And five hours later, I can get in. Then the fun started. All the guests ( except for a lovely couple ) have left for the time being, but the chairs haven't been moved yet, so all I can do is bring the kit in. Ah well. I'm then told that I should set up at the far side, away from the chairs. " Never seen one set up there before " says a staff member.Originally Posted by Excalibur
Seems The Boss wants me in the chair area, but his wife says other side. ( There are noise issues with neighbours at that side, so they ask the disco to set up at the far side. Which means that the cabs actually direct the sound towards the neighbours, but who am I to argue? The bass frequencies are the problem )
Boss wins, so take powerbar and overhead off the DSB, and with the help of the male half of the couple, carry it across to the chair storage, where a few have been removed. Not enough. Boss goes off on one, and more are taken out. And then some are put back. And when I've actually got set up, they want more taking out again.At times it was reminiscent of Laurel and Hardy. Somehow, I keep smiling sweetly.
Boss wants curtain drawn at one side, to hide the remaining chairs, which cuts my space down a lot. A lot, and means the active cab at that side is perilously close to having its heatsink covered with carpet.
Anyway, eventually, in spite of all hindrances, I'm ready. And I've crossed the Boss off my Christmas card list already.Guests return, lovely people, with loads of children from two to ten, so early part of night is Gangnam, Macarena, Barbie et al. And I have a ten year old who wants a load of inappropriate stuff, music wise, and profanity wise. It resembles a creche more than a reception, and I can't move anyone onto the dancefloor at all ( except three mums for the cha cha slide. )
We do the first dance, and then buffet. Pie,chips and mushy peas, with onion gravy. Mmmmm, lovely. And I was brought a big plateful.
All night long, I can't get anyone to dance, though I get plenty of requests, from a few folk. There is much mic use and banter though, as as folk leave, they all thank and compliment me.
Everyone drifts away, I switch off nearly an hour early, groom comes over, shakes hands, thanks me, and gives me a fiver for a drink. Wasn't all bad then.
One for the " Isn't technology wonderful " brigade: At the start of the evening, the groom comes over and says " I've transferred the balance over already. I had nothing to do, so I transferred it with my phone. " I then checked with my phone and tablet, and yes it had been and was indeed available! Wow!
A night of ups and downs, lovely lovely guests, and nice staff, but unsuitable set up area, and left hand not knowing what right hand was doing with the staff. On balance, Pie and chips, an early finish, orange squash 35p a pint ( Amazed me. I heard £1.35, gave the barmaid two quid, and got £1.65 back. Groom bought me one as well. ) and a fiver tip means I left in a relaxed and content frame of mind.
Roll on Sunday night, with a band in a venue which might have space issues. Band, eh? Nine piece showband, or duo with guitar, backing track, and two mics? Who knows.
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Spent the rest of the night playing to a handful of people at any given time. The bar's thirty yards or more away, the room is L-shaped, with tables round the corner, and everybody wanted to chat and drink, not dance. Got good reports of what people thought, so not too bad. 
). Come 10pm the volume goes up to something much more akin to a disco, they're pretty much slaughtered and begging for me to roll out the entire of my cheese collection.....which I dutifully did 
