Sticky 30 seconds....

[Mark Wild]

Last night I did a wedding at the Hotel Du Vin in Glasgows west end (where Simon Cowell & Cheryl Cole stay when they do the Glasgow X Factor auditions :p ). This was booked in February, site visit and consultation done. Fail to prepare, prepare to fail and all that stuff. Anyway was a great success, never an empty dancefloor, cool as events manager, awesome people with plenty of requests. It's coming to the last song which in good old Scottish fashion is Runrig - Loch Lomond, I run around trying to find the bride and groom, which I eventually do telling them 5 minutes till Runrig. I leg it back to the decks to be met by the brides father who shouts at me "Play ZZ Top again !" I explain I can't and why etc. ect. and proceed to arrange the crowd into a circle ready for the bride and groom to enter the middle of it. Soooo all set ready to press play after some cheeky mic work to get EVERYONE in this circle. The bride and groom slowly enter the circle BUT the bride carries on in my direction and says "Play ZZ Top Now !" (seems daddy had got to her lol) I explain "We can't now everyone is ready for Runrig (I'd just done all that mic work to get them where I wanted them!!!)and anyway I'd played it already as your Dad requested it earlier in the evening. I tried talking her round but she was adamant on ZZ Top being the next song, it was a very uncomfortable 30 seconds. So I get on the mic again and said "Ladies & Gentlemen change of plan!" and play "ZZ Top - Gimmie All Your Loving" It went down a storm which didn't help my argument really but I could have play Rene & Renata "Save your love" at that point and it would have gone down a storm. Runrig was played and then Elbow "One day like this" The bride obviously felt the same as me because she approached me at the end with some very kind words, they were a class couple I must admit and without these 30 seconds it would have been without doubt a perfect night. At the point in this little story the bride said " Play ZZ Top now!" what would you have done? I'd be interested to know :D (I seem to have forgotten what a paragraph is, please forgive me lol)

[simonp]

To be honest I think I'd have done exactly what you did - you were put on the spot and bosh - a classic thinking on your feet moment, don'y ya just love 'em :zip:

[DJNutter]

"The customer is always right"

I know how you feel though, trying to wind up at the end of a night and the customer demands a song. I tend to ingnore guest requests in this situation.

However, if it's the customer - your up against it.

I had to play Boom Boom Pow for the third time! 5mins before the end of the night! :bang:

[rob1963]

At the point in this little story the bride said " Play ZZ Top now!" what would you have done? I'd be interested to know :D (I seem to have forgotten what a paragraph is, please forgive me lol)

Without doubt I'd have played ZZ top just as soon as I could cue it up.

I certainly wouldn't have spent 30 seconds trying to talk her out of it!

After all, isn't it HER day?

:shrug:

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Without doubt I'd have played ZZ top just as soon as I could cue it up.

I certainly wouldn't have spent 30 seconds trying to talk her out of it!

After all, isn't it HER day?

:shrug:

I hate people 'telling' you what to do and people who 'want it now!' I think they are rude and spoiled. What other profession would you get treated like that?

[Pe7e]

I hate people 'telling' you what to do and people who 'want it now!' I think they are rude and spoiled. What other profession would you get treated like that?

Retail gets my vote, I've met more rude, arrogant people during my time retailing discounted 'designer' goods than in the rest of my life put together, the internet customers were just as bad, if not worse.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Retail gets my vote, I've met more rude, arrogant people during my time retailing discount 'designer' goods than in the rest of my life put together, the internet customers were just as bad, if not worse.

But would they expect you to do what they wanted there and then within 30 seconds?

Would they use the phrase "We are paying you, so you do what we want"

Would they push to the front of the queue?

Would they personally abuse you if you didn't do as they asked?

......yes, they probably would! :p

[rob1963]

I hate people 'telling' you what to do and people who 'want it now!' I think they are rude and spoiled. What other profession would you get treated like that?

I can understand that, and I also think they are rude, but if they are paying you to work for them, that makes them your boss.

Rightly or wrongly, I've always done what my boss has told me to do, even if I DID think they were a rude person & didn't particularly like them.

[Mark Wild]

Without doubt I'd have played ZZ top just as soon as I could cue it up.

I certainly wouldn't have spent 30 seconds trying to talk her out of it!

After all, isn't it HER day?

:shrug:

Indeed it is but she's hired me to entertain her evening reception, if I feel a customer is wrong I will explain my reasons why I think they are.

So if a half cut bride approached you with a disastrous request which could ruin the whole memory of the reception in your opinion, you'd just do it? no questions asked?




I hate people 'telling' you what to do and people who 'want it now!' I think they are rude and spoiled. What other profession would you get treated like that?

It did really feel like "I'm paying you so do as your told" it came across rude, but I still wanted her to know that in my professional opinion it wasn't really a good call.


but if they are paying you to work for them, that makes them your boss.

I have a very polite, well mannered attitude with all my clients but I never see them as my boss.

[rob1963]

So if a half cut bride approached you with a disastrous request which could ruin the whole memory of the reception in your opinion, you'd just do it? no questions asked?

I certainly wouldn't spend 30 seconds trying to talk her out of it.

I'd spend about 5 seconds saying I thought it would clear the dance floor & ask her if she was really sure that's what she wanted.

If she said yes, I'd then play it.

If it cleared the dance floor and for some reason she moaned afterwards, I'd point out that I HAD said I thought it wasnt a good idea & I HAD asked her if she was sure...so no justified complaint could come of it.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

I can understand that, and I also think they are rude, but if they are paying you to work for them, that makes them your boss.



I disagree.

People are paying for my expertise and experience. They are not paying me so they become my 'boss'.

[Mark Wild]

Without doubt I'd have played ZZ top just as soon as I could cue it up.





I certainly wouldn't spend 30 seconds trying to talk her out of it.

I'd spend about 5 seconds saying I thought it would clear the dance floor & ask her if she was really sure that's what she wanted.

If she said yes, I'd then play it.



Don't you think they contradict each other Rob? and 5,10,15,20 seconds you know what I mean don't split hairs, I obviously wasn't using a stop watch ffs.

[Excalibur]

I hate people 'telling' you what to do and people who 'want it now!' I think they are rude and spoiled. What other profession would you get treated like that?
Agreed totally.

I can understand that, and I also think they are rude, but if they are paying you to work for them, that makes them your boss.

Rightly or wrongly, I've always done what my boss has told me to do, even if I DID think they were a rude person & didn't particularly like them.
In the day job, I don't always do what the customer says, cos sometimes they're plain wrong.

I disagree.

People are paying for my expertise and experience. They are not paying me so they become my 'boss'.
Oh yes they are. :( Some of the :Censored: :Censored: :Censored: pillocks anyway. :( :D :D

[DeckstarDeluxe]

But would they expect you to do what they wanted there and then within 30 seconds?

Would they use the phrase "We are paying you, so you do what we want"

Would they push to the front of the queue?

Would they personally abuse you if you didn't do as they asked?

......yes, they probably would! :p

I encounter that every day Darren and so do my staff its just something you kidda expect with the job.

Personally I think you played the situlation perfectly Bellshill. Its something that annoys me because Ive had the same thing happean a few times be it a song thats been played before or something not suitable and they go running to the bride/birthday boy etc... and get them to request it.

Advantages of a laptop with software as playout. I can find and cue up that song in about five seconds flat!

[rob1963]

I have a very polite, well mannered attitude with all my clients but I never see them as my boss.

I also have a very polite & well-mannered attitude with my clients (probably more than most), and I never see them as my boss either, but in effect that's still what they are, albeit for one night only.


People are paying for my expertise and experience. They are not paying me so they become my 'boss'.

I understand that, but of someone is paying you to work for them, in my opinion that makes them your boss.


Without doubt I'd have played ZZ top just as soon as I could cue it up.


I certainly wouldn't spend 30 seconds trying to talk her out of it.

I'd spend about 5 seconds saying I thought it would clear the dance floor & ask her if she was really sure that's what she wanted.

If she said yes, then I'd play it.


Don't you think they contradict each other Rob?

Of course they don't contradict each other. If you scroll back, you'll see they are my responses to two completely different questions!

The first post was my response to your OP asking what I'd have done in the situation you found yourself in.

The second post was my response to your question asking what I'd do if a half cut bride approached me with a disastrous request which would ruin the whole memory of the reception. That is very different to just being asked to play some ZZ top, hence my different answer.

I hope that clarifies the position.

[DeckstarDeluxe]

Nah if it worked like that Rob then I'd be telling Gordon Brown and the whole gang at number ten what to do but it doesnt work like that.

For example if you paided for a builder to do some work on your house and say you wanted a wall putting in and he saw an issue with it then you would want him telling you and why he thinks that way (which would come from experience) if you decided to go against his advice most would still do it. Just the same as in this case.

[rob1963]

Nah if it worked like that Rob then I'd be telling Gordon Brown and the whole gang at number ten what to do but it doesnt work like that.

Bad example, as you don't employ him.

Not only that, but he wasn't even elected!

:shrug:

[DeckstarDeluxe]

Bad example, as you don't employ him.

Not only that, but he wasn't even elected!

:shrug:

But as tax payers we pay the govenment money so using your logic that applies here no?

[rob1963]

But as tax payers we pay the govenment money so using your logic that applies here no?

Are you really trying to compare the government which runs the country with a mobile disco booked by someone for their wedding reception?

:bang:

As you didn't quote anything, please clarify what you mean by "my logic"

[DeckstarDeluxe]

I can understand that, and I also think they are rude, but if they are paying you to work for them, that makes them your boss.

Rightly or wrongly, I've always done what my boss has told me to do, even if I DID think they were a rude person & didn't particularly like them.

Sorry think this thread has gone abit off topic now

[rob1963]

We'll just agree to disagree about someone you work for being your boss, then, so the thread can get back on topic.

:)

[Excalibur]

We'll just agree to disagree about someone you work for being your boss, then, so the thread can get back on topic.

:)

Sorry to say this, but I'm on your side Rob. :( :( :( :o :o

[rob1963]

Sorry to say this, but I'm on your side Rob. :( :( :( :o :o

:Kiss 3: :thumbsup: :clap2: :banana: :D

[StarZSoundS]

As I have become more and more succesful I have found I have become ruder to the drunks..... I can't help it!!:eek:


I have done weddings for 250 people and had 80% of them dancing so when some little no-mark comes up to me (obviously paraleptic) and tells me i'm :Censored: I just don't ignore it anymore and I challenge him to explain what he's talking about....My partner says i'm gonna get :Censored: tted some day......but I really don't care!!


Now when I was growing up into doing this I would have gone home and pondered on what the little :Censored: was saying.I was probably a better DJ when I was humble.:bang:

[deltaforce]

Sorry to say this, but I'm on your side Rob. :( :( :( :o :oi too agree with rob but there is no excuse for rudeness. if your not gonna play what people ask for its a good idea to tell them no more request as where coming to the end of the night!:beer1:

[Mark Wild]

i too agree with rob but there is no excuse for rudeness. if your not gonna play what people ask for its a good idea to tell them no more request as where coming to the end of the night!:beer1:

Who was rude?

[deltaforce]

Who was rude?

by telling you to play the song now instead of asking can you please play this for me dad. politeness costs nothing

[Shaun]

At the point in this little story the bride said " Play ZZ Top now!" what would you have done?

From your post it sounds like she was trying to appease her Dad. Sure she could have put it a little better, but I could forgive that in the context of how you described the situation.

It's the last few minutes of the evening and this is one last chance to pull out all the stops and deliver everything the Bride has asked for. I probably wouldn't even draw attention to the fact that there was a change of plan, instead I'd let everyone that was gathered on the floor know that the Bride had asked for the opportunity to dance with all her family and friends one last time.

[Mark Wild]

From your post it sounds like she was trying to appease her Dad. Sure she could have put it a little better, but I could forgive that in the context of how you described the situation.

It's the last few minutes of the evening and this is one last chance to pull out all the stops and deliver everything the Bride has asked for. I probably wouldn't even draw attention to the fact that there was a change of plan, instead I'd let everyone that was gathered on the floor know that the Bride had asked for the opportunity to dance with all her family and friends one last time.

Time to think is a lovely thing as simonp said huh :)

[Shaun]

Time to think is a lovely thing as simonp said huh :)

No, being able to think quick on my feet is a lovely thing*. I'd have said the same thing at a gig. ;) :d




p.s. I'm not implying you didn't. :)