A nice change...

[Danno13]

Well, living in the middle of nowhere means I take it as a given that I have to travel about quite a bit to fill my diary! My gigs are usually anywhere between 30-70 miles away. (last weekend - newport - 70miles, ledbury - 25miles, hereford - 35miles, wolverhampton- 45miles)

Tonight was an exception. I was booked for a wedding reception in a hotel in the next but one village from mine (~4miles). Website booking as well, so complete chance that they found me!

Left mine at 6.20, to arrive for 6.30. Arrive and find I can't get in for another 40mins as their still on desserts. (Yes.. should have rang ahead, i know!) So hang around until I can get in.

Setup ready for about 8 in the end, weird layout as i'm setup right infront of the dancefloor but theres a route behind me from the bar to the toilets and the garden.. so no place behind me to dump cases, and i'm constantly checking behind thinking people are coming for requests, when they're just on the way to the toilet, or for a fag!

First dance at 8.30 and a moderate first hour, lots of requests for really different things.. played quite alot of RnB and chart music, and some 90s dance fairly early on. Bit of 60s/70s/80s.. usual stuff.

It really got going about 10pm though, and I couldn't really put a foot wrong.. although did have a quiet patch when I went to a bit of 70s/80s rock (B&Gs request...) but only for a couple of tracks before blondie, then the jam picked it up again. (Livin' on a prayer failed for the 3rd time recently..)

Weird old mixture of stuff really, and some random tracks thrown in as the groom asked.. but managed to pull it off. I'll upload the playlist tommorow, when i drag the gig box in from the van.

Anyway, finished at 11.45, packed up and home by 12.45.. and now on my second guiness :D

Really really good night, one when you really get a buzz and feel you could play all night and keep it going!

Best thing was, i was absolutley knackered having got to bed at almost 4am last night, then woken by alarm at 6, and eventually up at 9 to spend the day in Solihull (for my sins :D), so wasn't feeling especially healthy.. but ended up having a really good night! :D

[Paul James Promotions]

Good stuff :)

[Corabar Steve]

:approve:

[BeerFunk]

Sounds good, but with reference to your first paragraph, I can't help but think you're mad to go on a 140 mile round trip for a gig!? I'd draw the line at around 40 miles each way I think.

I would start a thread about how far DJs are willing to travel, but I'm too tired and need my bed! :(

[jamesh]

Sounds good, but with reference to your first paragraph, I can't help but think you're mad to go on a 140 mile round trip for a gig!? I'd draw the line at around 40 miles each way I think.

I would start a thread about how far DJs are willing to travel, but I'm too tired and need my bed! :(

Na that's the whole point of being mobile... that you travel to your gigs... and for some, like dan, who lives in the middle of nowhere you have to travel that bit further....

If the money's right i'll travel any where ni the UK or worldwide for a gig...

but back on topic... nice one dan sounds like a good gig :)

[Mission]

Nice one Dan, sounds like you had one of those nights we hope every gig was like.

Living on a prayer: I don't have that in as a permanent playlist track but get asked for it and play it often. Usually requested by the ladies :D

I like my Rock and would love to do a Rock and Indie night for a client but only tend to drop around three Rock songs (things such as Def Leppard - Let’s get Rocked, Bon Jovi- One Wild Night) into a night as I feel I'm playing more for me than the guests. If I'm asked for it though I am more than happy to play lots :D

Sweet Child of Mine is also requested as much as Living on a prayer, again by the ladies.

Its nice when you can get home at that time. Have a :beer1: and you tend to be ready for some food by then, if you haven't had anything since lunch or breakfast time.

[Danno13]

Sounds good, but with reference to your first paragraph, I can't help but think you're mad to go on a 140 mile round trip for a gig!? I'd draw the line at around 40 miles each way I think.

Fair enough, but I don't see the point in limiting myself. All money is good money, so I'd rather be out every weekend, even if it means a bit of travelling. That particular 140 mile round trip was on a Thursday night, so i'd have only have been sat at home anyway.

[Corabar Steve]

Don't see why not, I've done gigs 140 miles each way before. It all depends on how much you want to work.

[dj-jaym]

200 ish mile each way before.If you want the money you will travel

[BeerFunk]

I want the money, but it would have to be £400+ to entice me to travel that far!

[Corabar Steve]

Did anybody say it wasn't?

[rob1963]

I want the money, but it would have to be £400+ to entice me to travel that far!

I know we are all different, but there is no way in a million years I'd travel 200 miles to a gig for £400, in fact I recently did a gig for someone I know which was 60 miles away...and I charged virtually £400 for THAT one!

If I received an enquiry about a gig 200 miles away, I'd probably be quoting at least £700-£800, and I'd be hoping they'd say that was too much, but if they agreed on that price, then I'd do the gig...reluctantly, though.

[BeerFunk]

I was kind of basing it on the original 'up to 140 miles round trip' distance, Rob. I'd probably just plain turn down a gig 200 miles away - despite my obvious talents (!), why wouldn't they book someone closer?

[Corabar Entertainment]

Well Steve has been asked to a job in Devon next November. The family have used us twice before (Mum's 50th and 1st daughter's wedding). The second daughter is getting married next November..... but down in Devon! So they have said that they would rather pay the extra, plus hotel etc for Steve to travel down there than try and find a DJ closer..... so that's one reason why someone might not want to book someone closer to the event! :)

[Vectis]

Distance from my place to the furthest away part of the island (the Needles), by road? 18 miles.

Everywhere else is closer :cool:

Mostly I work in or around Newport (7 miles), Shanklin (4 miles) or Cowes (9 miles). :beer1:

[Corabar Steve]

Well Steve has been asked to a job in Devon next November. The family have used us twice before (Mum's 50th and 1st daughter's wedding). The second daughter is getting married next November..... but down in Devon! So they have said that they would rather pay the extra, plus hotel etc for Steve to travel down there than try and find a DJ closer..... so that's one reason why someone might not want to book someone closer to the event! :)

Stop it I'll get big headed:Embarassed:

[Mission]

Also would have no problem on distance if the price is right. Worked into the Price you could stop over night if need be if you had a secure place to leave your vehicle.

A bonus if it's a place you like visiting and could make a weekend out of it.

So if any one can't cover a gig on the south coast (IOW, Weymouth, Poole, etc)and the price is right, then ;)

[theoloyla]

Dead Right. I will travel anywhere if the price is right but I agree it is nice to find good work close to home.

[Have a disco]

I do find that people want a disco not done by a local disco as not to upset any of them as DJ's tend to get invited as well around here everyone knows everyone and a change is as good as a rest

Itravel as far as the booking will pay the right money