Did my first gig in a while this weekend. The room was full, standing room only for the latecomers, with at least 20 kids running around. The room was buzzing from before 8pm; kids dancing, some parents joining them. This continued after the buffet, until about 10pm when the room seemed to empty. This was a mixture of people leaving or going into a side room where they could sit down.

Problem is, the floor began to thin out. By 10:30, it was empty. I had pockets of people dancing in dark corners or by the buffet but nobody on the dance floor! I tried a few different techniques but never managed to get more than a few people dancing. I was totally gutted.

At the end of the night a guy came to see me. He asked me for a card! I had to question him, was he just being nice to me? He thought I'd done a great job and would like me to DJ his party. He said he had tried to dance but the kids had got in his way.

I was gob-smacked. As he left another bloke came to shake my hand to say well done. He had enjoyed the music, too. When he left, another bloke came to thank me. Were these the most polite people in the world or what?!?! The party girl was very happy, too. As was her hubby.

But why was the floor virtually empty from 10pm? Was it the kids fault? Do you guys experience nights where kids stop the adults from dancing?

Perplexed in Bournemouth.

Running around the dancefloor screaming, bursting balloons, climbing onto the stage....Don't you just love 'em?

Then to top it all they get tired at 9.30 and their family all either goes home or disappears into a quieter back room to settle the little cherub down on the bench seats with dad's jacket over them.

They are undoubtedly an occupational hazard in a nice sort of way. The best way I find of dealing with such rowdy hoardes of little tearaways is to get the kiddies' dance tracks out of the way nice and early. Hopefully they will have all crashed out or become fed up of being on the dancefloor by the time the meaty stuff comes on.

i always entertian the children early on, infact its one of my unique selling points, if theres going to be alot of kids, i even take a bubble machine along and give out a few glowsticks!

The parents are normally very appreciative, as it gives them a break and tires the kids out, so they can put them to sleep across a couple of chairs :p

Do kids ruin Disco?

Yes they flippin do any one under the age of 31 should be banned from them IMHO... Then I can get down to playing the good stuff.... MMM Socks yeah baby!!!!!


Nik

Getting the kids to throw a few shapes instead of sausage rolls can't be bad!

Last two clients have said that kids will not be at their weddings.

I've had a number of clients like that.

Kids are fine at weddings if included in, for example, dancing with the adults.

They're not so fine when left, completely unchecked, to run around all over the place with the potential to cause accidents.

I've had this at a few 40ths, adults outside smoking/at the bar, and kids chasing each other around the dance floor.
I'll almost certainly try to run a few kids games in future.

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