Good Gig, Bad Gig.

[Excalibur]

Sunday is a teen disco......who are half of these artists?

Is you not down wiv da yoof? They be bangin choons.

A pint says you'll have an empty dancefloor to all the "hip" requests for all the chart dross, and fill it with Macarena and Cha Cha Slide.

[Imagine]

Is you not down wiv da yoof? They be bangin choons.

A pint says you'll have an empty dancefloor to all the "hip" requests for all the chart dross, and fill it with Macarena and Cha Cha Slide.

I'm not even going to take you up on that one Peter - I've done too many teen disco's this year to know that's going to be the case

[Excalibur]

Rock wedding last night in Spirits High country. Hasland village hall. Got there early, caretaker was there, great bloke, so was set up well in advance. Played 70s and 80s Rock, more modern stuff in the vein of Offspring, Blink 182 et al. Slipped in Ac Dc Thunderstruck among others on the list, great fun.
I've never seen so many tattoos in my life. The bride had more skin inked than not, and the groom had a hairdo like a Teletubby. Lovely folk, shoestring affair, I must have been the most expensive bit. Even the drink was bring your own, and food/decorations were done by friends and family.

Went down a storm, packed up on the stroke of midnight, and on my way home by 12.30
Now we're going to Wareham, in Dorset, because as Boney M would say: " Hooray, hooray, it's a holi holiday ".

[Shakermaker Promotions]

Another decent weekend of gigs.
Friday - I was out of town at a venue I do regularly for a wedding with uplighting. Very nice couple, both teachers in their late 20's.
First proper outing with the new controller and it did take some getting used to. Thought I'd done enough testing on the HD2500 to be confident that it would be ok but I think it is on its way out to be honest. Right hand buttons seemed to freeze again which was a pain but I still had the left side and controller and I think in time I will be using the controller more as my primary play out system. I may also have found another HD2500 so fingers crossed.

Anyway, the gig itself was great. It was a bit of a current chart v cheese fest for 100 people and it went well. Lots of dancing throughout the night and I don't think I saw the Bride leave the dance floor. Both the Bride & Groom were very complimentary throughout the evening giving me the thumbs up and for once I was inundated with requests which suited me fine.
Didn't really play much of the usual stuff (60s, 70s, 80s) but there were a few chucked in there.
One guy in his 70s (at a guess) came over and said "If you play the Bee Gees 'Stayin' Alive' I think it will go down a storm" - I put it on for him and he was the only one dancing but I made a big deal of it and everyone clapped along and encouraged him. He shook my hand at the end of the night and said "Thank you, you made my night".

First dance was yet again - John Legend - All Of Me
Last song of the night was - The Killers - Mr Brightside

Just before the last song I thought I would play McFly - It's All About You because on the request list there was 'Star Girl' which went down very well during the evening.
Everyone sang along to It's All About You and it was a really good atmosphere. The Killers finished the night off well to a round of applause. People were asking for it during the evening and I had to hold back as the Bride & Groom wanted it as the last song.
Really enjoyed that.

Saturday - I was at a new venue doing a 'Request Fest' night. A couple of weeks ago the landlord of the venue contacted me about a Race Night and booked me for September. I was surprised during our meeting that he started reeling off dates asking if I was available and so I slotted in quite a few empty spaces which was good.
He said he'd give me a free reign to do what I wanted and was open to ideas so I have a Ska/Mod/Motown/Northern Soul night coming up as well as an 80s night and also a few birthdays and anniversaries which is all good. I did say to him though that it depends on whether the punters like me or not (jokingly).

Anyway, last night was my first venture and it was a really easy set up. Couple of par cans and mystics on a t-bar and my playout system through their in house system.
I do a regular 'Request Fest' night at my local and the punters there are more in to their Alternative music which is great.
Last night the requests ranged from Current Chart / Dance & R&B to Classics and Party.
Lots of requests came in and I had 99% of them. The couple I didn't have, well....I'll have them for next time.
Landlord and punters very happy. Got paid a bit extra too which was good.

The best bit though was when I had finished and was packing away, a girl came over and asked if the landlord had booked me to do her 10th Wedding Anniversary in a few weeks time. I said he had and she was very complimentary saying that the music was good and that she wanted me to do more or less the same thing.
I was a bit apprehensive going in to a venue I hadn't been to before but it looks like I went down well.

[DJColsie]

Now we're going to Wareham, in Dorset, because as Boney M would say: " Hooray, hooray, it's a holi holiday ".

Lovely part of the country. Welcome South!

[Imagine]

OK - back to grown up parties tonight in the shape of a wedding

Firstly, yes it really is 3:45 am - I'm still buzzing from this one.
It was a fairly posh affair, large marquee in daddy's back garden and all that. Lovely couple though.

The playlist was carefully selected by the B&G (not always a good idea I know).....but it worked, and worked an absolute treat.
I followed a celidah band so didn't start until 9:30 on this one (until 1:30), and was expecting them to be completely shattered after all the stripping of willows and whatever else it is they do......WRONG!!!!

I had a completely packed dance-floor all night. It wasn't a case of rotating the crowd either....the bar staff were bringing bottles to the floor so that they didn't have to stop dancing!

Bridey was up on her toes for the duration and at one point, her and her bridesmaids took to the tables and started dancing on those.....I've never seen that one before.

Loads of compliments at the end of the night (a lot of them drunken but not all), and finally got my gear back to storage and now home but can't switch off after that one.

Definitely goes down as a good gig

[DazzyD]

...the bar staff were bringing bottles to the floor so that they didn't have to stop dancing!

...

Nice and safe, then!!

[Benny Smyth]

Friday night: Wedding at Ardencote Manor. Supposed to get into the room at 7:30, but didn't get in until about 8:45. Was set up pretty quick, first track I played was the first dance and then straight to the evening food. After that, there was a Blues Brothers tribute for an hour. I actually didn't start 'properly' until 11:30, with a 1am finish. Packed floor, really nice people who were well up for it (I even got to do my 'dance off' bit, which is always funny!) and I got an email last night from the groom telling me how happy they all were.

Saturday night: Wedding at Hampton Manor. Bride & groom wanted pop and dance music all night long, and even gave me a playlist that I worked out was six hours long! I threw in some indie and 90's pop to mix it up a bit, but it was a really good night with Delrium's Silence (not on the list) and Darude's Sandstorm (not on the list) having the biggest reactions of the night (really had to calm it down after those two songs though, as mosh pits at weddings make me fear for my kit!).

I've also started the 'full dancefloor selfie' for my Twitter account. Just a bit of a giggle.

[Excalibur]

The playlist was carefully selected by the B&G (not always a good idea I know).....but it worked, and worked an absolute treat.

I had a completely packed dance-floor all night. It wasn't a case of rotating the crowd either....
Loads of compliments at the end of the night (a lot of them drunken but not all), and finally got my gear back to storage and now home

Definitely goes down as a good gig

Snap. Nearly didn't happen though. Apparently the fire brigade were pumping out the site at 1am!! Venue was an activity farm, with craft areas, tea rooms, gift shop and associated bits. They put up a metal framed marquee between two buildings and it looked lovely. Wedding party arrived at 5pm, ( only an hour late ) and we then had speeches at 6pm. Meal followed ( for me as well. It was lovely, and much appreciated ) and when that finished, the tent emptied. Not looking promising. Management finally got them back inside, and we had the first dance around 9.15pm.

Well from then on, it just got better and better. My playlist ranged far and wide from Disco, Indie, Regae, and 70s Rock to a spot of chart and Cheese/ Classics. Between the list, my input, and inspired requests from one guest ( who was mainly after 90s anthems, and was fulsome in his praise of my efforts. He said he wished I'd done his recent wedding! ) I/we had a great night. Another gig where I got to play less run of the mill music. Lovely.

End of the night, Groom came up to shake hands, and tell me how glad he was they'd chosen me. Bride came up, gave me a big kiss, and said " You know the floor was never empty all night " Ah, if only all our gigs were like that.

[Shakermaker Promotions]

Well, that was great!
Still buzzing myself from a really good wedding last night. It was the marquee one for 200 people and although I was a bit apprehensive beforehand, I needn't have worried and should really have more confidence both with myself and the equipment.

Tested the replacement HD2500 out properly and faultless. It was like having a brand new one and the worries are no longer there.
Decided on using the Subs with the Mackies on poles in the end. I set up yesterday morning at around 8.30am as I was anxious to test everything out. I took the JBL's and Crown amp too but decided against it. I had plenty of oomph last night and found myself stupidly grinning from time to time and walking out front to get an idea of what the sound was like and I was more than happy.

I think I will have to do some tweaking until I get the exact sound I want. I did find myself looking down at the Subs from time to time as it seemed quite loud from behind the decks and I wondered if I was pushing them. The limiter light on the back of them was blinking orange from time to time and from what I remember, that is ok. I'll need to adjust my gains on the mixer I guess hence me saying I need to do some tweaking. The volume on the subs were set to 12 o'clock.

Anyway, it was stupidly heavy rain with thunder and lightning when I was setting up but I backed right up to the marquee and all was cool.
When it came to the evening I started up with background music and people were dancing to that.

First dance was Stereophonics - First Time Ever I Saw Your Face followed by The Monkees - I'm A Believer and the guests were mad for it.
A full range of music throughout the evening, a busy dance floor from the off and all was good.

Best song of the night was surprisingly Rizzle Kicks - Mama Do The Hump for some reason?
Last songs were Etta James - At Last followed by Louis Armstrong - Wonderful World.

Big round of applause at the end and shouts for "One More". Some of the guests came over and almost begged me to play another one (Oasis - Wonderwall) but I couldn't do it. They said they'd pay me but I explained that I really couldn't no matter how much I wanted to because it was a strict 11.30pm finish. They were all ok.

Really good night and a very happy Bride & Groom.
Got the last bits of equipment back in the van and then the heavens opened again.