That cheese got me into one hell of a lot of hot water... More on this story later.Quote:
Originally Posted by Daryll
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That cheese got me into one hell of a lot of hot water... More on this story later.Quote:
Originally Posted by Daryll
Great night doing 50th birthday party in marquee in garden in middle of nowhere.
Worked with a very talented duo playing steel drums and guitars. Went so well the folding money changed hands to play for another hour. When I left at 1 am the party had moved on to the heated pool which was steaming as it was so cold.
A 30th birthday booking for me last night at the local Rugby Club, a mere 5 minute drive from my house with stupidly easy access too.
This was the 3rd booking in the space of a year that I had done for the same bunch of people (previously did a joint 40th / 80th and a 30th) so I knew it would be a cracker. Once again it was fancy dress too so everyone was instantly in the party mood.
I was set up in super quick time and ready for a 7.30pm start at 7.00pm which was pretty lucky actually as guests started piling through the doors at just after 7.00pm as (apparently, I didn't see them), the invites said 7.00pm on them.
This meant that for the second week in a row I was hot and sweaty from setting up. Even though it was an earlier start I decided to just get on with it because (a) I'm not a 'clock watcher' and (b) They've looked after me bookings wise so it's the least I could do. Funnily enough though...... When I played the last song at 11.30pm a lot of the guests shouted "One more!" so I did that for them and then the lights went up. A guy came over who was a tad on the drunk side and asked me why I was finishing early. He wasn't being a problem at all, it was just a question. I told him I was booked from 7.30pm - 11.30pm and then he said "the invitations said 7.00pm - Midnight" - Really? Well, sorry about that but I started early and have just played over time too so there's crossed wires there. Birthday boy came over and confirmed I was correct and all was well.
Lots of fancy dress going on last night and some really good ones too. I always like to play stuff early on when I see certain costumes. They don't even have to ask me as I just do it and it's great seeing the person in that costume react to the song playing.
One of the first to arrive was Scooby Doo and Shaggy so on went the theme tune. As usual the Pink Ladies and T-Birds from Grease were there and throughout the evening I must have played the majority of the Grease soundtrack but everyone loved it. There was Dr Who, Superman, Spiderman and a number of others too as it was a film and tv theme.
For some reason though (and for the life of me I can't think why :) ), I had to try very, very hard not to stare at one of the sexiest police women I've had the pleasure of being in the same place as....All I can say is "Wow!".....She was dressed as an American cop so I played the Police Academy theme. I don't think she quite got it though.
Her night on the dance floor ended a bit early because she was dancing to DJ Casper in front of me (yes, it still gets requested!) when she suddenly disappeared! It was obvious she'd gone down as people on the dance floor were looking down and helping her up. She turned to me and laughed and said "These bloody heels" and then hobbled off. She was sat down with her foot up on a chair for the rest of the night and I heard a rumour that she may have busted her ankle.....D'oh!
A good mixture of music last night with everything from the current guise of Kungs through to Showaddywaddy through to Bon Jovi. I finished off with Bohemian Rhapsody, got the "one more's" so played Madness - It Must Be Love and then that was it.
Another good night with a nice bunch of happy, satisfied people and the promise of at least 2 more bookings from them in the near future.
Next week it's the first of quite a few 50th Birthday's with 80's music. I'm off to meet the customer later today.
Not a full report now, as I'm effectively on day three of a most illuminating road trip. Last night's gog can be typified by the fact that having stepped out gingerly into the stygian gloom carrying the disco to the van, once I'd got the last bit onside without damaging myself, or the kit, some Helpful Harry switches on the outside light which had a lot on common with the floodlights at Wembley. :mad:
More in instalments on Monday, if I get home safely from the wilds of Cumbria ( which will be improved immensely if they ever build any roads big enough for two vehicles to meet each other safely) in monsoon season, via The West Riding, a place we rural Yorkies visit with much trepidation.
So then.. to the trouble I alluded to very early this morning.
You know how all weddings are different, crowds are different and usually require completely different music? Yeah well one guest last night didn't! People were just filing in and a lady stormed up to the pulpit... "Were you the DJ last night?", she asks. "Yes I was" said I. "Well! We'll be having none of that Agadoo & Birdy Song type crap tonight...", said she barely letting me get a word in sideways to explain as she chastised me like a teacher admonishes a child (or used to, maybe they do it differently now). Oh great, I thought... what a lovely start to a night full of promise.
The cake cut & first dance were originally timetabled for 8.30 but as the time approached it became clear everybody had forgotten & I let it lie. Then the buffet was opened early for some reason. I announced it, then went into gentle background music mode for a while & went outside for some fresh air. Who should I bump into out there but a certain Paul Weller tribute artist (he's pretty much the spitting double of Mr Peacock Suit & does a respectable). Turns out he's the groom's dad, and could I possibly play Brand New Start (by Weller of course) because it'll grind his son's gears a bit. Erm... sure I can (I think).
So as the new cake cut time of 9.15 approaches I play the Weller tune & the look on the groom's face is umm... making me wish I'd never played it. Oh well. I go to line up the first dance song & find that despite music continuing to play my playout has frozen. WHAT?! No, not now! I quickly switch to the backup laptop (which is also recording audio), select the first dance song & reboot the playout laptop. Some 30 very sweaty seconds elapse & I manage to get the playout laptop back up. When the time comes, both laptops are playing the first dance (hopefully in sync) ready for me to chop across - but the playout is fine for the remainder of the night. Talk about a close call!
80s is what turns out to get everybody moving, then we progress to 90s & 00s. Oh hello irate woman from earlier. What's your beef this time lady? Ah all this stuff is way too old & she proceeds to give me a list off her phone to correct the situation. Most of her suggestions were very bad misses & she got put on the naughty list. I tell ya - the night before had really put this woman on red alert. Gotta keep the DJ in check or he's gonna AGADOO us all! :rofl:
Anyway, numbers started to thin out around 10.30pm (2 nights in a row?!) but dancing continued unabated. This was one of the rare gigs where the B&G spend a lot of time dancing together. Numbers swelled back up again a little later & mardy lady had succeeded in steering the music towards RnB & chart - funny - that stuff really hadn't worked earlier in the night at all. I was by now getting requests for the 'bouncy' stuff like The Killers so filled a nice 15 minutes there...
At last orders time mardy woman was back. What - is she still not satisfied?! "What are you doing for the smooch?". Pardon? "You know.. THE SMOOCH?". Ah yes - because EVERY wedding disco needs a 'smooch' section no matter what, right? I dunno, I said & she waltzed off again.
I'm playing the Medley & Warnes thing with enough time in hand for one more & up she comes again asking me when I'm going to play Little Mix. "Sorry, no time for that, so the last tune is going to be a reprise of the first dance". She gives me a look which says she's gutted she never thought of that & strumps off again.
Unofficial music coordinator aside... that was definitely a good gig.
The beginning of the saga. 21st party in a sports club near an out of town shopping centre. It's on a "bypass", although that's a moot point. At tomes, overflow car park is a more accurate title, so having fallen foul of this before, I decided to go early to miss rush hour traffic, and have a look in a couple of shops and eateries nearby. Having spent a very productive time doing so, I went to the evening's venue. I could get in early, so I took full advantage of a leisurely set up. I made a mistake by putting two Swarms on the rig, as it turned out there were more older guests than younger ones. Fortunately I found a programme with no strobing, and they worked well. Ironically, I could really have used the light I acquired the next day, but more of that later.
I'd worked there previously, and as luck would have it, all three gigs this weekend require the micromax. I had a 15" Alto sub with me which was destined for Cumbria, but couldn't use it, as it wouldn't fit under the micromax, whereas my 12" does do with very little to spare. Expecting a fair number of younger guests, I took the LDs for a spin, and had loads in hand. Turned out that older guests were in the majority, and I could probably have managed with the 10" Altos on their own. Fairly typical family gathering, small children tearing about and most guests wanting to speak to friends and family. Passably acceptable numbers on the floor, and a very happy client impressed with an appropriately sized rig, digital playout and low sound levels. Could catch on, eh Wayne? :):)
Packed up swiftly, as you can drive the van up to the doors, and having got a coffee from Ronald, pointed the van's nose North, to the Travelodge at Scotch Corner, for some kip before part two. If I'd known what was in store, I'd have stayed in bed longer. Remind me to read the fliers in hotel rooms. I was a tad chilly die to there only being a top sheet on the bed. Turns out, this is to increase our comfort in this tropical heatwave which is The British Summer. Yeah right. There's a quilt there if you need, but I didn't look. Silly me. Part 2 later
Friday night I was roadie and apprentice DJ to a friend who lives a mile away.
Wow, made me realise how average I am and what good looks like.
That looks like Warbrook House (or something House anyway)....
The venue, Not the DJ.
Lol, Northbrook Park, near Farnham, Surrey.Quote:
Originally Posted by Shakermaker Promotions
Good? Why he hasn't even moved his steps and boxes away. Damned lazy, I say. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by DJColsie
I jest, looks nice. Not entirely my cup of Earl Grey, but not all discos are the same, let us embrace variety. Spice of life. :)
Currently on gig three, only a social after and a ride home between me and my own bed now.:)