Ian Stewart Blog

MONDAY This week started early, with a Disco for a Monday Wedding at Stock Brook Manor, what a lovely couple and family, the Father of The Brides speech was one of the best I'd ever heard, really funny, and the the groom topped it all with breaking into song to serenade his new bride, this did take some rehursal, and I provided the sound and microphones for this.

For most weddings this would be enough, but this couple also had a chereographed 1st dance to Heatwave's Always & Forever, which was met with masses of cheers, the dance floor was full all night to some oldies, wedding classics, Old Skool Anthems and disco classics.

There was also a twist at the end, because just after the goodbye wedding circle of love, the groom and I had arranged for me to play the instrumental version of New York, New York for him to sing to his guests, what an amazing send off

Last week started with a mobile disco on Thursday for a wedding at Stock Brook Manor in Billericay, this was in the Banqueting Suite, I had already met the couple when we had a planning meeting, so new all their music requirements, and the dance floor was full all night with all the couples favourite party tunes.

Now Friday was a trip to a venue I DJ at quite a few times every year, Maidens barn in High Easter, I arrived in plenty of time for this Disco, but as with most weddings it ran a little behind time, which gave Sharon and I plenty of time to set up the equipment and also have a nice cup of coffee in the garden. I had not met this couple before hand, but they had completed all their musical requirements online, so I knew exactly what they required, and what a mad bunch they were, once again a full dance floor, and some lovely comments from the groom at the end of the night. At th end of the evening I managed to get packed a way very quickly and leave for Stock Brook Manor so I could set up over night for Saturday's wedding.

Saturday was not your normal wedding disco as far as music goes, this couple told me that they did not want any "normal" wedding music, and the list they provided was Funky HOuse, Old Skool classics, and 80's Soul Weekender Anthems, They had also booked A Chocolate Fountain from us, and with us providing the Disco's in The Club House and Rosewood Suites, there was a lot to do. Once again the wedding over ran, and we managed to get the 1st dance underway at about 9.15pm, which was Celine Dion's Because You Loved Me, which was followed bt Blaze's Most Presious Love, this set the scene for the evening, what an amazing evening.

Sunday, although we had a booking, I had already promised to take Sharon out, so Murray Did the disco for the wedding in the Rosewood Suite, and we went to see the Great British Variety Show at The Cliffs Pavillion, now I was not really looking forward to this, but was pleasently surprised how good it was, it just oes to show that these older entertainment legends do have something to offer, and I could not believe how much I enjoyed the Krankies.

That was my week,

Link: http://www.ian-stewart.co.uk/

After the DJ'ing at 27 events in 31 days in July, It's back to a more normal month in August, with 19 bookings, the first weekend was really enjoyable:

Friday 1st August
a trip to new venue for me, The Coach House in Romford, what a nice little venue, with really helpful staff, and an owner that was a pleasue to meet, it'd not everyday you meet someone who as a jocke has beaten Lester Piggot & Willie Carson.

This couple fornd me via extensice web searches, and it was not a normal "run of the mill" event, with the music ranging from specialist soul to specialist rock & indie, and everyone in Fancy Dress, with a full dance floor all night, this pictures I took are on facebook

Saturday 2nd August
Back To DJ'ing at a wedding at Stock Brook Manor, for a lovely couple who had hires the Banqueting Suite, they had only given me a couple of tunes that had to be played, the 1st & 2nd dances and a request not to be too cheesy, which I gladly obliged, from the very start of we had the party rockin'

On the Sunday I had a Sunday off and decided to go see the Cmedy Legend that is KEN DODD, wow what a performer, 5 1/2 hours on stage at the age og 81 this year, I hope I am as actice at that age as him

This has got to be one of my busiest weeks ever, after attending my first ever SEDA meeting on Sunday 20th July, and then rushing back the next day as I had a full week of gigs.

Monday it was a School Prom for Shenfield High School.
Tuesday another school prom this time for St Edwards School
Wednesday third school prom this week, and it was Moulsham School
Thursday my forth school prom of the week, and my last for 2008, I entertained 130 pupils from Frances Bardsley school

It fas been an amazing prom season for me, with my fist being on the 6th Feb, so that's almost 6 months in total, they have been a pleasure to entertain at, and the one thing DJ'ing these school proms tells me is that as a whle todays kids are well behaved well centered young adults.

Friday back to the bread & butter DJ'ing work of Weddings this time at my second home of Stock Brook Manor, Billericay, this weding ws in the rosewood suite.

Although the hot summer weather did have an effect on the party, with most people sitting outside until 9pm, once inside the party really rocked, and I took some amazing pictures which were displayed on the overhead screen.

Saturday Still at Stock Brook Manor, but this time a disco for a wedding celebration in the Club House, and what a wonderful couple they were, they supplied me with a collection of JPG's for me to display as a slideshow on the screens, which the guests loved, and I also dis my toast mastering bit to help with the speaches, cake cutting etc, and a great night was had by everyone

Sunday after moving the disco equipment at the end of the Saturday Evening, it was back to the Rosewood Suite at Stock Brook Manor, with what can only be described as a wedding cheese fest with everyone at the party dancing their socks off to some party clasics.

On reflection a really busy week, and played quite a varied mix of music from Drum & Bass, rap, R&B for the school proms, some old soul, old skool dance and heavy rock & indie for the weddings.

that's why I love my job