Problem:
The stage is set
for the largest wedding in your town's history. They are expecting
1500+ guests. It will be held on the greens at the local country club
un beautiful white tents. No expense has been spared. Caterers are
being imported fro the big cities and a portable kitchen will be
brought in. The flowers are flown in from Hawaii and the Bride's gown
is a designer original. It is a wedding fit for a soap opera and the
entertainment they have chosen is you.
This is the gig of
the century that has come along where the Bride is willing to pay
$2500+ for your services to have you personally play for her
reception. During your consultation you are presented with a 3 page
list of music. This list is filled with odd songs that are not really
danceable. Really looking a little closer the lists are filled with
music that is just plain crap! Album cuts, B-artists, imports, etc.
She informs you that she and her fiancee spent two days choosing the
music and this is the ONLY music she wants played. She is atimate
about you playing only those songs.
Remember all eyes
will be on this wedding, the media is setting up shop. On one hand
you will never play at a more prestigious gig than this wedding and
on the other hundreds of future clients could be in attendance. What
do you do? Who controls your music?
Responses:
Len
Party Central
Here's what I
always do (regardless of how "high profile" the client is).
"It's obvious
you've put a lot of time and energy into preparing the music for this
event. We'll be happy to play it. However, there are sometimes
situations where the guests are not responding to the music you have
put so much thought into and they would prefer something else. If
that happens at your event we will discuss the situation with you at
that time and go accord to your wishes. We want you to be happy but
we also want your guests to be happy."
I've done several
where they even went so far as to pre-record everything on tape or cd
and I all did was switch from one to the next. Most of the time the
music doesn't work (in my opinion) but the client is always happy
with the results.
I would further
put a small sign (visible only from a few feet away) that the music
was pre-selected by the client and that we unfortunately can't honor
any other requests.
Peter Merry
Last Dance
In all my years I
have never, ever been put in this position. I have had clients write
huge requests lists and even rpovide a stack of unusual CDs, but I
have never had them limit to music that obvioulsy sucked.
But I would
approach it in this manner...
I would pull out
all of the danceable songs and save them for dancing and then pre-mix
the other requests to play during the cocktail hour and especially
during the meal. I would do my best to stick to their requests during
dancing, but if they didn't give me at least a little leway to mix in
other requests for dancing, I may opt to pass on the job.
What would you do? Post
It On DJchat
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