Looking for help with a fashion show please.

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MIXMASTERMACHOM

DJ Extraordinaire
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Oct 16, 2011
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I got a phone call from my best friends brother last month asking could I help with a fashion show. I agreed to do it. It's been a long time since I did a fashion show. He gave this lady my phone number and she was to call me. I just found out yesterday that the lady had a tragedy in her family. Her father died. So his brother who is a pastor calls me yesterday to discuss more details about the event. It takes place next Friday and it's going to be at the Robert Treat Hotel in Downtown Newark, NJ. Admission is $15 if anybody here is interested and want to see me working. Doors open at 6:30. So he wants me there at 5:30 to make sure everything is setup and ready.

The one issue with the location is parking because the hotel is right next door to NJ PAC and there is no telling what they will have going on at that time. He sends me an email of the program. One of the MC's is a pastor.

I asked him before about the music they wanted for this event . I found out yesterday about 3 songs for sure and that's it. Tamal Mann "Take Me To The King", "When We Get Married: which is next to the last song. The last song is to be Etta James "At Last. After that I was looking to get some song suggestions. All together there are 9 scenes.

Here are the scenes. 1 Casual Chilling. 2 Churchin High Fashion divinity/ Seasons Saints 3 Hats Chapoe Parade (Scripture Shower) 4 Business Dress For Success. 5 Formal Glitz & Blitz. 6 Sun "At The Water" 7Vintage Wear Oldies But Goodies. 8 All White Affair (Scripture Shower) and 9 the scene is the last 2 songs. "When We Get Married and the grand Finale Etta James "At Last".

Anyone have song suggestions for each one of those scenes please as I'm lost at this time. For the Chilling And Grilling I thought of R Kelly "Step In The Name Of Love" Or the new one about a back yard cookout. I can't remember the name right now. anyhow please help. Sorry for the long thread but I had to make sure I explained things in all.
 
I would ask what the models want for their come out song. pay constant attention to the backstage area and be prepared to work fast
 
I would ask what the models want for their come out song. pay constant attention to the backstage area and be prepared to work fast
Great advice. I ask him when I call him is that Ok for me to do so when I get there? Or have him contact the models himself and email me the list of what they want. Just got to check him first before I go ahead with your suggestion. Thanks for the great suggestion. See I wouldn't have thought of that. That let's others know I don't know everything. Because if I did my name would be God and all of you would bow at my feet. LOL. Just having fun after feeling bad all day today.
 
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Try to get them in advance and in order of appearance
 
Maybe have them pass your email address to the models, and have them tell you what songs they would like to walk on.

Might be better to get it all from one person and even that's not a guarantee. One of my worst flubs was at a bridal fashion show many years ago. I was told there were 10 models coming out and they had a list o songs each wanted....The only problem is there was 11 and the brides song played for the maid of honour. I had to fade to something quick and grabbed a tape and tossed it on and faded in to this for the bride

 
I'm starting to get aggravated with this. I get sent the program and I've been calling my best friends brother and he keeps telling me someone else is supposed to call me. This is their event. So if they want things to smoothly someone needs to get back to me. I'm about ready to tell them to look for another. I know they are probably busy with other things but I know they don't want the music to not be on point.
 
After as many purported attempts in contact have been made, a polite but stern notice with a specific date and time deadline of required contact or you're out may be due.

Having not read everything in this thread thoroughly and not recalling seeing anything about a confirmed contract nor the size of the pay day, both of which would alter the content language of my message, you may be assured, the message would be sent.

I freak out enough going in to a gig with what I think is totally prepared. Going into one totally unprepared is mentally and physically unthinkable (for me).
 
Cap thanks for that reply. I too like to be on point when doing my job. I just don't like to assume things. Especially when it comes to the music and what the client wants for their music for an event. I can go in with my own ideas and the client can have differnt ones from mine and that is a disaster. That would to me make me look bad in the clients eyes. I just think that since the client is paying me, they should give me the respect due and contact me to see if there is anything I need so things can go smoothly.

I think maybe the problem is me and my best friend have been friends for 47 years and his brother because of how long I've been a DJ that automatically I will know what I'm doing and will do a great job. I want to be wel prepared. That's all. I don't want to assume anything because you know the saying about assuming something.
 
Sounds like you were making plans before even making the sale. Your friend's brother needs to give you the phone number of the person that's the decison maker and signatory - unless you don't use contracts with brother's friends. ?
 
Things are working out. I got a call a little while ago. The lady that called me is someone I grew up with. So things are fine now. She will shot me an email and I will check it out when I get home. As it turns out it's my best friends cousin that called me. I remember the name but can't put a face to it.

One thing I hate is his brother told her I'm the best. I thank people for the compliment. I just like them saying I'm the best. I'm not the best but I am damn good at what I do.

Now that she has my number and know that I DJ she said she has a couple of conferences each year and will look to use me. Great choice that's for sure!
 
I'm sure your gig count will be skyrocketing ..
 
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After as many purported attempts in contact have been made, a polite but stern notice with a specific date and time deadline of required contact or you're out may be due.

Having not read everything in this thread thoroughly and not recalling seeing anything about a confirmed contract nor the size of the pay day, both of which would alter the content language of my message, you may be assured, the message would be sent.

I freak out enough going in to a gig with what I think is totally prepared. Going into one totally unprepared is mentally and physically unthinkable (for me).

You know Cap, this is the one of the reasons I like you so much. Your a boss in the industry, you are open with yourself to people here, which makes you real. I understand your feelings entirely.
 
If you agreed to do it, backing out now is a bad idea. I would certainly try to see if they have a preference for songs.

But I would only contact them a few times via phone or email. The final contact would simply state that in our experience, it's better to have the song planned out for each model in advance. It's better to find the right part or the song for the model too. Also, While not probable, it's possible that we may not have a song with us that they want

If for some reason, that's impossible to get beforehand, we'll create a list that we believe will work very well.

Look forward to seeing you there.

But this is something I would have discussed when booking it. Do you want specific songs? Do you want us to choose? If you need specific songs, we need them supplied by xx date or zzz happens.
 
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I have done two fashion shows (both sponsored by AVON feat. AVON sales reps and for the AVON sales reps to promote their fashion line). Fashion shows can be incredibly simple or incredibly hard.

1) Are you MCing or hosting as well as DJing? If so you need to have the exact line-up of who is entering, how to pronounce their name, the fashion they are showcasing and the song the model wants to walk to. Most fashion shows that dont' feature professional models you want to make that person feel comfortable and the best way to do that is with a song THEY like and that they KNOW. Think of it like doing a wedding party grand introduction where each bridesmaid/groomsmen couple gets their own song. Even if you're not hosting, make sure you have the model/song list in front of you in and the right order. Double check this with the organizer and the host. If you're hosting make sure you know any sponsors that are providing clothes, etc and know how to pronounce the sponsors name properly (i.e. "Our next model is Cindy. Cindy is wearing a pink floral print sundress provided by Claire's Boutique. Let's hear it for Cindy!").

2) Find out how they are doing the runway walk. Does Model B start walking out as soon as Model A does the turn and starts walking back toward the wings or does Model A exit completely before Model B enters? You want to make sure that Model B's song is playing as soon as she steps out onto the runway and begins her walk.

3) Make sure you have a clean line of sight for the whole show, you want to be able to see when the models are ready to make the next song choice.

4) Is there a stage manager? Spotlighters? Other crew? If so, are they wearing headsets to communicate with each other? Try and get a headset if they are wearing them, so that they can tell you when the next model is ready. (DON'T do this if you're in the front of the room where everyone can see you)

5) Where will you be positioned? Front of the room back of the room? No matter where, make sure you look nice, but if at the front, make sure you are just as fashionable as the models.

6) Are they doing the traditional T shaped stage or a regular stage? Is there a stage? If it's a T shaped stage, I'd recommend setting up speakers up front, but you in back, so you can see the wings and know when the next model is ready without having to pivot too much. If they want you up front, make sure you're able to see the model's entrance. Do NOT guess when they are ready to enter.

7) Be prepared to improve if hosting. Sometimes, particularly if the models are wearing different fashions, changes don't happen as fast as they should. Another reason you need to have a clear line of sight, if the next model isn't ready to walk out, you can see that and be ready to talk on the fly. (i.e. Just a reminder, tonight's fashion show is brought to you by Claire's Boutique. Claire's serving you since 1975, is blah blah blah. OR Lets hear it for all the sponsors of today's fashion show. etc.)

8) Do not plan on playing an entire song.

9) If at all possible, choose or suggest popular, upbeat songs but not ones that distract (for example, you don't want Cupid Shuffle, because you don't want people thinking about that dance, you want people focused on the model). Something like Classic by MTKO, Sexyback by JT, Boom Boom Pow by the Black Eyed Peas. Bright upbeat pop songs I have found work best, but the models will know what they want.

10) If there is a rehearsal, try and go. If you can set up and run sound for it, try and do that (esp. if you can get paid for it). That will help you get a sense of how the models will walk out, where they will be walking out from, where to set up, how long it will take for them to walk down the runway, etc.

11) Do they want lights? The ones I've worked didn't but some might want a stage lighting effect.

12) Have background music prepared for the pre-show and the post show.

Hope this helps
 
And addendum: Somehow I missed this was mostly a church thing. Maybe something from Mary, Mary; Erica Campbell (be careful though there is a former porn star by the same name), Kirk Franklin, Group 1 Crew. I'm just spitballing here. Again, talk to your client to get a list of songs from the models or if not the models themselves.

R. Kelly I believe I Can Fly would probably be a good one. Prince Most Beautiful Girl In The World.
 
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If you agreed to do it, backing out now is a bad idea. I would certainly try to see if they have a preference for songs.

But I would only contact them a few times via phone or email. The final contact would simply state that in our experience, it's better to have the song planned out for each model in advance. It's better to find the right part or the song for the model too. Also, While not probable, it's possible that we may not have a song with us that they want

If for some reason, that's impossible to get beforehand, we'll create a list that we believe will work very well.

Look forward to seeing you there.

But this is something I would have discussed when booking it. Do you want specific songs? Do you want us to choose? If you need specific songs, we need them supplied by xx date or zzz happens.
I did here what I normally do and I asked what music did they want for the event? That's a given for me to do this. They really never came up with much. It seems like everybody wants to pass that responsibility to someone else. I've been told to contact this one. I contact that person and then they tell me to contact someone else and not them. This is how it's going. I'll be fine the day of because I asked would it be OK if I ask the models the song they would like to come out on. I haven't gotten any resistance to that idea. So I will make sure I carry my Ipad and be prepared to go online if need be to find a song and play it.