Da Weekend

[centrestagediscos 0]

will have a good idea who's the father if she wants a mobile phone, and pda for her first birthday and her first words are ebay. http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/tongue.gif

[YourBigEvent 0]

http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/071.gif http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/laugh.gif http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/notworthy.gif

[jeffwall 0]

QUOTE (centrestage-entertainments @ Aug 6 2005, 12:59 PM)

will have a good idea who's the father if she wants a mobile phone, and pda for her first birthday and her first words are ebay. http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/tongue.gif

But Ive never met your missus! and fire blanks now anyway???

 

[Corabar Steve 0]

2 weddings for me. Fridays rig took 2 of us best part of 2 hours to set up as the client wanted an over the top light show (& boy did we go over the top, we even did a separate light show for the lobby & buffet areas)

 

Last nights show 30/40 people on 5x5 metre dance floor "Play some Sean Paul, that'll get everyone up" played some.........

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tumbleweed & crickets.

[milhouse 0]

Weekend Review

 

Friday http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/188.gif http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/221.gif The gig from hell http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/221.gif http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/188.gif

 

I was booked for a 21st birthday from 7.30-12.30 in a social club somewhere in deepest Lancashire. Arrived at 6.40 to setup, the venue didn't look too bad from the outside, standard brick building in fairly run down residential area.

 

Inside was a big shock, one of the most run down venues I've ever seen. It made Peter Kay's The Phoenix Club look good. We were in a very large, run down hall that could easily fit 500+ people, on a large stage. The stage was full of old rubbish, pianos, cables, chairs, tables with no legs, rugs and other bits and bobs. After moving the stuff out of the way we managed to setup and get music playing at 7.

 

Was expecting 50 people and by 9.30pm still only the birthday person, the mother, and a friend were there. By 10pm quite a few more undesirables had arrived, a lot of "gangster" types who were sat in the corner smoking weed and a very rough looking bunch of people (beards, tatoos, piercings, and that was just the women). Tried my hardest to do some mic work and play a good selection of music but without much of a reaction. I got the feeling that none of the guests were talking to the birthday person either, they were just sat on their own most of the night http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/huh.gif

 

At 10.50pm the venue manager came over and said it was last orders at the bar, and he wanted everyone out by 11.30. I announced this on the mic, and immediately had a mob approach me complaining. I obviously explained that I was more than happy to continue until 12.30 or shortly after, as thats when I'm booked until, and so referred them back to the manager who made the decision.

 

Shutters down on bar at 10.55 and venue manager starts flicking all house lights on. By this time I'm thinking I'm likely to be shot. The customers think the lights are my fault, so once again its refer them back to the venue manager. I even sent my roadie to try to tame him but that didn't work.

 

So I did my farewell on the mic, explained it was the venue who were finishing and not me, and was finished by 11.30, to a barrage of abuse such as "You tight f****** ba****d.

 

Needless to say we were packed up and out of there by 11.34 http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/patriot.gif

 

Saturday Complete contrast

 

Wedding at The Hilton Blackpool, 7.30-1.00

 

Probably one of the most pleasant groups of people I've ever played to. I had spoken to the groom on the phone earlier in the week so that was a good ice breaker for when he arrived. Had a nice chat with him and he left the music up to me. Played bits of everything from Motown, Rock & Roll, 70s disco, 80s cheese, current r&b.

 

One of the guests was the body double of Mr Peter Kaye, so you can imagine the reaction when Amarillo was played. Highlight of the night was getting on the dancefloor showing everyone the correct dance to Saturday Night by Whigfield!

 

Round of applause and a kiss from the bride at 1am http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/363.gif

 

 

[C.S 0]

Saturday i left home at 2pm to do a gig on an island off the norwegian coast, nice weather and i arrived and was set up by 6pm. to cut a long story short , bride was from a religious cult so dj was expected to play at car stereo volume unless someone came onto the dancefloor. No lights and overhead strip lighting to be kept on at all times, dj to be standing at all times. Dj must not be seen to be eating or drinking anything (soft drinks included). Dj must not talk to guests or speak in mic. No new music and bridal waltz changed 3 times in the half hour leading up to it. I have had 2 meetings with them before hand and none of this had been mentioned. I played from 1900 untill 0300 ! then packed up and had to sit in the car waiting for a ferry that arrived at 7am. Home by 830am. Real let down except for the fat little envelope with £700 in it. Will try and forget this gig as soon as poss and i think if i had just been starting out i would have retired immediately .Time for bed

[jeffwall 0]

QUOTE (C.S @ Aug 7 2005, 10:21 AM)

real let down except for the fat little envelope with £700 in it.

Hope thats english pounds 700 quid!

 

They can be as fussy as they like for that cash! http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/biggrin.gif

[spinner 0]

Excellent time at Kimbolton Castle Saturday evening.

 

Only 80 guests which is not a lot for such a large venue.

 

Floor packed all night. Great crowd. Highly appreciative B & G and their parents.

 

Very rewarding.

 

 

[robbiedj 0]

QUOTE (C.S @ Aug 7 2005, 11:21 AM)

to cut a long story short , bride was from a religious cult so dj was expected to play at  "car stereo volume unless someone came onto the dancefloor. Dj must not be seen to be eating or drinking anything (soft drinks included).

That loud? You obviously don't have the same car stereos as we do here. They deafen you as they drive by.

 

I presume the optimum word about eating/drinking is "seen". They couldn't expect you not to drink at least for 8 hours, even if you weren't talking much. Did you get a chance to drink during toilet break, or was that barred too.

 

£700, less ferry charge etc, for a total of 18+ hours is not excessive is it? http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/nono.gif

[FrankieJ 0]

QUOTE

thursday- spent 17 hours in the labor ward waiting for the missus to finally push baby hannah finally made an appearance at 11.15 pm.

 

Congratulations, Mr Centrestage. http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/thumbup.gif

[robbiedj 0]

Saturday's Fun Day in the park went really well. Fully expected to be just background music and PA, but the visitors were very interactive, and the weather was great. http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/biggrin.gif

 

Carol was out front with the kids doing Cha Cha Slide, Musicman, Superman etc and they were all joining in. Had a long conga line of kids and adults to Hot, Hot, Hot.

http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/071.gif

The music was getting to all, as they danced around the sideshows and stalls. The organiser was very impressed and said that the music was great. She admitted that, having asked for Bhangra and Turkish, she didn't actually realise we played it until she noticed the language it was in. Our mix of ethnic, r'n'b and dance was matched so well. (I still don't know what they were singing, but the beat was brilliant) Kids actually came up and asked what the Turkish tracks were as they liked them. We have been booked again for next one. http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/thumbup.gif

 

Must say the aerobics trainer was ace! He had them all bouncing around with his caribbean mixes (found out the cd and must get it) He was very pleased with the radio mic, as he did not have to keep putting it down to stop from tripping people. The kids thought he was great, though he did lose brownie points for not knowing Cha Cha Slide. He's learnt it now! (from Carol) http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/cool.gif

 

afterthought.

Although it was a Council function and had a health & safety officer in attendence NO-BODY wanted to see our paperwork, even when we offered it to them.

I wonder why I spend so much money when that happens. http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/wallbash.gif

[C.S 0]

Been playing Tarkan,Robbie ? Would love to known the carribean cd title if you could pm me the title.

 

Yes thats english pounds,they covered the ferry costs. Yes i was expected not to be seen eating or drinking but had hidden a bottle of water that i drank, I ate afterwards when the nice catering people made me a steak at 3 a m. I dont think £700 was excessive and to be honest i now think i should have taken more !

[centrestagediscos 0]

saturday was ok started at 5.00 and finished at midnight, packed all my gear down ready to lug it from the van and found myself locked in the venue as there was about 50 kids from the 18th birthday party having a mass brawl, 1 riot van, 3 police cars and a couple of ambulances meant i had no hope of getting home nice and early so even though it was only ten minutes up the road from where i live i still didnt get in until 2.30.

[robbiedj 0]

QUOTE (C.S @ Aug 7 2005, 08:04 PM)

Been playing Tarkan,Robbie ? Would love to known the carribean cd title if you could pm me the title.

Yes, my 2 compilations had a couple of Tarkan tracks. Went down well. It was interesting to see that the asian contingent could not tell straight away that it was Turkish not Bhangra.

 

PM re cd on way.

[C.S 0]

Thanks robbie http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/notworthy.gif

[Gary 0]

Saturdays wedding proved to be fairly run of the mill except for some severe differences of musical opinion between the Bride and the Groom... http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/oops.gif

 

The bride was seriously into "Girls Aloud" (she was mid 20's http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/huh.gif ), whereas the Groom admited to only liking their video's http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/whistling.gif

 

There were alot of "in" tunes - eg: tunes that werent especially stunning in their own right, but which meant alot to the small clutches/pockets of people who requested them. Hence, I received about a dozen requests for "Robert Palmer: Addicted to love", Billions of requests for Robbie Williams "Have you met Miss Jones?", and also....Pause.... http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/drama2.gif at least 20 requests (mostly in different hand-writing) for Beatles: "Hey Jude".

 

Here was a snag, the groom and all the stag night attendees wanted "Hey Jude", the Bride told me at 7:30, on absolutely no account should I play "Hey Jude" and if anyone asks for it, even the groom, I still must not play it... - see what I mean now about the slight differences in musical opinion...?

 

Anyway...there were enough requests flying in during the night to easily keep "Hey Jude" out of the picture and I opted for the "No conflict/brush it under the carpet" approach, the idea being that if the lads really wanted to sing to it, then they could, karaoke style, after the gig had finished - thereby, I would be "Innocent" as far as the bride goes... Or at least, if I got bugged with "Oi! Wheres -Hey Jude-" during the last record, then at that point I could come clean and say "The bride told me not to play it lads".

 

Good theory...however with a hour to go, the best man enquired as to the whereabouts of the tune in question...I told him about the brides wishes, and strict instructions that the tune was not to be played EVEN if the GROOM asked for it... The best man disappeared out of the room all too briefly, and returned saying - "I've asked the bride, she's given the OK for it to be played"...rather than showing him my birth certificiate with yesterdays date on it, I gave him a cheeky grin and said that as long as the bride told me face-to-face to play it, then I'd play it, but otherwise..... (he realised that he'd been rumbled). However, he then dragged the bride in and she reluctantly agreed for the tune to be played, BUT only at the same moment that I announced "Last Orders"... (YOUCH! - Spontaneously sneaky spouse...)

 

There were two other highlights of the evening - firstly the pre-buffet kids games... Musical statues - my word...I've never known a bunch of kids SO good at this...It took 3 whole tracks to get them whittled down from 15 to 5... (one of the tracks was Crazy Frog - deliberately as I cant stomach the tune without a few seconds of silent recovery time every 20 seconds or so...I think the adult audience were grateful too). In the end, I switched the game to musical Flamingo's (Stand still on one leg when the music stops) to try and get the last few "professional statues" out of the game. Not that it mattered - as ALL the participants got a glow necklace each, so it didn't matter who won, or who was out first etc.

 

The other two interesting points of the night belonged to the bride - low cut dresses were obviously not designed for the event of all the males gently taking hold of the bride and lifting her up and down (like in Birthday bumps)... The brides screams were only eclipsed by the males vocalisations - (PHWOR!) and the clip clopping high-heels of the brides girly-friends rushing over to assist.

 

Great night!

[Paul Smith 0]

I was happily driving to Sat nights gig when a dozy mare decided to pull out from a junction right in front of me and then stop across my lane (there was oncoming traffic as well) http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/scared.gif

 

I put the brakes on as hard as I could and with the help of anti-lock managed to stop a couple of feet from her door. So luckily no impact and the other thing it proved was that my gear was all packed securely so no damage to it or more importantly me http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/rolleyes.gif

 

Then onto the gig with a faster heartbeat than normal and it was a good night, so good that I decided to keep it up-tempo throughout the buffet.

 

At the end of the night the bride came over to thank us and commented that she could smell burning. We had noticed a strange smell but put it down to a few guests smoking strange substances just outside the fire exit but it was getting stronger. Then a swarm of wasps came in through the fire exit (what they were doing up at 1.00 in the morning I don't know) and the source of the burning smell became apparent when one of the wall lights near us ejected a cloud of smoke.

 

Let's hope tonights' gig has a little less drama http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/biggrin.gif

 

Paul http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/cowboy.gif

[Gary 0]

QUOTE (5star @ Aug 8 2005, 03:02 PM)

the source of the burning smell became apparent when one of the wall lights near us ejected a cloud of smoke.

Ah...The old "He-hasnt-played-my-request-so-I'll-stuff-this-napkin-into-this-switched-off-wall-light-which-wont-be-switched-on-again-until-only-the-disco-is-still-here" trick huh? http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/huh.gif

 

Still - better (for you) than the "you-wouldn't-believe-me-when-I-said-that-my-request-for-razorback-would-fill-the-floor-so-i'm-nicking-half-the-wheel-nuts-off-your-trailer" routine... http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/fear.gif

 

And infinately better than the "You-wouldn't-play-R&B-all-night-for-me-and-this-multi-age-group-audience-so-i'm-going-to-tip-the-rest-of-my-alchopop-into-your-speaker-tuning-port-and-i-dont-care-if-its-a-powered-speaker-neither". http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/scared.gif

 

 

[High Fidelity 0]

QUOTE

Then a swarm of wasps came in through the fire exit

 

Good job it wasn't me, I'd have been out of the next nearest door like a shot. http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/fear.gif http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/hide.gif

[jackwabbit 0]

Friday nights do at Medway yacht club was due to start at 9pm through to midnight, they were supposed to sit down to dinner at 7:30pm but didn’t until 8:15 so everything was running 45mins late. They finally finished their prize giving & speeches at 11:15pm, (not bad getting paid for 3 hours & only having to do 45mins)

The floor was full as soon as the music started & stayed that way until quarter past twelve (it’s surprising how many tracks you can play with the tempo increased by 20% without anyone noticing)

It was a good night & if we had the opportunity we would have continued a lot longer.

 

As for Saturdays wedding, we weren’t sure what to expect by their last minute play list

QUOTE

First dance: All I ever wanted – Gun 2nd Dance: Angels – Robbie Williams Other music they want played during the night Dream on – Aerosmith Take A Picture – Filter Blurry – Puddle of mud The Energy – Audiovent Anything by Will Young Halo – Soil Click Click Boom – Saliva Raise up – Saliva

Oxen Hoath is a large 600 year old ancient Manor in the middle of nowhere, the access is about half a mile of gravel road over a couple of cattle grids.

When we arrived as usual with weddings they were running a bit late, & they had to clear the room of all the tables before we could set up.

As everyone came out of the room the bride came over & asked if we had received their music request, I said we had & was a little surprised with their choice. She replied “it’s ok we are quite normal it’s just that we like heavy rock, but don’t worry we don’t want it all night)

The room was cleared & all our kit set up within 30 minutes, as we were carrying the kit through the door they were clearing the tables & chairs out through the window & the music started at 7:30 as planned.

Everyone was out in the grounds taking in the sun but as soon as they heard the music they started coming in, the best man said they were going to do the first dance at 8pm but the bride & groom had other ideas. (They wanted to get it over as soon as possible)

The floor was packed from 7:45 through till 10:30 when those with children started to leave, & within seconds the room was empty with us playing music to ourselves through to 11:15. that’s when the bride, groom, best men & bridesmaids came in saying “its ok all the old fuddy duddys have gone home we can now play their music”

So the last 45 minutes was heavy rock all the way.

It all went a lot better than we were expecting & we had a lot of good comments from the guests & even a kiss from the bride.

 

http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/oops.gif I have just realised we forgot to play any Will Young http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/laugh.gif

[robbiedj 0]

QUOTE (jackwabbit @ Aug 8 2005, 07:24 PM)

http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/oops.gif I have just realised we forgot to play any Will Young http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/laugh.gif

Well done. http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/tongue.gif