Good Gig, Bad Gig.

[Shakermaker Promotions]

Firstly, well done for getting through it and a good review that makes you realise as DD says, that there are more important things in life to worry about.

So...tonight's gig It was a corporate BBQ for a Life Insurance company and I was providing Disco / Karaoke. It was booked around a month ago and I had spoken to the organiser on the phone a couple of times but mainly dealt with her by email.

I arranged to set up with the venue (Rugby Club) at 4.30pm and it took me a while as there was a rugby match on and there were lots of people around.

I have to say that in all honesty this function ranks in the Top 2 of my worst gigs.....EVER!! I'm not exaggerating at all with any of the following. The gig was supposed to have 60 guests attending and was to run from 6.30pm - 10.30pm. I got there at 6.00pm and there was no'one around. At 6.30pm, a group of around 10 people walked in and by 7.00pm, there were about 30 people. That was it !! I've done gigs before with this amount of people (sometimes less) but the aim is to get them up and enjoy themselves.

This lot didn't know the word 'ENJOY'....or it didn't seem like it. As I said, I had been communicating beforehand with the organiser and I had sent her request sheets so that the guests could ask for songs in advance. I had lots of them and I played all of them but no'one could be bothered to get up at all.

I realised aswell at around 7.30pm that I hadn't actually spoken to the organiser as yet. I didn't know what she looked like and I thought it was a bit rude that she didn't introduce herself. At 7.30pm everyone got up and left the room to go and get their food. I thought I'd have to make an announcement but wasn't approached. One by one they came back into the room with their food and some of them left as soon as they'd scoffed it. I was stood there thinking..."I don't believe this..".

It was around 8.30pm when a guy came over and said to me that the organiser couldn't apologise enough. She hadn't come over to see me because she was embarassed! I watched him go back to his seat and then saw him speak to a lady who I assumed was the organiser so when I saw her get up, I went over to her and asked if everything was ok. She was quite upset at the poor turnout and was very apologetic to me. She then said that she was leaving!! I asked her if she wanted me to finish and she told me to play it by ear and see what happens.

With 2 hours to go, I counted 12 people left in the venue. I played everyone's requests and a couple of people got up and moved about...No'one even asked about Karaoke so I decided to start dismantling it to save time at the end. I don't like doing this because I think it looks bad but seriously, this lot really didn't give a

It was 9.10pm and a guy came over and actually requested a song. There were 5 people left including him. I said to him that I would be finishing at 9.45pm and I'd play whatever he and his mates wanted me to. As he walked back to the dancefloor, they had disappeared outside so there was no'one in the room. They came back around 10 minutes later and I played one of his songs for him and at 9.30pm, I finished and started to pack up.

Horrible, Terrible, Dire......Total waste of time.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

A waste of time, but why would it rank in your worst gigs ever?

You are there to play for people and if they want to sing and dance, then they will.

It certainly wouldn't bother me.

[Charlie Brown]

Glad you had a good gig Gary.

[Shakermaker Promotions]

Charlie!

Darren, I think it was a waste of time on THEIR part, not mine! We've all done gigs before where a number of people won't dance....that's fine with me as long as they enjoy the music but I felt sorry for the poor organiser. She was gutted at the poor attendance and the attitude of the ones that did attend because they just were not interested and you could see that. There was no atmosphere no matter how hard I tried to create one.

I was more or less talking to myself on the mic at times.

[Alchemy]

Simon, have you calmed down a bit?

It might help to get it off your chest and tell us what occurred

Anyone seen Simon?

[Excalibur]

Darren, I think it was a waste of time on THEIR part, not mine! I was more or less talking to myself on the mic at times.

Excellent attitude mate, you did your job to the best of your abilities. That's what you're paid for. When so few turn up, and you've prepared for hundreds, it doesn't help.

As to talking to yourself, well that's grim after so long.

Chin up mate, a good gig next time helps you forget ones like these.

Anyone seen Simon?

No. I think many of us are on tenterhooks waiting for the gory details. Terrible, aren't we?

[Shakermaker Promotions]

Thanks Peter. I'm not sure if I came across the right way as I was still a bit miffed and also disappointed when I got in and wrote the review. It was a midweek gig and that was cool with me as I count them as a bonus. If I went out with the attitude that it was just for the money and I didn't care whether they enjoyed it or not - that would be just wrong.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Thanks Peter. I'm not sure if I came across the right way as I was still a bit miffed and also disappointed when I got in and wrote the review. It was a midweek gig and that was cool with me as I count them as a bonus. If I went out with the attitude that it was just for the money and I didn't care whether they enjoyed it or not - that would be just wrong.

Yes, but these kind of gigs happen and there's nothing you can do about it. You said you did your best, so why worry?

[Shakermaker Promotions]

I don't mean to sound like I want to get the last word in Darren but believe me, I am not worried about it at all.... it happens doesn't it. It's just disappointing when it does. It's only a review. It's been years since I had a gig like that so I am expecting it to be years until it happens again.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

I don't mean to sound like I want to get the last word in Darren but believe me, I am not worried about it at all.... it happens doesn't it. It's just disappointing when it does. It's only a review. It's been years since I had a gig like that so I am expecting it to be years until it happens again.

Fair enough. The only reason I posted what I did, is because you said that it was in your top 2 worst gigs ever.

If you'd had abuse etc, then I would call that an awful gig, but it wouldn't bother me if people didn't turn up and I'd done my best -that's what I was trying to say.