Good Gig, Bad Gig.

[Nakatomi]

This is REALLY starting to boil my wee with residencies at the moment - to the extent this past week I have handed back 2 bookings to residencies as I know they are going to be demanding, yet less than 2 weeks to go and not a sign of any information at all.

What gets me is that 3 event coordinators ago we agreed that there'd be no more of this middleman stuff & clients would be directed to enquire with me directly rather than book through the venue. The previous coordinator but one 'forgot'. The problem isn't so much that customers are demanding - far from it - most are so laid back they're almost horizontal. The sum total of my remit for last night was "wedding music: all the classics, and some 90s & 00s". And fair play - everything went down a storm. The only rub really was the stress I had sourcing the first dance tune. Ah the joys of having to cancel cards just before a bank holiday weekend eh

[Imagine]

After a nice quiet August (funny enough, tonight's togger has had the same sort of month), it was back to work in a venue that's actually been on my black list since the last time I worked there due to access problems.

I took this one on having been told things had been put in place to make access easier and oh boy....it's back on the nice-list again now....an absolute piece of cake to get into.

The venue has an 11pm noise curfew, so I agreed to start an hour earlier and entertain the kiddies....all 12 of them. An hour of Captain Chaos up to his shenanigans went down really well with even parents getting involved. After such a lean year on the kids party front, it was a welcome return to acting like a complete fool

So, cake cutting and first dance done and dusted, the dance floor cleared. Oh joy! It's going to be one of those Monday nights
I shouldn't have worried...a trip into R&B/rap land soon brought them up until buffet time (pizza served outside....goodbye dance floor )

Eventually rebuilt for the last 90 minutes and it never emptied. Everything from cheese to a few of the "lad choons"...the last bit was awesome.
Even betterer, the improved access meant I was packed away and in the van 30 minutes after the last song of the night faded away.

Happy with that one

[Excalibur]

Life here has been so hectic that I haven't been able to keep you up to date, so here goes.
Sunday: Wedding Anniversary covering for Mr Western, sunning himself in Greece. Six hours of 80's music was the cunning plan, I made it to five and a half before sanity prevailed, and a halt was called. It's tricky to keep it going when you can't fill the first couple of hours with the less dancefloor friendly stuff, and you use up some big tracks early on. Shortage of bodies as the evening went on didn't help, but client and guests were lovely, and thanked me for a job well done.

Thursday: Wedding at a venue I've not visited before, but I'd love to return. Decent access, lovely staff and not too far from home. This one started for guests at 11am, I got the kit in at 9am and went home for a snooze. Returned at 4pm, and already guests were flagging, especially as many had small children. Really laid back couple, ever so considerate for the wellbeing of their DJ, who was taken care of superbly. I seem to be having a run of functions where I'm fed and watered. Long may it continue.

Friday: The social event of the year!! John Brown's 40th birthday bash!

The lad inadvertently did me a huge favour by warning me of a train strike, in case it affected my travel plans. Well it did, and it didn't. I had bought a return ticket at a quite frankly unbelievable price. It's normally an arm and a leg, but this return ticket was a whole fiver! There were strings attached, but they worked in my favour. When I checked more closely, my tickets were valid only for HULL TRAINS. And who were the only train company operating as normal Friday and Saturday? Hull Trains.
If John hadn't told me about the strike, I might have tried to use my tickets on another network, and got a nasty and expensive surprise.

OK, so I got into Hull at dinner time, and went straight into the nearby Wetherspoons for a repast. I then set off to trudge across Hull towards my hotel, pausing briefly as I passed another 'spoons, where I had a Plum Porter, to keep my strength up. I checked in to my hotel, had a little rest, and then headed across to the party venue, to meet up with John Boy. The wheels fell off a bit at this point, as we ended up in another pub with no real ale or Craft Beer, but I soon rectified that by heading off to a newly found watering hole, which was magnificent. If I'd realised, I could have gone there first, but hey ho.

John had booked a splendid band, Rapture, and got a colleague to do the disco. I amused myself by pulling out every line we've grown to know and love over the years, " Gis a go, I'm a DJ, play Metallica- Enter Sandman- it will fill the floor, play my song next, I'm going in five minutes", and every other one we could think of. Steve did a magnificent job, under stressful conditions in a cramped space, well done that man.

The evening was great, I met some faces I hadn't seen for years, had a small sherry or two, and went back to bed in my hotel before midnight. Caught a bus back to the station this morning, got the train home, and I'm now preparing for a 21st tonight. I'm too old for this lark.

[Imagine]

That's it! I'm upping sticks and moving to the US of A to become a DJ! You know....that place where DJs and MCs are respected for their talents, paid a proper fee it's seen as being a reputable career as opposed to a hobby.

So, it's nearly 2am on Tuesday morning. Adrenaline is still coursing through my veins despite copious amounts of Pinot Grigio working hard to make me dozy enough for slumber (and failing).

I'd been looking forward to this one for a long time. A lovely American couple who'd officially wed last year in a small ceremony back home, but having moved to the UK decided to celebrate with all the bells and whistles in my favourite venue. And yes, around 100 guests had flown in from the US of A to be with them. From experience, when this happens they're dedicated to the cause and will party hard!

Flippin' 'eck, the togger was even one of my ex colleagues from the days of driving avocado's and Prosecco around the Fens during "you know what" (and it was good to catch up with him)

I've done a LOT of American weddings in the past and they've ALWAYS exceeded expectations. I've even done them where the guests have landed at Heathrow on the morning of the wedding and carried on as if it was an everyday occurrance!

It was blimmin' hot here yesterday, so I arrived nice and early, had a leisurely setup, and settled down to wait for the cake cutting and first dance whilst re-checking the 9 hour playlist the guests had provided. To be fair, there were a lot of real gems in there which are popular on their side of the pond but I'd never have even considered.

Despite the heat and the sweat flying from bodies, the dance floor was absolutely RAMMED from start to finish. We spent much of the night in clubby mode (dance music from the last 10-15 years), a little 70s disco and the smallest smidgeon of cheddar (i.e. Cha Cha Slide and Cupid Shuffle).

And unlike our normal evening receptions...there was no drunkenness! No rude or impolite guests, no silly requests. In fact one guest approached me just as I was about to launch into the penultimate song of the night to request something and when he was told no, well that was that. No arguments, no pleading....he just accepted that it wasn't going to happen and went back to dancing.

So polite and respectful!

Even more refreshing....not once was a phone thrust in my face! (why do they always have cracked and unreadable screens by the way?). I was allowed to get on and do what I do best, I was allowed to use the mic (including during a 5 minute pause in proceedings where a glass had been dropped on the dance floor and the couple insisted I turned on the house lights and turned off the music to let the venue staff clear the breakage )

Surprise tracks of the night? Shout by the Isley Brothers. Whereas we get a reaction from Lulu, they went absolutely MAD for this version. Shania went down a storm as well (it's as close to country music as I get). Even more surprising though was Come on Eileen (a request). Did Dexy's ever make it across the Atlantic? They went bonkers for it!

I was literally living off the energy of the crowd from start to finish....and it was soooo refreshing. I'm positive that the British have forgotten how to party properly now!

Midnight rolled around waaay to quickly on this one and a bus was waiting in the car park to shuttle the guests back down the A10 to Cambridge (and I'll be blowed if I haven't known the driver for a good few years!). Lots of hugs and thanks from the happy couple, and everyone disappeared. No more chants demanding the appearance of the Old Git's new friend Juan Moore either. It was the end of the night, they accepted the fact, and went.

Why can't all weddings be like this one?

Right then...one more glass of vino and I think I'm going to have to at least try to sleep. I'm going to remember this one for a very long time to come

[Zog]

That's it! I'm upping sticks and moving to the US of A to become a DJ! You know....that place where DJs and MCs are respected for their talents, paid a proper fee it's seen as being a reputable career as opposed to a hobby.

So, it's nearly 2am on Tuesday morning. Adrenaline is still coursing through my veins despite copious amounts of Pinot Grigio working hard to make me dozy enough for slumber (and failing).

I'd been looking forward to this one for a long time. A lovely American couple who'd officially wed last year in a small ceremony back home, but having moved to the UK decided to celebrate with all the bells and whistles in my favourite venue. And yes, around 100 guests had flown in from the US of A to be with them. From experience, when this happens they're dedicated to the cause and will party hard!

Flippin' 'eck, the togger was even one of my ex colleagues from the days of driving avocado's and Prosecco around the Fens during "you know what" (and it was good to catch up with him)

I've done a LOT of American weddings in the past and they've ALWAYS exceeded expectations. I've even done them where the guests have landed at Heathrow on the morning of the wedding and carried on as if it was an everyday occurrance!

It was blimmin' hot here yesterday, so I arrived nice and early, had a leisurely setup, and settled down to wait for the cake cutting and first dance whilst re-checking the 9 hour playlist the guests had provided. To be fair, there were a lot of real gems in there which are popular on their side of the pond but I'd never have even considered.

Despite the heat and the sweat flying from bodies, the dance floor was absolutely RAMMED from start to finish. We spent much of the night in clubby mode (dance music from the last 10-15 years), a little 70s disco and the smallest smidgeon of cheddar (i.e. Cha Cha Slide and Cupid Shuffle).

And unlike our normal evening receptions...there was no drunkenness! No rude or impolite guests, no silly requests. In fact one guest approached me just as I was about to launch into the penultimate song of the night to request something and when he was told no, well that was that. No arguments, no pleading....he just accepted that it wasn't going to happen and went back to dancing.

So polite and respectful!

Even more refreshing....not once was a phone thrust in my face! (why do they always have cracked and unreadable screens by the way?). I was allowed to get on and do what I do best, I was allowed to use the mic (including during a 5 minute pause in proceedings where a glass had been dropped on the dance floor and the couple insisted I turned on the house lights and turned off the music to let the venue staff clear the breakage )

Surprise tracks of the night? Shout by the Isley Brothers. Whereas we get a reaction from Lulu, they went absolutely MAD for this version. Shania went down a storm as well (it's as close to country music as I get). Even more surprising though was Come on Eileen (a request). Did Dexy's ever make it across the Atlantic? They went bonkers for it!

I was literally living off the energy of the crowd from start to finish....and it was soooo refreshing. I'm positive that the British have forgotten how to party properly now!

Midnight rolled around waaay to quickly on this one and a bus was waiting in the car park to shuttle the guests back down the A10 to Cambridge (and I'll be blowed if I haven't known the driver for a good few years!). Lots of hugs and thanks from the happy couple, and everyone disappeared. No more chants demanding the appearance of the Old Git's new friend Juan Moore either. It was the end of the night, they accepted the fact, and went.

Why can't all weddings be like this one?

Right then...one more glass of vino and I think I'm going to have to at least try to sleep. I'm going to remember this one for a very long time to come

But, and this is the question. will your presentation alter?

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q...0B4&FORM=WRVOR


Zog

[Imagine]

But, and this is the question. will your presentation alter?

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q...0B4&FORM=WRVOR


Zog

Errrr....they're cheesy radio jocks, I'm a wedding DJ and have followed the teachings of a LOT of the professional wedding DJs/MCs the other side of the pond.

a) Why should I change my presentation? They book me for who I am! I'm an English wedding DJ who happens to have a lot of knowledge of the traditions of how weddings are done over there
b) how is a video about American radio DJs relevant to anything I posted above?

[Zog]

Errrr....they're cheesy radio jocks, I'm a wedding DJ and have followed the teachings of a LOT of the professional wedding DJs/MCs the other side of the pond.

a) Why should I change my presentation? They book me for who I am! I'm an English wedding DJ who happens to have a lot of knowledge of the traditions of how weddings are done over there
b) how is a video about American radio DJs relevant to anything I posted above?

a, Well if you are moving to the U.S.A. your presentation may need to change. Or perhaps the Yanks like the English accent. Who knows? You said "That's it! I'm upping sticks and moving to the US of A to become a DJ! You know....that place where DJs and MCs are respected for their talents, paid a proper fee it's seen as being a reputable career as opposed to a hobby." You did not preclude radio work.

b, The extreme radio D.J.s of the U.S.A. are an example of fast talking, in yer face, smart, entertaining (or annoying) presenters. A contrast from our laid-back English wedding D.Js. Some of them would have been mobile disco D.Js. as well.

Zog.

[Imagine]

Yes, I appear to be on a world tour this month.

Monday was Americans, last night.....a massive contingent of Spaniards (the bride's family).

This one was a wedding after-party. They'd wed abroad a couple of weeks ago and wanted to celebrate with friends and family at home as well. I like these ones a lot....all the glitz of a wedding with none of the stress or formality

I was completely stunned by this one. Bearing in mind the mercury was bubbling at 33C when I arrived and the hall was as hot as Satan's cooker, I wasn't expecting great things. An outside hog roast, a nice green space to congregate behind the hall, and did I mention it was hot?

Kept things background-ish until they'd eaten and then opened the taps with a bit of the Jacksons. The playlist I'd been sent was actually the one that'd been used when they wed abroad but it was for guidance only. The couple gave me complete control of the musical side of things but to be fair, I played an awful lot of what was on there. The reason? A lot of Spanish/Latino stuff which I wouldn't necessarily have thunk about.

Now the bride and groom are into Salsa (that's how they met). Apparently so were a lot of the guests as well....oh goody, a rich seam to mine . Along with just a smattering of cheddary goodness, a bit of modern and even some Alt/Indie, the dance floor never cleared. Considering the heat in that hall, I was absolutely stunned with how they kept going!

So that's two this week going into the job well done column

Today, another blisteringly hot day is promised and this pillock's taken a booking as Capt. Chaos and all the high energy running around that entails....urgh.

[Excalibur]

As the headline once said. Mine last night was a wedding, for a second time around couple, who had both lost partners, and then found each other through some sort of dating app or similar. Absolutely lovely couple, who'd both had their share of sadness, especially the bride.

For reasons of logistics, I'd not met the couple beforehand, and information was in short supply. Turned out they'd had the wedding earlier in fairly formal wear, and the evening was just an informal celebration, I love those.

I had a first dance, three songs on the playlist, and the granddaughter of the bride was to sing three songs. She was totally amateur, very good, and my valuable source of information for the evening. I rigged up the monitor for her songs in case she wanted a memory jog, and fouled up song three by finding a disco version of Celine 's Titanic epic. before replacing it with the correct one. Oops. Never mind, eh, let's put it down to the heat?

Did I mention the heat? It was sweltering on my stage, the fans were running at the far end of the hall, and were providing more noise than cooling. My shirt was plastered to me, I was dousing myself in deodorant every few minutes, to little avail. Despite the majority of the guests preferring the car park, where they could see and hear me, I had many more dancers than I expected, and this one definitely went down as a win.

On the way home, I swerved round to get a milkshake at Ronald's to cool me down, and they're temporarily unavailable, according to the app. I'm never having one of his smoothies again, I tell you! They must make them with liquid nitrogen!

Next week should be fun, I'm booked from 11am to 10pm, and venue won't let me in till 4pm. They're being less than accommodating.

[Excalibur]

Next week should be fun, I'm booked from 11am to 10pm, and venue won't let me in till 4pm. They're being less than accommodating.

Emails don't always convey personality. My chats with the venue seemed to imply that the owner was less than flexible, and less than friendly. How wrong could I be? She was lovely. The main issue was that my clients had booked me to provide their desired version of a day, and it was impossible to provide it there. Would have worked elsewhere, but not there, mainly due to space issues.

So, I arrived early, set up the wonderful Prime GO, a Maui GO, and linked them with an XVIVE. Look, no wires. That already got the venue onside, as well as the visual aspect of a white Maui 5. Sadly, my efforts were fairly pointless, due to the venue layout, but it did mean that I got to chat with guests as they mingled round the bar, plus I got a Roast Beef dinner as well. Very nice, and much appreciated.

The batteries in the Prime didn't do the full four hours claimed, which doesn't amaze me, but I could get mains to top it up easily. The XVIVE made it by the skin of its teeth, but I had a second one on standby. By then we'd got to room turn round, and that was "interesting", mainly due to me trying to pinch time, and space to get set up quickly. Until I'm set up and ready, I'm just a bundle of stress. Once set up, I'm as chilled as can be.

We moved into the limbo between afternoon meal and evening disco, and finally it was time for cake cut and first dance, which we managed easily enough. With an 11am wedding, and an older bride and groom, many of the day guests left around this time, and the evening only ones arrived to fill the void. There were many very young children, and thus many other early departures. The night never really caught fire, but at the end ( half an hour early, and perfectly timed ) there were thanks and compliments from bride, groom, and many guests, so another one for the win column, even though it was hard won at times.