Good Gig, Bad Gig.

[Shakermaker Promotions]

2nd Christmas Party last night for 2 different companies and it was a very bizarre occasion really.
Don't worry folks, I am not going to report on everything I do over Christmas. I just think that this one is worth noting.

I was a bit apprehensive beforehand...firstly because I did the same thing last year and the guests were all gone by 10.45pm if I remember rightly and secondly because when the background music was playing, one of the companies were absolute animals! I was a bit worried that it might go the wrong way and end up being a disaster.

Anyway, the really rowdy company (I won't mention their name) were sinking bottles of wine like it was water. The bar ran out of the stuff they were drinking and they were quite rude to the staff too. As I walking around and mingling a bit I noticed a couple of guys from the company whose weddings I did earlier this year. They noticed me too and it kind of broke the ice. They both knew eachother (obviously) and they were both at each wedding that I did. I heard them go back to their table and say that they were in for a good night because I was their Wedding DJ.

The other company were pretty quiet compared to the rowdy lot.

When I started playing properly I expected the dancefloor to fill up instantly but it didn't. Half of the rowdy lot left and a few of the other lot left too. I started thinking that it was going to be one of those nights.

Now, this is kind of bizarre. I played Maroon 5 - Moves Like Jagger and the dancefloor suddenly filled up. I noticed a group of about 6 very nice young ladies come in. They took off their coats and started dancing straight away! A bunch of guys from the rowdy company saw this as an opportunity and joined them on the dancefloor and it kind of went on from there. It was about 11.00pm by now. The reason I say it was kind of bizarre was because of the 6 girls that came in, I had done 2 of their weddings too. One this year and one 2 years ago. So, I had done weddings for 4 people in attendance last night!

From 11.00pm - Midnight it was pretty easy with me playing lots of classics that kept them all dancing and that hour was the quickest ever. I started to get lots of old skool requests in (Salt N Pepa, Technotronic, Neneh Cherry, Beats International, Dee-Lite) and they all worked well along with Kings Of Leon, Killers etc..

There was one pain in the backside bloke though that kept coming over, didn't really say anything but just stood there looking at me and the equipment swaying from side to side but everytime he walked off he left a really bad fart smell. I got paranoid and hoped that no'one came over and requested anything as they might think it was me!

[DJ Paulie]

There was one pain in the backside bloke though that kept coming over, didn't really say anything but just stood there looking at me and the equipment swaying from side to side but everytime he walked off he left a really bad fart smell. I got paranoid and hoped that no'one came over and requested anything as they might think it was me!

Now come on, are SURE it wasn't you really? Sounds like this month's going to be interesting though with all your previous clients attending parties.

[Shakermaker Promotions]

Ha!Ha! Classic!
No, it wasn't me. It actually smelt like he had just himself!
He must have done it on the dancefloor aswell at some point because I saw a few fingers on noses!

[DJ Paulie]

I had that at a wedding I did in August. Saw everyone move away from an area sharpish !

[Shakermaker Promotions]

I've got to add a review of tonight's party because I am fuming!
Just over 100 guests all up for it.....and one complete

Everything went to plan for the first hour. Quite a young-ish crowd and 6 different companies attending.
I played current chart stuff for just over an hour to a packed dancefloor and thought "This is good!".

I then went into some Party-ish stuff (Scissor Sisters, Amy Whinehouse, Paolo Nutini etc...) and this guy comes over to me.
I'd watched him strut his stuff on the dancefloor to every single song I played and he was loving it.

Now, the reason I am writing this review NOW is because I want to remember everything word for word that he said to me....

So, he comes over and smacks me on the shoulder hard.
"Excuse me.." I said.
"Oi! When are you going to play something we can dance to?" He shouts and smacks me again on the shoulder.
"Sorry, Do you mind not doing that?" I ask him.
"This is boring stuff" He says..."Play something with some balls in it".

I point to the dancefloor which is packed and tell him that everyone seems to be enjoying themselves.

"It's boring mate!" He says..."Play something good" (that old classic that we've all heard over the years from drunks!).
He then smacks me on the shoulder again!!!!
I ask him again to stop touching me and he gets defensive.
"What's with the attitude?" He asks.
"There's no attitude at all, I just don't appreciate being smacked when I am trying to do my job" I say...."Now, is there anything that you want to hear?"
"Something good!" he says.
"Can you be more specific?" I ask..."I have over 28,000 tracks available".

He stands there and then tells me to off and forget it!

I was fuming and worried I would lose concentration. I was playing 'Valerie' at the time and one of the staff were nearby so I asked them if they could get who was in charge to come over and see me. When he did come over I explained the situation and he said he would keep an eye out.
About 5 minutes later one of the other staff came over and told me that someone had made a complaint about me being rude!!

I couldn't believe it! What was even worse was that the guy walked back in, smiled at me and danced to everything that I played!

I have done 100's of gigs at this venue and never EVER had someone make a complaint about me. I know hotels have to take it seriously and there will probably be something written down about it somewhere. I am really angry that some drunk idiot has made a complaint about me being rude when I was anything but.

I was polite as I could be (even though I would rather have decked him in reality).

Just wanted to share this. I'm having a beer now and moving on.

[WWDJ]

Gary, it was probably some prat who is used to getting his own way at work. You were getting the benefit of his self professed 'people skills'. I meet them everywhere I go. They survive on fear and others run around to keep them happy. The great thing about a party is it puts everyone on a level and puts them out of their comfort zone.

Move on. You clearly do a great job (plus I look forward to your reports each week )

[soundmaster mobile disco]

First xmas party night of the season last night.The manager that got us back in last year suddenly left to take up a senior position elsewhere,so it was a new manager who only started 2 days ago,she knew very little of the arrangements that had been made with the previous manager and ourselves,so it was a touch uncomfartable when i went along at 4pm to set up,luckily i had my signed contract with me for refrence.

Anyway the gig itself was not very well attended,(about 35 people at it),still it turned out to be another successful party night with the guests commenting on how they enjoyed the night.Played a few xmas tunes but didnot get much of a reaction on the dancefloor .(maybe to early for this yet).

It was also my first gig useing a laptop and virtual dj.Alan had his american audio vms 4 with him.Have to say i really enjoyed useing it,surprising how easy it is to use.I will be getting one myself after seeing this in action.

[Nexus]

I have done 100's of gigs at this venue and never EVER had someone make a complaint about me. I know hotels have to take it seriously and there will probably be something written down about it somewhere. I am really angry that some drunk idiot has made a complaint about me being rude when I was anything but.

.

Had something similar earlier this year at a venue I really enjoy working at. The owner told me she doesnt tolerate rudeness to her staff and while I'm working for her it includes me. She suggested I keep a log of any unpleasant customers and any incidents. She said to include times, behaviour and quotes. I did this and she got in first and warned an unpleasant customer she faced ejection due to her behaviour. The warning didn't work and she was ejected. A very firm, fair, efficient and extremely pleasant lady to work for.

[Shakermaker Promotions]

Just spoken to the girls on reception who actually spoke to the idiot last night who was drunk & abusive etc.
They said that it wasn't a complaint as such but he happened to mention it when he was stood with his boss who was settling the bill. It was almost as if he wasn't going to say anything as apparently his boss was telling him to shut up and not worry about it because she could see he was drunk and overreacting.

Apparently he asked how long I had been working at the venue and if I had received any complaints before etc etc...It sounds like he was trying real hard to get me into trouble.

To me though, it's still a complaint and a negative and I am still peeved off about it.

The Manager and all the staff have my back which is a good thing and how it should be.

[grebble]

Had my first paid gig last night - up until now I've just done discos for free for my local amateur dramatics group, who contributed towards my equipment. This was a birthday party in a small function room in a WMC-style club. There were only 30 or 40 guests in attendance, and I was playing alongside the birthday girl's dad, who is a professional singer and we alternated sets.

It was a largely young crowd, with babies and young children present too, but they had asked for a broad range of music so that's what I gave them. Some 60s, some Motown, some 80s, but every time I went into those sets, after a few songs I got asked to change the music to 'something from 2011,' which I did with no problem at all. The dance floor was busy, especially after about 10pm, but when I say 'busy' I mean about 20 people as it was so tiny! Many times I got a cheer when I put a new song on, and one of the kids high-fived me when I put Lady Gaga on!

After about 11:30pm, though, it started to get a bit dodgy. Most of the families had gone home, leaving only the birthday girl and a few others left, and they were drunk. Her boyfriend, a real rough type who looked as if he would sooner deck you than give you the time of day, came up, asked me to play American Pie and wanted to sing along to it. He was a bit intimidating so I let him after clearing it with the birthday girl, but after he had sung it he wanted to sing another, but his girlfriend wrenched the microphone off him, gave it back to me and told me to hide it. I did, but he came round to my side looking for it, saying he had paid me for the disco and he should be able to sing if he wanted.

I stood my ground, saying he had paid for a disco not karaoke, and his missus didn't want him to sing and that was that. The birthday girl's parents intervened and told him to leave it and he went and sat down until I put on Mr Brightside and he pranced around like a loon on the dancefloor.

All ended well and the birthday girl hugged me and said I had made her birthday extra special, and I gave a business card to her dad and the club's social secretary, who both said they were pleased with my work and her dad would like to work with me again. But that's the last time I let any drunken skinheads sing!

Next weekend I've got another birthday party where all the guests are women, in a sleepy village hall. Hopefully there won't be any trouble there!