Have you ever had this ?

[Chris]

Just took an enquiry for a gig and the customer has given me a list of about 80 tracks to play during the 4 hours! About 60 of them are floor killers. If you've ever experienced this, what did you do?

[Excalibur]

Just took an enquiry for a gig and the customer has given me a list of about 80 tracks to play during the 4 hours! About 60 of them are floor killers. If you've ever experienced this, what did you do?

Smile sweetly, while trousering the fee.

Others do not find it so simple, their artistic integrity gets in the way. ;)

[DAVESOUNDS SERVICES]

Seconded there Peter!
Maybe i dont have Artistic Integrity?!?
After all the customer is allways right!
( you might think its rubbish but its THEIR night!
and their money!)

Care to share the list Chris????

[mattydinx]

I explain to my clients that while every effort will be made to play their requests, I can't guarantee that every track will get played.

What tracks have you been given that are floor killers?

[Leicester Ben]

I just ask them if they are sure that's what they want to have played and also if / when nobody is dancing are we ok to play the songs that we think will get people dancing.

[Daryll]

He who pays the ferryman , etc , etc.

I have had them like that before , just because we think that the songs will clear the floor , does not mean they will.

Daryll

[NKR]

Just do what they want and move on. The issues comes when you are dealing with complete idiots (particularly idiot family).
Had the same situation once and stuck to the play list as instructed.
Had father of bride and uncle giving me loads about how rubbish it is and why are you not playing any of the playlist. When I pointed out I had been on playlist all night it was my fault for not playing them in the correct order. It went downhill rapidly from there. The bride thought it was hillarious that we were getting grief, but then she was a drunken fool too.

Faced with the same situation again and with a rubbish playlist I think I might be inclined to pass over the job. Yes we do discuss music and what people want before confirming bookings these days.

[Corabar Steve]

Doing a gig for a couple of friends a few years back, the mother of the bride complained about the music I was playing. I took great delight in showing her the list & pointing out the name on the bottom (her daughter).

[axeman]

Have they prioritised the songs in any way? because 80 songs will play a lot longer than 4 hours, and if you decide which to play and which not to play you may miss out some of their favorite tracks.

i would explain the timing issue and ask them to highlight their favorites.

also ask if you are allowed to take requests on the night? as, if the list is obscure, then you will most likely get people asking you for songs on the night and the party organisers may not want you to stray from their list.

[Chris]

Thanks all, haven't got the track names to hand, but I remember that a slow Nirvana track was really wanted!

Some good ideas there, thanks for those.

[CRAZY K]

Just took an enquiry for a gig and the customer has given me a list of about 80 tracks to play during the 4 hours! About 60 of them are floor killers. If you've ever experienced this, what did you do?

Personally I would be upfront and tell them what you think.

Get on the dog and run through things explaining why you feel in your experience it wont work.

Although they know their family and friends you know more than they do about Discos--hopefully:D

I agree with NKR if you think its going to be a disaster tell them to find someone else.

I have turned away work where they want to go to 2am and 3 am which I am not prepared to do for personal reasons--although I did offer the services of Forum ( and ex Forum) Members to cover the hours.

If you do reach a compromise make sure you GET PAID WELL IN ADVANCE.

I send out with quotes playlists of popular tunes to people that I use regularly and that gives them a clue where I am coming from--if they want AC/DC or RnB all night they certainly would not be asking me to do the gig.

It would be useful to see the tracks--

There is one solution sometimes--if they want a particular Genre or Band of non mainstream style you could dedicate 30 minutes to that and get it out the way early on.;)

The get back to your floorfillers.

[simonp]

Just took an enquiry for a gig and the customer has given me a list of about 80 tracks to play during the 4 hours! About 60 of them are floor killers. If you've ever experienced this, what did you do?

If they were insistant on their playlist I simply wouldn't take the gig, no one is twisting your arm, it's not law you have to do it!




Others do not find it so simple, their artistic integrity gets in the way. ;)

Too darn right Peter :lol:

[musicologydisco]

He who pays the piper........