Good Gig, Bad Gig.

Last night I was booked in town for a Wedding. Various emails exchanged beforehand as the couple weren't available for a meeting. It was a bit of a strange one (as were they if I am being honest). They were very vague on requests and told me that the Bride liked 80s and Rock and the Groom liked 80s, 90s, Indie / Britpop. The only requests (3 of them) that they gave me in advance were as follows:
First Dance - Paul McCartney - Maybe I'm Amazed
and 2 songs for the children - Gangnam Style and What Does The Fox Say?

No wedding cake so no cutting obviously and an early ceremony at 1.00pm with the majority of the guests there all day so I knew it would be a long one for them.
On arrival at 6.00pm (couldn't get in before) I was told that the Bride may have to go up to her room very early as apparently the day before she had been at the hospital all night as she'd fallen over and banged her head at home.
Luckily the room was totally empty so I set up very quickly and was ready way in advance of the proposed 7.30pm start. I met the groom and got chatting and we agreed that I start half an hour early. This was due to the mass amount of children running around the venue shouting and screaming, raring to go. It was mainly my suggestion and both the Bride & Groom and staff welcomed it.

As soon as it was made known that I was ready to go, the doors to the room opened and it was madness. LOTS of children filled the dance floor and did what children do when they see the lights. They were running around, screaming and I thought "Here we go". The room soon filled up and I played lots of chart stuff for them and they seemed to enjoy it. Despite feeling quite rough, the atmosphere picked me up.

Chatted with the Groom again about a song to follow their first dance and he didn't have a clue. I mentioned 'Wonderwall' and he loved it so we went with that and it was a good move. Everyone sang along and it was from there that I decided to go Indie / Britpop for a while. The dance floor was busy for the next couple of hours with lots of requests coming in and lots of singing along. There weren't too many 'oldies' present but those that were vacated to another room to let everyone else get on with it.
As we came towards the end of the evening the Groom came over and asked if I could play The Divine Comedy - National Express as the last song (I'd asked earlier if he had any ideas). I finished the night off with Champagne Supernova and asked everyone to join in which they did (the 'oldies' came back for it too). Then the Groom made a quick speech and thanked everyone (Bride had disappeared) and then it was the last song.

Lots of good feedback at the end and as the lights went up and the song faded out, I thanked everyone and said goodnight. It was a really good one and thoroughly enjoyable. One guy shouted out "One more!" and I had One Step Beyond cued up just in case they asked but then he spoilt it by swearing out loud towards me so I didn't bother. Nobody knew I had a song cued up so they were none the wiser but I would have played it had Mr Gobby not spoilt it. He wasn't any harm and no threat at all, just very drunk. Literally 10 minutes later as the party vacated to the other bar he was asleep at a table!

On Saturday I was at the local football club providing Disco & Projection for a joint 18th and 50th Birthday party for a really nice bunch of people.
I had my final meeting with them during the week to go over everything and actually had an email from them the following day (3 days before I actually did the party) complimenting me on the service I had provided already. Comments included "We feel like we are in safe hands.." and "We've not experienced customer service like this before and we are really looking forward to a great night..." (or words to that effect).

I had loads of pre-requests that were predominantly Chart and 70s & 80s so I mixed them up as best I could. The chart worked at times with the bigger tunes getting more of a reaction but it was the 70s & 80s that worked much better. Lots of children in attendance just like the week before and at times it was quite challenging for a number of reasons but it didn't get out of hand.

Lots of dancing throughout the evening and the time seemed to fly by. I was booked from 7.00pm - 11.00pm. 100 guests and by 10.00pm there were around 50 left. This was because a lot of the children and their parents had left by then. This meant that the last hour was full on 80s music with lots of dancing. The requests for cheese came in and they lapped it up.

All packed down and back home indoors by 11.45pm too.

Thanks to Lee Live's heads up I had a super easy get in and out at the Scotsman Hotel in ye olde Edinburgh towne on Saturday night.

Great feedback from the newly weds and their guests.

My sat nav did decide to take me down the length of Princes Street along the unchristened tramlines which will no doubt result in some points and a fine but hey ho :eek:

Had a great couple of gigs this weekend.

Friday - I was at my local doing a 'Cheese Fest' night. The idea was to play the cheesiest requests, one hit wonders, guilty pleasures etc. Bearing in mind that my local is full of students, indie kids, metal heads, punks, goths etc etc....it was absolutely rammed and the requests were coming in big time.
When you see a bunch of the above dancing to the likes of Agadoo and 5,6,7,8.....well, it was a sight to see and everyone had a great time.
Really enjoyed that.

Saturday - I was in town for a wedding and was also supplying teal uplighting.
Nice couple and a great crowd. All up for a party from the word go and the night flew by. On the lead up to the night I was getting emails everyday for requests and also stuff to add to the 'do not play' list.
I made a note on my itinery of what not to play and everything was cool. At one point though late in the evening when the Bride had obviously had a few too many, she came up and complimented me on the music, gave me a big hug and then said "I'm sorry, I forgot to mention that I can't stand Maroon 5 and you played it earlier. It was my own fault for forgetting to let you know"

It wasn't a problem though and we had a joke about it. Good night though and so far this year everything is going well.
The only negative was that one of my ADJ Megabars stopped working for some reason (that's reported in another thread). There was power to it but no light coming out of it? Strange. Luckily I had a spare.

Blimey!!!!!!!!
Is it just me doing these gig reviews?
(Apologies if I am boring everyone).

Busy week for me...

Wednesday - I was in London with my band where we played a gig at a presitigious and well renowned venue in Camden called The Dublin Castle (Madness' local and bands like Blur and Arctic Monkeys started out there). It was a great gig, our first in London (although I'd played there many moons ago in a previous band). We've been asked back which is good and the promoter really liked us.

Thursday - Back out again with the band, this time it was at The Walkabout in Reading and it was another good one. Our first gig for the promoter who already has us pencilled in for more stuff so that was a good sign.

Saturday - Back to the 'proper job' and it was a wedding for a lovely couple. I was supplying the Disco + Royal Blue Uplighting. Quite a big wedding too with 150 guests and I have to say that it was probably one of the best I have done and it was all down to the guests because they were up for it from the first song until the last.
When we had the meeting a few weeks back and I was given the pre-request list, I noticed that the first dance was once again Christina Perri - A Thousand Years.
The Groom said that he wanted everyone to have a great time and lots of dancing. He said that after the first dance he wanted LMFAO - Party Rock Anthem and then The Beatles - Twist & Shout. I wasn't too sure it would work because of the 2 different styles but noted that they were floor fillers so went with it and it worked a treat. The dance floor was packed instantly and it stayed like that for most of the night with lots of different genres and decades being played.

Last song of the night was 'Leaving on a jet plane' by John Denver and it went down well.
Just after that the Groom asked if he could use the microphone to say thanks to everyone. He did that and then told everybody that it was my birthday and they all sang to me. Embarassing but pretty cool too and a great end to the night.

If I had to mention one negative it would be about the guy in his 60s who asked for a track which was actually on the 'Do Not Play' list. When he came over and asked for it and then said "I'll be leaving at 10.00pm", I advised him that it was something that the Bride & Groom didn't want played. I didn't think much about it again until he came over just before 10.00pm smiling his head off. I expected him to compliment me on a great night (no ego intended but he'd been dancing to almost everything along with everyone else)......BUT........Nope! He smiled at me and said..."Just wanted to say thank you for NOT playing my request" and walked off. I was lost for words.

Great night though!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Shakermaker Promotions

Blimey!!!!!!!!
Is it just me doing these gig reviews?
(Apologies if I am boring everyone).

!

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Even if it is, carry on Gary, you're doing a fine job. :thumbs_up:

I've ben a bit remiss in this area, so here's a Bumper Bundle*.

Previous weekend was " Excalibur on tour", putting the Mobile back into Mobile Disco. Friday night doing Karaoke for a 50th Birthday for a learning impaired Lady and her friends. Might have been nice if I'd been advised of this beforehand, but I feel the client ( a carer ) had been " economical with the actualité " on purpose. No doubt there are DJs who would refuse these gigs through prejudice, ignorance, or fear of their inability to cope. I was always apprehensive of these ones, but I've done more than a few, and they've been among the most rewarding ones you get.
Anyhow, the gig, back on topic. It was in a Hotel in Chesterfield, and so I booked in there for the night, as it was en route ( sort of ) to Saturday. I arrived on time, booked in, and set up. Pretty grim access, and trolley no use at all. Start time came and went to very few guests. Then I guess they turned up on a coach, and the room was full. I played one song, and during that, got the first Karaoke request. There then followed a straight hour of karaoke, with me taking ( deciphering ? ) requests and singers, finding songs, playing them, and sorting mics out. Hectic to say the least. I was then instructed ( thankfully ) to give the karaoke a rest for a while. Did that, and had another half hour of it at the end. The management then checked my finish time, and when I told them 11pm, said they expected midnight. My signed contract was proffered, and a settlement was reached for me to play extra time. To five people. Managers who wanted to " relax " in a big way. Midnight came, packed up, and got a drink at the residents bar before bed. Mmmmm, nice.

Saturday morning, shower, shave and down for brekkie. Very nice too. Back in the van and across to Sleaford, check in at the Travelodge, and have a rest before the night's onslaught. Hubbert's Bridge for Tone's Legslappers. This crowd are awesome, only way to describe them. They pay upfront for an extra hour of me at the end, and have a fabulous time. Finished at 1am, and twenty miles back to the Travelodge. By this time I was tired.

Sunday dawns, and I check out and head into Sleaford, a mile away. Brekkie at Wetherspoons, and a useful tip. If you get their unlimited filter coffee, they will give you a takeaway cup to fill with the same stuff, at no charge. Bonus. Then seventy miles across to Coalville for the Annual speaker meet. ( Might do a thread elsewhers soon ) Two things to say here, first up, thanks to James H for bankrolling the event, it's much appreciated, and praise to Andy Neen ( Deltic ) for his unstinting work as tech ops and MC for it. The lad's a star, he drove a hundred miles further than me for it, top man.

This Friday was a 35th Birthday in a less than salubrious venue in Hull, in a less than salubrious area, but good parking, and great access, and a ( small ) crowd of lovely folk, intent on a good time. Good night, no worries.

70th birthday bash at a localish pub ( 4 miles).
Access was OK , either a steep grass slope or 6 paving slab steps , set up in a large bay window.
As it was a surprise party, come 7:30, lights out and silence.
Enter the birthday boy , que happy birthday (Ingrid Dumosch , has a gap to sing the name), barbeque and puddings through the evening.
Music was................

ABBA
The Beatles
Kylie
Rod stewart.

And apart from 10-12 others artistes , that was that , that was what the client wanted ,Dancing most of the evening.
At the end , at 00:01 , I announced that as one birthday passes , another one begins , so happy birthday again to one of the guest`s
Packed up and home by 00:45 , good gig.

Cheers

daryll

As many of you will know, I have an unshakeable belief that " If you've got the necessary funds, you're my customer" ;):D That's why , when I had a cancellation last week, I took on a gig in a snooker club in one of Hull's less upmarket postcodes. In fact it was a doddle to get to, a doddle to set up, and I had a great night. Thoroughly enjoyed it.
Compare and contrast this week's gig. Wedding reception at the Hilton* for a couple who got married in Zermatt. Well when you're used to the best, it makes sense to hire someone of that level of quality to provide the entertainment, doesn't it? :whistle:
Certain aspects of the evening made me very angry though. Jeanette and I were also invited as guests, and the dress code was a minimum of suit and tie. Why oh why then do some folk insist on turning up to a reception in a five star hotel with no jacket on, and shirt out of their trousers, another with some sort of trainers or suede shoes, and no tie, and more than one bereft of tie, and/or jacket? And folk moan if the :Censored: DJ is too scruffy! :mad::mad::mad:
Due to some other guests turning up late or not at all, the hot knife and fork buffet was a stone cold knife and fork buffet, and if I'm honest, no better than I've had at many less well known venues. In truth, although simpler, the one at the snooker club the week before was better, nicer and more varied.
The first dance? Well it wasn't Lonestar-Amazed, although I was definitely amazed. If you imagine Gregorian chants suddenly hurtling off at 130bpm, you're pretty close. :eek: I didn't see this one coming

I'd ben playing all sorts of classical music, as per instructions, when many of the guests asked if we could pick up the pace a little. First request was Pharrell Williams-Happy, and more of a similar ilk followed, until the guests got silly. Macarena, YMCA, Cha cha slide were soon requested, as was CCR-Fortunate Son ( never been asked for that one of theirs before. Plenty of the others, but not that one ) Bon Jovi, G'n'R,and even Nirvana!! Got asked for some Within Temptation, which sounded very left of centre, yet the guest couldn't believe I was unfamiliar with them. Spotify, here I come.

Guests and clients were very happy, my roadie was tired, and we packed up after all in all, a very satisfactory evening.






* No, I wasn't on Darren's turf, the Hilton York. :D:D:D:D:D:D

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Excalibur

Due to some other guests turning up late or not at all, the hot knife and fork buffet was a stone cold knife and fork buffet

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I must confess I'd sooner my knives & forks were cold.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Corabar Steve

I must confess I'd sooner my knives & forks were cold.

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I'll set 'em up. you knock 'em down. For the life of me, I couldn't work out how to word it better. Sorry. :o