Caution: This post contains scenes of trumpet blowing, and/or willy waving!
Last year, what seemed like a good paying wedding on NYE ended up being a very poor return on effort invested.:( This year, I took on a private party in a Village Hall. Foolproof, eh? Oh no.:( Hall doesn't allow entertainment after 11.30 or thereabouts. Getting approval from The Committee for the required extension proved to be the eighth labour of Hercules, and thus impossible for mere mortals like my client, so I was available again.
Andy Neen had contacted me with a tempting offer from one of his clients, and for various reasons I accepted it. Decent enough money, room and board helped to seal the deal, so I pointed The Big Yellow Taxi up the A1(M) and before too long arrived on site. I was shown to my very well appointed room ( well the place does have five stars from the AA, so me and The Taxi felt right at home ) to dump my bag.
Set up was ridiculously easy, and I then had lots of time to have a shower, and wash my hair. :) I kicked off early, and guests came in almost all at once. After a short bit of well received background, it was buffet time, and very good it was too. After that, we edged into dance mode, and the floor was rarely totally empty, not bad for seventy folk from toddlers to grannies.
We built up a head of steam, and arrived effortlessly at midnight, counted it down, and had the most relaxed and comfortable ALS ever. Now the bad news. After a night like this, without bad news, I might have thought I dreamt it. :D
We had a sudden influx of well oiled, rowdy folks, who were a complete contrast to my well behaved guests who had paid for the whole night. Things soon got messy, and about half an hour after the agreed finish time, the management and I deemed it time to pull the plug. I broke down the kit, accepted a pint from the very happy owner ( who has already booked for next year) and went off for some well earned rest.
This morning will see me loading the van, having a full English, which they insisted on, and heading gently home. Almost the perfect gig.
Willy waving? Oh Yuss, I had a text forwarded to me from Mr Neen's agent in my gig. A lad with experience of discos and the like.
" Nice set up your mate has at xxxxxxx". I liked that. :D:o