DMX Will
23-09-2007, 01:36 AM
Ok, so, I have a residency, as most of you probably know. The hotel has two function suites and have two resident DJs, myself and an older guy (Dave).
Dave couldn't do tonights gig as he is away somewhere, so he hunted for a replacement and found "Baz".
So we come to it, I've gone in set myself up, spoken with 'my' bride got some background music going and pop over to the other suite to see if "Baz" needs any help with anything. Baz is in jeans, with a black shirt with white stripes, all hanging out.
He's just arrived as I get in, fine, right on time (a point to note at this time, the venue has amp/speakers/lights installed, he just needs a "playing" device). So I sort him out with the area he needs to setup in, he's got the rooms DJ Booth, which is on wheels, point out where he needs to plug his mixer into.
Turns out he's got one of those iDJ things by Numark (linky (http://www.sonicftp.com/news/images/s-namm05_numark_idj-500.jpg)) and about 5 iPod Nanos. That's it...no CDs, no backup. Ok I can just about deal with the no backup, as I could have helped him out.
Anyway, he's telling me about what he does, "I tend to only do parties mate, I just play all the cheesey kind-a stuff y'know" I humour him and laugh along (cringing inside). Then comes the jack-pot line: "I've been doing this 20 odd years, and believe it or not, I've only ever done one wedding."
He then turns this very respectable DJ booth (that matches the wall panneling) into santa's grotto with his ropelights, LED screens (which he tells me brings all his business in) whilst asking me how he should go about it, and how weddings work.....mmmm great. We're in a very nice venue with about 250 people in it, and he's not even sure how to announce the first dance.
Baz has told me quite a few times by now, how he likes to keep it simple with his iPods (lol). So I keep popping back throughout the evening when I've got long songs or a buffet mix playing, to make sure he's doing OK.
Come to the end, he's been asked to announce last orders, twice and failed until he got a sharp word from the manager....he's run 5 minutes over, which is a big NO in the venue. I've even left my setup up, and gone straight over to the other room to make sure he gets out safe. I get there and it's gone 12, he's half way through a extra long version of time of my life and I check the amp and it's clipping away.
Oh well. Helped him on his way, got the DJ booth back in order and then went back to pack my lot up. According to the bar staff he kept the dance floor rather busy. So he obviously was doing something right. Just shows how different someone can be in terms of appearence, setup and attitude, but still keep the floor moving.
Oh and then I ended up taking 5 people from my room home, as a taxi firm blew them off, nice £20 tip there. Good night for me though, just an interesting one!
Thanks for reading.
Oh P.S. The mackie's came on friday....lovely....very crisp sound. Looking forward to testing them properly.
Dave couldn't do tonights gig as he is away somewhere, so he hunted for a replacement and found "Baz".
So we come to it, I've gone in set myself up, spoken with 'my' bride got some background music going and pop over to the other suite to see if "Baz" needs any help with anything. Baz is in jeans, with a black shirt with white stripes, all hanging out.
He's just arrived as I get in, fine, right on time (a point to note at this time, the venue has amp/speakers/lights installed, he just needs a "playing" device). So I sort him out with the area he needs to setup in, he's got the rooms DJ Booth, which is on wheels, point out where he needs to plug his mixer into.
Turns out he's got one of those iDJ things by Numark (linky (http://www.sonicftp.com/news/images/s-namm05_numark_idj-500.jpg)) and about 5 iPod Nanos. That's it...no CDs, no backup. Ok I can just about deal with the no backup, as I could have helped him out.
Anyway, he's telling me about what he does, "I tend to only do parties mate, I just play all the cheesey kind-a stuff y'know" I humour him and laugh along (cringing inside). Then comes the jack-pot line: "I've been doing this 20 odd years, and believe it or not, I've only ever done one wedding."
He then turns this very respectable DJ booth (that matches the wall panneling) into santa's grotto with his ropelights, LED screens (which he tells me brings all his business in) whilst asking me how he should go about it, and how weddings work.....mmmm great. We're in a very nice venue with about 250 people in it, and he's not even sure how to announce the first dance.
Baz has told me quite a few times by now, how he likes to keep it simple with his iPods (lol). So I keep popping back throughout the evening when I've got long songs or a buffet mix playing, to make sure he's doing OK.
Come to the end, he's been asked to announce last orders, twice and failed until he got a sharp word from the manager....he's run 5 minutes over, which is a big NO in the venue. I've even left my setup up, and gone straight over to the other room to make sure he gets out safe. I get there and it's gone 12, he's half way through a extra long version of time of my life and I check the amp and it's clipping away.
Oh well. Helped him on his way, got the DJ booth back in order and then went back to pack my lot up. According to the bar staff he kept the dance floor rather busy. So he obviously was doing something right. Just shows how different someone can be in terms of appearence, setup and attitude, but still keep the floor moving.
Oh and then I ended up taking 5 people from my room home, as a taxi firm blew them off, nice £20 tip there. Good night for me though, just an interesting one!
Thanks for reading.
Oh P.S. The mackie's came on friday....lovely....very crisp sound. Looking forward to testing them properly.