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#378270 - 12/15/13 01:13 PM Advice For Large Christmas Dinner
Bernie9 Senior Member Registered: 09/21/02 Posts: 5520 Loc: Port Charlotte,FL,USA	I am playing and singing for 400 people Christmas day. I know I have to apportion genre's, tempo,etc., but am undecided on percentage of Christmas(all types) to non Christmas. I will play from 12-2:00, with probably two seatings. It is totally up to me. 50/50, 75/25? _________________________ pa4X 76 ,SX900, Audya 76,Yamaha S970 , vArranger, Hammond SK1, Ketron SD40, Centerpoint Space Station, Bose compact
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#378271 - 12/15/13 01:17 PM Re: Advice For Large Christmas Dinner [Re: Bernie9]
DonM Senior Member Registered: 06/25/99 Posts: 16735 Loc: Benton, LA, USA	I'll bet you don't KNOW more than two hours of Christmas music! I think if you do it would be too much anyway. I would just play it by feel, and see what they respond to, and what, if anything, they request. I played a Christmas party recently where they didn't respond at all to the Christmas songs, but when I started playing old Rock n' Roll they woke up. Ya never know! _________________________ DonM
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#378275 - 12/15/13 01:30 PM Re: Advice For Large Christmas Dinner [Re: Bernie9]
travlin'easy Senior Member Registered: 12/08/02 Posts: 15576 Loc: Forest Hill, MD USA	Bernie, Until this year, I played 35 to 40 Christmas parties ever December. I can assure you that more than a dozen songs is far more than they want to hear. And, I'll be more than happy to email you my Christmas Gig Disk, which has a lot of non-traditional styles for traditional Christmas songs - it keeps those parties alive and vibrant. They hired you for the job based on your other performances. It's those songs they really want to hear. Good luck, Gary _________________________ PSR-S950, TC Helicon Harmony-M, Digitech VR, Samson Q7, Sennheiser E855, Custom Console, and lots of other silly stuff! K+E=W (Knowledge Plus Experience = Wisdom.)
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#378295 - 12/15/13 02:25 PM Re: Advice For Large Christmas Dinner [Re: Bernie9]
124 Senior Member Registered: 01/01/09 Posts: 2195	Bernie, we did a Christmas 'do' yesterday, 450 people. One two-hour set of about 35 songs. We only have seven Christmas songs, usual old chestnuts, and we spaced 'em out to one every seven or so songs. Worked out well. Nobody said it was too many or too few, and it felt about right to us as well.
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#378303 - 12/15/13 06:12 PM Re: Advice For Large Christmas Dinner [Re: 124]
btweengigs Senior Member Registered: 09/09/02 Posts: 2204 Loc: Florida, USA	Hostess of party I played tonight told me "All Christmas Music". She even called me at home prior to party to remind me all she wanted was 2 hours of Christmas music. At the party, within 30 minutes I had people asking for something other than Christmas. I referred them to the hostess. At one point I heard a guest ask the hostess if she would ask me to play something besides Christmas. The hostess just about bit the head off that guest. It was embarrassing for everyone within ear shot. But the up rising continued and I was finally given the go-ahead to do what the party goers really wanted. The hostess shorted me a few bucks...I don't know if it was on purpose or not...but in lieu of the earlier problems I let it ride. Eddie
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#378306 - 12/15/13 06:18 PM Re: Advice For Large Christmas Dinner [Re: btweengigs]
Dnj Senior Member Registered: 09/21/00 Posts: 43703	Originally Posted By: btweengigs Hostess of party I played tonight told me "All Christmas Music". She even called me at home prior to party to remind me all she wanted was 2 hours of Christmas music. At the party, within 30 minutes I had people asking for something other than Christmas. I referred them to the hostess. At one point I heard a guest ask the hostess if she would ask me to play something besides Christmas. The hostess just about bit the head off that guest. It was embarrassing for everyone within ear shot. But the up rising continued and I was finally given the go-ahead to do what the party goers really wanted. The hostess shorted me a few bucks...I don't know if it was on purpose or not...but in lieu of the earlier problems I let it ride. Eddie How could she short you?..didnt you have a contract for a certain price?
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#378307 - 12/15/13 06:23 PM Re: Advice For Large Christmas Dinner [Re: Bernie9]
hammer Senior Member Registered: 01/27/08 Posts: 2403 Loc: Texas	Bernie, I've been playing these gigs all month. Some wanted only Xmas music and some wanted none. Most wanted a mixture and that is not hard to do. There are dozens of secular and religious Christmas songs. I always ask before I start playing what they want. Makes it very clear to everyone involved. Check your email - I'll send you my setup. Deane
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#378308 - 12/15/13 06:24 PM Re: Advice For Large Christmas Dinner [Re: Dnj]
btweengigs Senior Member Registered: 09/09/02 Posts: 2204 Loc: Florida, USA	No contract Donny. It was a loosey-goosey deal with a neighbor who is also one of my computer customers. No biggiee. Eddie
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#378309 - 12/15/13 06:32 PM Re: Advice For Large Christmas Dinner [Re: Bernie9]
hammer Senior Member Registered: 01/27/08 Posts: 2403 Loc: Texas	Donny, A lot of areas simply don't use contracts. Here in Texas I wouldn't play a single gig if I required a contract. The ADs wouldn't mess with getting them approved. Days of contracts and unions are gone down our way. Deane
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#378310 - 12/15/13 06:43 PM Re: Advice For Large Christmas Dinner [Re: hammer]
Dnj Senior Member Registered: 09/21/00 Posts: 43703	Originally Posted By: hammer Donny, A lot of areas simply don't use contracts. Here in Texas I wouldn't play a single gig if I required a contract. The ADs wouldn't mess with getting them approved. Days of contracts and unions are gone down our way. Deane I'm glad I don't live around your area boyz that's all I will say. Spit & a handshake don't go far in this business.
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