Show Must Go On: DJs wait to get party started again

Lockdown has left them with blank diaries and an uncertain future
When will DJs be back spinning their discs?When will DJs be back spinning their discs?
When will DJs be back spinning their discs?

Following on from our review of local live venues one aspect that is often overlooked is the position for DJs.

With restrictions in place for ‘live’ as in sung events and electric sound systems for anything other than background the question on how dancing will return remains unclear.

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By far the biggest DJ shows in recent years has been at weddings where a comprehensive range of music can be played throughout the evening at a reasonable cost.

Will we ever see the return of the famous buffet?Will we ever see the return of the famous buffet?
Will we ever see the return of the famous buffet?

Experienced jocks will play background music as guests arrive, pump it up for the dance sessions following bride & groom first dance and will play during buffet time towards an anthem fueled finish.

Former DJ at Bentleys Kirkcaldy and Oasis in Leven, Stuart McNiff, had planned to retire this year at Hogmanay at his festive residency at the Grand Central Hotel in Glasgow.

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While that is very much in doubt with the Edinburgh Hogmanay shows being cancelled just this week, he said he was determined to hang up his headphones regardless.

The dance floors are currently empty ...The dance floors are currently empty ...
The dance floors are currently empty ...

We both were members of the Disco Mix Club run by Radio Luxembourg DJ Tony Prince and the annual conventions held in London were memorable.

It was there I first attempted the Guinness World Record as ‘fastest DJ’ while Stuart was minder to artists like Alexander O’Neal, Janet Jackson, and James Brown. Together we joined Amp DJ, a Scottish association for the DJ with network meetings, advice, and discount insurances.

Local representative is Andy Wylie from Glenrothes, and he tells us they hope to recommence meetings again as early as August 5 in Glenrothes.

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Andy has been in the business since he was 16 and held residences at Gilvenbank Hotel, Pinkertons and Garvock House Hotel Dunfermline but started (as I did) in the days of vinyl records.

He did progress to minidiscs then CDs and finally hard drives and laptops.

He owned two record shops at one time too and at his rock nights at the Crown Hotel attracted Frankie Miller just before his big chart hits.

In terms of lock down he sees no way back soon for the mobile disco or karaoke scene.

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With weddings restricted in numbers and no loud music allowed this has meant a complete loss in bookings for discos since March.

This has also meant no Proms, school leaving discos, end of season awards nights as well as countless birthdays and anniversaries.

Weddings have been generally postponed till next year which will cause a gridlock in bookings for all entertainers and how will the hotels and function rooms cope with a scheduling problem with those who booked 2021 or 2022 initially for their dream day?

Will it be the end of the buffet too as we know it and no more hugs at Auld Lang Syne or Loch Lomond?

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