Shakermaker Promotions
27-10-2007, 01:12 PM
For a number of reasons last night I really got close to losing my rag (and it doesn't happen that often but when it does....aaarrgghhh!!).
Firstly, It was my monthly Retro night at a local club. I've mentioned it before, it's 200 capacity and I promote the night myself. 9 times out of 10 it is at capacity because people like the fact that it's a retro night and nowhere else in my town does one.
Anyway, most of the nights are promoted by outside promoters and all genres are covered. I cater for Indie/alternative with my 'Shakermaker' nights and also Retro with my 'Back to the future' nights. There are Drum n Bass nights, Trance, Hard House, Techno, Funky House and Live bands etc etc. What all of us promoters have found since the smoking ban came in, is that you can have capacity in the venue but sometimes it looks half full because lots of people are outside. To cut a long story very short (I know you don't like my long posts), the club owner arranged a meeting with all of the promoters to go through some ideas etc about how to stop (or try to) people all going outside. We came to an agreement and it was put in place last night and seemed to work very well - cool! The first point of this topic is really just ego I suppose. Usually when I set up my equipment in the venue I use my 3k system along with 4 Dynamos, 2 lasers and 2 other effects lights with haze too. Last night I went minimal and only used 2 x Dynarolls and 1 effect because I have thought that in the past I am using far too much and wasting far too much time setting up etc.
If I had remembered that there would be other promoters there too I would have used my normal lighting set up just to look good. As the other guys wandered in I felt embarassed but when I got talking to them I found out that most of them don't use lights at all.... wierd!
Second part of the night from hell (and I thought that it was on wednesday as it's Halloween but obviously not!), was when I lost my temper with a guy. I have to say that the club is situated on an industrial estate. It's open everyday as a wine bar / restaurant so the office people from the surrounding buildings use it for lunch etc etc. On a friday you get some people still in the place that have been in there since they finished work but most of the time they know that when it hits 9.00pm and my night starts (or any other promoters), that they either leave or if they are intending on staying, to pay the entry fee. Last night there were 2 'suits'. I've seen them on more than one occasion and everything has been fine but last night it wasn't. It was about 8.55pm when I noticed them at the bar ordering more drinks. I casually walked over and asked them if they had plans to stay. They looked at me like I was a piece of youknowwhat and said it was none of my business. This irritated me so I told them it was my business as the venue was mine from 9.00pm and even though they had finished their work for the week, I was just starting mine. I told them that if they were staying then they would need to pay me £3.00 each. They laughed and then said "ok fine!" and then went outside.
My wife does the door for me and takes the money and stands with the doormen so about 20 mins later I nipped out and noticed them standing outside. They gave me a dirty look and I asked my wife if they had paid, she said no. One of the doormen then said that they had told him that they had already paid the manager. I was confused so I went to see the manager and she said that she hadn't taken any money from anyone. (now I am really getting irrate as they have lied to the doormen and me). When I came back to talk to the doormen I told them not to let them back in unless they pay the £3.00 each. About 10 mins passed when I saw one of them storm in through the door and head towards me. He shouted at me that he was going to speak to the manager about me. I just smiled back at him. I could see him ranting and making gestures in my direction and each second that passed had me boiling until finally I went over to them both and asked what the problem was. He totally ignored me and the manager tried to explain to me what seemed like a totally different story. I shouted at him words to the effect of "it's only £3.00, what's the problem?" (all be it a bit sterner obviously). To cut this story short too (see, I'm trying!), he was asked to leave as he refused to pay the money. He got a bit silly and tried it on with me which didn't get him anywhere and the doormen 'escorted' him out.
Anyway, third part. During the evening it felt like there was a tense atmosphere. I couldn't put my finger on it but things didn't feel quite right. A really good looking blonde girl staggered over to me halfway through the night and asked me for a song, as I leant over to try and hear what she was saying, she put her arms around me and planted a smacker on my lips. Fair enough but then she grabbed me again and tried to stick her tongue down my throat. I leapt backwards quickly (remember, the missus is outside) and she didn't like the rejection by the looks of it as she pushed my decks. I just about stopped them from coming off the stands when a guy rushed over and started shouting at me. He actually took a swing at me and started swearing at me. It worked out that it was his girlfriend!!! Obviously I tried to explain, I showed my wedding ring etc and mentioned that my missus was outside but he wouldn't have it. In the end the doormen had to 'escort' him out too!!
Finally, if that wasn't enough... around 12.30am (last entry is 01.00am) a big crowd of slovakian's and polish came in. A mixed bunch of guys and girls. They went straight on to the dancefloor and started dancing and I thought "cool". They looked like they were really up for a laugh. I noticed most of the guys in the venue staring with their tongues hanging out at one of the polish girls. She was a babe and that is an understatement. I won't say too much but she wasn't in there for long (probably 20 mins at the most), the reason being... when I was playing Beats International 'Dub be good to me', she started stripping!! By the time the song had got halfway through, she was topless and it wasn't long before she was stood there in just her thong and boots. The doormen covered her up and got her out before it went any further (unfortunately) but as they were carting her out the door, the group that were with her didn't like it and it all went a bit silly. I think it put a few people off as the place emptied out quite quickly after that and I found myself playing to around 50 people for the last hour.
All in all, a night I would rather forget. Tonight is an early finish (10pm) as I am doing a childrens Halloween Disco from 6pm and I am looking forward to that...well, unless some little 'un decided to kick me!!!
Firstly, It was my monthly Retro night at a local club. I've mentioned it before, it's 200 capacity and I promote the night myself. 9 times out of 10 it is at capacity because people like the fact that it's a retro night and nowhere else in my town does one.
Anyway, most of the nights are promoted by outside promoters and all genres are covered. I cater for Indie/alternative with my 'Shakermaker' nights and also Retro with my 'Back to the future' nights. There are Drum n Bass nights, Trance, Hard House, Techno, Funky House and Live bands etc etc. What all of us promoters have found since the smoking ban came in, is that you can have capacity in the venue but sometimes it looks half full because lots of people are outside. To cut a long story very short (I know you don't like my long posts), the club owner arranged a meeting with all of the promoters to go through some ideas etc about how to stop (or try to) people all going outside. We came to an agreement and it was put in place last night and seemed to work very well - cool! The first point of this topic is really just ego I suppose. Usually when I set up my equipment in the venue I use my 3k system along with 4 Dynamos, 2 lasers and 2 other effects lights with haze too. Last night I went minimal and only used 2 x Dynarolls and 1 effect because I have thought that in the past I am using far too much and wasting far too much time setting up etc.
If I had remembered that there would be other promoters there too I would have used my normal lighting set up just to look good. As the other guys wandered in I felt embarassed but when I got talking to them I found out that most of them don't use lights at all.... wierd!
Second part of the night from hell (and I thought that it was on wednesday as it's Halloween but obviously not!), was when I lost my temper with a guy. I have to say that the club is situated on an industrial estate. It's open everyday as a wine bar / restaurant so the office people from the surrounding buildings use it for lunch etc etc. On a friday you get some people still in the place that have been in there since they finished work but most of the time they know that when it hits 9.00pm and my night starts (or any other promoters), that they either leave or if they are intending on staying, to pay the entry fee. Last night there were 2 'suits'. I've seen them on more than one occasion and everything has been fine but last night it wasn't. It was about 8.55pm when I noticed them at the bar ordering more drinks. I casually walked over and asked them if they had plans to stay. They looked at me like I was a piece of youknowwhat and said it was none of my business. This irritated me so I told them it was my business as the venue was mine from 9.00pm and even though they had finished their work for the week, I was just starting mine. I told them that if they were staying then they would need to pay me £3.00 each. They laughed and then said "ok fine!" and then went outside.
My wife does the door for me and takes the money and stands with the doormen so about 20 mins later I nipped out and noticed them standing outside. They gave me a dirty look and I asked my wife if they had paid, she said no. One of the doormen then said that they had told him that they had already paid the manager. I was confused so I went to see the manager and she said that she hadn't taken any money from anyone. (now I am really getting irrate as they have lied to the doormen and me). When I came back to talk to the doormen I told them not to let them back in unless they pay the £3.00 each. About 10 mins passed when I saw one of them storm in through the door and head towards me. He shouted at me that he was going to speak to the manager about me. I just smiled back at him. I could see him ranting and making gestures in my direction and each second that passed had me boiling until finally I went over to them both and asked what the problem was. He totally ignored me and the manager tried to explain to me what seemed like a totally different story. I shouted at him words to the effect of "it's only £3.00, what's the problem?" (all be it a bit sterner obviously). To cut this story short too (see, I'm trying!), he was asked to leave as he refused to pay the money. He got a bit silly and tried it on with me which didn't get him anywhere and the doormen 'escorted' him out.
Anyway, third part. During the evening it felt like there was a tense atmosphere. I couldn't put my finger on it but things didn't feel quite right. A really good looking blonde girl staggered over to me halfway through the night and asked me for a song, as I leant over to try and hear what she was saying, she put her arms around me and planted a smacker on my lips. Fair enough but then she grabbed me again and tried to stick her tongue down my throat. I leapt backwards quickly (remember, the missus is outside) and she didn't like the rejection by the looks of it as she pushed my decks. I just about stopped them from coming off the stands when a guy rushed over and started shouting at me. He actually took a swing at me and started swearing at me. It worked out that it was his girlfriend!!! Obviously I tried to explain, I showed my wedding ring etc and mentioned that my missus was outside but he wouldn't have it. In the end the doormen had to 'escort' him out too!!
Finally, if that wasn't enough... around 12.30am (last entry is 01.00am) a big crowd of slovakian's and polish came in. A mixed bunch of guys and girls. They went straight on to the dancefloor and started dancing and I thought "cool". They looked like they were really up for a laugh. I noticed most of the guys in the venue staring with their tongues hanging out at one of the polish girls. She was a babe and that is an understatement. I won't say too much but she wasn't in there for long (probably 20 mins at the most), the reason being... when I was playing Beats International 'Dub be good to me', she started stripping!! By the time the song had got halfway through, she was topless and it wasn't long before she was stood there in just her thong and boots. The doormen covered her up and got her out before it went any further (unfortunately) but as they were carting her out the door, the group that were with her didn't like it and it all went a bit silly. I think it put a few people off as the place emptied out quite quickly after that and I found myself playing to around 50 people for the last hour.
All in all, a night I would rather forget. Tonight is an early finish (10pm) as I am doing a childrens Halloween Disco from 6pm and I am looking forward to that...well, unless some little 'un decided to kick me!!!