Wedding Discos and Xmas Discos are just the same.

[ppentertainments]

What is your opinion on the above statement ?

My FB feed seems full of DJs moaning about Xmas Parties. Apart from the fact I wonder why they do them if they do not enjoy them, are they so different to say a wedding, engagement, birthday etc.

For me, apart from the formalities there is little difference between what I do if honest, my song list is very similar too, end of the day they are all a party.

[Excalibur]

What is your opinion on the above statement ?

My FB feed seems full of DJs moaning about Xmas Parties. Apart from the fact I wonder why they do them if they do not enjoy them, are they so different to say a wedding, engagement, birthday etc.

For me, apart from the formalities there is little difference between what I do if honest, my song list is very similar too, end of the day they are all a party.

Yeah, but when I've played Merry Xmas Everybody in August at weddings, it's bombed! :confused:

Whimsy over, serious answer imminent:

Yes and No. There are big similarities, and there are huge differences. Thunderbird 2 and The Soul Banana are both big vans, but totally different in so many important respects. Same with your post.

I think the moaning stems from the DJs being faced with the Same Old Same Old, and in a way being detached from the fun. Everybody else is full of the Christmas Spirit ( :guinness::beer1::wine::beerchug: ) and we're sober as a judge, and looking at doing exactly the same thing tomorrow night. Familiarity breeds contempt.

That'll do for now, more later perhaps.

[Daryll]

Must agree with you , the only difference is a few xmas songs ,no first dance and usually a later start due to the xmas meal.
both are great IMHO , just working to the easy gig of the year....................NYE , everyone is up for a party..

Daryll

[ppentertainments]

Yeah, but when I've played Merry Xmas Everybody in August at weddings, it's bombed! :confused:


Ahh, but I don't play that at Xmas parties either :D:D:D

[Imagine]

just working to the easy gig of the year....................NYE , everyone is up for a party..

Daryll

Unless you're in my neck of the woods. It was getting to be that people were turning up to NYE gigs because they felt they should be out as opposed to wanting to party, and there are fewer and fewer NYE every year. Most of the pubs in the area now run an open jukebox night because people would rather sit with a beer and chat as opposed to get up and dance....the main reason I stopped doing NYE parties.

[rth_discos]

One major difference between Xmas Parties and Weddings.

At a wedding, you have one very clear 'boss' - the newly married couple. In essence, everything is for them.

At a Xmas Party, there's no real clear 'boss'. Obviously the venue is the client. But so are the paying guests. And when it's a joiner party, you might have one loud, young group forming one company, and a more laid back and conservative older group forming another company. And in essence you're there to entertain both.

So I find them very different to weddings.

Far less pressure fortunately!

[Shaun]

What is your opinion on the above statement ?

My FB feed seems full of DJs moaning about Xmas Parties. Apart from the fact I wonder why they do them if they do not enjoy them, are they so different to say a wedding, engagement, birthday etc.

For me, apart from the formalities there is little difference between what I do if honest, my song list is very similar too, end of the day they are all a party.

I stopped doing Christmas parties several years ago. For the most part people in general are more cordial and pleasant if they are a guest at a wedding. My experience of xmas parties is that it's a no holds barred free-for-all where rudeness and over-intoxicated people are is in abundance. I much prefer weddings.

[Jim - Scotland's Party DJ]

I disagree completely.

With weddings there's a clear start to the dancing i.e. the first dance - with Xmas night you need to manufacture it via a game or whatever and when folk are eating a 3 course mea at 7:30-8pm instead of 4 or 5, there's less inclination to be up for it from the off.

Maybe this is coming from a band background but there's less freedom musically too. I don't do many Xmas parties admittedly but last week I was at a big fancy venue, all the works nights out etc... and they loved it but the playlist, to me, was so uninspiring and formulaic because I was having to keep absolutely every single person happy - I was bored, anyone can batter out Whitney, Abba, Billy Ocean etc... and before anyone says I could have changed it up, 1. Jill from HR would have been over whining my ear off and 2. the venue would then be moaning because Jill is moaning to them.

With a wedding there's more freedom because if the b&g are into house or r n b or motown or whatever you can go a lot deeper with the programming.

[rth_discos]

the playlist, to me, was so uninspiring and formulaic because I was having to keep absolutely every single person happy - I was bored, anyone can batter out Whitney, Abba, Billy Ocean etc... and before anyone says I could have changed it up, 1. Jill from HR would have been over whining my ear off and 2. the venue would then be moaning because Jill is moaning to them.

Exactly this, and it's where many DJs go wrong. They try and be too clever with the music, when in all intents and purposes, 2 hours of the biggest floor fillers (the usual suspects) provides the best party for the guests.

For many guests, it may be the only disco they've seen all year.

[ppentertainments]

I disagree completely.

With weddings there's a clear start to the dancing i.e. the first dance - with Xmas night you need to manufacture it via a game or whatever and when folk are eating a 3 course mea at 7:30-8pm instead of 4 or 5, there's less inclination to be up for it from the off.

That's where I differ. (Usually) at a wedding the dancing starts when the B&G are introduced to the room and carries on from there, right throughout the meal.

Xmas is similar - I (usually) have people dancing into the room and make it an aim to get people on the dancefloor before the main course is served.

Lack of alcohol can make it a little more challenging, but gives me something to aim for.

[Excalibur]

I stopped doing Christmas parties several years ago. For the most part people in general are more cordial and pleasant if they are a guest at a wedding. My experience of xmas parties is that it's a no holds barred free-for-all where rudeness and over-intoxicated people are is in abundance. I much prefer weddings.

I hear what you say.*




Exactly this, and it's where many DJs go wrong. They try and be too clever with the music, when in all intents and purposes, 2 hours of the biggest floor fillers (the usual suspects) provides the best party for the guests.

For many guests, it may be the only disco they've seen all year.

I like this boy. Got a grasp of the fundamental objective, to please as many folk as possible, as much of the time as possible.





* I hear what you say. Polite way of saying " while I accept your considerable knowledge in this matter, on this occasion, I believe that you and I are once more a hundred and eighty degrees out of line". :)

Shaun, function being a wedding doesn't guarantee politeness, courtesy, and good behaviour. We take pot luck with every function, I find.

[Nakatomi]

That's where I differ. (Usually) at a wedding the dancing starts when the B&G are introduced to the room and carries on from there, right throughout the meal.

Xmas is similar - I (usually) have people dancing into the room and make it an aim to get people on the dancefloor before the main course is served.

Lack of alcohol can make it a little more challenging, but gives me something to aim for.

I'll be dead honest here Chris. I've often seen you say something like that & thought "hmmm. If this is true then I'm deeply jealous. How does he do it?" (take that as a compliment btw!). On the one hand this is great for loads of reasons but the other - doesn't it rub the staff up the wrong way if the dancing is getting in the way of them doing their job? I'm sure it can work in the right place though.

I've absolutely bloomin LOVED this party season. I think the biggest difference has been switching from HOPING there'd be a good crowd to very actively trying to make them an amazing crowd from the minute they get in the room. That's mostly down to the advice of a very good friend of mine. Tonight saw the biggest crowd of the parties so far (it was the last one Christnas-wise.. boo hoo!) & I took great pleasure in absolutely smashing it. Yeah it was mega cheesy. Yeah it was dare I say it wasn't to my own taste how they were all swaying in their chairs, singing, holding hands before the tables had been cleared away but it felt brilliant that I'd joined the dots & made it happen. From there it just got better - hence why I'm still not asleep - I'm absolutely buzzing even now.

Bah humbug? Nah that's somebody else's problem not mine! :D

[Shakermaker Promotions]

This year is the first year in at least 20 years that I have not done any Christmas parties and at the moment, I am enjoying not doing (to quote another line elsewhere in this thread), the "same old, same old...".

Personally, I wouldn't agree with the "Wedding Discos and Xmas Discos are the same" theory.
A lot more work goes into a wedding, as we all know. The preparation for starters and the goal being to get it absolutely spot on because it is an important occasion.

A Christmas party? Well, I used to give them all the same dedication but at the end of the day, I think you can split the people that go to a Christmas party right down the middle. I'd say 50% of the attendees go along to them and actually look forward to the occasion and are up for a dance. This is usually the older generation in my opinion. The other 50% (again, in my opinion....and experience as it goes), are the lot that are usually aged 18 - 25 and go along with the preconception that it is going to be a 'cheesy disco' with (no offence), 'Disco Dave' behind the decks, playing a load of old rubbish and they bombard you with requests that usually don't fit the mood.

It's those people that I tried my hardest to give a good time because the others that are up for a party will usually dance to everything and anything (most of the time).

I think that with Christmas parties, once you get into the swing of them and you know what is working each night, you kind of stick to it. I don't like using the word 'routine' but, I used to get into a routine. I'd pick a first song of the night, one that I hoped would get everyone on the dance floor and 9 times out of 10, it would work well.
I'd also say that on some occasions, the DJ can give themselves a hard time and put themselves under too much pressure to try and please everybody. You can't please everybody, but you can TRY. There are some guests, for whatever reason, that will go along to the meal and then leave. It may be because they have other plans that evening or that they just don't like the Disco side of the party. It is a bit disheartening when the numbers suddenly drop once it's time for you to do your thing but luckily, that didn't happen too often to me.

The best Christmas parties for me, were when the majority of the guests were women. 99% of those parties had a full dance floor for most of the night.
When you turn up at a Christmas party and it is 99% males in attendance, your work is cut out and you really earn your money.
I didn't enjoy those nights at all but luckily, they were few and far between. If you can get through (for example) 14 Christmas party nights and have a couple of mediocre ones and the rest are all good, I think you've done well.

As for those DJ's that are apparently moaning about it all, they're obviously just doing it for the money in my opinion.
I could have been out over the past 2 weeks myself but the reason I am not is because I don't have the enthusiasm for it all at the moment. That's not fair on the customers. If I do something, I want to be dedicated to it and up for it, not dreading it the moment I've agreed to do it.
I do wish I felt differently if I am being honest because I have a lock up full of equipment (I still update my system weekly), and it is not being used. I know I could be giving people a good time...........I just don't feel like it at the moment and that goes for weddings too.

Would I rather do a wedding or a Christmas party?
Usually, I'd say a wedding but give me a Christmas party with 75% women in attendance and I'd choose that every time.

[rth_discos]

Shaun, function being a wedding doesn't guarantee politeness, courtesy, and good behaviour. We take pot luck with every function, I find.

The last 2 nights of Christmas Parties have trumped all weddings I've had this year in terms of the politeness of guests - and also their willingness to dance.

Sadly, the type of function no longer guarantees any particular type of guest.

Give me a Christmas Party over a wedding with a free bar any day...



On the one hand this is great for loads of reasons but the other - doesn't it rub the staff up the wrong way if the dancing is getting in the way of them doing their job? I'm sure it can work in the right place though.

I did think the same. There's certainly a balance to be made - and a risk we try too hard to be the centre of attention. As lovely as it feels to see people dancing throughout, it can really get in the way of food service.

Equally, it suggests the music is a bit louder - was that annoying to other guests who wanted to talk during the meal?

Although with the right crowd, often there's little you can do to STOP them from dancing throughout!!



I think the biggest difference has been switching from HOPING there'd be a good crowd to very actively trying to make them an amazing crowd from the minute they get in the room.

It's quite a mindset change, but absolutely makes a huge difference, and results in people saying 'I've never seen a DJ do that before'.

[ppentertainments]

On the one hand this is great for loads of reasons but the other - doesn't it rub the staff up the wrong way if the dancing is getting in the way of them doing their job? I'm sure it can work in the right place though.

Oh yes, it comes at a HUGE risk – something not many will admit.

As far as Xmas goes I do most of my functions in the same venue who know what I do and join in, so I can get away with it – like in this video which is the usual scenario for what happens when the staff are clearing the main course.


https://vimeo.com/247672071

https://vimeo.com/247672071

Now, weddings increase the risk factor for doing this dramatically. One of the reasons I run under a few different names is because of things like this. I am resident and recommended at a lot of venues who would get rid of me tomorrow if I started getting people to dance while they are serving and clearing. Before the comment ‘it is the B&G day’ comes, yes I agree, but as a business I cannot go against venue wishes too.

As far as a wedding party goes, guests obviously play a big factor and again doing this sort of thing comes at a great risk. Only this year I received my first serious complaint because the bride had been to a wedding where I had everyone singing and dancing. Never mentioned this to me and on her wedding day you could tell the guests would not be up for it – something I still know I was 100% correct about. So I play background music through the meal and was nice and chilled out. The bride never said anything, just put a complaint into myself and the venue afterwards. Luckily the venue supported me (it really was a miserable wedding) and all turned out ok but could quite easily have gone the opposite way.

I think this is true with a lot of the ‘extra’ things we offer. For instance I have seen DJs do the ‘Mr & Mrs game’ at EVERY wedding. Personally I think it only works maybe 30% of the time, and again if you were to get a B&G up who hated it, complaints will happen.

The ‘Love Story’ is another example. I have never gone down this route as I have yet to see any evidence of the whole party enjoying it. Generally the videos I see show people yawning or the Brides Father/Best Man changing their speech as the DJ has pinched most of what they were saying.

I do enjoy getting people up dancing etc through the day/meal, however will admit a lot of the time ‘keeping it simple’ will likely be the better approach.

[Jim - Scotland's Party DJ]

That's where I differ. (Usually) at a wedding the dancing starts when the B&G are introduced to the room and carries on from there, right throughout the meal.

Xmas is similar - I (usually) have people dancing into the room and make it an aim to get people on the dancefloor before the main course is served.

Lack of alcohol can make it a little more challenging, but gives me something to aim for.

You play dancy music during the meal at a wedding? Each to their own but I can't imagine anything worse and this is coming from someone who got married earlier in the year.

As for your 2nd point, again it totally depends on the event. For a catch em all, multi group party night then getting them gee'd up during dinner isn't a hassle but a single company private affair you've got lots of issues no one (except the drunk young team) wants to be the first up when the ceo is sitting there nursing a diet coke so you need to formulate some sort of organised fun to let folk know the party has officially started, let your hair down.

[Jim - Scotland's Party DJ]

I think this is true with a lot of the ‘extra’ things we offer. For instance I have seen DJs do the ‘Mr & Mrs game’ at EVERY wedding. Personally I think it only works maybe 30% of the time, and again if you were to get a B&G up who hated it, complaints will happen.

The ‘Love Story’ is another example. I have never gone down this route as I have yet to see any evidence of the whole party enjoying it. Generally the videos I see show people yawning or the Brides Father/Best Man changing their speech as the DJ has pinched most of what they were saying.


You mean the LOOK AT ME, I CAN TALK ON THE MIC AS WELL AS PLAY MUSIC game? :D

HATE IT and although I do ask clients if they'd like me to do it, I've had a grand total of 2 (Yanks at that, they seem to love it) take me up on it.

My brother has the same experience despite a lot of guys we know up here saying 90%+ of their clients chew their hand off to have it.

Bull:Censored::Censored::Censored::Censored:, between us we do close to 200 gigs a year and get 1 or 2 people who are up for it, the rest range from "nah we don't want to be put on the spot" to "that's an absolutely pish idea" :D

There's a disconnect somewhere and you can say all you want that you need to know the client well enough (what, like I don't know my clients?) and pitch it the right way (again, I'm one of the dearest DJs around here, I know how to sell something to a punter) but when you've got a lot of bride and grooms who hate the idea of even having to do the first dance as all eyes are on them, how many people actually want to be put on the spot for the Mr&MRS game?


The love story is a lot of pish too, as you said - it's the job of the minister / celebrant and grooms party to tell everyone the couples journey, not ours and just smacks of trying to put the spotlight on you.

[ppentertainments]

You mean the LOOK AT ME, I CAN TALK ON THE MIC AS WELL AS PLAY MUSIC game? :D

HATE IT and although I do ask clients if they'd like me to do it, I've had a grand total of 2 (Yanks at that, they seem to love it) take me up on it.

My brother has the same experience despite a lot of guys we know up here saying 90%+ of their clients chew their hand off to have it.

Bull:Censored::Censored::Censored::Censored:, between us we do close to 200 gigs a year and get 1 or 2 people who are up for it, the rest range from "nah we don't want to be put on the spot" to "that's an absolutely pish idea" :D

There's a disconnect somewhere and you can say all you want that you need to know the client well enough (what, like I don't know my clients?) and pitch it the right way (again, I'm one of the dearest DJs around here, I know how to sell something to a punter) but when you've got a lot of bride and grooms who hate the idea of even having to do the first dance as all eyes are on them, how many people actually want to be put on the spot for the Mr&MRS game?


The love story is a lot of pish too, as you said - it's the job of the minister / celebrant and grooms party to tell everyone the couples journey, not ours and just smacks of trying to put the spotlight on you.
100% agree - I have asked many who do 'the love story' for a video to convince me it is worth doing and have not seen one yet - including some American 'pioneering' DJs.

[ppentertainments]

You play dancy music during the meal at a wedding? Each to their own but I can't imagine anything worse and this is coming from someone who got married earlier in the year.

As for your 2nd point, again it totally depends on the event. For a catch em all, multi group party night then getting them gee'd up during dinner isn't a hassle but a single company private affair you've got lots of issues no one (except the drunk young team) wants to be the first up when the ceo is sitting there nursing a diet coke so you need to formulate some sort of organised fun to let folk know the party has officially started, let your hair down.

Yep, do it a lot at weddings - not to everyones taste, but has resulted in me coming close to closing next years diary already.


https://youtu.be/hG2Cn3bT7RY

And, I must be lucky as this is one corporate Party Night for a well respected company as they were waiting for their deserts
18489

[Nakatomi]

Yep, do it a lot at weddings - not to everyones taste, but has resulted in me coming close to closing next years diary already.


It's horses for courses really. If that's what the people want let them have it all day long I say. There are DJs out there saying a wedding should be X Y or Z but really the wedding should be whatever the customer wants. Is it cheesy? Is it even tacky? Who cares? Why should it even matter if that's what they WANT ? It's not what I would've wanted at my wedding - I can't stand all that schmaltz personally. Vive la difference!

[ppentertainments]

It's horses for courses really. If that's what the people want let them have it all day long I say. There are DJs out there saying a wedding should be X Y or Z but really the wedding should be whatever the customer wants. Is it cheesy? Is it even tacky? Who cares? Why should it even matter if that's what they WANT ? It's not what I would've wanted at my wedding - I can't stand all that schmaltz personally. Vive la difference!
Yep, I just go with the flow - I always laugh when people say 'you can't do that at a wedding'. If it's what they want it is what they get.

Like you I wouldn't want it personally, apart from the fact we had 2 bands at our wedding I just hate dancing to a disco, in fact I don't dance at all :D:D

[Shaun]

Shaun, function being a wedding doesn't guarantee politeness, courtesy, and good behaviour.

I did say "for the most part". ;)

[Benny Smyth]

I've done my one and only Christmas party a couple of weekends ago and compared to the number of weddings I've performed at in 2017, I hated the Christmas party, but still enjoy the weddings. They are certainly not the same!

Maybe the comparison for me would be better if it was Residency vs. Private event? The reason I hated the Christmas gig so much was because I walked in blind, and communication had an agent and a venue between me and the client. Were it a private gig, maybe I would have enjoyed it more having been armed with a lot more info and being able to connect with a client.

So perhaps, were the scenario that way, I could possibly agree that they could be the same.

[DJColsie]

For me at a wedding you are mainly trying to create the evening your bride and groom want that hopefully you have discussed with them previously. You probably have an idea of their musical likes and dislikes with their choices of music. There is much more preparation.

With a Xmas Party there is a lot less preparation and you maybe working “on the hoof”. If you like planning and preparation this might put you out of your comfort zone. Personally, I think it challenges you and can be a lot more rewarding when things are tough but you dig in challenge yourself and pull off a great party.

Sometimes with a wedding it is so planned and prepared you know from cake cutting exactly how it will go so there is little professional challenge. However, the bride and groom think you brilliant because of the time put in before the event which makes the wedding perfect but maybe routine from our point of view.

[Jim - Scotland's Party DJ]

For me at a wedding you are mainly trying to create the evening your bride and groom want that hopefully you have discussed with them previously. You probably have an idea of their musical likes and dislikes with their choices of music. There is much more preparation.



Sometimes with a wedding it is so planned and prepared you know from cake cutting exactly how it will go so there is little professional challenge. However, the bride and groom think you brilliant because of the time put in before the event which makes the wedding perfect but maybe routine from our point of view.

The thing is that's more to do with the couples and crowds in general than anything else.

I've had a quick badgers through my last few years of gigs and although I get to spread my wings fairly regularly with international clients or people who are right into their dance or rock music - I can count the amount of genuinely unique nights on one hand out of several hundred gigs.

Relating this to the other thread about being unique just now, as I said elsewhere, I like to go off piste and not just play the token floor fillers anyone could drop (I mentioned my first Christmas party where this was ALL that they were wanting and there was no challenge or enjoyment in it for me) but there's only so far you can push that envelope without ruining the dancefloor.

Case in point, when you go around asking for requests the make up is something like:

90% the usual abba, sweet caroline, dignity, proclaimers, black eyed peas, killers or whatever based on your location
9.5% uncle joe wanting some metallica or the token drunk bell end asking for something he knows is stupid
0.5% something unique and cool that will actually work

The vast majority of people know what they like and like what they know and even most brides and grooms who aren't really into that kind of thing are mindful of their guests. In fact, I'm very reluctant to take on clients who want a very genre orientated set list and don't want any guest input so it's horses for courses, I could book up a tonne of gigs punting myself as an indie DJ and have everyone but the couple and their 12 hipster pals think I'm absolutely terrible...

[Imagine]

The thing is that's more to do with the couples and crowds in general than anything else.

The vast majority of people know what they like and like what they know and even most brides and grooms who aren't really into that kind of thing are mindful of their guests. In fact, I'm very reluctant to take on clients who want a very genre orientated set list and don't want any guest input so it's horses for courses, I could book up a tonne of gigs punting myself as an indie DJ and have everyone but the couple and their 12 hipster pals think I'm absolutely terrible...

He's right you know :agree:

I've done several genre orientated weddings myself this year alone.

* A couple of rock ones which have REALLY worked because the guests themselves were of a similar age group and into that sort of music (and they were probably the best weddings I've done this year)
* An 80s style wedding where I was limited to playing nothing but the 80s....which died on it's backside because guess what? The guests wanted other stuff too!
* An 80s style wedding (mainly because the groom was a DJ in the 80s) where there were no restrictions on the music (that one worked!)
* A completely weird wedding where the entire playlist was made up of stuff I've never heard of before, but it seemed to work (that was a tough one!)
* A Drum and Bass wedding (because he's apparently a D&B producer) that really DIDN'T work and I'll never do one of those again!. I was booked on that one as a "traditional wedding DJ" and then landed with the D&B playlist a couple of days beforehand (one of the few couples I didn't meet before the big day)

Other than that, they've all followed the same routine and music structure, apart from the traveller's wedding I did at the start of the year which was different from anything else i've ever done.

Would I want to go out as a specialist in a particular genre (i.e. 70s or 80s)? No - definitely not. As much as I enjoy music from those eras, it'd soon become very boring. I like a little bit of a challenge to keep me on my toes :)

[ukpartydj]

I much prefer weddings generally speaking. I've had a couple of good Christmas parties where I've been more involved and spoken to "important" guests etc like I would for a wedding which have been fun though.

For me I can almost go the whole year receiving mostly compliments for weddings then come Christmas parties I'm now a terrible DJ and receive a significant amount of abuse in comparison.

[yourdj]

My personal opinion is that my Christmas season in my venue is SO much easier than the weddings, in most ways. I would liken it more to 'the same as most corporate events' or private residence parties. The differences as pointed out are:

I general its the same kit and almost the same times, although actually the amount of time I DJ is quite a bit less as its usually 10-12.30 with the rest of the time sitting chatting to the other 2 DJ's at my venue (plus the odd one that drops by after set up). I would never dream of that at a wedding as there is always something to do or going on, even during wedding breakfast background. I play a lot of similar music, but i personally find them not only a lot easier than weddings, but also more fun and relaxing as the pressure is off a little bit. Depends on the type of wedding service you give I guess as some people literally just show up with a first dance, name and times, which is fine, but for a wedding I prefer to get to know the couple a bit better which might change the situation a little? :)

Weddings:

- The client at weddings are the B&G and I am bang on what they want over any of the guests (most the time)
- The playlist is supplied and largely dictated by them and I always try to play a different set each wedding
- I am conscious of the coulee, especially the bride all night and its my job to get her on the floor (plus other key guests)
- I have a personal connection to the client as I have met them at least twice and in some cases even dinner together!!
- there are more formalities and a lot more at stake if something should go wrong, especially at these points (Bar nye countdown)
- The guests are largely better behaved as they have mostly been through the whole journey with the couple and respect their special day.

Mixed xmas parties have multiple groups of people, all usually wanting something different its my job to keep as many groups up as long as possible, but at times you have to play table tennis with them and sacrifice one table for another. I can experiment a lot more with music (I find December a time that i can explore a bit more), but largely play the same tunes all night, when i get a flow going. Usually takes a few nights to get my bearings and then its dead easy. i don't advertise that I take requests and treat it largely as a corporate/club type event, where as its the complete opposite at a wedding. Recently I have been exchanging set lists with other DJ's and to my surprise the flow and selection of tracks is VERY similar, which is interesting.

The biggest thing I find is you get people that go out on their own with work mates and can often let rip. Weddings tend to attract couples, whom are on their best behaviour, because they keep each other in check and (as mentioned) have been invited and have had a lot of money spent on them! On the same note some people at a Christmas party may not go out many times in a year (or ever) so that and the combination of alcohol and friendly banter, can really bring out the deamons or drunk idiot in a person. The company bosses or pushy PA's can be the biggest problems on the night and often are a lot worse than any bridezilla ('I have spent XYZ tonight, so put on some heavy metal now you cretin'). Its not always what they say but the manner in which they dictate to you. I command a rather nice small restaurant with a lot of women, but my compadre in the big function room has to put up with all sorts of prats on a weekly basis (this is a very nice 4 star). I have not ever worked at the 4 other venues we also do, but thats the same at times. :)

Thats my thoughts anyway. :)

[rth_discos]

I can experiment a lot more with music (I find December a time that i can explore a bit more), but largely play the same tunes all night, when i get a flow going.

Absolutely this.

Christmas time is where I 'experiment' a bit too. Even the way I do interaction for weddings, I'll experiment with new things for Christmas. I'm not prepared to practise at someone's wedding. But it's far easier to do so at a Christmas Party, where I can test out new ideas.


The company bosses or pushy PA's can be the biggest problems on the night and often are a lot worse than any bridezilla

I guess where we spend time with the bride in the planning, they're less likely to be an arse to you when they hand picked your services and know you, compared to a boss of a company who just sees you as a generic DJ.

[Nakatomi]

It's funny but until recently I'd have said I preferred weddings over xmas parties because of antsy people. Not this year! Yes it's fair to say I still had a handful of cuthroaters but they got 'both barrels' over the mic (which was great fun). Not insults mind just a bit of banter. "is everyone having a good time?! (wooooo). Well somebody tell her face over there. That sort of thing & directly addressing them with a dedication even calling them the cutthroat lady. Don't cross the line though... Keep it light hearted!

I probably wouldn't go there at a wedding, nor would I be likely to go up to a guy dancing on his own with a group of women nearby, saying "dad! Daaaad! Dad!"... Tap him on the shoulder... Turns around... Oh sorry I thought you were my dad - you dance just like him! :blush:

[ppentertainments]

It's funny but until recently I'd have said I preferred weddings over xmas parties because of antsy people. Not this year! Yes it's fair to say I still had a handful of cuthroaters but they got 'both barrels' over the mic (which was great fun). Not insults mind just a bit of banter. "is everyone having a good time?! (wooooo). Well somebody tell her face over there. That sort of thing & directly addressing them with a dedication even calling them the cutthroat lady. Don't cross the line though... Keep it light hearted!
I had one who was doing it to every song - I cut the music and said over the mic 'are you ok, you look like you are choking on something' - problem solved ;)

I do find you can get away with a lot more at Xmas parties, than you can with weddings, but to me that is a good thing.

[yourdj]

I had one who was doing it to every song - I cut the music and said over the mic 'are you ok, you look like you are choking on something' - problem solved ;)

Yes its very rude isn't it and it really annoys me (especially when registrars do it and you are looking right at them for a simple head nod!). What more annoying is when they do it, you have a full dance floor and they then carry on dancing and singing along to the track! Alcohol, dressing up for the night can often bring out the 'its all about me, I am so special' qualities in women that can make them really horrible people. Embarrassing them publicly can often make that a hell of a lot worse, or as you say make them shrink into the lack of confidence that they actually have. Either way I prefer not to upset anyone if possible!

I tend to go up and be super nice to people like that, work out what they want and try and explain the situation. Often they understand, when they realise you are a normal person and you have bridge the gap between the booth and client (I walk about a lot to get a feel for the room). Often if they want something that just wont work they will be appreciative that you have taken the time to chat with them and often ask for something a bit more fitting. If that does not work i try and ignore or just smile and laugh. They are usually too drink and forget or move on to the next target, if they don't then i might be a bit more firm with them, but as i say I want people to return the next year and annoying one member of a group (rightly or wrongly) can over time mean that you may loose quite a few tables, especially if that person is paying the tab. :p

I am very conscious of that this year as my numbers are really down and I am probably almost as important as the food in making people return. If the music is crap and the DJ is a complete buffoon, then people will not dance. Even if the food is spot on and pricing right, they may find another venue. i have not one problem this year with anyone being rude, so I am very happy about that. Its been the most enjoyable year as i have been concentrating on nailing the music programming at every wedding and prepared a number of folders for ever eventuality over December. That and sharing set lists with about 10 other DJ's has made my selection and flow much better than previous years resulting in more people dancing. I am taking January off completely also so the break will do me good. I have 2 babies and a house to sort out. ;)

[mattydj50]

The biggest thing I find is you get people that go out on their own with work mates and can often let rip. Weddings tend to attract couples, whom are on their best behaviour, because they keep each other in check and (as mentioned) have been invited and have had a lot of money spent on them! On the same note some people at a Christmas party may not go out many times in a year (or ever) so that and the combination of alcohol and friendly banter, can really bring out the deamons or drunk idiot in a person. The company bosses or pushy PA's can be the biggest problems on the night and often are a lot worse than any bridezilla ('I have spent XYZ tonight, so put on some heavy metal now you cretin'). Its not always what they say but the manner in which they dictate to you. I command a rather nice small restaurant with a lot of women, but my compadre in the big function room has to put up with all sorts of prats on a weekly basis (this is a very nice 4 star). I have not ever worked at the 4 other venues we also do, but thats the same at times. :)

Thats my thoughts anyway. :)


Something I've thought about over the years is that for weddings, people are INVITED to be there. So, though they may go to the wedding, they may wish to be elsewhere, or are only there because they feel they have to be. They may well be with people that they don't know (or don't get on with). Generally, for Christmas parties, people have PAID to be there, so are going to make sure that they get their money's worth. Or that their company have paid and, boy, ARE they going to get their money's worth!! They are more likely to be more relaxed about the whole thing. Unless the boss gives them the "you are representing the company here tonight, so please behave" speech. That either puts the tin lid on it or makes them go completely off their heads!

[rth_discos]

Something I've thought about over the years is that for weddings, people are INVITED to be there. So, though they may go to the wedding, they may wish to be elsewhere, or are only there because they feel they have to be. They may well be with people that they don't know (or don't get on with). Generally, for Christmas parties, people have PAID to be there, so are going to make sure that they get their money's worth. Or that their company have paid and, boy, ARE they going to get their money's worth!! They are more likely to be more relaxed about the whole thing. Unless the boss gives them the "you are representing the company here tonight, so please behave" speech. That either puts the tin lid on it or makes them go completely off their heads!

I'd swap it the other way round!

For weddings, it's something that is usually booked a long time in advance, and is a big family gathering that they have been invited to, and often spend quite a lot of money on, with overnight accommodation and a gift for the newly weds.

For a Christmas Party, usually, the company has paid for it, so they have again been invited. Except many companies almost make it mandatory that all staff attend, even if they can think of nothing worse.

Most employees don't look forward to the prospect of a 'social' night out with the people that they work with (and often spend more time with than their wives, husbands and children)!

And these days, it's difficult to be relaxed at a Christmas Party when it is a work function, and HR rules still apply.

I'm seeing far less people get 'drunk' at Christmas compared to a decade ago - and definitely compared to two decades ago!

[yourdj]

Something I've thought about over the years is that for weddings, people are INVITED to be there. So, though they may go to the wedding, they may wish to be elsewhere, or are only there because they feel they have to be. They may well be with people that they don't know (or don't get on with). Generally, for Christmas parties, people have PAID to be there, so are going to make sure that they get their money's worth. Or that their company have paid and, boy, ARE they going to get their money's worth!! They are more likely to be more relaxed about the whole thing. Unless the boss gives them the "you are representing the company here tonight, so please behave" speech. That either puts the tin lid on it or makes them go completely off their heads!


I'd swap it the other way round!

For weddings, it's something that is usually booked a long time in advance, and is a big family gathering that they have been invited to, and often spend quite a lot of money on, with overnight accommodation and a gift for the newly weds.

For a Christmas Party, usually, the company has paid for it, so they have again been invited. Except many companies almost make it mandatory that all staff attend, even if they can think of nothing worse.

Most employees don't look forward to the prospect of a 'social' night out with the people that they work with (and often spend more time with than their wives, husbands and children)!

And these days, it's difficult to be relaxed at a Christmas Party when it is a work function, and HR rules still apply.

I'm seeing far less people get 'drunk' at Christmas compared to a decade ago - and definitely compared to two decades ago!

I think that both of these analogies are equal as some people look forward to and are enthralled to be at a wedding and also the office party, but some people are clearly just there to show face, don't really engage at all. I ran a wedding last year and it was such hard work. my florist friend (with his boyfriend) was on one table and they were all on their phones all meal/day and did not talk to each other once! My hosting was creating tumbleweeds but i pressed on and got a massive thank you card saying that 'I made the wedding', which was nice! :)

Both of these often depend on the couple (as fun, nice couple usually have nice friends and family), the company that booked (lets face it a group of teachers will party harder than a construction company), the surrounding ambiance, the food/management and lastly the entertainment. I would say the personal investment is about the same, when presents/the ticket cost, drinks, rooms/taxis are taken into consideration. :)