Traveller Weddings

[paul1404]

OK was totally tricked on Saturday ended up doing a traveller wedding before I tell you what happened what are peoples views on these - would they entertain them and why wouldnt they ? I will tell you how it was later today just wanna put the feelers out

[DiscoMagic]

OMG - would be my first reaction........... :OMG:

But then thinking about it, I don't think it would be any different than doing a wedding where the groom and best man is a couple of lary "wide boys", and guests are much the same. Handled in the correct manner I think that this could actually be a great gig, becuase from what I can tell from the infamous TV show these guys like to have fun and know how to party - even if a little rowdy.

I WOULD however, bring a decent sized roadie with me... just in case!

[deltic]

only done one in the past,about 20 years ago,the car park was like a bently showroom.

it was in a nice lakeside hotel they didn't use the bar,every table just had bottles of spirit on.
quite a few younger ones walking round with enough money to choke a donkey.

arrived to set up and there was a band on during the meal,well three old geezers a snare drum and an accordion.
when they finished there was a duo on who played till 11.30,we did the last hour till 12.30 and to be honest most of them had had enough drink and dancing by then,but there is always one,people were starting to go by this time,however this guy comes over how much to carry on for another hour,did try to explain that we were finished however he managed to persuade me with his wad of cash, he seemed to think £250 would cover another hour(back then the disco would have been £100 but as it was a traveller wedding i had doubled it) i took his money and agreed to play for 1 more hour.............so played about 20mins and the only person left in the room was matey who paid for the extra hour unconscious over a chair,so swithched off packed up and left matey asleep.

no problem getting paid,no trouble at all,wouldn't say i felt completely comfortable but there was two of us on the job and everything went ok..............even got a bonus.

i think it could be more difficult now as the current generation of traveller have a different attitude.

[hammy]

I done a traveller family quite regularly until friday, Weddings, Birthdays etc etc, They were fun and respected me and always paid well, The only thing I will say is dont show that they intimidate you even if they do) as this is what they rely on, I only ever had trouble at one event and this was because they invited an outsider, so my view is Yes they are fine as long as you are aware at all times.

[Danno13]

Just a quick reminder on the following rule guys, as there's been some pretty borderline comments so far.


21. No derogatory remarks based on ethnicity, age, gender, religion, sexual orientation or any other social aspect of a person's background will be permitted, whether directed personally at another member or generic comments made regarding any particular group.

[paul1404]

I arrived at the venue at 4 ish and set up for 5pm - 1st problem was stage was about 7ft tall - always an issue when your deck stand come in at 7.5 ft
so lights on floor table - Luckily hotel had several cams mounted on walls which worked very well. Then discovered was a travellers wedding - was very nervous for next hr - Customer paid immediately - Was very freindly all night - All guests were polite and friendly - No bother - LIttle bit nervy at end of night when packing up as they all were singing and did not understand that the mic was part of my set up and had to be packed away - aprt from this no bother - that programme gypsy wedding is no true indication of what really goes on I totally agree with Hammys comment though

They were fun and respected me and always paid well, The only thing I will say is dont show that they intimidate you even if they do) as this is what they rely on, so my view is Yes they are fine as long as you are aware at all times.

[Shakermaker Promotions]

I've done one before when I worked for someone else. It wasn't actually a wedding though but it was for travellers. I wasn't told this and was totally unaware at the time that they were travellers which was probably a good thing. I sussed it out in the end but by then, everything was cool and it was a good function.

I think the problem is that people have lots of pre-conceptions about them. Like most people I suspect, I have heard lots of stories etc about bad experiences so to be honest, they put me off. If I had an enquiry come in and I knew it was for travellers, I'd have to think long and hard about taking it on myself. I know that sounds bad and it's not meant to. Any function can have trouble at it....we all know that. The thing is, we don't expect it. From the things I have heard, it seems that the trouble happens more often than not as these things so I'm not sure if I could go in with total confidence that it would all be ok and I'd feel at ease.

I hope that makes sense.

[Larry B Entertainment]

OK was totally tricked on Saturday ended up doing a traveller wedding before I tell you what happened what are peoples views on these - would they entertain them and why wouldnt they ? I will tell you how it was later today just wanna put the feelers out

I hope you played this :D

Borat - Gypsy Disco - YouTube

[WWDJ]

I've done one before when I worked for someone else. It wasn't actually a wedding though but it was for travellers. I wasn't told this and was totally unaware at the time that they were travellers which was probably a good thing. I sussed it out in the end but by then, everything was cool and it was a good function.

I think the problem is that people have lots of pre-conceptions about them. Like most people I suspect, I have heard lots of stories etc about bad experiences so to be honest, they put me off. If I had an enquiry come in and I knew it was for travellers, I'd have to think long and hard about taking it on myself. I know that sounds bad and it's not meant to. Any function can have trouble at it....we all know that. The thing is, we don't expect it. From the things I have heard, it seems that the trouble happens more often than not as these things so I'm not sure if I could go in with total confidence that it would all be ok and I'd feel at ease.

I hope that makes sense.

I look at every booking on its merits, so for instance I have turned down 150+ 18 year olds in a village hall with bought in booze and no supervision. I explained that it WOULD be messy and I didn't want to put myself or my equipment open to that risk.

Many moons ago I used to do regular nights in a pub and basically Sunday night was by and large taken over by a large family of settled travellers. I found them to be friendly and polite and yes, there was the occasional ding dong, but it was always sorted within the family and there was no situation where I ever felt at risk.

[DJ Paulie]

There are plenty of places in Dublin where I will either turn down work or think very carefully about doing them. So it's not just travellers, any group of people can be trouble. I used to do a gig in a rough pub where I was in the bay window with the strip light on all the time. The bar staff could always see me so if there was any trouble they could sort it out.

There was a drunk woman dancing near my speakers (I had big berrys at the time on the floor as floor monitors) a couple staggered out the door and bumped into her, she flared up and the hubby decked her ! I turned off the music and the bar staff came over right away and sent them out the pub. One lot out the front and one out the back !

I never had any trouble though as the wife's sister in law grew up round the corner so they knew who I knew ! (It was where Brian McFadden grew up !)

[Twinspin]

I did one earlier this year, Peter helped me with it they were horrible.

[DiscoMagic]

So why were they horrible - elaboration would be good?!?!?!!!!

:)

[DJ Paulie]

I never had any trouble though as the wife's sister in law grew up round the corner so they knew who I knew ! (It was where Brian McFadden grew up !)

I meant Stephen Gately ! :muppet:

[Twinspin]

So why were they horrible - elaboration would be good?!?!?!!!!

:)

The last one i did they were very rude and had no respect for our equipment. They threw our microphones on the floor.

We was going to pack up the equipment and leave. I also learnt off a friend of mine who worked there the next night that one of them had smacked the manager because he wouldnt serve them alcohol after hours

[gaza]

OK was totally tricked on Saturday ended up doing a traveller wedding before I tell you what happened what are peoples views on these - would they entertain them and why wouldnt they ? I will tell you how it was later today just wanna put the feelers out


Where was this Paul

[paul1404]

I Will PM you gaza

[mike8863]

did one 4 years ago, very demanding, turned out to be the biggest brawl on the car park having half trashed the hotels foyer and lounge, every copper from miles around turned up. They did pay me at the start, the hotel gave up trying to get the money off them, as they didn't know they were travellers.
never again.....

[Excalibur]

The last one i did they were very rude and had no respect for our equipment. They threw our microphones on the floor.

We was going to pack up the equipment and leave. I also learnt off a friend of mine who worked there the next night that one of them had smacked the manager because he wouldnt serve them alcohol after hours

John is basically right, but when they learned that politeness achieved more than rudeness, things improved a lot.

Place looked like a bombsite at the end though. Staff had to turn it round for a busy Mother's Day in a few hours, poor souls.:eek: