Good Gig, Bad Gig.

Engagement for me tonight - in my own home village for once :) (it's so nice not having to drive for an hour to get to a venue).

Got there nice and early and used an expanded setup (it's a huge stage with plenty of room to spread out). It's also the easiest load in/out in the world...you literally park next to the stage door and in you go :)

Was expecting 80 guests in a hall which comfortably holds 200 (and I've had it that full before now). I counted 42 bodies in total....what is wrong with people these days? Even a couple of days ago, I confirmed the numbers with the client and she was definite, around 80 guests. They had a nice buffet laid on, bar open, and 40 people couldn't be bothered to turn up. Strangely, this is something I don't find with weddings.

The playlist had been provided by the client, and I knew from the start it wasn't going to be a go-er. Lots of dance and EDM, with a smattering of 80's. Bear in mind this was a family occasion with the guests that turned up being from 2 to 80 years of age, dance and EDM was never going to work. So, I agreed with the couple that I'd do the first part as they wanted until they cut their engagement cake, then agreed to let me do what I though was best.

Up until cake cutting time...dead floor. But hey, the client knows best and is paying the wages right?

A few short speeches at 10pm (it'd been a long night up until then), and then I let loose with my own selection. That got the floor going thankfully (see, we DO know best). 80's, 90's and a good smattering of gorgonzola, the type of stuff that works at any wedding.

Lots of thanks and compliments at the end of the evening, evening from the bar staff who also couldn't believe the lack of numbers.

Now time to get ready for next week's outings. A wedding in a posh stately home on Friday night (and cheese/classic stuff is definitely what the bride has asked for on that one.....I've been given 12 hours worth of music preferences to fill a 5 hour slot and been told to play what I think will work...all righty :) ), followed by a launch evening on Saturday for a new wedding venue...which could be "interesting".

All I've been told about that one is that I'm supporting a drag queen and then doing a final hour or so of disco (in other words, a really easy night). My own research has discovered that this is possibly going to be very much a wedding venue for couples of the same gender (no problem with that, and I'm first in the door for the launch night)....could be a hell of a lot of fun :)

A mixed review here from me. All will become clear shortly....

Friday night I was at my local for 'Cheese Night' and once again the place was packed. As I have said before many times, this particular place is usually full of Rockers, Punks, Indie Kids and generally has an 'alternative' feel to it. On Friday there were a lot of new faces in too and an older crowd aswell so there was a real mixture of people.
It's always a lot of fun to do and the majority get into the vibe of it. Some of the requests coming in were beyond cheesiness and it was great. The night was totally request driven but I did have to tell a couple of people that what they had requested wasn't really keeping to the theme. I know different people have different opinions as to what is actually cheese but everyone got it in the end.

One guy and his wife were sat at a table near me. I'd never seen them in the place before but they were up dancing to almost everything. The guy then came over and asked for Sex on Fire and also Blurred Lines. I said that I'd play them any other week but tonight was about bad music, cheesiness type stuff and he soon got the idea. He / They were both loving it. He came up and asked for Dollar - Mirror Mirror and I said "That's the idea, we're getting there now". He then asked for Bucks Fizz - Camera Never Lies and also Benny Hill - Ernie. At the end they were very complimentary and just before they left he came over and asked for a card and a last request saying "I bet you haven't got this..... Quantum Leap - The Lone Ranger" - I knew I had it but I told him I'd never heard of it but I was searching for it as I grabbed a business card. As we shook hands and I gave him the card, the other song faded out and I played Quantum Leap and he just laughed his head off and said "You cheeky :Censored:" They asked me when I was back and said that they'd be back in the future. Really enjoyed Friday.

Now, on to Saturday..... My second Saturday in a row where I wasn't working which to be honest, is outrageous in my opinion, especially for a full timer BUT you can't make people book you as we all know but as you'll see.....
Last Saturday I was supposed to be working but the date got moved.

I had a booking provisionally booked for last night. About 2 months ago a guy I know very well asked me if I could provide him with a quotation for Disco + Uplighting for his Wedding at a venue I know well. I've been there a number of times and always had good nights there. I provided the guy with a full quotation and a small discount. We chatted over a pint or two one evening and I went over everything with him and provided him with lots of tips and advice too. It was 99% there but he said he'd have to chat with his fiance who I have met a number of times too and she has seen me do my stuff and enjoyed it. He came back to me in the end and said that they'd both decided to go with the venue's resident DJ to save "mucking about" (whatever that meant?). To be honest I was a bit put out. This was someone I know well who has seen me a number of times and knows what I do. When we chatted He / They said they'd love me to do the music for them but obviously that was wrong. When they told me that the venue had told them they had a resident DJ, I advised them that they didn't have to have them and I could save them a bit of money too. Being a resident myself I know that just because you're a resident DJ, it doesn't mean that the customer HAS to have you.

Anyway, like I said, I was a bit gutted about it especially as that same week he enquired I almost took it for granted that they were going to book me and I received another enquiry which I turned down. A lesson learnt there big time!

So, the mixed part of this review comes now as they invited me to the evening reception. I said I would go along if I wasn't booked and wasn't really interested to be honest but seeing as I had nothing booked in and a number of mutual friends were attending too, I decided to go along and wish them the best.
Well, I turned up at the venue with a couple of friends around 8.00pm. We got a taxi from the local after a pint and arrived around 15 minutes before the first dance.
One of my mates said to me "I bet this is weird for you going to a wedding when you're usually doing them". I replied "Well, at least I can see how other DJ's do it".

I'd made the decision straight away that I was NOT going to do the whole "Hello mate, I'm a DJ too" type thing. I just wanted to watch and possibly get some tips etc...
Well, one of the first things I noticed was that there was no Uplighting. The Bride & Groom had said they wanted Uplighting to me but there wasn't any on show? I've done a number of bookings in the same room and they've all had Uplighting and it looks so much better with it (in my opinion).
I also noticed the Disco set up (obviously) and the thing that stood out for me first of all were the scrims covering the speaker stands. I'm not a big fan of them personally but I do think that if you are going to use them then why not put some pars underneath them and light them up with either a static colour or changing colours. These just looked like white sheets to me.
There was a starcloth covering the stand and plenty of LED fixtures which filled the room with colour. That looked ok to be fair.

The room is a quite large with a high ceiling but there were no subs. I didn't recognise the speakers and at the time the volume was quite low so no issues as yet.
I wasn't really interested in the equipment to be fair but you always have a look don't you. I didn't go over to the DJ as I said so I don't know what his playout system was. What I was more interested in was how the DJ did the announcements etc. Well, I guess everyone has their own way of doing things don't they.
First of all the word went around that the Bride & Groom were going to cut their wedding cake.... I say the word went around because there was no announcement from the DJ. The cake was in a corner of the room and a number of guests gathered around to take photos. There was no music playing either, even at low volume so the atmosphere was cut. I tried my hardest not to comment but couldn't help telling my mates how I went about doing the cake cutting and announcements and probably bored them. One of them actually said "Gary, have a night off for :Censored:sake!"

Again, I couldn't help commenting when the cake cutting was over. There was nothing from the DJ, still no music and it was as if nobody knew what was going on? I didn't have a clue. I knew the Best Man very well and he came over to say hello. He looked knackered and told us he'd been running around all day (part of the job mate!).
I asked him when the Bride & Groom were doing their first dance and he said "In about half an hour". I was confused at that because I expected it to follow the cake cutting. That's generally what happens at most of the weddings I do. So, for that next 30 minutes the music was at low volume, most people were sat down chatting and there were children running around the dance floor, screaming and shouting. The DJ didn't seem to be bothered about what they were doing and didn't attempt to keep them entertained. The Groom came over and chatted to me and my mates. We congratulated him and he was a bag of nerves, saying that he was dreading the first dance. I told him to come outside and get some air and bought him a brandy and tried to put him at ease.

When the time arrived for the first dance the music was cut and the DJ actually spoke on the microphone. Firstly, I couldn't really understand what he was saying because it sounded muffled for some reason? Someone from the crowd shouted "What?".... All I heard was "It's time for the first dance" and that was it. I didn't hear him welcome them on to the dance floor or encourage the guests to applaud. Maybe I was just being too picky but it didn't seem thought out to me. They did their first dance and about 2 minutes in to it guests started joining them. There were no cues or announcements for them to join and the photographer looked a bit confused. She was obviously running around trying to get decent shots of the two of them but couldn't because everyone had filled the dance floor. Anyway, they had their special moment and seemed happy but the slow dances went on for about 20 minutes. Far too long in my opinion.

One girl who I know well too was sat near me and came over and said "Get up there and get the party going, I wanna dance". I'm not sure if she didn't realise that I wasn't DJing or if she was just frustrated at it getting late and she hadn't thrown her shapes as yet. She was at my cheesy night on Friday too by the way.
So, we had the slow songs and then the buffet came out and it seemed to me as if the party was yet to get going. Everything seemed to be in slow mode but maybe that's how it was supposed to be? Everyone looked happy enough. The volume was dropped again whilst guests scoffed the buffet and then it must have been around 9.45pm before things actually got going properly. The volume went up and I noticed that it was distorting. I don't think anyone else was bothered or even noticed but I did. There wasn't much talking from the DJ during the night and I thought that was ok because I don't like too much of that myself.
It was generally a party mix with lots of different genres being played and he seemed to be doing an ok job but I did notice that on more than one occasion he went from one genre or decade to another. I remember Scissor Sisters - I Don't Feel Like Dancing which got a few of the older generation up on the floor followed by Neil Diamond - Sweet Caroline which kept the older ones there but everyone else sat down and sang along. It felt strange and wasn't something I'd do myself.

The evening entertainment was booked until 12.30am. At 11.00pm ish the numbers had halved and my mates and I decided to book a taxi to go back to the pub. We said our goodbyes, wished the Bride & Groom well and headed back to the pub.

I haven't actually done this kind of thing for a long time but I have to say that as long as the Bride & Groom were happy then fair enough. I did learn a few things from last night and the main one was that I think I am actually doing things that I am happy with. I don't tend to compare myself with others but sometimes you just can't help it can you.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Shakermaker Promotions

There wasn't much talking from the DJ during the night and I thought that was ok because I don't like too much of that myself.

---

The modern way, Gary. I'm all for it*.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Shakermaker Promotions

I don't tend to compare myself with others but sometimes you just can't help it can you.

---

Sometimes? Sometimes? Strike me pink, Gary I'm going to break my " never say never " rule here, because I always do. I really appreciate seeing good ones at work, but from your description of your evening I'd have been grumpier than a bear with an extensive collection of sore bits.




* For our newer readers, that's not strictly true. Neither is the bit about it not being strictly true. To be serious, I regard the ability to communicate and engage with your audience as vital, and the microphone is one of your most valuable tools in your armoury. Use it. ( appropriately )

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Excalibur

The modern way, Gary. I'm all for it*.

Sometimes? Sometimes? Strike me pink, Gary I'm going to break my " never say never " rule here, because I always do. I really appreciate seeing good ones at work, but from your description of your evening I'd have been grumpier than a bear with an extensive collection of sore bits.

---

Like I said Peter, I was ok with that. I don't like to hear lots of talking on the mic between songs unless necessary but he really didn't use it when he should have and when he did, it was hard to work out what was being said. This is someone's big day and that first dance moment (in my opinion) is special and should be made special by making the Bride & Groom feel both at ease and (yet again), special!
Yes, we've had many topics on the forum regarding mic work and the mic being a tool (an important one) but on this particular night the DJ didn't seem to take advantage of the occasion. This was a resident DJ at a decent venue and if last night was an indication of what he does on a regular basis then it's not a great first impression I've taken away with me.

Ok, it's the music that's important for the most part and he seemed to do ok with the guests that he had and I don't think many people were that bothered about the whole mic thing. That could possibly include the Bride & Groom themselves.
It's like a busman's holiday isn't it. We all have our own ways of doing things and like to think that what we do is the right way. If I had come away from last night learning something new then that would have been great but I didn't unfortunately. All I did in reality was come away thinking that he wasn't actually that great and deep down I know I could have done things a lot better BUT........(here we go)....as long as everyone had a good time, that's all that matters......and I think some of them did.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Shakermaker Promotions

If I had come away from last night learning something new then that would have been great but I didn't unfortunately. All I did in reality was come away thinking that he wasn't actually that great and deep down I know I could have done things a lot better BUT........(here we go)....as long as everyone had a good time, that's all that matters......and I think some of them did.

---

Gary, I agree with all of the above. 'nuff said.

Full weekend's of work.

Friday, I set up a sound system for a wake. I was actually setting up a friend's gear (he was attending the service), so I just set up whilst they were at the service, pressed play, stayed for a few tracks to ensure that all was fine and then ducked out quietly.

Saturday, I worked a wedding. It was for the photographer who did my photoshoot last year, so we did a 'job for job' kinda deal. Nice room, easy enough access, people were really nice and everyone seemed to have a good time even though there were long periods of nobody dancing (the bar with the big comfy chairs were in a separate room). Somebody was nice enough to unplug my kit about two hours into the gig too, which I thought was nice of them. :mad:

I also got irritated by the venue staff. They turned the house lights on and started clearing tables away and sweeping up before the gig finished. Now, I am all for getting things done as quickly as possible so we can all go home early (I, for example, unplug what I can, like laptops, hazer, mic & headphones gets packed away etc.) but don't be so obvious and obtrusive about it!

Sunday night I covered for a friend's residential gig (he broke his collarbone, bless him!). No info was forthcoming from the venue (and I was really unhappy to turn up at 6 to be ready at 7, only to be told that I wasn't starting until 9 and I had to scarper as the B&G were just about to arrive!), so I had to do that really embarrassing thing of telling the B&G that I have no idea who they are or what they want. They were really nice and laid back about everything. I was given a basic rundown of Garage, Sean Paul, Reggae and nothing old. I can run with that, and so I did. Decent night, and everyone went home happy.

Oh, and the highlight of the weekend was from Saturday:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CEpV6ejWIAAaYXf.jpg

Yup? Yup.

Friday was a seriously stressful day for me.

9am had me being interviewed for a job over the phone.
10.30am saw me at a consultation meeting at work. Not good news.
2pm was another phone interview for a different job

and then... in the evening I was being a wedding DJ again. There was a rock band on who covered all the classics & went off on a couple of tangents (Toto - hold the line etc) & they went down really well. My brief was to continue the rock theme for another 2 hours, and not repeat the usual suspects the band had already played. Yay?

Yay, as it turned out. Apart from the band's PA that is.. There's loud, then there's about 5K for 100 people loud. I'm getting some earplugs!

My turn then... I dug deep & had great responses to all the tracks I played. As the night was winding to an end after midnight I planned the last 3 songs.. the first of the last was Mr Brightside.. full floor. And then... BOOF. Off went all the power to the balcony. No lights, no PA... oh dear. The hotel staff pottered around & got the power back on with 10 minutes left, but by that point most people had decided to leave already. Oh well.

Last night then.. another murder mystery disco, which turned out pretty well but ended up being mostly Motownish. Good crowd though, full of humour & mic banter was had.

I've got a busy start to the week - 2nd interviews (in person this time) for both jobs tomorrow & Tuesday, 2 wedding receptions and then I'm off on holiday for a week. What the heck, it's already paid for.

Nice full weekend for me again :) (can't complain).....two cracking gigs too.

Friday was a wedding. Lovely couple who everything had been discussed with prior to the big day during our consultation.
I turn up at said venue (a nice grade 1 listed mansion just on the outskirts of Cambridge).....eek....the set up area's nothing like as big as they told me!

Never mind, I use a van these days :) So, I'd thought ahead and actually had a selection of kit with me which worked nicely (second time out for the Micron booth). Is it me or are those things just a little bit TOO poky to actually work on?

No sooner than I set up than the owner of the house comes up to shake hands. "Now look old chap....." (here we go......)
Got asked for PLI and risk assessments (which I carry anyway), despite being told when I contacted the venue during the week I wouldn't need them with me. Also got stern warnings about volume levels "it's a wedding party not a rave" (I was only playing background music at the time), and a warning that midnight MEANS midnight.

I doffed my cap, tugged at my forelock and got on with the job in hand. First things first, let's crank up the decibels and get people on the floor :). And boy were they up for it. It was one of those where I couldn't put a foot wrong. Worryingly the stone floor was actually bouncing (not quite sure how they used to build these old places but reckon the stone floor must be supported by a wooden one somewhere the way things were moving around).

Got to 30 seconds before midnight, got a more than strong signal from one of the staff (they were all in logo'd t-shirts for a wedding by the way) that time was up. This behemouth of a bloke was literally standing in the room scowling and making a slashing movement across his throat. Bridey wasn't happy. She actually works for the company that manage the place and begged for just one more.....no go from the venue (despite the fact their website claims they have a late license until 1am).

Oh well - nothing I could do other than turn off and go home on a slightly down note. It'd been a good night up until then....but the bit that really surprised me....as the guests were finishing their drinks etc., the staff wheeled out the hoovers! Now I know some of these places are wedding factories and they more than likely had another wedding to prepare for the next day, but PLEASE let the guests leave before you start on tomorrow's job! After all, the bride and groom you're serving have paid you the best part of £10k to use the place!

</rant over>

Last night - something different....
A new local(ish) venue has just opened up and did a launch evening for weddings. Well, you can't say no to being first in the door can you ;)
Even better than that, it was a nice easy night. I was supporting an internationally acclaimed drag queen (and an jolly nice bloke he was too when he was out of the frock and wig). (and don't read that last sentence wrong!!!)

Brief was nice and easy. An hour of Bouble background music whilst the invited guests polished off their first couple of bottles of Lambrini, introduce the draq queen who then did a 40 minute set, followed by half an hour of pure, unadulterated cheese to wind them up for the second 40 minute helping of drag queen, followed by an hour of cheese to finish. With a night that easy, who am I to argue? ;)

Turned out to be a brilliant evening with a full floor for my bits, and lots of tears and aching sides due to the cabaret. I ended up doing an hour's overtime (the guests wouldn't let me go!), and giving out half a box of business cards to boot.....waiting for the phone to start ringing after that one :)

That's it now until next weekend which are a charity fundraiser for a football club which I'm told should be a fairly rowdy night, plus they're feeding me :) , followed by a Frozen themed party on Sunday (they've hired a company to do the Elsa bits and I'm doing an hour of fun and games).

Cables all sorted and neatly boxed up, scrims are drying on the washing line, time to head down to the local sea-side now for well earned fish and chips :)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Imagine

(second time out for the Micron booth). Is it me or are those things just a little bit TOO poky to actually work on?

---

Out of interest, what are these like when folded up? It appears they are still just as big as the full size Equinox Booth once folded up - or are they considerably lighter?

I'm considering getting a second booth, for gigs that are upstairs/lower value/need a quick set up, so want something that is lighter and easier to carry for such gigs.

The micron looks like it could be the answer, but there's few reviews on it.

Width/height-wise, the bag it comes in is exactly the same size as it's bigger brother.
The booth itself is a little bit lighter (it's only half as wide) but it comes with the overhead kit inside the same bag so if you're taking the full kit out, it weighs as much as the big one (I tend to use GigBars as my weapon of choice rather than the overhead kit these days so don't actually take the overhead kit out with me).

Definitely worth having for those times when space is at a premium (which seems to be getting more often these days), but not an awful lot of space to work on. I tend to have a laptop on a stand, the mixer below it, mic receiver and that's it. On the bigger booth, there's space for the laptop and mixer to sit in their flightcase, mic receiver, a drink and stuff like playlist/request sheets - it's just easier ;)