Good Gig, Bad Gig.

[Imagine]

12yr old party this evening....why oh why do I keep taking those ones on

Got to the hall to be told by one of the mums (for 'twas a joint party) that there's only one electrical outlet (or that's what she'd been told). Nope, there's sockets all round the place, but there's one which is painted in bright red with a big sign above it saying it's the only live socket in the building. A quick check with my test plug reveals that the other sockets are live, and nicely bypass the bright red one which is connected to my friend and yours, the SoundSentry at the other end of the hall (set I might add to just 80Db!)

Two birthday girls, 15 girls in total, all around the 12 year old mark....so a very small one. And two very different groups of kids - completely poles apart. Half of them were still kids the way they should be. They were begging for games and fun. The other half just wanted to mope at the side of the room and keep disappearing outside. It was a long couple of hours that one, but heaps of praise from the mums who could see the definite split in the guests' maturity levels and thought I'd done a damned good job (phew).

That's it now until next weekend which is going to be an exercise in keep-fit (two flights of stairs and a walk to/from a car park 1/2 a mile away once unloaded), but a Northern Soul night in Scottish fancy dress (the birthday boy's emigrating to Glasgow the week after the party,and yes, I'll be wearing a skirt!).

After this weekend, so long as people dance a little bit I'll be a very happy bunny

[Nakatomi]

A nice bank holiday Sunday wedding for me in my residency. No email, no names, no pack drill. No info full stop. Hey ho, same difference.

I'd been working on my car's brakes (stupid flippin French thing) all day at my parents' house & just finished up putting the last wheel on at 4pm - enough to get my family home by 5pm, barely enough time to grab a sandwich before setting off to the hotel to set up.

I got there & saw a woman carefully building a wedding cake in the function room. The B&G weren't going to have a cake but they changed their mind when Godmother offered to make one. It looked amazing though, considering it was layered up & built in the venue half an hour before the guests arrived.

The couple themselves it turned out, had already got married in Italy & this was their 'main' reception for everybody who couldn't make the first. Three first dances - John Legend All Of Me, Sam Smith Stay With Me & 'Father & Daughter' by Paul Simon. Gah.. slowest wifi ever when I went to buy that one.

First of all though, there was to be a best man's speech. Obviously used to microphones, he spoke expertly - his mic technique was brilliant. From there we went to the cutting of the beautiful cake (sponge, fresh whipped cream & summer fruits - NOM!) then the three special dances.

Those took us virtually all the way to the buffet & an extended background music section from me. After 40 minutes plates were looking empty & I set about trying to coax people to dance. No bites.. nothing doing... until I played Mustang Sally from the Commitments. Full floor!

From there it was another case of second guess the audience, presto changeo genre-o every couple of songs & by 10.30pm I was back in familiar territory doing the 'flow' thing. Loads of requests, I had serious doubts about most of them if I'm honest but they all absolutely stormed the floor.

We rocked, we rolled, we rock & rolled.. and then at 11.15pm a very irate mother of the groom came up & asked where her (expletive deleted) song was. Er, what song? Chaka Khan - Ain't Nobody. Oh bugger. Really? Now? Bearing in mind the floor was absolutely rammed & the energy level was officially so far off the scale it was going around the block I couldn't see any way to fit it in. I said I'd play it later. Oh boy did I ever pay for that.

"WHERE'S MY SONG?!", came the screams a later. I bit my tongue, cued it up when she came up - I said "since you asked so nicely" to her which completely defused her. I can't repeat what she'd said but it involved breaking my gear & putting it where the sun doesn't shine. A sum total of six people danced to it. Hey ho. Onto the last track - which was originally going to be Champagne Supernova (requested) until Mrs Chaka Khan shoved her oar in... on came Take That - Never Forget which I knew to be an 'anthem' among the wedding party.

Very big finish anyway,seeing the room swell to levels I hadn't even seen earlier in the night - utterly surprised the B&G by rousing another big cheer for them as hosts of the event.. and had many a hearty thanks from the guests for a 'brilliant' job. Job done.

[Benny Smyth]

Easy one tonight.

Wedding where I'll was working alongside a band. Venue put the dancefloor in a stupid place where there wasn't enough room for either of us, let alone both.

Once that was remedied, it was background music with Traktor running on auto from 7 until 9. First dance and off the band goes for their first set. I take over, band comes back on and then I close the night.

Band were awesome. I thought that I was pretty spectacular too and I worked out that I did all of 45 minutes of actual DJing. Happy birthday to me.

That's me done now for two weeks. On Tuesday, I go on my holibobs Kos and no doubt that I'll get sunburned like a prat.

[Nakatomi]

Remember the bride who emailed me asking me not to ruin her first dance? Well, it was her wedding yesterday.

I rolled up, and had just finished setting up my gear when the duty manager came over to tell me the running order of the night. Same old same old but with an addition. The bride might be making an announcement before the cake is cut. About her cancer diagnosis. It wouldn't be good news.

Ah well. Add that to the kids all running riot (staff found no less than five dead frogs under tables), a literal coach load of guests disappearing before 10pm (they'd arrived just after 7. 30) and requests from remaining guests more suited to a mausoleum than a wedding and you've got all the key ingredients of a really weird, bad night.

Can somebody please tell the over 60s it's considered polite to ASK for requests rather than just bark song titles at the dj? As in walking up, yelling "penny arcade" or "all you need is love" or "let it be" or "frozen" before walking away again. I tried engaging with them but they didn't seem willing to acknowledge they were being rude.

One younger requester said "it's a wedding not a funeral, put some chart on". "Yeah" I said to myself, "but I've been to busier, livelier funerals".

It always happens. Somebody says "it'll be great tonight, all our lot are right mad for it" and they turn out to be liars.

The bride's choices of the finest stinky cheese all fell flat. I wouldn't call two people doing the Macarena a packed floor so I must've sounded like the world's saddest dj. Playing all the big hitters as people are walking out. Ouch.

By ten to eleven the room was completely empty. Everybody left at the venue had decamped to the lounge, but could I continue to play music for them? Hmmm. It was all over by ten past.

Wouldn't want any wedding of mine to go like that.

The big reveal didn't happen by the way. Though I suspect people had been told in smaller groups. Such a shame & I seriously hope the couple have better news to deliver soon.

[funkymook]

The bride might be making an announcement before the cake is cut. About her cancer diagnosis. It wouldn't be good news.....

It always happens. Somebody says "it'll be great tonight, all our lot are right mad for it" and they turn out to be liars.

The bride's choices of the finest stinky cheese all fell flat. I wouldn't call two people doing the Macarena a packed floor so I must've sounded like the world's saddest dj. Playing all the big hitters as people are walking out. Ouch.

Just a thought, but perhaps the lack of party spirit was due to the sad news?

[Excalibur]

Got to the hall to be told by one of the mums (for 'twas a joint party) that there's only one electrical outlet (or that's what she'd been told). Nope, there's sockets all round the place, but there's one which is painted in bright red with a big sign above it saying it's the only live socket in the building. A quick check with my test plug reveals that the other sockets are live, and nicely bypass the bright red one which is connected to my friend and yours, the SoundSentry at the other end of the hall (set I might add to just 80Db!)

Mod note: We cannot condone bypassing sound limiter devices, as often the continued use as an entertainment venue is conditional on the use of them.

Just a thought, but perhaps the lack of party spirit was due to the sad news?

True, yet I've also seen it have the opposite effect. All depends on the crowd, but yes Martin, I'd say you were right on this one.

[Nakatomi]

True, yet I've also seen it have the opposite effect. All depends on the crowd, but yes Martin, I'd say you were right on this one.

I'd say so too on reflection but there's no way to be sure now.

I've seen other weddings crash & burn after the buffet on weekends nevermind midweeks - coaches booked at times I'd call unreasonably early to cart most of the party away & all kinds of things. The maudlin requests - folks who asked for them seemed really happy as they sung along & danced to them - it was a pretty strange night.

Rudeness of older (maybe 60+) guests is starting to become a bit of a pain though. I don't expect anybody to bow & scrape before they ask for a tune but can they at least be civil? Is there a good way to pull them up about it? Maybe I should just try ignoring them & they'll go away.

[funkymook]

Rudeness of older (maybe 60+) guests is starting to become a bit of a pain though. I don't expect anybody to bow & scrape before they ask for a tune but can they at least be civil? Is there a good way to pull them up about it? Maybe I should just try ignoring them & they'll go away.

Sometimes it’s due to a hearing problem with older people. Being abrupt and virtually barking orders is a big clue they’re trying to avoid anyone talking back to them and the embarrassment that can cause when they can’t hear what’s being said. And that’s in normal day to day life, let alone a disco. (My mother spent many years looking after elderly people so I have this on good authority).

I find a big smile and a thumbs up is the best response, and if they are just being rude then that has the bonus of annoying them - it’s a win either way.

[Nakatomi]

Sometimes it’s due to a hearing problem with older people. Being abrupt and virtually barking orders is a big clue they’re trying to avoid anyone talking back to them and the embarrassment that can cause when they can’t hear what’s being said. And that’s in normal day to day life, let alone a disco. (My mother spent many years looking after elderly people so I have this on good authority).

I find a big smile and a thumbs up is the best response, and if they are just being rude then that has the bonus of annoying them - it’s a win either way.

Aye good points. I hadn't considered the hearing loss angle. As for trying to pull somebody up for being rude, I should know full well where that can lead. I do like annoying rude people by being nice but it can get wearing after a while. I think I should just count my blessings they're not as bad as drunk clubbers or as frequent then.

[ukpartydj]

I had a open to the public gig on Saturday where only a handful of people showed up.

I popped traktor on auto. Wondered around chatting to the staff and the few guests, taking requests then adding them to the list. They had a fun casino which I was invited to get stuck into so my evening consisted of setting up equipment, socialising and playing Blackjack.

They finished 2 hours early which was a shame as I was really enjoying the casino haha. Possibly the most enjoyable gig I've done!