Please Do Not Stick Your Head Inside The Speaker

[TheRooster]

ok... title = vague

So I was at one of my regular venues.. karaoke night... setup in my usual way and such... I've stepped away for a few minutes, left something behind... which is no biggie... I only live just up the road... and the venue is fine with it and the like... so I drive up grab it, come back.

A group of regulars, while I was away, decided to make themselves comfortable on a table which sits pretty close to a speaker (its a small venue), so I politly warn them that I will be starting soon, and that they might be more comfortable sat furhter back (there were still a few spare tables left a row or two back)...

I think you see where this might be going... they decide not to... so I begin... and they complain to me about the noise. They say well can't you turn the speakers around... I say no... feedback and the like... so they put up with it for a little while, and I kept the level low compared to how I normally end up (I always start off quieter than when I finish). Eventually they complain again... and I say to them... polite as one can be... that this is the level I'm told I can play to, and they will have to talk to the management. If they see it as a problem, they can tell me and I'll be happy to. (though I'll be grinding my teeth)

It gets to the point where they start moving my speakers... I HATE people touching my equipment under any circumstance.... it drives me bananas... so I go over... ask them to not touch the equipment... and I place the speaker back... no sooner than I had turned my back... they had gotten up and moved the speaker again....

I went to the management... they had words with the customers, and they got up and left...


Was I right or wrong? I dunno... the above is more about them touching my speakers and not going to the management... and who sits in front of a speaker when they can not only see that something will be happening that night.. but something which I know has been advertised for, for at least a month. :bang: :bang: :bang:

I eventually borrowed the venues cellar... yelled at the top of my lungs... and finished the job... but my voice went to pot after that :p


[/rant]

[DMX Will]

I think you did fine! Doesn't sound like you lost your cool too much, and after all you did tell them politely before you turned it up. Their loss.

[Silver]

You were spot on, I DO NOT allow people ever to touch my equipment (Ooo er missus http://planetsmilies.net/winking-smiley-42.gif) I had three lads thrown out of a pub gig one night for them constantly moving a light. Sounds like they were being difficult after a few beers.

[rob1963]

ok... title = vague

So I was at one of my regular venues.. karaoke night... setup in my usual way and such... I've stepped away for a few minutes, left something behind... which is no biggie... I only live just up the road... and the venue is fine with it and the like... so I drive up grab it, come back.

A group of regulars, while I was away, decided to make themselves comfortable on a table which sits pretty close to a speaker (its a small venue), so I politly warn them that I will be starting soon, and that they might be more comfortable sat furhter back (there were still a few spare tables left a row or two back)...

I think you see where this might be going... they decide not to... so I begin... and they complain to me about the noise. They say well can't you turn the speakers around... I say no... feedback and the like... so they put up with it for a little while, and I kept the level low compared to how I normally end up (I always start off quieter than when I finish). Eventually they complain again... and I say to them... polite as one can be... that this is the level I'm told I can play to, and they will have to talk to the management. If they see it as a problem, they can tell me and I'll be happy to. (though I'll be grinding my teeth)

It gets to the point where they start moving my speakers... I HATE people touching my equipment under any circumstance.... it drives me bananas... so I go over... ask them to not touch the equipment... and I place the speaker back... no sooner than I had turned my back... they had gotten up and moved the speaker again....

I went to the management... they had words with the customers, and they got up and left...


Was I right or wrong? I dunno... the above is more about them touching my speakers and not going to the management... and who sits in front of a speaker when they can not only see that something will be happening that night.. but something which I know has been advertised for, for at least a month. :bang: :bang: :bang:

I eventually borrowed the venues cellar... yelled at the top of my lungs... and finished the job... but my voice went to pot after that :p


[/rant]

Hi Rooster,

The way you handled the situation was spot on.

When you saw they were sitting near a speaker, you explained that you would be starting soon, you explained it might be loud if they stayed where they were, and you suggested they moved to a table further away. You also suggested they talked to the management if they weren't happy. I don't see what else you could have done.

As far as moving / touching your gear is concerned, I'm completely with you, and HATE anyone touching my equipment under any circumstances. You were right to speak to the management about it, and they were right to ask those concerned to leave (assuming that's what happened). After all, you'd already asked them not to touch your gear, but they totally ignored you, which shows a complete lack of respect.

I have no time for people like that.

[Stephen_N.I.]

I personally blame the management for having the table situated there.
They should take into account that you need that area to site your speakers.

[Dragonfly]

don't worry about it sounds like you had more patience than me ..... I had 7 people last night ask me if the drunk bridesmaid could sing to whitney houston on the mic ......... 7 people got told no .......... then of course i was crap ....... the barstaff then came over and said we have had some complaints about the music .... its not current enough.

on the mic again ..... "ladies and gentlemen it has been brought to my attention that a few people are not happy with the choice of music this evening , just to let you all know I am playing a selection from the list posted to me by the bride and groom please do not complain to the barstaff as the music is nothing to do with them whatsoever, but by all means come and chat to me and you are more than welcome to have a look at the list and select a track"

how many do you think had the bottle to come and whinge to me? big fat hairy stinky zero.

on the bridesmaid incident that was brought to a close when I called her back later onto the dancefloor , asked her if she still wanted to sing she nodded and was handed a large inflatable pink mic....... she was fuming.

[CRAZY K]

don't worry about it sounds like you had more patience than me ..... I had 7 people last night ask me if the drunk bridesmaid could sing to whitney houston on the mic ......... 7 people got told no .......... then of course i was crap ....... the barstaff then came over and said we have had some complaints about the music .... its not current enough.

on the mic again ..... "ladies and gentlemen it has been brought to my attention that a few people are not happy with the choice of music this evening , just to let you all know I am playing a selection from the list posted to me by the bride and groom please do not complain to the barstaff as the music is nothing to do with them whatsoever, but by all means come and chat to me and you are more than welcome to have a look at the list and select a track"

how many do you think had the bottle to come and whinge to me? big fat hairy stinky zero.

on the bridesmaid incident that was brought to a close when I called her back later onto the dancefloor , asked her if she still wanted to sing she nodded and was handed a large inflatable pink mic....... she was fuming.

Sorry to hear that Dave, is it time to increase the prices and lose the bottom enders again ---as per your post recently on price versus quality of customer?

Anyway what the //// has it got to do with the bar staff--they didnt book you:confused:

regards

CRAZY K

[jx305]

I think you handled it really well. When my stepdad goes out to a gig, my mum (his partner) usually goes to, to do his mixing (not bad for a woman of 62!) im afraid she handles things very differently to you, ( to my embarrasment) she will actually tell people to shift cos she needs the table and loses her cool if people go within a 100mile radius of his "equipment" lol, but people tend not to argue with her as shes built like a brick lavvy lol actually its quite funny to watch i just say shes not with me then its obvious i am when it comes to taking the stuff down and packing away :D

[TheRooster]

I personally blame the management for having the table situated there.
They should take into account that you need that area to site your speakers.


lol... well... it is a small pub... I know it very well... and the layout of the room is horrible... luckily it's getting sorted in a few weeks

oh... and one thing I maybe failed to mention is that it is a family owned pub (i.e. my family)... which is what kinda makes it even more annoying cos these guys know me well enough to know that I'm not gonna sit back and let them try and walk all over me just cos I'm younger than them....

So anyways... little update... today I'm told that the older guy at the table came in today, said to the manager that he did ask me if he could move the speaker, and I said yes...
cos you know... that's the first thing I'm gonna do... silly people

I'm over the whole thing now anyways... I'm obviously still annoyed by it... but now I gotta move on and focus on the next job.

[New DJ]

you warned them onece politely,then you told the boss thats what i would have done.