Premier Disco for Professional Entertainment Solutions
Professional mobile disco services
More great feedback.
This time from Jane from Canada who brought together a group of people from all over the world for a conference and fun in Glasgow on 30th November 2022. Lots of conferencing, visiting some of the wonderful places in Scotland, and the finale, a karaoke fun night.
We are all acutely aware of the impact of the ‘Cost Of Living Crisis’ we are all currently living through. Everything from mortgages, rent, fuel, light and heating, shopping, and insurance, in fact, EVERYTHING is more expensive.
To state the obvious, your fees to the venue and all suppliers will rise. Your event will simply cost more.
Already being reported, mainly from DJs in England but I am sure this will spread throughout the UK, is DJs are being invoiced by venues, in advance, for the use of electricity expected to be used during an event. What’s worse is they are being invoiced at a level far higher than the actual cost of what is used.
Now, what the venue seems to forget is that the suppliers to most events are generally contracted by the client, you. What else they appear to forget is, unless they have specifically included a clause in their contract with you, they cannot change the terms of that contract without your approval.
As DJs, we are responsible to you, our client. We have a contract with you and only you. The venue always has the last word when it comes to licencing conditions whether that be regarding timings or noise levels or any other substantial factor, but you are the person we listen to about anything else. If a venue approaches us before an event and asks for a fee towards electricity costs we then simply refer them to you since this has nothing to do with us.
When they contact you then simply state this was not part of your agreement and you don’t agree to any changes in the contract. They cannot change it in any way without your consent. They also cannot cancel your event due to you not agreeing to change the contract, and they know this. Don’t feel pressurised into doing something you do not want to do.
The best, most honest and genuine way for a venue to deal with this is to absorb the cost into the general event costs. Hopefully, this is the way they will go. But in a time when people are taking care of the pennies, they just might go down the route of many other industries. This involves pricing the booking as low as they can in an attempt to get a financial edge on their competitors, then loading up on the extras later.
Simply make sure everything is included in your quotations before you agree to anything.
For my first visit back to the land of work I had a visit to Archerfield House for the wedding reception of Kerry & John Craig. This is an amazing venue with a function room on the first floor.
Since this was my first gig back after a long break due to that C-word, I arrived at 1815 for a 2100 start. Better to make sure I have enough time to get things all working correctly before the main event. For the most part, there were very few issues considering there were multiple OS and software updates in the past 18 months and my propensity to forget things. I had previously tested as much as I could but no better time for a test than when everything comes together for an event. A slight issue with DMX control but I found a temporary workaround until I could get stuck into it.
Kerry, John, and the guests arrived at about 2130 to begin the evening activities starting with cutting the wedding cake.
Onto the first dance which was the classic John Legend song All Of Me. The bride and groom start the dance together for the photographs before waving all guests to join them on the dancefloor.
The first dance was followed by the very keen audience getting right into the dancing. It has been a while for us all and they were ready to party!
| Play Time | Artist | Title |
| 21:54 | John Legend | All Of Me_pn |
| 21:57 | Adele | Rolling In The Deep DJ Edit pn |
| 22:01 | Erasure | A Little Respect_pn |
| 22:04 | Bon Jovi | Livin On A Prayer Remastered_pn |
| 22:08 | The Killers | Mr. Brightside_pn |
| 22:11 | The Fratellis | Chelsea Dagger_pn |
| 22:15 | Daft Punk Featuring Pharrell Williams | Get Lucky Radio Edit_pn |
| 22:18 | Pharrell Williams | Happy_pn |
| 22:22 | ABBA | Dancing Queen_pn |
| 22:25 | The Trammps | Disco Inferno_pn |
| 22:28 | Spandau Ballet | Gold pn |
| 22:32 | Wham | Wake Me Up Before You Go Go_pn |
| 22:35 | Sia | Chandelier pn |
| 22:37 | R. Kelly | Ignition (Remix)_pn |
| 22:40 | Rihanna Featuring Calvin Harris | We Found Love_pn |
| 22:42 | David Guetta Featuring Sia | Titanium_pn |
| 22:46 | Scissor Sisters | I Dont Feel Like Dancing Radio Edit_pn |
| 22:50 | Mark Ronson Featuring Amy Winehouse | Valerie_pn |
| 22:53 | Deacon Blue | Real Gone Kid_pn |
| 22:57 | Eurythmics | Sweet Dreams Are Made Of This_pn |
| 23:00 | The Beatles | Twist And Shout_pn |
| 23:02 | Lulu | Shout |
| 23:05 | Lionel Richie | All Night Long_pn |
| 23:09 | Gala | Freed From Desire (Radio Edit)_pn |
| 23:13 | The Time Frequency | New Emotion_pn |
| 23:16 | Bruno Mars | Marry You_pn |
| 23:19 | Kings Of Leon | Sex On Fire_pn |
| 23:22 | Kylie Minogue | Cant Get You Out Of My Head pn |
| 23:25 | Madonna | Like A Prayer_pn |
| 23:26 | Madonna | Like A Prayer (Dance)_pn |
| 23:31 | Robbie Williams | Rock DJ_pn |
| 23:34 | Take That Featuring Lulu | Relight My Fire_pn |
| 23:37 | Queen | Dont Stop Me Now_pn |
| 23:41 | The Proclaimers | Im Gonna Be_pn |
| 23:44 | Runrig | Loch Lomond_pn |
| 23:50 | Deacon Blue | Dignity_pn |
| 23:54 | Queen | Bohemian Rhapsody_pn |
| 00:00 | Robbie Williams | Angels. pn |
In the end, we had a great night, brief but great. Normally I play much later than midnight at this venue but the rather unnecessary restrictions due to a few Sars Cov II infections meant we had to abide by the early finishing time.
Thank you again Kerry & John for an amazing return to wedding performing.
Best wishes to you both.
Ever since the UK Top 40 started way back in 1952 there have been literally thousands of songs vying to be the Greatest Disco Song Of All Time. As musical styles change through the decades, this list changes but not as much as you would think.
Hits from the earlier decades that stand the test of time will always outrank newer songs and this can be seen by the list below. Some cracking tunes to be heard and I encourage you to have a listen via your choice of music streaming service and see what you think.
This list might be of use when building the soundtrack to your event. It is very heavily influenced by 70’s disco song hits and soul classics but that was the era of classic disco tunes.
I remember hunting high and low for a copy of the no. 1 song on the list. I heard it on the radio and just had to get a copy eventually finding the 12″ version in a small record shop near the top of Easter Road in Edinburgh. Oh, the memories invoked when listening to some of these soul classics.
If there is anything you would like to add to this list then just let me know.
ENJOY!
| 1 | “Shame” by Evelyn “Champagne” King |
| 2 | “Last Dance” by Donna Summer |
| 3 | “Le Freak” by Chic |
| 4 | “We Are Family” by Sister Sledge |
| 5 | “Love Hangover” by Diana Ross |
| 6 | “Don’t Stop Til You Get Enough” by Michael Jackson |
| 7 | “Ain’t No Stopping Us Now” by McFadden and Whitehead |
| 8 | “Don’t Leave Me this Way” by Thelma Houston |
| 9 | “Good Times” by Chic |
| 10 | “Bad Girls” by Donna Summer |
| 11 | “Disco Inferno” by Trammps |
| 12 | “You Make Me Feel Mighty Real” by Sylvester |
| 13 | “Got to be Real” by Cheryl Lynn |
| 14 | “Upside Down” by Diana Ross |
| 15 | “Hot Stuff” by Donna Summer |
| 16 | “Boogie Wonderland” by Earth, Wind and Fire |
| 17 | “I Will Survive” by Gloria Gaynor |
| 18 | “The Hustle” by Van McCoy |
| 19 | “Stayin Alive” by the Bee Gees |
| 20 | “Ring My Bell” by Anita Ward |
| 21 | “Rock With You” by Michael Jackson |
| 22 | “You Should Be Dancing” by Bee Gees |
| 23 | “Turn The Beat Around” by Vicki Sue Robinson |
| 24 | “Ladies Night” by Kool and the Gang |
| 25 | “I’m Coming Out” by Diana Ross |
| 26 | “Boogie Ooogie Oogie” by A Taste of Honey |
| 27 | “Night Fever” by BeeGees |
| 28 | “Young Hearts Run Free” by Candi Staton |
| 29 | “I Feel Love” by Donna Summer |
| 30 | “I Love Music” by O’Jays |
| 31 | “The Love I lost” by Harold Melvin and The Blue Notes |
| 32 | “Ain’t Nobody” Rufus feat. Chaka Khan |
| 33 | “And the Beat Goes On” by Whispers |
| 34 | “Can’t Get Enough of Your Love” by Barry White |
| 35 | “Car Wash” by Rose Royce |
| 36 | “Heaven Must Be Missing an Angel” by Tavares |
| 37 | “Let’s Groove” by Earth, Wind and Fire |
| 38 | “The Boss” by Diana Ross |
| 39 | “Funkytown” by Lipps Inc. |
| 40 | “Native New Yorker” by Odyssey |
| 41 | “Boogie Nights” by Heatwave |
| 42 | “Got to Give It Up” by Marvin Gaye |
| 43 | “Love Train” by O’Jays |
| 44 | “Play that Funky Music” by Wild Cherry |
| 45 | “Pick up the Pieces” by Average White Band |
| 46 | “Second Time Around” by Shalamar |
| 47 | “That’s the way (I Like it)” by KC And The SunShine Band |
| 48 | “On the Radio” by Donna Summer |
| 49 | “Best of My Love” by The Emotions |
| 50 | “Stomp” by Brothers Johnson |
| 51 | “You Know How to Love Me” by Phylis Hyman |
| 52 | “More Than a Woman” by Tavares |
| 53 | “Rock the Boat” by Hues Corporation |
| 54 | “Shake Your Body” (Down to the Ground) by The Jacksons |
| 55 | “You and I” by Rick James |
| 56 | “Everybody Dance” by Chic |
| 57 | “Disco Nights” by GQ |
| 58 | “Shake Your Groove thing” by Peaches and Herb |
| 59 | “Love Come Down” by Evelyn “Champagne” King |
| 60 | “For the Love of Money” by The O’Jays |
| 61 | “I Need Your Lovin'” by Teena Marie |
| 62 | “Never Can Say Goodbye” by Gloria Gaynor |
| 63 | “Get Down Tonight” by KC And The SunShine Band |
| 64 | “Knock on Wood” by Amii Stewart |
| 65 | “Let It Whip” by The Dazz Band |
| 66 | “Don’t Stop the Music” by Yarbrough and Peoples |
| 67 | “If I Can’t Have You” by Yvonne Elliman |
| 68 | “She’s A Bad Mama Jama” by Carl Carlton |
| 69 | “You’ll Never Find Another Love Like Mine” by Lou Rawls |
| 70 | “Pull Up to the Bumper” by Grace Jones |
| 71 | “Love’s Theme” by Love Unlimited Orchestra |
| 72 | “Somebody Else’s Guy” by Jocelyn Brown |
| 73 | “YMCA” by Village People |
| 74 | “MacArthur Park Suite” by Donna Summer |
| 75 | “Fire” by Ohio Players |
| 76 | “Celebration” by Kool and the Gang |
| 77 | “Found A Cure” by Ashford and Simpson |
| 78 | “The Glow of Love” by Change |
| 79 | “It’s Raining Men” by Weather Girls |
| 80 | “The Groove Line” by Heatwave |
| 81 | “Working My Way Back to You” by The Detroit Spinners |
| 82 | “Do It (Til Your Satisfied)” by BT Express |
| 83 | “It’s A Love Thing” by The Whispers |
| 84 | “Working Day and Night” by Michael Jackson |
| 85 | “Fantasy” by Earth, Wind and Fire |
| 86 | “Fly Robin Fly” by Silver Convention |
| 87 | “I Can’t Go For That” by Hall and Oates |
| 88 | “I’ll Be Good to You” by Brothers Johnson |
| 89 | “Make that Move” by Shalamar |
| 90 | “Rock Your Baby” by George McCrae |
| 91 | “Walk Away From Love” by David Ruffin |
| 92 | “Bad Luck” by Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes |
| 93 | “I Love the Nightlife” by Alicia Bridges |
| 94 | “Get off” by Foxy |
| 95 | “Heaven Knows” by Donna Summer |
| 96 | “Love is the Message” by MFSB |
| 97 | “Take that to the Bank” by Shalamar |
| 98 | “It Only Takes a Minute” by Tavares |
| 99 | “Lost in Music” by Sister Sledge |
| 100 | “Jump To It” by Aretha Franklin |
This is an insight into weddings held in 2019, before the ‘pandemic’. A guide to costs, venues, and all things wedding day. Due to the severe lack of proper weddings in 2020, this is the most up-to-date information available. See how your plans compare to the averages of 2019.
So how much was an average wedding in 2019?. This changes from year to year and the 2019 cost was marginally lower than in 2018.
Almost half of the couples’ married in 2019 had some contribution towards their wedding costs from parents. Mostly their weddings were paid from savings with 20% using credit cards and 10% taking out a loan.
How are couples spending their wedding budget? The order of priority generally stays the same from year to year. The venue was the single most costly part of a wedding. The honeymoon comes next.
The choice of wedding venue was responsible for the biggest spend in 2019. It was down by 3% on the previous year.
For the first time, in 2019, hotels dropped to 2nd place behind country houses and stately homes. The draw of having exclusive venue use combined with that extra special treatment proved to be very popular with couples.
Often combined with an annual holiday, the average cost in 2019 was just under £5000.
The most popular honeymoon destination in 2019 was The Maldives with 12% of couples choosing this small group of islands in the Indian Ocean. 75% of couples planned a honeymoon. Short breaks to Italy, Spain, and Greece were popular overseas locations. The South West of the UK and Scotland ranked high in UK honeymoons.
From nibbles, the wedding breakfast, hog roast, ice cream, pizzas, and the buffet, a lot of food was consumed in 2019. Total average cost, £3750.
Total average cost £4000
Celebratory drinks for the toast, wine for the dinner tables, soft drinks came in 4th on the list of expenses at a whopping £2500.
68% of couples met in person despite the rising use of dating apps. At work or through your friends and family accounted for more than a third of meetings. At a pub or club and at university both came in more popular than Tinder, with only 8% of couples meeting there. 0% of our couples said they’d met on their commute.
Over 40% of couples got engaged on holiday, making it the most popular way by far. Valentine’s Day only accounts for 2% of engagements with Christmas, birthdays, and engagements being very popular.
Social media is a dynamic and important part of the modern-day. Almost 50% of couples announced their engagement within 24 hours and 10% within the first hour. 25% spent more on decor for better social media images and 42% shared their wedding journey online.
The average age of couples being married is creeping up. In 2019 the average bride was 32 and the groom was 34. This is up one year for each from 2018.
Recent years have seen larger daytime guest numbers. 2019 saw the average being 83. An additional 21 people were invited to join in with the evening celebrations.
The wedding ceremony and the first look at the bride have a huge impact on the guests. Almost every bride went for a traditional wedding dress spending an average of £1350 for the perfect gown.
Grooms had a much smaller budget of £452 to buy their suit.
American traditions appear to be on the rise, while British ones are falling out of favour. The majority of couples no longer have page boys or flower girls, and very few bother to toss the garter and carry a silver sixpence. Big, multi-day hen and stag ‘events’ have taken their lead from US bachelor and bachelorette parties. in 2019, you happily spent £555 on the stag and £475 on the hen.
The average number of Bridesmaids and Groomsmen continues to rise slowly. 20% of couples had more than 4 with the average being 3. The focus seems to be shifting towards having best friends as a big part of a wedding day to the exclusion of page boys and flower girls.
An increasing number of brides, 25%, keep their own names after marriage often adopting a double-barreled surname. It is still most popular for brides to adopt their partner’s surname, but there’s been a rise in keeping your own surname or hyphenating them both. 8% of you can’t bear to part with your maiden name.
20% of couples had a gift list for guests to choose from. The most popular options though were asking for cash or honeymoon vouchers.
Wedding music is an essential part of any wedding day. The average fee in 2019 was just under £600