Good Gig, Bad Gig.

Last Friday I had a crowd of 80 at a wedding that were obviously on day release from Madame Tussauds. If it hadn't been for two tables in particular (around 18 people) I would have gone mad. Suffice to say I was pleased when the last guests went at 1205 (it was actually a 1230 finish).

Saturday night then, another wedding in the same room but this time for 140 (or so I thought). Even though there were 54 at the day do, only 36 plus 6 kids could be counted for the evening. But that's where the similarity ends. Virtually full dancefloor all night (I did give them a couple of quiet periods - I didn't want any fatalities) and we kept going through until 1230. Round of applause and thank you's. Turned out most of the grooms family went home and the rest simply didn't turn up!

We calculated around £800 worth of food left over or wasted. Apart from the stuff that found its way into my fridge.

Tip? Don't be silly. Only had 3 there in 12 years!!

So, what will this week bring then? Friday 13th wedding. SOmeone is not superstitious then.

Had a wedding last night in a marquee in a lovely pub with great views.
Very good solid playlist with plenty of classic 80's tunes, a late one also (8 till 2) - speeches finished at 8.15/8.30 plenty of people just it never seemed to kick off... well until 11pm when 95% of the guest went into the "TV room" to watch the football!

I think everyone enjoyed themselves, just had that feeling of guilt as if you're not doing your job properly as only 6 or 7 people were dancing for more than a couple of tracks.

Bit similar myself last night (renewal of wedding vows, so sort of wedding reception, sort of general party)

Nice playlist with a lot of the old 80's favourites getting an outing (a lot were requested on the night too).
Unfortunately out of 65 invited guests, only about 30-40 turned up, a dozen of whom were older relatives and sat in a different room to the disco.

Took a while to actually get going, but then....boom!
OK - it was my vast collection of cheese that got things moving (I was ASKED for Star Trekkin to which I dutifully obliged :rolleyes:)

Ended up as a good night although only a core of about 20 actually dancing. Got a round of applause at the end, loads of hand shakes, a dozen business cards given out and a repeat booking for the customer's 50's birthday next year :)

Not all bad then :)

Back to back teenage parties next week (oh joy!) :daft:)

Indifferent gig?

Picked up my 2nd NaD booking for a 40th. Not really my bag as it's mostly weddings I do but hey ho, that's the point of NaD I suppose.

Good communication with the guy in the run up to it. Very straightforward - just play plenty of party tunes.

Due to start at half 7. I got there at 6 and set up raring and ready to go for 6.45.

As I was walking around sound checking the mic I noticed that it was half an hour to go time and there wasn't even a table laid out - like literally there were chairs round the edge of the room (school disco style!!!) and that was it.

Quarter past 7 and I was getting a bit apprehensive about what I was actually in for.

The guy and his kids turn up and start pulling tables out of a cupboard. Reasonable sized hall, could get say 100 in comfortably, I think the max I counted at any time was 30 and that was with a dollop of kids.

Played a bit of everything everyone asked for but apart from the guys parents who danced to pretty much everything, it was very much a drinking rather than a dancing night. I went through dozens of requests and only got the odd shuffle from the folk who asked for them!!!

People enjoyed the music and I did what I could but sometimes you hit the bar, sometimes the bar hits you...

Hope I get good feedback, pretty much did everything I could...

Holiday on Wednesday then back to the wedding game. :beer1:

Summer Sizzle for a local YFC. Five hundred of the blighters, a live band, and a 2.30am finish. :eek:
I took a six box Heinz 57 PA to try to avoid being a bit quiet, and I was more than happy with the result, both visually, and aurally. The band had a brilliant Logic system which impressed me a lot. They played mainly Punk/New Wave/Indie tunes, which didn't go down well with all of the guests, as I had a steady stream of " When are you coming on again, cos the band are :Censored: " ? They weren't at all bad, lovely lads, a pleasure to work with, but I have to say their repertoire was more suited to an older audience, I felt. My offerings of chart/dance oriented songs were more to their tastes.

The sizzle part was that you were gtiven either a steak, or a burger and a sausage which you cooked yourself on the half a dozen oil drum barbeques, and then you went inside for the buns, salad, sauce and if you were still peckish, dessert. I cooked mine during the band's first set, and it was lovely.

My part in the proceedings was well received, the band did two long sets, the second from 11.45 to 1.30 am, so they didn't short change anyone. My night was long leisurely periods of enjoying the band, interspersed with frantic spells of fielding requests and structuring them as best I could. 2.30 came effortlessly, I was left with twenty hardcore punters, and in all honesty, I could have gone on happily. I wasn't asked to, the bar was closed, and I started to pack up. It only took me just over an hour to get it all in the van, which I thought was pretty good. It's not often I arrive and leave in daylight, but I did this time. Got home at 4.30am, went to bed.

Good or bad? Depends on your point of view.

Had two gigs Saturday, at different venues.

1) Kids presentation, 12-4.
2) 40th Birthday 7:30-12:00

gig 1 :-

Approx 25 kids + a few parents.

For the first two hours+ the kids where outside playing games, photo's etc.
Came in for the presentation, then went back outside.

I ended up playing music for one little girl about 7years old, who did not leave the dance floor at all.

Not a very interesting gig for me, but the owner was pleased, and is going to give me repeat work at his venue for different functions, which is always a good thing.

gig 2 :-

Venue I've played at before, for crowds of 200+
40th Birthday for 50 guests including young kids.

Pre arranged order of play with them.

Chart music before the buffet (Enough food for 200 people, loads of waste)
Birthday boy wanted Big Fish, Little fish after the buffet, then onto 80's / motown music.

So, playing chart music, nobody dancing, just the kids running around chasing the moonflowers, buffet started about 9:30PM, while 10ish. He decided to start eating at 10, so I extended the chart selection. Eventually he vanished. So, deciding I cannot hold out any longer for next genre of music, so I continued. After a couple of tracks, Summer of 69 / Living on a prayer, one guy came up to me, and said the older people are not happy, can I put on some motown? Since nobody was dancing, I moved on as requested. Two older people then got up onto the dance floor, they lasted for about 1/2 a song, then sat back down again. Just sat at the table clapping their hands.

So very little action on the dance floor no matter what I played.

At the end of the night, I was thanked, and told they all had a great time.

Even the bar was quiet that night, so very little drinking or dancing.



So that was two gigs in one day which I did not really enjoy doing, but the customers were happy. So that's the main thing I suppose.

I have to say that I get more enjoyment out of this job when I see people on the dance floor.



Oh, forgot to mention. One of my drivers failed in my Hisys 2XT's during the first gig. They were not even being pushed???

Luckily, I was able to get to a local music shop, and had a replacement basket fitted, before the second gig. (I do have backup speakers, but not that great for bigger venues)

Bad gig - couple of weeks ago booked for Biker wedding - turned out to be chart n dance stuff all night loag :( Luckily i picked up my cd case of cd pool discs which sort of saved the night _ i hated it dont mind playing a bit of dance/chart stuff - but if they said it was gonna be that would have not accepted the booking!

Good Gig - Farmyard Party last weekend - marquee full of bouncing people and another 500 or so ( i am informed) bopping outside :)

had a few moments were emotions got better of me, but soon pulled them round with some good friends around me :)

Friday - teen party. The family are moving to the USA and the daughter's leaving school. Unlike most teen parties I've done recently though....this one was a blinder :) All girls (which helps I find....if boys are there they won't dance), lots of One Direction (eeeewwww) and believe it or not, most of the soundtrack to Frozen, which they acted, sang and enjoyed. Even got a bonus at the end.

Saturday - no show. Ten mins before the event (I was waiting outside the venue) I got a call to say it's been cancelled....grrrrrrrrr....I'd been promised a crowd of about 150 people as well :(

Looking forward to this weekend's one and only event (on a Scout camp on Friday night so only Saturday out with the rig)....it's a surprise 50th for a young lady a couple of doors down the road from me (she hasn't got a clue...it's all very secret squirrel). The only remit is "lots of 60's, 70's and 80's stuff with Northern Soul and Motown thrown in for good measure". I think I've just died and gone to heaven :) (it's in a posh venue that has a lot of discos as well so might even open a couple of doors :) )

Saturday was a wedding for me at one of my regular venues.
I like to be prepared for every function, especially a wedding and so that's why I meet the Bride & Groom in advance to go over everything.
This was a strange one for me. I met them both the week before the wedding at the venue. They were a younger couple and I didn't expect both sets of parents to be there as well as the couples toddler and little girl. It was difficult trying to concentrate at times.

The Bride (in particular) and the Groom were adamant that they really didn't want to do a first dance because they were so nervous. Both sets of parents were saying to me "Tell them they have to do a first dance, it's traditional". I was kind of stuck in the middle because although I agreed with the parents I also wanted to make the point that it was the Bride & Groom's big day and they should have it exactly how they want it. I was trying to please everybody and made cases for both sides. When I left the meeting I had first dance song choice off them and the Bride's Dad said "Well at least we're getting somewhere now" - After the meeting I received an email from the Bride apologising for the awkwardness and again confirming that she didn't want to do a first dance.

When I say I like to be prepared, I mean that I like to know as much information as possible. Whether it's me doing the booking or another DJ covering for me, I like to know in advance about first dance(s), song requests, don't plays, timings etc so that I know what is required. This couple didn't have any song requests and it looked to me as if they didn't want any fuss and weren't that bothered in reality.

I received another email from the Bride 2 days before the Wedding, again confirming that she didn't want to do a first dance BUT....IF she did she would like John Legend - All Of Me.....Ok, maybe we ARE getting there?

Day of the wedding - This was a first for me in that I had never received an email from a Bride on her wedding day before. There it was in my inbox at 6.08am. Same thing again really but also added in this time was "Please don't listen to the parents, they're driving us both round the bend at the moment". I simply replied saying "Enjoy the day, don't worry about anything and do what YOU want to do and what YOU feel comfortable with".

So, the evening arrives and it was a baking hot day and it's still very warm now. Start at 7.00pm with some chilled tunes, background music. Guests are arriving and as soon as they've visited the bar they go outside. 120 guests attending and there's about 20 in the room. I could see the way this one was going straight away.
About 7.45pm the Best Man comes over to me and asks me what's happening about the first dance. I tell him that I'm not sure if the Bride & Groom want to do one. He says "We'll see about that eh!" - I told him to go careful and not to hassle them. He comes back about 5 minutes later with the Groom and kind of puts me on the spot. "Tell him he has to do a first dance" says the Best Man to me. Again I say what I've said a number of times...."Do what YOU feel comfortable with and not what everyone else wants you to do. It's YOUR day". He shakes my hand and says "I'll see how she feels about it". The Groom goes off and the Best Man then says to me "They HAVE to do a first dance don't they". I explain to him the way I see things and that I just want them both to be happy and enjoy their evening.

At around 8.30pm the Groom comes back over grinning...."Ok, we'll do it" he says...."Let's get it over and done with. Shall we say 5 minutes?".
Normally before the first dance I would give a 5 or 10 minute warning to the guests that it's coming up. I decided not to on this occasion as I knew they were both very nervous and I didn't want to make it worse. I was even getting nervous myself for them now. The smell of the warm white chocolate from the chocolate fountain / bar wasn't helping either as it was right near me.

Another thing I always make a point of saying beforehand when it comes to first dance(s) is that the couple should give the photographer at least 2 minutes so that they can get some decent photos. Photographers aren't cheap and the photos should be something that the couple will cherish for years to come. Dancing alone for 30 seconds doesn't give the photographer a chance really in my opinion. Anyway, I announced the first dance as best I could so that I wasn't making them feel too embarassed but you could see they were both cringing. After what seemed like seconds the Bride gave me the nod to invite the others on to the dance floor to join them. Nobody moved at all and this didn't help. I said it again and still nothing so I then made a joke of it and it worked. The dance floor packed out and their faces went from worry to smiling.

Literally as soon as the first dance was over the dance floor cleared despite me playing 'Happy' as requested by a guest during the background music.
It was time for the buffet which halted proceedings and kept the dance floor clear. I was thinking "It's going to be one of those nights".
Best Man comes back over and says that he wants to do a speech. He's got his paper in his hand already. "I'll do it in about half an hour" he says....
It's heading towards 9.00pm. I've not really had any dance floor action as yet. Guests are visiting the buffet and then returning to their tables to eat and there are guests outside enjoying the weather and drinks. I'm stood there feeling like a spare part. I say to the Best Man "I'd suggest that it may be a good idea to do your speech whilst people are sat down as you'll have their attention and also if we keep stop / starting all night we won't really be able to make the most of the time we have left" (It was an 11.00pm finish). He agreed. I announced him over the mic and for the next 10 minutes he struggled. It was supposed to be funny but it wasn't. The only time the guests took any notice was when I told them to give him a round of applause afterwards and they clapped.

So, eventually I get going and I kick off with some chart friendly stuff. A few people get up. A lady comes over and requests a couple of songs and I play them. The dance floor looks healthier. I've said over the mic a number of times that if anyone has any requests to let me know. All I had was the lady that had requested the two songs.
I went in to some 70s Disco and the dance floor packed out. I did some 80s classics and they were mad for it. People started coming in from outside but I could also see people dancing outside.
A woman dancing RIGHT IN FRONT of the speakers gave me one of 'those looks'. She had her fingers in her ears and mouthed the words "Turn it down".... It wasn't blasting out at all. There's always one eh!
That same woman had been a regular on the dance floor during the evening. With about 30 minutes to go she came over and said "Can you play something I can dance to". I couldn't believe it. A shout from one of the guys on the dance floor was "Sex On Fire" so I thought "Why not?". Good move! Everyone went mad for it......except the woman. She shook her head and walked back to her table.

Final furlong reached and it was party classics and I eventually finished off with Starship - Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now. I'd asked the Bride & Groom what they wanted to end on and they said "We'll leave it with you". It worked well. Everyone was singing along and then that was it.

I thanked everyone and said goodnight. I didn't see the Bride & Groom at all but the parents thanked me. On Sunday afternoon I received a thank you email from the Bride who said I was really good and very thoughtful about their requirements.

Like I said, I like to be prepared and on this particular occasion I could only do so much. I didn't really have anything to work with but got through it and at the end of the day the most important thing is that the Bride & Groom enjoyed themselves and were at ease and comfortable.

:beer1: dealt with like a pro mate.

It's hard for couples as everyone expects them to do things that they might not be comfortable with.

The usual 2 here are the 1st dance and finishing with Loch Lommond.

The way I play it is that as I'm essentially their employee for the night, I'll do whatever they ask me to so if they don't want either of those it's fine, with that being said I have a wee word with them that these are only a few minutes out of a whole day, everyone will really enjoy it, they make for great photos and I've never had anyone decide to go down this route and come back saying "nah, I wish we hadn't had a 1st dance" or "Nope, I knew Loch Lommond was a :Censored::Censored::Censored::Censored: way to end" - in the end, they're all glad they did.

Puts it into a bit more perspective and makes it seem more reasonable for them. if they still decide no then fair enough.