The Order of wedding Speeches

One question i get asked a lot is what is the order of the speeches and when do we do them?

Speeches are an important focus for a wedding they are a good way of thanking all those who have helped make your day a resounding success. The speeches normally come at the end of the wedding meal (wedding Breakfast) , and each speech is usually followed by a toast but as it is your wedding you should be able to decide when is best for you..

The usual order in which wedding speeches are made is:

1. The bride’s father, who proposes a toast to the bride and groom

2. The bridegroom, who proposes a toast to the bridesmaids

3. The best man, responding on behalf of the bridesmaids, who finishes his speech by reading out any messages, then makes a toast to the bride and groom

4. The bride’s speech – not traditional, but a nice touch and many brides now choose to make one.

BUT many people decide to do weddings the way they want which may mean there is only one or no speeches or that they say something at the evening reception only, I always ask clients what THEY want, I can follow tradition or exactly how you want, I don't try to impose tradition if that is not what YOU want.

I can provide a number of wireless Microphones to make speeches  be audible even from nervous quiet speakers.

I am  also  at hand to help out should any nerves kick in to encourage the guests to clap and cheer at the right moments  and to make sure the transition of the people giving speeches is handled professionally.


I have been thanked many times by  people who have done speeches that i made them feel at ease or i stepped in to avoid embarrassment at just the right time.

Speeches can be scary! I understand this and help make them a joy rather than a torture!

for more details go to my dedicated Wedding DJ Site

A little Moral Tale

A lady wanted to purchase a beautiful handmade cake and spotted a cake maker who did absolutely amazing work, but she charged a good price too.


The lady thought that her price was way too high so she approached the cake maker and in quite an abrupt fashion stated "I want to buy a cake from you, but I think you charge too much!"


The Cake Maker was a little taken aback but replied "Ok, how much do you think I should charge?"


The lady replied “I think you should charge “X” much, because the flour will cost this much, and eggs this much, and fondant this much etc. I have even factored in the price of a pan."


The final price the lady had calculated was a lot cheaper than the cake maker’s original price, but she said "Ok, deal. You will get your cake in a week".


The customer is very pleased with herself and she can’t resist telling all her friends what a fabulous deal she has negotiated and how smart she is, and that in a week she will have her gorgeous cake.


A week later her cake arrives. She opens it and inside is flour, eggs, fondant etc. and even a pan.Angrily she contacts the Cake Maker asking “How could you do this to me? I asked you for a cake and you sent me a box of flour, egg, fondant and a pan?!"


The cake maker quietly replies "My dear, you got exactly what you paid for, if you think there is something missing, you need to pay for it. "

The Moral of the story?

When you buy a bespoke service like a specialist DJ you are not just buying just the materials or equipment or music you are buying the, time, effort, skill, training, costs of business , tax , overheads and love and dedication that goes into providing a bespoke service .
Thank you for reading this Rob

FBT DM-29 Professional Vocal Microphone Review

Denon MC6000 MK2 overview

DJ Denton Golf Club Manchester background.

New Blog March 2013


Well it is a long time since I wrote a blog, I have been busy working and  just haven’t found the time as work and keeping my customers happy is my main focus and it is about that  subject I would like to talk about in this Blog.

It is all the little things that make the difference to an event. For me as Rob Star Entertainments 
I spend a lot of time doing research on the people I am entertaining as every couple , person and crowd is different. and I also research the venue I am working at to make sure I tailor my service exactly to what is needed and the clients are after.

I will take just one event example of what I do, almost two years ago a lady called Jane  who I did Colin her boyfriend’s birthday party for previously said she was thinking of getting married after 12 years together.

 I said I would be delighted to host their wedding and took a reservation fee for the date, now this is important as many quality DJs can only do one event a day and if the DJ has a good reputation it is likely they will get booked up quickly so once the venue is booked and times all my services are required  are worked out, it is important to confirm the booking with the DJ as soon as possible, I take a reservation fee to confirm the date normally £100 with the balance to be paid 7 days before the date of the actual event. I have bookings already for 2015 for example as places run out quickly!

I send out contracts to cover the customer and my terms and conditions are clearly available on my website too, so all done properly and officially, I accept BACs payments, cheques and cash. If your DJ just wants cash on the night be very careful, you have nothing but their word that they will turn up on the day, I often get calls from people who have been let down at the last minute, not a stress you need on a wedding day or Birthday!

So Jane and Colin had been looking through bridal magazines and websites  and they were deep into finding out about all the many things involved in a wedding , Jane had joined a number of Facebook groups looking for advice and info and great deals too, I was added as a friend on Facebook and I told her if there was anything I could help with to just give me  a PM. 
nearer the wedding date I set up a face to face consultation, I went to their lovely home where we went through many things like the arrival time of guests, the colour scheme (as I like to wear clothes appropriate to the event so colour matched ties for example) cake cutting buffet first dance times and  any other formal dances and importantly music selection.. we sat down and had a good natter about music choice and genres  and special songs , I also found out about other service providers , so I could announce the photo booth service so a good hour of talking about everything I needed to know to make the event run smoothly.

I found the venue required my PAT and PLI documents which I sent both in a hard copy in the post and via email.
I also did a site visit so went to the venue before the event; this meant I knew exactly what equipment I would need for the room. I also asked if it was possible to set up early as the wedding breakfast and the reception were in the same room, so a DJ turning up an hour before they would start to set up would have had to weave around tables and guests to set up, so I arranged to set up in the morning before guests arrived so when i arrived at night suited and booted it was switch on to party! These little things DO make a difference to the look feel and class of an event. 

I arrived and the Jane looked absolutely stunning and the groom was beaming from ear to ear, just so happy at how the day had been and both were eager to have a party, So I started and i had dancers right from the off .
it soon got to buffet time ,the buffet was delayed which put all the other timings out too but as an experienced wedding DJ this is not uncommon and i handled the situation  so cake cutting and first dance were adjusted accordingly , I mentioned about  the signing of the guest book and announced the photo booth was open . I was asked a number of requests and played  what Jane and Colin had asked not all the crowd were feeling the choices that they had made , but Jane and Colin  at the consultation said we hired you because  you have experience and would be happy for me to read the crowd and play what i felt would work, This crowd loved my selections and danced away , the bride was glad to do her first dance then take her shoes off as they were killing her(good tip make sure your bridal shoes are comfy!) as a DJ you know it is going to be a good party when the shoes come off and the ladies are  partying away. I played a wide variety of music from frank Sinatra to The Harlem shake!
 I had a minor technical issue with a computer BUT I had a backup player on standby so no one noticed but me, and again that is a difference, I take and have on hand backup equipment, so no dramas can be seen or heard to the crowd  not a glitch, that's why hiring someone who takes these things into consideration is important, this sort of planing for "what if" is important

Now this event would have been very different if they had chosen a DJ who just turned up at 6:30 and the only communication was what first dance. This is why hiring someone who is passionate and cares and finds out all the details is important.

For every hour of performance time there is equal in preparation and research. My events are a success because i don’t leave things to chance.

Many DJs play music and that is all they do. I offer more, I offer me and my experience and service to make sure your party is one to remember for all the right reasons.

when booking a DJ  please take those factors into account.

If your interested in hiring me please fill in this simple form CLICK HERE

What is Karaoke? ... ( to you) - Karaoke Info

What is Karaoke? ... ( to you) - Karaoke Info

What is Karaoke? (To you)


Well I am not about to give a boring and intelligence insulting article about Japan and empty orchestras and a historical lecture but what I personally feel karaoke should be about. So firstly i would like to say what I feel Karaoke is NOT.

Karaoke is NOT a Singing competition (although many do have competitions and that’s great but not every karaoke night should be seen as a competition!)

Karaoke is NOT X factor (singers are normally much better on the whole than on x factor!)

Karaoke is NOT Horrendous wailing singers (but if you can’t sing who cares it’s about having fun!)

Karaoke is NOT only for Drunk people

Karaoke is NOT an insulting term

Karaoke is NOT dying out or tacky

Karaoke is NOT just for back street pubs but can work at Weddings and other classy high end events if done properly.


It can sometimes have elements of all the above but in my mind good Karaoke nights have none of these traits



Karaoke however is FUN! Too many get worried about how they sound rather than enjoying themselves, Karaoke is about letting your hair down and expressing yourself.

I as a host get as much pleasure seeing a singer, singing from the heart and mind who may not hit all the notes or be in the right key or lack timing BUT I feel what they feel as I do to the trained pros that occasionally frequent my nights, it is not just about vocal ability. It’s about having FUN and conveying emotion!

If you are worried about rotation and when you are up next and not listening to others, you are missing the point!
If you are terrified and worried about peoples reaction you again are missing the point, it is about enjoying the night and sharing others joy for music.

One great thing about Karaoke is the true diversity of music and songs in a night at a disco it’s unlikely that music would go from extremes genre changes as often as it does on Karaoke. If you have a genuine love of music and all genres Karaoke is a way to discover new genres hidden old gems and listen to favourite classics.

A good host encourages singers and creates a none hostile environment, The host will make sure the audience will clap and encourage you, a good host will also help if you wish for advice on what new songs to sing rather than you singing the same song every week but also support you if you are not confident enough to sing something new.

If you feel stressed after an evening of Karaoke, you are going the wrong places.
If you come away feeling on top of the world and eager for another night, you have been to any one of the quality hosts at KI

Keep on singing and remember it’s all about the fun!!

Rob Star Entertainments

How to behave at Karaoke shows and gain friends

How to behave at karaoke shows is as important as the singing so knowing the proper etiquette is quite important if you have never been to a karaoke show.

Many are used to singing at home on computer consoles on singing games and behave at shows as they would in their own homes often this will not win you friends at karaoke shows !!

1. When you walk in to a karaoke show do not expect to just walk straight on to the stage and sing!
Many will have been there before you and are waiting patiently for their turn, all good KJs (that’s the name for a karaoke host) have a rotation system this is a way of making sure everyone gets a fair share of microphone time.
It is much better to walk in get yourself a drink and get the lay of the land,. So be patient I know it’s exciting and you want to sing as soon as possible but this bit of restraint can stop you appearing like a karaoke diva.

2. Listen to others! whilst settling in, actually, properly listen to others singing even if you feel they are not the best singers show them encouragement, these people have had the guts to get up and when they sit down they will be the ones who will clap or not for you! So being encouraging is a circular thing.

Sing star may say your great at home but that’s just a game (and not always accurate) when singing at karaoke shows these people will be the ones clapping for you so be nice to them.

3.Show respect for singers , do not talk so loud that people cannot hear the singer or if your laugh is louder than a 1000watt pa system and off putting then that’s just plain rude.

Do not shout to your friends hey that’s my song! As you wanted to sing it, unless you get royalty cheques for being the song writer and original artist it is NOT your song.

If you can only sing that one song get in earlier and request it to the KJ no one but a raving ego wants to hear two versions of the same song close together so you will have to wait till much later in the night to sing your one song or simply chose something else to sing.

4. Do not just walk up and join in or grab the microphone off a singer or try to join in without the singers permission BEFORE they start the song, most KJs will have at least stern words with you, you may even be asked to leave, the singer will have waited patiently for their moment this is considered very rude.

5. Do not go up to the KJ and say the following

a)“put me up next I will get them all going “
No KJs won’t put you up next unless it’s your turn and often people who say this do get people going but out of the door and not going as in enjoying themselves.

b)“put me up next i have to go soon”
KJs are paid in the UK because of the money the bar takes so therefore KJs get paid if you stay if you are leaving and not buying why should we even consider putting you on, this is often a tactic to jump the queue ..KJs can see through this a mile away so don’t try this one

c) “Put me up next it’s for a special reason “again a queue jumping tactic which the KJ will see and note this.

d)” what do you want me to sing?” If you wish your ego to be flattered by the KJ and them to fawn over you saying oh please sing xxxx as i love you doing that one. Ask yourself what this sort of question tells you about yourself...No one likes a karaoke diva

e)”put a song on for me, you choose”
Unless the KJ has heard you sing many many times , knows what your range is and the type of artists and genres you sing this is a stupid thing to ask!

F). “when am i up next (when you have just sang and you do not need to leave)”
often people think that keep going up to the KJ and asking when I am up next somehow will jump them up the queue , sorry it will not , it just shows you to be a karaoke diva. Remember patience is the key!

6. When your name is called to the stage do not decide that now is a good time for a long chat with a friend or take a phone call or to have drink, do not walk up slowly hamming it up but get to the microphone in a timely fashion.

The quicker you can do this the more songs in a night a KJ can put on so you may be the one who gets to sing another because you did not dilly dally about.

If you put a song in and you then disappear to a smoking area all night, do not except to sing just because you came back in and decided to eventually join the party despite your name being called several times and you not appearing.

At the end of the song also leave the stage quickly do not hog the mic and ask for another or walk off with a wireless mic so the next person has to go looking for it.

Remember the quicker you enter and exit the stage the chances of more songs for you to sing increases, also this is polite and others will see this, this will gain you respect and friends.

If you cannot see a book to choose a track from ask the KJ how you select tracks (not what have you got!! ) ,try to do this not when the KJ is talking on the mic or when the singer already on stage is in full flow, try to be considerate about when to ask for your song , sometimes the KJ will say just ask me for a song and I will tell you if I have it rather than browsing every track in existence. If the KJ has slips for requests fill them in clearly so the KJ can read them and do actually put the right details on the slip do not hand in ten slips at a time but just a few ..You will gain much respect from the KJ if you do all these things.

7. Treat the KJs equipment with respect.. Do not swing wired mics , do not tap the tops of mics , do not stagger over to the KJ drunk with a drink in your hand leaning over the thousands of pounds worth of karaoke equipment The KJ will NOT appreciate this.

Do not dance holding drinks on any dance floors the amount of cut feet and spilled booze making people slip and hurt themselves I have seen over the years is astounding.

8 Do not try to cheat the rotation by putting different names or thinking a duet doesn’t count , it does.

9. Do not think that putting up a friend that doesn’t want to sing is an original and funny idea; it is NOT it just wastes the KJ and other singer’s time.

10. Have fun and Smile!! Don’t let drink make you act badly. Karaoke is fun, enjoy your time on stage and revel in others joy at being a star for a few minutes, talk to others about the love of songs and music and how well they did, be friendly and polite to the KJ and they will be back to you. a friendly KJ will also defend you as a singer from all the bad behaviour I have detailed above to ensure your night is not spoiled by someone who doesn't know karaoke etiquette.

Please add any karaoke etiquette, manners, behaviours etc that I have missed out in the comments below..

Rob

Rob Star Entertainments

Mobile DJ Tameside Manchester

I am often asked what areas I actually cover with my DJ service as some DJs seem to travel anywhere in the UK , I am a firm believer in dealing with local people and my local community.

I live in Tameside Manchester and have done so all my life.
This means I know  the Manchester area very well and I also know what  Mancunians like music wise.

 Different parts of the country have different musical tastes , I was here in the 80's when my friends had wham posters and Duran Duran posters and copies of smash hits in their bedrooms, I was the skinny lad spinning on some kitchen lino in co-ops car park trying to break dance!

I was the fashion victim wearing ridiculously large flares  and listening to  madchester scene music, i danced and raved at the hacienda, strutted my stuff on the bouncy floor or the Ritz  and shared many of the very local experiences that many of my clients experienced and because of this understanding i can play tunes that you know , that spark memories and evoke  previously forgotten emotions and events , I still love chart music and play the latest hits that young crowds  love just as passionately as I did when I was  a teenager.

A good DJ is not just a juke box but someone who can set the right mood and  tone for a particular  event.. Knowing what people like, having grown in in the same area ensures that I am on the same wave length as my customers and is just one reason why my shows have a reputation of  fun and many happy customers.

So i am delighted to offer my mobile DJ services to  Audenshaw, Denton North East, Denton South, Denton West, Droylsden East, Droylsden, West Dukinfield, Hattersley, Hyde Godley, Hyde Newton, Hyde Werneth, Longdendale, Mossley, Mottram, Stalybridge North, Stalybridge South, Most of Stockport and of Course other local parts of Manchester.

Less travel means more reliability and less fuel costs which means that saving is passed on to you and its also better for the environment.

Here is a map of areas I normally cover

Mobile DJ Tameside Manchester Rob Star cover area

If you want to hire a DJ in Manchester Tameside then click this link CLICK HERE to make a quick on line enquiry or leave a message on this answering machine number 0161 265 3421 and i will get back to you as soon as possible.

Wedding reception disco with a difference

What a great party!

I was recently asked to host the wedding reception for a lovely couple called David and Christine who live in Oldham Manchester. Christine loves Abba and karaoke 70's 80's music and some chart music , they did not want a formal wedding with endless speeches and  lots of  pomp and ceremony but a really good fun time with family and friends in a local venue.

They Choose Vibes in Bardsley Oldham Manchester, this is a trendy bar in the town with very helpful and efficient  members of staff.

It was a perfect venue for the happy couple as they live not too far away and so do all their friends. this allowed people to "pop in " to the reception as this was not a formal type of wedding but a celebration of their love for  all their friends and family to enjoy.

The music selection was just up the crowds street they loved the 70's and 80's songs and especially the Abba songs that the bride loved her self. This meant that the small but large enough dance area had dancers all evening. with one or two showing off their moves as can be seen in this little clip

Christine loves singing on karaoke.
When on a night out she often sings so why on her special day not do the thing she enjoys so much?

 I know some DJs try to force a type of style or  force etiquette upon Couples which can sometimes make them feel as if its not their wedding  but that they are just going through the motions of what others expect.

I  try to give the best show for the individual couple themselves and tailor my show and style to their individual needs not force my own opinions of how it should be done.

 I have many years experience in hosting weddings and other events but the only people i listen to on how they want it done are the people hiring me, I can advise on what works and i can suggest ways of doing things that may be new to you , but ultimately I am hired to host the party the way you would like it and that includes music selection.

 I can suggest what i think will work music selection wise but  you know your family and friends better than I do which is why i always do consultations with couples on music selection rather than just leaving it to chance or risking not having the songs you like not being available on the day of your event.

With Christine and David I visited them at their home  twice before having all the details and information i required to host this great event. Its pre planning that takes stress and worry away and helps parties like this go so well.

I can be a formal DJ and a down to earth fun party DJ in equal measure and this wedding party was fun indeed with many truly talented singers.

I received lots of thank you's and hand shakes and comments like "cracking job" which is very nice to hear and I have taken a few bookings on the strength of this party.

 They wanted the reception their way and that's what I delivered and I must say I enjoyed this one immensely.


I wish Christine and David a very happy life together and if their wedding reception is anything to go by it will be just perfect.

If you are looking to Hire a DJ in Manchester then please Click this link

Ladies Darts Presentation Disco

Quite a while since I have written a blog but last night’s ladies darts presentation was a very good evening.

I started off my mobile disco show with the usual back ground music whilst all the ladies assembled and what a good turnout it was!
Considering this was on a Thursday night the turnout was very good indeed.

The trophies were laid out very impressively and the two wireless microphones I took became very useful for the announcements of the winners and runners up.

This Event was held inside  a lovely sized room at the;
  Denton Independent Social Club
which is at 1 Grosvenor Street Denton Manchester. This venue is also available for private hire for birthdays anniversaries and weddings so if you’re interested in hiring this venue why not give them a call on
0161 336 4340


It has comfortable seating a good stage and dance floor area and well stocked and efficient staffed bar.
The management of this venue were really lovely and helpful, if only all venues were as accommodating!

So after the formalities we started with a bit of karaoke in fact so much karaoke we had to stop so we could let the people who wanted to dance chance to have a good boogie!

Rob Star Mobile DJ at Denton Independent Social Club

Rob Star Mobile Disco at Denton Independent Social Club

 Unfortunately time caught us up and I had to finish, I do hope that I am invited back next year to host this wonderful event as I truly enjoyed hosting this event.

Degrees of Awesomeness

ADJ stands for American DJ and is a brand of disco products from the USA a little while back they started what they called the ADJ university a on-line course designed to help , improve and educate DJ's.

There  are currently two levels
 level 1.. is the starting point .with the recently added level 2 being the next step, I have completed and passed both levels of the course and was pleased to receive a certificate from ADJ .

Although this course is not difficult to an experienced DJ and is quite basic in content  I do feel this is an excellent step and move by ADJ, with so many operators not knowing the basics or for new DJ's looking to find  accurate and quality  information it is a move in a positive direction. I feel ADJ deserves credit for trying to do this.

 I personally do not think you should book a DJ just because he has one of these certificates but it does show a willingness on the part of  a DJ to learn and improve.

Here is the level 2 certificate ADJ kindly sent me all the way from the USA

I am an experienced knowledgeable DJ but there is always something new to learn in this industry with this open minded attitude I aim to constantly improve my services.

So if you are interested in hiring a DJ in the Manchester area who takes learning seriously why not fill in my on-line enquiry form by clicking HERE

DJ party at Marple Golf Club Stockport 40th Birthday Party

I had the honour of  being the DJ at a new venue to Rob Star Entertainments last night , Marple Golf Club.

This is a well hidden venue and I am glad I did a pre visit  to the venue to chat to the venue staff as my sat nav  took me to the completely wrong place! Its important you follow not just the post code but also the road name , the club is located down a small single track road called Barnsfield road. This is why it is important for a DJ to know 100% where the venue is and to have seen the room or got an idea of the room layout.

If I had left it till the night i would have been late and that is simply not acceptable in my book. not all DJ's take this much care and attention to detail

When I got to the venue on the pre event visit I was struck at the amazing views from the function room

It has a Dance floor and the room has air conditioning which is always good when you want to dance the night away. The bar is well stocked and staffed by really nice fast efficient bar staff.

The buffet on the night smelled and looked  gorgeous , I never, as a DJ help myself to the buffet , I feel it looks very unprofessional and i always try to play good low background  music whilst the buffet is being served. you can not be providing the best service possible while stuffing your face with food and drinking alcohol! I always like to be approachable on the night for any requests at anytime.

I am there to provide you with the best service and party I can , not to be a paid guest. that is why i only drink water at private functions that I host.

Here is what the bar looks like at Marple Golf Club

Here is what the venue looks like before the party Starts with my Mobile disco set up

This room handled the 70 guests really well and is ideal for that number of guests. The balcony /patio area is ideal if you have a number of smokers as guests as they can still hear the music and feel part of the party from that area. I do not smoke myself but understand that many people do and that many venues do not cater for customers that do smoke.

Some great 80's music was requested at this 40th birthday party along with the odd chart song and of course the fun party songs.

I enjoyed my visit to this new to me venue and helping to make a memorable 40th Birthday party. Thank you handshakes and well done comments  make the hard work worth while.

for more information of what I do and how I do it please visit my website Rob Star Entertainments 

70th surprise Birthday party Stamford House Audenshaw

Last night I hosted a 70th birthday party , the guests were recommended from their  family members who I have done several functions for in the past. It's really nice to be recommended as word of mouth is still in this modern marketing age the best form of advertising and also the best review as a DJ you can get.

I was at a new venue for myself  Stamford House in Audenshaw I knew the place from its health , beauty and hair facilities as my wife and  daughters have had nails and spray tans and  my wife has  taken the odd fitness class at this venue. I was unaware however on what a great  function room this venue has.

I called up early  and did an early set up so i knew that everything would be set up and working 100% on the night access to the room was very easy and parking was not an issue, the staff at the venue are lovely and very helpful, nothing was too much trouble and on the night i felt we worked as a team to give our mutal customers a great evening.

This was a surprise party so all the guests apart from the Birthday girl  came early , as this venue has two entrances all the guests came in at the back entrance and the surprise guest came in from the front , opening a curtain to the  whole family and friends shouting  SURPRISE !! and  floods of smiles and tears of happiness and the wonderful treat her loving family had planned.

As this was a very mixed aged group of people music went through all genres with Irish classics being stomped , clapped , dance and sung to as much as rock n roll , Motown and chart hits.

The clients were blessed with very talented singers and dancers and a few  sang to backing tracks I provided . I accompanied a few of the guests with duets and then we had a irish dance performed by an angelic little girl to rapturous applause.

At the end the grand finale was The birthday girl in the centre of  the dance floor  surrounded by a circle of her loved ones , family and friends all dancing and singing. The look of joy on her face made my night.

lots of handshakes and thank yous was the icing on the cake, one comment that sticks in my head was a wink followed  with "you'll do for me kid"  praise indeed , the drive home was a good one with the knowledge of a job well done.

Wedding Anniversaries

It warms my heart to see so many couple still in love after many years , as a DJ one of the best parts of the job is meeting people. I have done many wedding anniversary parties as a Mobile Disco in Manchester and one thing i have found meeting the couples  is all the Golden and silver wedding anniversary couples have is a friendly and  easy going nature and great sense of humour and  a truly fun loving outlook on life.

I myself have been married for 21 years and having an understanding partner and my partner having a great sense of humour have been the key to our marriage. So its should be no surprise that these type of events always seem to go well with lots of dancers on full dance floors but I always love seeing the floor at the end of the night full of couples smooching and clearly in love , with so much nastiness and bad news in the world it lifts my spirits to see nice , decent people having a great time who have spent a long time together and are still so very happy, that is why Wedding anniversaries are one of my favourite types of events to take my mobile disco show to.

As with all events I host I try to get as much information BEFORE the party , getting to know musical tastes , timings, and the venue details thorough planning helps ensure a great night and I try my best to play something for everyone and to get the dance floor as full as possible for as long as possible. 

Here below is a very short video from last Saturdays 25th Wedding anniversary

for further details see my website or fill in this CLICK HERE  simple on line form for a quotation

Tips for picking your party venue

How many guests are you inviting?

The type of party you have will depend on how large your party will be, so here are some things to think about before approaching venues.

Venue capacity:

 

It may sound obvious but many venues will not be able to cope with the extra space if you add 20 extra guests at the last minute. You should have a good idea of numbers before you start searching and choosing a venue. The amount of people attending will also have a bearing on what equipment a DJ or Band will require. Larger venues require more powerful equipment just to fill the space with music even if you only require quiet back ground music and this is often a reason for increased costs.

Dining or a buffet?

 

A formal sit down meal will obviously require more space than a stand up buffet, so a venue whose seated capacity is 75 might well be able to accommodate 150 for a finger buffet reception.

Entertainment facilities:

 DJ’s, Bands and other entertainment can take up a large amount of space, (some DJ’s can offer tiny high quality set ups to help in confined space venues) as can your dance floor, so decide when and importantly where in the room you want the entertainment to place their equipment and hold the entertainment ,this is often restricted by power points and fire doors and required access areas but an experienced DJ will take all this into consideration , and check with the venue that this can be done in the space available ,safely and to your requirements.

What type of venue?

Historic venue.                                                                                                   Castles, Halls, country houses and even stately homes are among the venues many dream of for their event. If your budget can stretch to it, this offers a once in a lifetime dream opportunity to take full advantage and enjoy the use of a stunning classic building.

Hotel Venue.                                                                                                        
There are so many different types of hotel some fall into the historic venue category and some are modern, custom designed function rooms with a massive selection of types of hotel in-between. Having accommodation on the spot is, of course, a very big plus and ideal if you are travelling a distance to the venue and intend to have a few drinks.

Marquee Party.
 If you have access to flat spacious gardens or another flat outdoor space, a marquee could be worth taking into consideration. Often people are surprised at how expensive it can be to hire a marquee for their wedding, but the plus side is that you can often take control of wedding catering and could save a considerable amount by providing your own alcohol. If hiring a DJ or band making sure adequate and safe power is available and also that no sound restrictions are in force is very important plus access to the marquee for loading and unloading heavy equipment is also a factor to consider.

Sports or Social Club party. 

 There are many types of club premises can be perfect for a party. Do plenty of detective work and research and you could find one that is in a lovely and beautiful location, too. For example, some golf clubs have picturesque vistas, and can often be hired at a very reasonable price, especially when compared to traditional wedding venues.

Restaurant or Pub Party.
 We all like to have a good meal and many also like a drink these are often the main ingredients for a successful party along with quality entertainment, so where better to have your party than a restaurant or pub? Please take into account that these types of venues are often better suited to a smaller intimate party .These type of venues are often great choices if you are on a tight budget.

for more information see my website and for even more tips Click here

New Wedding DJ Manchester Page

Just a bit of news on my website i now have a dedicated page for weddings detailing a little of what I do.

I always like to , where possible, have face to face meetings with potential customers,  way before the event and again closer to the date  to plan as much and as many details as possible to suggest new ideas ,this is  to give the benefit of my years of experience and to talk about the tone and type of party the happy couple require, I also like to emphasise how important a tidy and neat set up is in my opinion and why is a smart well presented DJ.

With social networking being so popular its not surprising how many people share photos of there friends parties and wedding receptions , and often I see photos where a lovely room and lovely guests and bride and groom in there best finery but a DJ has turned up with scruffy equipment with a birds nest of wiring and the DJ looks like he is going to an audition for a Movie part as a carnival extra!

I feel having a tidy set up and myself being dressed appropriately is important so my customers are never embarrassed by friends posting pictures from their wedding reception.

so to show this attention to detail I have made a dedicated DJ wedding page  which I hope will help couples  to make an informed choice.

I can help ....but I need your help first

When it comes to organising a Birthday party, wedding reception, christening, or any other type of event one of the main concerns is cost.

            I understand this.  

 I have a large, close family and I have had to organise a few parties and ceremonies in my time personally. 

This budget stress often makes smart and intelligent people ask questions that have no real answer , I myself have under the financial stress asked the typical "how long is a piece of string questions". 

I often get calls that sound like this; 

Me .. Good Morning Rob Star Entertainments how can I help?

Caller..  Is that Rob Star Entertainments?

Me.. Good morning, yes it is how can I Help?

Caller.. How much for a disco mate?

Me .. Well for me to give you a quote I need a little more information from you, for example the date of the event as I maybe already booked and the location of the event.

Caller ..so you won’t give me a price?

Me..I will give you a quotation but I need a few more details from yourself first.

Caller .. a mate down the pub said he would do it for £80 can you match that?

Me ..sorry sir but I need more information from you first

Caller.. Oh I don’t know I will call you back.

Many callers seem to get the impression that DJ’s are stalling and trying to get the most money they can from them because they won’t give them an instant quote.

This is not the case at all and I will explain why

I can’t quote until unless I know;

1.   The Date of the event, I may already be booked up on that date.

2.   The venue location, as I am based in Denton Manchester. If the location is the other end of the country then of course my price will be very different than if the venue is just up my street, unfortunately due to fuel prices this is not something I can absorb in my costs but I don’t exploit this as a way to charge unfairly either.

3.    The times I am required, remember that most DJ’s tend to on average work 4-5 hours of performing time but also remember they are working when they set off from base, They are working when they get to the venue and set up. They are still working and then during the performance and they are still working when they are breaking down the equipment at the end of the night, they are still working and they actually finish only once back to base .So a 4 to 5 hour performance can mean 5 to12 hours actual work time depending on the location of venue and set up times. So of course a quote will vary massively depending on these factors. This is without the time involved during planning and consultations etc

4.   The type of theme of event you require. Some people want a full on show , all the lights all the sound for example for a 21^st Birthday , this requires lots of lighting and more amplifiers and bigger speakers so a lot more equipment , if you were to just hire the equipment and not have a DJ this would of course cost you more so my prices reflect that. If you require uplighting again these are extra costs. If you require Karaoke for example this is an extra factor in the quotation price.

Regarding the typical conversation detailed above here is the true or secret hidden cost of the £80 DJ... for many and on several occasions I have had follow up calls that explain that the £80 mate from the pub has let them down and cannot make the date and they need a D.J urgently (as in that very day!) or I have even heard stories of venues refusing a DJ access to their function room as they don’t have PAT tested equipment or lack Public liability insurance ,which of course I as a professional D.J I have, often £80 mates do not.

 So they had to, at very short notice get another D.J who does have the proper certification this means that they will have to pay the going rates and sometimes with other D.J’s pay a premium for short notice professional DJ’s to save the day.

Often because callers are obsessed with the price and nothing else they do not spend time thinking about what they require or asking for free advice which I freely give.

Often they will make a rash buying decision purely based on price, we all do this in all walks of life and I genuinely understand in these tough times the importance and value of hard earned money.

 Occasionally we do get an absolute bargain and get something that is very high quality, reliable at a rock bottom price but these bargains are few and far between.

We know that on average quality does cost but often not that much more than some tacky smart price budget products and services. 

But I am sure I am not alone in purchasing a cheap alternative and regretting that I hadn’t spent just a little bit more to get a quality product or service and regretted it every time I used that product ( if it was still working) or looked back on photos that showed that poor budget service.

D.J’s can also fall into this line of thinking, now I know that I personally am at the lower to mid price sector but I truly believe I offer excellent value for money, as a professional I obviously know the going rate for comparable services and that’s where the crux lies “comparable” services .

I plan events, I don’t just wing it. I use professional equipment, not adapted home quality equipment. I take pride in my work and care, this is my sole source of income so I rely on giving excellent service to generate repeat customers and for them to spread by word of mouth how their event went with me as their DJ. 

This is where I get most of my repeat custom and work. These customers often from the recommendation get told how I operate. That I like to visit people first, have a chat to find out all the details for your event, carefully plan what is needed, supply a detailed and very competitive quote based on plenty of discussion, then deliver on those promises.

So this is why I will not just offer a price over the phone unless you help me with a little information first.

Play it next!

As a Mobile Disco DJ I sometimes get people who come up to me whilst party people are dancing to a genre that the person requesting a track doesn’t like.

They ask that a track must be played NEXT! 

For example I could have a dance floor early on in the evening full of people dancing to Motown or doing a jive to some rock and roll and they will come up and say something like play “That Dubstep track “Synking Sand - Syndaesia” NEXT!

Now let’s think about this from a service provider’s point of view.

 My job as a mobile disco DJ is to keep as many people as possible happy, to keep the floor as full as possible for as long as possible , if I played that request next in the middle of a set of songs (I will come back to this later) it would almost certainly clear the dance floor of the people I currently have dancing, also I may have had requests made before the “Synking Sand - Syndaesia” next request so they would have priority so.. I can’t play it next.

Also it may have been a song that the party organisers and people whose party it is may have requested not to play so.. I can’t play it next.

 Another factor maybe, that I may have been given a strict playlist of songs again by the party organiser so again.. I can’t play it next.

Another reason maybe that while the person requesting this track was late arriving , at the toilet , having a smoke break, talking to friends that i have played that request in the last 20 minutes so again.. I can’t play it next.

But there is also another factor: It won’t mix easily and smoothly and I already have it in the set for later on or I will be playing that track not next but later in a set of songs that will go well together.

And finally the most unlikely, I may not have the track so..I couldn’t play it next.

 In private conversations with other DJ’s this is the excuse they most often give to people when they do actually have the track!  but they think it will bomb and ruin the atmosphere and clear the dance floor or it is a track that the DJ doesn’t like. Personally if it doesn’t fall foul of any of the scenarios above and I have the track I will play it.

I am a DJ and not a jukebox this means I don’t just randomly pick tracks and play them, I like to take people on a musical journey, flowing different songs and genres, now if this flow is good and seamless you tend to have a full dance floor, if you just chop one track into the next it’s a sure fire way of seeing dancers looking at each other deciding if they like this track and walking off. A good “set “ for the average function will cover most genres and flow through different styles , decades and tempo providing something for everyone. Unless this is was a specified musical genre type event. 

I have hosted some events as a mobile DJ where the birthday boy has asked for example only Northern soul and Motown to be played so “Iron maiden - bring your daughters to the slaughter Next !” wouldn’t be played.

Don’t get me wrong I won’t refuse any reasonable request but I reserve the right when to play it, this is not me being awkward but my way of ensuring more people enjoy themselves as possible, when making a request to a DJ please don’t say Next after the request, often there is plenty of time in the night for it to be played , now if it is with the flow of the tracks being played and I know people will carry on dancing then of course I will fit it in sooner or even next.

But demanding NEXT when it is not possible for the reasons detailed above still makes me disappointed that even one person has not been given what they wish, often if the person is patient I will build a small mini set of songs around that request later on and I often get thumbs up and “cheers mate” and “thank you” or affirming nods while they are dancing to their request.

I almost always play the request but not always NEXT!

Rob 

Rob Star Entertainments

Welcome to my New Blog

Welcome to my new Blog detailing what events and adventures I have as a  mobile disco D.J and Karaoke Host.

Last Friday the 9th of July I Hosted a Great Party , The Dance floor was full when the party started.

This wasn't a lucky accident but down to planning as you will soon discover.

I got a call from a really nice guy who is a Captain of a golf club whose normal DJ couldn't help him on this occasion. It was fairly short notice but i suggested we meet up and discuss what he had in mind.

So armed with sat nav , I saddled up in my trusty estate car and went to Mellor golf club , it was a lovely sunny and hot day.  I had never been to Mellor before but was really glad to visit this beautiful part of the country.

I am not a Golfer but watch the occasional match on the telly but even i was blown away at how beautiful this course is , the club house is overlooking the final green and you get a great view of  matches from an awesome balcony view point.


I mentioned the Captains name and the doors opened to the club and on this very hot day i was pleased to meet the captain and his lovely wife at the bar , an ice cold coke went down a treat!

so we had a chat about what the event was "Captains day" is a informal day to celebrate the Captain , Now he and his wife had some brilliant song suggestions , that they wanted played on the evening and i wrote these down on my consultation form , this is a little form i have devised that i fill in so i know all the details like peoples names , the venues contacts , start and finish times , lighting requirements , venue access times etc .

Finding out these details rather than just turning up on the night means a smoother more professional show , I try to leave nothing to chance, because of this we then went to visit the actual room that would be used on the night.

A lovely , well sized room , with a large dance floor , I took note of the , power socket position the fire exits the height of the ceilings , loading access and  nearest toilets (not for myself  but its amazing how many guest ask the DJ where the loo is!)

I don't smoke myself but i noted where the smoking areas were again for if i was asked by guests.

So I gathered all the information I needed and normally i leave and post a quotation but they were happy with seeing me and noticed how I do business that they paid a reservation fee to confirm the booking after I gave them a verbal quotation.

On the day of the event unfortunately it was not the glorious sunshine of the free consultation visit but a muggy sunshine thundery day , but this did not put a dampener for me and i enthusiastically set off for an early set up.

 Here is my tidy and neat set up , note how there are no dangerous wires to trip over and that it is a dedicated stand with a star cloth rather than a box plonked on a table. The appearance and look of my set up is very important to me as is the safety of guests, this is why my set up looks this tidy.

For their party they wanted a good light show but not something that was overly fast and "in your eyes" so I used four LED par cans these give a wash of colour , these cans are connected together and synchronised to give the same colour of many available different colours in time to the beat of the music. I also used two LED scanners and a gobo moonflower effect.

I arrived early and set up my equipment. I then went back home to get showered and changed.
At the start of the evening i was just playing background music as speeches were taking place in the other room.
Some ladies from the party  came into the function room and sat down easily being able to talk and catch up to low level back ground music. I was watching to see reactions to this back ground music and through my experience of reading crowds this would prove useful for later on in the evening. I could see feet tapping and singing along to quiet background music so i knew  certain tracks would hit the spot later on when the party started.

The speeches over ran a little so when they all came into the party room , i soon got into , lets get started party mode. I knew that some people would like to dance so early on  so a little Motown soon got a few on the floor , I could tell some were great dancers and so i switched on instinct to songs they could Jive to , well the floor filled and they were all Jiving away to rock and roll and sixties and even wham's wake me up before you go go. Many of the older guests were about to leave the dance floor at the end of a song but as soon as they heard the next track they couldn't and kept on dancing, Some had to give up as jiving that good for so long is tiring for professional dancers but after a short rest they were often back up.

The function manager came up and asked me to announce the buffet was served in the other room , so i did so , some stayed dancing but the allure of the lovely smelling food was enough for many so , I had to kick start the party once again after the buffet was cleared , I took  inspiration from the captains and his wife's playlist and a bit of  Blondie,The human league and Bowie soon got the floor packed again on the play list was a few from the blues brothers and The Commitments

Later on I started to mix in current music tracks and the younger and older guests loved these The Black eyed peas and Ne-Yo kept them dancing all night , unfortunately we had to finish as we ran out of time and we finished with the captain in a circle surrounded by his lovely friends family and colleagues.

For me the best part of the evening was when the captain came and shook my hand said what a great time it was and how he would recommend me.

I am only happy when i know i have done a good job and that people had a very good time . as people were leaving as i was packing away i got lots of thank you and thumbs up.
Here are a few more pictures of full dance floors

So I Hope you like the first of my new Blogs