PDA

View Full Version : One of my best weeks



ppentertainments
11-07-2010, 10:47 PM
I have been going through a rough patch of having alright / poor gigs for about six weeks. Only 2 weeks ago the bride, who was very very drunk, threatened to take me to trading standards. She complained that I did not get people up to dance using her requests. What happened was, her playlist was rubbish to say the least so I was asked by the bride to scrap it in order to get people dancing. I did this and had a majority on the floor. She then came across and said ‘right, now everyone is dancing go back to my playlist’. I did explain what would happen but she was adamant. Sure enough the floor cleared. I got through the night and at the end she said she would take me to trading standards for failing to get people to dance to the music she had asked for. The groom and both sets of parents did apologise. Other events, people have enjoyed but they weren’t brilliant.

However – this week has been all change.

I was out on Wednesday and Thursday doing corporate race nights, had a race night disco for a teachers leaving on Friday and a wedding on Saturday.

The Corporate functions were for the same company who are known to be very particular. They were to impress potential clients so were not your usual screaming and shouting occasions. I received an email on Friday morning to confirm 8 further Race Nights and been asked to quote for a disco for their staff Christmas party. The race nights are midweek again which is a added bonus, and only run from 6 till 9. This will bring in over £4000 from one company. They have agreed and transferring deposits on Monday. On top of this I gave out an amazing 30 business cards to clients attending the event (all requested and never happened on this scale before).

Friday was a complete contrast to the previous 2 days. The teachers were absolutely crackers and a pleasure to be with. I have never seen 80 school staff, including the headmistress, doing the conga round the school hall in my life.:D :D Again from this I have been asked to quote for a similar function for near Christmas and negotiations about some kids Christmas parties (which TBH I am not too keen on).

Saturday was a last minute booking as the DJ had let them down. I had one lead for a last minute booking this night already which fell through so was quite surprised to get a second one. The grooms words were ‘my guests will be awkward so don’t worry, just try your best’. A great night resulted even though it was very hard work. I was quite upset at the end of the night when the B&G disappeared straight away without any acknowledgement. However they returned 10 minutes later with a thank you card (originally for one of the bridesmaids) and a £50 tip :cool: . Whilst packing away the venue manager approached me and asked if I could leave some business cards and what my policies were on residencies or recommendations. I explained that I do not commit to residencies, which he said was fine but I would be his first choice recommendation.

Today I have a total of 8 emails and 6 telephone enquiries from the past few days which I have not been able to attend to which have resulted in 5 bookings, 3 voicemails and the other 6 not replied yet.

Well that’s my willy waving over, all I need now is for the other 51 weeks in the year to follow suit.

JamesXP
11-07-2010, 10:54 PM
Bravo, sounds like quite a week.

DeckstarDeluxe
11-07-2010, 11:35 PM
Nice one!

Mark Wild
12-07-2010, 12:31 AM
30 business cards ! That is amazing, good on you !

funksoulbrother
12-07-2010, 12:44 AM
IMHO that is NOT "willy waving", well done, it's always nice to hear some good news. It can help to inspire others who may be down, and there is enough bad news in the world.. I hope all the booked gigs and prospective gigs are just as good as those last week.

:) :beer1: :beer1: :)

Excalibur
12-07-2010, 06:25 AM
Well done that man. Glad to hear it.

soundmaster mobile disco
12-07-2010, 06:49 AM
very good

well done

WWDJ
12-07-2010, 07:03 AM
Only 2 weeks ago the bride, who was very very drunk, threatened to take me to trading standards. She complained that I did not get people up to dance using her requests. What happened was, her playlist was rubbish to say the least so I was asked by the bride to scrap it in order to get people dancing. I did this and had a majority on the floor. She then came across and said ‘right, now everyone is dancing go back to my playlist’. I did explain what would happen but she was adamant. Sure enough the floor cleared. I got through the night and at the end she said she would take me to trading standards for failing to get people to dance to the music she had asked for. The groom and both sets of parents did apologise.

It amazes me when people are so up themselves. I cannot stand pretentious, arrogant idiots and unfortunately we do have to deal with these people.

Well done on getting the extra work and it just goes to prove that you are pleasing most of the people most of the time, which is all you can ask for really :D

StarZSoundS
12-07-2010, 07:49 AM
If you had only told us about the positives in your week Chris it may have been considered as Willy Waving...:eek: :eek:

However ...you mention some negatives as well and as such give a good account of how being a DJ can be an up and down business....I enjoyed your report...and well done.:) :) :)

jc light and sound
12-07-2010, 08:22 AM
Top man well done we all have gigs where we come away from and think mmm strange night etc but as the saying goes tomorrow is another day and could bring the best gig ever well done for keeping your chin up.:)

gaza
12-07-2010, 10:38 AM
I have been going through a rough patch of having alright / poor gigs for about six weeks. Only 2 weeks ago the bride, who was very very drunk, threatened to take me to trading standards. She complained that I did not get people up to dance using her requests. What happened was, her playlist was rubbish to say the least so I was asked by the bride to scrap it in order to get people dancing. I did this and had a majority on the floor. She then came across and said ‘right, now everyone is dancing go back to my playlist’. I did explain what would happen but she was adamant. Sure enough the floor cleared. I got through the night and at the end she said she would take me to trading standards for failing to get people to dance to the music she had asked for. The groom and both sets of parents did apologise. Other events, people have enjoyed but they weren’t brilliant.

However – this week has been all change.

I was out on Wednesday and Thursday doing corporate race nights, had a race night disco for a teachers leaving on Friday and a wedding on Saturday.

The Corporate functions were for the same company who are known to be very particular. They were to impress potential clients so were not your usual screaming and shouting occasions. I received an email on Friday morning to confirm 8 further Race Nights and been asked to quote for a disco for their staff Christmas party. The race nights are midweek again which is a added bonus, and only run from 6 till 9. This will bring in over £4000 from one company. They have agreed and transferring deposits on Monday. On top of this I gave out an amazing 30 business cards to clients attending the event (all requested and never happened on this scale before).

Friday was a complete contrast to the previous 2 days. The teachers were absolutely crackers and a pleasure to be with. I have never seen 80 school staff, including the headmistress, doing the conga round the school hall in my life.:D :D Again from this I have been asked to quote for a similar function for near Christmas and negotiations about some kids Christmas parties (which TBH I am not too keen on).

Saturday was a last minute booking as the DJ had let them down. I had one lead for a last minute booking this night already which fell through so was quite surprised to get a second one. The grooms words were ‘my guests will be awkward so don’t worry, just try your best’. A great night resulted even though it was very hard work. I was quite upset at the end of the night when the B&G disappeared straight away without any acknowledgement. However they returned 10 minutes later with a thank you card (originally for one of the bridesmaids) and a £50 tip :cool: . Whilst packing away the venue manager approached me and asked if I could leave some business cards and what my policies were on residencies or recommendations. I explained that I do not commit to residencies, which he said was fine but I would be his first choice recommendation.

Today I have a total of 8 emails and 6 telephone enquiries from the past few days which I have not been able to attend to which have resulted in 5 bookings, 3 voicemails and the other 6 not replied yet.

Well that’s my willy waving over, all I need now is for the other 51 weeks in the year to follow suit.


The playlist that i had the other week had some people dancing but not as many as i would have liked, so i sneaked a couple of songs in that i thought would work better with that nights crowd and straight away about nine or ten people rushed onto the dance floor, but then the Bride came over and said " can you stick to the playlist " so i did this and lots of people went and sat down.:(

Hey ho

simonp
12-07-2010, 12:46 PM
Nice one Chris

It can be a total downer if you have a run of bad /poor gigs - so a good week probably more than makes up it :D

DazzyD
12-07-2010, 01:12 PM
Nice one, Chris! £4k worth of work in Race Nights certainly puts paid to the "You can't get that round here" comments.

As for the requested playlists, I did an engagement party on Saturday and the client said she just wanted "chart" music and was confident that her guests would be up dancing to lots of chart R&B. To be fair, the first half of the show people were just chatting to each other and weren't too interested in the disco (although there were some tapping feet and people singing along). I played more chart stuff and R&B at the start of the second half, got about half a dozen young ladies up dancing but then I got a request for Macarena and everyone flooded to the dancefloor. Queue Cha Cha Slide and varies other items of party cheese and it turned in to a really good night. The client said I did a great job and wanted to book me for the wedding next year! Job done! (and party cheese wins the day - yet again!) ;)