DJ GIG LOG: 8-20-11

Kinda got my ass kicked at a DJ gig last weekend! This is the gig log from that night. Funny that I talk about back up plans. NONE of my back upplans work...WITHOUT POWER!!!

STAGES #22: Passing Strange at Baldwin-Wallace

As we approach the 3rd season of "STAGES" with the new school year - here's a look back at the regional premiere of this amazing show! Stew drops in on rehearsal!

This episode takes a look behind the scenes of the regional premiere of "Passing Strange" produced by Baldwin-Wallace College and Playhouse Square.

Produced by Geoff Short (www.geoffreyshort.com)

The Psychology of Auditioning

Fantastic Article!

The Psychology of Auditioning

A View from the Stage: The Aggressive Requester or “PLAY ‘SHOUT’ OR DIE!!!!”

A-ggres-sive Re-quest-er: (lat. Requestus Obnoxious); aka Party Neanderthal - 1) Wedding reception Guest (usually male) with an inability to handle social drinking in any civilized way - usually presenting itself with the alcohol-induced hallucination that unless the creature hears a particular inane song of choice IMMEDIATELY, it will die - usually leading to verbal assault on the band or DJ on duty.

What is it with some people? Throw back a few drinks at a reception and they start treating the band or DJ like their own personal ipod. Don't get me wrong - we always want guests to have a great time and keep the dance floor full and polite requests are expected and even welcomed at many events. But you know the type - the drunken goon whose beer-goggles (or, in this case, earphones) lead him to believe that unless the band plays the particular song of his choosing, the Earth will crack open like a walnut. Ironically this pickled heckler's "requests" are never really requests at all, but insistent demands bellowed after every song that isn't his tune of choice.

And why is it that it's never like a really unique or interesting song? I'm really starting to believe these buffoons' musical vocabulary consists of "Hang On Sloopy" and "Let's Get Drunk and Screw". I've even started mentally giving a prize to the first over-served party boy to loudly demand we play "Shout" (usually somewhere near the top of the 2nd set)!

I realize this makes me sound like a party snob or something, and I really don't mean to be. I like a good drankin' song as much as the next guy. But the fact is, these types of guests can be really disruptive to a band or DJ as well as the other guests. Even worse, they sometimes get threatening (I'd love to be a fly on the jail cell wall when this guy tries to explain to the cops that he assaulted the DJ because he wouldn't play "Sweet Caroline"!). It's a good bet that this obnoxious guest hasn't been in on any of the planning for this reception and probably doesn't know that the DJ has strict guidelines from the clients who are paying not to play certain songs or types of music, not matter how politely the DJ might try to explain that. Not to mention the fact that we actually do like those tunes too and would have played them in due time anyway. They're great party songs. But for most artists, the more a guest screams at us, the less likely that guest is to ever hear that song at this event. We are there to do a job and like, everyone else, demand the respect that affords.

I guess I'm a little biased. I'm not a song requester type. In all my years of experiencing live music, I've never felt the need to infuse any of my personal song preferences into a band or DJ's set list. I'm sure it's because I'm usually the one performing the music week to week and I know how constant requests can take your eye off the ball of trying to keep the dance floor full. But when I'm not performing, I'm usually cool with whatever the band plays. I just like watching live bands and DJs perform their craft - good or band, to me it's always interesting. The actual songs being played have little to do with it for me. It's either a good dance song or it's not. And if the setting I'm hearing said music in happens to include some social drinking, that has a much different effect on me than it seems to on the song request bully. After a couple drinks I'm digging every song and become the friendliest dancer on the floor! This band is AWESOME!!!

So if you're an Aggressive Requester - and you know who you are - take it easy. Just let the band or DJ do their thing and enjoy the night. If you don't like a song....go get a drink. Scratch that - go get a cup of coffee. But if you think you can't handle that, load up Hang On Sloopy, Brown-Eyed Girl and Shout on your ipod and jam the night away...from the comfort of your car.....out in the parking lot!

Just kidding - we'll get those tunes on in the next set!

Geoff Short

Geoff is the Sales and Promotions Manager at Jerry Bruno Productions and is a DJ and the bandleader of JBP’s band The Avenue. Contact him atgeoff@jerrybruno.com.

Video Promo for "Big, The Musical" at FPAC!

My latest video promo! This one for Fairmount Performing Arts Conservatory's production of "Big, The Musical"!

Video Promo by Geoff Short (www.geoffreyshort.com)

Fairmount Center for the Arts presents
"Big the Musical"
at Fairmount Performing Arts Conservatory
August 11-21, 2011

Book by John Weidman
Music by David Shire
Lyrics by Richard Maltby,Jr.

Based on the motion picture 'Big,' written by Gary Ross and Anne Spielberg
Produced by Twentieth Century Fox

Director - Carol Pribble (CP)
Music Director - John Krol
Choreographer - Bebe Weinberg Katz
Set Design - Ron Newell
Light Design - Ben Gantose
Sound Design - Carlton Guc
Costume Design - Craig Tucker
Stage Manager - Sarah Lynne Nicholas
Technical Director - Keith Newman

to be presented August 11 - 21, 2011
at Mayfield Village Civic Center, 6622 Wilson Mills Road, Mayfield Village

TICKETS
can be purchased online at www.fairmountcenter.com
or by calling 440-338-3171.