Help Im Doing A Masked Ball On Saturday!

[NRG Roadshow 0]

Just received details for an 18th Im doing on Saturday.

 

Its a masked ball....and to quote the customer

Event is a masked ball, if you have any waltzes or formal music then it would be nice if you could play some

Well what exactly does that mean, and what kind of music would you play?

 

I really have no idea how to handle this one, its a little odd, and Im not sure how to intergrate the whole evening as they aslo want latest charts and it seems from their music questionaire response that Classic Rock and Indie Rock should feature in the evening heavily.....so whats the best way to handle the variety.

 

Its times like these I regret asking the customers what music they would like as I am more comfortable with just a standard 18th party set and when something like this comes up it really throws out me out of my flow.

[Corabar Steve 0]

It's just like a fancy dress, but everyone wears a mask.

 

No different to any other party, other than the formal music also requested. Just treat it like any other gig, with the genres requested (obviously)

Edited August 21, 2007 by Corabar Steve

[NRG Roadshow 0]

But whats formal music?

I dont get what they mean by that sorry lol

 

I really wish this was just a normal party.....

[Corabar Steve 0]

Just bung in a couple of waltzes.

 

If in doubt, ask the punter what they want.

[NRG Roadshow 0]

But they said Formal Music AND Waltzes.....

I dont know a waltz from a tango thats my trouble.....I will have to give her a ring and see whats actually needed....

But their musical questionaire also indicates a dislike of 80's and Motown........well thats what I normally realie on to get things going...lol

[Paul Smith 0]

I'm guessing that by 'Formal' music they mean the kind that has a set dance to it (no, not the Macarena :joe: ). In this part of the world (& Scotland) this would be Ceili/Ceildh dancing - ie the type of thing you would see in medieval films where masked balls were the in thing.

 

Best to clarify with the client because if this is what she is after then it only works well when there is a caller to get everyone doing the right thing at the right time.

 

I really wish this was just a normal party.....

 

It's good to broaden your horizons and try new things smile icon

[High Fidelity 0]

Coo, pity it's my wedding anniversary on Saturday and I'm taking the wife out, or I'd have come and done the formal bit for you.

 

I take formal to mean Strict Tempo. Foxtrot, Waltz, Quickstep etc.

 

The 80th I did with CrisP the other week, I played loads for them, and they loved it.

 

Here's what I played.

 

Chattanooga Choo-Choo (Foxtrot) - Glenn Miller

A String Of Pearls (Foxtrot) - Glenn Miller

American Patrol (Quickstep) - Glenn Miller

A Foggy Day (Quickstep) - Victor Sylvester

Around The World (Waltz) - Victor Sylvester

Belle Of The Ball (Viennese Waltz) - Victor Sylvester

Call Me Irresponsible (Slow Foxtrot) - Victor Sylvester

My Foolish Heart (Slow Foxtrot) - Victor Sylvester

It Can't Be Wrong (Slow Foxtrot) Victor Sylvester

At The Woodchoppers Ball (Quickstep) - Woody Herman

Al Di La (Rumba) - Victor Sylvester

Feelings (Rumba) - Victor Sylvester

I Give My Heart (Waltz) - Victor Sylvester

The Boy Next Door (Waltz) - Victor Sylvester

Pennies From Heaven (Cha Cha Cha) - Victor Sylvester

La Cumparsita (Tango) - Victor Sylvester

CopaCabana (Samba) - Victor Sylvester

Old Devil Moon (Quickstep) - Victor Sylvester

 

You'll notice a lot of them are Victor Sylvester. I have a CD (amongst others) called Ballroom Dancing with Victor Sylvester. If you can get this CD before the gig, it has the type of dance listed with each track. Just remember to announce the type of dance before you play it and give them chance to get to the dancefloor before you start the music. Don't be afraid of a little bit of silence.

 

Oh yes, don't bother with a viennese waltz. It's too fast and is only really for proffessional dancers.

 

Funnily enough, just tonight I've taken a repeat booking for a golf club Black Tie Dinner Dance that I did last year, and they've booked me again because they were so delighted last year that a "Disco" could play this type of music.

Edited August 21, 2007 by High Fidelity

[NRG Roadshow 0]

Thanks for that....

 

Whatever I get its gonna have to be a download now I think.....

 

I have found "Dancing with Victor Sylvester" on napster.....is that anygood?

It does not seem to have the paticular dance listed with the tracks though.

 

Nick

[Paul Smith 0]

Nice one Paul smile icon

 

I know a waltz when I see (hear) one but couldn't separate a foxtrot from a quickstep which is why I also have these annotated to the relevant tunes. It's also worthwhile to announce what style you are about to play eg 'Take you partners for a Quickstep'

 

There is a CD on Amazon 'Strictly Come Dancing' which also has the style next to each track.

 

Are we DJs versatile or what :cow:

[NRG Roadshow 0]

Just ordered these on Amazon....

 

Ballroom Dancing With the Victor Silvester Orchestra

Strictly Ballroom Dancing

Strictly Come Dancing

 

I woudnt know a rumba from a cha cha (unless your talking cha cha slide then Im smokin hot) lol

But as long as these say next to the track what type of dance it is, I reckon Im capable of saying "Ladies and gentlemen, will you please take your partners for the macarena"....

Would that do

[Dream Catchers 0]

"Ladies and gentlemen, will you please take your partners for the macarena"....

Classic :bouncy:

 

Jim

[Corabar Steve 0]

I'd say play safe & ask your customer what they mean. People have a funny way of saying one thing & meaning a completely different thing when talking about music.

[NRG Roadshow 0]

I'd say play safe & ask your customer what they mean. People have a funny way of saying one thing & meaning a completely different thing when talking about music.

 

Yea too true.....

Im gonna give her a ring tomorow and see what was meant by formal.

 

Cheers for all the help chaps.

[NRG Roadshow 0]

NOW.......I spoke to the birthday girls sister today as I used to know her quite well.

I explained my concerns about the ball thing and she said

dont stress about it, you have never met my sister, she is a bit weird, we only want a couple of ball tunes after she has cut her cake, then mostly indie rock, but the age range will be quite mixed so we need a bit of everything really. But if you stick to a lot of Indie Rock then they will be happy

 

Well thats gotta go down as a result......NORMAL 18th Gig.........Woohoo!

 

So Im still gonna be doing a bit of ballroom for them, but mostly Indie Rock...

So whats your suggestions for blinding Indie Rock Tunes?

[jeffwall 0]

My guess is tha hey say "Formal dance" stuff

 

But iftheir willing to sit with masks on all night they will be up for a laugh, so the usual party stuff will be requested for sure!

 

did one similar in a private school hall near here a few months ago....very posh, but they love a party!

[panikki 0]

Just received details for an 18th Im doing on Saturday.

 

Its a masked ball....and to quote the customer

 

Well what exactly does that mean, and what kind of music would you play?

 

I really have no idea how to handle this one, its a little odd, and Im not sure how to intergrate the whole evening as they aslo want latest charts and it seems from their music questionaire response that Classic Rock and Indie Rock should feature in the evening heavily.....so whats the best way to handle the variety.

 

Its times like these I regret asking the customers what music they would like as I am more comfortable with just a standard 18th party set and when something like this comes up it really throws out me out of my flow.

 

there are plenty of disc out there of the classical type that say whether they are waltz foxtrot etc...i would stick to the ones you know such as glenn miller...and play some they will all recognise such as vivaldi four seasons and the blue danube or even stuff from swan lake...as regards to them saying what not to play...than i always reply with..."what if somebody asks me for it"dont for get,everygig you do is your advert and what yo dont want is people saying that you wernt any good cos you never had anything they asked for...if this does happen then point them in the direction of the organiser...you dont want tthem to think your have a coleection that holds more classical than motown... give her a ring and ask her to name the classical tunes she wants...good luck

 

Have edited your text! Net-etiquette to use the lower case as caps used imply shouting!

Edited December 12, 2007 by Dukesy

[dh140770 0]

So whats your suggestions for blinding Indie Rock Tunes?

 

I've never really understood the term indie rock. Is it all the teens with something to shout about?

Anyhow here is the list of what i would play, and probably bomb badly

- Arctic Monkeys

- Green Day

- Blur (Song 2)

- Blink 182

- The Hives

- Muse

- White Stripes

- Ash

- Avril Levigne (Bit cheesy ?)

- Offspring

- My Chemical Romance

- Pigeon Detectives

- Sum 41

- Wheatus (Dirtbag)

- Fall out boy

- The Gossip

- Kaiser Chief

- Killers

 

There are lots of good indie bands at the moment ... i wish i knew what they all were.