Wedding dance fever!
Tuesday, 4 August 2009

If you listened to Radio 1 this afternoon, you probably heard about the JK Wedding Entrance Dance. It's offically an 'internet sensation' and if you haven't seen it, you can find it here, on YouTube: JK Wedding Entrance Dance Over 16 million people have watched it already and it's brilliant. The video is a great example of how a bit of imagination and a few wedding dance lessons can make a wedding day truly memorable.

Choreographed first dances are more popular than ever but it's still a brilliant surprise for everyone when the bride and groom break into a great routine. And ladies, if your groom is not keen on taking lessons you can even have a dance themed hen night. On our wedding choreography page you'll find a video of the bride and a dozen hens performing the Dirty Dancing classic (I've Had) The Time Of My Life, including a spectacular lift!

You may think that shimmying down the aisle is a little too much, but whether it's the boys grooving to MC Hammer or the girls wishing they were Jennifer Grey, nothing raises the roof like a surprise performance. Whatever you choose to dance to, it's important to make sure that everyone is comfortable and enjoying themselves. A great wedding dance doesn't consist of complicated steps but moves that everyone can achieve while still smiling!

There are a lot of companies that offer wedding choreography but it's best to choose someone who is used to working with 'non-dancers.' Lisa tests all her steps on me and let me assure you, if I can do it, anyone can. If necessary, she'll adapt any steps to suit the wedding couple and of course take into account their experience and their attire (it's very difficult to cartwheel with a nineteen foot train!)

In a recent issue of Perfect Wedding Magazine a Manchester bride asked where she could get wedding dance lessons and they recommended calling me! It was a shock seeing my name and phone number printed in a national magazine but it goes to show that word must be spreading. Maybe one of our routines will be the next YouTube phenomenon and who knows, I could be the next Susan Boyle!

I'll leave you on that slightly queasy thought and go and practice my songs for next week. With a new Party Set about to make it's debut, I'd better learn some lyrics!

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posted by James McCann @ 20:01, ,


A welcome change...
Sunday, 2 August 2009

When our equipment is set up and it's time to put on my gig clothes, I'm rarely fussy. I've changed in store cupboards, cubicles in the gents' and once, memorably, in the back of my car. Let me just say now, that the designers of the Renalt Megane were clearly not thinking 'dressing room' when they sketched out plans for the interior. It's embarrasing, really. Especially when parked in a lay-by on the A19. Still, as humans have done for thousands of years, you make the best of each situation, adapt to your environment and learn to do up your fly whilst holding a toilet door shut.

Luckily, most venues have a room available that is private, lockable and usually has a mirror. 'Where is this cosy nook?' I hear you ask. Why, the disabled toilet of course! There's nearly always one to be found tucked away somewhere and their oversized nature makes them a perfect changing space. Ah yes, the glamour of showbusiness. They never tell failed X-Factor auditionees that, do they? Simon Cowell is never so cruel as to point that out that within a year, most wannabes will have forgotten red carpet premieres and be trying to tie their shoelaces without toppling over and knocking a hand-dryer on.

By the way, I have just Googled "Is using a disabled toilet illegal" to check whether I'm on shaky ground as regards the law. Apparently it's not, so I'm not likely to get banged up just yet. Certainly not until my fake Dairylea scam gets discovered anyway.

The reason I mention all this is that at last night's venue, I got several pleasant surprises. I was DJing a fantastic wedding at the friendly Heath Cottage Hotel in Dewsbury and the staff were just brilliant. When I first arrived, they offered to help me carry my gear in. I was thrilled at this, but declined anyway. The way I figure, it's my job and not theirs. And it's not as if I helped them wash up at the end of the night!

Once I was in, I asked for directions to the disabled toilet. Noticing my suitbag, they asked if I wanted a room. A real one. In a proper hotel! I felt like Rod Stewart! Resisting the temptation to shower, watch a bit of telly and employ the Corby Trouser Press, I changed and headed back downstairs. Things just got better as it was a fantastic evening and the couple performed their first dance brilliantly. Lisa had choreographed it (more details on our wedding dance lesson page) and the audience went crazy! It really started the night with a bang and set the tone for a great party. Hopefully, we'll have some video footage to put on here soon, so everyone can share the experience!

So, I'd like to share my thanks with Hannah and all the staff at Heath Cottage. I know how delighted the couple were with their big day and all the hard work they'd put in. Hopefully, I'll have the chance to work there again and not just because I can park right by the door and don't have to carry my heavy speakers far!

Of course, I could ask for a room at any venue and most would oblige. But as I've said before (see 1st August's post, Talking the talk...) I think DJs should generally be seen and not always heard! Hotel staff have enough to worry about without helping and clearing up after me. As Tom Cruise said in Mission Impossible: "Zero residual presence." I like to think He was (very loosely) saying: "Get in, do a great job and get out, preferably, without leaving balls of gaffer tape lying around."

And as you may know, I'm similar in many ways to Tom Cruise. Except that he's probably a bit taller and certainly never has to change in his car.

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posted by James McCann @ 14:56, ,