2nd weekend in August

[YourBigEvent 0]

Up to me to start this weeks topic again

 

Thursday 6pm Meeting Mikeee for a pint or two as he is down here on holiday, then off at 11pm to set up Friday evenings gig

 

Friday A wedding about 40 miles away, usual hotel, so no surprises

 

Saturday A wedding at the same hotel, hopefully leave my gear up

 

Sunday Pub Quiz

[DJ Spinko 0]

I've got a double gig weekend, Friday at the local Golf club where I'm first choice and then I'm covering for another dj in the village at another golf club.

Will advise how things went later.

[Cheezy 0]

Off tonight to do an 11th Birthday, she is seriously into RnB!!!!

 

Lots of screeming kids in 90 degree heat!!!!! Am I mad??? http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/blink.gif

 

Had a wedding reception on Saturday cancelled due to hospitalisation of the bride! http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/sad.gif

[Ian Stewart 0]

I have one of the busiest weekends of my life, all starting tonight

 

Thursday

6pm - Drp my daughter off at work

8pm - Meeting for the Youth Football team i am involved in

10pm - collect daughter from from

 

Friday

9:30am - take my son to Lechlade in Gloustershire (300 mile round trip) where he is fishing for the weekend

6pm: hope I am back intime as I am gigging in a pub in Abbey Wood

 

Saturday

3:00pm - Football season starts, so it's off to Roots Hall to see the mighty Southend Uniteds 1st game of the season

8:00pm - Residency

 

Sunday

10:00am - once again the 300 mile round trip to collect my son from his fishing trip

6:00pm - Collect my daughter from work

7:00pm - gig at a local singles club

 

 

[Eskie 0]

QUOTE

8pm - Meeting for the Youth Football team i am involved in

wow, the age limits for youth football are getting older all the time http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/tongue.gif that oil of ulay's really working then, eh Ian? http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[Ian Stewart 0]

as long as shave the goatee off i seem to get away with it.

 

no I manage Billericay U16's

 

[Cheezy 0]

The 11th Birthday, the hottest day ever! And my fan packed up!!!!

 

Great gig, in our local football club. First time though I've seen girls fighting at an 11th birthday!!!! http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/mad.gif Seen loads from 16+!!!

[ChrisPointon 0]

Wedding tonight at a large hall in Manchester City Centre, on with a band, and the B&G's playlist will make the night interesting http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/533.gif . Parking in rush hour will be a nightmare, along with 2 1/2 hour set up since they've hired the full rig, so will be leaving shortly http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/sad.gif should be back around 4AM.

 

Saturday (See my Dilemma Thread!) - I get the Neighbours Wedding Reception http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/censored.gif and the trainee whilst Richard gets the club slot.

[GaryReggae 0]

I'm doing my regular Saturday night pub slot tomorrow night...and that's about it...although I did go to a Bad Manners gig last night.

[kazzachi 0]

Nothing tonight! Cross about tomorrow... phoned my hotel to find out what time B&G were having wedding breakfast and the new conference manager had neglected to tell me that the wedding was cancelled and wasnt it nice that I had a full weekend off! Grrrrrr! No - it is not nice.. .I dont work.. I dont earn! Anyone need any gigs covering tomorrow night?

[C.S 0]

Fun Pub tonite which was great fun and Dance Club tomorrow, Lucky me, hope you guys in parking hell(manchester, London etc) didnt have too much trouble http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/rolleyes.gif

[ChrisPointon 0]

Friday's Gig was a nightmare, starting directly from reaching the Venue.

 

Arrived, there, and the staff confirmed that the only parking area was directly across the main road on the NCP. So paid my £5 parking fee, and myself and Richard began the wonderful task of carrying the entire P.A and lighting rig across the busy A34 in Rushhour, up into the Venue and then up two flights of stairs into the function room.

 

To make things worse, they had booked the larger sound & light rig, which meant more gear to carry, and the usual 2 hour set up time took nearly 3 1/2 hours http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/014.gif , and between us we must have walked miles - not recommended in this sort of heat.

 

Eventually we managed to set up, after of course finding out that the band had been given 100% of the stage and the B&G expected us to just throw the stuff in a corner of the room about 100 metres away from the power points http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/mad.gif and magically set up around everybody else. As usual the photographer, band etc were treated like royalty and the D.J's treated like ********* - anybody else find this??. Driven half mad by the intense heat, and dehydration I bit my tongue to avoid saying anything to the bride who was possibly the most patronising person i've ever met!.

 

It was an Irish Wedding with an Irish band on, and the advert for Clarkes shoes with the little kid dancing alone on a large dancefloor would give you an idea of how my first set went. I was given a few CD's and instructed...no ORDERED to play them. "We have two little girls who do Irish Dancing" - said the Bride, play the next track for them!. So we did and they danced. The problem was, that the B&G would keep coming up and mithering me to play the SAME track, so the SAME two girls could do the SAME dance every bloody 20 minutes. Now there is a point where this stops being cute and becomes annoying, and I suddenly wished that I'd remembered to bring along a pair of portable gallows so i could hang myself!.

 

Eventually the band came and along...a small irish chap with a bad attitude and breath to match, came over "Get this :cense: off and let us do our set", I had to laugh since I was playing the B&G's cd of IRISH music at the time http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/tongue.gif . The bands P.A system was dire which was fortunate since the lead vocalist was as well. We started our 2nd set early since nobody could hear the band and even the Groom (who insisted they booked the band) wasn't impressed. The bestman came over with yet another CD and instructed us to play each track in the cd order - I resigned myself to a night of pressing "next track".

 

The Irish music on the CD, was great for the first few tracks, then people got bored and the requests for R'N'B, Cheese and 70's started coming in, I informed the guests that the music that we were playing was under strict instruction of the B&G. People started moving into the Childrens Disco, where at least he was allowed to play what he wanted!.

 

I had finally had enough, and started playing what we would usually play at a Wedding, and slowly people started coming back. Within half an hour we had around 400 people on the dancefloor and luckily the B&G took the hint!. We had a storming night for the final 2 hours.

 

We finished at 1AM and started packing away - running the gauntlet of dodging flying bottles by the drunken yobs fighting in the city centre - luckily one of the doormen of the venue stopped with the van (which surprising still had all 4 wheels!) whilst we brougt the gear down.

 

Back home at 5AM, this morning I've got several very painful blisters and my back feels like I've been carrying sacks of coal and the good news?......in 5 hours i'll be doing it all again!.

[Paul Smith 0]

QUOTE

the advert for Clarkes shoes with the little kid dancing alone on a large dancefloor would give you an idea of how my first set went

So it is you on the ad then http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/laugh.gif

QUOTE

It was an Irish Wedding with an Irish band on

 

Given my location I get quite a few of these, I always regard the band as my warm up act. In fact some of the best wedding gigs I have done have had 'live' entertainment first and then the punters really enjoy and appreciate genuine music from the disco. During a recent one the best man came over and shouted to me 'Get them off they're crap'. Unfortunately for him he choose to speak at the same moment that they finished a song and the whole room heard him http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/nono.gif

 

PaulS

PS with a cancelled gig tonight I am making the most of a full weekend off. http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[Dj_Kray 0]

Well i dj'ed a club/bowling ally in andover call breakers on thursday, it was a nice set up as it had just been referbished a few weeks ago the only prob was the monitor speaker did not work and from were i was dj'ing there was a delay so it was tricky to mix well. the crowd were mainly 18 year olds and all they wanted was rnb which was fine by me so quite a good nite all in all.

 

saturday(tonight) im dj'ing a wedding over arundel the bride and groom have requested the 2 many djs album which is basically a load of bootlegs mixed by dj's i did say that not all her guests might like that sort of music but i will play it if she wants me to.

 

 

QUOTE

As usual the photographer, band etc were treated like royalty and the D.J's treated like ********* - anybody else find this??. Driven half mad by the intense heat, and dehydration I bit my tongue to avoid saying anything to the bride who was possibly the most patronising person i've ever met!.

 

I totally agree there does seem to be a growing problem with this. Its like you are the enemy and you have to spend the night winning them over, i mean we are there for them and we will normally play a really large part in there day being great yet they act like we are idiots. http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/sad.gif weddings are def the worst for this.

 

 

[Dukesy 0]

Sorry CP - I couldn't stop laughing at your night!!!!

 

I really do understand your situation. It was actually quite nice to read other DJ situations that I can relate to!!!!!

Thankfully - we don't get too many like that, eh?!

 

In respect to the comments on bad treatment to DJ's, I agree 110%. I never get treated like dirt from good paying or repeat clients - it's the people who book who have a different perception of us that annoys me. I am not a jukebox unless I am paid to be one.

I AM A PROFESSIONAL ENTERTAINER WITH MANY YEARS OF EXPERIENCE.

But to some clients - they couldn't give a monkey's.

As for CP's set-up location, when I arrive at venues and the plan or expectation is different - I remind the client that the Disco Entertainment does not have to be centre stage, true, but the DJ is the anchorman who holds the night together.

Generally - people only remember the last 1.5 to 2 hours of a gig, and, who does the entertainment folks? Us.

 

 

Friday - night off.

 

Saturday - Where do I start?

 

Well, near me, is the local DJ shop I've used for a long time. I get bulbs and the odd lead if required - but I've spent there, literally thousands over the years.

Chris - I'm looking for 2X Lasers with fx or 1 bloody good one with writing or animation ability.But I don't want to pay £3,000?! This shop I have used since 1996 is a nightmare. And it set me in good spirits (not) for the evening job.

 

Anyway - the gig for Saturday was passed on from a forum member - and I appreciate the kind offer as my previous client cancelled. Thanks for the work. If at PLASA on the Sunday, please let me thank you.

 

As a goodwill gesture, I reduced the price as the night was only 8.30pm to 11.30pm.

 

Oh boy, what a hard night. Oh boy, what a very hard night!!!!!!The guests, I can say, hand on heart, were un-interactive and un-responsive to any music genre.

No willingness, participation or interest. In fact, the couple celebrating (engagement) didn't seem to 'fit' in with the night.

You get nights like these - and it makes you want to bash heads!!!! DJ's are sometimes treated as 'low lifes' yes, but it is the profession I chose, and will continue to do until I peg it!!!! http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/095.gif

 

As I write - I can only imagine CP's night of fun for Saturday - I'm desperate to know what happened!!!!! http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/042.gif

Edited August 10, 2003 by discodirect

[The Spindoctor 0]

I don't know if its the heat or what but I also have just had the gig from hell!!

 

Golf Club nice posh do upstairs (no lift) Bride and Groom getting married at 3.30 pm so I get to venue at 1pm leaving myself plenty of time to set up as the only stipulation was to be set up and done by the time they turn up for meal at 5.30

 

After finding someone from downstairs bar to unlock function room

 

Lug all the equipment upstairs alone (Roadie is at the wedding) set up, sort out lighting all fine. Soundcheck fine UH OH why do the CD players have no information in the display windows? remove back from flight case, check leads all ok. Switch off and on again in vain hope ......... nothing.

 

Strip it out of flight case back off check diplay ribbons all ok put it back together swear, bash it a bit etc etc Put it all back ..........no change.

 

Decide I can get by without display by counting button presses to cue track up and checking EVERY time with headphones. Seems to work so off we go.

 

30 minutes into evening so about 8pm fire alarms go off!!!!

Head barmaid ranting about use of haze, had set off alarms http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/oops.gif

( I have worked this venue 3-4 times a year for last 3 years with never any problem using smoke)

Then they tell me they can't turn off this racket till Fire Brigade turn up I say "with all due respect Bo:cense:ocks, get the person in charge to turn the key in the panel and stop messing about" but he's not here they say "Well I suggest he better be here before the fire brigade or they will want to know why he has gone home with alarm panel keys"!!!!

 

FB turn up I spoke to them and they are happy it is a false call, but he says "Oh yeah they have a new system installed recently it keeps going off"!!! Then owner turns up with key and says Head barmaid told you no smoke machines..... oh no she did'nt I says she did'nt even tell me you had a new alarm system. He calls her over and she says yes I told them (lying cow) I said that would be difficult as we set up on our own and there was nobody else in the function room. He says Oh what time did you get here then? 1pm this afternoon when it was all locked up. So he says Well I hope you can afford the bill for a false call. I said I'm sorry but I'm paying nothing its your responsibility to inform me or isolate it. He said Well we'll see but you won't get paid tonight" Strange I thought the bridegroom had just paid me ten minutes earlier LOL

So off he goes ranting and raving, FB say they won't bill it anyway and not to worry. Then..........................

 

At this point said barmaid turns up with big smile and two pints of lager..... Sorry she says but he's had a bad day, Yes I said but you could have told him the truth, Well she said I was covering my back and come 12 oclock you'll be gone .....I have to work with him every day.!!! So if you need a drink just see me and I'll sort it . I give up http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/mad.gif

 

I was just so glad to get home and I STILL got a handsome tip on top of my fee!

 

Spin

[Dukesy 0]

Unbelieveable arn't they?!

 

Oh, why I think about it.....

 

Did you know that on the statute books on Weddings it apparently states "....and the Bride should have a Happy Day."

 

If this IS the case, I then believe that the Bride is entitled to Sue for compensation from the venue to the cost of her reception for infringement, upset, ruined evening as 'guests left early', etc!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[The Spindoctor 0]

She was fine about the whole thing, got her photo taken on the fire engine with some 'hunks' and as she said "I will never forget this day Tony thanks" http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/wacko.gif

 

Spin

[GaryReggae 0]

My weekend was a bit disappointing as well. My regular Saturday night slot in my local pub but when I started at 8pm, there can't have been more than five people in the whole pub! It got a bit busier as the evening went on, but there was nobody dancing all night and I only had about 5 requests (usually I have a list as long as my arm!), one of which was for Rolf Harris!!! Not even my attempts to liven things up by playing party tunes like 'Dance The Night Away' by The Mavericks and 'One Step Beyond' by Madness made a difference, both are tunes that usually go down very well there. I don't know why it was so quiet but I did give somebody a business card so it wasn't all bad, and that cheap and cheerful 200W amp did the job too.

[ChrisPointon 0]

QUOTE

got her photo taken on the fire engine with some 'hunks' and as she said "I will never forget this day Tony thanks

 

Was this Mrs Spin's Birthday Present?

 

 

After Friday Night I thought I was going to need some counselling from Karen http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/wub.gif but luckily Saturday was a great night. It helped that I knew a lot of people there and obviously had the gossip on the bride and groom!. I Also caught up with several faces from my High School Days who were there as Guests.......but never mind! http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/wacko.gif .

 

The new trainee turned out to be brilliant and very enthusiastic in fact very much how I USED to be when I first started out. Just got to build up his confidence on the Mic, then I think we will have a future D.J here.

 

Sadly, Richard, who was filling in for me at my club spot didn't have a very good night. No fault of his, just the fact that the entire Sound System lost power when the main fusebox overloaded during a thunderstorm http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/533.gif we've had some pretty intense thunderstorms up here overnight.....all heading South!

 

 

More Weddings next week! - although the B&G's choice for their first dance at the next Wedding - Puddle of Mudd - Blurry wouldn't exactly be my first choice for a Wedding!

[Ian Stewart 0]

well coming to the end of a very very hectic weekend.

 

Friday left in plenty of time to start the 300 mile round trip to tale my son fishing in Swindon, took 2 1/2 hours to get there, a nice relaxed trip however the return journey was the drive from hell,

 

one small accident caused a 15 mile jam on the M4, but I made the M25 in plenty of time, then it was bumper to bumper from junction 16 all the way to Junction 25, I had agreed to meet Eskie at South Mimms to lend him a lazer, this normal 15 minute drive took 1 hour & 30 minutes, left eskie at 5pm, and the remainder of the journey some 40 miles took almost 2 hours, got home, changed vehicles as I had an 8pm start in Erith, just made it and started on time.

 

Saturday now i thought this was going to be a great day, Football & my evening gig, but how things change.

 

9:00am a friend was coming to pay me for some 2nd hand equipment he bought, he arrives and asks if I'd heard aboutr a mutual friend Iain, no was my reply, he'd died over night very suddenly no one at the moment knows the cause.

 

9:30am another friend was fitting a new electric cooker, our old one blew up laste week, he wires it in, pushes it in the slot, and pushes so hard that he knockes the gas pipe, and breaks the seal, leaking gas etc, gas board seal the pipe off so now not only do I have no oven, but I have no hob either, so if it does not go in the toaster on the BBQ, or the microwave, we aint eating.

 

managed to get to football in time, at half time another friend phoned asking if I had any spare 24v 250w bulbs, answer yes i said he could have a couple.

 

bye I said

hang on he said

whats the problem i said

do you have a sp[are amp he said

yes i said

can i borrow it he said

yes i said

can i come round now he said

no i said

why he said

it's half time & i won't be home for 90 mins i said

ok he said

 

gig went ok

 

Today got up nice & early, took the training equipment for the Football team I manage to the coaches house, andleft for the journey to pick my fishing made son up.

 

Today the journey too nearly 4 hours to get there, loaded him up, set off and arrived home an hour ago, now need to get ready because I'm DJ'ing at the Ugly Bug Ball tonight, hopefully this will go with no hick ups.

 

I'll let you know

[ChrisPointon 0]

QUOTE

9:00am a friend was coming to pay me for some 2nd hand equipment he bought, he arrives and asks if I'd heard aboutr a mutual friend Iain, no was my reply, he'd died over night very suddenly no one at the moment knows the cause.

 

Sorry to hear about your friend Ian, condolences

 

[Dukesy 0]

Sunday - after the weekend, a small gig that actually went well!

 

While some of you may have been busy either sleeping in the sun, topless or shortless, I was giving it LARGE in the humid South.

 

I am now suffering! Not heat stroke - dance stroke!

 

Other half's watching SKy - not much on.

 

Glad your 'gig's ok CP. Hope you havn't lost the club.

(As I understand it, those storms were very intense.)

 

 

[Wesley 0]

http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/042.gif Good weekend only worked Saturday @ the marriott hotel next to Liverpool John Lennon Airport, only a small party of about 60 guests.

 

Aways arrived @ 8pm to set up ready to go about 9pm to be informed that the Jazz would be playing for another hour which was not impressed cos had to sit around for another hour and getting really bored. the Jazz were awful and as i was senting guests were coming upto me asking what time i was starting and i said 10pm and they were saying cannot you start any earlier and said that the band have informed me that they would be playing till 10pm the guests where saying also that they need so good music to dance too (which only left 3 hours to play). So anyways got under way with a sound bed and welcomed all and intoduced myself and the occassion etc and then ask all to stand and give the bride and groom a big round of applause as they made there way to the dance floor for there first dance Andy Williams, Can't Take My Eyes Of Off You. The rest of the night went great dance floor busy all night even though the dance floor was a make shift put down dance floor that had seen better days and was about 2 metres by 2 metres and at the end of the night the squares had all come away which thought was very dangorous. Aways the night was great and had fun and normally i like to finish with I Had The Time Of Life but the bride and groom asked could i finish with Robbie & Nicole Somethin Stupid.

 

Oh yes that bride & groom asked me to play some dean martin, tam motown, frank sinatra, rat pack, patula clark so played thes near the end of the night which went down great.

 

Great night and looking forward to next saturdays wedding on the wirral.

 

Hope everyones weekend went great http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/071.gif http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/071.gif

[BigE 0]

QUOTE

dance floor busy all night even though the dance floor was a make shift put down dance floor that had seen better days and was about 2 metres by 2 metres

I think i might be able to keep that size of dancefloor busy!!