Maybe to do with the radio, they seem to be playing Christmas songs a lot more this year, and on all the stations I skip between.Originally Posted by ppentertainments
Yeah it is strange, normally I get told off if I play any Xmas songs other than during the last week. This year though even the parties in late November were asking for Xmas music - just can't win
Last gig of the year tonight - woohoo!!!
Not much of a break since my next is the 3rd of January but it's always nice to get to this - I can almost taste my 3am hot tub bottle of prosecco.
My one Christmas party of the year and it's for a staff only do I did last year. That was my 1st one and the organiser was pretty uptight about it all - her neck is on the line after all - but they were great and they booked me back up right away so here's hoping tonight is no different.
For the meal they're doing:
A flash mob to Proud Mary they want me to film.
Then a stand up - sit down Xmas number 1 quiz I'm doing which should be a nice ice breaker
Then
*drumroll*
The CEO has demanded that we do my Scotland's Party DJ Glasgow Christmas Night Out Madness Game (c) as he said it was great fun last year. The fact he won probably helps too so I've had an idea to make sure he gets to the final and then running a prank on him so he loses. Will report back
That sounds like a LOT of fun Jim
Did my last of the year yesterday afternoon/evening. My local primary (so in effect two separate parties as they spilt it as an hour of the KS1 kids - not my favourite age group), followed by an hour of the KS2 kids (and THEY are a LOT of fun).
As always, it was like a Mosh-Pit in front of the booth with 100 kids bounding with arms in the air. The one thing I ALWAYS do at this one is to find out what their "song" was during their Christmas production. This year, Happy Xmas - War is over. The teachers actually pleaded with me not to play it (they've heard it enough).
I'm not that obedient though
I have a dance mix of said song and for fun, dropped it in straight after Gangnam (same BPM and mixes quite nicely). Took a couple of seconds for the kids to register what it was but when they did......lets just say it brought a massive lump to my throat to have that many kids singing along (it always "gets" me when I do that).
So - that's all folks for 2018. It's been a strange year with a very slow start leading to a lot of double-header weekends towards the end, and only one proper adult Xmas party (over all...I'm up on last year so not complaining).
Now for the next big thing.....looks like my heavily pregnant daughter is about to be induced. I could well be a first time Granddad in the next couple of days....EEEEEK!
Congrats mate. Hope it goes well.
Flash mob was pretty good - Personally I'd have done it a bit different but I'm not the choreographer...
Xmas number 1 quiz coming up soon.
Wayne, all the best for Daughter and impending offspring.
Well, to paraphrase Vivaldi*- " Oh what a night ".
Last night started dancing after the starters, during background music!!Only three at first, but by dessert, the Police Chief in Jaws had it right. ( " We need a bigger dancefloor**") We also needed it fastening down, it had moved four feet to my left by the end of the night.
Company party, at Forest Pines, for Matthew Western of this forum. He's had trials and tribulations there this December, and well done to him for the way he's handling them. Rather him than me, I say. Been there, done that............................................
Surprisingly, I had a request list beforehand, and while few tracks on it were unpredictable ( Smiths- Miserable now) it was pure gold, ranging from Christmas party, R&B, Indie, Rock, Tamla, Soul, through to more modern stuff, every track was a guaranteed winner. I've never had so many whoops of joy as I played a new track.
We started around 7pm, till 1am, and to be honest, I still had half an hour of bankers left available, what with the list, and the plentiful requests through the night. Ah yes, those requests.It takes the shine off the night when a totally drunken lady is hanging onto absolutely anything for support, trying to convey her wishes in a language which isn't her native tongue ( We were a broad geographical church last night. All over Europe, particularly Eastern Europe. My, but much strong drink was taken. And dropped on the dancefloor.
I had a lot of phones thrust in my face, some indicating requests, some suggesting Youtube, but the nicest and most gratifying one read " Best DJ ever".In the interests of balance, other Best DJs Ever are available.
I think Matthew was one as well last night, judging by his texts. Funny thing though, even though the floor was rammed all night, mainly with requests, apparently the music was
, according to some guests. You can't please all of the people all of the time, it was ever thus.
So, what will I have tonight? Dunno, but I can't see it topping last night.
* Vivaldi. Wrote Four Seasons. Geddit?
** For dancefloor, read " boat".
A 40th Birthday literally 2 minutes down the road at the local Sports and Social club which is a great venue, not too big not too small and no sound limiter !
Most notable point of interest was my decision was to use the new Traktor Pro 3 software. I'd done all the sensible things loads of testing and waiting for the second minor update. Also had the backup ready as ever but it wasn't required in the end. The software was perfect not a blip all evening (as you would expect) so I'm really pleased with it.
14 year old friend of the family sang 4 songs to backing track (including an Adele one!) at the start of the evening which I thought was pretty brave and she did a great job.
Birthday girl was easy going and wanted a few christmas songs chucked in so all good and requests came in steadily which were on the whole very good. It's the point where the person tells you what song they would like and you've actually got a bit of respect for them as opposed to "oh god really, how do I fit that one in!"
Last gig for a while as I have some health issues to "resolve" but I would like to thank those who post on here regularly as I do enjoy reading about your escapades and wish you a great christmas.
Thank you kind sir. It was indeed a night to remember down there too. A brilliant set by Planet Abba who recognised me from working with them at my former hotel residency in 2017. That was nice.Company party, at Forest Pines, for Matthew Western of this forum. He's had trials and tribulations there this December, and well done to him for the way he's handling them. Rather him than me, I say. Been there, done that............................................
S
I had a lot of phones thrust in my face, some indicating requests, some suggesting Youtube, but the nicest and most gratifying one read " Best DJ ever".
We ended up at 1am with 80 still partying away.
Saturday was a private function for a construction company. This was the one where games were assumed to be happening. Well, not a mention of games until during desssert when the hotel manager came and said they think that I was doing some games. Er, not really, said I. She did say that one of her staff was proficcient on games and liked being o the mic. Carry on said I!!
So, the evening started with over 200 guests assembling in the bar area which is separated from the main room by 4 double doors and a great big concrete wall. I was approached by the madam-in-charge for the use of my "roving mike" which the hotel had said would be available. Not that I had been told, but guess what? I had assumed as much, so it was set up ready and waiting. What I didn't know was she set off walking to one of the doors, which were still closed and left the room. A few seconds later, she came back and told me that the mic wasn't working! In the next room with the doors all closed. I;m not surprised.
So, after a quick explanation of the laws of physics, she decided to try again, by opening the doors and standing in one of them. Well, the receiver picked up the signal OK and Mr Edison's theroies worked enough to bring forth noise from the speakerages but, faces with the blockade that is the wall and that there were 200 people talking and walking around in the next room, though I could plainly hear every word as could she stood in the door way, her cries of "can you hear me" were met with....... absolutely nothing.
So she came back again and said they would do the intended raffle in the room when they had all sat down. That I though was a good idea, considering that the prizes were on a table next to me!
She did announce the raffle in the room and said that it was being done /2in here, because the speakers were not working properly". I decided not to let her know that they were working perfectly well thank you, its your brain that is not, as it would fall on deaf ears (or maybe ones that were not working properly).
Meal started and all carried on. Speeches and presentations between each course. Well done chaps and chappesses, company doing well etc. "Long service" awards for 5 and 10 years. Blimey, I've been with the Railway for 36 years and I only got one at 25 years!!
Finally, the meal was over and the question of games was looming. I deliberately kept quiet. Madame-in-charge said a few words and handed over to the raffle team, who proceded to draw thenext 25 numbers. Decent prizes too, including 5 x £100 Curry's vouchers, a 42" telly and some champagne. Vouchers for the booze and bigger items to be exchanged at their place of work.
As the raffle came to a close, I was aware that the hotel's girl had not come to see me about the games. I also noticed the 4 Casino table were being manned up.
Madame-in-charge once again helt the mic. She thanked everyone at the hotel for their service and food. She thanked the management for their generous drinks donation (tokens for free booze) and thanked the casino people - who were now open!!!
She then said and its also time to "open the dancefloor". What, no thank you for the DJ????
Fortunately, years of dealing with these people told me what was going to happen, so I had something cued up ready to start. PLAY.....!!!
But hang on a minute, what about these games????? Oh well, am I bovvered??
Unfortunately, having the casino in the same room demanded that the house lights remained on until the "designated lights person" from the hotel appeared and knew how to turn some of the loghts off, leaving just the lights over the casino tables on. Didn't matter, guests were more into the casino, or the (free) bar, or simply to chat with colleagues from different parts and locations of the business.
So I carried on. After about 30 minutes, playing maintly recent music (all will become clear) madam-in-charge approached me, and said she thought there were going to be some DJ games. I then explained that I did have 12 days of Christmas cued and ready to play a sing around the tables with them, but with a lot of guests disapppearing, coupled with the fact that she had, herself, "opened the dancefloor", I thought that was my cue to fire up the party. Though I needed several thermic lances to shift this lot at the time.
I then thought I would query the music policy that I had received from the venue, that had come from their client. I was to play "no ancient music" (so no madrigals or Gregorian Chants then) and no 80's music, removong a big part of my arsenal. When I put this to madam-in-charge, she gave me a stern look and asked where that had come from.. I showed her the copy of the e-mail I had got from the hotel and sait that I assumed that it had come form her organisation. The look went even sterner and she said "I don't think so, as I would have written it". Ooo-er, the worms are out of the tin now.
No, she said, I don't think so, you just do as you think best. That made my arsenal feel better.
Once the lights had gone down, it livened up a bit, but I was always concious of the casino attendance. Even requests and the "usual suspects" failed to ignite the place and modern/chart stuff fell on deaf ears.
Once the casino had ended though and the guests had oiled up enough, there was no stopping them. Mariah / Shaky and Noddy had to be played again (as everyone had missed them the first time) and Peter probably heard the roar over the way when Mr Brightside came on. And what the party upstairs must have thought? They could have turned their music off!!
End of the night, madam-in-charge had already left, but the managing director and his wife both came over and thanked me for "a fantastic night".
The only thing was, every time I tried to escape to go and visit Peter and another Peter upstairs, somebody wanted to make an announcement or presentation or draw a prize or something, so I was confined to the office all night. Sorry chaps.
It's all been new experiences for me this Christmas party season & last weekend was no exception.
A party for 50 on Friday, of which 5 were ladies which was, I thought going to make for a boring night. Wrong! Far from it but it'd have been nice to have been given more notice of their intention to end the night half an hour shy of the usual finishing time.
Not to worry.
Saturday saw me sporting a dinner jacket & bow tie (!!!!) for the first time in years for my first ever James Bond themed night. There was a big plan for this one.. An icebreaker game to find the 'best' 007 lookeylikey and a bond themed quiz of 20 questions. I was to present both.. So my 1st time as quizmaster too.
The lookeylikey game was done as soon as everyone was in the room then we marched headlong into the quiz. No problem until I tried to pronounce Teresa de Vicenzo.. I dunno - every quiz I've ever been to as a punter the QM had problems pronouncing at least one name. Couldn't have been too bad because we had correct answers for that question.
Papers collected, they were sent off for marking & the funniest wrong answers were highlighted for later.
Back to background music duties until desserts were on tables then it was time to deliver the big quiz results. All was well received then it was party time..
Most folks seemed to prefer to occupy themselves in the casino room - not that it was necessarily a bad thing because there certainly wasn't dancing room for 90 people in front of me.
Then he came. My first memorably rude guest of the season. "how old are you SON?" he asked & it went downhill from there. Apparently "all this new stuff" from the 80s that had the floor rammed was no good. I needed to play much older stuff. Like Mr brightside, Bryan Adams & Elvis. Hmm. Nod politely, agree & move on...
The rest of the night flew over, I changed into civvies for packing down & landed home about 1.15am.
Only 2 gigs left this year then I'm off all January to do some er.. Recalibration & stuff
Justin, I don't know how anyone could have the nerve to complain to anyone displaying such sartorial elegance. Nice suit ,Sir, nice suit.
Matthew, sounds like you had the sister of my Boss Lady!
Unsurprisingly, the universe decided to restore equilibrium to my world, by decreeing that my lot would basically remain rooted to their seats, except to go to the bar, or the toilets*.
We had a comedian, who was pretty good, and he had brought his own PA with him. I told him not to bother, and gave him a radio mic, why make life difficult for either of us? He finished his set, and it was my cue to set the dancefloor alight. Yeah, right.
The few requests I got were for Bon Jovi/G'n'R/Bryan Adams et al, and a few left of centre 80's, and the floor was
* Until half an hour before the finish time.Bar's closed, so we'll have a boogie. Boss Lady comes up with ten minutes to go, and gives me a heap of requests. I explain the problem, so she shortens the list to " just play some Motown then". I hit 1am with Diana Ross warbling away, say goodnight/Merry Xmas, and power down, like a good little boy. I deflect the chants of " one more" by stating with absolute certainty that I will be hung from my own trussing if I'm rash enough to play more music. Absolute certainty.
Emily ( room manager ) holds up one finger!
And that's a wrap for 2018!
Four gigs over the last week, with an even spread of Birthdays and Weddings. First up was a 40th at a venue that I hadn't performed at before and while I wouldn't turn down the chance to work there again, I'm not going to bust my hump to rush back. One chap I met on the reception desk was a really nice guy. The rest? Meh... Turned up a few weeks beforehand for the consultation and site reccy, but nobody was around to show us the room, nor answer questions on how to get in. I call the venue a week later to ask said questions, only to be told to just turn up on the day and they'll show me around. Wasted effort on my part, eh? Anything I need to know? Nope. Cool.
Turn up on the day and it was only by chance that I spotted the sound limiter. Not the worst I've had to work with, but would have been nice to be forewarned - the client wanted UK Garage, so I decided to bring the RCFs for that extra boom. Had I known there was a limiter, I'd have bought the FBTs. Having to turn the 905s down to 9 o'clock was a sad thing - kinda like sticking a 40mph limiter on a Ferrari.
Despite that, it was a very good night. 70s themed party with family flying over from Sweden, so you can guess which four-piece made a number of appearances. Amazing effort with the fancy dress too, with flares, wigs and a lot of folk who had clearly taken their inspiration from Disco Stu. The guy dressed Freddie Mercury had the best outfit by far! Watching that bright yellow jacket move around the Deekline and Oxide & Neutrino will probably go down as one of the weirder sights of 2018.
After the chap behind the bar told me at the end of the night that he didn't know where the switches were for the house lights, that pretty much summed up my experience of the venue. Oddly, I didn't know how to close any of the doors when I left either...
Next up was a wedding at one of my usual haunts. This one lasted longer than I expected as the Bride and Groom were really relaxed and told me that they didn't expect much dancing. I floated the idea of having the last hour as a chilled, background music kinda thing and they jumped on that idea. At the venue, even the staff were expecting an early finish. What put the kabosh on that? Well, turns out that I'm pretty good at this playing music malarkey and the guests stayed until almost the very end. Not as soon as expected, but still got to finish early.
Saturday night was a 30th Birthday on private grounds. The temporary marquee was better than some of the permanent marquees that I've been in - and it had heating! I was booked by the birthday boy's mom, who had organised the who shindig and she was lovely to work with, as was the birthday boy himself. I was to work alongside a band and I'm booked until the wee hours of the morning. We set up in plenty of good time and it was the first time in quite a while that I felt like I was booked as "...and disco." I wasn't made to feel that way by my clients - they were so accommodating for us but there was someone there who made it very clear that the band were the main focus.
Now, I know this. I know in these situations, we have a place and that is the be a support act. I get that. But to be openly told that when the band are finished "We're all just going to duck* off" (*typo)...that annoyed me. Oh, the band are offered champagne but not us? Righto...
The band were good to deal with and were a very entertaining act. Guests ended up getting very drunk (we had endless entertainment watching an older gent repeatedly stumbling backwards into the marquee wall) and it was a good night. I'm generally not one for parties on private grounds but I'd do this one again. It was a lot of fun and almost everyone was great to interact with.
Finally, it was another wedding at the same venue as the last wedding. I started having back and arm problems at the beginning of this four gig run and by the time this one rolled around, I was in a considerable amount of pain. Luckily, this was a guest list of less than 60 people, so taking the full lightshow would have been overkill. This was a good night with the floor never being empty (and, randomly, the same 'tog from the previous wedding - who had never worked this venue before - was here again!). The clients wanted a dance set during the night and bought some glowsticks for the occasion and I made sure to leave it as late as I could but with the photographer still there so he can get snaps of the guests raving. It was a bit of a mix of 00s and 80s all night but seemed to go down well, particularly the indie set at the end.
Since then, I've been popping painkillers to the point where even Gregory House would raise an eyebrow.
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote
