About 90% of the wedding functions we do finish at 1am. I was wondering if it is the same in other parts of the country. Personnally I think 1 o'clock is too late for most wedding receptions where guests have been up and about since early the previous day but it seems to be the norm here and it's not unusual to play for 5, even 6 hours non-stop (some don't even have a buffet).

Let us know what it's like where you are.

Paul S

Mainly 12 Middnight finishes for me, 12.30 or 1AM finishes maybe only account for 2 out of 10 functions. A lot, of course has to do with the local council licensing laws, and the policy of the venue.

I think the longest one that I have ever done was a 12 midday to 1AM finish, in around 1992 - even then I only charged £250 - a bargain, looking back on it now!

Having said that, i've got a 5PM - 1AM Wedding coming up in July, and that is the longest function that i'm booked for, so far this year. The Majority of weddings in this area run 7.30 / 8.00 PM until 12.00 Midnight

Normally between 12 & 1am, the longest was 12 mid day to 9am.

I got paid a bundle

I had a couple of other DJ's coming & playing a a set each to give me a break, and there were 2 live bands as well

most weddings in Blackpool are 7.30/8.00 till 12 but some of the larger hotels do till 1.00. Beware the Hilton all there functions are till 2 am.... saying that theres never many left at that time lol.

the problem here is a mobile disco is not trendy. the punters only seem to have fun once they've paid a £5 admission charge, £3.20 for the bottle of warm wkd and swin there way to the toilet...... strange think is they will dance to exactly the same songs i play lol

anyway off to do a wedding now, break a leg

Luckily, the main venue that I seem to get booked for, finishes at 12midnight, but wont allow gear to be moved out of the room until next day, due to possible disturbance of guests (But they are incrediblely good to me in terms of security...they give ME the key to the function room... )

In my ol' agency years, I do recall doing a 29hour gig for charity ("don' like to talk about it Mate" ) started at 7pm Friday night...finished midnight Saturday... I only charged them half what I'd normally charge for a regular 5hr gig...Great fun thou....you get the rare chance to play EVERY request......

[QUOTE]the problem here is a mobile disco is not trendy. the punters only seem to have fun once they've paid a £5 admission charge, £3.20 for the bottle of warm wkd and swin there way to the toilet...... strange think is they will dance to exactly the same songs i play lol

I have often thought that. Manys the time Ive flogged my guts out for a party- they have sat on their a**es all night or propped the bar up- then swanned off to a club to dance to tracks that i have just played.
Another irritating thing I have found lately.Occasionally I go to the local Hilton on a Sat. night off to see the weeks "look-a-like"act (have you noticed how popular these so called look a like tribute acts have become).I usually wait till the dinner has finished and the DJ is doing the warm up;then I just sidle in and stand at the bar!!Back to my point. The DJ is playing the same cheese as you and I,the only difference is that the floor is PACKED and I do mean PACKED.They are packed like sardines on that floor!! I reckon they must be thinking "well, Ive paid my £19.50 and Im going to get my moneys worth"
And the DJ gets to wear a tux!!!

Hi
80% of my gigs are weddings and I would say 8 out of 10 end at midnight so i always price on set up not before 6pm Performance 7-12mn
Normally 7 to 9pm is 'Elevator music' for the meet and greets. Then 1st dance buffet time then warm up and main disco
Anything out side those times attracts an hourly charge
I find more and more brides try getting you in to set up early in the day which is ok so long as it is secure and they pay the additional fees.
I find most people hve had enough by midnight having been attending a wedding all day long and the extra time always adds to the potential for drunken problems

Most of the weddings I've done have started at 6pm then ended at 1am,

QUOTE

I find more and more brides try getting you in to set up early in the day

I've found this too, I normally have to set up around 3 to be ready at 6 but between these times they have a meal and chat so time its 6 they get up and dance!!

QUOTE

the problem here is a mobile disco is not trendy. the punters only seem to have fun once they've paid a £5 admission charge, £3.20 for the bottle of warm wkd and swin there way to the toilet...... strange think is they will dance to exactly the same songs i play

I also get this with doing pubs on a friday, they come in have a few drinks then disappear!! ,I found that if I play d+b remixs of chart or r+b stuff this sum times gets em going!!

Most weddings in Kent are from 7.30 till 11.30 however I do a wedding package where I play background music through the wedding breakfast.
I have a wedding comming up in Cornwll soon which is a 700 mile round trip so expecting that to be a good 24 hours.

Rob

RShutchinson-You only live up the road from me!!(Rochester)

How comes I have the longer gigs!!!

QUOTE (Dj SBD @ Jun 1 2003, 08:58 PM)

RShutchinson-You only live up the road from me!!(Rochester) How comes I have the longer gigs!!!

Not sure but I dont just do Chatham I do all of the UK.

I have a wedding in Rochester next February where they want me to start background music at 4 until 8pm the a disco until 10.30
I aslo have one in Hasting in August where they want me to start the disco at 8 the they have an Elvis impersonator on for 1.5 hrs then disco until 11pm and are still paying the same rate that every one else pays.

Rob

I agree with Rob on this one, most of my wedding functions are 7.30 to 11.30. I am always willing to start earlier if they want of course, but it involves them paying for extra hours!

8 to 12 normally
background music between 8 and 9.30 for B&G to meet thier guests
9.30 to 10.00 buffet
10.00 start !!
Did a gig last night, started at 10, finished at 11.30, no lights, loud music or talking please......ideal

hahahaha

when I first read the topic I thought it was speaking about something else

oh well then girls will never know then


anyway my average time here are usually 6pm to 12am (midnight)

and if it always happens I could have a double wedding in one day

11am to 3pm

this way it give me plenty of time to pull down and setup at the new venue

have a great weekend