I could (almost) see the dance floor

Usually I am an easy going person and it takes a lot to upset me. However, at last Saturdays wedding the venue people had me livid within 30 minutes of my arrival.
{begin rant}
I enter the room and was starting to unload my equipment on the DJ table. This is a table placed near the dance floor and was decorated by the Bride's family in the same decor as the head table, cake table, gift table, with blue skirting and blue/white lights in tulle. I was quickly told that this was not my table, my table was 'over there in the corner'. I asked why this table was decorated like the others, yet my table, which was over 60 feet from the dance floor, had red skirting. He told me no comprende, that was my table. I begged and pleaded my case, but since I am in their house (and don't habla) I had no choice but to set up on that table and run cords to speakers and lights, approx 75 ft per run of XLR.

After I was too far into setting up to move, someone else came in and said that the original table was indeed for me and that the worker was looking at the wrong diagram. No apologies from anyone, in fact I had to move the blue skirting and lights/tulle to my table myself to match everything else. I wasn't asked once all evening if I wanted a glasss of water or ice tea.

During the event the people who decorated asked why my table was moved, and I did not have any problem telling them. It was almost impossible to read the crowd because I could hardly see the dance floor, and I also couldn't judge volume levels. There was also some dead air during the evening while I worked my way from the dance floor thru the crowd to my console for music ques. By far not my best gig, but the B&G were very happy and thats all that mattered (I did not mention anything to them).

Top picture- my table was originally in front of the picture on the wall -venue re-arranged tables to fill in the void when they removed my table
Middle picture-I'm standing on the dance floor facing my console back in the corner of the room
Bottom picture- Notice all the empty room in front of me- can you see the dance floor?
{rant off}

BTW- in the top picture, notice how some of the napkins were in the glasses and some tables had the napkins folded on the table. This was not on purpose- the left hand didn't know what the right hand was doing.

Sounds like a venue worthy of blackballing.

Stuff happens.

But--- it looks like you handled yourself well under the circumstances.


And..it helps to know "español" in these situations....believe me it comes in handy when U R setting up in a CA venue and nobody "habla ingles"......LOL

Sounds like a venue worthy of blackballing.

Not for a first time occurance. I'm a 'three strikes you're out' person. I have never worked this venue before, and was really wanting to make a good impression with them cause it is 5 miles from my house. Oh well, as Matt says

Stuff happens

And..it helps to know "español" in these situations....believe me it comes in handy when U R setting up in a CA venue and nobody "habla ingles"......LOL

Florida is just as bad. I'll speak their language when I move to their country.

I always carry a floor plan with me so I am able to set up where I know I am supposed to be. I don't leave it up to chance that the venue may get it right... If I was in your situation, I would have just set up at the proper table and ignored the plea's from the worker. I would have just kept nodding my head, saying, "Sure buddy!" I would like to see them try and stop me... lol The Italian in me just comes out in situations like that.

Or - Bob could have replied - "Sorry - I don't speak spanish" and kept right on setting up where he was originally supposed to, nodding his head all the while.....

Bob......a couple years ago, I got stuck in a back corner by the venue, and here's what the bride had to say about it:

Awesome DJ!!!
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

11/21/2006 Posted by amandawinneshiek

I would recommend MATT to anyone who is thinking about having a DJ at their event. MATT and his assistant ALLIE did a superb job sticking to our requests and anytime the bride or groom requested something, it was the next song he'd play! Talk about instant gratification! He really listens to your requests and has a great personallity. No cheese was present AT ALL! So awesome! The sound system was good.. He was kind of set up in an inconspicuous spot, so we couldn't see him unless we were right in front of him. His speakers could have been out nearer to the audience, but we just went to him and had a blast!! He also has a very ecclectic collection. Believe me, if he can find 'Sister Christian' by Night Ranger, he can find anything!!!

Pros: Played every last request, and kept us going until we were done. Awesome!!!

Cons: Maybe louder speakers

so I was criticized for doing what the venue & MOB told me to do.

And, according to the bride's mother (who paid my bill) the volume was plenty loud enough!!!

As Maestro and Sparkie said I would have continued and told the guy do you have an English speaking manager? Then continue to nod yes with that fake smile as If I know what hes saying meanwhile continuing my setup as originally planned.

Bob, you showed that you are a trooper and that you can do what it takes to get the job done, no matter what obstacles are thrown in your way.

:clap: :clap: :clap:

I too applaud you for taking it for the team.

I agree I think the just keep saying yes yes and keep setting up in the correct location.

"run cords to speakers and lights, approx 75 ft per run of XLR."
Guess it's time to buy more Gaff type.

Been there & done that many times.

One time, I ran speaker wires all the way across the room (Taped down) so I could have the speakers closer to the dancefloor. I got my butt chewed out by the manager that told me it made the room look tacky & was embarrassing.

My other choice was to keep the speakers near me & blast the daylights out of all the seated guests while trying to get the sound out to the dancefloor.

A no-win situation.

Would have don't the same thing Bob, infact I have. Sounds like you made the best of a bad situation.

After a few bad experences like Bob's I just setup wherever I think is best who Knows better? (Best not to ask).

We've got a local venue that had a lot of promise, but the management running it has a lot to learn.

They insist on placing the DJ or band way over in the corner, when the dance floor is in the middle of the building! :sqeek: There is such a feeling of disconnect with the dancers when working there. Thank goodness we've only booked 2 events there.

I don't know what's up with sales and banquet managers anymore. You used to have the cream of the crop. Now it seems that venues are more of a revolving door for managers than anything else.

Perhaps if the houses would pass a little bit of money around, they'd have better managers. :(

Bob's situation brought to mind the last Curves bachelor auction show. Two adjacent halls had been assigned ~ one for seating and the auction, the other for a dance floor and the silent auction. We were set up in the entranceway, between the two halls. No one used the dance floor because we weren't in that room.

The hall assigned for the auction and dinner was long and we were essentially set up outside of it with an acoustic tile ceiling over us. The overhead was higher in the hall. To get the MC's mic and the entry music to project, we had to really push the levels. We don't own 300' runs of speaker cable, sorry. And we weren't prepared for this scenario... no one knew in advance.

The thing with FOH... when you push it to get rear of house, the FOH is too loud. I was tweakin' the system for better projection and tone. For all the good it did.

This is probably the one aspect of this crazy biz that irritates me more than any other. You're set up in possibly the worst place in the entire house for acoustics and tone. If you've got a dancefloor, why set the DJ company up at the other end of the house?? :rolleyes:

I love the venues that are rude and then stick you 200 feet away from the dance floor. Or they mention that the bride wanted the DJ table in that location. When you try to explain to them why you need to be closer to the dance floor they basically ignore you. Had this happen a couple of times.

From my contract:

B. DUTIES OF CLIENT

1. For Music Services, the CLIENT must provide a 20'x20' covered area within 15 feet of an electrical outlet and in close proximity to the dance floor.

2. If a "Light Show" is requested, the CLIENT must reserve and arrange for a space for the disc jockey control booth within five (5) feet of the dance floor without obstruction.

3. The CLIENT must reserve and arrange for sufficient space on either side of the setup area for speakers, lighting and other related equipment.

Looks like number 2 would have covered you , Bob.

I think that you made the best of a bad situation, Bob. A new venue was constructed a few years ago in my area with that sort of arrangement and after it happened to us they told us that nobody else complained. I spoke to several of my fellow DJ's in the area and they felt the same way I did, so we made a point of mentioning it during the interviews with our brides and grooms who were using this facility in the future. During their meetings with the catering manager, they would bring up this problem with the floor plan and ask that it be changed, never letting on that they had been prompted.
Three months later, no problem. I am working there this evening and will be set up on the edge of the dance floor, opposite the head table.

Kevin, just because it's in your contract does not mean that's how it's going to be... I have it in my contract as well and always discuss the set-up with my clients; does that mean I know what's waiting for me on the day of the event? No way Jose! I get curve-balls thrown at me all the time, you've just gotta roll with it baby or get out of the game!

I agree Maestro, but still it can almost always be fixed on the spot. I always discuss this with the B&G in the first meetings, and reconfirm in the last meeting. I have moved my area (I never use thier tables) many times, and don't think twice about it at all. I know what I need to do my job better than any other person, much the way I would never tell a banquet captain how to do his job.

I think we have all experienced this at one time or another.
Yes, we try to placate the client and the banquet management.
But I established a policy many many years ago because of this very same thing.

To paraphrase a line from the motion picture Dirty Dancing, "Nobody puts baby in the corner".

I establish at the pre-reception meeting that my DJ booth will be directly on the dance floor, opposite the Da-Is when practical. I actually have it written in my contract.

Under no circumstances are there to be any tables between me and the dance floor. This is to insure the comfort of the guests who are seated and to permit the best sound and inter-action with the guests on the dance floor. There is no wiggle room here, no compromise. My DJ Booth must be on the dance floor. Period.
Whether it's a full blown light show, or a simply sound system show.

http://stevecie.com/v-web/gallery/albums/album42/DSC09297_640_Lakeside_Basic_Setup.jpg
http://stevecie.com/v-web/gallery/albums/album42/Full_Light_Show_enh.jpg
This is not an ego thing. This is necessary for a great performance.

I have ended up in situations where I'm stuck in the corner somewhere away from the dance floor. We all do, once in a while. I agree it's a big mistake, but now I don't fear this situation. I will be using a bose system for weddings. Guest on the dance floor will hear me just fine.

Looks more like a job seminar or something.They probably didnt have dancing in mind..

I also have a 'DJ location' clause in my contract, but some venues don't care about provisions in the DJ's contract.

I have ended up in situations where I'm stuck in the corner somewhere away from the dance floor. We all do, once in a while. I agree it's a big mistake, but now I don't fear this situation. I will be using a bose system for weddings. Guest on the dance floor will hear me just fine.

I don't mind being inconspicuous, in fact I prefer it. The only people who need to be conspicuous at a wedding are the B&G. It is almost impossible to read the crowd and choose the right music when you can't see them.