Good Gig, Bad Gig.

[Shakermaker Promotions]

Cracking night for me too. I was back at my local this year after a 2 year absence due to me being contracted by one of my residencies. They had decided not to have a New Years Eve party this year so I was kind of glad because it's always a great night at my local. I've done it for the past 10 years.
The theme was cheese and labelled "The Cheesiest New Years Eve Party in the world.....ever" and fancy dress was optional. I dressed up as my alias 'DJ Stilton'.
A long set too (8.00pm - 02.00am) and for around the first hour the place was quiet. I guessed that it was because it was a long night with the extended opening hours.

Around 9.30pm it started packing out and by 10.30pm it was absolutely rammed. I had my iPad connected to my projector with the New Years Countdown app showing on the wall behind me. The atmosphere was great and some of the requests coming in were hilarious. Everyone got in to the theme and watching Punks, Metal Heads and Indie Kids doing the Macarena was a sight to see. It's been the case in the past that once Big Ben has done it's thing and we've entered the new year, the punters start making their way home and the place empties out a bit around 12.30am but it wasn't the case at all last night. They were full on until 02.00am. It was a really easy night. I left my equipment set up so need to go back tomorrow to pack it down. This meant I could join in the celebrations and I had a couple of bottles of champagne on ice behind the decks which I made last me all night. Very nice.

Stayed behind and chatted for a while with the staff and had another drink and walked home. Got in around 3.30am and got to bed at just after 5.00am. Woke up at 11.30am and am still trying to get rid of this fuzzy head.
Happy New Year!

**Forgot to mention - A guy came up to me at around 11.30pm and asked if he could use the mic to propose to his girlfriend after Midnight. We did the countdown and auld lang syne and then New Years Day by U2 and then I grabbed everybody's attention and let him do his thing. She said yes and everyone clapped and cheered. I then played 'Grow Old With You' from The Wedding Singer for them**

[Daryll]

good one for me.

Midhurst club . always seem to do this, and they have booked me for the foreseeable future.
Good crowd , mind you from 7:30 until 9:00 I have seen less kids at a children`s party....
Great atmosphere with dancing all night , 12:30 finish and home for 1:15, cant say fairer than that.
Some of the play list came from a very old thread on here, loads of requests as well, TBH I could have played anything and someone would have danced.
But thaty`s NYE , and IMHO the easiest night for a DJ, on a bad note , next booked gig is in May , but last year was the same , and that was a cracking year.


Alan Silvestri Robot Romp 12/31/14 6:46 PM ( sound check)
Blondie Heart Of Glass 12/31/14 7:32 PM

PMIdina Menzel Let It Go 12/31/14 7:36 PM
One Direction What Makes You Beautiful 12/31/14 7:40 PM
Zedd Feat Hayley Williams Stay The Night 12/31/14 7:43 PM
Bastille Pompeii 12/31/14 7:46 PM
Bob the Builder Big Fish Little Fish 12/31/14 7:50 PM
Olly Murs Feat Flo Rida Troublemaker 12/31/14 7:53 PM
One Direction Live While We're Young 12/31/14 7:56 PM
Naughty Boy Feat Sam Smith La La La 12/31/14 8:00 PM
Taylor Swift I Knew You Were Trouble 12/31/14 8:03 PM
Michael Jackson Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' 12/31/14 8:10 PM
Swedish House Mafia Feat John Martin Don't You Worry Child (Radio Edit) 12/31/14 8:14 PM
Baby D Let Me Be Your Fantasy 12/31/14 8:17
Whitney Houston How Will I Know 12/31/14 8:22 PM
Shalamar A Night to Remember 12/31/14 8:26 PM
Billy Idol Mony Mony 12/31/14 8:28 PM
Jackie Wilson (Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher And Higher 12/31/14 8:33 PM
The Foundations Build Me Up Buttercup 12/31/14 8:36 PM
Martha & The Vandellas Jimmy Mack 12/31/14 8:38 PM
Four Tops It's The Same Old Song 12/31/14 8:41 PM
Diana Ross & The Supremes Baby Love 12/31/14 8:44 PM
Candi staton Young hearts run free 12/31/14 8:46 PM
Wham Wake Me Up Before You Go Go 12/31/14 8:51 PM
Lionel Richie Dancing On The Ceiling 12/31/14 8:55 PM
Kenny Loggins Footloose 12/31/14 8:59 PM
Geri Halliwell It's Raining Men 12/31/14 9:03 PM
Atomic Kitten ft. Kool and The Gang Ladies Night 12/31/14 9:06 PM
Rose Royce Car Wash 12/31/14 9:09 PM
Lady Gaga & Beyoncé Telephone 12/31/14 9:12 PM
Jaki Graham Step Right Up 12/31/14 9:16 PM
Michael Jackson Billie Jean 12/31/14 9:19 PM
Bee Gees Stayin' Alive 12/31/14 9:24 PM
Pattrice Rushen Forget Me Nots 12/31/14 9:29 PM
Shakatak Down On The Street 12/31/14 9:32 PM
Mamma_Mia Mamma Mia (Meryl Streep) 12/31/14 9:35 PM
Four Seasons December, 1963 (Oh, What A Night) 12/31/14 9:38 PM
Gloria Gaynor I Will Survive 12/31/14 9:42 PM
Robbie Williams Let Me Entertain You 12/31/14 9:45 PM
Taylor Swift Shake It Off 12/31/14 9:48 PM
Nolans I'm In The Mood For Dancing 12/31/14 9:52 PM
Mamma_Mia Dancing Queen (Meryl Str 12/31/14 9:55 PM
Azzurra Music Ymca 12/31/14 10:01 PM
Bucks Fizz Making Your Mind Up 12/31/14 10:04 PM
Little Nell Time Warp 12/31/14 10:07 PM
Mud Tiger Feet 12/31/14 10:10 PM
Ferrer La bamba 12/31/14 10:14 PM
Los Del Mar Macarena 12/31/14 10:17 PM
DJ Casper Cha Cha Slide 12/31/14 10:21 PM
Tony Christie Is This The Way To Amarillo 12/31/14 10:25 PM
Steps 5,6,7,8 12/31/14 10:28 PM
Sham Rock Tell Me Ma 12/31/14 10:31 PM
Queen We Will Rock You 12/31/14 10:34 PM
Bon Jovi Livin' On A Prayer 12/31/14 10:37 PM
Bryan Adams Summer of '69 12/31/14 10:40 PM
Status Quo Caroline 12/31/14 10:44 PM
Rolling Stones Brown Sugar 12/31/14 10:47 PM
Blues Brothers everybody 12/31/14 10:51 PM
Phil Collins You Cant Hurry Love 12/31/14 10:54 PM
Smokey Robinson & The Miracles The Tears Of A Clown 12/31/14 10:57 PM
Martha Reeves & The Vandellas Dancing In The Street 12/31/14 11:00 PM
Tina Turner Proud Mary 12/31/14 11:02 PM
Idina Menzel Let It Go 12/31/14 11:08 PM
Avicii Levels 12/31/14 11:12 PM
Nicki Minaj Starships 12/31/14 11:15 PM
Rihanna Feat. Calvin Harris We Found Love 12/31/14 11:18 PM
Pitbull Feat Ke$ha Timber 12/31/14 11:22 PM
Pharrell Williams Happy 12/31/14 11:25 PM
Robin Thicke Feat T.I. & Pharrell Blurred Lines 12/31/14 11:29 PM
Technotronic Pump Up The Jam 12/31/14 11:33 PM
Jason Derulo Trumpets 12/31/14 11:41 PM
Meghan Trainor All About That Bass 12/31/14 11:44 PM
Jermaine Stewart We Don't Have To Take Our Clothes Off 12/31/14 11:47 PM
B-52's Love Shack 12/31/14 11:51 PM
Daz New Years Eve 12/31/14 11:54 PM (Final countdown , Big Ben Chimes , auld land sign,Scotland the rave, 500 miles mix)
Kool & The Gang Celebration 01/01/2015 00:08
Chic Le Freak 01/01/2015 00:11
Human Legue Don't You Want Me 01/01/2015 00:15
Kylie Minogue Spinning Around 01/01/2015 00:18
Jason Donovan Too Many Broken Hearts 01/01/2015 00:22
Ray Parker Jr. Ghostbusters 01/01/2015 00:25
Jeff Beck Hi Ho Silver Lining 01/01/2015 00:30

Daryll

[little al]

good one for me.

Midhurst club . always seem to do this, and they have booked me for the foreseeable future.
Good crowd , mind you from 7:30 until 9:00 I have seen less kids at a children`s party....
Great atmosphere with dancing all night , 12:30 finish and home for 1:15, cant say fairer than that.
Some of the play list came from a very old thread on here, loads of requests as well, TBH I could have played anything and someone would have danced.
But thaty`s NYE , and IMHO the easiest night for a DJ, on a bad note , next booked gig is in May , but last year was the same , and that was a cracking year.


Alan Silvestri Robot Romp 12/31/14 6:46 PM ( sound check)
Blondie Heart Of Glass 12/31/14 7:32 PM

PMIdina Menzel Let It Go 12/31/14 7:36 PM
One Direction What Makes You Beautiful 12/31/14 7:40 PM
Zedd Feat Hayley Williams Stay The Night 12/31/14 7:43 PM
Bastille Pompeii 12/31/14 7:46 PM
Bob the Builder Big Fish Little Fish 12/31/14 7:50 PM
Olly Murs Feat Flo Rida Troublemaker 12/31/14 7:53 PM
One Direction Live While We're Young 12/31/14 7:56 PM
Naughty Boy Feat Sam Smith La La La 12/31/14 8:00 PM
Taylor Swift I Knew You Were Trouble 12/31/14 8:03 PM
Michael Jackson Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' 12/31/14 8:10 PM
Swedish House Mafia Feat John Martin Don't You Worry Child (Radio Edit) 12/31/14 8:14 PM
Baby D Let Me Be Your Fantasy 12/31/14 8:17
Whitney Houston How Will I Know 12/31/14 8:22 PM
Shalamar A Night to Remember 12/31/14 8:26 PM
Billy Idol Mony Mony 12/31/14 8:28 PM
Jackie Wilson (Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher And Higher 12/31/14 8:33 PM
The Foundations Build Me Up Buttercup 12/31/14 8:36 PM
Martha & The Vandellas Jimmy Mack 12/31/14 8:38 PM
Four Tops It's The Same Old Song 12/31/14 8:41 PM
Diana Ross & The Supremes Baby Love 12/31/14 8:44 PM
Candi staton Young hearts run free 12/31/14 8:46 PM
Wham Wake Me Up Before You Go Go 12/31/14 8:51 PM
Lionel Richie Dancing On The Ceiling 12/31/14 8:55 PM
Kenny Loggins Footloose 12/31/14 8:59 PM
Geri Halliwell It's Raining Men 12/31/14 9:03 PM
Atomic Kitten ft. Kool and The Gang Ladies Night 12/31/14 9:06 PM
Rose Royce Car Wash 12/31/14 9:09 PM
Lady Gaga & Beyoncé Telephone 12/31/14 9:12 PM
Jaki Graham Step Right Up 12/31/14 9:16 PM
Michael Jackson Billie Jean 12/31/14 9:19 PM
Bee Gees Stayin' Alive 12/31/14 9:24 PM
Pattrice Rushen Forget Me Nots 12/31/14 9:29 PM
Shakatak Down On The Street 12/31/14 9:32 PM
Mamma_Mia Mamma Mia (Meryl Streep) 12/31/14 9:35 PM
Four Seasons December, 1963 (Oh, What A Night) 12/31/14 9:38 PM
Gloria Gaynor I Will Survive 12/31/14 9:42 PM
Robbie Williams Let Me Entertain You 12/31/14 9:45 PM
Taylor Swift Shake It Off 12/31/14 9:48 PM
Nolans I'm In The Mood For Dancing 12/31/14 9:52 PM
Mamma_Mia Dancing Queen (Meryl Str 12/31/14 9:55 PM
Azzurra Music Ymca 12/31/14 10:01 PM
Bucks Fizz Making Your Mind Up 12/31/14 10:04 PM
Little Nell Time Warp 12/31/14 10:07 PM
Mud Tiger Feet 12/31/14 10:10 PM
Ferrer La bamba 12/31/14 10:14 PM
Los Del Mar Macarena 12/31/14 10:17 PM
DJ Casper Cha Cha Slide 12/31/14 10:21 PM
Tony Christie Is This The Way To Amarillo 12/31/14 10:25 PM
Steps 5,6,7,8 12/31/14 10:28 PM
Sham Rock Tell Me Ma 12/31/14 10:31 PM
Queen We Will Rock You 12/31/14 10:34 PM
Bon Jovi Livin' On A Prayer 12/31/14 10:37 PM
Bryan Adams Summer of '69 12/31/14 10:40 PM
Status Quo Caroline 12/31/14 10:44 PM
Rolling Stones Brown Sugar 12/31/14 10:47 PM
Blues Brothers everybody 12/31/14 10:51 PM
Phil Collins You Cant Hurry Love 12/31/14 10:54 PM
Smokey Robinson & The Miracles The Tears Of A Clown 12/31/14 10:57 PM
Martha Reeves & The Vandellas Dancing In The Street 12/31/14 11:00 PM
Tina Turner Proud Mary 12/31/14 11:02 PM
Idina Menzel Let It Go 12/31/14 11:08 PM
Avicii Levels 12/31/14 11:12 PM
Nicki Minaj Starships 12/31/14 11:15 PM
Rihanna Feat. Calvin Harris We Found Love 12/31/14 11:18 PM
Pitbull Feat Ke$ha Timber 12/31/14 11:22 PM
Pharrell Williams Happy 12/31/14 11:25 PM
Robin Thicke Feat T.I. & Pharrell Blurred Lines 12/31/14 11:29 PM
Technotronic Pump Up The Jam 12/31/14 11:33 PM
Jason Derulo Trumpets 12/31/14 11:41 PM
Meghan Trainor All About That Bass 12/31/14 11:44 PM
Jermaine Stewart We Don't Have To Take Our Clothes Off 12/31/14 11:47 PM
B-52's Love Shack 12/31/14 11:51 PM
Daz New Years Eve 12/31/14 11:54 PM (Final countdown , Big Ben Chimes , auld land sign,Scotland the rave, 500 miles mix)
Kool & The Gang Celebration 01/01/2015 00:08
Chic Le Freak 01/01/2015 00:11
Human Legue Don't You Want Me 01/01/2015 00:15
Kylie Minogue Spinning Around 01/01/2015 00:18
Jason Donovan Too Many Broken Hearts 01/01/2015 00:22
Ray Parker Jr. Ghostbusters 01/01/2015 00:25
Jeff Beck Hi Ho Silver Lining 01/01/2015 00:30

Daryll

Some great tunes in there, I had forgotton all about Jaki Graham, need to dig her out for tonights gig. Out of interest, why do you play the Mama Mia soundtrack rather than the Abba originals?

[Imagine]

I tend to use the soundtrack version of Mamma Mia as well - just my personal preference as it sounds a little more punchy

[Daryll]

I tend to use the soundtrack version of Mamma Mia as well - just my personal preference as it sounds a little more punchy

Exactly why I play them, so far no one has requested the ABBA originals, and punchy is a great way to describe them.

Cheers

Daryll

[Excalibur]

And lo, it came to pass that the words of the prophet did take place. And also, the course of action suggested by a certain Scottish member will be followed next year. ( there you go Shaun, the year's a day old, and i'm agreeing with you. )

I'll update the events in the other thread, suffice to say that it was a grim night. shortage of bodies, shortage of interest, and generally a subdued evening. Had it not been for a table of six who spent the whole night with us, and kept the requests coming, I would have totally lost the will to live. We were soundly beaten by a venue offering a free buffet, and no disco. Seems it was the only busy one in the village. Our normal competitor seems to have cancelled their disco for NYE, perhaps after disappointing Xmas Eve/Boxing Day gigs, I don't know.
Funnily enough, their failure seems to hurt us, as the tendency has been for punters to visit us early on, and when we finish, nip across the road to the other venue, who have a markedly later closing time. Ah well.

[fullcontact68]

What a disaster NYE was. Probably my worst night ever.

Was at a WMC where I've had quite a few good evenings working there before.

I was booked 8PM - 1AM, with last orders at 12:30.

Was really looking forward to it.....

Started of really slow, only a hand full of people, time progressed, the numbers only slowly increased, max was about 40.

Two main age groups, the young adult, and the older generation.

The young were simply there to "tank up" before going down town, they vanished 10:30ish, leaving around 20 older people, who were only really chatting to each other, did not matter what I played, or what I said on the microphone, they just were not interested.

Come 11PM, only a few people left, staff decided to shut the bar at 11:30. I was packing up by 11:45.

Spoke to the staff, they could not believe how poor a night it was, the staff were happy with the music, and could not understand why it had been like it had. They said xmas eve was about the same too.

Personally, I did not enjoy the evening at all, it's amazing how slow time goes sometimes, and how much a poor night knocks you back.

[Paul Palmer Ents]

I had a gig like that on NYE 2013, function room of my local social club which can hold over 160 people but there were only 25 people In there all night, I could have packed up and gone home by 10:30, I had also brought some friends with me as I said it would be a great night as I have played there many times before but they left at 9:30, I was embarrassed and ashamed and felt I had failed the night, I got paid all the same but needless to say its the worst NYE I have ever done and probably the worst gig I have ever done in 22 years of doing this wonderful job.

[fullcontact68]

I was embarrassed and ashamed and felt I had failed the night

Exactly the same as I felt. The staff said I was not to blame, but you still feel it all the same.

Really hope my next event is a cracker.

[Excalibur]

Relatively good weekend. Friday night saw me in Davesounds territory, for a 40th Birthday. Six miles from his house, and one mile from where he was doing some PAT testing that night! The lad popped in for a look, and had a play with the HDMIX ( more on that later ) and was impressed with the performance of the latest addition to my gowing collection of computing equipment.

Other than Dave's visit, it seemed a fairly grim night to me, little interaction from the floor, zero dancing till fifteen minutes to go, and half a dozen karaoke singers in the last hour or so. Imagine my surprise, when the client flung her arms round me, gave me a big hug, and said how great I'd been, and she would recommend me to anyone!

Saturday should have been a doddle. 13th Birthday in a local village hall. I've played there before, and know to drive the van down the track at the side of the hall to the doors. That leaves it between the hall and the footpath, next to the main road, under a big streetlight. I was early, and ten minutes later, a car with the caretaker and his wife pulled in. So, I wandered round, and greeted them with a cheery " Ah yes, that's what I like to see, the person with the keys. " The response was a stony silence, and a stare that would have curdled milk! Oh great. I then had to explain that this idiot is stood in front of them because he'd like to put his disco in the hall for this evening's party. His mood softened to just above glacial, and he responded with " Ah. I was surprised because I didn't see a vehicle ". Blimey, there's a bloody great van under a streetlight at the very fron to the building! ( Anyone who remembers that I said it was at the side earlier, well it's one of those halls where the side of the building faces the road. Thus, the side is effectively at the front )

So, once Mr Happy had let me in, I was asked if I wanted to use the stage, which at this point was curtained off. Due to the height of the stage, the fact that the stairs up to it were cordoned off, and the kit I'd brought, I said the floor would be absolutely fine, thank you. Seems the stage was being used as storage for the revamp the venue was undergoing, so space there would have been limited to say the least.

Anyhow, I got the kit I wanted in, and intended to give the recently acquired HDMIX a good run out, as a two hour gig with a big playlist was ideal for that. When I fired it up, it refused to see anything plugged into the USB port, and since the internal HD is presently blank, it wasn't a great lot of use. Grr. More fault finding to do. Hey ho.