Ian Stewart Blog

Now the bank holiday has been and gone, and I think that I have recovered from what can only be described as one of my busiest of the year so far.

Probably best to start at the beginning, I'd had a few days off, so felt refreshed and raring to go.

Thursday I was the DJ for a wedding at Stock Brook Manor in Billericay, Essex in the Rosewood Suite for a lovely couple, and some really nice people. This night saw me playing quite a lot of slower songs, as they were really into their slow dances.

As I was back in the Rosewood Suite the next day, I was able to leave my disco equipment all set up for Friday's Disco

Friday A much younger crowd for this wedding disco, with the bride extremly nervous about the first dance, so after a brief chat, I reasuured her that I would not leave them dancing on their own for too long before inviting their guests to join them, it worked perfectly.

Saturday Now I had a bit of a road trip, as I had been booked to play the music for a wedding at Whipsnade Animal Park, so a trip up the M1 for me.

I arrived in plenty of time, and was even able to squeeze a short walk around the zoo, these were a couple who were really into their soul music, and knew exactly the music they wanted, as well as what they did not want.

I was asked to provide some music for the children at the event, so was more then happy to oblige, and played all the usual suspects, such as High School Musical, Bob The Builder etc, then we had the buffet followed by 4 hours of caister soul weekender anthems, to a complete full floor.

The next day I received a wonderful email from the groom thanking me for playing exactly what he wanted.

Sunday Back to my second home of Stock Brook Manor, for a wedding celebration in the Club House, a late start for this at 8pm, with a 1am finish.

As the weather was so nice, the guests spent the early part outside on the patio, but as soon as we called them in for the first dance, I had the crowd rocking.

It was also nice to bump into a couple who's wedding I had DJ'd at 8 years earlier.

Monday This was quite a full day, as the bride and groom had booked the Three Waiters to sing at their wedding breakfast, so they needed a full sound system, with 4 speakers, 3 wireless microphones, a mixer with reverb, and for me to sound engineer the whle thing.

So an early arrival at the venue to set up both my disco, and the extra sound system, I quickly drove Murray home who had been helping me set everything up, as well as his own system. Then it was quickly back to the venue for the sound checks, and to awaite the arrival of the wedding party.

So during the meal, the Three waiters interupt proceedings, with their superb mix of comedy and Opera, the wedding party were amazed, the sound system was then used for all the speaches as well.

Then while the staff got the room ready for the evenings party, Sharon & I quickly removed the extra sound system and then turned the music up for the party in the evening.

I gave out about 7 or 8 cards, and have already received a call from 1 bride who has booked me for her wedding next August at Crondon park.

Tuesday Now I don't DJ that many weddings on Tuesdays, and this wedding was a pleasant surprise, the bride had picked 50 songs thae she wanted played at her wedding disco, I managed to play all but 4 of them, as I was also taking requests from the guests, and what a night, these people were CRAZY and danced all night, what a fantastic crowd they were

Wednesday was a day without a disco, but it did give me an oppertunity to catch up on some paperwork, and also visit the DJ Superstore to buy a new mixer that I had my eye on.

That was 6 disco's in 6 days, all completly differant, but with the same result a romm full of happy faces

What a great weeked with three tottaly differant weddings

Thursday because I was the DJ for a wedding in the Banqueting Suite at Stock Brook Manor on the Monday of this week, and there were no conferance in the room on Tuesday or Wednesday I was able to leave all my equipment set up for my thursday wedding, as Hannibal used to say "I love it when a plan comes together" So the evening started with me driving my son Murray to the De Rougemont Manor, as he was the DJ at an 18th Birthday Party there, we dropped him & his equipment off, then set off on our journey to Stock Brook Manor, we arrived with plenty of time to spare, I was met outside by the Toastmaster, we had a brief chat about timings of the firs dace etc, we then informed the photographer, videographer etc, however as with many good plans, there was a fly in the ointment, at the start time we were all in position ready to start, looked up and could not see the bride & groom, after a quick search the photographer had taken them outside for a few more pictures, not a problem, we just adapted and waited for them to finish, then the Toastmaster introduced the 1st dance, to raptuous applause, and as a complete surprise to all their friends and family they did a perfect routine to (Ive Had) The Time Of My Life from Dirty Dancing. This was followed by an evening of some of the best dancing I'd seen for a long time.

At the end of the evening, we had to move the equipment onto the stage, as Fridays wedding wanted me on their, then a quick drive to Brentwood to collect Murray

Friday Another Disco for a wedding at Stock Brook Manor in the Banqueting Suite, the only differance from the norm, is that I was on the stage, and set up in the middle of the room.

I'd had a lot of chats with the couple over the past 12 months, so new exactly wahat they required, a mix of old party classics, and some top tunes from the 80's which I was more then happy to provide, once again another great night with some real party animals

Saturday This time I was providing the wedding entertainment at Stock Brook Manor, this time the Rosewood Suite was the room, I set all the equipment up the night before, so there was no disruption to the event when I turned up later in the evening.

These were a little more reserved with a majority of the guests a little older, but I persviered with them, and one them over with a packed floor

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