Easter Wedding

Having been asked to provide the music and public address system for the wedding reception of family friends, Saturday took me back to the time I was a mobile DJ in the 1970s and 80s. We thought we could save time and effort by using the venue's own large speakers, but ended up using a tried and tested portable system. Lesson learned: you don't need to own the equipment but you do need to ensure it is tested in advance.

The space allocated to DJ and live performance of singer-guitarist was smaller than expected, limiting options for disco lighting, but we were able to use from other projects a mirrorball setup (12-inch ball lit from below by three pinspots) and moonflower projectors (2 x ADJ Revo Sweeps and an Equinox Warp).

Music playout was radically different from the vinyl and cassette decks used back in the day. For nearly two decades now, I have used OTSAV for playout of recorded music, a digital system running on standard desktop or laptop computers. With the addition of self-produced percussive links, a seamless beat-matched music stream emanates from the sound system.

As a convinced convert to digital music playout, I am actually bemused by the current proliferation of controllers with jog-wheels, CDJs and vinyl turntables performing a jog function. All of these seek to control digital equipment in analogue mode as if the software wasn't capable! (OK, I concede that analogue control provides for live production and manipulation of sounds as a spectacle, but surely, adequate preparation obviates the aural need for that?)

Preparation of playlists well in advance of the event was a key planning element, ensuring that the principals heard their kind of music and that any requests could be satisfied readily. The questionnaire sent out at booking time, albeit quite long, was well worth having to hand.

Playlists:

** ASSEMBLY, CHAT and MEAL **
** MUSIC IN THE BACKGROUND **
Katie Melua - Blue Shoes
In Tua Nua - All I wanted
Seal - Kiss From A Rose
Russell Watson - Have I Told You Lately
Kid Creole & The Coconuts - Stool Pigeon
Princess - Say I'm Your Number One
James Taylor - Something In The Way She Moves
Robert Miles - Children
Quarterflash - Harden My Heart
KC & The Sunshine Band - Please Don't Go
Drifters, The - Save The Last Dance For Me
Black Sorrows, The - The Chosen Ones
Cliff Richard - We Don't Talk Anymore
Nolans - I'm In The Mood For Dancing
Joan Armatrading - The Weakness In Me
Them - Here Comes The Night
S Club 7 - Never Had A Dream Come True
Jackson Browne - In The Shape Of A Heart
Who, The - My Generation
B Bumble & The Stingers - Nut Rocker
Champaign - How 'Bout Us
Chic - Le Freak
Eurythmics - Here Comes The Rain Again
Bad Company - Love Attack [pn]
Genesis - No Reply At All
Munros, The, Introducing David - Highland Cathedral
Beatles - Octopus's Garden
Corrs & Bono - Summer Wine
Imagination - Just An Illusion
John Legend - All Of Me
Bryan Adams - Summer Of 69 (Unplugged)
Queen - Bohemian Rhapsody
Ed Sheeran with Beyoncé - Perfect Duet [Official Audio]
Lady GaGa - Always Remember Us This Way
Elvis Presley - Can't Help Falling In Love

** FIRST DANCE **
Calum Scott & Leona Lewis - You Are The Reason (Duet Version)

** JOHN MCLEAN, singer & guitarist **

** DANCE TIME 1 **
Cardi B with Bad Bunny J Balvin - I Like It
Whitney Houston - I Will Always Love You
Queen - Somebody To Love
Eagles, The - Hotel California
Panic! At The Disco - High Hopes
Beatles - Hey Jude
One Direction - What Makes You Beautiful
Black Lace - Agadoo

** JOHN MCLEAN, singer & guitarist, main set **

** DANCE TIME 2 **
Cranberries, The - Zombie
Abba - Dancing Queen
Dolly Parton - 9 To 5
Bee Gees, The - Stayin'Alive
The Wurzels - Combine Harvester (Brand New Key)
Scissor Sisters - I Don't Feel Like Dancing
LSD ft. Sia Diplo Labrinth - Thunderclouds
Cascada - Evacuate The Dancefloor
Pussycat Dolls, The, feat. Busta Rhymes - Don't Cha (Clean)
Maroon 5 - Girls Like You
Gerry Cinnamon - Belter
Katy Perry - I Kissed A Girl
Whitney Houston - I Wanna Dance With Somebody
George Ezra - Shotgun
DJ Casper - Cha Cha Slide
Ava Max - Sweet But Psycho
Gwen Stefani - Hollaback Girl
DJ Snake ft. Selena Gomez, Ozuna, Cardi B - Taki Taki
Beyonce - Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)
Lady GaGa & Bradley Cooper - Shallow
Rita Ora - Let You Love Me
Sia - The Greatest
CNCO & Little Mix - Reggaetón Lento (Remix)
Christina Perri - A Thousand Years
Train - Marry Me (Radio mix)
Taylor Swift - Shake It Off
Alicia Keys - If I Ain't Got You
Dexy's Midnight Runners - Come On Eileen
Thompson Twins, The - Hold Me Now
Human League - Don't You Want Me
Meat Loaf - I'd Do Anything For Love (But I Won't Do That)
Kajagoogoo - Too Shy
Men At Work - Down Under
Toto - Africa
Green Day - American Idiot
Beyonce Feat. Jay-Z - Crazy In Love
Bruno Mars - Just The Way You Are (Amazing)
Pink Floyd - Money