Good Gig, Bad Gig.

[Benny Smyth]

Busy weekend, but it's Saturday night I want to mention in particular.

Gig itself went well and ended very strongly. After I set up, I started chatting to the photographers. Husband and wife duo (Kim & Chantelle), and they were really nice. Swapped some details with Kim (the standard "any decent pics of the rig and people dancing, send 'em my way as I do a blog and can advertise your services" *wink, wink, nudge, nudge*), and he compliments my set-up.

I dart off to speak to the new Mr. & Mrs. and when I come back, both the photographers are speaking to my roadie and they continue to be really complimentary. I log onto Facebook Monday morning, and I am greeted with:



I know feedback and testimonials are part and parcel of what we do, but usually other suppliers don't leave messages like that a couple of days later. It may be a minor thing, but it did make my morning to see that. Amazing how such a small gesture can make someone happy.

[Shakermaker Promotions]

Last week was a bit of a mission and quite tiring.
First time I have done 4 gigs in one week for a while and today I am aching like an achy thing.

So, it started Thursday when I provided a last minute small PA set up for a local acoustic night as the organisers had been let down. Nothing too fancy really just the Mackies, a small Behringer desk (Xenyx 1202FX), some mics, stands and a couple of Uplighters but the guys were very happy with it. Pity some of the performers thought they were gods gift when they clearly weren't.

Friday I was at a venue that I have recently started doing. I've been there about 5 times now and every time it has been great. The punters seem to like me (which always helps) and I've done various nights there. I have an 80s night booked in for a few weeks time and a race night too. Anyway, on Friday it was Ska, Northern Soul, Motown & Reggae. The local scooter club meet at the venue every month and had asked if such a night could be catered for so I was asked to do it.
It was great. Lots of people there and some really good requests coming in. I tried to rotate the styles throughout the evening and towards the end the requests for reggae were coming in thick and fast.
Enjoyable night apart from a couple of idiots who appeared out of nowhere who weren't regulars apparently. I think they thought they were Danny Dyer clones and the first thing one of them said to me is unprintable here. It made me feel quite uncomfortable at the time and I let the landlord know immediately. He kept an eye on them and minutes later they were ejected from the venue when one of them started getting abusive towards him, not knowing he was the landlord.

Great feedback from everyone and the only slightly negative I got was that there should have been more Northern Soul. I did play lots of it and was asking for requests but didn't get much for it.

Saturday - Well, stressful isn't the word. I wish I could think of a better word to describe it but again, it would be unprintable.
I was booked for a joint 40th Birthday party with an 80s theme in a large marquee around 12 miles from my base. I thought I'd take my iPad and projector with me so that I could show the 80s visuals I have (they looked awesome on the inside of the marquee!).
Pre-arranged with the customer to set up between 11am and Midday as they were having other activities during the day (It's a Knockout, Giant Sumos, Pugle Stick, Obstacle Course etc). It looked great when I arrived an hour early almost in the middle of nowhere. There were lots of people about already.
The customer was really laid back despite only having an hours kip as he'd travelled back from Paris overnight having been there all week on business. I found out that all of the land was his and he said to me "I hope this goes well today, they don't know anything about it" (his wife and her friend whose birthdays it was). He also told me that the whole thing had cost somewhere in the region of £13,000....(no pressure then!).

Well, access was easy. A quick unzip of the side of the marquee, back the van right up and then unload the equipment. I took the subs too and was set up within 30 minutes and ready to soundcheck. I have to say that first of all I was a bit apprehensive when I saw that I would be running all of my equipment off a 20m extension lead that had 2 sockets on it. I'd asked in advance about power and was told that it was a generator. Not knowing loads about generators I just took it for granted that it would be cool.
I was wrong!
After informing the customer I was about to soundcheck I went back to the set up, turned everything on and pressed play on the Denon - Nothing came out!!?
I checked the cables (I had brand new ones because I'd replaced a load of stuff last week), and all was ok. It was hot in the marquee already and I was sweating like a sweaty thing. I couldn't understand what the problem was especially as it had all worked the night before.
I could see the customer and a couple of others waiting for the sound to come out and I called them over, told them I wasn't getting anything out of the system and that it was baffling me. I plugged my headphones in and could just about hear the song (Blue Monday) so I thought it was my headphones. I got out the spare set and tried them and it was the same so I thought "Oh ****, my mixer has died!"

Told the customer that it could be the mixer and noticed one of the guys shaking his head (which didn't help me at the time but all will become clear shortly). I told him not to worry as I had another 2 mixers in the van. Tried both of them and still nothing. I couldn't believe it, surely not all 3 mixers were knackered? I told the customer that I had another one at home so I would go back and get it. Drove the 12 miles back home and after getting stuck in Saturday afternoon shopping traffic, enduring road works and lots of traffic lights going red went I didn't want them too, I eventually got the other mixer and got back to the venue again. It took me around an hour which was fustrating and stressful.
When I arrived back at the marquee I noticed the bloke who had been shaking his head stood near the set up.
After 2 minutes all became clear. He was an electrician and the customers best mate. He said he'd told him that the generator they were using couldn't cope with the power draw or something? Again, I know nothing about all that but apparently it was running the bar, the marquee lighting, the kitchen stuff, the inflatables and well, everything! When I plugged in all of my gear it just didn't want to know. He also mentioned something about the distance too as I was a good 400m away from where the power was.
I waited another hour until he had done his thing and got it sorted and all was well......saying that, it did trip out once during the evening and I had my fingers crossed that nothing had blown.... it hadn't.....Phew!

The night itself was awesome with lots of really good requests, lots of dancing and lots of very wobbly people. We got to 11.30pm when I was supposed to finish and the customer asked me if I could do an extra hour. We came to an arrangement and to be honest they could have gone on all night. It was a well paid booking and I had an email this morning from the guy thanking me and telling me that he has a lot of parties throughout the year on his land and he'd be booking me again. He also advised me to make arrangements to stay over as they could go on all night but he'd pay for it and wanted me to join in. I think I made some friends on Saturday.

For once I slept well and when I woke up on Sunday morning I was absolutely knackered. I don't think it was the work so much but the stressing out. Thankfully I still have 4 mixers that all work well.

So, last gig of the week and it was a wedding at a venue I had never been to before (Ufton Court). Really nice looking venue actually. I was recommended to the couple and when I met them a couple of weeks ago we got on really well. Booked from 7.00pm - 11.30pm. I arrived at 5.30pm so I had plenty of time to set up. Access was very easy, the only problem was that they were still on their first course when I arrived. The father of the Bride then did his speech and then they had the second course. Then it was the grooms speech and then they had their desserts. After that it was coffee and then finally the best man's speech so I eventually got access at 7.15pm.
The reason it took so long was because there were a lot of french people there too so all of the speeches were being translated too.....nightmare! (but different and it's good to be different isn't it).

I had to make my way through people with the equipment. They were all told to vacate the barn but not one person took any notice so once I had got around everyone and got all of the equipment in place I was once again a sweaty mess. I was setting up as people watched me and I have always hated that. Although the Bride & Groom couldn't apologise enough for the delay, I felt I was under pressure to get it all done as quickly as possible. I was ready to go at 8.00pm.

We binned the background music and I announced the cutting of the cake. I asked if they wanted any music whilst they were doing it but they said to keep it quiet.
Announced the first dance and from then on it was non stop dancing right through until the end of the night. I played some scottish stuff as requested (Dashing White Sargeant, Gay Gordons and Strip the Willow) and the mother of the groom showed everyone what to do. There was a mix of Rock, Chart and lots of cheese and it all went down really well.

I liked the venue. Staff were really pleasant and helpful. It had quite a high roof and the side doors were open all night. I felt like I was on my limits volume wise. I had the speakers spread right out and found myself going out front to check the volume. It sounded awesome but I don't like pushing stuff. My mixer was on 3/4 and not clipping but I'd like to think that I don't need to constantly check to see if the subs are clipping. I was tweaking the EQ on the mixer quite a lot taking out some of the bass and I had to take a lot of bass out of the mic EQ to get rid of the deep hum. Something I will get used to in the end I guess.

Sorry for the long post.
Couldn't get on here yesterday or today until about 3 hours ago?

[Shakermaker Promotions]

Oh, looks like it's me again then eh....I'll cut it short as not to bore anyone again.

Friday - I was providing Disco Entertainment and Aqua Uplighting for a wedding at one of my residencies.
Nice young couple who booked me a couple of years ago. They met at a regular Indie/Rock/Alternative night I used to do and he actually proposed at one of the nights.
So, the playlist was very alternative with scatterings of 80s.
Played a lot of the more 'regular' stuff in the first couple of hours to try and please everyone as some of the alternative requests were edging more on the punkier side.
I had a massive request list and an even bigger 'Do Not Play' list.

First Dance was The Get Up Kids - I'll Catch You
Second Dance was Kenny Loggins - Footloose
Last Song Of The Night - Less Than Jake - Most Of My Friends Are Metalheads

It was a really good night. Dancing from start to finish and a really good atmosphere with lots of people coming up to say hello who I hadn't seen for ages.
I always feel slightly embarrassed when the Bride & Groom ask for the microphone at the end of the night and I get everyone's attention and hand it to them only for them to say "Let's have a round of applause for the DJ" because I think it looks like I am trying to big myself up.

This one could have gone on all night if I'd let it and the hotel didn't have a strict midnight finish.
Really good one.

Saturday I was providing a Race Night at the new venue I've mentioned a couple of times. The place was packed and everyone commented on how enjoyable it was. Lots of money raised for a local charity. It was a really easy set up. I took along my usual set up for a race night (playout system, laptop, combo amp, projector and screen and race night stuff) but in the end went through the venues sound system and projector so that saved time.
They've booked another one for the new year already as they enjoyed it that much.

[Excalibur]

Well can't have Gary feeling lonely, can we? Here's one from me then.

To misquote the Four Seasons- " October '14, oh what a night ".
Golf club 50th birthday party for a lovely lady, and as described elsewhere, negotiated another booking en route. As per usual in golf clubs, it was on the first floor, but with it being in Sheffield, and built into a big hill, amazingly it was a level load in from the car park to the room. Whoopee, a golf club, and no stairs/lift. One for the diary.

After this, it was good news, bad news. Good access to the room, but I was in with the buffet in the dining room, adjacent to, but totally separate from the bar. Thus, for the first two hours, it was in my nroom, cos they could neither see or hear me from the bar. The buffet didn't really bring them in very fast either. ( Smelt lovely too, beef curry. Did I get offered any? No. )

Then things started to get interesting. Was booked from 8-12, and it was 10pm when suddenly, everyone woke up. I'd been asked to do karaoke " in case a couple of my friends wanted to sing the odd song, but it wasn't to be the main focus of the evening". Yeah right.
Birthday girl and her mate kicked off with a couple of great ones, including their favourite karaoke tune. They couldn't believe that I'd never had a request for Fleetwood Mac-The Chain before. That was it, the blue touchpaper was lit.

Now the night got interesting. Because I knew it would be a small venue, because I wanted to try the MC2000, and because it was suited to the job, I didn't run the big karaoke mixer. The cunning plan was to run the VMS for karaoke, cos that laptop is newer, and has better graphics. Also, I could run two mics from it for karaoke, and use the one on the MC2000 for myself. This meant I would play music from the 2000, which would be a good chance to get to grips with it. I very nearly did, too. The fouled up in every possible way except catching fire. That might have been the best outcome.

It froze twice mid track, disconnected itself from the laptop numerous times, and was generally in the running for the biggest waste of my money ever. And the VMS? Bulletproof and reliable as ever. How I wish I'd got another one, instead of this piece of ( insert derogatory term of choice here. ) Blimey, my DJ2GO is a thousand times more reliable. And £150 cheaper.

I ended up running the whole show from the VMS, Karaoke one side, music the other. Very hectic. And of course, time became an issue. The venue had indicated that last orders would be called at 11pm, and music off at midnight prompt. 11.50pm, and we're rocking, requests galore, including many karaoke. The birthday girl asked if I would play over. I replied I had no problem with that, but I was sure the venue would forbid it, especially since they weren't making money from a closed bar.

And with the inexplicable logic of venues everywhere, they said yes to another half hour! So I ran for thirty more action packed minutes, and got a large tip, and a round of applause. And later, a tour of the one way system in Sheffield city centre.

So, Monday morning morning is likely to see me having a " full and frank" discussion of the Denon's qualities with the dealer.

[Daryll]

Oh dear..............

without going into details , mainly because I am still in shock..

Birthday party , far too much drinking , very little dancing , a fight and a stabbing.
Had a police escort out of the building , as it happens I was packed up and waiting to go , two flights of stairs as well .
Guess it was my turn for a bad night , what could go wrong with a family 50th birthday...........................yea right.
spending the day going through my gear , it was "placed" in the van in a hurry...

Cheers

Daryll

[musicology]

Unlucky mate

[Pe7e]

You have my sympathies, like most on here I've seen a lot of heavy drinking, many family feuds with a few fights kicking off and the Police being called, but never a stabbing.

[Shakermaker Promotions]

Sorry to hear that Daryll and hope you and your equipment is ok.

[Daryll]

Plenty of tape to remove from cables........everything else checks out OK

cheers

Daryll

[Excalibur]

Sorry to hear that Daryll and hope you and your equipment is ok.

Echoed. Perhaps mine doesn't seem so bad after all now.

Last night, a sort of staff/multiple birthday party. This was the one where they cancelled the first guy. In some respects, I wish they'd kept him. Tiniest car park I've ever seen, double and triple decked, a good game of " musical cars " till the folk using it as all day parking had clocked off for the weekend. Ext ernal fire escape to get in, access not awful, but less than ideal. Set up as suggested, and as soon as we started, guests moved tables and chairs, which meant I was in the wrong place. Not the best of nights, high points were getting paid early on, and picking up a dinner dance in a fortnight's tome from this one. Hope tonight is better, a WMC in the West Riding. If I'm not back by Wednesday, send a search party.

Actually, I'll have to make it home tonight, I think I'm transport and tech ops for Twinspin tomorrow, kids party, games and karaoke. Remind me again, I do this job cos I enjoy it, right?