An easy but strange gig last night!

[rob1963]

Last night's gig was a wedding at Ham House in Kingston.

On arrival, I asked where to set up, and was shown a raised area about 18 feet wide. Apart from a 4 feet wide opening near the right and a 3 feet opening near the left (where the steps were) there was a solid wall! Also, the dancing was in the bar area, which was very small.

I had to set up with one speaker behind each opening. This meant I was in the middle...with a wall right in front of me! The only way I could see the people was to move to the left or right! Very weird!

The other problem was the toilets. They were behind me, so I had a constant stream of people walking up the steps, round my speaker & then between the disco & the table behind me with the CDs on. This was rather annoying, but could not be avoided. They only had to walk over one cable though, and this was obviously gaffa taped down (Darren please note!).

I was originally booked from 7.00 until 10.30 (all music at this venue must be off by 10.30!) and was also told there would be a band playing for about an hour early on in a marquee outside, so I was only expecting to do about two and a half hours. On the night, I was told the band would play from about 7.45 until 8.30, and I'd then do two hours. As things turned out, the band went on quite late & didn't shorten their set. They finished at 9.20 leaving me with only an hour and 10 minutes!

At the end, the groom came up & thanked me for doing a brilliant job & playing all the songs they'd wanted. I thanked him, but pointed out that due to a lack of time I'd only been able to play about a third of their pre-requested songs. He said that didn't matter & told me he knew I'd have played them all if I'd had the time.

I packed away & was home by 11.30. All in all a strange gig...only 1 hour & 10 minutes, and little sight of the guests due to the wall in front of me, but the groom was very pleased with what I did - so job done!

I wonder if 10.30 wins me the prize for the evening wedding reception with the earliest finish?

Tonight's gig should be better. A 40th birthday at a local community centre for a guy who is in one of my pub quiz teams.

It's nearly 5 hours, and hopefully there won't be a wall in front of me & I'll actually be able to SEE the guests this time!

[spin mobile disco]

Fraid not on my wedding day we finshed evening reception at about 9pm. Simply due to the fact I had been up early and gigging night before wedding. But we had 2 receptions 1 in afternoon and a short one in evening.

[CRAZY K]

Last night's gig was a wedding at Ham House in Kingston.

On arrival, I asked where to set up, and was shown a raised area about 18 feet wide. Apart from a 4 feet wide opening near the right and a 3 feet opening near the left (where the steps were) there was a solid wall! Also, the dancing was in the bar area, which was very small.

I had to set up with one speaker behind each opening. This meant I was in the middle...with a wall right in front of me! The only way I could see the people was to move to the left or right! Very weird!

The other problem was the toilets. They were behind me, so I had a constant stream of people walking up the steps, round my speaker & then between the disco & the table behind me with the CDs on. This was rather annoying, but could not be avoided. They only had to walk over one cable though, and this was obviously gaffa taped down (Darren please note!).

I was originally booked from 7.00 until 10.30 (all music at this venue must be off by 10.30!) and was also told there would be a band playing for about an hour early on in a marquee outside, so I was only expecting to do about two and a half hours. On the night, I was told the band would play from about 7.45 until 8.30, and I'd then do two hours. As things turned out, the band went on quite late & didn't shorten their set. They finished at 9.20 leaving me with only an hour and 10 minutes!

At the end, the groom came up & thanked me for doing a brilliant job & playing all the songs they'd wanted. I thanked him, but pointed out that due to a lack of time I'd only been able to play about a third of their pre-requested songs. He said that didn't matter & told me he knew I'd have played them all if I'd had the time.

I packed away & was home by 11.30. All in all a strange gig...only 1 hour & 10 minutes, and little sight of the guests due to the wall in front of me, but the groom was very pleased with what I did - so job done!

I wonder if 10.30 wins me the prize for the evening wedding reception with the earliest finish?

Tonight's gig should be better. A 40th birthday at a local community centre for a guy who is in one of my pub quiz teams.

It's nearly 5 hours, and hopefully there won't be a wall in front of me & I'll actually be able to SEE the guests this time!

Yes I can beat you--last Sunday went up to Norwich for a Wedding--Barn Dance plus Disco--unfortunately all the guest were mainly "older" Bride and groom mid 50s---lovely people--

Some of the more elderly guests started to slide off about 8 pm :eek: 6-45 start!

The rest apparently had all travelled long distances--had spent the weekend celebrating and had to drive home same night because it was a Sunday.

So I did Barn Dance very successfully until 10pm===No Disco ---that was it.

They got 3 hours out of me non stop with NO breaks:eek:

I think I earned my money:D

Everyone pleased including me with an early finish--Norwich to Kettering is a long way:D :D :D

CRAZY K

[Corabar Steve]

Ham House is in Ham, not Kingston (actually closer to Richmond)

We've got a wedding booked until 10pm tonight (not my job, I get to watch the Rugby before I start)

[rob1963]

Ham House is in Ham, not Kingston (actually closer to Richmond)


Indeed it is, Steve, but I said Kingston because it's only just past Kingston, and also because more people have probably heard of Kingston than Ham!

[Corabar Steve]

Or Richmond?? :P:sj:

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Indeed it is, Steve, but I said Kingston because it's only just past Kingston, and also because more people have probably heard of Kingston than Ham!

I've never had a Kingston sandwich before...:D

[Corabar Steve]

Oh dear

[rob1963]

I've never had a Kingston sandwich before...:D

:doh:

[robbiedj]

Don't think I would have agreed to set up there.

I don't think that it would be really safe on H&S grounds, even with cables firmly taped, to have people wandering around the speakers and kit like that.

And I hate not seeing the audience. Visual feedback is impossible, even if you have a playlist, you still tend to play it in the order you feel it needs by judging reaction. Maybe if it was just background music but not for dancing.

Was there no way to fit on the other side of that wall?

[Dragonfly]

I wonder if 10.30 wins me the prize for the evening wedding reception with the earliest finish?


nope did a salsa wedding last year first item went in the car to pack up at 9.30pm from a 7pm start ..... in the middle of nowhere and i guess the guests didnt like the play list of nothing but spanish salsa.

[rob1963]

Don't think I would have agreed to set up there.

I don't think that it would be really safe on H&S grounds, even with cables firmly taped, to have people wandering around the speakers and kit like that.

And I hate not seeing the audience. Visual feedback is impossible, even if you have a playlist, you still tend to play it in the order you feel it needs by judging reaction. Maybe if it was just background music but not for dancing.

Was there no way to fit on the other side of that wall?

Robbie...I had no choice with my set up position. It was either where I was or nowhere, and I think I chose the better of the two options!

I couldn't fit on the other side of the wall, as that was just the bar & dancing area...which was small enough anyway - probably only twice the size of the raised area where I was set up!

I also hate not being able to see the audience. That's never happened to me before, and it felt weird talking to a wall, but there was simply no other option.

If I don't get the prize for the earliest finish for a wedding reception, I wonder if I get the prize for the shortest disco at a wedding reception...1 hour and 10 minutes including background music (not that I played any)?

This includes finishing at the booked time, and not packing up early for some reason.

Anyone?

[Dragonfly]

and shortest gig that wasnt a kids do 40 mins ish at a retirement do.

[rob1963]

Ahhh Dave...but I'm talking about wedding receptions

[Have a disco]

Have managed a wedding disco that started at 6pm and finished at 7pm why small family function (20 guests)and B & G had to catch a flight to honeymoon destination.

set up to finish time a total of 2 1/2 hrs with 1 hours music

All intentions were to finish at 10.30 but father of bride said to pack up after they left, as all guests were going to a family home for a cheap drink....

I went home happy as did all guests will never forget brides mother for thanking me for a great night as we were both in fits of laughter

Only other shorter time was when Environmental department came in and shut premises for night due to noise pollution?? apparently they had previous complaints even though I was not loud and premises had its entertainment licence revoked a week before. I lasted 30 minutes it was either shut down or have my equipment seized, I was still paid for my nights work Bride was in tears and groom was fuming at those ruining her day

[PropellerHeadCase]

I had a wedding breakfast and speeches run so late that I played for 25 minutes (and that was only because I convinced the venue management to let me play until 12:00am, rather than stopping at 11:45 as usual). So I played four floorfillers (from memory 'Dancing Queen', 'I'm in the Mood for Dancing', 'Staying Alive' and 'Rock DJ' and two megamixes (Grease and Boney M), oh, and I think I managed to play Donna Summer 'Last Dance', to finish.

[Larry B Entertainment]

All easy money then by the sounds of it.

[PropellerHeadCase]

Not really, I had to sit through three 3½ hours of dull speeches and nothing happening for vast tracts of time (they had organised to play their CDs through the in-house system for background music).

[Larry B Entertainment]

Not really, I had to sit through three 3½ hours of dull speeches and nothing happening for vast tracts of time (they had organised to play their CDs through the in-house system for background music).

Yeah sometimes its the sitting around which is the worst thing. Playing background music why people are eating is the worst thing for me, i just think i could play anything right now and no one would even notice.

[robbiedj]

Yeah sometimes its the sitting around which is the worst thing. Playing background music why people are eating is the worst thing for me, i just think i could play anything right now and no one would even notice.


Not always true.

I have felt that way only to have somebody come over and compliment me on the background music. I also like to watch for any reaction at this point. Is there any foot-tapping or movement to soul tracks, modern ones or golden oldies. Gives me a clue to the mood and tastes of the guests.

[Corabar Entertainment]

They'd soon notice if you were playing the WRONG sort of music as background though, wouldn't they? :D

[PropellerHeadCase]

I have felt that way only to have somebody come over and compliment me on the background music. I also like to watch for any reaction at this point. Is there any foot-tapping or movement to soul tracks, modern ones or golden oldies. Gives me a clue to the mood and tastes of the guests.

Me too, and agreed.

[Larry B Entertainment]

They'd soon notice if you were playing the WRONG sort of music as background though, wouldn't they? :D

well yes i see where you are coming from.