Corabar Steve
22-07-2007, 11:10 PM
I had 3 fantastic gigs this week.
Thurday (Corporate Disco, Down Hall, Hatfield Heath)
They danced from the word go (even during the background section during desert). After I started the Disco proper I only played 2 songs of my own choice & boy were those requests eclectic. Nothing cleared the floor (even the R&B selection). I ran out of time with at least enough outstanding requests to do another hour. I overran slightly, but being as we do quite a bit at the venue I didn't want to upset them, so no matter how much they pleaded (or offered to bribe me) I had to leave them wanting more
Friday ( Wedding Reception, Ruskins Bar, Sheffield)
Started off a bit slow & the brides mum only wanted 60s music (but didn't know what) & told me as much every time I played something that wasn't, despite the B&G being quite specific about artists & genres they wanted.
Managed to get rid of her following me saying something along the lines of......
I'm only doing this tonight because Sam & Mark are mates of mine, the music that you are complaining about is what they want me to play. As a consequence of doing this tonight, I've had to turn down a job that would have earned me £300. So please stop giving me a hard time & if you want to complain to somebody about the music try your daughter, she's the one that gave me the list!
That did the trick. The rest of the night consisted of lots of dancing to rock, indie, punk & new wave.
The venue was half open to non wedding guests & about an hour in one of them approached me. The conversation went something like this........
Woman "How much do you charge?"
Me "We're based in North London, it would cost a lot to come up here"
Woman "So how much?"
Me "Well you're looking at travel expenses & a hotel for the night, so absolute minimum £600 for 3 hours"
Woman "Are you OK about working in marquees if the power is supplied from a building?"
Me "No problem"
Woman "5 or 6 hours OK?"
Me "Sure"
Woman "Have you got a card?"
Me "Here you go"
Woman "You should hear from me shortly"
The only down side to the night was our hotel car park only had a 5ft 8 headroom & I ended up parking the van at another friend's house in the suburbs & getting a cab back to my hotel. I also somewhat foolishly went out to a club after the reception (9am drive home)
The 9am drive home turned into a 10am drive (which didn't exceed 50 MPH virtually the whole journey due to the heavy rain) I got home at 2:15.
1 hour's kip, shower & shave later & I'm back on the road to Saturday's gig (I've described the weather for this drive elsewhere).
By the time I got to Saturday's gig (Wedding Reception, Parklands, Quendon), it had stopped raining at least. It was another one that the crown was up for it right from the start. (I'd previously worked for the bride's family before, her mother's 50th birthday bash)
At the end of the evening as I'd just finished packing away, I had this conversation.........
Bride "That was fantastic Steve, just what we wanted. Come & have a drink with us"
Bride's sister Lisa "Steve, would you travel to Tiverton in Devon to do a disco?"
Me "I'll work anywhere if the money's right"
Lisa "Are you free 1st November next year, for my wedding?"
Me "Yep!"
Lisa "Pencil it in, I'll phone with details next week. "
Lisa's Dad "Don't worry about the money, we know you'll do a good job & Lisa wants you to do it. We'll sort you out a room in the hotel when we speak to them next."
Result!
(I ended up socialising with the main wedding party until about 3:30, got home at 4:45, went to bed at 6)
I've felt like crap all day today, but it was well worth it.
Thurday (Corporate Disco, Down Hall, Hatfield Heath)
They danced from the word go (even during the background section during desert). After I started the Disco proper I only played 2 songs of my own choice & boy were those requests eclectic. Nothing cleared the floor (even the R&B selection). I ran out of time with at least enough outstanding requests to do another hour. I overran slightly, but being as we do quite a bit at the venue I didn't want to upset them, so no matter how much they pleaded (or offered to bribe me) I had to leave them wanting more
Friday ( Wedding Reception, Ruskins Bar, Sheffield)
Started off a bit slow & the brides mum only wanted 60s music (but didn't know what) & told me as much every time I played something that wasn't, despite the B&G being quite specific about artists & genres they wanted.
Managed to get rid of her following me saying something along the lines of......
I'm only doing this tonight because Sam & Mark are mates of mine, the music that you are complaining about is what they want me to play. As a consequence of doing this tonight, I've had to turn down a job that would have earned me £300. So please stop giving me a hard time & if you want to complain to somebody about the music try your daughter, she's the one that gave me the list!
That did the trick. The rest of the night consisted of lots of dancing to rock, indie, punk & new wave.
The venue was half open to non wedding guests & about an hour in one of them approached me. The conversation went something like this........
Woman "How much do you charge?"
Me "We're based in North London, it would cost a lot to come up here"
Woman "So how much?"
Me "Well you're looking at travel expenses & a hotel for the night, so absolute minimum £600 for 3 hours"
Woman "Are you OK about working in marquees if the power is supplied from a building?"
Me "No problem"
Woman "5 or 6 hours OK?"
Me "Sure"
Woman "Have you got a card?"
Me "Here you go"
Woman "You should hear from me shortly"
The only down side to the night was our hotel car park only had a 5ft 8 headroom & I ended up parking the van at another friend's house in the suburbs & getting a cab back to my hotel. I also somewhat foolishly went out to a club after the reception (9am drive home)
The 9am drive home turned into a 10am drive (which didn't exceed 50 MPH virtually the whole journey due to the heavy rain) I got home at 2:15.
1 hour's kip, shower & shave later & I'm back on the road to Saturday's gig (I've described the weather for this drive elsewhere).
By the time I got to Saturday's gig (Wedding Reception, Parklands, Quendon), it had stopped raining at least. It was another one that the crown was up for it right from the start. (I'd previously worked for the bride's family before, her mother's 50th birthday bash)
At the end of the evening as I'd just finished packing away, I had this conversation.........
Bride "That was fantastic Steve, just what we wanted. Come & have a drink with us"
Bride's sister Lisa "Steve, would you travel to Tiverton in Devon to do a disco?"
Me "I'll work anywhere if the money's right"
Lisa "Are you free 1st November next year, for my wedding?"
Me "Yep!"
Lisa "Pencil it in, I'll phone with details next week. "
Lisa's Dad "Don't worry about the money, we know you'll do a good job & Lisa wants you to do it. We'll sort you out a room in the hotel when we speak to them next."
Result!
(I ended up socialising with the main wedding party until about 3:30, got home at 4:45, went to bed at 6)
I've felt like crap all day today, but it was well worth it.