Weddings and Funerals - Does it happen to you?

Squonk

The curse of the musician is that your Family always take advantage of your talents(in some cases...) for these real intimidating affairs like Weddings and Funerals.

I have played at Weddings and Funerals and this weekend is the wife's brother who is getting hitched.

Not much that I have to do at this one :

1. Play soft and romantic music while the guests are filling the church, what the freak does that mean? Just widdle about with some great chord changes.

2. While the Bride arrives and on her way to the Church, I have to play Ronan Keating's "When you say nothing at all", I am secretly doing the Alison Krauss version behind their backs. Then Eric Calpton's Wonderful Tonight. Must be a long walk

3. Glen Hansard - Falling Slowly - while the Bride walks down the Aisle, hope it's a long aisle!

4. A congregational song " This is the Air I breathe"

I am let off the Hook until after the service, where I have to set up in the Marquee and play background music for an hour and half while the photographs are been taken. I always had this sneaky suspicion I wasn't considered part of the family yet!

The Wedding is on Friday and they sent me this list on the weekend!

Any of you have this problem?

Arno-West

Put simply, I hate playing at weddings. Too long, too many speeches, too little pay.

Sean

I think you're spot on with your suspicions. One or two songs, yeah cool, but oh my goodness, that is a lot of playing to get through.

AlanRatcliffe

It doesn't happen to me, probably because they don't trust my sense of humour for such events. ?

Agreed. A few songs at the service, fine. But an hour and a half at the reception qualifies as a gig. I don't suppose they offered copious amounts of money to go along with all the playing?

G-Man

Jeez that sounds hectic Squonk, maybe offer to loan them some CDs and they can just use the venue's sound while they're snapping the pics? Then sneak off to the bar and do something constructive. (That's what I would do ? )

Squonk

G-Man wrote Jeez that sounds hectic Squonk, maybe offer to loan them some CDs and they can just use the venue's sound while they're snapping the pics? Then sneak off to the bar and do something constructive. (That's what I would do ? )

I have thought about that ? I will be taking my laptop with plenty of music, so plan b is covered.

aubs1

Squonk wrote I will be taking my laptop with plenty of music, so plan b is covered.

Just break a string asap after the church gig, tell them you cannot play without that string, and go with "Plan B" ....

What does one play at a funeral ????

AlanRatcliffe

Aubs1 wrote What does one play at a funeral ????

Off the top of my head:

Another One Bites The Dust - Queen
I Just Died In Your Arms Tonight - Cutting Crew
The Drugs Dont Work- The Verve
Die With Your Boots On - Iron Maiden
There goes My First Love- The Drifters
Life'll Kill Ya - Warren Zevon
I'm Still Standing - Elton John
Highway to Hell - AC/DC
And of course... Stairway to Heaven

...now see why no-one asks me? ?

On his own request, Peter Sellers was buried to the sounds of the Can-Can. ?

costafonix

Alan Ratcliffe wrote
Aubs1 wrote What does one play at a funeral ????
Off the top of my head:

Another One Bites The Dust - Queen
I Just Died In Your Arms Tonight - Cutting Crew
The Drugs Dont Work- The Verve
Die With Your Boots On - Iron Maiden
There goes My First Love- The Drifters
Life'll Kill Ya - Warren Zevon
I'm Still Standing - Elton John
Highway to Hell - AC/DC
And of course... Stairway to Heaven

...now see why no-one asks me? ?

On his own request, Peter Sellers was buried to the sounds of the Can-Can. ?

:roflmao:

Averatu

I've done mobile dikskou at weddings. Brides and their mothers as the most dangerous people on the planet. They can be the most fantastic people that you have known for years, but on the wedding day, they transform into creatures wearing merangue with forked tongues and sharp claws. I was never at the receiving end in a hectic way,(a bit loud is easy to fix, stick to the playlist), but I've seen venue owners and photographers and waiters take a verbal beating, once even the R2k cake was launched onto the dance floor. They have hectic expectations, and you may just be the bum note that broke the camels back. Hence I will never play at a wedding.
I've never seen a band at a funeral?

Fingerpicker

I don't do weddings and funerals, but when one of my mates die I play "in my time of dyin" in their memory at TJs open mic night. It happens a lot lately. First heard it on Dylan's first LP in the 60's.

Weddings? I just can't see myself, a 150kg ex prop forward, sitting on a flimsy wooden stool, looking like a d$$s playing romantic music and smiling at people I don't know. I would rather bang my head against the wall for three hours. (bring back some rugby memories)

Squonk

Fingerpicker wrote I don't do weddings and funerals, but when one of my mates die I play "in my time of dyin" in their memory at TJs open mic night. It happens a lot lately. First heard it on Dylan's first LP in the 60's.

Weddings? I just can't see myself, a 150kg ex prop forward, sitting on a flimsy wooden stool, looking like a d$$s playing romantic music and smiling at people I don't know. I would rather bang my head against the wall for three hours. (bring back some rugby memories)

I would do the Led Zeppelin version ?

The wedding was quite hectic, I started playing at 13:30 (was supposed to be until 14:00, but the Bride was 50 minutes late) so I had to play for 80 minutes which killed my back a bit. I did chuck in some "romantic versions" of Sultans of Swing and Locomotive Breath and Waterloo Sunset, that none of the guests below 40 recognized anyway.

After the wedding I played for an hour on the balcony steps as the Marquee was at least 40 metres from a power point. Did my unromantic version of the White Stripes "Seven Nation Army".

Norman86

i take it they didnt notice the other songs?! lol

Warren

I had to play at my cousin's wedding service recently (Stevie Wonder's "Isn't She Lovely") and it was pretty nerve wracking. It came off well though, but I had to find a way to do my own solo arrangement, doctor the words etc. Not something I'd want to do every weekend.

costafonix

Never done any funerals,,,,,
I've done quite a few weddings and they're definitely not my favourite, despite never having a bad experience (oh there was one where the band was placed facing the buffet food table,,,, at an adjoining room...... so while people were eating we were playing to the roast and the pineapple.)
Oh yeh and there's always the wedding where they'll place the oldest, most sound sensitive person right up against the speaker,,, who'll spend the evening complaining about how loud it is ? ?
give me a pub, where we can play what we like and as loud as we like,,, anyday. :yup: ?

Squonk

I was asked to play at a Greek Funeral. I had to play the deceased's favourite Worship songs(In english, thank goodness)

It was only two songs but it was hectic, it seemed as though all the Greeks were looking at me and wondering why this "Anglo" was playing western guitar at a Greek funeral. They most probably were all in mourning.

costafonix

Squonk wrote I was asked to play at a Greek Funeral. I had to play the deceased's favourite Worship songs(In english, thank goodness)

It was only two songs but it was hectic, it seemed as though all the Greeks were looking at me and wondering why this "Anglo" was playing western guitar at a Greek funeral. They most probably were all in mourning.

:roflmao: :'(

vic

Squonk wrote
Fingerpicker wrote I don't do weddings and funerals, but when one of my mates die I play "in my time of dyin" in their memory at TJs open mic night. It happens a lot lately. First heard it on Dylan's first LP in the 60's.

Weddings? I just can't see myself, a 150kg ex prop forward, sitting on a flimsy wooden stool, looking like a d$$s playing romantic music and smiling at people I don't know. I would rather bang my head against the wall for three hours. (bring back some rugby memories)
I would do the Led Zeppelin version ?

The wedding was quite hectic, I started playing at 13:30 (was supposed to be until 14:00, but the Bride was 50 minutes late) so I had to play for 80 minutes which killed my back a bit. I did chuck in some "romantic versions" of Sultans of Swing and Locomotive Breath and Waterloo Sunset, that none of the guests below 40 recognized anyway.

After the wedding I played for an hour on the balcony steps as the Marquee was at least 40 metres from a power point. Did my unromantic version of the White Stripes "Seven Nation Army".

So you pulled it off Squonk...Congrats !!
Now listen, there is this wedding coming up down here in July....are you interested. ? ?

singemonkey

Vic wrote Now listen, there is this wedding coming up down here in July....are you interested. ? ?

It's paying a dop every other hour, accommodation in a soft corner of the marquee - own transport from Jo'burg a must ?

vic

singemonkey wrote
Vic wrote Now listen, there is this wedding coming up down here in July....are you interested. ? ?
It's paying a dop every other hour, accommodation in a soft corner of the marquee - own transport from Jo'burg a must ?

:roflmao: