Marcus & Hazel hired me to perform at their post-Wedding party at the the fabulous Georgian Eagle House Hotel on 13 November 2010
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| Hotel lounge, looking into conservatory |
It was a real adventure travelling down from South Wales to this picturesque hotel just over the Cornish border, fun despite the freezing fog and torrential rain! I arrived in plenty of time to set up a compact show in the cute conservatory area just above the lounge bar.
Good thing I arrived promptly, as during my sound-check the power kept cutting out! Cue some frantic equipment checking... The culprit, we then discovered, was the function band in the function suite downstairs using a damp/faulty extension lead.
I offered loan of some of my backup gear, and fortunately the separate events went ahead unspoilt*!
*Take-home lesson for today, folks? Always check the wedding band or entertainer you hire has got safe, PAT certified equipment, Public Liability Insurance and contingency equipment. (Just like the team and I do)! Also, as a member of NADJ (National Association of DJs) should even my failsafes...er...fail...I have access to details of other NADJ-siblings in all parts of the UK who are able to help each other in a crisis. It's like being in the Masons, but with better lighting. ;-)
*Take-home lesson for today, folks? Always check the wedding band or entertainer you hire has got safe, PAT certified equipment, Public Liability Insurance and contingency equipment. (Just like the team and I do)! Also, as a member of NADJ (National Association of DJs) should even my failsafes...er...fail...I have access to details of other NADJ-siblings in all parts of the UK who are able to help each other in a crisis. It's like being in the Masons, but with better lighting. ;-)
Ahem - moving on:
Marcus & Hazel had married a couple of weeks before in Fabulous Las Vegas, so wanted to kick off a fun & high energy celebration from the very start, for a special group of friends and family that had travelled down from Manchester and up from deeper Cornwall respectively.
Marcus & Hazel had married a couple of weeks before in Fabulous Las Vegas, so wanted to kick off a fun & high energy celebration from the very start, for a special group of friends and family that had travelled down from Manchester and up from deeper Cornwall respectively.
After some upbeat background music as final guests arrived, lots more family joined the happy couple & myself on the dance-floor as I opened the night with a soulful live performance of the couple’s choice of first dance: ‘Amazed’ by Lonestar.
We continued through three 30-minute live sets, including a little Vegas-style Swing at Hazel’s request, plus some fun “classic” party tunes performed especially at our bride's behest – ‘Copacabana’ & ‘Amarillo’ being particular favourites of the group this night! (Good call, Hazel!!)
Afterwards Marcus contacted me to say the entertainment was “lively engaging and very good” and “a great all round selection”.
The live sets were supported with more background music, including the couple’s choices of Paulo Nutini and then various disco music chosen by me for between and after my singing. The couple had requested lots of chart and pop, which I was happy to provide. From our entertainment consultation, and knowing that Marcus was yet another typically shy and retiring Mancunian(!), I made sure to play a few 90s “Madchester” anthems – and the fellas went duly ‘mad for it!’.
[And I MIGHT have joined one or two of them in a bit of “Happy Mondays’ Bez”-style dancing! (You’re twistin’ my melon, man!)]
Marcus later wrote to say the night was “great stuff, kept us on our toes!...everyone really enjoyed the evening. Thank you very much, will use Jon Paul again he is a top man!"
All I can really say to that is....
Top one; nice one; sorted. [Our kid. ;-) ]
Take care…and have fun,
Jon Paul
