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