Shakermaker Promotions
23-10-2009, 04:55 PM
Hi all,
Today I set up the Disco for a wedding that I am doing tomorrow at a venue that I had never been to before.
As always, when I go to a venue I haven't been to before, I always make a point of being friendly and try to have a chat with the C&B Manager or Wedding Co-ordinator.
Anyway, when I turned up at reception and said who I was, the lady behind the desk said "Nice to meet you, please make your way round to the conference area where the staff are waiting for you"... I was a bit confused but made my way there and was greeted by a Manager and 3 staff who were all ready to help me unload and get my gear into the room. Access was easy as I could park right outside. I explained in the nicest possible way that I would rather do it myself as if I dropped something then it was my fault but if someone elsed dropped something it would need to be paid for. They were cool with that.
I started setting up and was asked if I wanted coffee so I said yes and minutes later a pot of coffee (and biscuits!) were brought in to me. The Manager guy stood in the room all the time whilst I set up and was very chatty. He asked questions as to what equipment I used and was I busy etc etc. I set up 4 x LEDJ Uplighters (DMX'd) on the wall behind me aswell as 1 under each speaker stand. Speakers were the DB Tech Actives and on the goalposts were 2 x Mystic LED's, 1 x MarvelLED, 1 x Swingfire and 1 x Laser UK Moon Beam (like the Star Cluster). When it was all set up I asked if I could do a light and soundcheck as I always do and we closed all the curtains.
I must admit, it did look good but seeing the look on the manager's face was a sight!! "That's fantastic!" he said..."It looks really classy". It was the exact comments that I like to hear as that's my aim and he said what I was going to say next "Sometimes less is more". I soundchecked with a Kings of Leon track and he laughed. He gave out a shout to his staff and the 3 guys entered the room. "Look, at last" he said..."A DJ that knows what he's doing". I joked embarassingly "You haven't heard me yet mate!" and he said "Before you leave, make sure we have a card and contact details off you". Then they disappeared.
I finished off taping leads down and making everything safe before making my way back to the reception area to drop off the cards and brochures. The manager was stood behind the desk and we chatted for a while. It turns out that they do not have a resident DJ and currently use an Agency. They never know who they are going to get but they seem to get people in that have far too much equipment for the size of the room and go over the top with sound levels. We walked out to my van and I showed him the JBL's and Bass Bins that I had loaded in there (I wasn't sure as to the size of the room so took both lots just incase). I told him that in my opinion, those speakers were far too much for that room and he said "See, I knew you would know what you're doing". At the end of the day, he was very complimentary to me, the staff treated me well and were very friendly and accomodating and it was refereshing to go to a venue like this.
If I remember I will take the camera with me tomorrow to get some photos. I think they may be interested in using me for future functions etc. We'll see.
Today I set up the Disco for a wedding that I am doing tomorrow at a venue that I had never been to before.
As always, when I go to a venue I haven't been to before, I always make a point of being friendly and try to have a chat with the C&B Manager or Wedding Co-ordinator.
Anyway, when I turned up at reception and said who I was, the lady behind the desk said "Nice to meet you, please make your way round to the conference area where the staff are waiting for you"... I was a bit confused but made my way there and was greeted by a Manager and 3 staff who were all ready to help me unload and get my gear into the room. Access was easy as I could park right outside. I explained in the nicest possible way that I would rather do it myself as if I dropped something then it was my fault but if someone elsed dropped something it would need to be paid for. They were cool with that.
I started setting up and was asked if I wanted coffee so I said yes and minutes later a pot of coffee (and biscuits!) were brought in to me. The Manager guy stood in the room all the time whilst I set up and was very chatty. He asked questions as to what equipment I used and was I busy etc etc. I set up 4 x LEDJ Uplighters (DMX'd) on the wall behind me aswell as 1 under each speaker stand. Speakers were the DB Tech Actives and on the goalposts were 2 x Mystic LED's, 1 x MarvelLED, 1 x Swingfire and 1 x Laser UK Moon Beam (like the Star Cluster). When it was all set up I asked if I could do a light and soundcheck as I always do and we closed all the curtains.
I must admit, it did look good but seeing the look on the manager's face was a sight!! "That's fantastic!" he said..."It looks really classy". It was the exact comments that I like to hear as that's my aim and he said what I was going to say next "Sometimes less is more". I soundchecked with a Kings of Leon track and he laughed. He gave out a shout to his staff and the 3 guys entered the room. "Look, at last" he said..."A DJ that knows what he's doing". I joked embarassingly "You haven't heard me yet mate!" and he said "Before you leave, make sure we have a card and contact details off you". Then they disappeared.
I finished off taping leads down and making everything safe before making my way back to the reception area to drop off the cards and brochures. The manager was stood behind the desk and we chatted for a while. It turns out that they do not have a resident DJ and currently use an Agency. They never know who they are going to get but they seem to get people in that have far too much equipment for the size of the room and go over the top with sound levels. We walked out to my van and I showed him the JBL's and Bass Bins that I had loaded in there (I wasn't sure as to the size of the room so took both lots just incase). I told him that in my opinion, those speakers were far too much for that room and he said "See, I knew you would know what you're doing". At the end of the day, he was very complimentary to me, the staff treated me well and were very friendly and accomodating and it was refereshing to go to a venue like this.
If I remember I will take the camera with me tomorrow to get some photos. I think they may be interested in using me for future functions etc. We'll see.