Off to a Tough Start Today

[Jim Casey]

Hey everyone...

I'm in Bar Harbor today (180 miles from home) for a wedding and alreeady had a conflict with the manager of the facility.

I am set up in a room with an "L" configuration and at an extreme end...

Meaning that I will not be able to produce the audio to go across the entirety of the "L" without making people nearest to me annoyed.

This place has a top-of-the-line JBL speaker system for an even effect...

I inquired about using it and the manager came up to me and told me they would charge ME if I wanted to despite it being used for the client's benefit.

He said "We are a commercial venture...you wouldn't use your equipment for free, would you?"

---- Extra setups I charge ZERO for ---

Anyway, then I change into my tux and I trip UP the stairway. OUCH

Not hurt, except for my ego

Anyway...I will be curious as to how this evening goes.

[Jim Casey]

Well...

It's over. I played 4:30 until midnight (long nite)

It went pretty good. The B&G loved me. I did lots of weird things with them like letting the groom rap 3 times on my wireless...

The L shaped room was awful...

Half the time I used just my booming voice in the other part of the L

The venue was very uncooperative in helping get the inside speakers turned on even AFTER I offered to pay the fee ($25.00)

All in a day's work.

Had something like this happen to me at the Bethel Inn. Ever played there Jim or anyone else? They had two rooms. The front room was where the dinner was being served. The back was where the bar was, the dance floor and my self. The room had 2 openings with double doors, but they wouldnt open all the way where they had me set up. Needless to say, when i had to make announcements of the best man made his toast, we did it with out the mics, because the restaurant was still open and they didnt want to disturb the guests that were eating. I found it rather tacky. The other was at The Inn By The Sea. The dinner was being served downstairs and the bar/dance floor (if thats what you want to call it) was upstairs. The bride was not told this until they got there.( They were out of state) I had to go out to my van and get a couple classical cds and they wanted other jazz and such. I had to go downstairs where they had a stereo and play from cds in the 3 disc changer and actually try to mix the music they wanted with it the best i could. The stereo was in a cabinet in the backroom so i had to keep going out and seeing when they weere toasting and such. Was a pain. I was asked at the beginning if i could hold off to get paid till the end because the checkbook was in the car. The bride and groom go dwonstairs at the end and low and behold the best man comes up when we were all done saying that they lost the checkbook and they couldnt pay that night, but he would drive up to brunswick and meet me half way to pay me. I was upset but just agreed to do this. I get home and i had a messege from the father of the bride saying he would send me a check in a week or so. I did finally get it.

[HeadlineDJ]

Could you not run a cable along the outer wall and place a speaker in the corner of the "L" to cover the other end?

Or use a remote active speaker with a wireless receiver?

SO far I have been ok, as my main cabs are rather long throw on the output and even at very low volumes they project amazingly well, sometimes too well.

I once was sound checking and had it turned right down, so much so I had to lower my head towards the cabs to hear them, to make sure they were actually on... as I walked away I got to the doorway where just on the other side the whole lot of them were having the speeches.

I could hear the speakers down there as well as I could right by them... I thought wow that got louder.. walked back and they were as I set them.. very quiet.. that's when I first found out they projected very well.

[djdonny]

Jams,

If you haven't already learned, require payment at least a week in advance. (I require a month in advance.)

[Jim Casey]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(djdonny @ Nov 24 2005, 12:18 AM) Quoted post</div><div class='quotemain'>
Jams,

If you haven't already learned, require payment at least a week in advance. (I require a month in advance.)
[/b][/quote]


Ironically, I iwll be playing the same room one year almost to the date (Sat Aug 19th 2006)

Strange how that happens!

[HeadlineDJ]

LOL, yeah I get that too, never get bookings from places then when you do they always land almost a year apart. hehe

The funny thing is going back to them the staff always rewmember you.. So I must do something right or wrong.. lol

[Art Dearing]

[img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/dry.gif[/img] Jim, what was the venue name? I'm curious if I played there before. Either way, you needed to have that extra set of speakers with you. I never go to a site without first checking it out (you know that because I have mentioned it at our MDJN meetings), unless of course it was an emergency job. Had you done so would that have helped with the situation? Perhaps you could have passed on the price of the venue's PA system at the time you sent the Bride & Groom your contract. Just a thought! Sorry, it was an inconvenience. I would guess all of us have been in a similar situation. I know that I have and that's why I do a pre-site survey.

DJ Art

[KJDJ]

Suggestion...
An powered 10" speaker, wireless /beltpack, and a Behringer SARC for delay.

I take this set-up for every gig.
If the wireless is over budget just carry 2 100' mic. cables.

The delay is set to the distance from the main set-up to remove the echo.
Other uses:
The wireless/EON10 can be used for the preacher during the ceremony.The powered 10" can be used as a DJ monitor.