well a have been booked in for a 21st for in a couple of weeks. and the client has informed me most of the guests will be special needs ranging from guests being down syndrome to learning, behavioural and mental difficulties etc. I have accepted the booking noy out of guilt if i turned it down/made my excuses (as i thought some people would do for whatever reason) as at the end of the day it is a booking from a client regarding entertainment for a night like all our work stems from.

although i am asking you lot on just any advice on hoe to approach this gig and guests etc etc mainly because i have never had dealing or encounterd/been in the presence of a special need person (whatever it may be) for a great deal of time etc.

As i said to the clint is there any specific way you want me to approach the night, music type etc? she just repleid saying more or less treat it like any other 21st. Which was my intension (just thought it to be curtious of me to ask)

so guys over to you have you had a gig like this or any general advice etc would be much appreciated for piece of mind

I did a gig believe it or not for the deaf association by our area, i presumed all the guests would be deaf, so therefore didnt matter what i played and how loud etc ...was a bit of a joke with some of the lads at the time, the deaf wanting a disco etc......but to my amazement, they loved it, dance floor was full and all had a good time, it turned out their was different levels of deafness and the bass beat could be felt anyway by most....my point being that i would treat it as any other gig, there will be people who are very disabled and people who may only have some minor disability, but if you do the same as usual, i think it should be a succsess. Obviously more attention to safety than usual and perhaps be a bit more understanding if required, but other than that go for it matey and dont look back, have a good one

im sure you will be fine, i used to do a regular weekly one for a disabled group and they were fine a few danced with there helpers and a couple always asked to sing but music was all the usual requests.

It will be the most rewarding gig of the year, I do some, some for deaf people, they have a special mat and I put my speakers on the mat, which then 'picks up' the beat, some I do for people with learning difficulities too, just don't patronise them.
Make sure that lighting is OK as well, some I do do not want any lighting and in fact they keep the main lights on too, just one speaker and the music is all they need.

You will enjoy it, as they will really enjoy themselves, and not spend most of the time trying to look cool to impress the opposite sex.

some really good advice there sparko, like ads said, might be the most rewarding job of the year

Good luck

We do at least 2 shows every year for our local mentally handicapped association, a christmas party and a fund-raiser. We have also done birthday parties for members.

You will probably find it a great night. They are very music aware, enjoying a range of styles from rock to r'n'b and chart, though we do find that reggae beats are very well received.

When you see severly autistic members dancing and enjoying the music, you know you have done something well. We have been told by carers that some of the members only come out of themselves at these functions. Everybody agrees that it is something to see.

Don't worry about it. Just listen to the requests you will get and enjoy it.

Do make sure you have writing materials for requests as they may have communication problems, but are happy to write it down or get a carer to do it for them.

Is the kit inbuild then ?

Echo all other comments, you will really enjoy it. This probably goes without saying, but don't go down the "does he take sugar" route, address everyone directly.

One more thing worth a mention, some special needs people really enjoy the shapes, movement and colours of lighting, so keep that in mind.

Agree with what Andy has said, don't treat the gig any differently than one for able bodied people, guests with disabilities whether physical or learning, are just as able to enjoy themselves as much as everybody else, and there is no need to talk down to them. I think that you will find that everybody will have a good night, so stop worrying

However you may have to excercise some additional care and common sense with regards to your lighting and equipment. I don't think that bubbles or smoke would be a good idea. There may be guests there with sight impairment who wouldn't be able to negotiate the dangers of any slippery surface and whose already impaired visual prospective may be worsened by the addition of smoke.

Also consider the type of lighting you use, since many of the guests may suffer from varying degrees of epilepsy.

Iv` done one for downs before . Honestly just do it like a normal job. In fact you will find it easier than a normal job. All they want to do is dance so you don`t really have to do much mic work as they won`t really understand., just mention the 21st kid and the names of the songs etc. You won`t have a problem filling the dance floor. Honest , you`ll be ok.

Yes, forgot to mention the lights.

We found scanner/ XTC/ blaze style can cause a problem with epileptics. We only use gobos and moonflowers forwards and XTC as back light.
Apparently the mirror on scans, as opposed to barrel effects, flashes in a way that can trigger attacks.

By the way, take glosticks etc. (Very popular.)

As others have said, it will probably be one of your easier gigs. I used to do a roller disco (seriously) at a school for kids with a range of learning difficulties and it was a blast. Many were also deaf and they just loved it when the bass kicked in - they used to come up to me with their fingers in their ears, laughing their heads off.

Very rewarding work :)

Jack.

I do three or four of these per year for a local mentally handicapped group, can't really add much to what been said so far, other that any light effects you use (no strobes) are set to move or change relatively slowly.

I normally play the standard party cheese, not normally the chart stuff, things like Timewarp, Music Man, Saturday Night, Agadoo etc... Anything with a good beat they can sing to or to the actions to.

As long as you don't patronise them, I guarantee you'll have a great night, they will dance from start to finish. I sometimes wish I could box them up and take to those gigs you get were nobody wants to do anything, because they certainly know how to party. What’s more, they will actually come up and thank you at the end of the night.

DONE A 40TH BEFORE CHRISTMAS FOR A SPECIAL NEED S GROUP IN LIVERPOOL.

THERE WERE NO SPECIFIC MUSIC ASKED FOR I JUST DONE A NORMAL 40TH BIRTHDAY PARTY AND WENT DOWN VERY WELL
SINCE DONE A 30TH AND ANOTHER 40TH IN FEB SO THEY ARE USED TO ME AND ARE VERY HAPPY WITH THE MUSIC
THEY ONLY ASK FOR NORMAL REQUESTS FOR CERTAIN SONGS AND DANCE AWAY ESPECIALLY SOME OF THE HELPERS


GOOD LUCK MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU

I've some parties where there are deaf people. In fact 3 weeks ago a did a cracking 10th birthday for a lovely girl that was deaf. It was during this I released my mic was covering my mouth so she couldn't lip read!

Cheezy
Nightsounds

cheers guys the advice has been belting. although in regards to the lighting as this seems to be a big issue due to the nature of some disabilities. I was thinking of just using a number of light screens and quads for lighting although was thinking of getting one or two overhead projectiles?

should i just stick to the screens and quads?

one more thing my screens have 10 different patterns they make with various colours and have knob to speed or slow the tempo of the light changes in regard to the pattern and color. Should i also keep this at a slow to medium setting as usually i would speed it up in respect to the floor being filled etc to suit the mood?

cheers guys

slow speed if not off completely

Hi there,

We have a gig that is a regular event for a college with a wide varietry of special needs, in fact its tomorrow night.

We find that the best policy is to just play a usual set, perhaps tone it down a bit play a bit more pop than some of the R&B type stuff, but just becuase these people have special needs doesnt mean that they dont listen to the same music as everyone else. You may need a little more patience perhaps when dealing with requests as some of their disabilities may result in communication problems but they appreciate being treated the same as everyone else. In our experience they are some of the most fantastic people we have ever met and working with them is a pleasure and a privelege, I would also say that they are a very apreciative crowd that knows how to enjoy themselves.

Make sure you look at people when they are talking to you and that your mouth is visible and talk clearly, you dont know who may have hearing dificulties and may need to lip read.