ONE MORE SONG!

[deanoakley]

After a bit of advice regarding the classic 'ONE MORE SONG!' shenanigans that always happens at the end of the night.

How do you tackle it?

I normally aim to have a sing-a-long track as my last one (Take That, Oasis, etc) and don't usually have a problem playing one more, depending on how strict the venue is.

Saturday in particular, it was 10 minutes past midnight and they were all still begging for more, some in particular were rather rude and forceful with their requests. I don't like to be rude back myself so normally laugh things off as I always see the crowd on the night as potential future customers but these in particular were very challenging.

[Jim - Scotland's Party DJ]

I can usually gauge with a crowd if it's going to be a one more song type crowd and try to end accordingly i.e. 5 minutes shy of the ending - you don't want to :Censored::Censored::Censored::Censored: off a venue...

Plus I always check with the bride and groom - they've specifically picked a last tune after all - they might want that to be it dead and buried.

I usually go for a jump around-y banger - Jump Around being one, Tubthumping being another - they've got quite an instant "YAY WE'RE GETTING ANOTHER TUNE" hit to them.

On Saturday the crowd were gunning for one more so I kept dropping in the horn intro to Jump Around then pausing - asked the bride and groom over the mic - "are we doing this guys?"

The answer was no they were done for the night so tune is done, crowd know I was willing to do it and everyone leaves happy.

Unfortunately it sounds like you just had one of those crowds.

[Excalibur]

One of the age old DJ quandaries, we've had this a lot. Some folk recommend false endings, so they think they're getting something extra.
I tend to use Sweet Caroline as the end, much the same as you Dean. Sometimes ( like Saturday ) it's NYNY, cos a guest requested it, and it worked well.

Playing one more is a slippery slope, and unless it's agreed ( paid ) overtime ( with the venue's consent of course ) I tend not to play the nineteen "one mores". Once you've played one, you've left yourself open to it.

[funkymook]

Gather everybody onto the dance-floor with the B&G in the middle and playing their first dance again as the last song of the night, this always results in big cheers and clapping at the end and stops any calls for ‘one more’ in my experience. Obviously OK this with the B&G beforehand, if they have chosen a final song just do the same with that instead. It has to be a special sort of idiot who shouts ‘one more’ and ruins the moment after a finale like that.

[mattydj50]

Gather everybody onto the dance-floor with the B&G in the middle and playing their first dance again as the last song of the night, this always results in big cheers and clapping at the end and stops any calls for ‘one more’ in my experience. Obviously OK this with the B&G beforehand, if they have chosen a final song just do the same with that instead. It has to be a special sort of idiot who shouts ‘one more’ and ruins the moment after a finale like that.

That's what I do too. It also helps to have the venue manager stood by the house lights which get blasted on as the last song finishes.

By the time guests have realised, I've turned off and disappeared to the toilet!

[funkymook]

That's what I do too. It also helps to have the venue manager stood by the house lights which get blasted on as the last song finishes.


I hate it when the lights come on full blast immediately after the last song, it gives a real ‘now :Censored:off home’ message - much prefer it if the lights can be kept low and gradually raised (or just one to two zones lit if they’re not on dimmers).

[Excalibur]

Gather everybody onto the dance-floor with the B&G in the middle and playing their first dance again as the last song of the night,


That's what I do too. It also helps to have the venue manager stood by the house lights which get blasted on as the last song finishes.

Well yes, but I've always had great difficulty finding a B&G at most birthday parties, especially when it's a thirteen year old. :p


I hate it when the lights come on full blast immediately after the last song, it gives a real ‘now :Censored:off home’ message -.

And I wish more venues did that. I hate it when they insist you finish on the dot, and then leave the place in virtual darkness. :mad: Punters stay put, and you're packing up in the dark.

I used to have a residency where they knew The Magic Words, and a member of staff was standing poised in readiness with a finger on the light switch.

[mattydj50]

And I wish more venues did that. I hate it when they insist you finish on the dot, and then leave the place in virtual darkness. :mad: Punters stay put, and you're packing up in the dark.

I used to have a residency where they knew The Magic Words, and a member of staff was standing poised in readiness with a finger on the light switch.

That is the beauty of only working in the same venue all the time. All the late staff there are well trained (and want to go home themselves)!!

It is (usually) a "phased" light up though as the lights are on dimmer switches, so there is no instant retina destruction. Under certain situations though, the need to turn the dimmers or operate the switches is a little more urgent, shall we say.

If the guests are still lurking around after 15-20 minutes and not moving off to the residents bar, plan B is to switch the Air Con to Arctic mode and open both fire doors!

[musicology]

I sometimes wander off and hide just before the end of the last tune so they can't see me and pester!

[Nakatomi]

I sometimes wander off and hide just before the end of the last tune so they can't see me and pester!

I tried that once. Returned to my booth to find 3 miscreants trying to work out how to unlock my laptop :devil:

[ppentertainments]

Gather everybody onto the dance-floor with the B&G in the middle and playing their first dance again as the last song of the night, this always results in big cheers and clapping at the end and stops any calls for ‘one more’ in my experience. Obviously OK this with the B&G beforehand, if they have chosen a final song just do the same with that instead. It has to be a special sort of idiot who shouts ‘one more’ and ruins the moment after a finale like that.
My method too - often if the first song is a bit slow and not in keeping I use the song they walk out from the ceremony, or entrance to the wedding breakfast instead. In fact more often than not if they have not picked a last song I use the one used to walk out the ceremony as I tend to find this is a bit more upbeat to end the night with. Do still get that one :muppet: who tries for one more still (usually the one who has never been on the dancefloor all night), but to everyone else it is obvious that the night has finished.

At birthdays, xmas etc I so the last song 5 minutes before I finish, then I can do 'one more' or alternatively get away 5 minutes early :-)

Failing that I am normally so mobbed with people thanking me for a great night, it is obvious that the night has ended and everyone has enjoyed themselves :rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

[musicology]

I tried that once. Returned to my booth to find 3 miscreants trying to work out how to unlock my laptop :devil:

Yeah, I make sure I can see the kit but they can't see me!

[Shakermaker Promotions]

The way I combat it is like this...
I always ask the customer in advance what they would like the last song to be on their big night. It doesn't matter if it's a wedding or a birthday party.
I always advise them that it is good to have a big finish with their guests joining them on the dance floor and when it comes to the last song of the night I make sure that everybody knows that the last song choice has been requested by either the Bride & Groom or person celebrating their birthday. I get everyone to applaud them again, I thank everyone and ask them all to take to the dance floor. It works every time for me.

What it also does is tell everybody that there are no more songs afterwards and also tells the venue that I am finishing when I should be.
If somebody does ask for another song (which usually happens) then I tell them again (just in case they didn't hear me first time) that the last song was chosen by the customer. It kind of defeats the object if you have planned in advance for a big finish and then someone asks for another song.

I think I have had just one occasion where I've done the big finish and someone has asked for another and (on this particular occasion), the Bride said it was ok.
I was a bit peeved at that to be honest because it was a really good ending with everybody joining in and that should have been enough but one woman was insistent and the Bride just gave in.

[DazzyD]

I favour the "fake ending" method. I play stuff that is up tempo and tell people we're at the end of the night and thank them all for coming and being a great audience. Then, if there are shouts for one more, I'll say that, as they've been a great crowd, I'll give them once last chance to dance! Then it's usually Goodnight Sweetheart on a lower volume while the house lights gradually come up. By knocking the tempo down right at the end, it gives the crowd a chance to chill a little and they don't leave hyper. I even got offered a residency once because of my more relaxed ending as the previous DJ bounced them all out of the venue and they left hyper and rowdy!


I hate it when the lights come on full blast immediately after the last song, it gives a real ‘now :Censored:off home’ message - much prefer it if the lights can be kept low and gradually raised (or just one to two zones lit if they’re not on dimmers).

I prefer it when the lights are lower. So long as I've my own light so I can start packing up, that is!

[ppentertainments]

I even got offered a residency once because of my more relaxed ending as the previous DJ bounced them all out of the venue and they left hyper and rowdy!

Hmm, wonder if that was me as I like to send people away on a high :eek::eek::):)

[yourdj]

How do you tackle it?


If the event finishes at 12, then I finish the night with a crescendo at 11.50pm. :)
I usually tell everyone that its the last few tracks at about 11.40pm so we get everyone on board.

I congratulate the couple let everyone know where they are going on honeymoon and play "one more song" plus a slow one and bring the slowly music down and the lights slowly up. They will 95% of the time they will disband and start chatting. :)

I usually discuss this with clients so they are on board and usually finish with about 2-3 mins to spare, should you have a few more rowdy people. Having said that I tend to ignore the "one more" people (and women that just wont give up) and they run out of steam after about 10 seconds as they don't get anything back from me although I remain calm and happy. Mention the venue licence if they keep on. I usually say that "I will get castle from the venue".

http://yourdj.co.uk/end-of-night/

[ppentertainments]

I am always surprised at how many DJs focus the end of the night purely on the B&G, something I never do.

[musicology]

I am always surprised at how many DJs focus the end of the night purely on the B&G, something I never do.

I do. Usually it's "A final congratulatory round of applause and a big cheer" then play final couple of songs. Helps bring the focus back to the dancefloor if it's needed.

[yourdj]

I am always surprised at how many DJs focus the end of the night purely on the B&G, something I never do.

Well it is one of the biggest days of their lives after all. Not to mention the fact they have probably saved up for years for that day and spent £5-20,000 for the guests to have a nice day. Having said that, I usually congratulate the guests for being brilliant also and wish them all well. :)

[Nakatomi]

Well it is one of the biggest days of their lives after all. Not to mention the fact they have probably saved up for years for that day and spent £5-20,000 for the guests to have a nice day. Having said that, I usually congratulate the guests for being brilliant also and wish them all well. :)

Yeah it's not ALL about the B&G at the end. If the numbers are still good enough at that point, I usually get the crowd to cheer the B&G one more time in thanks for being great hosts, then thank the crowd & wish them a safe onward journey wherever they're headed.

I think it puts a nice cap on the whole day & almost always gets a bigger response than the first dance (probably aided by alcohol no doubt).

[funkymook]

I am always surprised at how many DJs focus the end of the night purely on the B&G, something I never do.

Not sure how you could end the night focused solely on the B&G and exclude the guests? They aren’t just going to ignore what you say as you’re addressing the whole room not having a private conversation with the couple, they’ll cheer and clap when you make the final announcements.

Anyway I’m sure it’s pretty standard to say a few nice words about the B&G (obviously) and also thank the guests and get a round of applause for the venue and bar staff.

Unless I misunderstand what you’re saying, can you explain...

[Excalibur]

Ninety seven years I've been at this job, and now it turns out I've been doing it all wrong!! :confused:



If the event finishes at 12, then I finish the night with a crescendo at 11.50pm. :)


Call me pedantic, but if the event finishes at twelve, by a strange coincidence, the music tends to stop at twelve as well. It's like hiring a painter to paint the doors in your house, and he doesn't paint one of them.
" Ah yes, but if you'd insisted, I would have painted it as well ". :daft:



I am always surprised at how many DJs focus the end of the night purely on the B&G, something I never do.

And how many times on here have people on here been criticised for not making the happy couple the centre of attention? Quite a lot, from memory.

To be honest Chris, I think I can see where you're coming from. I rarely do this, but as I always remind people- " Never say never ".:)

[yourdj]

Yeah it's not ALL about the B&G at the end. If the numbers are still good enough at that point, I usually get the crowd to cheer the B&G one more time in thanks for being great hosts, then thank the crowd & wish them a safe onward journey wherever they're headed.

I think it puts a nice cap on the whole day & almost always gets a bigger response than the first dance (probably aided by alcohol no doubt).

Yes - same here, nice to make guests feel like they are included, especially if they have been great. :)

[ckpr2]

I just explain that the music has to stop at midnight due to licensing laws, usually works.

I once did a disco and backed a band at Kendal for the TA in a interesting looking building.
Midnight came and I started to pack up.
A young man came up and asked if they paid me a bit more would I play on.
I eventually got away at 4am only to get stuck in snow on the way home.
By 7am I eventually got home.
18083

[Shakermaker Promotions]

Apologies if this sounds harsh but I thought it would be an obvious thing to do and pretty much common sense to thank EVERYBODY at the end of the night but concentrate on the Bride & Groom.
If the guests have been great and up for it and have made your life easier during the evening by keeping that dance floor busy then rightly so, they should be thanked too. I do it even if it has been a mediocre night.

As Martin rightly said too, I also thank the venue staff and anyone that helped.

At a wedding a couple of weeks ago, just before I played the last song I nipped over to the kitchen where the 2 girls had been serving drinks from and asked them their names because I wanted to give them a shout. They'd been dancing in the kitchen all night!
Massive applause for the happy couple, the girls, the guests etc and it all worked well.

I went to a party a few years ago with the missus (up here actually) and it was a good night. The DJ wasn't bad and everyone seemed to be having a great time but when it came to the end of the night I almost missed it because there were no announcements or anything. I am sitting there one minute and the next minute the house lights are on, no music, no applause and I look over and the DJ is taking down his lighting. It was an abrupt ending that spoilt the night for me because it had been decent enough up until that point.

[ppentertainments]

Just to expand on my earlier comment about not focusing purely on the bride and groom.

I see so many DJ videos of the end of the night where they have the B&G in the middle of a circle for the whole song with all eyes on them.

Speaking to couples, the first dance is something they are often more nervous about than anything else. Roll onto the end of the night, they have relaxed, had a few too many drinks and the DJ is now trying to put everyones focus back on them for the 3 or 4 minutes of the last song, again having them together alone in the middle of a circle.

I do something which runs along similar lines but doesn’t purely focus on 2 people, rather the collective guests and also recognises those who have put in a bit extra effort during the day.

I often get compliments on how I end the night, and is in fact quite a good marketing technique too :)


One thing which is a BIG mistake, although something certain people try to encourage, is a staged last dance, in fact anything staged/rehearsed throughout the day/night should be avoided if possible.

[Shaun]

I just carry on with the dismantling of the gear. Once they see I'm busy taking the gear down and that's there's no reaction to their calls, it usually has the desired effect.

[funkymook]

Just to expand on my earlier comment about not focusing purely on the bride and groom.

I see so many DJ videos of the end of the night where they have the B&G in the middle of a circle for the whole song with all eyes on them.

Speaking to couples, the first dance is something they are often more nervous about than anything else. Roll onto the end of the night, they have relaxed, had a few too many drinks and the DJ is now trying to put everyones focus back on them for the 3 or 4 minutes of the last song, again having them together alone in the middle of a circle.

I do something which runs along similar lines but doesn’t purely focus on 2 people, rather the collective guests and also recognises those who have put in a bit extra effort during the day.

I often get compliments on how I end the night, and is in fact quite a good marketing technique too :)


One thing which is a BIG mistake, although something certain people try to encourage, is a staged last dance, in fact anything staged/rehearsed throughout the day/night should be avoided if possible.

Thanks for elaborating, it’s a good point - you just sounded abrupt and dismissive in your previous comment without the explanation.

The thread is about avoiding the dreaded shouts for ‘just one more’, having a clear end to the night is the way to avoid that, and gathering guests around the B&G for the final song is one approach (and often it can happen naturally with no prompting anyway). Hopefully anyone with any sense would adapt their ending to what suits their B&G after discussing it with them beforehand so there’s no excuse for making them feel uncomfortable. Must admit I’ve never seen it result in the B&G being left alone in the middle surrounded by onlookers though, it’s always more of a massive group hug and singalong.

[Shakermaker Promotions]

I always tell the Bride & Groom in advance that it is more than likely that at the end of the night for that last song they will end up in the middle of a circle with their guests around them. 99.9% of them love the idea. Those that don't like the idea, well, I don't push it but it usually ends up that way and they love it. You can see it on their faces!

[ppentertainments]

I just carry on with the dismantling of the gear. Once they see I'm busy taking the gear down and that's there's no reaction to their calls, it usually has the desired effect.
I always pack speakers first which gives a definitive sign ;)

[Shaun]

I always pack speakers first which gives a definitive sign ;)

Yep, me too. :)

[Jim - Scotland's Party DJ]

Before last tune:

Big cheer for the bar staff,
Wee cheer for the DJ (unless I reckon I'm going to get booed :D )
Massive cheers for yourselves
Rattle the windows cheer for your bride and groom.


Job done.

[Corabar Steve]

All cables out & obviously start winding them. "It won't work without these plugged in & they aren't going to be"

[Excalibur]

I always pack speakers first which gives a definitive sign ;)


Yep, me too. :)


All cables out & obviously start winding them. "It won't work without these plugged in & they aren't going to be"

Gordon Bennett, but you lot are really naive at times!! :eek: That's never stopped customers expecting me to magically play " one more ". You must have a much better class of customer.

[CRAZY K]

Gordon Bennett, but you lot are really naive at times!! :eek: That's never stopped customers expecting me to magically play " one more ". You must have a much better class of customer.

Battery amps with wi fi speakers.

It's the future !!!!!!!!!!!!:rolleyes:

[funkymook]

Gordon Bennett, but you lot are really naive at times!! :eek: That's never stopped customers expecting me to magically play " one more ". You must have a much better class of customer.

I was pretty much packed completely down after one wedding, guests had left the room, tables were cleared and floor being hoovered and still had one girl wander back in and request I play Dancing Queen (with a long drunken explanation of why it was so important). Halfway through her ramblings I twigged that because the bar staff had put some music on while they cleared up she thought the party was still going...so pointed her in the direction of the duty manager and told her he was doing the music now and enjoyed watching him trying to explain why he wasn’t taking requests!

[yourdj]

Gordon Bennett, but you lot are really naive at times!! :eek: That's never stopped customers expecting me to magically play " one more ". You must have a much better class of customer.

Its when they come up and ask you for music when the band are playing that you have to worry as its its you playing that?

[musicology]

I was pretty much packed completely down after one wedding, guests had left the room, tables were cleared and floor being hoovered and still had one girl wander back in and request I play Dancing Queen (with a long drunken explanation of why it was so important). Halfway through her ramblings I twigged that because the bar staff had put some music on while they cleared up she thought the party was still going...so pointed her in the direction of the duty manager and told her he was doing the music now and enjoyed watching him trying to explain why he wasn’t taking requests!

:clap:

[Excalibur]

I twigged that because the bar staff had put some music on while they cleared up she thought the party was still going.

:mad::mad: Second pet hate, just behind the venue that insists on pain of death " music off at midnight ", and then proceed to leave lights off and seemingly do naff all, is the one which puts their music on after you've been forced to finish. :mad::mad:

[DazzyD]

Hmm, wonder if that was me as I like to send people away on a high :eek::eek::):)

If you had been a resident DJ in a pub in Blyth doing karaoke discos then it may have been you! Oh, and if it was, the manager said you were a crap DJ who drank way too much when you were working!!! :p


I just explain that the music has to stop at midnight due to licensing laws, usually works.

I once did a disco and backed a band at Kendal for the TA in a interesting looking building.
Midnight came and I started to pack up.
A young man came up and asked if they paid me a bit more would I play on.
I eventually got away at 4am only to get stuck in snow on the way home.
By 7am I eventually got home.
18083

TA and army bookings are always pretty much going to go in to extra time. But they are usually well-paying gigs and you tend to get fed so as long as you wear comfortable shoes you should be ok!!

[mattydj50]

:mad::mad: Second pet hate, just behind the venue that insists on pain of death " music off at midnight ", and then proceed to leave lights off and seemingly do naff all, is the one which puts their music on after you've been forced to finish. :mad::mad:


I have them well trained at my venue.

I was recently told by the only two wedding guests left in the room that I was "the worst DJ ever" because I closed down at 1230 (the appointed hour).

Thank you very much, I said, much appreciated.