Does anyone else sometimes find working with other entertainers a bit daunting. As most of you are probably aware I've been djing for the best part of 26 years but I still find this side of the job a bit iffy. Sometimes they don't want to give you a rough idea what they're going to be playing or they don't tell you their name. I also hate taking them off as I never know whether they're going to do an encore or anything. Is it just me or are there other people have the same problems?

I regularly work with bands a generally find the performers a little highly strung. I have always found it a good ploy to make friends with the sound engineer and everything is sweet from there on in. I always prefer to set up first as I am usually last to finish and they can crack down their kit without snagging my cabling.
As far as playlists are concerned, if they haven’t got the courtesy to give you a list of tracks to stay away from then alls fair in love and war.

Regards

Mark

Hi

We've worked with several live acts over the last 18 months or so and not had any difficulties.

Wherever possible I like to try and talk to the main man/girl before the actual date to get a feel for who I'm dealing with. More often than not they will apreciate someone who is more organised than your average band/dj.

Also, and this will very much depend on the circumstances you find yourself in, if you can at least give the impresion that you're in charge, but without being forceful or bossy, most people will pretty much fit into what you're suggesting. It's certainly worked for us over the last little while and I'd have no reservations of working with more acts.

In fact one of our previous customers who so convinced that we'd worked with this particular band before, they were totally stunned when they found out we'd never met, such was the amount of good feeling and cooperation we had going between us.

I think one or the main watch words is"compromise" yup sometimes you will have to give up the precious stage space and just fit in where you can.

Darren

Many years ago, in my hometown, there was enormous tension between DJs and bands and they barely communicated with each other. Bands regarded DJs as some kind of trick that didn't play "real music".

If the situation is as bad as this in your area, I would have to say that you just have to do your best. In my area years ago bands used to deliberately crash in on the DJ with an encore, it wasn't miscommunication, it was done deliberately.

I know this is true because the situation has died down now and is more positive and the bands have admitted to me that they did do it deliberately. Frequently they did this to demonstrate the superiority of their sound system. This was back in the days when DJs used Citronic decks with ceramic needles and those awful bipolar amps that were loud but low in quality.

If this is your situation, there is really not that much you can do about it but accept it with a measure of good grace. If you cause too much trouble than you are going to upset the mood of the party.

If they really won't tell you their name, find it out from the hosts. A precaution you can take is to start off by saying "Ladies And Gentlemen, let's hear it for Chip On My Shoulder are they going to do an encore?". However, years ago when I used to do that some of the bands would start off with the encore before you even had those words out of your mouth.

Another reason they may not be giving you clear signals as to what the situation is, is because they don't want you "inheriting" "their" packed dance floor, but feel that you should have to work to build it up yourself, like they did.

Just make sure that you have a very good sound system and try to have a floorfiller ready. That's about all I can say.

It's just the same as any other entertainment profession. You can work in a venue with 3 or 4 function rooms and have a friendly chat with the other DJ's working in the other rooms during the collective Buffet breaks. Most will be friendly and happy to meet you, others will give you the cold shoulder and appear unfriendly and perhaps possess some professional Jealousy or the Smug 'I'm too good to talk to you' attitude.

The same basically applies to Bands and other entertainers, and its down to the attitude of the individual(s) and not automatically down to the fact that they are in a band.

Over the years I've worked with live entertainers who have been friendly, approachable and happy to work with us on a professional level, and sometimes sit and share a drink at the end of the gig. Other Bands and artistes have chosen not to speak, and wouldn't pi** on you if you were on fire. If we are at a function with a band / solo artiste then we make the effort to chat with them, if they choose to be aloof, then that is their problem, but at least the olive branch approach has been made.

I currently do a few gigs with a local band, where they offer the option of a complete Disco and Band package to their clients. If the client books this then the band book us as their perfered disco. It works well, and basically it is acknowledged that we are purely booked to support the band, and that they are the main attraction. However it works well, because not only is it an easy night for us, but there is non of this 'we are better than you' attitude and the fact that we are only booked as their 'support' act is never thrown back in our face, unlike some bands who act like spoiled Drama Queens and keep reminding you of the fact that 'they are better than you' .

I find most bands think they are THE entertainment, disco is just there to fill in and work around them.

But worse, a lot worse, are the Fancy dress Karaoke brigade know as "Tribute acts". The majority turn up, usually with a mini-disc, a tiny mixer and a microphone, take one look at the decent PA the disco (me) have set up and it's either "Can I run through your PA" or they set their 1x15s up right in front of yours. They get paid at least twice what I get a night, then they pack away while you are trying to finish the night off. One guy had the cheek to complain to the venue management when I said I wanted £50 for him to run through my PA. He was on £500, I get £150. And he was crap.

I have worked with a lot of these in the past 18 months, and I would say 3 actually bought a decent show, the remainder were not worth the money.

I just wish I could sing...... I reckon I could only get away with being Buster Bloodvesell.....

Good points raised, what about making a decision whether you bring an act back on or not. I was playing at hotel one year and was meant to bring the group back on for an encore but decided due to the response or lack of should I say from the crowd I did'nt bother. The group were up in arms about it.

I was working with a tribute artists a few years ago I had to introduce them etc, then they finished thier set at 10.30pm and as usual starting thier breakdown. They had brought their own stage, clearly the stage I was standing on was not good enough for them. So as they were packing down one of the humpers slammed a flightcase down on my stage causing my CD to jump, when I moaned at him, he stated 'Only doing my job, tuff'!,
Now I much prefer to even even, not mad, so the next record on was changed and I stuck 'Saturday Night' by Whigfield in the drawer (I told you it was a while ago), and over the mic I asked if anyone knew the dance, Of course EVERYONE stuck thier hands up so I invited everyone onto the bands stage to show us, the band came flying over as it was the last bit of kit they needed. You already know the response I gave about doing my job !!, And yes I did play enough cheesey records for the dancers to stay on the stage for the rest of the night.

But if you work with big name bands/artists they can never do enough for you, it seems they have grown out of the mentallity of the smaller bands.

I love working with live music and bands. But im really into that kind of thing. I would have to say most of the comments here about the egos seem to be pretty accurate. I think the smaller groups are still living in the dream world of being something they are not. This really gets to me as i have played with bands for what seems all my life and i always treat the crew and support acts or Djs with the respect they deserve. After all we all have the same aim to entertain dont we?

Like Andy says the bigger acts really do treat you well. One act that we work with each year at a big do always gives us a shout out in his performance and brings us over drinks and food and will have a chat with us. And this guy really was a huge name. But fair play to him, he doesnt have to do anything like that.

Whenever one of my bands are on we dont pack away until everything is finished and the house lights are on. I just wish others would follow pitch, granted we all want to get home as early as possible. But a bit of professionalism wouldnt go a miss hey?

I work with a lot of live bands / tribute / comedians etc, and 99.9% of the time have no trouble.

here are the guidelines I work from.

1. If there is a small stage, let the band have it, and I will set up to the side or in another part of the room (lets face it if the client is paying the 3 or 4 times your fee, the client considers them to be the main entertainment)
2. I always diplomatically ask for a play list, if they do not have one I explain my reasons why, then they seem to understand and write one out for you.
3. I ask if the intend to encore, saves any embarresment.
4. If it is a tribuite act don't play any music from that artiste.

as I say this works for me, and I get many reccomendations from live bands from disco's

Agree whole heartedly here with Ian, as far as i am concerned ,a live band is the entertainment and i do my uptmost to work around them. i have hardly ever had any problems with them and do get quite a lot of work from their recommendations.

Great thread, useful comments. I love ADS' methods

When you are finishing your first set and the band is about to come on, do you find they are playing random notes all over your record? I must remember to rehearse my scraching skills as I am about to come on after a band

Seriously, it's all in communication. Arrive, talk with the band leader, compromise if necessary...

Egos in the music biz

I have provide and engineered sound systems for bands and discos for many years and whenever I can I try to create the appearance of it being one show that works together rather than a series of seperate acts.

Assuming the PA for the band is the larger and higher spec (not always the case I know) then we try to persuade the DJ to run through the PA and the DJ takes on the role of Compare.

This avoids system competitions and helps all acts to agree schedules, etc. It also means that the sound engineer can mix band volumes with DJ volumes so that everything from the stage is balanced and focussed on the best result for the audience.

That, after all, is a sound engineers job.

While the DJ is playing out, the band and associated on-stage kit can be removed leaving only PA amps, outboard and speaker stacks to remove at the end of the night. An extra hour on the night for the PA crew but worth it because the event is hugely improved.

As with everything - treat people how you wish to be treated yourself - adopt this attitude and no matter who you work alongside, you will get the same back. I have never had a problem working with any live act... comedian, band, ventriloquist - as long as you approach the job with professionalism and try to be as accommodating as possible then I cant see anyone having any problems.

Most of what I have to say has been said already. The only thing I want to add is that having been part of a band you do prance around like you own the joint - I never did, drummers are very down to earth, friendly people

This goes doubly for the lead singer, gorgeous guitarist, etc.

I can always break the ice by talking about my days of gigging, setting-up, etc. Once you're talking you can achieve most things amicably. As Ian says, tell them why you want a set list, ask if they've got any 'big' gigs coming up that you can 'promote for them', introduce them by name. It's verging on true showbiz - false smiles and I love these guys, but it does look professional and it does work.

On two specific occassions, the bands/singer has actually repaid the compliment..."Thanks folks, we're going to hand you back to one of the countries top DJ's, blah, blah..."

It was very embarassing.

Just wait until they ask you to mix into their last track and vice versa

Good topic - personally I prefer to do the complete gig myself but on occasion I take one where there is other entertainment also booked (this Thurs is the next) .

I never have had a problem with other acts/bands. The way I look at it is we're all there for the same purpose and the easiest way is to work together to achieve this. A firm handshake & introductions normally sets the rapport, then a chat about who'll set up where, timings etc.

The only issue I do have with some bands is that, particularly at family functions, they play far too loud - driving people out of the room, who then make themselves comfortable elsewhere never to return, even when the quieter disco starts.

If I could just relate one other event that happened earlier this year - the room had 2 stages and when we arrived the band had already set up on one so we started on the other. 20 mins later the DM approached & told us that the bride wanted us to swop stages with the band after telling him it would delay the start we complied, not understanding the reason but being aware that she was adamant this would make her night so much better

PaulS

I have to agree with 5 star. the first gig that I did with a band where I was helping a local dj the band were an excellent beatles tribute band and had the volume etc at a pleasant level but then when I was working with a teenage band they all had big egos and tried to make everyone permanently deaf.

I Have been working with bands for over 5 years (i'm in one ) so when i take the booking i always ask if there will be any other entertainment there.

Then: I either ask the contact for the details of the entertainer(s) and then contact them directly. Or ask them to contact them and get me some details. As i have the power and lightshow, i will offer to supply the entertainer(s) witha PA/lighting etc. if i know i am supplying the sound for the band as well, then all the leads, mics etc are all considdered.

Generally, i always arrive early - especially when there is a band so i can run my leads and setup my gear first. Then when the other entertainment arrives, i have a chat with them and decide on how to plan the night - i have never had any bands, groups, clowns, magicians etc been a problem, they are always forthcoming and helpfull. Dunno it may just be me but i always offer them lighting as normally bands dont have any lighting for the dancefloor, and if they do its generally basic.

Most groups are happy that someone else can make them look good as its less for them to set up and pack down!

I like working with bands... It makes an easier night! you can have a break when the're playing!

I have worked alongside 3 other tribute acts in the past. Two of which were young ladies who sang 60s & 70s, the third a guy called ian scott who was a tom jones & neil diamond tribute act, (maybe you've heard of him?) Ian scott had a brilliant sound system that blew mine away, but his lighting rig was a bit naff. Otherwise we worked together very well & he asked if i'd introduce him at the start and then again on the encore.

After the sudden drop in volume from my naff sound system after ian scotts performance, i went and bought my current sound system. One of the ladies singers asked if i would sell her my kit as the sound quality (not volume) of my system was way superior, and the other lady was on midway through the night for an hour, and i had been playing alot of 70s jacksons etc with fairly bassy beats, and she was most upset afterwards as she had to crank her system up so much to keep up with mine that it sounded horrendous.

This is a good thread! I have only ever worked once with a band, but on New Years eve I am working with a band. Am a little nervous, but where I am DJing there is a booth and a stage so shall be working from the Booth which makes it a easier! Before I start am gonna get details of the Bands names and get all the info I need like timings. Want New Years Eve to be best one I have ever done!

I work with live bands/singers roughly once or twice a month (depending on the time of year and function). There are bands, who are usually on the higher end of the professional scale, that are a pleasure to work with. However, there are bands who think the DJ is a waste of space.

Some members may recall a lenghthy thread on this forum when I mocked the band because, in my opinion, they deliberately opened a set of fire doors and knocked the power off to my equipment. Needless to say, I had informed the band (on the night and on previous occasions I had worked with them) that they must not open the doors.

It was pretty obvious to me and other members of staff that the band had deliberately done this act.

Anyway, I was working with this band again (a couple of weeks ago) and I was chatting to them before the function started. The band leader asked if I was contracted to every function - I am, but if the client wants to bring in another disco or a band they have the option to do so. He said that they offered a disco as a part of their package, but would instead tell the client that the in-house DJ was very good. So, you could say that despite the mocking I gave them, they still put my name forward to their clients who used them and the venue.

That particular band aside, I always try to speak to the 'artistes' and find out what music they will be playing and also arrange the slots for them and the disco - with the final OK coming from the organisor. Some bands will treat you like something they want to get rid of from the bottom of their shoe. Others couldn't be more helpful and realise that we both have a job to do.

I always ask the bands to give me some sort of indication that they are coming to the end of their set so I can ask the audience to show their appreciation and also tell the guests when they are on next. When the band comes back on I always give them a formal introduction and ask if they want a similar piece of music played before they come on to keep my music style in-line with what they are starting up with - this can keep a crowd on the floor for when the band comes back on. It's not always possible to change a style into what the band are doing without clearing the floor, in which case will use my judgement.

As others have said, if you hold out the olive branch and you get no reaction, you have at least tried.

DJJ

Hold out the olive branch...nice