Wedding in the Norton House Hotel, Edinburgh

Posted on 11/02/2012 by DJ Shuggy

Norton House Hotel Wedding Reception

This was the first time that I have been given a chance to entertain at the Norton House Hotel.  It was about an hour’s drive from my house, all motorway so no hassle.  The venue was really nice and access was along a corridor, into a lift and out just at the back stage entrance, so no problems at all.

It was the 11th February 2012, and it was Rachael & Steven Jones’s Wedding Reception and I think everyone in the hall had come up from England for the party.  It was a really cheezy, 90s theme night with a 45minute of ceilidh music thrown in to get everyone in to the Scottish mood… The ceilidh part was great… No one had done ceilidh before and I had to talk them through the dances and even demonstrate them too… It was great…

The requests came in thick and fast and it got to the stage I played very little of my own choice of music…. Their requests were that many..!!!

They danced the night away and then some, it was a great night for everyone, and I’m sure it will be remembered for a long time.

Were you there..?

If so, please feel free to leave a comment for Rachael and Steven to read when they get back from their honeymoon in Iceland..?
 

Posted in Our Past Discos, Weddings | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

30th Birthday Party Disco in Glasgow

Posted on 04/02/2012 by DJ Shuggy

Birthday Party in Blythswood Square Hotel

It was on the 4th February 2012 that Lyndsay celebrated her 30th Birthday in the Blythswood Square Hotel.  There were lots of friends and family there to help her celebrate it, and they did so in style..

The evening was a great success and the dance floor was full from start to finish with guests having a great time.  Lyndsay was on the floor most of the night having a great time.  The buffet was hot rolls in sausage and bacon and there were lots of cupcakes to have as seconds.. MMmmm..!!

Happy Birthday Lyndsay, Hopefully I can entertain at another family gathering in the future.

Were you there…??

If so please feel free to leave a comment for Lyndsay to read..?
 

Posted in Birthday Parties, Our Past Discos | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Karaoke Disco Night at the Kildonan Hotel in Arran

Posted on 30/01/2012 by DJ Shuggy

 

Karaoke Night at Kildonan Hotel, Arran

It was the 27th January 2012 that my wife and I went over to Arran for the weekend off…!!  It was meant to be the week previous but the weather stopped the ferries from operating and it had to be put back..  We were staying with family on the island and on Friday night we went to the local for a drink.  The staff at the Kildonan Hotel were great, and the atmosphere was really friendly.  The next day it was suggested that I did a karaoke for the family and after setting it up in the house it was suggested that we change venue to the Kildonan’s Bar…  After the venue saying YES…. I drove over and dropped off enough kit to get it going.

I started playing some music from about 7.00pm and everyone was getting to know each other etc.. we got the kids up for a song first as they had to be out by 10.00pm…. Afterwards the adults started getting in on the action… I think everyone had a go at singing by the end of the night and great feedback was given on Facebook etc..

So much for the weekend off…..????     I loved it really..!!!!!
 

Posted in Disco Photos, Our Past Discos | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Disco in East Kilbride

Posted on 21/01/2012 by DJ Shuggy

Birthday Party at the East Kilbride Golf Club

It was the 14th January 2012 that Karen Hilditch celebrated her 50th Birthday Party in the brand new East Kilbride Golf Club.  The clubhouse had previously burnt down and they had to build a new one, and what a clubhouse they have now..!!  Everything is shiny and new and I am sure the membership must be very proud of it.

On arrival I found the tables and chairs set out and nowhere for me to set up..!!  I asked the staff behind the bar “Where do the band normally set up..?” to be told that they haven’t had a band in the new clubhouse yet..!!!  Anyway we had to move a whole row of tables and chairs so that I could have room to set up and play..  This left the rest of the room quite tight together and getting in and out of the hall was a bit of an issue, but ther hall was not full thankfully..!!

Anyway the guests arrived and everyone had a ball.  Karen kept giving me requests from her years gone by “David Bowie, T Rex” etc..  she was delighted to hear the hits from her era, and I was glad to be able to play them.  The buffet opened about 9.00pm and everyone got stuck in to sandwiches, chicken drumsticks, spicy chicken wing things, haggis balls and sausage rolls.  The catering did put on a good spread and I was invited to help myself… yum yum…

After the buffet we got the cake lit and sang happy birthday and Karen said a few words of thanks to those attending on the night, then the music was back on and the dance floor was full of happy dancers once again.

Karen’s birthday was actually the 15th, so after midnight I made an announcement and had everyone sing happy birthday once again, Karen was well pleased.  I played on till 12.30pm and said good night and I was later asked to supply the entertainment for Karen’s wedding later on in the year… They must have liked me I guess…???

 Were you there..?

If so why don’t you leave a small message for the birthday girl..?
 

Posted in Birthday Parties, Our Past Discos | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Wedding Disco Glasgow Hilton Grosvenor Hotel

Posted on 29/12/2011 by DJ Shuggy

Wedding Disco at the Hilton Glasgow Grosvenor Hotel

Last night I had a break from the Christmas parties to entertain at Carrie and Scott Allan’s Wedding Reception.  It was held in the large hall at the Hilton Glasgow Grosvenor Hotel, at the top of Byres Road in the west end of Glasgow on the 28th December 2011.  I had an hour to get in and set up the disco while the venue staff turned the hall round for the evening reception, so the guests were brought back into the room at 8.00pm and the first dance followed as soon as everyone was in and settled in their chairs.  “Take That – Greatest day” was Carrie and Scott’s choice of 1st dance, and the bridal party were asked to join in half way through the song which was followed by a selection of music that I had picked.  Requests came in straight away, and I can honestly say that I had every track requested on the night bar one…!

The quests were not the keenest of dancers, most of them were happy to sit and sing along to the music all night and get up to only a few of their very special tracks, but I appreciate that not everyone loves dancing…. My dad is one of them…!!  The bride’s father made a point of thanking me for a great night and commented on the fact that the volume was at a level where people could hear themselves think..!!  Don’t kid yourself, discos can turn it up and down to suite any occasion and volume was not warranted at this wedding.

We ended the night with “Runrig – Loch Lomond” and a group of guests had to make a hasty exit to get their bus home.

Were you there…?

If so why don’t you leave a message for Carrie and Scott to read when they get back from their honeymoon
 

Posted in Our Past Discos, Weddings | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Birthday Party in Port Glasgow

Posted on 24/12/2011 by DJ Shuggy

Kevin Oneill's 40th Birthday Party

Birthday Party in the Unity Club, Port Glasgow

It was the 23rd December 2011 that Kevin O’Neill celebrated his 40th Birthday..  The venue was the Unity Club “The Knights” in Port Glasgow and since I knew Kevin through playing golf in the same club some years ago he contacted me to help celebrate his party with his family and friends.  I arrived about 6.40pm but didn’t get in till 7.00pm when the staff arrived.  Getting in was easy but there was a PA system already setup on the stage….!!  Apparently it was the clubs and there was no one there able to take it down..!! “How unprofessional”..  I ended up having to move it myself to the side to make room for my equipment.. Anyway I got in set up and had the music going for 8.00pm but no sign of the birthday boy..!!  I later found out he was in the club, but at another bar with mates.

Anyway Kevin eventually graced us with his presence and I cranked up the volume a bit..  His partner asked me to do the cake then announce the buffet was open..  What a laugh that was..!  There were 40 candles round the cake, the kind that don’t go out.  Well, the cake was getting all burnt with the 3” flames from the candles and it took a pint of water to put it out…LOL  Everyone sang happy birthday, Kevin said a few words, then the buffet was opened.

After the buffet we got some dancing going on and I stopped at 1.00am.  There weren’t too many in the hall which Kevin was a bit disappointed about, maybe this time of the year was too busy for some of his friends with Christmas just round the corner.  But those that were there got drunk and had a great time just the same.

All the best Kevin, keep in touch mate…
 

Posted in Birthday Parties, Our Past Discos | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Wedding Disco in Argyll

Posted on 21/12/2011 by DJ Shuggy

Wedding Disco in the Ardanaiseig Hotel

It was the beginning of February that Alana and Rob first contacted me.  They wanted to know it I was prepared to drive 2.5 hours to the Ardanaiseig Hotel in Argyll to supply the entertainment for their wedding reception on the 17th December 2011.  I said that I would be delighted to and we agreed a fee accordingly..  Rob was a Glasgow man, and Alana came from Edinburgh, but both of them had moved south to Manchester to source work and had settled there, but they knew they wanted to come back to bonny Scotland for their big day.

Running up to their day I was getting worried about the weather, the venue was down some really tight roads…!!!!  But on the day I left early and managed to slide my way through the small winding roads to the venue and set up with plenty of spare time.

Once the meal had finished the night kicked off at 7.30pm with a firework display, then everyone was back inside for a heat and a dance..  The first dance was “Wolfman feat Pete Docherty – For Lovers” with “Mariah Carey – All I want for Christmas” as the wedding party dance, getting right in to the Christmas wedding theme..  I played a few ceilidh tracks and got most people in on the action then back to the usual wedding party music for the remainder of the night…  I must admit some of the older guests sat in the lounge room by the bar all night and weren’t interested in the dancing, and at the start the younger ones just wanted to talk…???  But the drink finally kicked in and they decided it was time for a party and we all had a great time for the remainder of the night.  Midnight came and it was time for me to pack up, but all they wanted was for it to go on into the night…. Lol

Anyway I packed up, said my goodnights, and started driving home…  When I started out it was raining, I thought great, the ice will melt now… not for long… 10 minutes later I was in the middle of a blizzard and had to drive the first 50 miles of my journey home at around 20 miles per hour..  I can honestly say it was the scariest drive of my life, but I drove slow and made sure I got home..  All be it at 3.45am…!!  Just as well I have snow chains is all I can say…!!

Posted in Our Past Discos, Weddings | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Christmas Disco in Glasgow

Posted on 17/12/2011 by DJ Shuggy

Christmas Party in the National Piping Centre, Glasgow

Well the Santa hat was on again last night… It was the staff at the Brediland Primary School’s Christmas dinner dance held at the National Piping Centre in Glasgow.  I supplied the entertainment for them last year too so I knew it was going to be a good night.

The girls were in good spirits, on the dance floor from the very first song.  Singing away along with the music, if some of them can get the words right….LOL   I had lots of requests and was able to play all of them, even John Denver….!!  Now they were surprised I had that one…LOL

I ended the night with the usual Christmas classics and everyone went home in good spirits… Hope to see you again next year..?
 

Posted in Christmas Parties, Corporate Events, Our Past Discos | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Birthday Party in Renfrewshire

Posted on 11/12/2011 by DJ Shuggy

Birthday Party at the Kilbarchan Bowling Club, Johnstone

Last night’s Gig was at a new venue for me, not that it was new, it’s been there for 100 years…  I supplied the entertainment for a 50th birthday party at the Kilbarchan Bowling Club in Johnstone, Renfrewshire.

Joyce looked through the yell.com site and came across me and decided that I was the man to entertain at her partner David’s birthday party.   We talked on the phone and agreed what kind of night was required and as usual I put her mind at ease.  I phoned the venue ahead and arranged access to set up and arrived just before 6.00pm.  I checked out the hall and got my equipment in the hall and started setting up.  The secretary of the club came up and introduced himself to me and we had a chat.  The venue has houses on all 4 sides and he told me that he has in the past had the council in complaining about noise pollution..  I told him that now that he has brought this to my attention I would keep the volume at a reasonable level throughout the night.

By the time I arrived the hall had already been decorated for the party.. The theme was blue and white balloons on the tables and the birthday cake was a piece of art… It was in the shape of his works van….LOL.  Any way I had background music on from 7.00pm and they started arriving in dribs and drabs.  When you consider I have just driven a 25 minute motorway trip I was surprised to find out that a bus was coming with guests from my home town..??  Small word eh.. But I didn’t recognise any one I knew.. Sods law… I never get out on my home turf.. Always working for someone else…!!

Well the party got off to a full swing early on and the dance floor was full all the time.. After the buffet I asked Joyce would David be OK if I gave him a microphone to say something to his guests..?  What a stupid question….!  When he got the mic he turned in to a stand-up comedian and looked around slagging everyone off, including ME..!!  LOL..  It was priceless…  I can honestly say that every age group had a bit of music from their era at some point in the night and everyone went home on a high.

Ian “the secretary” was on the scene, and at the end of the night he asked me for some cards, he said he was very happy with my mix of music throughout the night and was happy with the volume too…  Excellent I thought another happy venue..!  I look forward to playing there again in the future.
 

Posted in Birthday Parties, Our Past Discos | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Christmas Disco in Edinburgh

Posted on 10/12/2011 by DJ Shuggy

Christmas Party at the Royal College of Surgeons

Well Last night saw me travelling through to Scotland’s capital to supply the entertainment for a corporate Christmas Party in the Royal College of Surgeons in Edinburgh.  It was a party for the staff at Brewin Dolphin & Stocktrade and boy there was plenty of them all in good spirits.  They arrived at the reception about 7.00pm for drinks before coming upstairs for their meal at 7.30pm.

I had arrived about 4.30pm and setup in the corner of the dance floor and got the area cleared in good time for them coming in for food.  Once they arrived I played the usual Christmas songs while they were eating their meal.  The catering company were very organised, there was plenty of staff and the meals were being put out in a very timely and orderly fashion…    They even gave me a meal…Whoopee…!!

After the meal, Alan “the person who booked be” came up and asked to say a few words and after that the lights went down and the dancing began…. What a night that was….!!  The floor was full all night long and I very rarely got to choose a song, it was request after request all night long.

At the end of the night I had great feedback and there was even talk of booking me for next year’s Christmas Party…. Result..!!

NOTE:  The venue has been suffering complaints from the neighbours regarding the volume of the entertainment… I was asked at the start of the night to turn it down a bit about 11.45pm and about that time I did in fact lower the volume, but the hall had a visit from the council while I was playing and they asked me to turn it down a bit more half way through the last song.
 

Posted in Christmas Parties, Corporate Events, Our Past Discos | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment