DJ Richard on New Years Eve
Back in the office after the Xmas and New Year break (although we have been operating an emergency number and checking emails today is the first full day back.)
We received this step by step break down to a DJs booking on New Years Eve at a ticketed dinner dance in a hotel.Richard (the DJ) has worked for us for around seven years and is a trusted and valued member of the LMM team and his report below shows the attention to detail which we expect from our DJs when we send them out.
Its a warts and all account of the night.There were one or two minor problems.The key is that Richard immediatly solve them.
I thought it might be interesting for a client looking to hire a mobile DJ for a wedding,party,an event to see the thought that goes into make a successful night.
“Happy new year. I hope you had a great Christmas and new year.
Having spoken to Matt and yourself, knowing the circumstances regarding this event I thought you may be interested in my thoughts and comments regarding the night so I will detail them below. I have also attached a photo so you can see for yourself that I dressed for the occassion properly.
I had a phone conversation with Matt the day before when he informed me that the PA in the room may not be fantastic and from the discussion, I agreed to bring my own just incase. Arriving at 5.30 pm I decided that my PA would be more appropriate.
Having set up and sound checked before the 7pm deadline I had chance to talk with the jazz band and then with Matt regarding how the night was planned to go. Matt mentioned that the hotel manager wanted more than just a dj and wanted real interaction with the audience.
During the meal I stood in the bar area adjacent to the room and as the guests bought drinks I introduced myself and tried to get a feel for the musical tastes of the audience and trying to find out amusing information I could use later.
I actually started properly just after 10pm. The band had cleared down while I played background music then once the event manager gave me the go ahead we started properly. I walked on to the dancefloor, away from my Dj booth and introduced myself, I was keen to make the audience feel I was approachable and professional. I then went round the room introducing the different parties we had in, whilst making light fun with some of the guests and using the information I had gathered earlier. During this time I had chosen music to play in the background similar to how they use a bed in radio.
Once the introductions were complete I climbed back on stage and the party started straight away. The first record I chose had people up dancing. The age range within the room was quite a wide spread. There was a large table of late 20′s and then the rest were probably 40′s plus. Musically I kept pretty much to 70′s and 80′s with a smattering of 90′s. I tried a couple of newer tracks for the younger tables but got no reaction so went straight back to the party tunes.
The audience seemed to enjoy the music as the dancefloor was popular during the evening. The only time it dipped was when I had tried to satisfy the younger end so as I previously mentioned I changed staright back.
At 11.50 I was asked by another duty manager to do New Year early so that the piper could then do the other room straight after. I agreed with the piper that I would play the Big Ben Bells and then he would come in to play Auld Lang Syne. I was a bit dissapointed with the volume of the piper as I couldnt really hear him playing as he started at the back of the room but the guests near the stage were singing anyway so it wasn’t too much of a problem.
I continued playing party anthems and the dancefloor remained full. Unfortunately at approximately 1am My PA suffered a technical difficulty. I believe the HFs in the speakers blew. At this point I immediately played a ten minute Grease mega mix, the dance floor hadn’t seemed to notice and everyone continued to dance. I went to my car and brought in a back up PA I had taken with me. before the megamix had run out I was back deliverring a full range of sound and the customers were still dancing. I then continued playing until 2am.
At the end of the night I was approached by approximately ten customers from various tables all telling me how great a job I had done. A number of them mentioned they were here the year before and that I was 100 times better than what they had witnessed last year. One girl even started asking who I worked for as she wanted to book me for a wedding (I gave her your name naturally).The room manager seemed comfortable with what I had done and happy with the service I had provided. He mentioend how the main hotel manager was initially going to stay all night but that he had left earlier on feeling very comfortable with the job I and the other djs were doing.
I hope you find this information useful and trust you feel I did a good job. If there is any feedback from the hotel or from Matt I would be keen to hear. If you wish to discuss any of this in more detail then please let me know.
