Razzamatazz

As mentioned elsewhere – at the end of my schooldays and the beginning of my banking career I had been a mobile DJ – firstly with Stuart and Miles (GSM Sounds) and then just GS sounds when the other two went to University. I had been introduced by Miles to a driver who for a couple of years was happy to drive me around and assist – although he was not interested in spinning the records at all. He just enjoyed getting away from the wife and kids and having a few quid in his pocket, and a few beers inside him at the end of the night. However, when I got the club residencies firstly at Flamingos on Hackney Marshes, and then the Green Man, I no longer needed to move all my equipment, and as he was in the early times of a new relationship, he no longer wanted to be involved, so we went our separate ways.

The Green Man was one of the pubs that could be referred to as my local – from an early age we went there a lot as we liked the resident band that played there most nights. It was the lead singer of Deep Feeling that provided me with my DJ name – well he referred to me as the Milky Bar Kid one night and it stuck! Yes, I was blonde haired and wore gold roundish glasses, and I am reasonably short lol. When I started working at the Green Man, originally playing the Sunday lunchtime slot with the strippers, the boss man recognised me – and without my knowledge got sone posters produced – using the milky bar kid handle.

I had five really good years at the Green Man – where there was a great crowd definitely on Friday nights, but as they say all good things have to come to an end. 1985 was the year I got married, and within a few months of that occasion the management of the Green Man had decided to update the venue, and for three months it was shut down. I didn't want to end my DJing but as luck would have it the management had other ideas. When it reopened with a later close time (1a.m. as opposed to midnight) and a completely new intended clientele (sterner dress code) they also went with 2 other DJs. I had been promised to keep my Friday Nights – but one of the other DJs had spun them a tale of how they could improve it and that I was past my sell-by date. Once the opening night was announced and I was sent an invite – not to work but to be a punter, I rang only to be informed that in the short term my services would not be required.

Anita and I went to the opening night, and a lot of people there were somewhat annoyed that not only was I not playing the sounds, the whole feel of the place had changed – with the music back to a more commercial sound and entrance fees being quite a lot higher – actually doubling in some cases. I guess the management had to recoup some of their outlay, and the lost profits from while the club refurbished. Quite a few of the regulars that I spoke to stated quite loudly that they would not be visiting as often as they had. One other thing from that night was that I spotted a situation close to the dancefloor, that was escalating – but the DJs didn't. I quickly spoke with Pat the lead doorman who dealt with the incident. He spoke with the DJs who virtually told him that it was his problem not theirs! Hopefully no one got into a confrontation with those DJ's as I can imagine Pat and the boys' reaction!

After that night, I think I popped in a couple of times – and was shocked on a particular Friday night when I arrived from after work drinks at 11pm – where there were only about 100 people in. There was a new doorman on that night – and he told me to pay before I entered, until he was put in his place by Pat, who said quite loudly that if I had been playing there would have been a lot more people in!

Funnily enough about three months after it re-opened I got a call from the management asking if I would like to come back – as it was now obvious to them that the club was failing. Part of me almost took them up on their offer, but I was reminded (by Anita no less) how they had basically stabbed me in the back and was now expecting me to turn it around. It was also made clear to me that I didn't have a magic wand – and five years of building the crowd had been undone in a few months, and how likely was it that I could rekindle the atmosphere. I turned them down. Approximately a year after the refurbishment I heard that the management had been sacked, and that the club was to be sold to another chain, not as a club, but to be changed back to just a pub, as it had proved one step too far for the entertainment chain!

I resigned myself to no longer being a DJ – although I missed the excitement of having a crowd at my fingertips. Life settled down, and I could enjoy going to and hosting parties, and not have to worry about working over Christmas and New Year which I had done for quite a few years!

Our friends Andy and Yvette had decided to get married and I was told I would do their reception – they had been regulars at the Green Man – and although I didn't have any equipment as such – there was a company in Walthamstow that hired equipment out – and Andy and Yvette agreed to cover any costs we had. It was a good evening and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves even me!

We kept in close contact with a lot of the friends we made at the Green Man, and in late 1988 we got a phone call from Carl – a former member of the pool team, who had started a relationship with Anna who had been part of Rentamob. They were going to get married in 1989 and wanted to know if I would be interested in DJing their wedding. At the time I still had no equipment, and I tried to put him off. He called in the big guns, Anna spoke with Anita, and low and behold I was going to do it. At this point things started to fall into place.

A little background here will help. We had moved to Forest View, Walthamstow (our second house) in 1987 – and in that year while Anita was tinkering under the bonnet of her car, someone she had known at school happened to be passing on his way home (also Forest View) and they got reacquainted! When I got home from work that night, Russell was sitting in the lounge, and I was introduced. We got on like a house on fire – and within a few weeks he was always around, and he was like a brother to me. (funny note when Andy was born the doctor who was checking up on our boy assumed that Russ was indeed my brother!)

We were discussing the wedding with Russ (we had almost a year to prepare) and then fortune smiled on me again. His sister was at the time living with the manager of the shop that supplies disco equipment and audio services (that we had used for Andy and Yvettes' wedding – and Russell suggested that we go to the shop to discuss the situation with him. He could provide us with the equipment consisting of twin record decks, an amplifier, and some lighting – and even did us a great deal being family so to speak! Everything was booked and Russ even got his dad to agree that we could use his big car to transport everything, on the day. Something else that is important within the Razzamatzz story is that Russ's dad is part owner of a menswear shop – but more of that later.

We had a few meetings with Carl and Anna over the time between agreeing to DJ and the wedding, so I had an idea of music they wanted – and a couple of special requests such as the first record etc. There were also two other things that added a little extra – we found out that Anita was expecting our baby, so she would not be helping with any carrying or set up etc, and Ian who was a long time friend from her work would be assisting me as a  roady. We had found out that he had a little experience of DJing, and as Carl and Anna wanted Anita and I to be part of the wedding we needed his help to setup, and playing some music during the meal.

The evening was a roaring success, and everyone enjoyed themselves. It was fun being behind the decks again, and it took a little while for me to gauge the crowd, but somehow it worked. The highlight was probably the rendition of Sweet Caroline, which saw the whole dancefloor filled and singing (this was well before the song was picked up by the English Football supporters I might add). I had never played it during a disco before, but we had seen Neil Diamond in concert a few months before, and it came to me while I was playing a few 70's tunes. At the end of the evening I had about 20 people ask for my business card, only to go away disappointed. Carl and Anna were exceptionally happy – and we got a big tip – which was shared amongst the three of us. Ian told me that night that it was like I had been taken over as once behind the decks I changed into a demon!

When we got home and the equipment packed into the hall overnight, we all sat down and fully digested the night. Russ told me he was impressed, and that perhaps I should take up the mobile mantle again. I wasn't sure – there was so many things that I saw as negatives such as we didn't have any equipment, big enough car, I couldn't drive etc. It was decided that no decision would be made at this point, and we all went to our respective beds, in our respective houses. It was also pointed out to me that as Anita was now not working, we could do with a boost of the family finances!

Unbeknown to me, Russ and Anita did a bit of chatting, and investigating, shortly after Andy our son was born we all sat down again, and I was presented with what turned out to be a business plan of sorts. They had spoken with Chris who would sell us the equipment at a good price (with Russ putting up the original outlay – which would be repaid over the first year from the fees we got), and Russ would also be the driver (of his Dad's car which he could borrow almost at any time). Russ pointed out that he was girlfriendless – and he hoped that by being out and about doing discos he might find someone.

We would need to do some advertising, but he had already spoken with his Dad who during the pre-wedding season either organises or does a lot of wedding fayres, and he would happily put us forward when asked about mobile discos. Anita stated that we would use our home phone as the contact number, and our address as the business address. I was a little gob-smacked and told them I needed some time to think it over. About 30 seconds later I agreed that it was a good opportunity, and we should make a go of it! However, we needed a name for the business – and we started to throw around some ideas – some of which were just stupid to say the least – especially when GS Sounds was mentioned!

We spent a few nights in trying to find the perfect brand – but nothing really stunning hit me, and a certain amount of disappointment started to raise its' ugly head. Thing is we were not marketeers – and as such it was really needle in a haystack kind of time. However, fate was about to bite me in the bum again. We had the Radio on – listening to good old Capital Radio, and they were playing a soul set. Once I heard Quincy Jones' voice I jumped up and shouted that's it! We were listening to "Razzamatzz" and I said that is the name we should use. Everyone agreed it would make a great brand – and so East London's best mobile disco was born (OK maybe I am biased). Right after Quincy finished, Shalamar's "Night to Remember" came on. The thing is those two records became the brand name and the tag line – as we used "We'll make it a night to remember" on most of the documentation that we produced.

I mentioned the name to Ian (who is quite artistic), and almost by magic he had produced a logo consisting of coloured balloons with the letters of the name being in each balloon. Being somewhat computer literate by this point in my life, I got the image scanned in and digitalised, ready to add to the documentation. I created a few different handouts – and letterheads etc, and Russ and I wrote an advert for the paper. It was not cheap to get a listing in the local free newspaper (that's how they made their money), but in the days where the internet was really in its infancy - it was the major way of advertising.

We (Ok Russ) bought twin record decks, with a small amplifier, some overhead lights, a light front, with controllers and a set of speakers. Add in a good microphone and we were ready. The speakers were the most expensive thing bought – but turned out to be a great investment, as they were still the speakers we used when I did my final gig (around 2004!) I still had a telephone receiver, which Stuart (from GSM Sounds days) had converted into a headphone – which I had used when at the Green Man as kind of a statement.

Also, it was decided that we would both dress the same when we worked – and Terry provided us (at a reduced cost) with a couple of shirts each for the more casual events, and dress suits, shirts and bow ties for the more formal!

We had placed the add in the paper for an original period of 6 weeks – and we checked the paper in the first week – and yes it was there. The phone (no, not the converted to headphone one – lol) in that first week did not ring at all. In the second week we did get a few enquiries and even got our first booking – a house party with about 60 guests – in Woodford. It was for a thirtieth birthday party. Anita had done the talking, and we received in the post later that week our first deposit cheque. The booking was a month away – but still there was some excitement in the house. Over the next few weeks, we got a few more bookings – mostly for house parties – but business was taking off all be it at a slightly slower pace than we needed.

Our first gig – the thirtieth birthday party – was a blast. We were put at the end of a long living room – not really much space to swing a cat and we had been booked 8-12. We arrived at 7pm – and the lady that opened the door looked familiar. She also seems to recognise me – but didn't say anything. We set up and were playing background music as the first guests arrived. A couple of girls looked over at us and smiled – and I told Russ he could be in tonight. Andrea, who was the host had given me quite an extensive playlist – and I had most of the records she wanted with me and the list was about 10 hours long which of course we were not playing for. She came over and said quite loudly "you are the Milky Bar Kid from the Green Man aren't you?"

"Umm yes" I said "but that was a long time ago mind"

She informed me that she went to the Green Man a lot back in the day – and indeed during one of the official Hen Nights that had been organised there she had even been up on stage with me – and although she had been flirting with me I had not made a move. That night came flooding back – and I remembered her getting a little hands on with me – but as I was with Celia at the time and she had been due to arrive at some point during the evening, I had played it cool. I told Andrea and she just smiled and told me your loss and burst out laughing. A few of the others there had been to the Green Man and suddenly I was getting requests for a lot of the great songs that were my trademark then. Andrea told me to rip up the playlist and just do my stuff.

At about 11 – she came back over – the dancefloor had been packed all evening. She asked if we would play for an extra hour – and how much would it cost her. We agreed on a price and played on – and at the end of the night we had a few requests for business cards, which we could hand out. Everyone told us thanks for a great night, and although Russ didn't get any telephone numbers he had a good night too. As we left Andrea pulled me in for a hug, and told me that I had done her a great service tonight!

I wish that all our original gigs had been like that – but true to form there were a few that were good and a few that we were pleased to finish, as no matter what I did I couldn't get people to dance. Having said that the one that remains firmly in my memory as a complete failure was one where the bar and dance area were in different rooms! Whoever came up with that idea must really hate DJs!

As summer finishes – the pre-wedding season starts and suddenly there are wedding fayres all over the place. Being somewhat unknown as so new, we didn't get asked to appear at any of the first few, but we went along. Russ had often joined Terry his dad on past ones – but I had no idea. Terry did make me laugh – in that on his "stall" (for dress suits etc) he had some of Razzamatazz's literature strategically placed.

It was about a month into the season when we got a bit of a break. Terry dropped in with Russ and told us that the organiser of the fayre at the local snooker club had been let down by the disco that was supposed to be playing music and making announcements for them, and that they would not charge us the normal fee to appear if we could do it for them on the next weekend. Russ and I agreed and so the following Sunday we were at the fayre. We had set up with background music playing in the background when the organiser came over and gave us a list of things to announce and the times when there would be a wedding dress parade etc. within a few minutes just about all the participants in the hall had given us bits of paper to make announcements and I got down to the task.

It was OK but I felt a bit like I was a bit like a radio DJ – just announcing with the odd the record playing. What I would say is that during the afternoon a lot of people came over and chatted with us – and although we didn't get a booking for a wedding from the fayre on the day, we gave out a lot of flyers and business cards. The owner of the snooker club did come over and offer us an evening there – but we could not come to an agreement as he really only wanted to pay peanuts, and expect us to do a very long shift. As much as I like peanuts (must be the monkey in me) I would not turn up, and setup all the equipment for £30 a pop!

Over the next week or so – we did get a few wedding bookings from the fayre – but none in that club, but at other venues. In fact, we never did any gigs there at all, which might be the reason that it closed as a snooker hall within the next year or so!

As mentioned, we did a few house parties and a few other types of parties in halls. It was steady work - about once a month, but we had the Christmas period coming up soon. I thought we were too late to pick up many bookings – but we did get a couple. One evening I got a call about a possible Christmas party for a charitable organisation. They explained they couldn't pay much as it was for the local Mencap society. I wonder if we would have agreed to do the event if it had not been me that took the call – but I agreed to do the party for about 2/3rds of what we normally charged. That evening was one of the best parties of the year for me. Everyone there – from the smallest child to the oldest person wanted to enjoy themselves, and I felt grateful to be able to assist. Even the couple in wheelchairs were bopping away. We were booked from 6-10 which on a Saturday is a very short and with somewhat strange timings. At about 7 there was a lot of movement at the doors to the large hall, and the local mayor came in, and although in all his regalia joined the dancers on the floor.

Just before 8 the organiser came over and told us that the evening meal was arriving shortly, and could we get everyone to sit at their tables, and then join them for the meal. I said I would play music during the meal and stay on stage – but he would hear nothing of it – telling me to find an LP of Christmas music to play. Not to cause a scene I agreed, and made the announcement, and everyone hurried to the tables.

At 8 almost on the dot an army of servers appeared, and everyone is dished up a fish and chips dinner – all being donated by the local chippy whose son is one of the less able people at the party. Everyone at our table is smiling and laughing, as they enjoy their meals – and it feels like a family. The organiser comes over to me and asks if I can turn the music off for a few minutes as the mayor wants to make an announcement, and give out a few awards etc

Music is off and he stands and he makes a great speech about community – and then he starts giving out the awards. That takes about 15 minutes, and just before the last one the organiser comes back and asks if I have any Santa music as Santa is about to arrive. So, I set up "Here comes Santa Claus" and on a signal – he enters. Everyone is beaming, and he makes his way around every table, and he knows everyone by name as his brings out the presents. I would add there about 6 elves (who look remarkably like the earlier servers but in different costumes) with Santa sacks which he uses to replenish his stock, as he goes from person to person.

It is now almost 9 – and the organiser came over to me and asked me to play a couple of Christmas songs when Santa leaves at which point most people will leave but can I keep playing until the last leave which will probably be about 9:30. I said that he has booked us until 10 and we are completely happy to stick to that – but he assures me that there won't be anyone apart from the clearer uppers left by then. It is indeed how he says – Santa goes – couple of good old Christmas party songs, and then people put on coats and hats. However, before they leave – they all come over and say thank you to Russ and me. Within a few minutes the hall is indeed empty of revellers.

We pack down the equipment, but rather than just pack the car – we help them break down and stack the tables and chairs. We are told that we don't need to do it – but we do it anyway. Then a quick broom over the main hall – and all done. All the team that have put on the event come over to say thanks, and one of the main committee members pulls out a six-pack of fosters and hands them to me – telling me what a great job we have done. The organiser gives us the remaining money – and I feel guilty taking it – but he tells me we have earned every penny. He tells me that he has never seen everyone so happy – and that the DJ from the previous year had hardly interacted with anyone – whereas we had got involved – well Russ had gone onto the dance floor with a lot of the kids to do the "silly movement songs" as he likes to call them. I told him that we would be honoured to do it all again next year – and to contact me early in the year with the date so that no one else can book it. He is really happy, especially when I say I will forgo the deposit as well. We actually did that party for three years – funnily enough always for the same fee – and one year I got the Bank to donate to the society (via the matched donation system we had in place in the bank). The only reason we didn't do more is that the society due to lack of funding was disbanded. Such a waste as they brought a lot of joy to lot of deserving people.

After the Christmas parties finished – the wedding fayres restarted, and we did a big one that January – well it was for Terry! Every year he and a local wedding dress company organised probably one of the biggest fayres in East London – in the Chingford Assembly Hall. Again, we didn't have to pay unlike all the other participants, although it would be me and Anita doing the "selling" as Russ had two hats to wear as he would be helping his dad. We set up in a corner of the stage, and Anita set out a stall with some pictures and the flyers etc. Chris also set up some other audio equipment for the microphones that would be used by presenters – as well as some extra lighting for the stage – where there would be two parades (with Russ wearing a couple of Terry's suits while walking beside a blushing bride). The turn out was amazing and we got probably 10 wedding bookings on the day. Anita was in her element – and we even got a 25th wedding anniversary party too!

When we sat down after and looked at the bookings, we realised we had 5 all at the same venue, the Moat House hotel in Woodford, over 5 weekends! That almost made me think we might have a residency. On the first week there, we chatted with the manager - who told us that the DJ that had done their wedding fayre was pretty awful, his equipment not sufficient for the hall, and he was not impressive at all. When we finished that night and the happy couple left (very happy I would add) he came over and said that would we be interested in doing their fayre when it comes around and we agreed. All the weddings here were pretty good – and we started to get people asking us for our details as we had done such a good job. Over the years we worked I think we must have done about 30 weddings at this venue – including one for some of our neighbours.

Over the next year weddings became the main bread and butter to us. We almost became wedding specialists. In preparation we had the Bride and Groom give us a playlist with three songs to start the dancing to, and even songs they didn't want to hear. Over the years the song not to be played the most was the birdie song – I really wish I had kept all the sheets that we had been given as a record - but then again it would have been overkill and a storage problem too.

Most weddings would see us playing background music until the bride wanted her first dance. Funny it was normally the bride that dictated that. Then get everyone up around the Bride and Groom – give them about a minute to enjoy each others company – and then I would invite all their family and friends to join them – and if you were a gate crasher you could remain seated. Always seemed to get everyone up. After the three slow dances (if they wanted all three – some didn't) into classic "dance" music and try and keep the floor as full as possible. Find out if the Bride and Groom are leaving early if so get the family circle arranged in time for them, or make it the last record if they were staying.

The final dance for the Bride and Groom – depending on if they were leaving early of course, was to get all the family and friends form a circle, and get the Bride and Groom to go alternate ways round the circle – saying good night – usually using "I've had the time of my life" from Dirty Dancing. When they meet half way round the circle get the happy couple to kiss – then finish off the circle – normally ending the night on "New York New York" by Frank Sinatra. That normally worked well – although one couple did try to do the lift from Dirty Dancing – although it wasn't that successful, shame that at the time mobile phones with decent cameras were few and far between as that might have made some money on "you've been framed" TV show!

By the end of 1992 Russ had been paid back in full for the initial outlay – and we improved our lighting and even got a more powerful amplifier, when it became apparent that some of the venues required a little more ooomph!  We also started to use CDs alongside records – I took my personal CD player and attached it via an input jack to the decks.

There was one venue where we had about 5 gigs at – which did not require the extra ooomph- in fact it didn't allow it. That venue was a church hall and had a noise limiter – which was positioned right above the dancefloor. They had it installed after a lot of the neighbours complained over the noise of the parties that occurred. Now the limiter itself wouldn't have been too bad – but its' position and actual level meant if you had a party of 50 people and they were on the dance floor at the same time and clapped loudly all power to the stage stopped! It took about 90 seconds for the power to restore. Thing is the first time we were here they had a very big family circle at the end of the evening – and the music went off 3 times as the were saying goodbye! I can honestly say that while that venue was lovely – it was a bloody nightmare for us.

Talking of nightmares there was one pub in the city that we played a few times where if the table the decks were on was placed incorrectly the records jumped like crazy. Thing was it wasn't that big – and if you had more than 10 people dancing the records jumped anyway! I thought we had that issue sussed when in late 1993 we invested in twin CD decks, which meant no more records, as well as less to carry. Earlier in the year I had begun to replace buying records by buying CDs as with the single player I could integrate, and once we had most of the classics that we used on CD made a lot of sense to change. I would say in most cases once we went with the CDs the jumping did stop – although once or twice even they did jump!

We were not just doing weddings and Christmas parties – we would cater to any party – although I must admit we did turn down any 18th and 21st birthdays that we were offered. Not to be ageist but when I chatted with the first couple of possible employers they wanted very up to date music and no oldies – and given that our normal playlist was based around oldies and party music I very quickly realised we were not going to win many favours taking those gigs.

We did a fantastic evening for a 25th wedding anniversary – it seemed that everyone wanted a good time, and not being too big headed (who are you kidding!) I was on a roll as the dancefloor was full all night. Normally even a night that I thought was good resulted in maybe a few cards being given out, but not only did we get a big tip and a thank you card in the post in the week following, we actually got 4 wedding bookings from that night!

I did a few pro-bono gigs for things that were related to my kids – so discos and a fashion show for the toy library, as well as fund raising do's for the diving and rugby club (when the kids were slightly older). We even did things like the summer fayres for their junior school. I remember the first year we played music for the school, it was a very hot day. Again, we had some fun – but we also had two mishaps. Where they asked us to set up was basically a sun trap - although close to power which is why we had to be there. I was provided with two metal legged tables – and about an hour in – I felt that I was getting taller. I wasn't actually, it was the legs on the tables (they were black metal by the way) as they had started to warm the asphalt, and the legs just burrowed themselves down by about four inches! However, by mid afternoon it was really hot, I know because as I placed a vinyl record on one of the decks I watched it warp! Two records later and I was worried that I would lose my whole collection – but a large umbrella was found and it cooled the area enough that I only had to replace a couple of "classic" records.

I did a couple of fund raisers for the toy library as Anita was on the committee for it – which funnily enough got me two New Year Eve gigs which Russ didn't want to come with me to. There was a local pub with a small hall upstairs which we used two or three times over the year or so for the Toy Library, and the manager and his wife had both been serving at the bar in the room when I was playing. I did a Christmas party for the toy library there, and managed to get a few of the mums and kids up and dancing and having a good time – which was noted by the managers. I was approached and asked if I was free for New Year and how much I would charge them if I was free. Russ and I had decided early on that we preferred to have New Year's Eve for family so hadn't taken any bookings. The governor told me we could do the night – and enjoy a drink or two and he would lock the equipment in the strong room so it would be safe and we could collect it the following day. Russ now has a girlfriend – and he wanted to spend their first New Year together – so I would do the pub on my own. Night was good – and indeed quite a few people brought me drinks, and the pub was still packed at 2.00 a.m. when I had to finish. If it hadn't been for being worried over his licence the governor would have asked me to continue…. I did the following year too – but it was not as good – and then it was decided that as we were looking at a specific financial goal (family holiday to Walt Disney World Florida) it made more sense to take one of the many New Year Eve's parties together as we could charge more than working in a pub.

We also did our respective Christmas parties. In both cases we were not greedy in requesting the amounts we did, which were slightly less than we were quoting for other similar sizes parties. Russ's team were pretty good – knew how to party and although nowhere as big an event as mine - we had most of them up and dancing most of the night. We did his parties for a couple of years. At the time I was working in a department that had almost 500 people working in it – and the first two years we did the parties were held in the dining area of one of the major buildings that the bank owned, and it could easily host that many. The first year was really good – we were booked 5-9 and everyone enjoyed themselves. Yes, there were a few pissheads – and being reasonably sober I did clock a few people getting together when either one or both of the parties were involved with someone else! We did have a lot of people on the night ask us to turn the sound levels up – and we did but only until I could tell that the speakers were starting to struggle. Not being a great lover of loud distorting music, I tried to keep it at an enjoyable level. That night when I explained that it would sound crap any louder my advice was respected. At 9 there was lot of complaints when I called the last record – but when the ordinary lights came on as I finished, and the catering staff started to clear up and tell people to leave, any complaints died.

In that New Year I was asked to attend a meeting of the social committee, as it turns out that a few people after the event had voiced an opinion of my finishing early. I was only too eager to go, and indeed there were two members of the committee that had been "slight pains" to us during the evening that wanted an explanation. Now I say they were pains – I am always open to getting requests – that is part and parcel of being a DJ – but I will try and fit them into what I am playing. They wanted me to play their request next record – in fact one particular person had told me during the night that he could do a better job. He was one of the two committee members that had complained. The item relating to the party was first on the agenda, so he immediately went into one – over my lack of playing requests and then finishing early. When his rant finished I got the impression that most of the attendees in the meeting were on his side, and I almost walked away. Something inside me snapped – so I stood and calmly began to pull apart his attack. I explained that I was a professional DJ (I got paid to do it so that makes me professional) with a lot of experience – part of which manifests itself in my ability to read the dance floor. On that evening, I got numerous requests – and if I played them all in the order that I received them it would be a disaster. Imagine playing a club dance tune – and then the next one is heavy metal, followed by a power ballad and then an old rock and roll song. What would that do to the dance floor, and therefore the perception of enjoyment? Who was going to dance to the heavy metal song (that was his choices all the way through I might add)? Would the party be one to remember or just one to gripe about as being crap? Who would enjoy that mix of music? If everyone remembers I did indeed play all four types of the music mentioned (all of which were requested) but I separated the segments and added a few others of similar type. That gave everyone time to get a drink or take a break without completely ruining the night. I the pointed out that I was booked and paid to work 5-9, as 9 was the latest time the dining area could be used to – in order to enable the staff to clear up and get home at a decent hour. Any extension to the end time was out of my hands – and if I did have the ability to work later who would pay me for the extra time – as I know no-one around the table would work extra without being paid overtime. Both of the complainers looked very sheepish, and agreed they were out of order. I left the meeting feeling very vindicated but was pretty sure if they asked me back for that year's party I might refuse.

In September I was asked if I was free to do the Christmas party again – and what my charges would be. Russ and I had discussed this and as we were working towards a specific financial goal, (as mentioned earlier) we agreed we would do it if asked – but charge a higher fee than any other Christmas party. I gave them a figure which I don't think they were expecting as they had to refer back to the full committee. They tried to negotiate but I was steadfast and in the end it was agreed. That second party was in the same place as the previous – and it was a better night for us – although there were a few people missing from the previous year (guess who…) and there was an incident where a fight broke out. It was dealt with - but for a few minutes it was worrying. The funny thing about that was when the four people fighting were separated I was asked by some others why I didn't turn the music off while the fight took place. I explained that when I was club DJing that was a definite no-no as when the music stops everyone wants to know why – and it tends to make a bad situation worse, often resulting in others getting involved in the incident.

The third and last time was a nightmare. The old building where the previous two parties had been held had been sold off – and somehow the department got permission to hold the party in the Head Office Management dining area. I had been there a couple of times – it was a very posh area of the bank. I had quoted a really silly amount to the committee – not expecting them to pay it - and indeed they wanted to get a couple of other quotes. Turns out mine was actually the cheapest – so we got the gig. I won't go into much detail but let's say there was a food fight, a real fight, and the Christmas Tree (all 10 foot of real tree I might add) felled and the decorations destroyed. Funny how my own works party was a nightmare but the other ones we did were normally great.

As mentioned previously we were working towards a financial goal – and it had nothing to do with more equipment, or reinvestment in the disco, it was to fund a two-family holiday to Florida. Normal costs would be taken from any event's earnings, but the profit would be invested into an account which when we were ready would pay the majority for the holiday – not just the travel and hotels but give us a daily allowance. We figured it would take us about 2 years, and indeed that was the case. What it meant was that we would have a fantastic holiday, unencumbered by the costs as everything would be paid for before we left, and a good daily allowance would allow for extras etc.

Things continued very much the same for the next couple of years, although Terry's wedding Fayre in 1996 was the last one we did. His lease on the shop was up for renewal later that year, and as he was now a one man band (his partner had retired a year or so before) he decided it was time to hang up his top hat and tails and head off to his retirement home on the Isle of Wight. One of the stand out moments for us on that day was during the shows where dresses and suits we showcased – as not only did Russell, as always, model some of Terry's wares – Andy my son, joined him and a bride on the walk. Add to the mix one of Andy's friends from the toy library and school was also involved, and their picture appeared in the local paper as part of write up of the day.

The New Year Eve's disco in '97 was held in a local hall – but it was actually a family party! There was over a 100 people there – and all were part of a very big family. We had done an anniversary party for them in April – and when they asked us to do the New Year as the original party had been so good we agreed. It turned out to be a good decision, as we did all their New Year's from then until 1999!

1998 started with a couple of anniversary and birthday parties, and by April we knew we had enough money in the investment account to provide for our holiday to Florida. Anita and Russ worked together to sort it, and Chris from the Early Riser (disco provider) and Russ's sister Joy were to join us (paying their own way). Full details can be found here.

We had a few more weddings, and other parties, before we went on holiday, but once we returned there were a lot more – including a few great Christmas parties. Little did we think that this was the start of our swan song.

At the New Year's Eve party (1998) we did it for the same family that we had done the last few for, and before the night got too busy – the matriarch of the family cornered Russ and I and asked what we would charge for doing the 1999 one. Due to the length of the current party (booked 7-2) we had charged £500 – but we did not have a figure in place as yet for the big one. We told her we would need a quick private conversation, but would come back to her. She immediately stated "we would be happy to pay a grand if you agree tonight." We had not discussed anything, but Russ nodded at the same time as I did, and that was the figure we agreed on!

1999 started slowly – in fact we had nothing in January, but started to pick up in March with a couple of parties, and although they were OK we both felt that perhaps we had run the course. Russ wanted more time with the family, and I was feeling like I was almost robotic, and some of the pleasure of working was wearing off big time. We had bookings for weddings over July and August, and a couple of Christmas parties plus of course NYE – but we were no longer picking up much other work. In mid August after a lengthy discussion we decided that NYE would be our last gig – going out with a bang so to speak. We no longer renewed the advert, and also would no longer give out contact details when we worked. Although I no longer worked for the same department in the bank I was asked to do their Christmas party again but I declined.

New Year's Eve was a fantastic night. I think everyone wanted to party, and it just made for such a wonderful event. When the final song finished – it Sinatra but not "my way" but "New York, New York" , the whole crowd clapped, they had in previous years, but this year seemed louder and with more feeling. We had finished on a high! We packed down, and the matriarch paid Russ – and we left. Back home equipment away, money split, and Russ went home, leaving me as always sitting in the arm chair with a beer trying to calm myself enough for sleep.

However, I did do a couple of discos after, but only for friends, or such. The last ever disco I did was for Emma one of Lauren's friends, and although it was just me (no Russ) it was a blast, and almost made me want to reverse the idea of retirement. However, as stated it was the final event for Razzamatazz – and once we had packed away the equipment I knew that my days behind the mike was over.

Did/do I miss it? Well, yes and no. I don't miss the loading and unloading the car, and the setting up, and then after breaking down the equipment, and of course the two hours it takes for me to calm myself down enough to be able to sleep, but I guess I miss the high of seeing large amounts of people happy and enjoying themselves when I am the cause!

To finish this segement in I guess i should sign off just as I used to say at the end of the night…..

"Thanks for coming and thanks for staying. If you have enjoyed yourselves the name is Razzamatzz – but if you haven't, it isn't!"