember the bride being pretty gutted and she used the "Come on, get them up dancing" line but they just weren't interested.

At the end of the night whilst I was helping him pack up, she came over to us and said to him "Well, that's the last time I book something on a recommendation" and she was quite rude. I butted in and said "Hold on, you was at the wedding he did before wasn't you because you booked him from seeing him there"...She had no reply to that and my mate replied "Sorry, I did my best but you can't make people dance if they don't want to"...

I'll always remember that and it's stuck with me. It kind of happened to me too last year. I was 'bigged up' so much by a guy who couldn't believe that I would DJ at his 21st (that's not being egotistic....he is a regular at my monthly alternative nights)...It was a joint 21st. He was into his Alternative and Indie music and his mate was into RnB so it was one of those functions that you knew would be interesting. The guests were more or less split down the middle music taste wise. When I played Indie etc to the majority, they loved it and were shouting out my name etc...When I played the RnB stuff, the other guests would get up and dance. I thought it went really well to be fair but as I was packing up I could hear comments from some of the RnB crowd that were pretty negative. Another case of me doing what I do but it's all down to the guests.

Sorry to waffle on again but I wondered what people's thoughts were on this.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Does this make you look bad? Do you think that the owner or entertainments person takes the guests into consideration or do you think that they just think you aren't that great?



Any decent person booking you will see that you are a pro no matter how many people dancing. Although important, that is only one aspect of the job. Anyone who knows their onions will know what the DJ is all about.

I quite often get recommendations when people haven't even seen us work such is the quality of service, paperwork, dress and representation of my DJs - in other words, the way we conduct ourselves.

I always tell people that we can't wave a magic wand and get people dancing. There are many companies and DJs who guarantee full dance floors, which frankly is a load of :Censored: .

I'm trying so hard not to use my magic phrase...:D

[Excalibur]

I always tell people that we can't wave a magic wand and get people dancing. There are many companies and DJs who guarantee full dance floors, which frankly is a load of :Censored: .

Doesn't stop them believing we can, and wondering why we don't. :bang: :bang:




I'm trying so hard not to use my magic phrase...:D

I'm saying nothing. ;)

Gary, I agree totally with what you've said. Contrast my two this weekend.
Friday night, 21st birthday, minimal gear as a rush cover, all venue lights on all night, party crowd who danced all night, partied very hard, and were really up for it.
Saturday's wedding, full rig, lovely venue, DJ raring to go: Absolute grueller. All part of life's rich tapestry. :confused: :confused:

[Shakermaker Promotions]

Totally agree with what you've said Darren. The comments I received from the entertainments guy on thursday and friday told me that I was doing something right. One of the staff even said to me that the equipment looked 'classy'. She said "Usually the DJ's in here have far too much equipment and there's no need and it makes the room look messy".

What I am saying is that....well, this weekend I have been blessed with a great bunch of people (apart from the idiot I mentioned previously) but it could have been different and it wouldn't have been down to me if it had been a letdown. I could've gone into that venue having not played there before, given the entertainments guy reason to believe I was excellent and then he could've got totally the wrong impression if the guests weren't up for it.

Saying that though...I don't think I am giving enough credit to venue owners/wedding co-ordinators etc etc as just like us, they see and deal with functions week in, week out too and surely some of them can see that a DJ, however good he is, is having a hard time because of the guests lack of interest etc etc...

Lastly (I promise!).... The best case scenario is when you turn up at a venue and are told by one of the staff or whoever... "This lot are going to be hard work" (example), and then you deliver a great night and everyone has enjoyed themselves. It's times like that when they open up and take notice and ask for cards etc..

[WWDJ]

If the guests don't want to dance there is not a lot you can do really. Sometimes this is when a party is low on numbers and no-one wants to be first up, sometimes it is too hot, they are too full from the buffet, not drunk enough or just want to chat.

I always give and announce that the guests can make requests and the assumption for me if they don't, is they are enjoying it or not bothered either way.

I play the same venue on a regular basis and the parties that are there tend to be a lot of the same people so I am getting to know my crowd really well and what they like. I know what to save for the finale.

I also do quite a few teenage parties too, so i have kind of got this niche covered, not that you ever have a problem with dancers at the teenage party anyhow!

The comment about equipment is a good one.... I believe you can have a setup that is minimal and still provides a good show, in fact last night i went out with 2 x scanners, 2 x LED bars and an EFX500. However, the scanners were just projecting 'Happy Birthday' all night onto a wall, and the LED Bars were right down in terms of brightness. Basically the EFX500 did the whole show on it's own. I really believe you could do a night just on the one light (although if the bulb went you'd be in trouble).

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

If the guests don't want to dance there is not a lot you can do really. Sometimes this is when a party is low on numbers and no-one wants to be first up, sometimes it is too hot, they are too full from the buffet, not drunk enough or just want to chat.

I always give and announce that the guests can make requests and the assumption for me if they don't, is they are enjoying it or not bothered either way.

I play the same venue on a regular basis and the parties that are there tend to be a lot of the same people so I am getting to know my crowd really well and what they like. I know what to save for the finale.

I also do quite a few teenage parties too, so i have kind of got this niche covered, not that you ever have a problem with dancers at the teenage party anyhow!

The comment about equipment is a good one.... I believe you can have a setup that is minimal and still provides a good show, in fact last night i went out with 2 x scanners, 2 x LED bars and an EFX500. However, the scanners were just projecting 'Happy Birthday' all night onto a wall, and the LED Bars were right down in terms of brightness. Basically the EFX500 did the whole show on it's own. I really believe you could do a night just on the one light (although if the bulb went you'd be in trouble).

....unless you had a spare. ;)

[WWDJ]

which i do, but it's a bit of a pair if your only light went down. It could break or some other reason too I guess.

[visualdjmax]

Any decent person booking you will see that you are a pro no matter how many people dancing. Although important, that is only one aspect of the job. Anyone who knows their onions will know what the DJ is all about.

I quite often get recommendations when people haven't even seen us work such is the quality of service, paperwork, dress and representation of my DJs - in other words, the way we conduct ourselves.

I always tell people that we can't wave a magic wand and get people dancing. There are many companies and DJs who guarantee full dance floors, which frankly is a load of :Censored: .

I'm trying so hard not to use my magic phrase...:D

I think that I must have missed this somewhere along the line, or I haven't been paying attention in class. What is your magic phrase?????

[Steve the DJ]

Does this make you look bad? Do you think that the owner or entertainments person takes the guests into consideration or do you think that they just think you aren't that great?

I think most venue owners/operators are experienced enough to understand that some you win, some you lose.


My friend struggled to be honest..he was so used to getting excellent results and dealing with situations but on this occasion he just lost it totally.

That's the best thing that can ever happen to a DJ, we learn nothing really from great night after great night.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

I think that I must have missed this somewhere along the line, or I haven't been paying attention in class. What is your magic phrase?????

Everything matters.

There's a whole thread about it, if you'd care to look. ;)

[JDB Entertainment]

I had Birmingham Trainee Solicitors Summer Ball at the Botanical Gardens on Friday, which was a storming night.

And to contrast this...

did a Wedding last night and it was the total opposite. Hardly any guests danced until the last half an hour.

I got moaned at by one guest for not playing New York New York. She said it should ALWAYS be played at every Wedding, where as my argument was that why should it be played at the end of every wedding. Every wedding is different and special.

Also the couple were a young couple, and the majority of the guests were.

However the bride and groom were happy and had 2 other guests come up and say thank you and even said themselves if people want to sit there and socialise its their choice.

Its like a holiday, people make of it what they want!

James

[Excalibur]

I had Birmingham Trainee Solicitors Summer Ball at the Botanical Gardens on Friday, which was a storming night.

And to contrast this...

did a Wedding last night and it was the total opposite. Hardly any guests danced until the last half an hour.

I got moaned at by one guest for not playing New York New York. She said it should ALWAYS be played at every Wedding, where as my argument was that why should it be played at the end of every wedding. Every wedding is different and special.

Also the couple were a young couple, and the majority of the guests were.

However the bride and groom were happy and had 2 other guests come up and say thank you and even said themselves if people want to sit there and socialise its their choice.

Its like a holiday, people make of it what they want!

James

I thought it was a legal requirement? :D :D

[Shaun]

I always tell people that we can't wave a magic wand and get people dancing. There are many companies and DJs who guarantee full dance floors, which frankly is a load of :Censored: .

I'm trying so hard not to use my magic phrase...:D

I had a similar situation last night. To all intense purposes the night was pretty good. Tons of diverse requests which allowed for a good rotation of dancers on the floor. The bride came up to me at one point and asked me to only play songs that would have the ENTIRE guest list on the floor for the whole night. I told her It's impossible to force people to dance, and not everyone comes to a party to dance. All I can do is play all their and hers requests and encourage people to have a good time.

She had it in her head that EVERYONE needed to be on the dancefloor for the entire evening for them to have a good time.

[DJ Jules]

Saying that though...I don't think I am giving enough credit to venue owners/wedding co-ordinators etc etc as just like us, they see and deal with functions week in, week out too and surely some of them can see that a DJ, however good he is, is having a hard time because of the guests lack of interest etc etc...

I've done a wedding where I've struggled to get people up, but the wedding co-ordinator has come over at the end of the night and congratulated me on a great set and I've been able to see the bar staff dancing throughout most of the evening! It was just that the guests really weren't up for it.

I'll start a new thread on a related subject....

Julian

[1st Choice Karaoke]

I had a wedding like this last year. I got the booking from word-of-mouth. My usual set up and I played all the usual "banker" tracks that i thought would keep the flor full... and I had about 12 dancers all night from nearly 100 guests. They just weren't interested. The B&G were still happy though and gave me an extra £20 quid at the end of the night! does knock your confidence a bit though...

[Ryu]

I totally agree with your post Shakermaker.

I think also we get booked for gigs where they don't actually WANT a disco. We had a kids footie presentation a few weeks back, they used the PA for the medals presentations at the start of the night and then all but three people left the room to play a massive football game on the pitch outside afterwards...we carried on, did our usual thing, but personalised the show (we asked each remaining punter to pick a few favourite tracks...made for an interesting set...3 Lynyrd Skynyrd tracks followed by Westlife followed by Bonkers by Dizzie Rascal!) and later a few of the parents came in and a I mixed up a nifty 90's dance set that went down well with the crowd (now 10 people instead of 3)

Felt bad for the lady who booked us...they didn't need a Disco. Naturally, didn't stop me getting our fee at the end of the night :D

[PropellerHeadCase]

I got moaned at by one guest for not playing New York New York. She said it should ALWAYS be played at every Wedding...

Really? Which DJing handbook is THAT in? And what about Bs & Gs who don't like Ol' Blue Eyes? Some people are so wrapped up in what they want they don't actually realize how selfish they are... sad.

[WWDJ]

Some people are so wrapped up in what they want they don't actually realize how selfish they are... sad.

I know, we did a 30th a few weeks ago and the bday boy wanted lots of full on hard dance tracks. I really don't mind, but you have to bear in mind that most of his guests hadn't spent their twenties getting off their box in ibiza.

i took a 'dance anthems' type approach which seemed to keep him and everyone on the floor, played a couple of his tracks which cleared the floor apart from him. He kept bugging me all night, but was so drunk I knew that the 'collapse' was coming soon. It did, about 11:15 when he took 2 tables of drinks out on his way to the floor.

All in all a stressful night and I didn't even get paid as I was helping a mate out on his FIRST gig :-0

[Excalibur]

Really? Which DJing handbook is THAT in? And what about Bs & Gs who don't like Ol' Blue Eyes? Some people are so wrapped up in what they want they don't actually realize how selfish they are... sad.

Since you ask, this one. :p :D :D :D

[CRAZY K]

I thought it was a legal requirement? :D :D

You should worry --a few months ago they asked me to demo how to dance to New York on the last number-----whaaaat----oh well it goes something like this--

Then a lady said--I think it goes like this-- carry on darling I said were all watching you:D :D :D

EEEEK!!!!

CRAZY K

[yourdj]

the thing is people are spoilt for choice these days. they have night clubs, bars, social clubs, pubs etc. all of which they can have a club tyoe atmosphere.

The traditional club style mobile disco is not what it was. people want more these days in the way of performance and connection to the crowd. In my experience anyway.

Most of my gigs are social occasions (inc. weddings) and sometimes people do not want to dance but they still enjoy the music. Catching up with relatives is sometimes all its about.

its all about the head tapping etc. you can still connect to the audience that way. i just go out and chat to people and find out what they want if no one is dancing.

[Dynamic Entertainment]

the thing is people are spoilt for choice these days. they have night clubs, bars, social clubs, pubs etc. all of which they can have a club tyoe atmosphere.

The traditional club style mobile disco is not what it was. people want more these days in the way of performance and connection to the crowd. In my experience anyway.

Most of my gigs are social occasions (inc. weddings) and sometimes people do not want to dance but they still enjoy the music. Catching up with relatives is sometimes all its about.

its all about the head tapping etc. you can still connect to the audience that way. i just go out and chat to people and find out what they want if no one is dancing.

Id hate to be doing that for too long...Brain damage anyone :D

[Shakermaker Promotions]

YourDJ - I get what you mean and it's funny you should say what you've said because this saturday I have a booking for a 90th birthday (yes..90th!!).
The lady that has booked me is one of the daughters and she has been very upfront about the whole thing. The way she sees it is that her dad hasn't got long left and the next time everyone (there are family members travelling from allover the world) will be togeather again is when he has gone.

She wants me to play requests from all the family, some I have had in advance and they are cockney classics etc and she is having the projection service too. She has had old cine films of the family converted to DVD and they will be playing throughout the evening. She doesn't want a full on Disco experience, more background music playing the music that everyone wants to hear and doesn't want it over the top or in your face. Years ago, something like this would've scared me and had me worried as to how I would cope catering for something like this but you know what.....I am really looking forward to it because even though I have never met the birthday 'boy', I want to make sure that this is something he will never forget.

[yourdj]

YourDJ - I get what you mean and it's funny you should say what you've said because this saturday I have a booking for a 90th birthday (yes..90th!!).
.

I have had allot of them recently. especially house parties. The people just sit around and chat half the evening. they don't dance until the last few hours, but you play a track that is not in fitting you soon know about it.

A 90th should be a great occasion i reckon. especially with the cini film. Have the asked for waltzes or do you think it will be all across the board? Its amazing what some OAP's listen too these days :eek: Calvin Haris etc.

[Mister Musicman]

Just done 4 nights on the trot and there couldn't have been a more varied bunch! A Jewish Barmitzva, a Wedding, a Civil Ceremony and a 21st birthday party. Now completely knackered, and none the wiser as to what the magic formula for creating a good atmosphere is but am now counting the cash. After all this is my main source of income and money is the main reason I am doing it for. The only advice I could give to anyone starting out in this game is that you can just do your best by playing the tried and tested tracks after reading the audience and hope something happens. If it doesn't, don't be put off by those who refuse to get up on the dancefloor.
:DJ:
Rob (Mister Musicman)
www.mistermusicman.co.uk