How Would You answer This?

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

From a prospective client

"my view is that it's our wedding and we know our guests - and we are paying for a service - therefore we want to dictate far more of the music than the odd 20 tracks"

I get a feel for the styles and genres for music they like and require, as well as those they don't and the ages of the guests and then let clients choose around 20 (sometimes more, sometimes less) tracks to be played during the evening.

How would you answer?

[BeerFunk]

Well, I would explain to them that you have DJed countless weddings to great success, and that they should have no doubts about the musical agenda. I would also point out that, as a DJ, you have to make the appropriate choices should the dancefloor not respond to what is playing, and that a set tracklist may not work on the night.

I mean, they could always hire the setup and program the decks if that's what they want. The DJ is there for a very good reason.

[PropellerHeadCase]

My response would be something like this...

I agree with you, you do know your guests better than I do, and as such I am happy to take direction from you. That said, I have a great deal of experience in catering to large groups at weddings - what people respond to at weddings is very often different to what they responded to at the last office do, or the last family get-together.

So, I will happily work with your list and if it is successful I will happily continue to work with it, however, if people are not responding to your list in the appropriate fashion (by which I mean a significant number of your guests dancing), can we agree that it would then be appropriate for me to use my experience to select some other songs that I think appropriate?

It is my belief that the service you are paying for is that of an experienced DJ - someone who knows the sort of music that gets people up and dancing, but who is also flexible enough to cater to specific requests both from you and your guests.

[wensleydale]

at the end of the day, they pays their money, they takes their choice.
may not be the best result, but that's up to them.

just maybe leave the giant solitaire banner at home that night.

[Silver]

at the end of the day, they pays their money, they takes their choice.
may not be the best result, but that's up to them.

just maybe leave the giant solitaire banner at home that night.

You're right in what you say, however your reputation is on the line.. I would assume we all do a gig with the thought - If I do a good job, this could lead to more bookings.

If you have an empty dancefloor for most of the night,the BIG ACCUSING FINGER will be pointed not at the B & G but 100% at YOU!

You could leave your advertising material hidden,if it goes well, a big blaze of lights, fanfares and dish out the cards! http://planetsmilies.net/party-smiley-551.gif

[wensleydale]

i'd not refuse a booking on this basis though- just point out all night that the music had been chosen by the b&g.

sometimes i think people get too hung up on the fact that we are not just jukeboxes- if you really offer a service where the customer gets what they want you should be willing to let them choose the music they like, not the music we like or think my work.

if i was paying several hundred pounds for a disco at my event, i would want to choose what they get played.

a furniture salesman would not refuse to sell someone a sofa because the customers guests may not enjoy sitting on it.

[soundtracker]

I must admit I quite like the challenge of putting together a flowing set from a list of "unusuals suspects", I've managed this a good few times, and have had some great feedback. Perhaps, because if it was my party, I know my mates would cringe at the same old cheese, but would appreciate something a bit different, and don't forget, it doesn't always have to be about a full dancefloor!

[Shakermaker Promotions]

From looking at what you have quoted mate (and this is a first impression), that email looks full of attitude to me. I know it's hard to gauge the feeling of words in an email or on the internet etc but as I said, first impressions tell me that it looks like there is attitude there. Of course I could be wrong so I would talk to them face to face or on the phone if possible and maybe you have already?

If I was in the same position and I had another job on that night, I would send someone else to the above wedding giving them the request list and telling them to stick with it but be ready to change it if need be. Yes, it's the easy way out and maybe they have specifically requested yourself but if that's not the case, I would let someone else deal with it.

[rob1963]

"My view is that it's our wedding and we know our guests - and we are paying for a service - therefore we want to dictate far more of the music than the odd 20 tracks"



If they wanted to dictate far more than 20 tracks, it would depend on the situation. If it was just a long list of requests, then I wouldn't really have a problem. The chances are that it will include a lot of the usual stuff anyway. Also, it may well include far more songs than you have time to play, so you can just pick out the best songs & play them in the order YOU think is best. The other point here is that regardless of how the night goes, they can't complain about the music, as it's all been selected by THEM.

On the other hand, if it's a list of requests which includes some stuff that you know won't work very well, I'd announce that all the music had been pre-selected by the bridge & groom - so the guests would know none of it was my choice & I was just playing what I'd been instructed to. At least I could pick out the less decent stuff to play at the beginning of the evening before the first dance.

However, if they wanted to provide a rigid playlist for the whole evening - in other words to list ALL the songs to be played AND to state the exact playing order, I'd explain that I don't accept rigid playlists & give the reasons why, and if they were insistant on this, then I'd refuse the gig.

[Penfold42]

If they want their music why are they hiring you?
You pay a DJ to play if they don't like that tell them to get a friend to bring a Hi-Fi and a bubble lamp....:p DJng not just about music it's showmanship, entertainment, atmosphere...that's what they pay you for. End of.

[sleah]

From a prospective client

"my view is that it's our wedding and we know our guests - and we are paying for a service - therefore we want to dictate far more of the music than the odd 20 tracks"

I get a feel for the styles and genres for music they like and require, as well as those they don't and the ages of the guests and then let clients choose around 20 (sometimes more, sometimes less) tracks to be played during the evening.

How would you answer?

This could be a case of suggesting they do like the American craze, and instead of booking you, they get an iPod and hire a PA.
That way they can't blame you when it's rubbish, even though it is their fault.:rolleyes:

[soundtracker]

Here's my list for 12th May

Suggested artists/style of music that we would like played please. No cheese please! 

Therapy?
The Misfits
The Kinks
No Doubt
Foo Fighters
The White Stripes
Manic Street Preachers
REM
The Clash
Rolling Stones
Jackson 5
The Doors
Marvin Gaye
Otis Reading
David Bowie
Beatles
Van Morrison
Blondie
Beastie Boys
Red Hot Chilli Peppers
Ash
The Strokes
The Hives
Duran Duran
Joy Division
The Jam
Jimi Hendrix
Metallica
Bob Dylan
Elvis Presley
Bob Marley
The Smiths
Less Than Jake
Nine Inch Nails
Faith No More
Bouncing Souls
Cracked Actors
New Order
T-Rex
Suede
The Ramones
Greenday
Offspring (anything except ‘Pretty Fly’)
Jamiraqui
Chemical Brothers
Basement Jaxx

We may send some more if we think of any, but you get the idea 

Our first dance is likely to be ‘Green Day – Macy’s Day Parade’ – taken from ‘Warning’ album (this may change, but we will let you know well in advance if it does).

[Shaun]

I'd pass on the gig. The tone of the prospective clients response indicates that you wont change their mind regarding this. They sound like a headache in the making. I work pretty much the same as you Darren, I like to get a maximum of 20 tracks to get a feel for their tastes. I don't accept rigid playlists. They'd be better hiring a small PA system and hooking up their iPod.

I've never understood the people that want to select all the music for thier event. I think it's kind of selfish that they're (usually) only thinking about their own tastes and disregarding the tases of each of their guests. By hiring a Professional DJ Company you're also paying for the ability of the performer to "read the crowd" and adjust the playlist to suit. A rigid playlist stifles this process.

[Corabar Entertainment]

I disagree with the assumption that just because they want to give a list, they are ignoring their guests: it may very well be the other way around and that they do know their guests and are taking care to ensure that their (maybe unusual) tastes are catered for.

I would chat to the customer to find out the age / demographic of the guests; find out what sort of things they intend to request; explain why rigid lists don't usually work; find out if it's a case of them giving a long list, but with the DJ having discretion to pick/choose/amend as necessary and take it from there.

Pete: You just know that Steve will offer to come up and do that gig for you, don't you? :D :p

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

at the end of the day, they pays their money, they takes their choice.
may not be the best result, but that's up to them.

just maybe leave the giant solitaire banner at home that night.

I haven't used that for a few years anyway. ;)

[Shakermaker Promotions]

Soundtracker - Now THAT is MY type of wedding!!!
Enjoy it mate!

[Mission]

Soundtracker - Now THAT is MY type of wedding!!!
Enjoy it mate!

That is a good list, I would enjoy that gig as well :D

Not had the pleasure :rolleyes: yet of being given a rigid set list. As long as there is a good variety and they don't put down what times they want the tracks playing, you can always load the set with all the better get up and dance tracks later and get the more personal tracks done earlier on.

[CRAZY K]

From a prospective client

"my view is that it's our wedding and we know our guests - and we are paying for a service - therefore we want to dictate far more of the music than the odd 20 tracks"

I get a feel for the styles and genres for music they like and require, as well as those they don't and the ages of the guests and then let clients choose around 20 (sometimes more, sometimes less) tracks to be played during the evening.

How would you answer?

Easy--you take their play list and use it--explain to the client that if for some unaccountable reason no one likes it you have 12,000 other tracks on your hard drive( I think thats what you have) and your vast experience to get people enjoying the evening and as Soundtracker says not necessarily dancing :D

I dont think you will get the job ( if you want it ) by telling them I know better than you ( which of course you do) that personally gets up my nose as well!

Remember the customer is always right --you just make adjustments later:D

I think were in a business to keep the customer happy--
but thats my view and another topic!!!!!!!!!!!

CRAZY K

[Corabar Steve]

Here's my list for 12th May

Suggested artists/style of music that we would like played please. No cheese please! 

Therapy?
The Misfits
The Kinks
No Doubt
Foo Fighters
The White Stripes
Manic Street Preachers
REM
The Clash
Rolling Stones
Jackson 5
The Doors
Marvin Gaye
Otis Reading
David Bowie
Beatles
Van Morrison
Blondie
Beastie Boys
Red Hot Chilli Peppers
Ash
The Strokes
The Hives
Duran Duran
Joy Division
The Jam
Jimi Hendrix
Metallica
Bob Dylan
Elvis Presley
Bob Marley
The Smiths
Less Than Jake
Nine Inch Nails
Faith No More
Bouncing Souls
Cracked Actors
New Order
T-Rex
Suede
The Ramones
Greenday
Offspring (anything except ‘Pretty Fly’)
Jamiraqui
Chemical Brothers
Basement Jaxx

We may send some more if we think of any, but you get the idea 

Our first dance is likely to be ‘Green Day – Macy’s Day Parade’ – taken from ‘Warning’ album (this may change, but we will let you know well in advance if it does).



Pete: You just know that Steve will offer to come up and do that gig for you, don't you? :D :p


Soundtracker - Now THAT is MY type of wedding!!!
Enjoy it mate!


That is a good list, I would enjoy that gig as well :D


Angela got my name in first, if Pete needs it covered.

Hands off :sj: :P

[soundtracker]

I'm a bit short of these:

Nine Inch Nails
Faith No More
Bouncing Souls
Cracked Actors

But apart from that no probs!

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Faith No More


Epic, We care a lot and from out of no-where are the tunes I used to play most regularly when I did my indie/student pub.

Now back on topic please. :rolleyes:

[Dragonfly]

no longer accept gigs that want a big flashing jukebox maybe snobby of me but thats what i choose to do.

[colint]

Agree with penmare42 totally! think this night would be a total nightmare? had something simular at some dodgy club full of plastic gansters years ago when some nasty piece of work (the owner) told me to play the top ten over & over again and because I was using my own kit I was stuck with it for 4 hours and got loads of grief from the customers, never again! dont do list since then only suggestions!!!!

[ian8limelight]

Personally, as you no doubt already have, spend time talking to the Bride & Groom to establish any 'history' behind their remarks. For example, one or both of them may have experienced an 'amatuer DJ' in the past who didn't cater for their requirements.

Key points have already been raised within other postings but this may give a different outlook.

I experienced a function a few years ago where the Bride & Groom insisted on 'heavy rock' all night. The dance floor was completely empty for most of the night before Barry White made an appearance (not in person, of course :p )

[ross@rds]

I let the client choose at least 10 songs they want played on the night. The rest of the music i choose to what i think the guests want to hear and also i play requests.

[waxintaxin]

I find it hard to understand the issue , I love dance music and my wedding is going to be a real mix of dance based tracks

now I know what i like and its my wedding

if a DJ sent me anything other than , no problem your the boss

i would tell them to do one

You provide a service , that someone pays good money for and have a duty to provide what they want.

If the weddings a disaster in your eyes , so what , its not your wedding.

It sounds to me that they will have an indie crowd of 30 somethings and i bet they will love it

not everyone likes disco music and the flexibility of a DJ is surely paramount

However I am djing some of my wedding and using DJs who play what i want
maybe they dont have that luxuary and are looking to you to make the wedding a special event based on there own wishes, and by the sounds of it looking at that play list would hate pop or soul or classic disco tunes.

This is only my opinion of course

Rich

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

I think you need to read the whole thread again Rich. You're getting two issues mixed up here.

[sleah]

I'm a bit short of these:

Nine Inch Nails
Faith No More
Bouncing Souls
Cracked Actors

But apart from that no probs!

1. B&Q should have plenty
2. Maybe ask you local vicar for anyone who's stopped going to church
3. Local graveyard for victims of E or Wizz overdose
4. Hang around a well-known theatre

:D :D :D :D

Sorry, couldn't resist!
The taxis already here......:D

[soundtracker]

:zip: :zip: :zip: :zip: :zip: