The trials and tribulations of working with Live Acts.

[Excalibur]

Not exactly sure if this fits better in Chat, if so, please move.

OK, so I've worked with and against one or two. :D Let's see how many neurones I can fire up. :o :o

Rock Stars: Once worked in a Village Hall with a band widely acknowledged as Hull's premier act. When I arrived, the road crew had already set everything up. Good start. Two-plus hours into the gig, and no sign of the Artistes. :confused: :confused: In true Rock and Roll style, they'd forgotten how to get there!! :eek: :eek: Turned up really really late, proceeded to act like prima donnas, insulted the crowd, and generally bombed.

Tough Crowd/Who recommended this act?: On more than one occasion, I've worked with acts totally unsuitable for the crowd/occasion, who have been recommended/booked by punters at previous gigs.
A vocalist who got zero response from the crowd said to me as he walked off "Tough crowd. The actual problem was "Wrong set". :(
A freeform Jazz band were booked for a wedding. Excruciatingly loud, totally off the wall, and after eight minutes (one song!! ) the best man asked in stentorian tones: " Can you lot play Hi Ho Silver Lining" ? On receiving a negative answer, he followed with: " Then get off and collect your money. DJ, you're back on" :D :D
At a residency many years ago, the band booked for NYE were also booked for a function two months earlier. They were so bad that the Hotel asked if I could do NYE on my own, as they didn't dare inflict these lot on the punters!!

Spatial awareness: Same Hotel, rigged kit up early, came back to find all my Kit hidden by a DUO:eek: :eek: They'd covered the whole dancefloor in gear, and when they struck up, the first three rows were deafened.
Big Hotel in Pontefract, the band built their kit round and on me and mine! :eek: Not a lot of room that night.

Great Minds: Always give the DJ a song sheet. ;) He may have tailored the songs he plays to the crowd in front of him. One night, I did a Singer's second set before he did, almost song for song!

It's been a pleasure: The ones you love to find you're on the bill with. Trax, The Unknown, Rogues of Rhythm/Casablanca Boys, and some I've forgotten.

Come on folks, add your experiences, good or ill. :D

[Penfold42]

" Can you lot play Hi Ho Silver Lining" ? On receiving a negative answer, he followed with: " Then get off and collect your money. DJ, you're back on" :D :D

PMSL.....:D :D :D

Band I worked with for a wedding turned up with all the bits drums, keyboards....ect. Singer turned up without a mic..:confused: ...only one piece to remember and she didn't have one.

Worked with a magician who did the same....:eek: to my comment "Your not much of a magican if you can't make one appear."......he didn't like that...:D

Played another gig with an ABBA tribute band...all they had to do was a sound check, all the PA was put in for them. Keyboard player came on....hit the keyboard with the 1st note and the stand collapsed....PMSL...and about 100 others did...:D

[ppentertainments]

Will have to come back to this when finished typing it up :D :D

[DeckstarDeluxe]

I have to say while Ive not djed as nearly much as some of you old coggers on here................................;) but Ive never had a issue with a live act. Ive always made a point of introducing myself at the right time i.e if your carrying in heavy gear your not really in a socialable mood!. Usually speaking to them about their set and explaining you dont want to play anything they are usually gets them onside. The night is far more enjoyable when everyone is getting along and makes you look far more professional.

[NKR]

Had an interesting one this summer. Worked a wedding where they had booked a rock band - Kings of Leon, Killers, Stereophonics type stuff. Not a very big room at all.
The bride collared me in a right grump about four songs into the first set and shouted 'Why are they so loud'. Let me think? Hmm they are a rock band maybe. She proceeded to be very grumpy about it being awful - yes of course its my fault, the DJ, that the band YOU booked are a really loud rock band that don't usually do weddings. How stupid of me not to have known that.

[soundtracker]

I have to say while Ive not djed as nearly much as some of you old coggers on here................................;) but Ive never had a issue with a live act. Ive always made a point of introducing myself at the right time i.e if your carrying in heavy gear your not really in a socialable mood!. Usually speaking to them about their set and explaining you dont want to play anything they are usually gets them onside. The night is far more enjoyable when everyone is getting along and makes you look far more professional.

As you so rightly say " Ive not djed as nearly much as some of you old coggers on here" - when you have, you will come to realise that it really doesn't matter how you approach some bands, they are made up of egotistical pond-life who couldn't care less how nice or helpful you are trying to be! Their whole raison d'etre is to make your life a misery, because they are a star!:)

[Dynamic Entertainment]

And DJisn has nor reals skill...they are musicians after all..... dont forget that Peter ;)

I had one bride and groom insist on coming up 200 miles to meet me face to face because a local band theyve booked told them that all djs:

1. Never play the right music
2. Always take up all the stage area
3. Generally try to make bands lives misery.......

[Excalibur]

As you so rightly say " Ive not djed as nearly much as some of you old coggers on here" - when you have, you will come to realise that it really doesn't matter how you approach some bands, they are made up of egotistical pond-life who couldn't care less how nice or helpful you are trying to be! Their whole raison d'etre is to make your life a misery, because they are a star!:)

Ah, you've worked with them as well. ;) :D :D


And DJisn has nor reals skill...they are musicians after all..... dont forget that Peter ;)

I had one bride and groom insist on coming up 200 miles to meet me face to face because a local band theyve booked told them that all djs:

1. Never play the right music
2. Always take up all the stage area
3. Generally try to make bands lives misery.......
Dear Pot, love Kettle? :mad:

[pagan_flame]

Xmas 2009, Military Ball.

Abba tribute band setup up onstage, their total PA is 2 x Mackie SRM 450.

I also have 2 x Mackie SRM 450 visible at my side of the stage, in the titchy space they have left me to set up in.

Abba tribute proceed to soundcheck. Then I soundcheck.

Abba tribute then spend 30 minutes trying to get their rig to put out the same sort of power as mine, which is Very Obviously Superior To Theirs --- and eventually give up and slope off to the dressing room, looking defeated.

Totally missing the dB Tech Sub 15 (1.6kW) that I have - that they can't see due to it being down the side of the stage - due to the titchy space they have left me to set up in.

:D

[Dynamic Entertainment]

Xmas 2009, Military Ball.

Abba tribute band setup up onstage, their total PA is 2 x Mackie SRM 450.

I also have 2 x Mackie SRM 450 visible at my side of the stage, in the titchy space they have left me to set up in.

Abba tribute proceed to soundcheck. Then I soundcheck.

Abba tribute then spend 30 minutes trying to get their rig to put out the same sort of power as mine, which is Very Obviously Superior To Theirs --- and eventually give up and slope off to the dressing room, looking defeated.

Totally missing the dB Tech Sub 15 (1.6kW) that I have - that they can't see due to it being down the side of the stage - due to the titchy space they have left me to set up in.

:D

Awesome. I once went up against a band (think i mentioned it on here) that had a pair of very top end mackie actives, 1300w...140odd spl AND a pair of peavy 18" bass bins...again a rock group...with my 2 RCF AT312A and a pair of 705AS bins...and surprisingly they commented on how nice and rounded my sound was and how they had never worked with a dj who had invested in such a nice sound system. It wasnt long after i bought it, so was well chuffed :)

[DJ INDIE]

For the first 5 or 6 years in my band (doing weddings, corporate gigs, functions etc) every DJ bar one or two was a prat - either intentionally or not.

Until you have experienced it from the bands view you have no idea what is needed or required, couple that with some (albeit not very professional) DJs attitudes and lack of fore thought and it can be a recipie for disaster.


we had DJs:

1)take all the plugs up.
2)take all the space up
3)aim lights in our faces/eyes during the set
3b)turn all the lights off during playing
4)disappear when we're ready to go on
5)not be there when we were ready to finish
6)unplug our equipment when it was switched on
7)get the bands name wrong
8)play the songs we were going to play before we got chance (even though we'd given him a set list)

i could go on and on.


it would have been great and a lot less stressful to play with professionals like on here, thats for sure. working successfully with a live act is a skill. fact.

[rob1963]

we had DJs:

1)take all the plugs up.
2)take all the space up
3)aim lights in our faces/eyes during the set
3b)turn all the lights off during playing
4)disappear when we're ready to go on
5)not be there when we were ready to finish
6)unplug our equipment when it was switched on
7)get the bands name wrong
8)play the songs we were going to play before we got chance (even though we'd given him a set list)


Funnily enough, the first two are the biggest problems I've had with bands over the years...so it works both ways!

[soundtracker]

3b)turn all the lights off during playing


I also love the way that bands assume that we are there to provide a lightshow for them!

[Corabar Steve]

1)take all the plugs up.What both of them?

3)aim lights in our faces/eyes during the set
3b)turn all the lights off during playing

I also love the way that bands assume that we are there to provide a lightshow for them!Indeed

7)get the bands name wrong.
At least you gave the DJ the chance th introduce you. I've lost count of the amount of times that I've faded my last track out, picked up the mic & just as I'm about to introduce the band they launch in without warning.

The last time this happened was with an Abba tribute act. Before they went on I asked them what their name was so I could introduce them. I made it clear that it was for introduction purposes (as opposed to just so that I knew who to recomend if they were any good).

I finished my last track of the set, picked up & switched on my mic.....

"And now ladies & gents, it's time fo""GOOD EVENING LADIES & GENTLEMEN! ARE YOU READY TO PARTY?"

WTF!!! you'd think they'd actually let me finish speaking FFS!!

I had the last laugh. Seems the audience weren't particularly into Abba & they bombed.

[Twinspin]

Im always polite to bands. I never stoop to their levels and remain professional on the job. If they behave like idiots. Then they are the ones who are been unreasonable.

If they push their luck then ill have a word with them and make it clear we are both here to work tonight and for the sake of client it would be better if we got on professionally during the evening rather than being at each others throats.

Ive had one duo who i worked with. They were both idiots and they both got owned shortly after by the groom for been rude to people at the party.

[NKR]

I have worked with quite a few bands and never had an issue really, but I am sure there are some out there.

I have the boot on the other foot in August where we are doing a vocal only job (no DJ'ing) as they have a friend who is a DJ.
I will need to keep my DJ ego in check and see what he is like. If he is a sid then the whole rig is going up for the vocal session and coming down straight after - just to make a point.
If he is a decent bloke then won't step on his toes.

[Jonny Boy]

Until you have experienced it from the bands view you have no idea what is needed or required, couple that with some (albeit not very professional) DJs attitudes and lack of fore thought and it can be a recipie for disaster.
.............
it would have been great and a lot less stressful to play with professionals like on here, thats for sure. working successfully with a live act is a skill. fact.

Amen brother! Cuts both ways I suppose: I ALWAYS try to get in touch with supporting DJs before vocal-only shows and try to create a comraderie from the get-go. If they're kind enough to leave lights running while I sing: BONZER. If not, I have my own.

Not once has a DJ approached me on learning there's a live act....but then I've not had chance to work with the fine gents and ladies on here, have i?



If he is a sid then the whole rig is going up for the vocal session and coming down straight after - just to make a point.
If he is a decent bloke then won't step on his toes.

<Sucks air through teeth>. Do unto others, man.......

Myself, I'd at least extend the courtesy of a "are you bothered if we pack down while you DJ?" Sid or not.

I used to just pack and go, but am now willing to hang around if this will distrupt the DJ or the guests. If I can partly pack-down during the DJ set then that's part-way. 95% of times it's feasible to pack away and go during the final disco set anyway, and the DJ doesn't normally mind.

But if i had someone crossing back and forth in front of me as I DJ'd I'd be quite put off... doesn't look that good to the guests either.

I'll say it again: why can't we all just get along? ;-)

[Corabar Entertainment]

Not once has a DJ approached me on learning there's a live act.......and we've never had it the other way round! (We always contact the band beforehand)

There are good and bad live acts / DJs.

We've had the misfortune to work with some pig-headed rude, ignorant, egotistical morons, but we've also worked with some considerate, nice, friendly, decent acts too.

Guess which gigs tend to go the best? :D

[NKR]

Myself, I'd at least extend the courtesy of a "are you bothered if we pack down while you DJ?" Sid or not.

I used to just pack and go, but am now willing to hang around if this will distrupt the DJ or the guests. If I can partly pack-down during the DJ set then that's part-way. 95% of times it's feasible to pack away and go during the final disco set anyway, and the DJ doesn't normally mind.



Don't worry I know the venue inside out and will work with the DJ to ensure I can get out without disrupting him, regardless of whether its a pro rig or some bedroom toys he is using. I will do the right thing and call him as we are porfessionals.

We are being paid to do two vocal sets finishing at around 11:30. I am not waiting around until 1:00am to pack down.


...and we've never had it the other way round! (We always contact the band beforehand)



Neither have I actually. I have always had to chase the live acts when we have been the DJ.

I will refer back to my post. If they seem okay then no worries I will play ball completely. I have just have a feeling on this one.

It's an agency job, so will let you know later in August how it went.

[DeckstarDeluxe]

end of the day theres bad djs and bad live acts isnt there. Wouldnt it annoy us if we all got painted with the same brush before some live act we were working with had some bad experiences before?

[Jonny Boy]

end of the day theres bad djs and bad live acts isnt there. Wouldnt it annoy us if we all got painted with the same brush before some live act we were working with had some bad experiences before?

Amen again!

I think PART of the problem is that bad DJs don't bother to learn off forums like this and bad live acts vastly don't even seem to have the option to "better themselves" (for want of a better term) via forums like this.

And (IMO) many of the hard-to-work-with acts have come up vastly via the pub & club circuits where presentation vastly doesn't matter (so much).

[JAMdisco]

I've never really had any problems with live acts, apart from taking up too much room as always. But as I was once in a 5 piece rock band, I do understand that you need a lot of room to perform at your best :D

I always have a bit of banter with them as I introduce myself to them and always ask for a song sheet!

As for the quality of the bands, have seen some shocking ones to some absolutely outstanding ones. One I played with at the Hull & Humberside Round Table dinner dance was 'The Herbs'. To say they were fantastic is an understatement, worked the crowd really well and the bass guitarist was phenomenal. :D

[DJ INDIE]

I also love the way that bands assume that we are there to provide a lightshow for them!

Proving my point here!

Turning the lights off doesn't deny them a light show,(you're seeing it from the DJ side only) it puts them in the dark so they can't see fretboards, pedal settings and set lists, making it very difficult to play!

[Corabar Steve]

So they sould have their own lights if they need them that much & not rely on the DJ "loaning" them his.

Or turn the house lights on.

[Excalibur]

Proving my point here!

Turning the lights off doesn't deny them a light show,(you're seeing it from the DJ side only) it puts them in the dark so they can't see fretboards, pedal settings and set lists, making it very difficult to play!

I've worked with bands where I'd regard that as an improvement. ;)

[Corabar Entertainment]

Proving my point here!

Turning the lights off doesn't deny them a light show,(you're seeing it from the DJ side only) it puts them in the dark so they can't see fretboards, pedal settings and set lists, making it very difficult to play!But a bit of courtesy - eg contacting beforehand and asking, or even asking on the night.

It's the automatic expectation that is wrong.

[Babybob]

Amen again!

I think PART of the problem is that bad DJs don't bother to learn off forums like this and bad live acts vastly don't even seem to have the option to "better themselves" (for want of a better term) via forums like this.

And (IMO) many of the hard-to-work-with acts have come up vastly via the pub & club circuits where presentation vastly doesn't matter (so much).


I saw a solo artist from Newport the other day at my local, I helped him carry his gear in and watched him set up, he taped all his cables down and put a black cloth over the table that his Dynacord powered mixer and 2 play out units sat on.
All his gear was top notch stuff, if I remember he had EV tops and subs (only 12 or 15 inch i think) and a £800 Sennheiser microphone.

His name was Rob Dee and he was getting around £120 for the gig which involved an 80 mile round trip.......he was very good with a soulful Luther Vandross type voice.

I told him what I had learned from this site and he agreed that appearance was a major factor in him getting repeat bookings.

In case your wondering why I can't remember exactly what his equipment was it's because I was celebrating Wales's last gasp win over Scotland and I was very drunk on leaving the place.

:beer1:

[Excalibur]

In case your wondering why I can't remember exactly what his equipment was it's because I was celebrating Wales's last gasp win over Scotland and I was very drunk on leaving the place.

:beer1:

I do hope you didn't drive your golf buggy after all that beer. ;) :D

[Babybob]

Haha....I couldn't say "Golf buggy" never mind drive one.

What was Andy Powell thinking eh, that's his International career over with now. :eek: