Everything to everyone

[Shaun]

Just a question based out of curiosity as I'm just off the phone to an enquirer.

It was an enquiry for a Children's party for a few hours in December on a Sunday afternoon I have available. I politely declined the gig and passed on the number of a local DJ that I know provides Children's parties.

Just curious as to how many of you would take on a gig you don't particularly like doing or feel best suited to just to ensure you are out working on a date you have available? I haven't done kids parties in years, despite doing many in the past. I just don't feel I can provide that service as well as I could an adult event. Is there certain types of events you will or won't do, or do you try to be 'everything to everyone'?

[Javlingames]

I dont do weddings, I used to do them alot but got sick to the back teeth of them. I dont do nightclubs anymore either.

[Daryll]

Unless I know the people , I shun away from 16th , 18th, and 21st events , just not my cup of tea.
I did an 18th a few weeks ago . but the girls mother works with my wife , my wife new the girl ,so there was no problem , I dont mind dipping my toes outside my comfort zone , but I would rather do a gig that I was more au fait with the age group and music.

Daryll

[hammy]

I`m the sane as Darryl, But I do love doing kids disco`s, It gives me a chance to let my hair down.

[Daryll]

I was going to add , I love children`s discos , I have one this Saturday in a private house (I will be setting up in the kitchen ,which is bigger than some venues I play at ...;) )

Music from the last few months top 40 , a few games and glow sticks , sorted.........

Daryll

[Shaun]

I don't mind dipping my feet outside my comfort zone either, if I feel I can do the event justice and provide a high level of service. Yesterday I was providing music and making announcements at an in-store event. I'm doing the same today. Definitely waaaaay outside my normal scope of work but I felt I had the necessary music and announcing skills to offer and do justice to the event and the client.


I've turned away 18th's in the past. I've turned away hire jobs as it's not something I've ever done. I recall turning away a few specialist theme nights (Northern Soul, and a Heavy Metal night) as I either didn't have specialist knowledge or felt I couldn't do it the justice a dedicated specialist theme night deserved. I heard they found a local DJ for the Theme Night, but the event wasn't the success it deserved to be as the DJ had a limited selection and repeated a lot of the tracks many times throughout the evening. Perhaps they were re-requested again and again, I just don't know, but I got the feeling it was because he had a limited repertoire and maybe should have left the job to DJ that had specialist knowledge in that genre.

Over the years I've seen it time and time again, DJs that try to be everything to everyone and will do absolutely any type of event. Now, I'm not saying it's right or wrong, who am I to say what they are capable of. I just feel that it's not something that fits me and the way I DJ. I know my limitations and only offer my services to the types of events that I feel I can do justice and provide a high level of service to.

[SC Events]

I don't do discos for kids under 11, as I feel really self-conscious doing all the party games etc. 11+ all they usually want is music, so that is fine.

Also, last week I received a phone call asking if I was available to DJ for a ladies night, with 200 females in attendance...of course, I was interested lol, right up until the point she told me they were having a male stripper. That is when I politely turned down the gig.

[Shakermaker Promotions]

There are certain gigs I won't do personally but if there's a little bit to be made on them then I will take them on. If it's a case of someone wanting a specific genre of dance music all night then I know various DJ's who will be able to do that and I'll supply the equipment as more often than not they'll just have decks and a mixer.
With reference to 18ths, I haven't really encountered any problems with the ones that I have done but that's not to say it won't happen. I take them on but I always ask if there will be family in attendance. Not sure if I would take one on that was just a free for all or party that didn't include family.

It's funny that this thread should be posted as it was only on Monday that I received a call from one of my residencies out of town.
The owner asked if I did childrens parties. First of all I said not really as I have someone that does them for me. I usually just pass them on to her as she does a lot of work with children and is really good at getting them up and going etc.
When he said it was a 13th Birthday then I said I'd do it as I have done lots of them and they have all been really good. I've just received the request list and it was as I expected and full of current chart stuff. 3 hours is plenty enough for them and it's easy too especially when it's girls. It was for a night that I had off and it's decent money too.

[chrisj]

I enjoy doing children's parties but then I have been pushing these more for the last 8 years since I became a member of Anglia Magic Society. I usually include a magic show but this morning I had an inquiry for a 6 yr party, just disco and games, as the girl doesn't want the magic. Another Sunday afternoon confirmed.

[Jonathan Ford]

Good decision, Scott. I did a couple of these in the mid-90's, and was lucky to escape with my life!

I tend to avoid things that, despite my best efforts, I don't think I'll be the best DJ for that particular client. I don't like adult birthdays under 30, kids parties or anything genre-specific. Having said that...I did a 16th in September and have got a 21st later this month!

[TONYTIGER]

I don't do discos for kids under 11, as I feel really self-conscious doing all the party games etc. 11+ all they usually want is music, so that is fine.

Also, last week I received a phone call asking if I was available to DJ for a ladies night, with 200 females in attendance...of course, I was interested lol, right up until the point she told me they were having a male stripper. That is when I politely turned down the gig.

Ladies night you should have jumped at it great fun,i used to do loads of these of course you have to do them in Drag to get into the spirit,i made the front page of The News of The World back in the 70s but that's another story.Love kids party's as well.

[STEVE HANLEY]

We do kids parties but that's Mary's domain. I personally couldn't do them. If ever I've been asked to do a specialist night. That depends on what the genre was. In the past I've sort advice from the likes of Steve (Corabar) and Martin (Funkymook) for Ska and Punk as that appears to be their specialist subjects.

Even though I know a fair bit about those genres anyway, their advice has been invaluable.

[soundmaster mobile disco]

I dont really advertise the fact i do childrens parties,but i did one last saturday for a friends liyttle boy.Its the first time in ages that ive done a kids party.
One of the main reasons for not doing them is price.I find that they are not prepared to pay a decent fee for a 2 hours kids party.

[lazersounds]

I also don't do childrens parties, But thats probably for the best as I'm a grumpy old fart :D

I won't do parties in peoples houses either, far too much hassle with neighbours and size of rooms.

[djdave01]

We avoid 18th's & 21st's unless there in upmarket venues or know there will be security attending.

Do kids parties all the time, cant charge much for them, but im happy to earn some money on a Sunday afternoon.

I got the same enquiry as Shaun, i couldnt do it due to being already booked.

Dave

[DeckstarDeluxe]

I avoid kids parties like you Shaun, I did them and people seemed happy but I wasn't happy with the performance myself.

I'm pretty much all weddings with the odd older birthday event. If it wasn't for christmas season I'd say my workload was 99% weddings.

[Excalibur]

I`m the sane as Darryl, But I do love doing kids disco`s, It gives me a chance to let my hair down.
I'd settle for having the hair to let down. :(


right up until the point she told me they were having a male stripper. That is when I politely turned down the gig.
As long as they didn't want you to be the Stripper! :eek: As long as that wasn't necessary, I'd have taken it on.

Shaun, what a good question. As one of the members well known for a propensity to take a wide variety gigs, with the main criteria being their willingness and capability to pay my fee, I've got to admit there are some I turn down. And often I'm still coerced into doing the gigs, cos the customer knows what I can do. I am very unwilling to take parties for the under 11s, yet one regular customer who books me for these alwways remarks that I throw myself into them, despite my oft repeated claim that I'm not a children's entertainer.

The wedding I've got on Saturday filled me with dread, when I got the playlist back, cos it was mainly Metal, of a kind I'm totally unfamiliar with. ( I could have played Sabbath, Deep Purple, and similar for a wek, but the ones on my list I didn't have a clue. ) Having met the couple, it turns out that a dozen of the tracks I've been given will be more than sufficient, and I knew a few more anyway. Phew.

I reckon the only gigs I'd regularly refuse ( other than functions where it obviously needed a really specialist DJ) would be the aforesaid Metal gigs, and children's parties for the under fives. I'd think twice about ones for children aged between five and eleven.

[Chris G]

Not overly keen on under 5's parties but did have somebody earlier in the year who wanted to book me for a hen night which I didn't have availability for, thought afterwards that I may have had a lucky escape!

[musicologydisco]

Same as OP for me. I passed a kids party enquiry to a local guy (Abracadabra Chris who is on here). He's the expert and I really don't want these. I will do teens upwards.

[BossmanKaraokeDisco]

Also, last week I received a phone call asking if I was available to DJ for a ladies night, with 200 females in attendance...of course, I was interested lol, right up until the point she told me they were having a male stripper. That is when I politely turned down the gig.

Dont see why, used to do ladies nights at a club in Coventry, 400 women, Comedian, Drag act and male strippers, used to be a fantastic night.
They used to get up and dance to anything and was a great time.
Try anything once, its all part of the job :)

[Shaun]

I got the same enquiry as Shaun, i couldnt do it due to being already booked.

Dave

I'd passed your number on to the enquirer, as I know you do kids parties.

[djdave01]

I'd passed your number on to the enquirer, as I know you do kids parties.

Thanks for that, i passed on Garys number to her

[DJDC]

I too avoid kids parties unless we know the family, or they are family. I try to avoid anything that is really specialist, where a large amount of music as northern soul, Irish, Heavy Metal (especially the type of stuff the 18 -21yr olds like), although I will do 18th's, 21st's etc, and I will always consider playlists on any function and I've had quite a few challenging ones presented and it's been quite a challenge to make some of them work, but I won't cover work if I think I am going to be too much outside my comfort zone. Some of my best nights where I have really had to think about how I will meet with the clients expecations, Iwon't also do jobs if they want excessive amounts of DnB etc. I have done a few specialty nights, recently did a whole night playing music from 1992, and it was a great sucess! And 40ths with only 80's music. I've also done reggae, 60's, 70's nights in the past.


I did recently encourage a Bride to book a band, she had booked me and did not really give me any musical requirements until after returning the contract. I was not overly happy with the rock and metal music they wanted, I had virtually none of them, I knew that I'd taken on more than I could chew, and a disco was not what they really needed, they did appreicate me been honest, and I was even able to help them identify suitable alternatives.

One thing I always review before taking a booking is the venue, if I don't like it, it really does not matter how easy the music is.