Well, I had my first real fail at a wedding this evening and I'm kicking myself in the @ss over and over - Not sure I want to handle this pressure but I'm a damn good public speaker and I know music - but every single time I picked up one of my cordless mikes, I got shocked and a loud boom noise would go over the active speakers. Now it wasn't feedback, it was something electrical. So after an hour of problems, I finally re-routed the cordless speaker system to another electrical outlet and was it fine after that - but not until looking like a complete idiot for the first hour and I don't think the bride and groom was very happy either - but by the end of the night after resolving the mic issues the rest of the reception went flawless - but my butt is whipped and I'm so totally sick to my stomach about this - I was really thinking about giving this up and refunding half of my fee back to the bride and groom because of the mic issues but the bride said she had an awesome time - but I know better! :trisad:
I'm So Ready To Give Up - I'm Going To Have A Heart Attack
- Thread starter DJ Auntie M
- Start date
If the bride and groom are happy...you did your job.
Did you know we are a lot harder on ourselves than anyone else?
Go watch a few other dj shows and you will 9/10 find yourself critiquing the other dj without even knowing it. You'll pick up on the bad things....but you know the funny part? No one else really gives a two craps.
I've watched other djs and have seen their many shortcomings...and I wondered for the longest time how they are in business still. The answer is a combination of many things...but the most important one.....guests and clients usually are understanding.
Did you know we are a lot harder on ourselves than anyone else?
Go watch a few other dj shows and you will 9/10 find yourself critiquing the other dj without even knowing it. You'll pick up on the bad things....but you know the funny part? No one else really gives a two craps.
I've watched other djs and have seen their many shortcomings...and I wondered for the longest time how they are in business still. The answer is a combination of many things...but the most important one.....guests and clients usually are understanding.
And on a side note to clear up my last post. If you were a horrible dj overall...everyone would know!
I think you are in great shape! Dont sweat it.
I think you are in great shape! Dont sweat it.
Sorry to hear that Mary. As unfortunate as these situations are, we all have had them. It's how we learn and grow. Don't give up and don't stop believing in yourself.
Running a weekly Karaoke show is no simple task either and you are Baltimore's queen. If at the end of the day, the couple were happy, you did well. Send them a nice card thanking them and expressing your apologies. Instead of a cash refund, you could send a gift basket or dinner?
Running a weekly Karaoke show is no simple task either and you are Baltimore's queen. If at the end of the day, the couple were happy, you did well. Send them a nice card thanking them and expressing your apologies. Instead of a cash refund, you could send a gift basket or dinner?
DJ PAUL
Director of Entertainment Fulfillment
No need to beat yourself up over it. Hey sh t happens! You learned an alternative solution if it ever happens again, right?
Paul
Paul
Thanks everyone for your encouraging replies! I have been up since 6:00 this morning setting up the system and trying all the equipment out, which by the way I did several days before the wedding and everything is working just as it should be. I really do think I was having some kind of grounding issue with the venue's electrical system. Now I was there and set up 2 hours before the wedding reception and tested the mics & music - no problem. Turned everything off and powered back on 10 minutes before the cocktail hour started and BOOM - everything had static issues. The mics, the mixer, the laptop - everytime I touch something I would get a static buzz through the speakers. Re-routed the speakers to seperate outlets with adapters and they were fine. I was more worried about the first dance to not even think about fixing the mic problem until after several attempts to speak through them I knew I would have to re-route the electric cords for the mic system as well. All this in the first hour and by then I was a total wreck - not good when you are MCing a wedding reception. The photographer finally came up and said to get a grip - everything is fine - LOL! Your probably right, I'm beating myself up more than anyone else there did but I was very confident about my system because the last three weddings I had used the same set up I had zero problems. Oh well, I guess I have to leave this one behind me but lessons learned ,that's for sure!
Yup I know that panicked feeling well... once you are in panic mode its difficult to recover our composure but, like a true professional it sounds like you did even if it didn't feel like you did... everyone else thinks you did.
Hank -Thanks, I'm going to take your idea and send them a card with a dinner certificate inside. Not quite sure what I can say or if I could say enough to express my apologies for the first hour of their reception, I can't take it back - that's why I feel like total dog poop over it, and I let it frazzle me to the point that I thought I was going to have a heart attack. Now that would have been a memorable moment for the bride and groom! And "Baltimore's Queen of Karaoke" - I like it!!!!!!!!!
Congratulations! You hit a problem, resolved it and got back on track for a great party. That is MUCH better than most DJ's I have heard who fail in soooo many ways:
Hearing - You knew there was a problem - many seem to be deaf!
Effort - You attempted to fix it - many just connect everything and don't seem to care and their system just sounds the way it does....
Knowledge - You knew what to fix and solved the problem.
Composure - You hit the adrenaline rush that nature gives us for fight or flight, used that to focus your mind, solved the issue and calmed back down. Many people go into panic mode then can't think correctly, get defensive or click into offensive mode and try blame the world for the problem ruining the event for everyone.
Again, great job!
Hearing - You knew there was a problem - many seem to be deaf!
Effort - You attempted to fix it - many just connect everything and don't seem to care and their system just sounds the way it does....
Knowledge - You knew what to fix and solved the problem.
Composure - You hit the adrenaline rush that nature gives us for fight or flight, used that to focus your mind, solved the issue and calmed back down. Many people go into panic mode then can't think correctly, get defensive or click into offensive mode and try blame the world for the problem ruining the event for everyone.
Again, great job!
Thanks Scott - My husband tells me I try to be too perfect! Although I know it wasn't perfect, the last two hours went off without any issues at all. I just can't kick that nagging feeling this morning that I "ruined" someone's wedding reception!
Just have another beer -- the anxiety will be over in a few minutes... 
BTW, cordless mics are neither grounded, nor physically attached to anything to give you a shock (they are usually 9v DC). It would have to be static, or you were touching something else when you grabbed them, or moved around equipment that was generating a static field.
Get an anti-static mat, or carry a used dryer sheet on you.
BTW, cordless mics are neither grounded, nor physically attached to anything to give you a shock (they are usually 9v DC). It would have to be static, or you were touching something else when you grabbed them, or moved around equipment that was generating a static field.
Get an anti-static mat, or carry a used dryer sheet on you.
Just have another beer -- the anxiety will be over in a few minutes...
BTW, cordless mics are neither grounded, nor physically attached to anything to give you a shock (they are usually 9v DC). It would have to be static, or you were touching something else when you grabbed them, or moved around equipment that was generating a static field.
Get an anti-static mat, or carry a used dryer sheet on you.
Thanks Rick - Now that I'm thinking about your right Rick but I had the electrical cord the wireless system plugged into a power strip as well as the speakers. Removed all three and grounded them into their own seperate outlets. Maybe it had something to do with the power strip - I don't know but I will look into that anti-static mat and a couple of new power surge strips. It's five o'clock somewhere!!!
If you are using a Power Strip I would highly suggest you replace that with a Power Conditioner. Take your pick http://www.nlfxpro.com/cart/home.php?cat=1009
I use two of the following. This http://www.nlfxpro.com/cart/product.php?productid=23487&cat=1009&page=3
and this http://www.nlfxpro.com/cart/product.php?productid=23488&cat=1009&page=3
You beat me to it, there's no way a cordless mic can create a shock like that.
My guess is that it's the power strip Is it one of those inexpensive plastic ones? They can't handle any amounts of power, check to see if it's starting to melt on the inside. I agree with a houstondj that a power conditioner is the way to go.
Maybe it was your electrifying personality during the show.
Yes an hour into the reception my head was spinning around and I was spitting out green pea soup - It was not all that pretty but electrifying to say the least!!!:tritongue:
Mary...was there carpet on the floor except for the dance floor? And, was it "dry" in the room? I have those color squares that go together like puzzle pieces that I turn over so only the grey is visible. I've had static problems before when walking from carpet on to them. I'd touch any piece of my equipment and I get a "shock" and of course it would transmit through the speakers. But, if I stayed on the "matt" and not wonder around the room it was ok...not more static. Just a thought!
Your resolve to quickly find the answer was impressive. Staying "cool" under those situations isn't easy. The seat just pours out of me because I'm stressed. You did very well under the circumstances.
Your resolve to quickly find the answer was impressive. Staying "cool" under those situations isn't easy. The seat just pours out of me because I'm stressed. You did very well under the circumstances.
Mary, if it's any help...
We don't own an active speaker rig... but I recall seeing this issue addressed before. Apparently it's best to feed active cabs from the same AC bus.
I've got to give you credit for staying focused and fixing the problem on the spot. I know, it's not easy to avoid getting into panic mode when something isn't working right at the last moment. Just ask Shirl about me, lol.
Sometimes, it seems like, no matter how much you "rehearse" your rig before you load out for a show, Old Man Murphy is waiting at the venue to throw a wrench in the works at the last moment.
Dear lord, we've been there and done that. More times than we'd care to admit. We limped through intros on one channel until we had time during dinner to troubleshoot. Another night, our rig tripped the house breaker when we fired up the mids amp. Had to use another AC outlet ~ the one we had was on a GFCI.
But I digress. The B&G are happy with your service and that's what matters. They're not beating you up. Neither should you.
We don't own an active speaker rig... but I recall seeing this issue addressed before. Apparently it's best to feed active cabs from the same AC bus.
I've got to give you credit for staying focused and fixing the problem on the spot. I know, it's not easy to avoid getting into panic mode when something isn't working right at the last moment. Just ask Shirl about me, lol.
Sometimes, it seems like, no matter how much you "rehearse" your rig before you load out for a show, Old Man Murphy is waiting at the venue to throw a wrench in the works at the last moment.
Dear lord, we've been there and done that. More times than we'd care to admit. We limped through intros on one channel until we had time during dinner to troubleshoot. Another night, our rig tripped the house breaker when we fired up the mids amp. Had to use another AC outlet ~ the one we had was on a GFCI.
But I digress. The B&G are happy with your service and that's what matters. They're not beating you up. Neither should you.
Mary, if it's any help...
We don't own an active speaker rig... but I recall seeing this issue addressed before. Apparently it's best to feed active cabs from the same AC bus.
I've got to give you credit for staying focused and fixing the problem on the spot. I know, it's not easy to avoid getting into panic mode when something isn't working right at the last moment. Just ask Shirl about me, lol.
Sometimes, it seems like, no matter how much you "rehearse" your rig before you load out for a show, Old Man Murphy is waiting at the venue to throw a wrench in the works at the last moment.
Dear lord, we've been there and done that. More times than we'd care to admit. We limped through intros on one channel until we had time during dinner to troubleshoot. Another night, our rig tripped the house breaker when we fired up the mids amp. Had to use another AC outlet ~ the one we had was on a GFCI.
But I digress. The B&G are happy with your service and that's what matters. They're not beating you up. Neither should you.
Thanks Fred - It's enlighting to hear I'm not the only one with issues and stories involving equipment. I do own both but decided to use the passive speaker system for my Friday Night Karaoke and I purchased two active speakers and have been using them the last three weddings I did with no problems until last evening. Every thing I touched gave me an electric shook. It drove me crazy to say the least.
Anyway, I took Hank's advice and sent off a gift certificate to the bride and groom from their favorite restaurant with a brief note apologizing for the technical problems with the equipment during the first hour. I assure them that the system was checked out prior to the wedding reception and was not really sure what caused the problem but whatever it was I will make no excuse for it happening. Hopefully the $100 gift certificate will help them see me in a more professional manner.
Thanks again everyone - I really am thinking about going back to my passive system - not sure I trust the active system unless I do something first about the static situation first.