Cheapest Isn't Always Best

Thing of interesting blog posts isn't always the easiest thing to do. So, I was relieved when I got the below Facebook message this week, which form the blog.

There's no names mentioned at all. I don't like commenting on other DJs, but I don't have to, the Facebook messages:

Hey stephen just had to share this story with you and i hope you dont know the dude in question!! was at a party last night and the dj was a total nightmare!! to keep it simple i'll compile a list of things he done!!

 1. put on a smoke machine which resulted in the building being evacuated and waiting 30 mins till fire brigade came.

 2. playing mika's "big girls" and encouraging all the "fat girls" to get up and dance!!!

 3. going up to the person who booked him mid-song and telling her to "get the table with the good looking girls to get up and dance"

 4. when that failed he then singled out one of the girls at the table and said " can you not at least get her up to dance"

 5. jumping off the stage halfway through a song and dancing on the dancefloor like an absolute retard!! legs and arms everywhere!!

 6. started playing heavy techno and MC'ing!! shouting " here we f**kin go" and other random loud noises!!

When you're booking your wedding entertainment, please don't always book on price alone. Picture your perfect day, would it include entertainment like the guy above?

Next blog I'll have question you should ask your wedding entertainer. Of course, we hope it's www.discotherapy.com!

Xmas Top 10 Tunes!

In keeping with the festive spirit, I’ve decided to put together, what I believe to be, the tope 10 Christmas tunes of all time!

Yes, it’s a bold statement, but it’s just ones man’s opinion, please feel free to comment once you’ve had a read at the list:

1.     Fairytale of New York – The Pogues

2.     Merry Xmas Everyone – Shakin Stevens

3.     I wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day – Wizard

4.     Step Into Christmas – Elton John

5.     All I want For Christmas Is You – Mariah Carey

6.     Driving Home For Christmas – Chris Rea

7.     Christmas Wrapping – The waitresses

8.     It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year – Andy Williams

9.     Do They Know It’s Christmas – Band Aid

10.  Thank God It’s Christmas

The list is in no particular order, but my favourite’s Fairytale of New York!

Go on, have your say.

DJ... pft, I Fart In Your General Direction

Christmas party season is over for another year, and what a fantastic time I had in the Kerrydale Suite at Glasgow Celtic!

My first post Xmas parties blog will not, however, be about the parties… I’ll get to that in the next one.

I was working with the wonderful Waterfront again this year. The basis of this blog entry is on a conversation I had with the sensationally talented lead singer from Waterfront – Mairi-Clare Maloy.

This follows on from the previous two blog, slightly tongue in cheek, but there’s definitely plenty of realism in it.

I’d often thought that it’s just DJs that people think they can talk to however they want, often in a belittling and condescending manner. However, Mairi-Clare, who has a very well regarded full-time occupation, mentioned that people talk in the same manner to bands as well.

I did feel for Waterfront as people tried to get up the stage and dance as they were performing! Imagine that happened in any other workplace!

The classic example relates to my previous post of… play this, everyone will love it! If you don’t play that all important request, because your experience and common sense tells you that it won’t work, it somehow gives the person permission to hurl abuse at you.

It’s not just confined to when you’re at a party though. A good example happened to me only a few days ago. I’d liked a Facebook page, which I will not name, but it was wedding related.

Like the kind hearty and friendly soul I am, I post a nice wee welcome message there. The reply, from one of the page administrators, astonished me. It read:

“I hope you don't do those lasers that burn our camera sensors!”

Now, that is hardly an open armed welcome from a page administrator. Interestingly enough, as a wedding specialist, we understand that a laser show is not appropriate for a wedding. However, our stunning ambient Mood Lighting is perfect for weddings.

In truth, the amount of guests I get talking to me in this manner is few and far between.  So, I can now take my tongue out my cheek and resume normal business with my next blog and beyond.

Remember, be nice to your DJ and/or band, we’re just there to make sure everyone has a great time.

Speakers… Or Are They?

Blog number 2 in the cynical, tongue in cheek life of a DJ is about speakers.

I’m really proud of my sound system / PA. It’s a 2400 watt bad boy, with beautiful bass tones. Having a good sound system is really important to me, I truly believe it can make a huge difference to the quality of the night.

I’ve mentioned in previous blogs about how accessible DJing is, with a plethora of ‘DJs’ opting for cheap speakers from Maplin.

Yes, the speakers take their toll on my back, but it’s worth it for the well-rounded sound.

As much as I love my PA, I feel like I’ve been a little short-sighted when spending my £2,200 on it. However, many guests at parties have spotted the error of my ways and found another usage for them.

With such a lofty price tag, the speakers really should serve more than one purpose. The other function for them… a drinks stand!!!

Genius, I’m equally disappointed and astounded with myself why I didn’t think of this. In fact, it’s a little bit ignorant of me not to supply coasters as well.

You can imagine my joy when the rumbling bass tones cause a glass to topple over. I don’t think you can beat a bass bin that smells like lager, red bull and vodka!

Play This, Everyone Will Love It!!!

I’ve decided I’m going to post a few blogs about the life of a DJ, shedding some light on the little intricacies of the job that keeps it interesting.

The first topic is… quest requests that threaten to destroy your full dance floor.

Part of the skill of a DJ is being able to read a crowd and play the correct genre of music. It’s always my goal to get as many people on the dance floor as possible. I also like to play as many requests as possible.

And herein lies my dilemma!

Let’s take an example; I might be playing some good old rock music. Everyone’s got their air guitar out and loving the tunes. Someone comes up and asks, ‘can you put on some scooter?’ Not only do they want Scooter, but also want it next!

Now, as much as I appreciate the evocative lyrics and melodic beats of Jumping All Over the World, it’s not exactly my natural choice when considering what might mix well with a Slash solo or a John Bonham beat.

It’s difficult to explain this, especially when the guest insists that the other guests will love it and will all dance to it. Sometimes, in these circumstances, you need to take their word for it. After all, they know the people at the party better than me.

So, you can literally see my face drop when you played the said request and… everyone sits down, including the person who asked for the song!

Sometimes you have to trust your DJ in what will and will not work. Sometimes it’s a matter of building to a different genre, using bridge songs that make the transition smoother.

Memories Matter

Fiona & David's Wedding - Alona Hotel Lanarkshire

I was having a look through some pictures from last year's wedding disco's and I stumbled upon the one above.

It was taken at the Alona Hotel in Strathclyde Park Lanarkshire. It really is a beautiful venue, especially the marquee, which we were in that night. The white walls of the marquee lend themselves ideally to Mood Lighting.

The picture got me thinking about my caption / company slogan - Memories Matter, which will feature more heavily of the new Disco Therapy website.

I take great pride and put a tremendous amount of time, money and effort into ensuring Brides and Grooms have a wedding reception to remember for all the right reasons.

However, Fiona & David's wedding was particularly memorable for me too. We had a fantastic night from beginning to end, going through the genres. From The Time Frequency to The Time Warp, it was just a fantastic celebration of a wonderful couple.

I'm delighted to say I'll see Fiona & David again at Caroline & Dougie's wedding at the Parkville in Uddingston next year.

Get you dancing shoes on and your glow sticks ready!

How Important is Your Wedding Entertainement?

I was exhibiting at the Tinto House Hotel Wedding show on Sunday. Having DJ’d / entertained, provided Mood Lighting and been a guest there, I feel I’m in a good position to make the comment… it’s a beautiful venue with really friendly and efficient staff.

Whilst there on Sunday, a bride & groom to be commented that they hadn’t booked their entertainment yet, it was the last thing on their list!

Of course, as a DJ who specializes in Weddings, I’m of the opinion that your entertainment should be near the top of your list.

A DJ or a band plays such a huge part of your big day. Your dream first dance can quickly become a nightmare. The vivacious party you envisaged your guests having has the potential to be a damp squib. The success of your reception is a huge responsibility for your band or DJ.

It’s vital that you choose carefully and book in advance. We often take bookings for 2 and 3 years down the line. We’ve even got 2 bookings for 2016!

At Disco Therapy, we are fully aware of how important our role is in your big day... and we don’t take that responsibility lightly! 

If you’ve taken the time to read this, thank you! And, we’d love to hear from you, please leave your comments.

Have you had a great or terrible DJ or Band?

http://www.discotherapy.com
http://www.tintohotel.co.uk/

Oh What a Night... With Chitterybite!

I’ve had the absolute pleassure of working with many bands whilst DJing / entertaining at weddings. However, few have been as much fun as Chitterybite ceilidh band!

I’ve always thought that a disco and ceilidh compliment eachother perfectly. I  often call ceilidh dances when the client hasn’t book a band, but you can’t beat the real thing.

The Chitterybite Ceilidh Band have an established track record operating as a ceilidh collective providing top quality traditional musicians for corporate and private ceilidh dance events, Scottish evenings, weddings and Burns Suppers.

Like me, they place great importance on their role as callers and every Chitterybite Lineup features this important individual who helps instruct with the dances and entertains the dancers with some good crack!

Quite simply, they are fantastic fun!

So, if you want to have your wedding guests groovin’ to disco and jigging to ceilidh, book the perfect combination – www.discotherapy.com & www.chitterybite.com

Joys of The Job - Eastwood House

Part of the fun of my job as a wedding DJ / Entertainer is meeting a wide variety of people.

I get to meet all sorts of characters throughout Glasgow, Lanarkshire & Lotian. Of course, I always hope that I do my job well enough that I’ll meet them again i.e., they’ll book my disco services again!

That’s looking at it from a business point of view, but there’s some people I want to meet again, just because they’re really good people.

As part of my Wedding DJ & Mood Lighting service, I meet clients for a pre-wedding consultation. When I first met Marty & Donna Scott for their pre-wedding consultation, I was immediately taken by what genuinely nice people they were.

This made DJing at their wedding at Eastwood House all the more satisfying. It was a fantastic night, with the dancefloor being full from beginning to end.

I feel the more personal touch really makes a difference… Of course I would say that!

I was over the moon it went so well for such a beautiful couple. Congratulations Donna & Marty, a couple I’ll definitely keep in touch with

Best Band In Glasgow?

I’ve had the opportunity to work with some fantastic bands over the years, but I’d never looked forward to working with one as much as BigVern & the Shootahs.

Two weeks ago, in The Glasgow Hilton, there were two stages setup in the main ballroom. One stage was for me and the other... Big Vern & the Shootahs.

I’d heard the reviews, read the client testimonials and watched the youtube videos, which is why I so eagerly anticipated this party.

They did not disappoint!

Even when I was doing my sound checks, their lead guitarist started jamming along to AC/DC’s You Shook Me All Night Long, which was blaring from my PA.

They played crowd pleaser after crowd pleaser, to the point where people were sprinting to the dance floor to boogie along to the soul & funk infused setlist.

Often when I work with a band, I take the opportunity to  have a bite to eat or chill out backstage somewhere, but my eyes were glued to the stage when Big Vern & the Shootahs were playing. I even came away with one or two ideas!

If you get the opportunity to see them or book them... Do it!

Wedding Show - Georgian Hotel

Just a quick blog tonight.

I’ll be exhibiting at the wedding faire at the Georgian Hotel tomorrow. I’ll be demoing my mood lighting and will be handing out Teach Yourself the Time Warp & Macarena postcards!

Last time I entertained at a wedding at the Georgian, I Mood lit the room Blue, it was truly stunning...

But of course I’m going to say that!

Come along and have a chat, even if you’ve got another venue in mind.

Wedding Caricatures

It's often a huge headache for couple when trying to decide what favours to get for their wedding guests.

If you're looking for something a little bit different, get in touch with Neil Thomson at www.neilsart.co.uk

Neil makes caricatures of your guests whilst they mingle. He truly is amazing, his fantastic sketches are sure get your guests talking, a great ice breaker for guests who haven't met before.

Wedding DJ Gone Wrong

I was having a trawl through youtube & stumbled upon the video below (click the link).

It's titled "Wedding DJ Gone Bad - Bad Wedding DJ"

However, is he really that bad? Have a look and see what you think.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NYlNQBj1n8

Yes, he’s extremely animated, but one of my pet hates is DJs who are totally inanimate. I feel that a huge part of my job as a DJ is to impart my love for music, positivity & energy on the party guests.

I’ve seen DJs who seem to have a chair as part of their standard equipment; they’re armed with it at every function they attend, ready to plonk their bum down at the first opportunity.

Based on the video, I don’t think he’s a bad DJ in the slightest, he’s just a man who’s extremely passionate about his work.

DJ - A Dirty Term!

I was having a look at a well known UK Wedding Directory website and stumbled upon the below:

“In terms of music, people in the UK tend to hire a cheesy DJ with flashing party lights and a bit of microphone banter, safe in the knowledge that he will play all the old disco favourites, from Sister Sledge to the Bay City Rollers.”

Unfortunately, articles like this do not help the perception held by the general public about DJs, especially when it is contained within a website that advertises the services of professional wedding DJ’s.

Articles like this have seen many DJ move away from calling themselves DJs and shift towards calling themselves Wedding Entertainers, MCs, Presenters, Hosts, etc.

Certainly, there is a huge spectrum of DJs within Central Scotland in terms of quality and experience, some of which definitely match the description of being ‘cheesy’ with ‘flashing lights’. However, there are also those (me included J) who dedicate a lot of time, money & effort into honing their skills, musical knowledge & ensuring that they have the best possible equipment available.

As mentioned in previous blog entries, I truly feel honoured when someone chooses me to entertain / DJ at the Wedding. When I DJ, I want people to have the best possible time & remember their wedding reception or party for all the right reasons.

The term Disco Jockey shouldn’t be something I’m embarrassed of - after all, it’s what I do. I’m also someone who cannot simply be described as someone with ‘flashing party lights’ or ‘microphone banter’. Infact the DJ industry as a whole has moved on vastly since the good old days of rope lights & light boxes.

Your wedding disco can be a classy & discrete, or as flamboyant as you want it to be. Choice within the Scottish marketplace has never been as good.

Client Testimonials

It's not often I take the time to blow my own trumpet, but one of the most satisfying parts being a DJ / Wedding Entertainer, is receiving positive client feedback.

We realise how important my role is on my clients' big day. Here's some recsent feedback I've

“Just wanting to say a big thank you Stephen for your services at my wedding, you certainly have a gift and will be hiring you for every other event that I am organising highly recommended the best DJ ever :)” - Lindsey Lane

"Thanks for a brilliant night Stephen!You were great! Everyone had a ball. Everyone commented on how good the DJ was...so job well done!" - Ali Ross

“Hi Stephen, just want to say a massive thanks from Paul and myself for the superb night you gave us and our guests at our wedding in the bentley hotel on the 18th June. Once again a huge thank you and we will definatley recommend you.xxxxx” Beth Hastie

Wedding Specialist

We're proud to say that we're now a member of The Wedding DJ Alliance.

This reaffirms our commitment to, no only specialising in wedding entertainment (Mood Lighting & DJing), but also to service excellence.

The Wedding DJ Alliance website states: "All member of the Wedding DJ Alliance are very experienced and specialise in providing first class wedding disco entertainment. Our wedding DJs agree to abide by a strict code of ethics, which is based on professional practices. They are committed to providing a high standard of wedding disco service for your special day"

Dunphail House mood Lighting

In my last post I spoke about last weekends wedding at Dunphail House. For the first time in my DJing career, my client requested that I did not use any disco effect lights, just mood lights.

The effect was stunning. Set in the African themed, custom built marquee, the mood lighting helped create the atmosphere and mood the client was looking for.

There was fairy lights on the ceiling, flowers hanging from the wooden structure, chill out areas and replica elephants.

It truly was a unique and special occassion that I was proud to be part of.

Highland Fling!

This weekend I had a 3 hour drive up to Dunphail House, in Morayshire, for a beautifully set wedding in the Scottish Highlands.

Not even the torrential rain could dampen (excuse the pun) the sprits in the custom built marquee, which had an African theme, complete with full-scale replica elephants.

I was joined on stage by the fantastic Dunphail Dance band, who played a few reels to get the party started. After that, it was over to me. We went an hour over time, but what difference does an hour make when you’ve got a three hour driver home!?

Georgian Hotel - Mood Lighting

A wee Pic - of me

I logged into my emails today to find that I'd been tagged in a Facebook picture from a recent wedding I entertained at.

The picture was tagged with - "Our Fab DJ Stephen Elliott"

It's small gestures like that and the wonderful feedback I get that makes it all worthwhile.


I never take my duties as a Wedding Entertainer / DJ lightly, I realise how important it is that people remember their big day for all the right reasons. This is why I always like to meet clients beforehand, gaining a good understanding of what's important to them on their day.


So, for the first time every, I'm putting a picture of myself out there! I'm the guy behind Disco Therapy - the DJ in the kilt!


Thank you to Beth Hastie for posting the pic!