I'd probably have headed this post with the French for- " The more things change".
And the bit which is usually not written, but taken as read- " The more they stay the same".
Same place, same room, different crowd, slightly different age range ( this was more promising with more older folks ) and a slightly different reception, but with some good old favourites appearing. Yes, the " drinks on the dancefloor " lads, giving my dicky ticker a workout as they hurtle round, waving them in the air, then come behind the booth for requests, holding them over all the kit.
There's a funny twist to that.
One problem sometimes at this hotel, and doubtless others like them, is the 1am finish. Often, there's a noticeable exodus at midnight, as taxis arrive, and only the diehard party animals/seasoned drinkers/drunken louts remain. What was formerly a nice friendly atmosphere becomes a platform for the noisy Herbert who wants only his music. ( Although, to be fair after asking for R&B all night, his last request was Cha Cha Slide)!
Were it not for the antics of him and his mates, I'd have had to rate last night a solid 8/10, easy. No problem. Takes all the fun away being poised to " repel boarders " in case they come crashing into the kit.
After looking like it was destined to die before midnight, suddenly they all get a second wind, and the floor's rammed to Wonderwall at 1am.
The funny bit? I warned them many times about drinks on the dancefloor, and we got to the end without any spillage at all. Can you believe that every time I said this, I could hear Boos from one corner of the room?
Anyway, lights are up, floor's empty, I'm packing up ( even though one guest wanted me to go and be David Bailey for a group photo! No mate, I'm busy).
Our hero is wandering about with a drink in his hand still, and what does he do? Only spills it on the dancefloor!
His mates point that I'd been warning him about it all night long, to their great amusement.
When I've recovered, and swapped some kit, I'm off to the seaside for a group of Filipino cleaning staff party. Bit different. ( And still the same. Cha Cha Slide's on the list, as well as Gangnam, Macarena and Dancing Queen).